Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns

A Chronology of their Descendents in Canada

Circa 1807/08 Francis Skillen is born in Ireland into a Church of Ireland family.

Circa 1812/13 Mary Kerns is born in Ireland into a Catholic family perhaps in County Down.

Circa 1828 Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns probably married in Ireland sometime before the birth of their first child. If they married in 1828 Francis would have been aged 19 or 20 and Mary would have been aged 15 or 16. (No proof has been found of a date and place of marriage.)

1828 Mary Kerns conceives at age 15 or 16.

Feb. 22, 1829 Anne Skillen, first child of Mary and Francis is born in Ireland as indicated on Canadian census. She was probably baptized in a Catholic Church but could also have been baptized in the Church of Ireland. There is some dispute about Anne’s birth date with 1830 and 1832 being suggested while the consensus seems to be 1829.

1830 Four years before Francis and his family arrive in Canada, Philomen Wright is elected a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for the newly named County of Ottawa of which Wakefield and Low Townships are a part. The County had 4, 786 inhabitants of whom 3374 (70%) were men. There were 775 houses in the county in 1830. Philoman Wright was an American who settled the area in 1800.

About 1833 A year before Francis and Mary with their two children arrive in Canada, a rough road is built northward up the Gatineau Valley to the lumber camps.

Jan. 03, 1834 Catherine, second child of Mary and Francis is born in Ireland. She is not baptized in Ireland.

Spring 1834 Francis and Mary with their children, perhaps accompanied by family and friends, make their way to a port in Ireland, where they board a wooden passenger ship for Canada. They will have brought clothing, some house wares and tools if they had them, some personal effects and food for the passage. Upward to eight weeks at sea may have been spent by the family before their arrival at the Port of Quebec. They are among the 40,060 immigrants from Ireland who arrived in Canada in 1834. They would have made their way on a smaller vessel to Montreal and by a still smaller craft up the Ottawa River as far as the Chaudiere Rapids at Wright’s Village. They probably disembarked at Wright’s Town near the confluence of the Gatineau River and made their way over a bridge to Bytown.

May 18, 1835 Catherine Skillen is baptized at sixteen months of age. The baptism is recorded in the register of the Catholic Mission church in Bytown which at the time was in the Montreal Diocese. Mary (Kerns) Skillen is about eight months pregnant with her third child when Catherine is baptized. We cannot be certain that the family traveled to Bytown from their homestead. It may be that an Oblate priest passing through the lumber camps was available to baptize Catherine and the baptism was recorded in the registry of the only church serving the region.

June 17, 1835 Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns is born in Bytown. She is the couple’s third child to survive and first to be born in Canada.

July 01, 1835 Elizabeth is baptized in the Catholic mission church in Bytown. Six weeks elapsed between the baptism of Catherine and that of newborn Elizabeth. The baptism is recorded in the registry of the Catholic Church in Bytown.

26 July 1835 Elizabeth Skillen, daughter of Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns is baptized at Christ Anglican Church in Bytown by A.H.Burwell, Anglican clergyman. Witnesses are Francis Skillen and ? Burwell.

Circa 1835 Francis and Mary settle in Wakefield Township, County of Ottawa sometime before the 1841 census on 100 acres of land on Range 11, about a mile or so north of Farrellton.

Circa 1836 James and John twin sons of Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns are born. No records of baptism can be found in the Catholic Church in Bytown where Catherine and Elizabeth were baptized. Since no other churches in the area had been built by 1836, either the records for the Bytown church were destroyed or the infant boys were not baptized in the Catholic Church. It might be that the boys were baptized in a Protestant church or by a Catholic Missionary priest who did not record the baptisms. It might also be that Francis, a Protestant refused to have the boys baptized in the Catholic Church.

1836-37 Logging is being carried out by Hamilton and Lowe Company around the Paugan Falls of the Gatineau River.

July 17, 1839 Margaret, the sixth child of Francis and Mary Skillen is born in Wakefield Township, Ottawa County, Quebec.

Feb. 22, 1840 Margaret is baptized in the Catholic Church in Bytown, Canada West (Ontario).

Btwn1840- 44 Margaret Skillen, daughter of Francis and Mary dies. The date and cause of death as well as the place of interment are unknown.

Jan. 1842 Census for Wakefield Township records that the Skillen family has been in Canada for seven years. They occupy 100 acres in range 11, the north part of lot 3 with 15 acres “improved”. They are living in a log cabin. They have 3 cows, one horse and one hog. In the previous year they produced 20 bushels of wheat, 50 bushels of oats and 300 bushels of potatoes.

Oct. 14, 1842 Maria the seventh child of Francis and Mary Skillen is born in Wakefield Township.

Oct. 18, 1842 Maria is baptized at St. Paul R. C. Church, Aylmer, Canada East (Quebec).

Nov. 6, 1844 Margaret the eighth child of Francis and Mary is born in Wakefield Township.

June 22, 1845 Margaret is baptized in St. Paul Church, Aylmer, Canada East (Quebec).

June 22, 1848 Anne Skillen age 19, daughter of Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns, of Wakefield Township, married in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Old Chelsea, Canada East, Matthew Sennot or Lennot(sic), born about 1815 in Ireland, son of Thomas Sennot and Anne Kinsella, of County Wexford, Ireland (The common spelling for Matthew’s surname is Synnott or Synnot).

