| Notes |
- In SM email story of Mooneys by Tom & Debbie Curran:
Henry came to PEI, Canada in 1830 with his wife and three (other) daughters (two daughters had remained in Ireland, marrying there). One of these additional three daughters married a McGuirk (having 3 sons and 2 daughters); a second married John Hughes (having 2 sons and 4 daughters); and the third married a McManus (having 4 sons and 2 daughters). Henry and wife settled at Ten Mile house, near Tracadie.
Four other children born to Henry on PEI: Patrick, who lived in Ft. Augustus; Mary, Bridget; John Henry, who lived at Ten Mile House and whose family later moved to the U.S. Henry's son Robert, who had been born in Ireland, married Margaret McEntee in 1825 in Ireland. On April 3, 1831, they (?) set out for PEI with their four children: Mary, Bridget, Belle, and Peggy. They were booked for Isle St. Jean, as PEI was then called; but the captain mistook their destination and put them off ship at St. John, NB. They had to leave most of their earthly possessions on the wharf, as they could not carry them. They made their way across or around the Bay of Fundy, through NS, to a place opposite Bell River, PEI. From there, they crossed on a produce boat and from Bell River walked through Eldon, around Vernon River to Charlottetown. They finally arrived at Ten Mile House about the end of June (1831).
Robert Mooney (s. of Henry) had been a singing master in Ireland and on PEI he was engaged to teach the choirs at Tracadie, Ft. Augustus and some other parishes.
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The first of the Mooneys to come to Prince Edward Island was Henry, father of the Honorable Robert Mooney. Back in Ireland he had been an unwilling member of the Monaghan Militia during the suppression of the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
Two of his daughters married in Ireland and remained there. In 1830 Henry Mooney came to Prince Edward Island with his wife and three other daughters: one married a McGuirk (3 sons and 2 daughters); a second married John Hughes (2 sons and 4 daughters); and the third married a McManus (4 sons and 2 daughters). They settled at Ten Mile House, near Tracadie.
Four other children were born on the Island: Patrick, who lived in Fort Augustus; Mary; Bridget; John Henry, who lived at Ten Mile House and whose family later moved to the United States. Henry?s son Robert married Margaret McEntee in 1825 in Ireland. On April 3, 1831, they set out for Prince Edward Island with their four children: Mary, Bridget, Belle and Peggy. They were booked for Isle St. Jean, as the Island was then called; but the captain mistook their destination and put them off the ship at St. John, New Brunswick. They had to leave most of their earthly possessions on the wharf, as they could not carry them. They made their way across or around the Bay of Fundy, through Nova Scotia to a place opposite Bell River, P.E.I. From there they crossed on a produce boat and from Bell River walked through Eldon, around Vernon River to Charlottetown. They finally arrived at Ten Mile House about the end of June.
Robert Mooney had been a singing master in Ireland and on the Island he was engaged to teach the choirs at Tracadie, Fort Augustus and some other parishes.
In 1843 Robert Mooney was elected to the Provincial Legislature and for many years (17) he was Minister of Agriculture. Later, he bought 600 acres of land between St. Teresa?s and Peake?s, which he divided among his six sons: Henry Mooney, Dan Mooney, Patrick Mooney, Robert Mooney, James Mooney and John Mooney.
The Robert Mooney family
BY MARGARET (CURRAN) KENNY
On April 3rd, 1831 Robert Mooney emigrated from the parish of Coothill, County Monaghan, Ireland with his wife Margaret McIntire and their daughters, Mary age five, Bridget age four, and Isabel age one. Robert and Margaret, though married for six years and living very happy and comfortable in their little thatched home in Coothill, felt drawn to American because of their love for Robert?s family, who had gone a few years before. Margaret, an only child, and her parents dead, also wished to go to America, the land of hope and promise. Their chief reason really was to get away from the landlords who were merciless in their demands for rent, leaving them with no future security in sight. With hope in their hearts that some day they would own their own home and never again fear the step of the landlord at their door, they decided to set sail for Prince Edward Island. Robert called a sale and got rid of some of Margaret?s and his own little gatherings, however, keeping the traditional feather ticks, blankets, kitchen utensils, and a spinning wheel. The neighbours gathered to bid a fond farewell to the last of the Mooney family to leave this little town. They took passage at Newery on a shipped named ?MORGIANNA? which was bound for St. John, as Prince Edward Island was called. There was also a St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Island was first occupied by the French who called it St. Jean. Here in New Brunswick, a small lumbering town, Robert landed. There was no way to reach this Island of the Prince except to travel by mail coach for miles. From there they might get a row boat that might get them to a place called Partridge Island which was inhabited by Indians and some French people. There were several families in this little band who were also bound for this Island. (Some names in the group were McKenna - McQuaid - McCarthy - Hughes - McGuirk - McMurrer - Duffy. info from Thomas Curran)
They finally got everyone into row boats of some dubious seaworthiness and all landed at Partridge Island. From there they went by stage coach to Pictou, Nova Scotia. This took days of travel, putting up for the night with anything and everything. Months had gone since they had left Ireland. The anxiety was great with no way to notify their families that they were alive. More than likely they might think the ship was lost and poor Robert and his family had gone down with the ship. Later they found out that this was exactly what they did think.
