Mary Houlihan

Mary Houlihan identified as the mother of Frank Dwyer; Marriage certificate for Frank and Loretto Dwyer (3 Oct 1905,) lists Frank's birthplace as Douro, Ontario (in Peterborough county), and lists his parents as John A. Dwyer and Mary Houlihan Dwyer.

Mary Houlihan identified as the mother of Frances C. Dwyer: marriage certificate on FamilySearch.org. Frances C. Dwyer of 35 Emma St. Rochester; born in Peterborough, Ont.; 32 years old; Trained nurse; parents John A. Dwyer born in Canada and Mary Houlihan born in Canada; married: Bernard O'Reilly of 30 Frank St., Rochester N.Y.; 46 years old; Undertaker; parents Bernard O'Reilly born in Ireland and Ellen M. Murphy born in Ireland. The marriage took place on 18 Jul 1911 in Rochester.

Jun 2, 1844: Birth of Mary noted on Baptismal Record from Cobourg, October 1844 - Mary OLynn "On the 7th inst I the undersigned have baptised Mary born the 2nd June last of the lawful marriage of Thos OLynn & Frances Quinn. Sponsors Owen O'Connor & Catherine Quinn." [Note: OLynn is an alternate spelling of Houlihan]FamilySearch.org, Ontario, Roman Catholic Church Records, 1760-1923, Northumberland, Cobourg, St. michael, Baptisms, marriages, burials 1843-1864, Image 18

1851 Census of Canada, Peterborough County, Harvey and Smith subdistrict: Thomas Hollohon (transcribed as Hollokon on Ancestry.ca) 28 farmer, Frances Hollohon 25, children Mary 8, John 6, Hanna 3, and Margaret 1.

1861 Census of Canada: Mary Houlihan, 16 is the eldest child of Thomas Houlihan, 37, a yeoman born in Ireland, and Frances Houlihan, 34, born in Upper Canada. They are living in Smith, Peterborough with 7 other children: John, 14, a labourer; Hannah, 12; Margaret, 9; Frances, 7; James, 4; Thomas, 2; and Patrick, 1

1871 - Marriage record from the Peterborourgh Roman Catholic Diocese Registers, Film # 1304895 states, "At St. Peter's church, Peterborough, by the Rev. Father Lynch, on the 13th instant, Mr. John Dwyer, second son of Dennis Dwyer, Esq., of Douro, to Mary, eldest daughter, of Thomas Houlihan, Esq., of Smith. Feb. 17, 1871." So, the John and Mary Dwyer in the 1871 census, below, who were married in Feb. of 1871 and were living with Denis Dwyer are the same people. This marriage record confirms that Mary Houlihan was the daughter of Thomas Houihan of Smith seen in the 1861 census below.

1871 Census of Canada: John and Mary Dwyer are listed as having been married in February, 1871. John is 26, Mary is 25. They are living in Douro with John's parents, Denis and Mary Dwyer and John's younger brother, Michael, 23. Denis is a farmer and John and Michael are labourers.

1881 Census of Canada: John and Mary "Dewire", both 36, are living in Peterborough East with 4 children: Dennis Francis (9), Rose Mary (7), Thomas Joseph (5), and Francis Claria (2). "Dennis" Francis is my grandfather, Frank, but his name was Joseph Francis, not Dennis Francis.

1891 Census of Canada: John A. Dwyer(47) and Mary Dwyer (46) are living in Peterborough Town with children Francis (19), Rose M. (17), Thomas J. (15), and Frances C. (12).

1901 Census of Canada: John "Dayer" (57) and Mary Dayer (56) are living in Peterborough Town with daughter M. Rose (27). Birthdates were included in the 1901 census. Mary's birthdate is given as 2 Jun 1844. All of the censuses say that Mary was born in Ontario.

1888 to 1907 John A. Dwyer is living at 375 Sherbrooke in Peterborough (Peterborough City directories) Presumably Mary was living with him but wives were not listed in the directories.

1908 - In the obituary for John Dwyer it says his daughter Rose and wife Mary lived in Toronto. John was living in Alberta. He had moved there about a year and a half earlier. It would appear that John Dwyer went west to Alberta where their son Thomas Joseph lived and Mary Houlihan and their daughter Rose went to Toronto to live. Their daughter Frances was already living in Rochester.

1909-1910 - Toronto City Directory: Miss Rose Dwyer is living at 32 McKenzie Crescent with her mother, Mary and Frank and Loretto and their two children. So, Mary Houlihan was living with her son Frank and family in Toronto from 1909 to 1910.

Mary and Rose do not appear in any subsequent Toronto City Directories or the 1911 Census of Canada. At some point between 1910 and 1911, they moved to Rochester, N Y. Mary, Frances and Rose are listed in the Rochester City Directory living at 35 Emma. "Mary, widow John A." is listed as the homeowner and Rose and Frances are boarding. Frances' marriage took place on 18 Jul 1911, so Mary and Rose had moved there prior to 18 Jul.

Rochester City Directories: 1912, Mary and Rose are still at 35 Emma St;

1913, Mary and Rose are living at 35 Ripley;

1914, they are not listed;

1915, Mary and Rose are boarding at 176 Canterbury which is where Frances and her husband, Bernard O'Reilly live.

1916 to 1919, Rose and Mary remained with Frances and Bernard at 176 Canterbury.

1920 Rochester City Directory lists Mary, widow of John A. died Sept. 28, 1919. Rose remained with Frances.

Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Rochester has a "Rose Mary Dwyer" age 89, buried on 08 Jun 1963 and a "Mary Dwyer" age 74, buried on 03 Nov 1919. They are in adjacent plots. It seems likely that these individuals are Mary Houlihan and her daughter Rose Dwyer. There is over a month between Mary's date of death as reported in the Rochester City Directory and her date of burial as reported by Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery. Not sure why the wait between death and burial, but I do think this is our Mary Houlihan.