The Keenans of Adjala Township

In the first half of the 1820s John, James, Dennis and William Keenan all immigrated to Canada and settled in  Simcoe county, Ontario just west of Toronto. We know by various documents that John and James were brothers and it seems likely that Dennis and William were either brothers or cousins, but that is not proven.

James Keenan Land Petition 1824-1825

• John 1773 Aghaloo, Tyrone, Ireland - Aug 1866 Adjala, Ontario, Canada. John is our direct ancestor. Read about him in Keenans to Adjala. 

• James  1776 Aghaloo, Tyrone, Ireland - Jan 1859 Adjala, Ontario, Canada.  He married Margaret Fox before 1802 in Ireland. James settled in Adjala in 1824 with his wife and four children.

• Ann 1802-1879 m. Frank Morrow and had 10 children
• Mary abt 1803-1838 m. Patrick Feheley and had children. Patrick died in 1841 and children named in his probate are Elizabeth, Thomas and James. 
• Robert 1805-1896 married Mary Ahern  (Robert Keenan, the first settler in Keenansville, which perpetuates his name, was the representative for the Cardwell District from 1846 to 1857. From 1858 we find the names of Patrick Tracey, J.T. Connor, Thomas Langley, Thomas Kidd, P.D. Kelly, Peter Small, G.P. Hughes, and Matt Ronan. In 1880, the year of publication of the Atlas, John Kelly and Joseph Wright were Reeve and Deputy Reeve.  (Sunday, August 3, 2008  Pioneer History Pioneer Times An excerpt from South Adjala 1825-1965, by George Keogh, Nobleton Press, 1965.)   
• Margaret 1842-1855
• James 1843 - 1904 married Agnes Bill and they had 7 known children
• Eleanor 1845 m James Morrow and they had six known children
• John 1847-1928 
• Mary 1848 m Thomas Casserly Morrow and they had eight known children
• Anne 1852-1870 
• Sarah Camilla 1853-1941 M James Casserly Hart and they had eleven known children
• Robert 1855-1936
• Thomas m three times and had one known child.

• Dennis received a military land grant in 1831. He had been in the 68th regiment of foot in Ireland. 1813-28  serving in Ireland, Ionian Islands during Greek War of Independence and Canada.  This Denis settled in Esquesing Township in Halton County.  No information has been found to prove a connection

• William (Keenan/Keeran) obtained land in Albion in 1823.  His land petition states he has 3 sons and two daughters. 

John James Haffey

sketch by Lucas O'Brien, 1st president of the Royal Canadian
Academy, showing judicial business at the Eighth Division
Court at Mono Mills in 1855. 
#4 (3rd from left) is John J. Haffey acting as baliff
tendering the oath to a witness.

John James Haffey was born in Ireland about 1819. Birth information is taken from the 1861 census. His daughter Camilla indicated that he came from Northern Ireland (Ulster).  Family tradition says he was born in Armagh, but there is no corroboration of that fact.  Other researchers claim he was related to some of the other Haffey's in the area, this seems likely but again is uncorroborated.






He settled in Adjala about 1840 and on `5 Feb 1844 he married Margaret Keenan the daughter of John and Eleanor in Toronto.
John married Margaret Keenan (daughter of  John and Eleanor) on 15 Feb 1844 in Toronto.


On the 11 Jun 1853, John bought W1/2 of Lot 14 Concession 5 in the township of Adjala from Michael Harvey for $400. The Mortgage was divided with $215 payable to Michael Harvey and $165 to James Mitchel. Michael Harvey was the patentee of the land. The Simcoe county book pt2 pg 51gives his name as Michael Haffey. "As early as the year 1828 some settlers had begun to take up lots in the gook lands juxt north of Bailey Creek. Among these families of Connors, Kelly and Keenan:" ....."Michael Haffey settled on the west half of lot 14 concession 5 at this early period."  It seems most likely that the book was mistaken as the deed seems very clear.


