Sunday, April 26, 2015

The Dowker - Hardy Family of Dundalk and Beyond



The family of Oswald Hardy and Louisa McGovern

Oswald Hardy was born in County Louth on 22 December 1861, and christened on 5 January 1862 in the parish of Charlestown.  He died on the 28th of February, 1956 at the age of 94.  Oswald married Louisa McGovern of Newry, when he was 32 years old, and the wedding took place on the 26th of March, 1894 in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. 

Louisa McGovern was born on the 1st of August, 1856. She was the daughter of Samuel McGovern and Ellen Dodd. At the time of her birth, her parents were living at Corry Square, Newry, and Samuel was a station master. At the time her marriage, her family had moved to Clonmel, and her father was a clerk, while she is registered as a dressmaker.

Oswald and Louisa settled in Dundalk.[2]   By 1911, they had eight children. According to the census for Ireland, the family belonged to the Church of Ireland. 


click on images to enlarge

The Hardy Family (1906)
Oswald and Louisa (standing)
Harold and Sidney
Wilfred, Ida, Olive, Alice Ethel (standing), Frederick

Alice Ethel Hardy, MBE


Sidney, Harold and Wilfrid all served in the First World War.




Oswald and Louisa were honoured with a photograph in the 1955 edition of Dundalk's annual, The Tempest, in the celebration of their Diamond Jubilee wedding anniversary.





Ida May Hardy is seated to the right of the flag
Ida married Donagh O'Brien (seated below the flag)
The photo. taken in 1915, shows a 'Pierrot Show' performed to raise funds for the war wounded.
Follow this link to read about Donagh O'Brien's Family


Oswald Hardy was a Clerk of Petty Sessions (CPS), a civil service position he assumed sometime in his thirties[16]  The duties of the clerk are outlined in the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act of 1851.  In 1903, Oswald was also appointed Commissioner of Oaths (Affidavits) for the Dundalk district.[17]  In addition to his court work, he appears to have been involved with the Irish Fisheries and with beekeeping. Oswald was either an inspector of fisheries, or was on the Dundalk Board of Conservators at the Fishery Office in Dundalk, from around 1916 to 1943. The Dundalk district of Irish Fisheries covered an area from Donaghadee to Clogherhead. In this context, it is interesting to note that Oswald appears to have had an earlier (1904) commercial interest in oysters and oyster beds. He was also the district secretary of the Irish Bee Keeping Association, kept hives, and sold honey.

Source: Wills (1916) National Archive of  Ireland

The probate record of Mary Jane McKenna contained a valuable lead in recovering the family history of Oswald Hardy.  We know from several sources that Oswald lived on Seatown Place, and it appears that Mary Jane lived under his roof in her old age.[15]  Mary Jane McKenna was Oswald's maternal aunt.


The family of Henry Hardy and Sarah A. McKenna

Mary Jane McKenna (ca. 1833-1916) was the sister-in-law of Henry Hardy.  Henry was Oswald's father.  Henry Hardy, born about 1833 in Driffield, (East Riding) Yorkshire, England, was the son of John Dowker and Elizabeth Hardy.

Henry married Sarah A. McKenna, daughter of Bernard McKenna, in the Townland of Charlestown, Co. Louth, on 3 November 1860. The marriage record shows that the were both residents of Lisrenny Townland. Harry's profession is described as a 'whipper-in' of the Louth Hounds. The Louth Hunt Club was formed in 1817. His father's occupation was a 'huntsman'. Bernard McKenna is described as a 'servant', and it seems they all worked on the Lisrenny Estate.


Sometime between their marriage in 1860 and the completion of the British census in 1871, Henry and Sarah moved to England with their family, and were living in Croxton, Cambridgeshire.  Eventually, they returned to Haggardstown, Co. Louth.  Henry was also known as Harry.


Sarah McKenna Hardy

In addition to Oswald, their oldest child, Henry and Sarah had the following children:
Henry was a well-known huntsman [see also 1853], who apparently followed in his father's footsteps. In 1859 / 1860, we find him at the Curraghmore Hunt as a whip in the employ of Henry Briscoe.  He left there to work for Capt. William de Salis Filgate of Lisrenny House as first whip and kennel huntsman (see 1865).  Between 1871-1873, Henry was huntsman at Croxton Park (Cambridgeshire), having left the Louth Hunt, and it was during this time that his son, John Maxwell, was born.  Henry, subsequently, returned to Ireland to resume working for Filgate, and became part of the 'Louth establishment'.   In 1877188018831885 we find Henry still as whip and kennel huntsman (K.H.) at the Louth Hunt (see Louth Hounds).

