Matilda (McCleary) Cornwall (1835-1901) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Matilda Cornwall formerly McCleary

Born 1835 in Ireland

Daughter of William McCleary Sr and Sarah Helen (Unknown) McCleary

Sister of William McCleary and Alexander McCleary

Wife of Edward Cornwall — married 17 Jun 1856 [location unknown]

Descendants

Mother of Sarah Helen Cornwall, William Edward Cornwall, Izet Cornwall, George Alexander Cornwall, Emily Marcella (Cornwall) Ashenhurst and James Leonard Cornwall

Died 2 Mar 1901 at about age 66 in 110 Amelia Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Profile last modified 29 Oct 2023 | Created 14 Feb 2012

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1 Biography
2 Sources

Biography

Matilda Cornwall's story is steeped in the rich tapestry of 19th-century migration, resilience, and familial ties. Born in 1835 to William and Sarah McCleary in Ireland, her life journey began amidst a backdrop of historical events that shaped her character and experiences. The family's transatlantic voyage to Canada in 1836, when Matilda was just an infant, marked the start of her connection to a new land filled with promise and opportunities.

Settling in Oakville, Ontario, Matilda's upbringing unfolded against the scenic backdrop of this burgeoning Canadian town. Her proximity to the Cornwall family, evident in both the 1842 and 1851 censuses, would significantly impact her life's trajectory. It was within this close-knit community that her path intertwined with Edward Cornwall, her future husband.

The union between Matilda and Edward in 1856 was a convergence of generations, with an age gap that was noticeable for the time. Their matrimonial bond bore the fruit of six children, a testament to their enduring commitment despite the stark difference in their ages. Matilda's role as a mother was marked by both joy and sorrow, as she navigated the delicate balance of nurturing her family through the births of her children and the heartache of losing some at tender ages.

Upon Edward's passing in 1883, Matilda found herself shouldering the weight of widowhood. Her resilience in the face of this loss was remarkable, as she moved to Toronto and resided on Amelia Street, finding solace in the companionship of her daughter, Emily Ashenhurst. Her abode became a haven where the echoes of her past mingled with the warmth of family ties, preserving a legacy encapsulated within the pages of her cherished Bible.

Her final chapter unfolded in 1901 when she departed from this world, leaving behind a remarkable record of lineage, encapsulated within her Bible—a testament to the interconnectedness of the McCleary, Cornwall, and Ashenhurst families. Matilda's resting place, beside her beloved husband in St. Peter's Cemetery, Erindale, Ontario, serves as a poignant symbol of her life's journey and the enduring bonds she fostered in her time on earth.

Matilda Cornwall's story, an emblem of resilience, love, and the strength forged through familial connections, remains a chapter in the annals of Canadian history, a testament to the pioneering spirit of those who dared to venture across continents in pursuit of a new beginning. (AI)

Birth

Birth of Matilda McCleary

Date: 1835

Place: Ireland

Marriage

Marriage between Edward Cornwall and Matilda McCleary

Date: June 17, 1856

Place:

Witnesses:

Issue

Children of Matilda McCleary and Edward Cornwall

i. Sarah Helen Cornwall, b. Apr 30 1857, Trafalgar South, Ontario, Canada West; d. Aug 31, 1857, Hammondville, Ont, CW

ii. William Edward Cornwall, b. 1859, Trafalgar, Ontario, Canada West; d. Dec 30, 1925, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; In 1884 m. Sarah Isabella Chisholm (1858-1916) in Oakville, Ont; 2 children; In 1907 m. Francis Isabelle Eberts (1864-?)

iii. Izet Cornwall, b. 1860, Trafalgar, Ontario, Canada West; d. Oct 6 1880, Halton, Ont, Canada

iv. George Alexander Cornwall, b. Apr 8 1863, Sheridan, Ontario, Canada West; d. Jan 24 1931, Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario, Canada; In 1890 m. Adeline Louise McGaffin (1868-1965) in Toronto, Ontario; 4 children

v. Emily Marcella Ashenhurst, b. Nov 14 1866, Oakville, Ontario, Canada West; d. Jan 9 1940, Swansea, Toronto, Ontario; In 1887 m. Alexander Ashenhurst (1862-1932) in Oakville, Halton, Ontario; 2 children

vi. James Leonard Cornwall, b. Oct 15 1869, Oakville, Ontario, Canada; d. March 27 1941, Toronto, Ontario; In 1915 m. Jessie Ross Chisholm (1877-1919) in Toronto; No children