The 1861 census reported that John (40) and Margaret (40) were farmers living in a log house with their children Allice (16), James (15), Joseph (13), Ellen (11), John (9), Thomas (7), Elizabeth (4), and Peter (2).  Also living in the house is John Keenan (88) a gentleman bn in Ireland. (1861 Population, Canada,, District 1 page 10 line 16)  

The agricultural census of the same year adds that he is living on 100 acres on the W 1/2 of Lot 16 Concession 6, twelve acres were under cultivation, 48 acres were under crops, four were pasture and 36 were either wooded or wild. The farm was worth $2500 and the farming implements worth $150.  He had 7 acres of fall wheat which produced 250 bushels and 24 acres of spring wheat which produced 400 bushels.  There were 80 bushels of peas on 4 acres and 350 bushels of oats on 8 acres.  Three-quarters of an acre produced 200 bushels of potatoes.  He also grew 2 tons of hay.   John's produce totals were about average for the area.

John served in various community capacities over the years, including JP, baliff and more.  By 1881 it appears that he is no longer farming.  He is living with what seems to be an unrelated family, while Margaret and her son Francis are in another household and Allice, who never married, in a third. Although no explanation is given it seems likely that John needed more care than Margaret was able to give.

John died 20 Oct 1884 in Toronto.  The death certificate states he was a retired farmer age 65 born in Ireland.  The  informant was Dr. E Kennedy.  

John James Haffey - Dropbox

John Keenan Family

When John Keenan died in Aug 1863 the parish priest wrote the following in the St. James Colgan parish register......"Burial 28 August, 1866 of old John Keenan aged one of the oldest settlers in Adjala, died after a long illness, strengthened with the consolation of his holy faith.  Aged ninety-three full of age and merits before God and man."  John had out lived his wife by over 35 years and at least two of this ten children.

Nearly forty years earlier John and his family joined the swelling ranks of North Ireland Catholics and Presbyterians that were escaping increasing religious persecution into a new country.

Upon their arrival in Upper Canada John was granted land, but his own illness and that of his family prevented them from moving to the land and working it.  They were forced to ask the York Benevolent Society for support.

So after a period of time in York, twenty-five years before that city was incorporated as Toronto, they settled in the area near Adjala in Simcoe County, where other Keenans had settled.  John nearly lost his homestead as he and his eldest son were too ill to clear it. Read more in Keenans to Adjala.

Life in the frontier was not easy and in 1829 Elenor (possibly Montague) died. John, health improved,  established his farm on Concession 3 Lot 16 in Adjala and raised his children.

Andrew Hunter's, A History of Simcoe County gives a glimpse of the neighborhood which includes many of John's relatives "...As in the other parts of this county, settlement in what people formerly called the wilds of Adjala began at the south end of the township.  The first to arrive in the south east came by way of Albion and King Townships in the twenties......In the southwest, in the vicinity of Mono Mills, a few settlers arrived about the year 1820 and within the next few years the following took up lots in the adjacent parts of Adjala.......James McKenna. con 3 lot 7......The last named person on the above list, James McKenna, died May 12th 1885, aged 89 years.  As early as 1828, some settlers had begun to take up lots in the good lands just north of Baily's Creek.  Among these were the families of Connors, Kelly and Keenan.  It was from the last family that the village of Keenansville had its name.  Robert Keenan was District Councillor (1846-9) and reeve of Adjala, (1857), for twelve years altogether.  He died January 10th, aged 83 years. Michael Haffey settled upon the west half lot 14, con. 5, at this early period.  On the opposite lot in con. 6 where John Haffey lived at a later time, Henry J Pect of Stanley NY, found in 1887 parts of the skeleton of a mammoth.  This is the only instance known of mammoth bones having been found in Simcoe County.  On of the molars is in Elmira Collete, NY. The other bones are in tech Geological Museum of Lafayette College, Eason, PA.....On the lot south of Haffey, George Kidd Settled during this first arrival of settlers, and here arose the village of Athlone......."