As their money was all gone, they were forced to sell the house furnishings which consisted of one feather bed for ten shillings, blankets, dishes and one spinning wheel. Margaret never murmured as she saw her things go.
One day the coachman stopped to change horses. As they were all very tired of traveling, a walk in the green fields appealed to them. Margaret saw strawberries which reminded her of Ireland all over again. As she walked, she picked. When the coach was ready, they set off without her. Robert looked for his wife and not finding her, he shouted to the coachman to wait. The coachman answered: ?Can?t wait. If your wife wants to pick strawberries, let her. We must go on.? ?Whoa, whoa,? says Robert, ?my wife is going on this coach or you will feel this blackthorn stick on your back. I did not carry this stick to America just to hold in my hand and allow any man to play such a mean trick. You will wait right here, until my wife returns... if it takes all day.? Shortly after Margaret was seen winding her way back; she had gone astray. She managed to gather a sizeable container of luscious berries. They helped her aboard the coach.
They set out for Pictou, Nova Scotia. After a wait of a few days there, they were able to book passage on a lumber vessel, which would take them to Prince Edward Island. They had no money. Margaret had a very lovely watch which was given to her by an uncle. Though she prized it dearly, she knew it was the last thing of any value left, so she gave it to the Captain for the fare to a place called Murray Harbour, situated on the south side of Prince Edward Island.
Robert did not have much in the way of luggage but the suit on his back, which was made of solid homespun, his blackthorn stick and his beloved music.
I do not recall how many days they were traveling, but they finally landed at Murray Harbour. There was still forty miles yet to go with nothing but dense forest and a blazed trail. There were bears, wildcats and many strange looking animals in these woods. After traveling about ten miles a day and camping at night, they reached the little home of the Mooney family in the wilds of America.
The joy of all who saw that little procession, coming over the hill in the rays of the setting sun, was something out of this world. A runner was sent all over the settlement to let the neighbours and relatives know that Robert and his family were in the land of the living and had just arrived home. Morning dawned before the people, who had gathered to welcome the travelers, departed for their homes. After a well earned rest, Robert and his wife looked for a place to build their home. They settled on a spot one mile from the old homestead. By the time winter set in, they had, with the help of friends and neighbours, built and fixed up a comfortable little home. It was quite a surprise and some discomfort to these young folk, who had seen very little snow in Ireland, to be ?snowed in?. This was the time Robert and his wife and family found music a great comfort and many were the songs he composed, while the wind and stormed howled around their little log cabin. They were in a world by themselves.
When these emigrants came to Prince Edward Island, they had to chop down the trees and used them to build their cabin. The space cleared was from fifty to one hundred feet square. The cabin usually ran about twenty or thirty feet square. Sometime the logs were split, but as a rule they were left round with the ends notched to fit into each other. This left a space of about three inches between which they filled with swamp moss by hammering it in with a chisel to keep the wintery winds out. The cabin, being small, was easily kept heated from the fireplace.
Robert worked all day chopping down trees to get a patch of land ready for spring planting. The trees were piled and later burned when they were dry. It was a mean task to burn the brush and keep it from spreading to the surrounding woods. The neighbours all worked together. After all the trees were burned, they were stacked and burned again.
Next the planting was done. They scratched the soft ground which was used for planting potatoes. These were dropped in sets, and in less than three months they had very fine potatoes. To this day there is no potato which can compare with the ?Island? potato. The first seed was taken from Ireland. The ?Early Roses? was a great favourite, or I should say, the potato of the day.
When the next year rolled around, they always changed the crops and planted wheat or oats where the potatoes had grown. In this way the land was never drained out.