May 13, 1849 Letitia, ninth child of Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns is born in Wakefield Township, Ottawa County, Canada East (now Quebec).

June 17, 1849 Letitia Skillen is baptized at St. Stephen Church, Old Chelsea, Canada East (Quebec).

April 5, 1850 Mary, daughter of Matthew and Ann (Skillen) Sinnot is born.

June 10, 1851 Catherine Skillen, age 17, daughter of Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns, of St. Camillus mission, Farrellton, Quebec, marries Denis O’Sullivan age 39. No mention is made of Denis’ parents in the church register. Witnesses to the marriage are Patrick O’Sullivan and Bridget Driscoll. Neither the bride or groom nor the witnesses were able to sign their name in the register.

Dec. 25, 1851 Ellen, tenth child of Mary and Francis Skillen is born in Wakefield Township, Ottawa County, Quebec.

Jan. 25, 1852 Ellen is baptized in St. Camillus Church, at Farrellton in Wakefield Township, Quebec.

January 1852 The Canadian Census of 1851 is not undertaken in Wakefield Township until January, 1852. Francis and Mary Skillen are residing with their children Eliza, 17, John and James 15, Maria 9, Marg 7, Letty 3, and Ellen, who will be age one on her next birthday. Also residing in the house are Catherine Sullivan, age 18 and Denis Sullivan age 39 or 40 which suggests that Denis was born about 1812/13 and he is the same age as his mother in law.

April 11, 1852 Jeremiah, first and only child of Catherine and Denis O’Sullivan is born. Jeremiah is baptized April 13, 1852 in St. Camillus Church. God-parents are James Barry and Bridget Mahoney. Baptismal register records Jeremiah’s surname as O’Sullivan. Subsequent records indicate that as an adult Jeremiah dropped the O’ from his surname.

May 24, 1852 Catherine, daughter of Matthew Sinnot and Ann Skillen is born

April 5, 1854 Francis Sinnot, son of Matthew Sinnot and Ann Skillen is born.

May 8, 1856 Matthew, fourth child of Matthew and Anne (Skillen) Sinnot is born in Lowe Township, Ottawa County, Quebec.

1859 Ann Sinnott, daughter of Matthew Sinnot and Ann Skillen is born.

Census 1861 Canadian Census finds Francis and Mary still residing in Wakefield Township with children Elizabeth age 25, John and James age 23, Maria a spinster aged 19, Margaret aged 15, Letitia aged 10 and Ellen aged 8. James and John are recorded in the census twice. James is identified as a farmer and John as a labourer and they may be living together.The census identifies Mathew Lynnott a farmer born in Ireland, Roman Catholic, age 46 on his next birthday, residing in the Township of Lowe, County of Ottawa with Ann Lynnott, Roman Catholic, born in Ireland, age 29 on her next birthday. The couple have four children including Mary, Catherine, Francis, Matthew and Ann.

After 1861 James Skillen leaves the Gatineau valley and immigrates to the USA. It is believed by some members of the family that James traveled to a western territory of the USA and perhaps to Western Canada.

April 13, 1862 John James Sinnot, son of Matthew and Ann is born.

June 26, 1862 Francis Skillen is granted legal ownership of the 100 acres in range 11, north part of lot 3 in Wakefield Township.

Nov. 5, 1863 Francis Skillen and son John sign an agreement with Francis Farrell to cut on the limit of the Kazabazua Limit on lots 6, 7, 8 and 9 in the first concession of Cawood Township and deliver 600 white pine logs to Mr. Farrell.

1864 Elizabeth, daughter of Ann Skillen and Matthew Sinnot is born in Wakefield Township, Ottawa County, Quebec.

Nov.16, 1864 Margaret Skillen, age 20 daughter of Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns of Wakefield Township marries Flamino Gaspari in St. Paul R. C. Church, Aylmer, Quebec. Parents of the groom are Mangello Gaspari and Maria Angonella. Groom’s place of birth and parish are not given in the church register. St. Paul’s church registry does not record the baptisms of children parented by the couple. Nor is their any indication of the couple having lived in the townships of Wakefield or Low.

March 4, 1865 Patrick Jeremiah, son of Ann Skillen and Matthew Sinnot is born in Wakefield Township, Quebec.

May 21, 1867 Ellen Clarence, daughter of Ann Skillen and Matthew Sinnot is born in Wakefield Township, Quebec.

Census 1871 Canadian census reports Francis and Mary as residing on the same property as their daughter Ann and son-in-law Matthew Sinnott in the Township of Lowe. Francis is described as age 63 and a labourer. Mary Skillen’s age is given as 58 years old. Matthew Sinnette, age 55 is described as a farmer and his wife Anne is 40 years old. Given that Francis is described as a labourer rather than a farmer he may have turned the farm over to his son-in-law. The Sinnette children are described as Mary T. age 20, Catherine M. age18, Francis T. age 16, Matthew C. age14, Annie age 12, John Jas. age10, Ellen age 4 and Lillilur female child age 1.