Sarah died in 1924 at the age of 83. Henry died in 1911 at the age of 76.


Elizabeth Hardy Dowker

The Family of John Dowker and Elizabeth Hardy and their Migration to Canada


Henry's parents, John Dowker and Elizabeth Hardy were married on 12 September 1825 in Terrington, Yorkshire. John Dowker was born on February 3, 1804. Elizabeth Hardy was born on Christmas Day 1804.  Her father was Phineas Hardy of Terrington. [3]  John Dowker died on 27 June 1882 at Galt, Ontario. He was 78. Elizabeth died soon after on 12 September 1882. She was 77.

All Saints Church, Terrington
Photo credit: Colin Hinson


In addition to Henry, John and Elizabeth had the following children:


The abovementioned children were born in Terrington, North Riding, Yorkshire. The family was still living in the village (aerial view) in 1841.  However, the family does not appear in the 1851 census (England), but some of the family appear in the 1851 census (Canada), living in Hamilton City, Ontario.

It seems likely that the Thomas Dowker mentioned in the Canadian census was Henry Thomas Dowker, who was apparently named after his paternal uncle. This older Henry Thomas Dowker was born at Oswaldkirk in 1806, the son of George Woodcock Dowker and Mary Woodlam Chambers [1], who were married in July 1801.  He would have been the younger brother of John Dowker, who was also of Oswaldkirk (see 'Elizabeth Dowker' below).  The family connection with Oswaldkirk obviously inspired Henry to name his son Oswald.

According to tradition, some unknown family discord caused Henry to abandon the Dowker name and assume his mother's surname. So far, no legal record for this has been found.  Henry Dowker, henceforth, became Henry Hardy. Apparently, this disaffection caused Henry to leave his family, and migrate from Canada to Ireland.

Henry's siblings:
57 Grand Avenue North built circa 1851

Postcard circa 1910
Source: Toronto Public Library
George built 'Chudleigh'. the family mansion, which was located at 136 Beverley Street, Toronto.

Photo taken circa 1852
Source: Toronto Public Library
click on images to enlarge

Obituary: Acton Free Press (Acton, Ontario) 29 September 1898.
BEARDMORE - On Friday 23rd September, at Chudleigh, Toronto, Elizabeth, widow of the late G.L. Beardmore, Esq., and daughter of John Dowker, Esq. of Oswald Kirk Hall, Yorkshire, England, in her 71st year. 
Acton Free Press
29 Feb 1898
Elizabeth and George are buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto. They and their children were part of Toronto's social elite (Social Blue Book 1913 : 1921).  Many of the young Beardmore men were schooled privately, both in England and at Upper Canada College.
 The children of Elizabeth Dowker (1828-1898) and George Lissant Beardmore:
1 George Wathen Beardmore  (1851-1934)
(burial) (cemetery) (headstoneGeorge was also the Master of Fox Hounds at the Toronto Hunt Club, which he helped found. (fox hunting accident) (railway business interests). He was President of the Canadian National Horse Show for 18 years and Canadian Director of the International Horse Show in London for 25 years. He did not marry, but took over Chudleigh on the death of his father.
George W. Beardmore (red coat) with HRH Prince of Wales 
Royal Visit to Canada 1924
source: Parkwood Estates
George W. with Lily Livingston, whose Pontiac Farms east of Cobourg
were renowned in horse-racing circles
Source: City of Toronto Archives

George Wathen Beardmore
 2 Walter Dowker Beardmore (30 October 1849- died 23 May : burial 25 May1915
burial (obit 1) (obit 2) (obit 3) (obit 4).  (Beardmore & Co. partnership) (Acton Tanning) (Mutual Life Assurance of Canada Director) (co-founder of Dominion Leather Co.). He lived at 174 Beverley St., Toronto.
He married Melinda Elizabeth Williams (1854-1923). His estate was valued at over 1.5 million dollars (1915 value). Overseas travel: 25 July 1896 ; 17 March 1907 ; August 1913
Harness (1915) v. 29

