Last Day of Our Mom & Daughter Road Trip

We spent time at the Flamborough Archives located in the Waterdown Library. Here we were helped two wonderful volunteers who brought out land books from the back shelves. We found the entries for William Stewart who was on Con 5 Lot 5 & Lot 8. As well we looked up the McGowan family whose connection to us is through William’s wife Mary Loftus. Other surnames on the radar were Kenny and Doyle so we had a look at them as well. All these families lived on the Brock Rd. in West Flamborough, Wentworth Co. This area had such a heavy concentration of Irish settlers and that it was dubbed “Little Ireland”. The 1840s-1850s  when the William Stewart’s family was living in the area means there are few records to be found outside of census, church and land records but it was great to visit the Archives after communicating via email over the years.

Another stop on our adventures was to pay respects at the grave of John McMahon. John was a deaf-mute who I wrote about, a brother to Michael, Cornelius and Edward he spent over 30 years institutionalized in the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital. A chilly walk through the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Section ‘S’ left us saddened that John’s his final resting spot was not marked.

It felt so important to me to make this journey to remember him.

Section S in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

We also made sure to visit what remains of the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital John’s home for so many years. (here we tried out the selfie stick, I think we need some lessons)

The trip has been fantastic, met family, toured Ontario and most importantly spent an amazing week one on one with my mom!

Shoutout goes to my husband who is at home managing work and kids. I am guessing he is already planning his next golf trip!

Cheers!