Census 1871 John Skillen, about age 35, son of Francis and Mary is residing with the John O’Rourke family in Low Township and working as a labourer on Mr. O’Rourke’s farm.

April 13, 1872 Jeremiah Sullivan, age 20, son of Denis O’Sullivan and Catherine Skillen marries Margaret Mahoney, age 20 in St. Camillus Church, at Farrellton, QC. During their marriage the couple has twelve children.

Feb. 7, 1873 Denis Sullivan, first child of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Low Township, QC.

1874 Jeremiah, son of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Low Township.

Sept. 14, 1875 Daniel, son of Jeremiah and Margaret Sullivan is born.

1876 John Thomas, son of William Hickey and Ellen Mahoney, is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Sept 19, 1876 John Skillen, about age 40, son of Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns, of Wakefield Township, Ottawa County, Quebec, marries Ann Sara O’Rourke, daughter of John O’Rourke and Catherine Kilroe (possibly Kilroy), in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec.

June 12, 1877 Martin John, son of John Skillen and Ann O’Rourke is born in Lowe Township, Quebec. He is baptized on June 18, 1877 in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec. Sponsors are Sarah Brennan and Stephen O’Rourke.

July 26, 1877 Catherine Bridget, daughter of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Low Township.

Oct 3, 1878 Letitia Mary Ann, daughter of John Skillen and Anne O’Rourke is born in Lowe Township, Quebec. Mary Anne is baptized October 3, 1878 in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec. God-parents are Daniel Driscoll and Catherine Driscoll

Sept. 23, 1879 Patrick James, son of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Jan. 25, 1880 James Francis Xavier, son of John Skillen and Ann O’Rourke is born in Lowe Township and baptized Jan. 29, 1880. Witnesses were Thomas Brennan and Elizabeth Brennan

Aug. 14, 1880 Mary Sinnot, eldest daughter of Matthew Sinnot and Anne Skillen, marries Hugh Gorman of Buckingham, in Notre Dame Cathedral, Ottawa, Ontario. (Mary Gorman, Jeremiah Sullivan and James Francis Skillen are first cousins.)

About 1880 Matthew Sinnott and his wife Anne Skillen move with their children to Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin Only their daughters Mary Gorman and Annie remain in Canada. Annie goes to reside with her married sister, Mary Gorman in Buckingham.

July 5, 1881 Mary Ann Lyons, daughter of Patrick Lyons and Mary Heffernan (Haveron?) is born in Lowe Township. She is baptized in St. Camillus Church on 24 July, 1881. Witnesses are David Heffernan (Haveron?) and Henrietta Heffernan (Haveron?).

Aug. 17, 1881 John Jeremiah, son of John Skillen and Anne O’Rourke is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Aug. 18, 1881 John Jeremiah Skillen is baptized in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton. Witnesses are Jeremiah Sullivan, cousin and Catherine (Skillen) Sullivan, neither of whom signed the register.

Sept. 22, 1881 John Michael, son of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born.

Census 1881 The Canadian census for Wakefield Township does not list Francis Skillen and Mary Kerns Skillen. John Skillen, a farmer, aged 40 is listed with his wife Anne, aged 35 as residing in Lowe Township with John O’Rourke a farmer, aged 68, who was born in Ireland. John O’Rourke is Anne’s father. He is listed first in the census which suggests that he is considered the head of the household. At this time the farm may still be in the O’Rourke name. Also residing in the house are John and Anne’s children Martin age 4, Letitia age 3, and James age 1. Ellen Nelson age 39 and born in Ireland is also residing in the household. Richard Cahill, age 37 and his wife Catherine age 35 reside with four children on the property next to the O’Rourke farm.

After 1881 Mary Kerns Skillen dies sometime after 1881 and before July, 1889. Place of residence at time of death, cause of death and place of burial are unknown.

After 1881 Francis Skillen sells his farm located on the north part of lot 3 range 11 in Wakefield Township to John Cassidy his next door neighbor, whose farm is on lot 4, range 11.

Early 1882 Matthew Sinnott dies in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin, USA about age 67. He is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, Wausau, Wisconsin.

Aug. 20, 1882 Matthew Synnott, son of Matthew Sinnott and Ann Skillen marries Mary Sweeney, daughter of Martin Sweeney and Honora Moran in St. Camillus Church. Matthew had returned to Farrellton from Wisconsin for the marriage. His father had died a short time before the wedding.

Sept. 07, 1882 John Jeremiah, son of John and Ann Skillen dies and is buried on Sept. 08, 1882 in St. Camillus cemetery, Farrellton, Quebec.

Jan. 20, 1883 Denis O’Sullivan, husband of Catherine Skillen dies at the age of about sixty seven and is buried in St. Camillus Church cemetery, Farrellton, Quebec.

Dec. 24, 1883 John Alexander, son of John Skillen and Anne O’Rourke, is born in Lowe Township, Quebec and baptized Dec. 26, 1883 at St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec. Witnesses are Patrick Kilfoyle and Catherine Lyons, cousin of the child.

Jan. 3, 1884 Francis Thomas, son of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Lowe Township.

March 2, 1886 Andrew Bernard, son of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Lowe Township.

