Minnie Barnes (1866)

Born 1866 in Pickering Township, Canada West

Ancestors

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Biography

Minnie was born on October 7, 1866 in or near Green River, Pickering Township, Canada West. She was probably born on the family farm, “Ballybrownogue.” Her parents were William Barnes (1814-1895) and Nancy McNeely (c1824-1895), both of whom were born in Ireland.

Minnie Barnes married William J. Stark on April 18, 1895.

Att some point they moved to Edmonton. William disappears and Minnie stays on in Edmonton. She was quite eccentrict. She lived in a tiny actic. It isn’t clear what income she had but, in 1948, after the flood in British Columbia, she sent what appeared to be the entire contents of her bank account (a few hundred dollars) to the Nix family who had just moved to the Fraser Valley. The money was returned. She met the family in early 1948 when the train they were travelling on stopped for about a half an hour in Edmonton. She came down to meet the train. Not much else is known about her but, somehow, she was (or had become) quite an artist. To this day, a beautiful painting by her of a lady with a bare shoulder – somewhat reminiscant of English country life – hangs in the living room of Garnet and Molly Nix.

Minnie dies in about 1955.

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Sources

[1] Files of Barbara Paterson (née Barbara Carolyn Boake 1927-2009).

[2] 1881 census, Ontario, Ontario County, Pickering, pg 17, household (?) 83: William Barnes (66), born Ireland, farmer; Nancy (76) [she was 56], born Ireland; Ann (30) [more like 36]; Jane (18); William (17); Minnie (14). It shows all children born in Ireland [they were born in Canada West] The Barnes family is Church of England. In addition to the Barnes, there appears to be three other men living in the household. It is not clear what their relationship is with the Barnes – one is 43-yrs old, one is 70 and one is 76; they all appear to be widowers. Two have “E” showing in the column for occupation which may mean they are employees. The third, the oldest, has “gentleman” for occupation.

[3] Most of the details of the story about Minnie in Edmonton are from Garnet Lansdell Nix, told in May 2012. Garent had met Minnie on a trip out west (probably 1946 or 1947). He went to meet her when he was in Edmonton on a business trip since his mother-in-law (Eva Paterson) was quite fond of her aunt. Garnet says that when he met her, it was obvious that she was quite eccentric.

[4] Minnie Stark Estate - from original letters from Strike & Strike, Bowmanville, Ontario. The estate was settled in October 1955 (cheques were sent to her neice, Eva Paterson, from 1955 to 1957.