West Hawkesbury Concession 4 Lot 19

Date: 5 Apr 1810
Location: West Hawkesbury, Prescott Co., Upper Canada

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Early Land Transfers 3 The McNally Family Farms 3.1 The McNally Farm (1829-1842) 3.2 The James McNally Farm (1842-1876) 3.2.1 The James Clark Cheney Farm (1877-1890) 3.3 The John McNally Farm (1842-1875) 3.3.1 The Henry McNally Farm (1875-1883) 3.3.2 The Joseph Howes Jr. Farm (1884-1886)

Introduction

This page was created to recount the history of some ancestral farms on Lot 19, Concession 4 (Henry P.O.), West Hawkesbury, Prescott Co., Ontario, Canada. This will be done through reviewing relevant land transfers and agricultural surveys.

This lot can be seen on the 1862 Map of the counties of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Prescott & Russell, Canada West created from actual surveys under the direction of H.F. Walling. One can zoom way in on this map and see some of the occupants of each lot. J. McNally is probably John and Jas. McNally (printed on the Longueuil side of the township line) is probably Rev. James.

Early Land Transfers

Date	Transaction	Grantor	Grantee	Description	Sources
10 Apr 1810	Initial Grant	Crown	Zachariah Long	All 200 Acres	LRO 46-Prescott, Abstract Parcel Register Book, West Hawkesbury, Lot No. 19 Conc. 4, page 1

The McNally Family Farms

In his autobiography, Rev. James McNally states that, in 1829, he bought 54 acres of land from Chauncey Johnson and he resided there for the rest of his life. The land records show that it was much more complicated than a simple purchase:

The McNally Farm (1829-1842)

It appears that brothers James McNally and John McNally formed a joint partnership to purchase and operate a farm. A jointly run farm would have allowed James to pursue his vocation as a preacher, later ordained minister, while John would have managed the farm during James' frequent absences. The pair needed a mortgage to make the purchase.

Date	Transaction	Grantor	Grantee	Description	Sources
26 Jun 1829	Bargain and Sale	Chauncey Johnson & Elizah Kellogg	James McNally & John McNally	Land west of the post road (today's Cassburn Rd.) excluding some existing properties (108 acres, 2 roods and 3 perches) for 126 pounds	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 4, Folios 216 to 218, Memorial 962
26 Jun 1829	Mortgage	James McNally & John McNally	Chauncey Johnson & Elizah Kellogg	81 pounds 8 shillings and 3 pence for above property, payable via 3 promissory notes. 1st payment of 15 pounds 14 shillings and 4 pence (+ interest) due 1 May 1830; 2nd payment of 32 pounds 16 shillings and 10 pence (+ interest) due 1 May 1831; and 3rd & final payment of 32/16/10 (+ interest) due 1 May 1832.	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 4, Folios 218 to 220, Memorial 963
15 Apr 1834	Discharge of Mortgage	Chauncey Johnson & Elizah Kellogg	James McNally & John McNally	A memorial that the mortgage was paid off.	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 7, Folio 22, Memorial 1891

In 1838, John McNally and his wife, Anna, separated. To ensure support for their children (Samuel Edward McNally, Eliza Allis McNally and John Dawson McNally), John and Anna agreed to place their stake in the joint farm into a trust. When Anna passed away in 1841, the trust was dissolved and the stake returned to John's control. However, the whole episode probably led John and James to dissolve the partnership and divide the farm evenly between them. James took the half adjacent to the West Hawkesbury-Longueuil township line while John took the half adjacent to the Post Road (now Cassburn Road).

Date	Transaction	Grantor	Grantee	Description	Sources
5 Oct 1838	Quit Claim	John McNally and Anna McNally	Trust managers: George Cross, William Dunning and Samuel Bloss	Memorial of the transfer of John's stake in the joint farm into a trust on behalf of their children	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 8, Folios 216 to 218, Memorial 2752
24 Feb 1842	Quit Claim	Trust managers: George Cross and others	John McNally	Memorial of the transfer of the stake in the joint farm from the trust back to John McNally	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 9, Folios 351 & 352, Memorial 3770
15 Nov 1842	Quit Claim	John McNally	James McNally	Memorial of the transfer of the stake in the west half of the joint farm from John McNally to James McNally	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 9, Folios 353 & 354, Memorial 3771
15 Nov 1842	Quit Claim	James McNally	John McNally	Memorial of the transfer of the stake in the east half of the joint farm from James McNally to John McNally	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 9, Folios 354 & 355, Memorial 3772

The James McNally Farm (1842-1876)

Between 1863 and 1871, Emily Cheney (with husband Nelson and their children) moved in with her parents, Rev. James and Hannah. Presumably, Emily and Nelson assisted her parents with management of the farm and home.