Feb. 13, 1888 Henrietta Lyons, daughter of Patrick Lyons and Mary Haveron, is born at Fieldville, Low Township, Quebec.

Aug. 14, 1888 Mary Anne, daughter of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Low Township.

July 28, 1889 Francis Skillen, now a widower, is baptized into the Catholic faith in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton. He is about 82 years old. Sponsors were David Driscoll and Ann O’Rourke.

July 12, 1890 Margaret Sullivan, daughter of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Lowe Township.

Census 1891 Francis Skillen, a widower, is residing with his son, John and daughter-in-law Ann Skillen on their farm in Lowe Township.

Dec. 1891 The Ottawa and Gatineau Railroad tracks reach Farrellton in Wakefield Township.

After 1891 Francis Skillen is residing in St. Patrick’s Orphanage and Asylum in Ottawa, Ontario.

August, 1892 The Ottawa and Gatineau Railroad tracks reach Lowe village in Lowe Township.

Nov. 16, 1892 Stag Creek is washed out, just south of Low village, where a railroad bridge crossed the creek. The slide caused the railroad bridge to dislodge. A ballast train drawn by two steam engines was proceeding to John Skillen’s gravel pit located below Brennan’s Hill when the train plunged into the creek causing the deaths’ of three crew members.

Dec. 24, 1892 Arthur Sullivan, son of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Lowe Township

Mar 1, 1894 Francis Skillen dies at St. Patrick’s Asylum, Ottawa. His age is recorded as 85 giving him a birth date of 1808/09.

Apr 26, 1894 Francis Skillen is interred in St. Camillus Church cemetery at Farrellton, Quebec.

March 28, 1895 Ernest Sullivan, son of Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Mahoney is born in Low Township.

Nov. 18, 1895 Council members for Lowe Township named under the chairmanship of Fr. Blondin of Martindale parish include John Skillen, W. McCrank, Thos. Mcdonald, P. Gannon, J.J. Sullivan and S. Smith. The new mayor is Edward McSheffrey of north Low (to become father-in-law of Bernice (Skillen) McSheffrey in 1934).

Feb. 15, 1897 Anne (O’Rourke) Skillen dies suddenly from onset of acute illness. Anne is buried on 17 Feb. 1897 in St. Camillus Church cemetery.

March 23, 1897 John Skillen dies five weeks after his wife Ann from onset of acute disease and is interred in St. Camillus Cemetery March 24, 1897.

April 19, 1899 Letitia Mary Ann Skillen, age 21, marries John Thomas Hickey, age 23, in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Wakefield Township, Quebec. Neither the bride nor groom sign the church register indicating that they are not able to write. Witnesses of the marriage are James Francis brother of the bride and Ellen Hickey sister of the groom.

1899 Unnamed female and male twins born to Letitia (Skillen) Hickey do not survive and they are buried in St. Martin’s Church cemetery, Martindale, Low Township, Quebec

Jan. 21. 1901 Martin John Skillen, age 23, marries Mary Ann McCaffrey, age 22, daughter of John McCaffrey, in St. Martin’s Church, Martindale, in Lowe Township, Quebec.

March 1, 1901 Martin John Skillen begins employment with the CPR located in Lowe Township, Quebec.

March 31, 1901 Census for Low Township records that Catherine (Skillen) O’Sullivan about age 67 is residing with her son Jeremiah in Low Township.

March 31, 1901 Census for Low Township - in the same household are Martin Skillen, male, born 10 June, 1877, age 23, head of the household, married; Mary Skillen, female, wife (of Martin), born 13 May, 1878, age 22; James Skillen, male, labourer, brother, single, born 14 Feb. 1879, age 20; John Skillen, male, brother, single, born 24 Jan. 1883, age 17. The census reports that Martin can read and write. He has earnings for the year of $200.00 from a source other than his chief occupation. James is reported as being able to read and write and he has earning of $300.00 from his occupation. John is not reported as being able to read and write. He is not reported as having earnings.

1901 John Thomas, son of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas Hickey is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Nov. 15, 1901 John Leopold, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Anne McCaffrey is born.

1902 Ann Amelia, daughter of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas Hickey is born in Low Township.

July 23, 1903 Vincent James, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey is born and baptized July 26, 1903 in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec. Sponsors are James Skillen and Phoebe McCaffrey.

June 12, 1904 Mary Catherine, daughter of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas Hickey is born, Low Township.

Sept. 25, 1905 Phoebe Isabelle, daughter of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey is born in Kazabazua, Quebec.

Oct. 14, 1905 James Francis Skillen, age 25, son of deceased parents John Skillen and Ann O’Rourke marries Henrietta Lyons, age 17, daughter of Patrick Lyons and Mary Haveron, in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec.

Nov. 5, 1906 Anthony James, son of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas Hickey is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Feb. 08, 1907 Mary, daughter of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons is born and dies the same day. She is interred on Feb. 09, 1907 in St. Camillus Church Cemetery. Winesses of the interment are James Skillen and Stephen O’Rourke.

Jan. 23, 1908 Mary Ann, daughter of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey is born in Lowe Township, Quebec.

