Margaret McCormick

Margaret McCormick

Margaret was born January 20, 1834 in Ramsey township Upper Canada (Ontario) near Perth Ontario. Margaret was baptised January 20, 1836 at 2 years of age. Her birth record was found in the records of St. Bridget's parish church in Stanleyville, Upper Canada, however her baptismal record was in the records of Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario. Ottawa was known as Bytown in 1836. Margaret was 2 years of age when she was baptised. Delays in being baptised was a common occurrence in rural Canada in early 1800's as priest had to travel over large areas to administer services to the people. However, 2 years is an extended period of time even in the early 1800's. It appears Margaret never married. In the 1871 census it lists Margaret as single and had no children, she died 8 years later on November 27, 1879 at 45 years of age. Margaret is buried at St. Elizabeth's of Hungary cemetery in Vinton, Quebec. She would join her brother John in being one of the first people interned in the cemetery as the church was not built until 1882. There is very little information regarding Margaret. There is no tombstone on her grave.

The death record for Margaret no longer exists. The record for Margaret and many other of our family members were destroyed in a fire Easter Sunday 1882. The fire destroyed the original St. Elizabeth's church in Vinton and all records within it. The records were supposed to be copied and the duplicate copy was to be kept at the diocese, however for whatever reason the records were never backed up. I am suspect this was a common occurrence in those days.