Maria Leonard

Informed by John Wright of Barrie that Maria was the daughter of Samuel French (1788-1852) and Sarah Hale (1793-1862), which was confirmed by her death register. Maria's father had received a free land grant for some military service and the Frenches subsequently became mill owners in Waverley, Ontario. Cause of death simply marked "A" !

Maria is conspicuously absent from the 1871 Tiny Twp. Census ( Div.1, p.14), although according to her tombstone inscription she was not dead until 1878. Was she institionalized? Or was she just helping out with a newborn grandchild? Husband George was originally recorded as being married in this census, and in the remarks column was added "wife in parts unknown." His marital status was subsequently written over as "widowed," an obvious error.