That same summer Robert was able to buy a horse. He then hauled firewood to Charlottetown making two trips a day. There was not much cash to this new venture, but it did enable him to buy almost all the groceries needed at a reasonable figure.
There were no books but the first ?primer? for the children. This was made by Mrs. Mooney who cut out the large letters from the back of her prayer book and pasted them on heavy cards. She was a very religious woman, but had no qualms when it came to doing what was for the betterment of her family. I can almost see her as she cut those letters out, each one with a prayer for God to guide the work she was doing. These letters were pasted on a heavy card so it would last a good many years, as there would be many to learn the alphabet from these same little cards. Somehow in later years I feel that these cards carried a special blessing for there are many of her descendants who are blessed in carrying on the great work of the Catholic Irish, who kept the faith when things were black and stormy. When these same ones feel a little lift, who knows, it might be the prayers and tears that were shed around that humble home so many years ago that is now keeping a guiding hand or helping them over the rough highway this very day. Let each one who reads these words try to picture themselves in this same place. Could you have done any better? Their sublime and beautiful faith in God that things would get better. That they would always have time for laughter and a song and which was very often frowned on by the ones who never learned to laugh.
March 25, 1848 "Pat and John Mooney of St. Peters Rd. sued for 50? by Charles Hensley of Newstead."
The Mooneys just kept on having large families and very healthy and happy ones. Every year brought more and more of the Irish to the Island. There were a few churches: one in Tracadie, St. Andrew?s, Souris, East Point. These were up East. The following were in the Southeast: Launching, Vernon River, Fort Augustus. This was the place where Robert and Margaret spent the first fifteen years of their life on the Island. Here was an opportunity for Robert to put his music to work. The people were more than willing to learn, for where you find the Irish, you will always find a song and the love for music at its best. For fifteen winters Robert taught music in all the above-mentioned places. He composed most of the music himself. I am sorry to say none of it ever fell into my hands or I would have it to pass on to all his great grand-children. However, you have my word for ir, as it was something to hear. Many times I heard his beautiful voice in song. What a pity that there were no recordings made then!
At this time the Catholics had a vote on the Island. Robert was persuaded to run for membership in the Legislative Council. There were two parties: the Liberals and the Conservatives. The House of Parliament had 32 members, the Legislature, 13 of an Executive Council. The laws to be discussed and amended were chiefly relating to landlordism. The tenants wanted to buy the land outright. Mr. Mooney was elected and was on the side of the tenants. Their problem was before the House for many years. The Honorable Robert stood alone, as he was a man who could not be talked into anything that was not for the good of his constituents. Finally, there was formed what was known as the Tenants League. When the Sheriff came to seize a man?s cattle, this group ran him out of town with anything at hand, such as tin horns and bells; and kept after him until he was glad to run for cover. This kept up for several years. At last, the tenants were able to get for themselves what legislation did not or could not do. The landlords sold to the government, who in turn sold to the tenants, which left the Island all free land.
You, who read this, might imagine that it was a dreary life these good people spent so far from civilization and the so-called comforts of life. However, this was not the case. They were very happy as each year they saw greater strides towards what they aimed for in life: namely, better government, health, education for their children so they could do the things for the world at large that was denied them. They had their religion which was their daily pattern in life. They lived it, which was more. They also had their amusements. Nowadays, it might not be looked on as such. Songs and storytelling, which in many cases really made history as it was told by the ones who lived it."
BY MARGARET (CURRAN) KENNY
Addendum
Now I have not yet really researched my Mooney line so only have "bits and pieces" of info from various relatives - living and dead. So the best I can tell you is that in County Monaghan at the beginning of the 19th century were my Mooneys who included Henry (an unwilling member of the Monaghan militia and an R.C. who came to PEI in l830 - and who was followed by his son, the future Hon. Robert Mooney who emigrated in 1831 from Coothill and yes, did settle near Tracadie and eventually at Peakes (landing?crossing?) He allegedly had three siblings - the aforementioned Mrs. Owen Trainor, who came with him in l830, a sister who married a ship s captain in Liverpool, Eng. and my ancestor, his younger brother Daniel. Daniel was allegedly employed at Leslie Castle (stableman?) when he eloped with a 15 year old Protestant named Gillis - and these are my direct descendants. We now date back in Canada to l835 when Daniel's son John was sent to live with his mother's brother in the Eastern Townships. I don't know the PEI "cousins" and have only recently found one who tells me I may have found some 3000 new "relatives" by establishing the connection between my John Mooney and Henry Mooney of PEI. Shirley.>
6975 Hagan Road
Brentwood Bay, B C
V8M 1B3.
