Catherine Speiran

From her Obituary:
Catherine Died on a Thursday in her 98th year, at the residence of her son George, Blanshard, as the result of a bruise which she sustained from a fall on the preceding Friday causing inflammation of the lungs, which is the immediate cause of her death.

Her remains were followed to St. Mary's Cemetery by a large concourse of relatives and friends not withstanding a constant down pour of rain.

The deceased who was born Catherine Long, was born in Ballykelly, Limerick Co., Ireland about 7 miles from the city of Limerick Ireland in the year 1797 and at 21 years of age married John Spearin. They went to Baybush, where he gained there a livelihood in Carpentering. Thinking, however, they could better themselves in America they came to Montreal in 1819, but losing their eldest child they became disheartened and went back to Ireland the following year. They remained in Ireland 30 years farming on a rented farm under the Earl of Dunraven. In 1850 they again crossed the Atlantic to Montreal, thence by boat to Toronto, thence by a lumber wagon along a marked track through the woods to the site of her late home. At this time there were but three houses in St. Mary's.

Her husband died 13 years ago at the good old age of 84.

They had 12 of a family, 8 of whom are living. They are:

• 1) Mrs. Wm Downey. Essay tp, Cimcoe Co;
• 2) Hartwell Spearin, tp Grey, Huron Co;
• 3) Luke Spearin, tp Grey, Huron Co;
• 4) Mrs. Richard Switzer, Blanchard;
• 5) Mrs. M. H. Alfred, London;
• 6) Mrs. Thos Robinson, tp Howick, Huron Co;
• 7) George Spearin, Blanchard;
• 8) Mrs. Elwin Sparling, tp Howick, Huron Co.
  
  

Deceased had at the time of her death 8 children, 75 grandchildren, and 57 great grandchildren ;living, making a total of 140 living descendants. All her children living, save one, attender her funeral. Six of her grandsons were pallbearers.

Deceased was an earnest Christian and a consistent member of the Methodist church, and the call for her to join her departed companion among the blessed throne were a welcome one.

Pneumonia, 5 days... lung injury from a fall according to obit

• Naturalization: Ireland - Quebec, Canada - 1823
• Naturalization: Quebec, Canada - Ireland - 1824
• Naturalization: Ireland - Perth County, Ontario, Canada - 1849
• Residence: Bally Kille, Limerick, Limerick, Ireland - 1797
• Residence: Quebec, Canada - 1823 - 1824
• Residence: Ireland - 1824 - 1849
• Residence: Perth County, Ontario, Canada - 1849
• Residence: Blanchard, Perth South, Ontario, Canada - 1881
• Residence: Perth County, Ontario, Canada - 1895
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 13 2018, 1:24:03 UTC

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• Residence: Jan 12 1852 - Blanchard, Perth, Canada West, Canada
• Religion: Episcopal (Épiscopal)
  • Reference: 1851 Canada Census - SmartCopy: Mar 25 2019, 2:16:54 UTC

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• Residence: Apr 2 1871 - Blanchard, Perth South, Ontario, Canada
• Race: Irish (Irlandais)
• Religion: Church of England (Église d'Angleterre)
  • Reference: 1871 Canada Census - SmartCopy: Dec 9 2019, 22:00:41 UTC

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• Residence: 1861 - Blanshard, Perth, Canada West (Ontario), Canada
  • Reference: 1861 Canada Census - SmartCopy: Dec 9 2019, 22:02:06 UTC

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• Residence: Jan 12 1852 - Blanchard, Perth, Canada West, Canada
• Religion: Episcopal (Épiscopal)
  • Reference: 1851 Canada Census - SmartCopy: Dec 9 2019, 22:06:32 UTC

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