April 20, 1908 Alfred John, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons is born and baptized on April 26, 1908 in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton. Witnesses are William and Bridget Kelly.

July 13, 1908 Martin John Skillen is employed with CPR at Ingolf, Ontario near the Manitoba border.

Aug. 24, 1909 Wilfred, son of James (Jim) Francis Skillen and Henrietta (Etty) Lyons is born in Low Township, Quebec. Wilfred is baptized on August 29, 1909 in St. Camillus Church. Witnesses are David Lyons and Mary Ann Lyons his uncle and aunt.

April, 1910 Joseph Francis, son of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas Hickey is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Jan. 28, 1911 Joseph Wilfred, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey is born in Keewatin, Ontario.

April 27, 1912 James (Jimmy) Oliver, son of James (Jim) Francis Skillen and Henrietta (Etty) Lyons is born in Low Township, Quebec. Jimmy is baptized May 4, 1912 in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec. Sponsors are Thomas Farrell, son of William Farrell and Margaret O’Rourke, cousin of the newborn.

June 9, 1913 Mary Agnes Magdeline, daughter of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas Hickey born in Low Township, Quebec

July 10, 1913 Emmanual Martin, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey is born in Keewatin, Ontario.

Jan. 28, 1914 John Alexander age 31, son of John Skillen (deceased) and Ann O’Rourke (deceased), marries Mary Ann (Molly) Lyons, age 33, daughter of Patrick Lyons and Mary Haveron, in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec. Witnesses are Patrick Lyons and Margaret O’Rourke.

April 22, 1914 Martin John Skillen is promoted to Tie Inspector with the CPR located in Kenora, Ontario

June 29, 1914 Martin Skillen is promoted to Assistant Road Inspector with the CPR located at Ignace, Ontario.

December 1914 Helen Henrietta, daughter of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas Hickey is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Circa 1915 Faustina Ann, daughter of John Alexander Skillen and Mary Ann (Molly) Lyons is born, probably in Fort William or Port Arthur, Ontario.

Jan. 9, 1915 Mary Bernice Charlotte, daughter of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta (Etty) Lyons is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Jan. 24, 1915 Bernice is baptized in St. Camillus Church. God-parents are her paternal aunt, Letitia Mary Ann (Skillen) and uncle by marriage, John Thomas Hickey.

Jan. 28, 1916 Margaret Viola, daughter of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey is born in Keewatin, Ontario.

1916 Bernard Hickey, son of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas is born in Low Township, Quebec.

About 1916 Mary Agnes, daughter of John Alexander Skillen and Mary Ann (Molly) Lyons is born in Fort William, Ontario.

Oct. 17, 1916 Martin, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons is born in Low Township, Quebec

About 1918 John, son of John Alexander Skillen and Mary Ann (Molly) Lyons is born probably in Fort William, Ontario.

About 1918 Mary Ann (Lyons) Skillen dies during childbirth or shortly after giving birth to her third child.

May 18, 1918 Clement Roallan, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey is born in Keewatin, Ontario.

1919 Gertrude Hickey, daughter of Letitia Skillen and John Thomas Hickey is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Sept. 8, 1919 Martin John Skillen is working for CPR as a Road Inspector.

July, 1920 John Alexander Skillen marries Rose Rooney, in Port Arthur, Ontario.

Jan. 1, 1921 Bernice Charlotte, daughter of John Alexander Skillen and Rose Rooney is born in Port Arthur Ontario.

April 2, 1921 Raymond, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Anne McCaffrey is born in Fort William, Ont.

Sept. 17, 1921 Martin, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons dies at home one month before his fifth birthday.

Feb. 1922 Vincent Henry, son of John Alexander and Rose Skillen is born in Port Arthur, Ontario.

July 14, 1922 John Alexander Skillen is critically injured in a work related railroad accident.

July 28, 1922 John Alexander dies in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Fort William, Ontario with his brother Martin at his side. He is buried in Saint Andrews Cemetery on Sunday July 30, 1922. He leaves his second wife Rose a widow after only two years of marriage. She has to provide for two natural children under the age of nineteen months, the youngest only five months old, and three step children ranging in age from 8 to 4 years from John Alexander’s first marriage.

Aug. 1, 1922 Martin John Skillen writes to his brother James Francis to say that their brother John has died. Martin informs that he has borne all the expenses associated with John Alexander’s hospitalization and funeral arrangements. Martin makes a plea on behalf of John’s widow and children for financial support.

August 13, 1922 Wilfred, son of James Francis and Henrietta Skillen drowns in the Gatineau River while swimming with his father and brothers Alfred and Jimmy on a Sunday afternoon after returning from Mass. The child’s body is recovered.

August 14, 1922 Wilfred Skillen is interred in St. Camillus Church Cemetery.

Oct.08, 1922 Donald Edward and Lola Agnes, twins, are born to James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, of Lowe Township, Quebec.

Oct. 14, 1922 Joseph Edward Donald Skillen and Mary Lola Agnes Skillen are baptized in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec. Sponsors for Donald are John Thomas Hickey, cousin, and Lilly Mahoney, daughter of Patrick Mahoney. Sponsors of Lola are Charles Lyons, uncle, and Katherine Hickey cousin of the child.

