EARLY YEARS
Alexander Irvine Ryan s/o Michael John Ryan & Mary Irvine was born in Ristigouche, Bonaventure, Quebec on Apr 15 1847. He is remembered as a quiet man with a long black beard.
He was a "day labourer" when married Ellen McCallum (6 Feb 1845-17 Jan 1931) at Flatlands NB on Apr 19 1869. His wife Ellen appears to have been 3 months pregnant and already had a 4-year-old daughter (Mary). They were married by Rev, W Murr in the presence of William & Ann Hanscom.
The 1871 census states that Alex was a labourer on the farm belonging to his his father-in-law, John McCallum.
From the 1871 census, Ristigouche, Bonaventure, Quebec
- John McCallum (71) farmer
- Alexander Ryan (23) laborer
- Helen McCallum (28)
- Mary (5)
- Jane (1)
I could not find this family in the 1881 census.
BACK ON THE RYAN HOMESTEAD
Alexander moved back to his father's spread, and built a frame house in front of the original Ryan home. All 8 of his children were baptised in a single ceremony, Mar 26 1884.
From the 1891 census, Restigoucge, Bonaventure, Quebec:
- Alexander Ryan m (43) Presbyterian b Quebec; Irish father; mother from Quebec.
- Ellen f (49) " b Que: mother & father from N.B: can read but not write
- Jane f (21)
- Elizabeth f (19)
- Christine f (17)
- Duncan m (15)
- William m (13)
- John m (10)
- Cameron m) (7)
From the 1901 census, Restigouche, Bonaventure, Quebec
- Alexander Ryan b 6 May 1847 (53) Irish, farmer English speaking only
- Ellen L. 25 September 1842 (58) " " " "
- James D. 3 June 1876 (29) lumber labourer ($744)
- Christine E. 13 January 1874 (27)
- William A. 1 August 1878 (22) lumber labourer ($432)
- John A. 4 October 1880 (20) lumber labourer ($304)
- Maxwell C. 28 December 1883 (17) store clerk ($130)
They were a well to do family by this time, living in an 11 room house, plus second house, on 330 acres. Alexander Ryan sold logs to his son in law James Archibald, across the Restigouche.
THE SHEEP
As another pair of the Ryan's grandchildren testified (under Ellen McCallum), children didn't have much fun visiting. During a particularly boring visit, Max Delaney sicked his dog on their sheep. He was sent home in disgrace while Alexander gathered the animals. This must have taken place close to 1921, as Max was not quite six when Sandy died.
DEATH
The 1921 census lists Alexander Ryan, a 74-year-old farmer, and his wife Ellen (78) living alone in Matapedia, Quebec.
According to the register at Ste Ann de Restigouche, Alexander died of heart trouble on Aug 4, 1921. He was 74 years old
CHILDREN
- Mary Ryan (3 April 1865, Sillarsville, PQ-1953) m William Stephen Downs (12 May 1861-April 19 1952) on June 21, 1887. Their mothers were sisters (Ellen McCallum & Sarah Ann McCallum). A descendant notes that " The old people said that when cousins married their children were either retarted or very bright. Stephen and Mary's children were smart." William's middle name - Steven - was given in honour of the Presbyterian minister of the area: Rev James Steven. Stephen is listed as a laborer, who earned $600, in the 1921 census. For a time they lived in Flatlands NB.
- In 1947 Stephen (86) & Mary (83) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at their son Rainsford' s home in Flatlands NB. According to the local paper, "Distance, snow and winter weather have quite evidently no terrors for Mrs Stephen Downs of Flatlands. Recently Mrs Downs walked across the river from Flatlands to Sillarsville on the snow covered, crusted ice surface to visit with friends, making the 3 mile trip to the Quebec side in the morning and returning home in the afternoon. The feat is particularly outstanding when it is considered that Mrs Downs admits to an age of 83."
- Mary died at her home on Kempt Road, Bonnaventure, QUE on June 30, 1953. Her children:
- Alma Jane Downs (July 21 1894) m William BULMER
- Miss Nellie Downs of Rockville, Conn
- Rainsford Downs m (A) Rhona Bulmer (B) Bella May McEachen. Of Flatlands NB
- Eillen Downs m Lalonde
- Ralph Downs m Suzanne Jones (Toronto)
- Gerard Downs m Louise (lived Montreal)
- Mary Lou Downs m Douglas Murray
- Gary Downs
- Alex Downs
- William Downs (Feb 23 1899) lived in Hamilton NB
- Jane Ryan (Oct 28, 1869, Sillarsville - Jan 28, 1965) who married James Archibald and later moved West to British Columbia with their ten children - biography follows
- Elizabeth Ryan (Dec 28, 1871) m William Archibald on June 11 1895. Lived first in Flatlands NB then Seattle, WA - see children of Michael Archibald
- Christine Ellen Ryan (13 Jan 184) m James Delaney (Aug 6 1868 - 1934) on Nov 10 1903. They moved to Vancouver BC, but are buried in Matapedia. Children:
- Mary Delaney (Aug 11 1904 - Dec '88) m John BURNS
- Ellen Louise Delaney (Aug 11 1904 - Dec 1933) Mary's twin sister. A teacher in New Richmond PQ. Died of TB.
