This is a picture of my Great Grandmother Mary Stuart Brien (1857-1946) at age 20.

Her father Edward O’Brien died in 1872 at a young age, leaving her mother, Martha Dunn O’Brien with six children to raise. As was customary, because Martha had no means to support her family, the children went to live with relatives. So at age 13 Mary went to live with her Aunt Mary (Dunn) and Uncle Alexander McDougall. Her mother remarried John Percy in 1872, but none of the children returned to live with her.

Mary Stuart Brien married James C Paul in 1883 in Lanark, Ontario and had four surviving children. Following my great grandfather’s death she lived with my grandfather, her son Raymond Paul until her death in 1946.

Keeping our history alive.

Mary Beth Wylie

Thanks Mary Beth– I have added the following genealogy I found online.

The first immigrant was my ggg grandfather Hugh O’Brien 1798-1880. He was one of the first settlers in Darling Township and his property was very poor. However fast forward to today and it is now the OMYA quarry. The story is that he was a lapsed Catholic- and he married a Methodist woman -Laura Tooley 1816-1870.

The children of Hugh and Laura are listed as O’Brien, Brien and Bryan.

The next generation they all (excepting gg Aunt Janet O’Brien Kemp) assumed the Brien name. I suspect it was because O’Brien was a Catholic name and they were all Protestants.

So that’s my interpretation- guess we’ll never know for sure.

Mary Beth

8491-98 (Lanark Co): Andrew PERCY, 23, farmer, Lavant, same, s/o John PERCY & Martha DUNN, married Minnie V. GALLIPAN, 22, Perth, same, d/o Charles GALLIPAN & Margaret O’BRIEN, witn: Mr. & Mrs. Edward ROBERETSON of Lavant, 18 Aug 1898 at Poland

5265-77 John PERCY, 26, farmer, Dalhousie, same, s/o John PERCY & Martha Ann SCOTT, married Mary MAGEUREY (Magenry?), 21, Lanark, same, d/o Robert MAGUEREY & Esther WINKWORTH, witn: Thomas PERCY of Dalhousie & Arch. BALLANTINE of Lanark, 13 Feb 1877 at Lanark twp

5911-85 Robert PERCY, 25, laborer, Lavant, same, s/o John PERCY & Martha SCOTT, married Annie McINTOSH, 23, Dalhousie, Poland, d/o David McINTOSH & Mary PARK, witn: Nathaniel & William PERCY of Lavant, 26 Aug 1884 at McDonalds Corners, Dalhousie

8491-98 (Lanark Co): Andrew PERCY, 23, farmer, Lavant, same, s/o John PERCY & Martha DUNN, married Minnie V. GALLIPAN, 22, Perth, same, d/o Charles GALLIPAN & Margaret O’BRIEN, witn: Mr. & Mrs. Edward ROBERETSON of Lavant, 18 Aug 1898 at Poland

Vol 22 Pg 242 (Lanark Co) John PERCY, 45, widower, Ireland, Toronto, s/o John PERCY & Margaret DUFF, married Martha O’BRIEN, 36, widow, Glasgow Scotland, Dalhousie, d/o John DUNN & Mary CAMERON. Witn: John McNICHOL & Isabel BEITH, both of Dalhousie. Dec. 2, 1872 Dalhousie

1881 Census – Household: (Mix of Martha #1 & #2’s children??)

John PERCYM Male Irish 54 Ireland Farmer C. Presbyterian
Martha PERCYM Female Scottish 45 Scotland C. Presbyterian
Thomas PERCYMale Irish 25 O Laborer C. Presbyterian
William PERCYMale Irish 24 O Laborer C. Presbyterian
Robert PERCYMale Irish 22 O Laborer C. Presbyterian
James PERCYMale Irish 20 O Laborer C. Presbyterian
Nathaniel PERCYMale Irish 18 O Laborer C. Presbyterian
Isabella PERCYFemale Irish 7 O C. Presbyterian
Andy PERCYMale Irish 4 O C. Presbyterian
Edith M. PERCYFemale Irish 2 O C. Presbyterian
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Census Place–Dalhousie North & Sherbrooke North & Lavant North, Lanark North, Ontario

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and Screamin’ Mamas (USA)