Census Data

1842 Upper Canada Census - Trafalgar Twp., Gore County, Ontario^[1]

William McCleary, Weaver - Number of years in the Province 8 (1836); 7 family members from Ireland; Number in family 7; 1 person 14-18y; 1 person 18-21y; 1 person 30-59y; 1 male 21-29; 1 female 14-44

Matilda McCleary would have been one of the unnamed occupants, and one of the people listed as emigrating from Ireland in 1836.

1851 Canada West Census - Easterly part of Halton - Automated Genealogy.^[2]

William MaClaray -- 60 -- 1762, Farmer, born Ireland, Church of Scotland, 1 story log house.

Sarah MaClaray -- 50 -- 1802, born Ireland

Matilda Maclaray -- 18 -- 1834, born Ireland

William Maclaray -- 24 -- 1828, born Ireland

Alexander Maclaray -- 21 -- 1831, born Ireland

(listed as a 1 story frame house a few properties down from the McCleary's, on the same Census page.)

Edward Cornwall -- 51 -- 1803, born Ireland, Farmer, Church of England

Ellen Cornwall -- 54 -- 1799, born Scotland, Church of England

Cornwall, Edward , Farmer, Male, Age 50, Birth Place: Ireland, Religion: Church of England, Anglican, Living in Trafalgar Township, 1851, division 1, page 52

1861 Census^[3] -- Halton, Trafalgar, District # 3, 1 & 1/2 story frame house

Edward Cornwall -- 58 -- 1803, b. Ireland, Farmer, Church of England

M. Cornwall -- 28 -- 1833, b. Ireland, Church of England

Wm. E. Cornwall -- 3 -- 1858, b.Upper Canada, Church of England

(Izet) Cornwall -- 1 -- 1860, b.Upper Canada, Church of England

1871 Census^[4] - Oakville, Dwelling 106, District #38 Halton, Sub-District C, Page 29.

Edward Cornwall -- 70 -- 1801, b. Ireland, Farmer, Church of England

Matilda Cornwall -- 38 -- 1833, b. Ireland

William E. Cornwall -- 12 -- 1859, b. Ontario

Izet Cornwall -- 10 -- 1861, b. Ontario

George A. Cornwall -- 8 -- 1863, b. Ontario

Emily Cornwall -- 4 -- 1867, b. Ontario

James L. Cornwall -- 1 -- 1870, b. Ontario

1881 Census^[5] - Oakville, Halton, District #150, Sub District D, Household 264, p. 61

Edward Cornwall -- 75 -- 1796, b. Ireland, Church of England, Occupation: N/A

Matilda Cornwall -- 46 -- 1835, b. Ireland, Church of England, Occupation: N/A

William E. Cornwall -- 22 -- 1859, b. Ontario, Church of England, Occupation: Finisher

George A. Cornwall -- 18 -- 1863, b. Ontario, Church of England, Occupation: Tinsmith

Emily M. Cornwall -- 14 -- 1867, b. Ontario, Church of England, Occupation: Student

James L. Cornwall -- 11 -- 1870, b. Ontario, Church of England, Occupation: Student

Mary A. O'Neil -- 23 -- 1858, b. Ontario, Roman Catholic, Occupation: Servant

Living with daughter Emily and her husband Alex Ashenhurst in Toronto at the time of the 1891 Census.

1891 Census^[6] - East Toronto, District # 119, S. District 24 St. David's Ward, April 1891

Alex Ashenhurst -- 28 -- 1863, Head, b.Ontario, religion: Church of England, Bookkeeper, father b: Ireland, mother b.: Ireland

Emily Ashenhurst -- 24 -- 1867, wife, b.Ontario, father's birthplace: Ireland, mother's birthplace: Ireland

Matilda Cornwall -- 56 -- 1835, widowed mother-inlaw, b.:Ireland, father's birthplace: Ireland, mother's birthplace: Ireland

Leonard Cornwall -- 21 -- 1870, single brother-inlaw, b.:Ontario, Machinist, father's birthplace: Ireland, mother's birthplace: Ireland

Izet Ashenhurst -- 0 -- 1891, single daughter, b.:Ontario, father's birthplace: Canada, mother's birthplace: Ireland

Death

Death of Matilda Cornwall^[7]

Date: March 16, 1901

Place: Toronto, Ontario

Cause: Rheumatoid arthritis affecting heart

Residence: 110 Amelia St.