- Christina Velma Delaney ( Sept 6 1906 - Sept 6 '85) A nurse, lived in New York.
- Anna Adelle Delaney (July 6 1908) m William Janelle
- Laura Delaney (June 5 1911) m Paul Harquail on Sept 6 1932. Laura & her sister Velma once snuck into a visitor's room and stole his wig. Then they ran laughing down the lane with James & the guest in pursuit. They were catholics, who received a framed picture of the Pope in 1932. He was a "Rules & Instruction Person" with the railroad. Had his own car that travelled around NB and the Gaspe penninsula of Quebec. Angela & I visited them during our 1980 trip back East. Angela wrote in our diary: "Laura was sweet, wished she could have us over for a meal, and gave us some jam and two wall plaques as a wedding gift." Children:
- Jean Ellen Harquail (Dec 28 1933) m Bernard GUY om Aug 20 1960
- Joan Harquail (Feb 1 1935) m John Meehan
- Barnard Harquail (May 25 1936) m Barbara
- Maurice Harquail( Dec 2 1938) m Elaine Fraser. A Liberal MP from New Brunswick
- Pamela Harquail (Apr 18 1942) m Arthur HUGHES. Born in Campellton, she began teaching at Oromocto in 1959, after taking a one year training program. Pam soon realised that if she wanted to go progress in her career, she would have to further her eductation. "I think a teacher should be open to new ideas, and when I heard my colleagues talking about their courses I envied them." Granted a sabbatical in 74/75, Pam did two and a half years of study in one year. She left with a bachelor of Arts degree. The following fall she added a bachelor of Education to her qualifications. "I was scratched by the needle of education and became addicted... I kept on studying and in 1980 I received my Masters in Educational Foundations from the University of New Brunswick. By this time she was also principal at the New Brunswick Training school, " We taught all levels, from special education up to Grade 12 and after 1985.
- James Delaney (Mar 7 1914- May 14 1995) Repaired airplanes for the RCAF. He returned home with Alma, a war bride from England. They eventually separated. Alma returned to England with their daughter Christina.
- Alexander Ryan Delaney (Mar 10 1917 - 1970) m Francis Caldwell. Alexander was taken prisoner while serving with the Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong and spent most of the war in a Japanese POW camp. He later worked for the CNR
- Sandra Delaney
- Christina Delaney
- Howard Delaney - works in a bank.
- John Maxwell Delaney (Sept 4 1915) m Anesie Gallant on Oct 31 1953. Served in the Canadian infantry rgt that liberated Belgium in WWII. In 1994 he met a Belgian woman who had been eating grass prior to that liberation.
- Alain Delaney (Jan 9 1956) m Donie Guitard
- Christina Delaney (Feb 23 1986)
- Vanessa Delaney (June 30 1988)
- Norman Delaney (Mar 13 1958) m Lynn Doiroin
- Richard Delaney (Nov 6 1962) - single
- James Duncan Ryan (3 June 1876, Sillarsville, PQ -Feb 18, 1903, Matapedia) m Isabell Hall
- William Albert Ryan (9 Aug ,1878 - March 9, 1919, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal) m Louise Ferguson (Sept 21 1878, Flatlands - 1963, Matapedia) They were in Matepedia Lived in Hamilton NB, then Montreal Que. Will was 42 when he caught blood poisening after cutting himself with an axe. Louise moved to Matapedia The register at Ste Anne de Restgouche states "William Ryan of Sillarsville died Mar. 9/1919 at Royal Victoria Hospital Montreal as a result of an accident" Children listed in 1911 census:
- Elizabeth Ryan (Feb 6, 1905)
- James Ryan (July 7, 1906 - looks like 1907 in the census roll, but figure has been changed)
- Alexander Ryan (Jan 4, 1907)
- Mary Ryan (Dec 2, 1908)
- Isabel Ryan (January 1911)
- John Alexander Ryan (4 Oct, 1880, Sillarsville -17 Oct 1932, Matapedia) m Elisabeth Ann MacDonald (lived 96 years) at Ste Ann de Restigouche on Sept 26 1906. They bought their first house from Mrs Daker, in Matapedia, shortly after their marriage. Their house burned down in 1926. They built a red brick house. John was run over by a train in 1932. Elizabeth wrote for a newspaper, and produced poetry on the side.
- Maxwell Cameron Ryan (Dec 29, 1883, Sillarsville) married Minnie Cook and moved to Toronto, where he disappeared leaving his wife and children.