Nine of John's ten children have been identified.  All  married and their descendants are spread throughout Canada and the United States.  The Kelly Genealogy written in 1950 mentions over 500 with thirteen priests and eighteen religious sisters.  Unfortunately they did not name those that they had found.

This list includes just John's children and grandchildren.  For later generations and stories about the family read The Descendants of John Keenan and Eleanor

1. Ann Kennan (1800 IRE - 1860 ONT) m. James McKenna (1796-1885)
• Mary (1826 ONT- 1907 ONT) m James Hanrahan at least 7 children
• John (1830 ONT - 1913 ONT) m Catherine Doyle at least 9 children
• Ellen (1831 ONT - aft 1908) m Henry Cosgrove at least 11 children
• James (1833 ONT- bef 1854 ONT) 
• Margaret (1835 ONT- ) m James Burke at least 10 children
• Sarah (1836 ONT -1921 ONT) m Bartholomew Keogh children unknown
• Robert (1838 ONT-1913 ONT) m Bridget Doyle at least 6 children
• Ann "Janie" (1842 ONT-1899 ONT) m Hugh Duggan at least 7 children
2. James Keenan (1802 IRE - 1842 ONT) m Margaret Hammell
• Eleanor (1840 ONT - 1867 ONT) m.  Thomas Kidd 5 children
• Margaret (1842 ONT - 1903 ONT) m. Thomas Kidd 5 children
3. Anne Rose Keenan (1805 IRE - unk) m Thomas McCausland (bef 1815-1835)
• Mary Elizabeth (1834 - )
• Ellen (bef 1835 - )
• Susan (1835 ONT - 1873 ONT) m Seth Ashton
4. Sarah Keenan (1806 IRE - 1871 ONT) m. Francis McLaughlin (1802-1864)
• Ellen (1834 ONT- ) m. Patrick Burke Tracy at least 1 child
• Francis (1836 ONT - 1877 ONT) m Eleanor Mulloy at least 7 children
• John (1837 ONT - 1874)  m Mary Brazille at least 2 children
• James (1838 ONT - )
• Michael (1842 ONT -) 
• Sarah (1844 ONT - )
• Robert (1847 ONT -)
• Peter (1850 ONT - )
5. Mary Keenan (1812 IRE - 1899 ONT) m. Michael McLaughlin (1810-1893)
• John (1832 ONT - )
• Annie (1834 ONT -1882 ONT ) m John Kelly at least 9 children
• Margaret (1836 ONT- bef 1845 ONT) 
• Eleanor (1837 ONT - 1925 ONT) m George Morrow at least 13 children
• Mary (1839 ONT -  1867 ONT)
• Alice (1842 ONT - bef 1857 ONT)
• Margaret (1845 ONT - 1923 ONT )
• Michael (1847 ONT - 1935 ONT) m Mary Beatty at least one child
• Sarah (1851 ONT - ) m Charles Foster
• James Francis (1852 ONT - 1909 ONT) m Isabella Small / Catherine Small
• Thomas (1854 ONT- 1937 ONT) m Mary O'Brien at least three children
• Alice (1857 ONT - 1933) m George Constantineau at least one child
6. John Keenan (1820 IRE - 1886 ONT) n Jane Harkins (1826-1879)
• Catherine (1855 ONT - 1923 ONT)
• Daniel (1856 ONT - 1904 ONT)
• James Joseph (1858 ONT - 1930 ONT) m. Catherine Reilly at least 4 children
• Ann Jane (1860 ONT - 1897 ONT) m Denis Prior at least 2 children
• John Francis (1861 ONT - bef 1871 ONT) 
• Margaret (1863 ONT - ) m Patrick James Mulvogue at least 2 children
7. Margaret Keenan (1819 IRE - 1896 ONT) m. John James Haffey (see Haffey)
8. Robert Keenan (1821 IRE - 1904 ONT) m. Mary Brady (1831-1916)
• James (1854 ONT - 1944 ONT) m. Mary Moran at least 6 children
• Margaret (1856 ONT - 1917 ONT) m John Joseph Skelly at least 9 children
• Catherine (1856 ONT -  ) m James Holland at least 5 children
• Mary (1860 ONT - 1927) m. Daniel C O'Leary at least one child
• Ellen (1862 ONT- ) m Richard Hanley at least 8 children
• Robert Joseph (1867 ONT - 1947) m Mary Margaret McFarlane at least 5 children
9. Ellen Keenan (1825 IRE - 1897 ONT) m. Peter McCabe
• Thomas (1846 ONT-1897 ONT) m Sarah Doyle at least 8 children
• James (1847 ONT - 1922 ONT) m Ann Hanley children unknown
• Peter (1848 ONT - 1926 ONT) 
• Ellen (abt 1850 ONT - 1886 ONT) m Thomaas Quinlan McGoey at least 8 children 
• Sarah Ann (1853 ONT - 1887 ONT) m Bernard Doyle at least 5 children
• Margaret (1855 ONT - )
• John (1855 ONT - )
• Teresa (1861 ONT - ) m Daniel Harrigan at least 5 children
• John Paul (1862 ONT - 1924 ONT)

