Martin Nolan

Biography

Martin was born in Ballykealey Townland, Co. Carlow, Ireland,[1]the oldest son and second child of Edward and Mary Eustace Nolan[2].

The family immigrated to Canada when Martin was about 12. The journey took nine weeks, "a fairly brief journey in those days," according to a report in the Peterborough newspaper given by his brother Laughlin, many years later.[3] The immigrants disembarked at Quebec, and then came by boat down the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, landing at Cobourg. They traveled by land north to Rice Lake and then to "a woods which was later to become Peterborough. There were then three log wood stores . . . and a few log huts in isolated spots. . ."[4] Martin's father obtained land in Douro township, and more children were born and grew up there.

Martin married Margaret Cranley when he was about 22. He obtained a tenancy and raised his family there for a time.[5] In 1852, Ellen Burk was living with the family, perhaps as a domestic. She was to become his future sister in law, marrying his brother James.

By 1861, the family had grown to include seven children, ages 13 to 2 and those over five were attending school.[6] Four more children were born in the next decade.[7] The family was smaller in 1881, as three of the daughters had married.[8]

In 1888, Martin, Margaret, and two of their children--Thomas and Margaret--moved to Michigan, where they later became US citizens. By 1900, Thomas was farming in Chippewa township in Isabella county.[9]

Martin died in 1903 in Chippewa, Michigan at age 82 after an illness of seven months.[10] His obituary includes information that cannot be substantiated. It noted Martin was "a grandson of Lord Eustachius, [Sir Edward Eustace was a leading landlord in County Carlow but he does not appear to be Martin's mother's father] . . ., and a nephew of the late General Laughlin Nolan, one of the heroes of the famous "Charge of the Light Brigade," in the Battle of Balaclava. [Captain Louis Nolan led the Charge of the Light Brigade, but no connection to this Nolan family has yet been found. Louis Nolan's father was John Babington Nolan, who served for a time as a commander in Upper Canada.] . . .

The obituary noted, "In politics Mr. Nolan was a staunch Conservative."[11]

Martin is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

The website Eustace Families Association discusses some of the Eustace families who were prominent in Co. Carlow over the years. None of those listed appears to be a possible father of Mary Eustace, Martin's mother. McGowan-38 23:24, 23 August 2013 (EDT)

Sources

↑ E-Mail Message Author: Roger Nowlan, "Nolan-Eustace Line from Douro area, area of Peterborough, Ontario," 8 Apr 2005 ↑ "Death of Mr. Martin Nolan," Peterborough Review Peterborough, ON, CA, 14 April 1903. ↑ "One of the Oldest Residents in Peterboro Came Here When the City Was a Hamlet," Peterborough Examiner, 7 Dec 1918. ↑ "One of the Oldest Residents in Peterboro Came Here When the City Was a Hamlet," Peterborough Examiner, 7 Dec 1918. ↑ 1851 Census, Canada West, Peterboro County, Douro, p. 25 ↑ 1861 Canada Census, Douro Township, Peterboro, p. 19 ↑ 1871 Census, East Peterboro, Douro, p. 12 ↑ 1881 Canada Census, Peterborough, Douro Township, p. 56 ↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11901-2067-62?cc=1325221 : accessed 16 Aug 2014), Michigan > Isabella > ED 64 Chippewa township > image 14 of 24; citing NARA microfilm publication T623. ↑ Peterborough Review, April 14, 1903. ↑ Death of Mr. Martin Nolan," Peterborough Review Peterborough, Ont., Canada, 14 April 1903. Acknowledgments

Thank you to Meg McGowan for creating WikiTree profile Nolan-602 through the import of EdwNoldesc.ged on Mar 20, 2013.

Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Meg and others.