First Generation: Michael Crowe (1814-1890)

First Generation

1.  Michael Crowe was born about 1814 in Ireland.¹ He died on 1 Oct 1890 at the age of 76 in Middlesex, Ontario, Canada.²   

Little is known about Michael Crowe's early life. Family legend says that he came to Canada from County Clare in Ireland. There is reason to believe this legend; the Irish county where the surname Crowe is most common is County Clare, and the history of that county shows that many persons emigrated from there to Canada, Australia, and the U.S. during the 1820s, 1830s, and 1840s. 

Here are the records I could find on Michael Crowe and his family:

 
• 1861 Canadian Census for Simcoe, Ontario, Canada shows Michael Crowe, 47, a farmer born in Ireland, and family: Mary A., 47, also born in Ireland; Denis, 18, a laborer; William, 17, a laborer; Thomas, 10; Martin, 7; and Hannah Gray, 10. The children were all born in Canada. The family lives by themselves in a one-story log house. All are shown as Roman Catholic.

• 1861 Canadian Agricultural Census for Simcoe, Ontario, Canada shows Michael Crowe, who holds 200 acres, 10 under cultivation, 30 under crops, and 160 under wood or wild. Cash value of farm is $1500. Cash value of farming equipment is $30. Fall wheat, 4 acres and 60 bushels. Spring wheat, 16 acres and 240 bushels. Peas, 4 acres and 80 bushels. Oats, 1/2 acre and 20 bushels. Potatoes, 1 acre and 150 bushels. Turnips, 1 acre and 200 bushels.

• 1871 Canadian Census for Simcoe, Ontario, Canada shows Michael Crow, 57, a farmer born in Ireland, and family: Mary Ann, 57, also born in Ireland; and their children, born in Canada: William, 26, a farmer; Thomas, 19, a farmer; and Martin, 16, also a farmer. All are Catholic.

Michael Crowe and Mary Ann McHenry were married. Mary Ann McHenry was born about 1814 in Ireland.¹ She died on 1 May 1880 at the age of 66.

Michael Crowe and Mary Ann McHenry had the following children:

   2   i.   Denis Crowe was born on 9 Aug 1843 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. I could find no records for Denis Crowe in either Canada or the U.S. after 1861; it is possible that he died as a young adult.

 +3  ii.   William Crowe, born 9 Jan 1845, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; married Elizabeth Lawler, 12 Feb 1877, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada; died 27 Nov 1912, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

 +4   iii. Thomas Crowe, born 22 Dec 1851, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; married Mary Gibbs, 3 Jul 1876, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; died 2 Jun 1908, Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado.

 +5  iv. Martin Crowe, born 22 Feb 1854, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; married Ellen Gibbs; died 13 Apr 1926, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.