Joseph Phillip Haffey

Joseph Phillip the son of John James Haffey and Margaret Keenan was born 24 August 1847, maybe.  Joseph, son of John and Margaret,  was  baptized on 3 Oct 1847.  For a long time, other researchers tried to convince me that this was an earlier Joseph who died and our Joseph was born during the period where no registers for St. James Colgan parish exist.  They would use the date on his death certificate,  24 Aug 1853,  which is also the date given in the Bay County History, as proof.

However, in those early years finding the census records for Ontario was difficult.  We now have a census record for the Haffey family in 1861 which states that Joseph is 13 years old.  The 1871 census gives his age as 22.   So lacking any evidence to the contrary including the 1851 census I contend that the Joseph christened in 1847 is ours!

In a family of farmers, it seems Joseph was not meant to stay on the farm.  In 1871 he is listed with his family in the census, the entry giving the information that he is a clerical student at college. Joseph spent six years studying at St. Michael's College (now part of the University of Toronto) and then stayed on for one year as a teacher.  Following that he taught in the public schools for two years. When Joseph passed away, the family wrote to St. Michael's at the behest of the University of Michigan in a quest to get a list of the degrees he had earned there.  They received a letter stating that no one had ever received as many awards.  Marie, his daughter, remembers that they were listed in the letter, however, the letter did not survive the ensuing generations.

In 1879, Joseph left Canada to attend the School of Law at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 1882, newly graduated, he applied for citizenship and went to work for Lindner and Porter in Bay City.  Two years later he was admitted to the bar.  Eventually he became a partner and when Lindner retired the firm was known as Porter & Haffey

Joseph was known for his honesty and integrity,  he gave of himself and did not let the pursuit of power or money take over his practice of the law. While this earned him the respect of his colleagues, it did not always cushion him from the realities of the practice of law.  He was quick to tell his sons not to follow him into the practice.

 

In 1888 Joseph married Mary Ann Murphy in Port Huron, Michigan. The record of the marriage is found in the Bay County Marriage Register. They had met while he was in school in Ann Arbor.  

It was, perhaps, not the happiest of marriages.  It seems, according to the memoirs of daughter Grace,  that Mary was not content with his decision to not pursue riches. Perhaps the childhood of hearing stories of the mill that should have been in the family, or the poverty she had supposedly endured as a child caused her to always want more.  Bridget Lonergan's Legacy of discontent did not lead to a happy life and it seems that there was a sad aura over the family.

Joseph was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  The 1894 Bay City Directory lists him as the Vice President of the Bay City chapter.