May 30, 1998 "A letter, written from Peake Station PEI to my great aunt in Dec. 12, l950 says: Henry Mooney had "two sisters, Mary and ann. Mary was married to Owen Trainor - they came to this Island when my grandfather came and took up farming here. So I am still wondering if your "Catherine" married to Owen Trainor was my "Mary Mooney." Shirley Mooney Aabjerg" saabjerg@home.com
Hi Al,
Sorry I could not get back to you on the weekend, My wife's maiden name is Trainor, & her mother was a Gormley from Baldwins Rd, ( her father also ) I have been doing my own family here in Nova Scotia for about 20 yrs., & now I am doing Trainor's & Gormley's from the St Teresa area of PEI. The Trainor's in this area come from Owen Trainor b.1796, Ireland, & his wife Mary Mooney b. 1792, Ireland, He d. Mar. 19, 1872, & Mary Nov 21, 1866. Both buried at St. Teresa. The Gormley's as far as I can tell are descended from a James Gormley & wife Elizabeth, I dont know if there is a connection with Patrick Gormley of Johnsons River & the Gormley's of St Mary's Rd, I Have only been researching these family's for about 6 months & have been talking to the family's first hand, I have yet to do any archive search on the Island. I at first thought that the Trainor's had to be from the Owen & Catherine Trainor from Johnsons River area, But not so. I have seen the results of your research from the Island Web Page, I can also see that you have put in many many hour's of research time, You seem to have done an excellent job of it . I dont know if I can ever be of any help to you, But if I can just ask, And if you can help me with any info. in research of these two family's, I would be only too glad to receive it. Take care, Dave Singer dsinger@ns.sympatico.ca
Hi, My name is Maris Norton Cuneo. I was born in 1946 in Jersey City, New Jersey. My mother (now deceased) told me that I was related to the Honorable Robert Mooney. My grandfather, John Patrick Lyng, I think, was the son of Peg Mooney Lyng. Mr. Lyng died and she married someone named Finnigan and had two or three more children. I know she had Catherine and May. I think the other brother was named Dan? My mother visited PEI about 25 years ago and attended some sort of family gathering. Can you fill me in on any family tree? It would be nice to know. My mother was Maris Lyng Norton and my grandmother was Genevieve Gannon Lyng. Thanks, sincerely, Maris CCuneo8598@aol.com
Hi Al:
I have been searching for info on my gggrandfather, Daniel Mooney who was born in County Monaghan, Ireland in the late 1700's. We have no record of his date of birth or death, beyond knowing that he was living in County Monaghan C1820. >From a Marge Reid web site listing of P.E.I. Data page of Irish-born immigrants in P.E.I. prior to 1856, I noticed an entry for a Daniel Mooney from County Monaghan who died on the Island in 1893, at age 95. Marge informs me that the data was originally sources from an obit in "The Hearld" of 19 April 1893 with the info that he had died on the 11th. I've applied to National Archives of Canada for a copy of that issue of the newspaper to see whether there is any further info contained therein. In the meantime, I had your address from my cousin Shirley Mooney Aabjerg, with whom I understand you had corresponded in the past, re Mooneys on P.E.I. and am writing to see if by chance you might have any information you could share. Much obliged, Regards, Don/Judi Mooney mail to:mooney@neptune.on.ca
Searching for family history info on JOHN HUGHES, who married Catherine Mooney (daughter of Henry Mooney and Mary Murphy) in Ireland and emigrated to Canada (Prince Edward Island) in 1830. They were reported to be from Co. Monaghan, believed to be from Drum, Donagh Parish. Reportedly emigrated by way of Greenock, Scotland, on the Corsair (though we've not located a passenger list).
We have information beginning with the 1841 Census of P.E.I. in Canada, regarding the children of John Hughes and Catherine Mooney, but no information their life or roots in Ireland.
Thank you for any assistance. Pat Lane Hughes LANEHUGHES@aol.com
In 1843, Robert was elected to the Provincial Legislature and for 17 years he was Minister of Agriculture. Later, he bought 600 acres of land between St. Teresa's and Peake's, which he divided among his six sons: Henry, Dan, Patrick, Robert, James, and John. [2]
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Ernest Benjamin Gillis Family History
- Yes, date unknown
, d. Abt 1820