Age: 66 (1835)

Marital Status: Widow

Death Notice

CORNWALL - On March 16 at the residence of her son-in-law, Toronto, Matilda Cornwall, wife of the late Edward Cornwall, of Oakville, aged 66 years. (Source: Canadian Champion (Milton, Ont.) 28 March 1901, p. 2, Col. 5)

Burial

St. Peter's Cemetery

Erindale, Mississauga, Ontario

FindaGrave Link

Video

The Ashenhursts

Here is a link to a 2016 YouTube video that chronicles Alexander Ashenhurst, and his son, featuring a 1973 recorded interview of Alexander E. Ashenhurst and his wife, Lois. Includes memories told by Alec Ashenhurst, Peter Joyce and Danford MacKay.

Sources

G.P. MacKay Ahnentafel GM-27, firsthand knowledge Matilda's great great grandson. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Graeme and others.

↑ "Canada, Upper Canada Census, 1842," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KDRN-3LB : accessed 26 Jan 2013), Edward Cornwall, 1842
↑ 1852 Census; Twp of Trafalgar, Halton County, District 1, 6th to 11th concessions from lot 1 to 17; website: http://automatedgenealogy.com/census52/SplitView.jsp?id=7523
↑ 1861 Census - Place: Trafalgar, , Halton, Canada West; Roll: C-1031; Page: 72.
↑ Census Returns for the 1871 Canadian Census. Library and Archives Canada, District 38 Sub-district C, Page 29, Household 106, Reel C-9956
↑ Census Returns for the 1881 Canadian Census. Library and Archives Canada, District 150 Sub-district D, Page 51, Household 264, Reel C-13257
↑ "Canada Census, 1891." index and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed February 17, 2012), entry for Ashenhurst; East Toronto, District # 119, S. District 24 St. David's Ward, roll T-6340, Family No: 22, reference library and archives Canada film 30953_148142; National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
↑ Archives of Ontario. Division Registrar Vital Statistics Records, 1858-1930. MS 940, reels 5-10, 16, 21, 26-27; registration #903. Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Memories: 1

Enter a personal reminiscence or story.

G. MacKay

ALEX Sr. – My mother’s people are all buried up in Erindale.

ALEX Jr. – What’s her maiden name?

ALEX Sr. – Cornwall. And if you go up the hill at St. Peter’s Anglican church there, at Erindale and Mississauga Road, you know, Dundas and Mississauga, go up there, and if you look around you’ll see a couple of flat stones, like they used to bury them under in the the olden days, and may grandfather Cornwall and his wife and their children are all buried there including my uncle Leonard, and my aunt Izet, and I think there was an aunt Helen and maybe two or three others.

LOIS – She was an infant, Aunt Helen.

ALEX Sr. – Yeah. My grandfather Cornwall, he first married someone named Adamson, and I think they had property around Erindale somewhere, and – but then he remarried my grandmother, and he, he must have had six or seven children. And he was an old man when he got married, he must have been pretty good. And uh…

LOIS – Cut that out.

ALEX Sr. – (Laughter) No kidding…

LOIS – He sat in his wheel chair and he threw his shoe at the kids

ALEX Sr. – …my uncle George, my uncle Will, My uncle Leonard, and my mother, and her name is Emily, and sister, whose name was Izet, but he had a couple of other kids I think, you know…

LOIS -- …he’d take his shoe off…but he had about six farms…

ALEX Sr. -- …and he was an old family guy

ALEX Jr. – Oh, he was a farmer, though?

ALEX Sr. – He left them all a farm, when he died he left them all a farm, but I think my mother got gyped out of that somewhere, I think. They sort of took the girls, I guess. Eventually she got some sort of settlement but she wasn’t too happy about it. That’s about what it was.

Source: Alexander E. Ashenhurst (1905-1987) in a conversation recorded in 1975 with his son Alec.

posted 14 Feb 2012 by G. MacKay [thank G.]

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