October, 1922 James Francis Skillen purchases the Cahill homestead and farm land. The Skillen family spends one winter in the Cahill house and return to their original home in the spring. Jim Skillen takes down the Cahill house and builds a new house on the site.

1922 The children of John Alexander Skillen and Molly Lyons are brought from Port Arthur to their maternal grandparents, Patrick and Mary (Haveron) Lyons in whose home Faustina and Mary are raised. Johnny Skillen the youngest orphaned child is raised in the home of his uncle and aunt, Jim and Henrietta Skillen. Mary Agnes spends considerable time in the home of her aunt and uncle as well.

1923 Father Matthew J. Gorman, son of Mary Synnott and Hugh Gorman, and grandson of Ann Skillen and Matthew Synnott, is assigned to St. Camillus Church, Farrellton as parish priest where he remains until 1932.

Jan. 30, 1926 Loretta Patricia, daughter of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons is born in Low Township, Quebec. She is baptized Feb. 7, 1926 in St. Camillus Church. Sponsors are John Thomas O’Rourke and Mrs. J.T. O’Rourke.

Sept. 06, 1929 Matthew Harold Allen, the son of Francis James Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, is born in Low Township, Quebec.

Sept. 08, 1929 Matthew Harold Allen Skillen is baptized in St. Camillus Church. Sponsors are Alfred Skillen, brother of the child and Mabel O’Rourke, cousin.

Feb. 20, 1930 Alfred Skillen, age 22, graduates from the Dominion Trade School in Montreal with a Diploma in Automobile Mechanics and Gasoline Engineering.

1930 Alfred Skillen sets up a small automobile repair shop on Willy McCaffrey’s property at Farrellton, Quebec.

April 30, 1930 Patrick Lyons, husband of Mary Haveron and father of Henrietta (Lyons) Skillen, dies and is interred on May 2, 1930 in St. Camillus Cemetery. Witnesses are his wife Mary and sons James F. Lyons and Edward Lyons.

April 08, 1931 John Leopold, age 30, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey, married Marie Valeda McDougall, age 29, daughter of Daniel MacDougal and Virginie Ferland.

Sept. 28, 1932 Mary Agnes Skillen, a minor daughter about age 16, of the late John Alexander Skillen and the late Mary Ann Lyons married in St. Camillus church, Farrellton, Quebec, Gordon Allan McMillan, non catholic, of the township of Lowe, son of age of John Allan McMillan and Ethel Buckland of the Township of Denholm, County of Wright. Consent was given for Mary to marry by her grandmother and guardian, Mary (Haveron) Lyons. Witnesses were Faustina Ann Skillen, sister of the bride and Emmett Mahoney.

April 13, 1933 Faustina Ann Skillen, minor daughter about age 19, of John Alexander Skillen deceased and Mary Ann Lyons, deceased, married in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec, Ernest Murray, of Low, Quebec.

June 14, 1934 Mary Haveron, widow of Patrick Lyons, and mother of Henrietta Skillen, dies at age 79. She is interred on June 16, 1934 in the cemetery of St. Camillus Church. Witnesses are David Haveron, Martin Daly and others.

June 20, 1934 Bernice Mary Skillen, age nineteen marries in St. Camillus Church, John David McSheffrey, age twenty eight, son of Edward McSheffrey and Sarah Gleason, of St. Martin’s parish, Martindale, Quebec. Witnesses are James E. McSheffrey and Doris Lyons.

Winter 1934/35 Alfred Skillen is working over the winter in a bush camp at Wye, Ontario.

1935 Alfred Skillen and his younger brother James Oliver are working in nickel mines in the Sudbury, Ontario area.

Sept. 9, 1935 James Oliver Skillen, age 23, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, marries Violet Emily Croteau, age 19, daughter of Francois (Frank) Croteau and May Croteau, in St. Joseph Church, Sudbury, Ontario.

Nov. 23, 1935 Colleen Rosemond McSheffrey, daughter of John David McSheffrey and Bernice Skillen is born at Venosta, Low Township, Quebec.

Dec. 14, 1936 Janice Mary-Etta Skillen, daughter of James Oliver Skillen and Violet Croteau, is born in Sudbury, Ontario.

March 8, 1937 Phyllis McSheffrey, daughter of John McSheffrey and Bernice Skillen is born in Venosta, Low Township, Quebec.

Oct. 09, 1938 Wilbert McSheffrey, son of John McSheffrey and Bernice Skillen is born at Venosta, Low Township, Quebec.

1939 Vincent James Skillen, age 23, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey, married Frances Kennedy, age 24 in Fort William, Ontario.

June 19, 1939 Alfred John Skillen, age 31, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, marries Mary Angela Lachapelle, age 22, daughter of Eldage Lachapelle and Loisa Vaillancourt, in Garson, Ontario.

June, 1940 Roallan Skillen, age 22, joins the Royal Canadian Navy, service number V 16231 and serves on HMCS Ottawa during the Battle of Britain.

Sept. 4, 1939 Phoebe Skillen, age 23, daughter of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey married Sydney Lawrence Bishop, age 30, in Fort William, Ontario.