• On the 1871 Census Schedule 4 ("Agricultural"), James' farm is described as follows:
  • 45 acres, 45 acres improved, 23 acres in pasture
  • 2.5 acres of spring wheat (15 bushels); 80 bushels of oats; 22 bushels of peas; 3 bushels of beans; and 35 bushels of corn
  • 2 acres of potatoes (350 bushels)
  • 10 acres of hay (6 tons)

When Rev. McNally passed away 10 Feb 1873, he bequeathed the farm to Emily and Nelson. After the will cleared probate in 1876, Emily and Nelson sold the farm to their son, James.

Date	Transaction	Grantor	Grantee	Description	Sources
1 Apr 1876	Will	James McNally	Emily Cheney and Nelson Cheney	James' farm in West Hawkesbury (54 acres, 1 rood and 1.5 perches)	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 39, Folios 318 to 320, Memorial 653
19 Feb 1877	Bargain & Sale	Nelson Cheney and Emily Cheney	James Clark Cheney	Their inherited farm in West Hawkesbury (54 acres, 1 rood and 1.5 perches) for $2000	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 39, Folios 534 to 536, Memorial 779

The James Clark Cheney Farm (1877-1890)

Date	Transaction	Grantor	Grantee	Description	Sources
15 Nov 1890	Bargain & Sale	James Clark Cheney and Elizabeth Cheney (also referencing Nelson Cheney and Emily Cheney)	Andrew Milne	The farm in West Hawkesbury (54 acres, 1 rood and 1.5 perches) for $1200	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 88, Folios 78 & 79, Memorial 2347

At this point, the original James McNally farm was no longer in the greater McNally family.

The John McNally Farm (1842-1875)

• On the 1861 Agricultural Census, John's farm is described as follows:
  • 54 acres; 35 acres under cultivation; 19 acres crops; 15 acres pasture; 1 acre orchard or garden; 19 acres wood or wild
  • Value of farm = $1000; equipment = $40
  • 1.5 acres spring wheat (26 bushels); 6 acres oats (200 bushels); 2 acres buckwheat (30 bushels); 2 acres Indian corn (50 bushels); 2 acres potatoes (300 bushels); 50 bushels carrots; 5 tons hay

• On the 1871 Census Schedule 4 ("Agricultural"), John's farm is described as follows:
  • 54 acres, 50 acres improved, 4 acres in pasture, 1 acre of orchard/garden
  • 5 acres of spring wheat (35 bushels); 150 bushels of oats; 5 bushels of beans; 30 bushels of buckwheat; and 50 bushels of corn
  • 3 acres of potatoes (700 bushels)
  • 8 acres of hay (12 tons)

Following the death of his brother, James, John sold his farm to his son, Henry McNally, for $1000.

Date	Transaction	Grantor	Grantee	Description	Sources
22 May 1875	Bargain and Sale	John McNally	Henry McNally	54 acres, 1 rood and 1.5 perches for $1000	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 39, Folios 195 to 197, Memorial 584

The Henry McNally Farm (1875-1883)

After eight years, Henry sells the farm to Harrison Cross, who apparently sells it to Henry's brother-in-law, Joseph Howes Jr.

Date	Transaction	Grantor	Grantee	Description	Sources
4 Feb 1880	Quit Claim	Henry McNally (with agreement of wife Fanny McNally)	Matilda Bottom (wife of Moses Parier)	.25 acres for $100	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 55, Folios 299 to 300, Memorial 1043
7 Apr 1883	Quit Claim	Henry McNally (with agreement of wife Fanny McNally)	Tousant Gascon	.25 acres for $100	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 66, Folios 241 & 242, Memorial 1481
5 Dec 1883	Bargain and Sale	Henry McNally (with agreement of wife Fanny McNally)	Harrison Cross	54 acres, 1 rood and 1.5 perches plus 16 acres acquired separately for $2000	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 66, Folios 181 to 183, Memorial 1440
28 Dec 1883	Mortgage	Harrison Cross and Rachael Cross	Henry McNally	$1400 to be paid in two installments - $700 & interest on 28 Dec 1885, and $700 & interest on 28 Dec 1886	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 66, Folios 186 & 187, Memorial 1442
4 Apr 1884	Bargain and Sale	Harrison Cross (with agreement of wife Rachael Cross)	Joseph Howes	55 acres (mortgaged) for $1400	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 66, Folios 268 & 269, Memorial 1500
4 Apr 1884	Bargain and Sale	Harrison Cross (with agreement of wife Rachael Cross)	William J Howes	14 acres for $950	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 66, Folios 299 & 300, Memorial 1524
2 Mar 1888	Discharge of Mortgage	Henry McNally	William J Howes	Acknowledgement that the mortgage has been paid	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 78, Folio 276, Memorial 1964

The Joseph Howes Jr. Farm (1884-1886)

Joseph and Sarah Howes never moved to this farm and resold it to Joseph's nephew James Robert Howes.

Date	Transaction	Grantor	Grantee	Description	Sources
6 Mar 1886	Bargain and Sale	Joseph Howes & wife	James R Howes	50 acres for $1450	LRO 46-Prescott, Land Records, Volume 66, Folios 588 & 589, Memorial 1700

At this point, the original John McNally farm was no longer in the greater McNally family.