The children of Walter Dowker Beardmore and Melinda Elizabeth Williams are:
 - Frances Constance Beardmore (1875-1956) (obit) married Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill, R.N, and has three children (child   1 ; child 2 (burial) (biography) (obit) ; child 3 (family) (litigation over inheritance)
 George Lissant Beardmore. Born at Toronto on 16 Jul 1877, he was sent to Europe to study singing at music academies in Dresden and Paris. However, upon returning to Toronto in the early 1900s it was made clear that he should 'settle down' and enter the family business. He became tenor soloist at the Church of the Redeemer in Toronto, and came to the notice of several concert managers. In 1907, he started accepting engagements to sing at concerts outside Toronto, and in 1908 made a successful tour of Eastern Canada. He then quit the family business and went to Europe to study as an opera singer. He made his debut on 14 May 1911 as Tannhauser in Hirschberg, Germany. He was appearing in Berlin when the First World War broke out in 1914, and was promptly interned. Within a year he escaped and, reaching Switzerland, cabled his parents "Escaped capture. Lost everything. Enlisting." [22] He then served with the British Secret Service and after the war bought an interest in an English opera company that toured the provinces. In 1930 he started taking flying lessons. The following year the Daily Mail newspaper announced a prize of £10,000 to the first man to fly across the English Channel in a glider. George personally designed and supervised construction of a glider, and on 19 Jun 1931 was towed to a height of 14,000 ft above Dover by a light aircraft, then cut loose and headed for France. Despite extreme cold and thick cloud, about a half-hour later he landed safely at the small French airfield of St-Inglevert. He was then aged 53, rather stout and needed strong glasses to read the cockpit compass! The British Gliding Association refused to recognise George's achievement, because he had not made a round trip, that honour going to the Austrian, Kronfeld, for his flights on 1 Jul 1931. George purchased a light aircraft in 1934, and was killed when he crashed it on 2 Jun 1936. (source) (See:  The Brisbane Courier 22 June 1931Lawrence Journal 20 June 1931 ; Ottowa Citizen 3 June 1936 ; Pittsburg Press 20 June 1931) ; The Glider ; accident ; bio ) . Musical career: Die Musik ; Musical Times 1920 ; Musical Canada

 Lissant Beardmore in the Prokssor of the first Channel crossing. He crossed from England to France on the day before the contest. His efforts were unsubstantiated and it is not known how far he was towed. However, he left England on tow and landed in France off tow. So, to him must go the honour for having made the first trans-channel flight on the 19th June 1931. He is reported to have been towed to 12,000 ft. Source


G. Lissant Beardmore
Source

  Walter Williams Beardmore (1880-1935) (burial). In 1900, he lived in Toronto, and attended Toronto University (class of 1901).  Walter married Edith Katherine Mackenzie, daughter of Sir William Mackenzie. (Railway King of Canada).  (engagement) Children: PatriciaElizabeth. (See: Toronto World 1913) ; son.  Edith sails on the Lusitania.
source: Shoe & Leather Journal 1908

 Charles Owen Beardmore  (1882-1916) Attended University of Toronto class of 1906, while living at 200 College Street. He was buried with his father.  Lieut. C. O. Beardmore went to South Africa as an officer of the 6th Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles (source), and was an officer in the 10th Infantry Regiment (militiaRoyal Grenadiers. His regimental number was 4654. Under the Volunteer Bounty Act of 1908, Charles was entitled to 320 acres of Dominion Land. The 6th Regiment did not see action, arriving in Capetown on 8 June.  The London Times reported that Charles left South Africa onboard the SS Goth  on 5 August 1902, with other members of the Canadian Mounted Infantry, bound for Southampton, and due on the 28th August. (See Halifax Garrison)
Lt. Charles Owen Beardmore
Source



Source: Acton Free Press 27 July 1916

Adelaide Mary Clemency Beardmore born 26 June 1885 ; died 18 May 1891
- Everett Clement Beardmore born 6 January 1888. Attended University of Toronto class of 1912 and living at 200 College Street. On 9 September 1912, he appears to have emigrated to the US, and registered for the military draft in 1917/18 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
3. Frances Elizabeth (1854-1930) married Albert Angus MacDonald, physician and miltary surgeon (bio), on 25 May 1876 (announcement). They are buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.  Their children:  Frances Wharton Gart Macdonald ; Helen Augusta Macdonald ; Albert Angus Macdonald 1877- (Investment Broker) ; Archibald Walker Macdonald.  Archibald  was killed in action on the Somme on 15 September 1916.  He was a lieutenant in the 19th Canadian Infantry (1st Central Ontario Regiment), and, before that, with the 10th Regiment. He is buried at Sunken Road Cemetery, Contalmaison, France. He was killed during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, where he commanded the 3rd platoon. (diary). See: Canadian Virtual War Memorial ; Book of Remembrance.
Lt. Archibald W Macdonald
Source UCC