Sept. 21, 1939 Nora Ann, daughter of James Oliver and Violet Emily Croteau is born in Sudbury, Ontario.

July 14, 1940 Terence Martin, son of Alfred Skillen and Mary Lachapelle is born in Sudbury, Ontario. The pregnancy was high risk for both mother and fetus and neither was expected to survive the birth. Terry had to be resuscitated at birth.

1940 Raymond Skillen, age 19, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey enlists in the Royal Canadian Navy and serves during the Second World War until August,1945. He achieved the rank of Leading Seaman.

1940 Charles Sauve, age 17, joins the Canadian Army and is shipped overseas.

Dec. 31, 1940 Ronald, son of John McSheffrey and Bernice Skillen is born at Venosta, Low Township, Quebec.

After 1940 John Skillen, born abt. 1914, son of John Alexander (deceased) and Mary Lyons (deceased) joins the Canadian Army.

April 12, 1941 Emmanuel Martin Skillen, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey, is ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption, North Bay, Ontario.

April 23, 1941 Joseph Wilfred Skillen, age 30, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey married Margaret Mary Kelly, age 26 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fort William, Ontario.

Nov. 16, 1941 Mary Alfreda, daughter of Alfred Skillen and Mary Lachapelle is born at home in Garson, Ontario.

Nov. 19, 1941 Gerald Martin McSheffrey, son of John McSheffrey and Bernice Skillen is born at Venosta, Low Township, Quebec

June 14, 1942 Shirley Joan Mary Lola, daughter of James Oliver Skillen and Violet Emily Croteau is born in Sudbury, Ontario.

1942 Charles Sauve while serving with the Canadian Army overseas is injured and loses his leg. He recuperates in England and is transferred back to Canada where he spends a lengthy period of rehabilitation in the Military Hospital in Ottawa.

Aug. 20, 1942 Doris Margaret Skillen, age 23, daughter of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, marries in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec, Sturmer Allenby (Jim) Clarke, age 33, formerly of Stratford, Ontario.

1942 Marcel Vachon enlists in the Royal Canadian Navy and serves on two ships during the war years including HMCS Prince Rupert and HMCS Waskesiu, a River Class Frigate that was credited with sinking German submarine U-257 on Feb. 24, 1944.

Sept.13, 1942 Clement Roallan Skillen, Able Seaman, survives the sinking of HMCS OTTAWA, east of Newfoundland following a torpedo attack by German submarine U-91. Roallan is wounded and subsequently loses his right leg.

Abt. 1943 Donald Edward Skillen, abt. age 19, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons joins the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is stationed in Labrador but is not sent overseas to Europe.

Sept. 2, 1943 Roallan Skillen, age 23, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey marries Hilja Ann Huuhka, age 19, in Nipigon, Ontario.

June 12, 1945 Lola Agnes Skillen, age 22, daughter of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, marries in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec, Marcel Jean Vachon, son of Arthur Vachon and Irene Rathier.

June 4, 1946 Margaret Viola, age 25, daughter of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey married in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fort William, Ontario, Ralph Wayne White, age 30.

October 6, 1946 Linda Colleen, daughter of Alfred Skillen and Mary Lachapelle is born in Sudbury, Ontario.

June 4, 1946 Loretta Patricia Skillen, age 20, daughter of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons marries in St. Camillus Church, Farrellton, Quebec, Charles Sauve, age 23, son of Ubald Sauve and Edalma Normand, of Cyrville, Ontario.

Dec. 19, 1946 Wayne Francis Vachon, son of Marcel Vachon and Lola Skillen, is born in Montreal, Quebec.

June 27, 1947 Gary James Sauve, daughter of Charles Sauve and Loretta Skillen is born in the Grace Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario.

Dec. 26, 1947 Brian Marcel Vachon, son of Marcel Vachon and Lola Skillen is born in Ottawa, Ontario

Oct. 5, 1948 Martin John Skillen, age 71, husband of Mary Ann McCaffrey dies in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He is interred in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Thunder Bay on October 7, 1948

June 20, 1949 James Francis Xavier Skillen, age 69, husband of Henrietta Lyons, life time farmer in Low Township, Quebec dies from cancer in hospital in Hull, Quebec. He is interred in St. Camillus Church Cemetery, Farrellton on June 22, 1949.

Jan. 21, 1949 Barbara Anne, adopted daughter of Sturmer “Jim” Clarke and Doris Margaret Skillen is born in Ottawa, Ontario.

July 06, 1949 Kenneth Bernard, son of Marcel Vachon and Lola Skillen is born in Ottawa, Ontario.

Sept. 20, 1950 Glenda Gay, daughter of James Oliver Skillen and Violet Emily Croteau, is born in Sudbury, Ontario.

Nov. 12, 1950 Deborah Lynn, daughter of Marcel Vachon and Lola Skillen is born in Ottawa, Ontario.

May 5, 1951 Donald Edward Skillen, age 29, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, marries in Sacred Heart Church, Ottawa, Ontario, marries Lucille Sauve, age 26, daughter of Ubald Sauve and Edalma Armand of Cyrville, Ontario.

Aug. 10, 1951 Judy Patricia, daughter of Charles Sauve and Loretta Skillen is born in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Hull, Quebec.

