A Family History

of 

GEORGE & MARGARET CARSS

born about 1878

 researched by Helen Benda

Green Text indicates unknown information

Blue text indicates approximation or guess

According to the obituary (which has many errors) of their son James who was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1808, George & Margaret were from Berwick-on-Tweed, Scotland. James does not mention his father George or siblings, but when James re-married he gave his parents names as George and Margaret.

"In 1820 his mother emigrated to America bringing her family with her and settled in the township of South Crosby, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada".

They would have landed in Montreal after an arduous journey of six to eight weeks, and then traveled by boat to Brockville, (or as the Rowswell's aboard the Andrew Jackson of 1817, walked 200 miles to Perth). If their arrival was too late in the season they would have to spend the winter in Brockville, making their way to S. Crosby in the spring either on foot or being guided by a carter (one who transports settlers and their belongings). Usually families/friends sailed together, so the Wilson family or other Carss may have joined them or have already been in Canada. At that time nearby Kitley and Bastard townships were becoming well populated, but Crosby did not have many early settlers.

HUB of the RIDEAU, A History of South Crosby Township, by Susan Warren ISBN 0-9682991-0-5

(Carss are not listed in the Index, and not listed as early settlers.)

"When (Reuben, son of Loyalist soldier Thomas Sherwood of Elizabethtown) Sherwood began surveying in 1806, there were only three families living in South Crosby - the Davises, Halladays and Haskins (P.7)

By the mid-1820's, the population of this township had expanded dramatically. Other Irish Protestant families put down roots in the municipality during this decade. (P.15)

 In 1830, there were 68 homesteads and 1,600 acres of cleared land in the township .(P.16)

  * Research not done: check ship lists of 1820 & 1831, National Archives of Canada, Ottawa

GEORGE CARSS b.abt 1778     & MARGARET     S. Crosby       (perhaps to Fitzroy Twp. Carleton Co ??)

Note: If Robert came to (near) Brockville, (then Arnprior) Ontario, in 1831, (A History of Fitzroy Twp.) and James' mother Margaret came to South Crosby, ON, in the 1820's, (James obituary which has many errors) then it is possible that all children did not arrive at the same time, or even emigrate.

Would Geo. & Margaret leave behind  7 yr old son Robert (who studied Engineering, Dublin College, & came to Canada age 18)  ??

Did GEORGE CARSS re-marry abt 1830's to ELIZABETH SPENCE(R)?

1. Thomas CARRS age 30 (1831), b. Ire, C/E, Anglican, origin Irish, druggist,

District GREY North (037), Sub-dis. St. Vincent (H) Div 2, P.15, microfilm reel: C-9954-5, Reference RG31-Stats Canada

2.James Spencer CARSS b. 1834 of Howick Twp., Huron Co., died 1909 (Fitzroy History 1828-1909)

    m. April 14, 1866, Pakenham Marriages, to  Caroline Willis b. 1836  (census 1836)

                1.Anna Emeline Warren Carss b.1870 (Edna Goudy research- not completed)

JAMES CARSS 1808-April 14, 1891, married 1831,   ALICE WILSON 1811-Oct. 22,1860                   need  7 children

born Wexford Ire.    lived S. Crosby; Philipsville, Bastard Twp.;  Athens, Rear of Yonge Twp., LEEDS Co., Ontario

1.       George ? born about 1831

2.       John Carss 1833-Feb. 2,1917 m. June 7, 1865  Elizabeth Webster 1835-Oct. 12, 1915

1.Alice Carss b.Aug. 15, 1866 m. Wm. Gibson 1856-1937

1.Lily May Gibson 1894-1985 m. Wm. W. Eyre 1879-1965

                1.John Wesley Eyre 1920-1933

3.       Henry Carss 1837-April 12, 1899 m. Abigail Coleman, Brockville & Delta, Leeds Co.

4.       Wilson Carss 1839-1861 died young

5.       William Carss 1840-1859 died young

6.       Ogle Carss June 7, 1846-Sept. 19, 1925 m. June 18, 1872 Isabella Niblock April 27, 1847-Nov. 28, 1937

1.Alice Lila Carss March 30, 1873-________1968, remained single

2.James Ogle Carss Aug. 8, 1875-July 19, 1934 m.Mabel Kilner b.________1896 d.___________1980

1.Thomas Ogle 'Og' Carss b. Aug. 4, 1922,  m. June 16, 1951, Margaret 'Peg' Trotter b._______

1.Mary Ann Carss b. __________1952 & David Hogan

          1.Philip David Hogan b. 1977

          2.Katharine Jean Hogan b. 1980

          3.Mathew Wm. Hogan b. 1982