One Genealogist-Historian Making a Difference

Sara Lauzon started researching inmates at the Cornwall House of Refuge when she was 16 years old. She discovered many were buried in unmarked graves and became determined to rectify that. 

At present she has researched 220 of the 906 inmates to try to find out where they are buried. She hopes to raise enough money to have a memorial erected with the names of those inmates whose burial locations she discovers.

At the same time she lobbied to have a photograph and plaque placed in the Cornwall Courthouse in honour of Judge O’Reilly, who died on the job in the courthouse in 1929  after serving for 29 years. When Sara started her lobby there was nothing to indicate he had ever worked there. It took 5 years but when she was 21 people started taking her more seriously and her voice was finally heard. There is now a photo of the judge on the Courthouse walls.

Read more and listen to Sara's podcast at Canada's History

If you think your ancestor may have been in a Poorhouse (House of Refuge, Almshouse, Workhouse) you can consult the following databases on Olive Tree Genealogy

* Almshouse children (orphans) sent to New Netherland (New York) from Amsterdam Holland on the ship De Waegh (The Weigh-House), August 1655

* New York Almshouse Records 1782-1813. Records contain name of ancestor, date admitted, age, where from or born, complaint [illness], discharged, died, remarks.

* New York Almshouse Records  1819-1840

* New York City Almshouse Records  1855-1858

* Society for Relief of Half-Orphans & Destitute Children 1900, Manhattan New York

* Milwaukee County Almshouse & Poor Farm Cemeteries Wisconsin List of Burials 1872-1892; 1914-1974

* Leeds Moral & Industrial Training School, Yorkshire, England 1881

* Child Apprentices (Orphans & Impoverished Children) in America from Christ's Hospital, London 1617-1778

* Register of patients transported to the State Insane Asylum, 1882-1917 Orleans Parish (Louisiana) Civil Sheriff

* Almshouse Cemetery Plot, Potter's Field in Yaphank, Suffolk County, New York 1871-1876

* Cemetery Records of the Suffolk County Almshouse, Yaphank, New York, 1871-1953

The 1870 Facey Hymn Book Goes to a New Home

A tiny prayer and hymn book has been passed down in my husband's family since 1870. A few weeks ago it came to my husband. It was given by his 3rd great grandfather Edmund (Edwin) Facey to his wife Mary Little in West Nissouri Ontario on January 25, 1870.

We are not sure of the significance of the date or what event it might have celebrated. Edmund Facey was born in September 1813 in St. Winnow, Cornwall England and married Mary Little in February 1841 in Stoke Damerol, Devon England. 

Mary's date of birth was May 1814 in St. Pinnock, Cornwall England. In 1852 the family left England for Ingersoll Ontario Canada. 

By December 1865 they had settled in W. Nissouri Tp. Middlesex Co. Ontario. It was just 4 years later when Edmund gave Mary this tiny book. It has been well-used and well-loved over the years!

Mary Facey, West Nissouri, Ont. from Edwin Jan. 25, 1870

 The line of descent is from Edmund & Mary (Little Facey) to their grandaughter Mary Louisa Facey who was born in 1882 in W. Nissouri. Mary Louisa married William Elgie in 1904. 

The book then passed to either  their daughter Florence or Verda Luella, my husband's grandmother. My husband's mother was the next to receive the book and now it is my husband's turn to treasure it and pass it on to the next generation.