Sept. 5, 1951 James Francis Joseph, son of James Oliver Skillen and Violet Emily Croteau is born in Sudbury, Ontario.

Feb. 02, 1952 Gail Ann Vachon, daughter of Marcel Vachon and Lola Skillen is born in Ottawa, Ontario.

July 19, 1952 Harold Matthew Skillen, age 22, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, married in Sacred Heart Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Therese Marie Sauve, age 17, daughter of Ubald Sauve and Edalma Normand, of Cyrville, Ontario.

July 5, 1953 Diane Henrietta Delma, daughter of Harold Skillen and Therese Sauve is born.

April 28, 1956 Donald Francis Skillen, son of Donald Edward Skillen and Lucille Sauve, is born in Ottawa, Ontario.

August 16, 1956 Letitia Mary Ann Skillen, wife of John Thomas Hickey, and daughter of John Skillen and Ann Sara O’Rourke, a life long resident of Lowe Township, Quebec dies at age 77. She is interred in St. Martin’s Church cemetery, Martindale, Quebec.

Jan. 31, 1957 Gordon Alfred, son of James Oliver Skillen and Violet Croteau is born in Sudbury, Ontario.

June 12, 1957 Jeffrey Mark Vachon, son of Marcel Vachon and Lola Skillen is born in Aylmer, Quebec.

Aug. 05, 1957 Robert, son of Nora Skillen is born in Ottawa, Ontario.

June 28, 1958 John Skillen, age 40, son of the late John Alexander Skillen and the late Mary Ann Lyons, marries Irene Hamel, daughter of Mr.& Mrs. Edouard Hamel, in St. Jean Baptiste Church, Ottawa, Ontario.

April 23, 1961 Kevin Harold Vachon, son of Marcel Vachon and Lola Skillen is born in Sacred Heart Hospital, Hull, Quebec.

Feb. 6, 1966 Henrietta Lyons, wife of James Francis Skillen, a life long resident of Low Township, Quebec, dies at age of heart disease in Arnprior and District Hospital, Arnprior, Ontario while wintering with her son Alfred. She is interred in St. Camillus Church cemetery in Farrellton, Quebec.

May 21, 1967 Fr. Emmanuel Martin Skillen, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey dies in his fifty-fourth year in Blind River, Ontario.

Sept. 6, 1978 Linda Colleen Skillen, wife of Gerard Kennedy, daughter of Alfred John Skillen and Mary Angela Lachapelle, dies in the Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario at age 31, due to a cerebral aneurism. Interred in Mallock Road Cemetery, Arnprior, Ontario.

1990 Charlotte Bernice Skillen, wife of John McSheffrey, daughter of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, dies at age 75 in Toronto, Ontario.

Feb. 21, 2000 Mary Angela Lachapelle, wife of Alfred John Skillen, dies at home in Arnprior, Ontario at age of 82 as the result of acute leukemia. Interred in Mallock Road Cemetery, Arnprior, Ontario.

May 12, 2000 Alfred John Skillen, son of James Francis Skillen and Henrietta Lyons, husband of Mary Angela Lachapelle, dies at age 92 in Arnprior Grove Nursing Home, Arnprior, Ontario due to heart failure following a 14 year period of chronic care due to strokes. Interred in Mallock Road Cemetery, Arnprior, Ontario.

Aug. 15, 2003 Sturmer Allenby (Jim) Clarke, husband of Doris Margaret Skillen dies in Arnprior Grove Nursing Home, Arnprior, Ontario at age 93. Interred in Mallock Road Municipal Cemetery, Arnprior, Ontario.

Nov. 27, 2003 Lola Agnes (Skillen) Vachon, wife of Marcel Vachon died at Elizabeth Bruyere Palliative Care Centre, Ottawa, buried in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Aylmer, Quebec.

Jan. 2, 2004 Barbara Ann Harmer, daughter of Barbara and Denis Ducharme, died at Ottawa, Ontario.

Sept. 24, 2005 Charlotte Bernice Skillen, daughter of John Skillen and Rose Rooney, wife of Rene Arthur Gravelle, dies at age 84 at Thunder Bay, Ontario. She is interred in St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Thunder Bay.

Jan. 7, 2006 Clement Roallan Skillen, husband of Hilja Ann Huukha, son of Martin John Skillen and Mary Ann McCaffrey, dies at age 87 at Nipigon, Ontario.

Jan. 26, 2006 Joyce Trost, wife of Ronald McSheffrey, daughter in law of Bernice Skillen and John McSheffrey, dies as the result of lung cancer in Chilliwack Hospital, Chilliwack, British Columbia.

Feb. 1, 2007 Charles Sauve, husband of Loretta Skillen, died at Rideau-Perley Veterans Health Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, in his eighty fifth year.

Feb. 18, 2007 Marcel Vachon, husband of Lola Skillen, died at Rideau-Perley Veterans Health Centre Ottawa, Ontario, in his eighty fifth year, buried in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Aylmer, Quebec.

May 16, 2007 Donald Mondor, husband of Gail Vachon, died in Montreal, Quebec, as the result of a head injury incurred from a fall, in his fifty eighth year.