In 1905 Joseph joined his siblings in quit claiming his share of the family farm to their brother John.  
All of the children of John and Margaret are mentioned in this quit claim.

On 8 Nov 1917 the Bay City Times Tribune reported.....

Joseph P Haffey is Called to Reward
Well known lawyer and citizen succumbs to long illness
Had Practiced law here for past Thirty-Three Years

Joseph P. Haffey died early this (Thursday) morning, at his residence, Tenth street, following a long illness.  Death came peacefully and quietly, as it was not known that the end had come until members of the family went to his room and found that he had expired.  Mr. Haffey's illness started about three years ago, but he apparently was on the road to recovery after spending a winter in the south.  Within the past few months, however, his ailment became incipient and he gradually declined.

Bay City Times Tribune
10 Nov 1917

Joseph P. Haffey was one of the best known citizens of Bay county and one of the leading attorneys of this section of the state.  He had practiced law here since 1884 after graduating from the University of Michigan.  He had previously read law in the office of Lindner & Porter and later became a member of the firm, its name then being Lindner, Porter & Haffey.  Some time afterwards the firm became Porter & Haffey , which continued up to this time.  Mr. Haffey was born near Toronto, Ont. August 24, 1853, and was a graduate of St. Michael's college, Toronto.  He taught school in that city for about two years and then came to Michigan.  He was married in Port Huron to Miss Mary Murphy, of Stratford, Ont., and five children blessed the union.  They with their mother survive and are as follows: Joseph who is teller in the Bay County bank; Misses Marie and Grace, teachers in the city schools; Thomas J.., an ensign in the U.S. navy and now in charge of a gun crew, somewhere in the Atlantic, and Miss Isabel, who is a student at Ypsilanti.  He also leaves several brothers and sisters.  Mr. Haffey was a man who impressed his fellows with his stern and uncompromising honesty, by his thoroughness and industry and by his courage of his convictions.  He was a good neighbor and friend and a conscientious husband and father.  He was a credit to his profession and to the community.  In politics Mr. Haffey was a democrat and fraternally he was a member of the A.O.H. and of the Knights of Columbus.  Funeral arrangements have not been completed. 
A few days later the paper reported on the funeral and the resolution passed by the County Bar Association.

Uncle Tom with his Madden
grand-nephews at Lake Tahoe

Joseph Haffey and Mary Murphy had five children

1. Joseph (1890-1970) lived in the family home his entire life.  A banker, he never married.
2. Marie (Ree) (1891-1971) was a teacher.  She also remained in the family home and never married.
3. Grace (1893 - 1986) also started out as a teacher.  She married John O'Connell in 1921.  They were living in San Diego, CA by 1940.  Grace and John had five sons.
4.  Thomas (1895 - 1978) graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1915.  He spent his entire career with the Navy.  After retirement he returned home, although he spent quite a bit of time visiting various relatives.  
5. Isabel m. Frances Martin Madden

• Joseph Phillip Haffey  [Dropbox] 
• Adjala, Ontario, Canada  [Dropbox] 

Joseph Phillip Haffey

Joseph was born, not in 1853 although he used that date later in life, but in 1847 or 1848 which is corroborated by the 1851 and 1871 census which lists him as a 22 year old college student. That would agree with a 24 Aug 1848 birthdate, the day itself never being in question.

Joseph was the only one of his family to attend college, and although it is never quite stated in any record it seems likely from the path he took that he was intended to be the family priest.  He attended St. Michael's College in Toronto (now a part of the University of Toronto) and after graduation stayed an additional year as a tutor. He then taught at the public schools for two years.

About 1879 he emigrated to Michigan, settling in Ann Arbor where he attended the University of Michigan School of Law.  Graduating in 1882 he joined the law firm Linchner & Porter, eventually becoming a partner in the firm.

He appears to have been aptly named, Joseph coming from the Hebrew Ioseph meaning to give in abundance.  Known for his honesty and integrity,  he gave of himself and did not let the pursuit of power or money take over his practice of the law.