4. Alfred Owen Beardmore (1859-1946) married twice: Jennie Margaret Gibb Torrance Beardmore (1856 - 1900) and Olive Baird Beardmore (1888 - 1956) :  burial : Member of the Leather Chemists Association (1917) and located at 37 Front St., East, Toronto. Corporate Member of the Toronto Hunt. Chairman of the Tanner's Section of the Toronto Board of Trade. Gold mining interests in British Columbia. Vice-President of Beardmore Belting Co. Winner of Polo Cup (1920)
Alfred Owen Beardmore
Source: Halton Images

Obituary of Jennie M.G. Torrance Beardmore
Souce: Acton Free Press  1 Feb 1900
MANUFACTURER DIES.  TORONTO. June 30. Alfred O. Beardmore, 87, member of a prominent Toronto family, died here today. He was an organizer of the Toronto Polo Club, and for many years president of Beardmore and Company, tanners and leather manufacturers. (Death notice: Ottawa Journal 1 July 1946)
Alfred and Jennie had three children:
Col. Alfred Owen Torrance Beardmore (1886 - 1959) marriageburial  (obit1) (obit2); son: Knox Owen Torrance Beardmore (1915-1937) ; promotion to Lieutenant of the 10th Regiment - Royal Grenadiers (1906) ; First World War Service.

Knox Owen Beardmore
source





Lieut. Gordon Torrance Beardmore ; First World War Service
Mary Frances Torrance Beardmore
Frederick Newman Beardmore
Francis Elizabeth Beardmore death Auguste Adelaide Beardmore
Helen Lissant Beardmore
Nathaniel Lissant Beardmore, who died in infancy




Notes

[1] Parish Register 30 July. Apparently, Mary Chambers died suddenly at the age of 38 in 1812. She was born in 1774.
George Dowker at Oswaldkirk Hall (1813)
[2] 1895: 25 Castle Road ; 1901: 83 Barrack St. ;  1911: 66 Barrack St. ; 1916: 30, Seatown Place
[3] Tentative lineage: Elizabeth Hardy's father, Phineas Hardy was born in 1765 ; his father, 'Phineas / Phinehas', was born in 1720 ; his father, Phineas / Pheneas, was born in 1665 to Thomas Hardy. All of Terrington.
[15] In 1911, at the age of 78, Mary Jane McKenna was a boarder in Dundalk. The McKenna and Hardy families are linked on a Charlestown cemetery inscription (no. 21) [McKENNA – Sacred to the memory of Rachel McKenna who died on the 8th day of December, 1888, aged 84 years. Also Robert Townley, youngest son of Harry and Sarah Hardy, died 9th March, 1889, aged 41/2 years; and Ida, their youngest daughter died 20th March 1889, aged 6 years]. In 1889, the most common causes of death among children were  measles, whooping cough and scarlet fever. Robert Townley Hardy's middle name appears to be in honour of his father's employer, Townley Fane Filgate.
[16] Ravensdale  (1912) (1921)
[17] Dundalk (1912) (1927) (1935) (1943)
[19] Elizabeth (also known as Lily) married Robert Willis Mahood in 1891 in Ardee.  Robert was working away in Donegal in 1901 as a Commercial Clerk (earlier he had been a Mercantile Traveller). Elizabeth joined him by 1911 ;  The 1901 census shows their three children, Robert (Willis), Harry (Alexander) and Flossie (Florence), all born in Newry, and living with their grandparents and mother. By 1911. their son, Robert, was working as a grocer's assistant in Warrenpoint ; Harry was working at Thomas Craig's Drapers and Outfitters in Dundalk, and Flossie remained with her grandparents. While Robert and Elizabeth were living in Donegal, they had John Dowker (born 4/4/1898 ; died 1898) John (born 1904) and Kathleen (born 1907).  Florence married James Ward, and had four children: Edward, Alice, Rosina, and David.
Robert ('Bertie') and his brother, Harry, joined the South Irish Horse during the First World War. Robert was a Private in the 7th Battalion (Royal Irish Regiment). His service number was 1237. He died in the Military Hospital at Tipperary on 10 November 1917, either from injuries incurred on the Western Front or from an illness. He is buried in St. Mary's Church graveyard in Tipperary town. (see also link 1 ; link 2). 
 [20] Sarah married Alexander Mahood, the brother of Robert Willis Mahood [see note 19], in 1893. She died on 17 February 1897, and is buried in Charlestown New Graveyard [no. 20].
[21] married Nannie Bleakly 1898 in Ardee: his family 1911 census.  Nannie is probably Anne Bleakly : See History of Kilsaran. She is living with her in-laws in 1901 along with her husband.
[22] How I Escaped from Germany by Lissant Beardmore in Maclean's Magazine 1915.

















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