While this earned him the respect of his colleagues, it did not always cushion him from the realities of the practice of law.  He was quick to tell his sons not to follow him into the practice.

Mary was not as respectful of his decision to stay low key and not pursue power and riches.  Perhaps it was the childhood of hearing stories of the mill that should have been in the family, or the poverty she had endured that caused her to always want more.  Discontent did not lead to a happy life and it seems that there was a sad aura over the family.

Joseph was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  In the 1894 Bay City Directory he is listed as Vice President of the Bay City chapter

Joseph married Mary Murphy in Port Huron, MI 26 Jan 1888. They had five children, Joseph, Marie, Grace, Thomas and Isabel.


Joseph died on 8 Nov 1917 and is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Bay City.

A memorial in his honor was presented to the Circuit Court of Bay City on 30 Nov 1917 with the request that it be presented to the State Supreme Court.


Link to Haffey Documents, News items and Pictures

Adjala

The website The History of St. James Church: Colgan notes "The settling of Adjala (note: named for the wife of Chief Tecumseth) by Catholic homesteaders can be traced back to the vision and experiences of Bishop Alexander Macdonell. In 1826, he became the first bishop of the newly created diocese of Kingston. It stretched from the Ottawa River in the east, to the Detroit River in the west. As part of a series of missionary visits Bishop Macdonell had the opportunity to learn first hand how fared the lives of the earliest pioneers. He travelled through Adjala and being impressed by the land and its fertile resources, he counselled new immigrants to settle there." (1)

Hoog's Map- County of Simcoe, Ont.  1871

The year 1826 is interesting here, however, as James Keenan first received land in the county in 1824 and other family members were not much later.

The History of Simcoe County notes.... " As in the the other parts of this county, settlement in what people formerly called the wilds of Adjala began at the south end of the township."

 In 1993 Adjala was merged with Tosorontio township and today it is known as Adjala-Tosorontio township.

Loretto  (44°03′00″N 79°53′25″W) is one of the oldest communities in Adjala–Tosorontio, and has one of the oldest and most famous taverns in Simcoe County,

• Canadian Digital Atlas - Adjala
• Street View Maps in Adjala-Tosorontio Township
• Map of Simcoe County 1951 - Archives of Ontario
• Simcoe County on We-Relate
• A history of Simcoe County : Volume II, Its pioneers - Adjala pg 51 Keenan & Haffey

Keenans to Adjala

On 2 Jul 1825 John Keenan, his wife and eight of his children were on the St. Lawrence Steamboat Company's 8th trip up river from Quebec.

According to his petition for land, dated 25 Oct 1825, he and his family had arrived in Quebec in June of that year.  The petition states he was from County Tyrone, Ireland and his wife and ten children had accompanied him. He had taken an oath of allegiance and had not applied for land previously.

Over the next year and a half life was not easy for John and family.  On the 9 of Jun 1827 a further communication with the Lt. Governor of Upper Canada indicates that he has not yet improved the land but begs to be allowed to take it up.  Just one month later there is yet another petition.  In this document he explains that he and his family have been sick and had not been able to leave York to settle on the land.



These documents tell us a lot about John.  He came from Tyrone, he has ten children.  He has a brother, a brother-in-law and a son-in-law who have also settled in Adjala, Upper Canada. Of the ten children nine are known including Ann who married James McKenna, the son-in-law who was living in Adjala in 1827.  The other known children are James, Rose, Sarah, Mary, John, Margaret, Robert and Ellen.

John's brother James settled in Adjala in 1824.  Denis Keenan was also granted land in 1824, but did not take it up until after his regiment (the 68th regiment of foot) left Canada in 1828.  It is not known at this point whether he was another brother, but it seems likely.

We do not know who the brother-in-law was at this point, but it seems likely it might have been John Haydon, who's wife Ann Keenan was born in 1798 and died in Adjala in 1887.  More research is indicated.

John Keenan Land Documents