Minielly

(submitted by Alma Hart and Lew McGregor)

William Minielly (1786–) was born in Donegal, Ireland. He sailed to Canada in 1815 on the ship Eliza. In 1831 William married Elizabeth Mackey and settled in Lanark County. They had five sons and two daughters born in Lanark. In 1846 they moved to Lambton County, settling in Plympton Twp. (William married a second time, to Isabel McLeich.)

Their daughters were Caroline (1840–) and Eliza (1844–1932). Caroline married James Williamson and moved to Lot 2, Con. 5 NER, Warwick. Eliza never married. She operated a millinery shop in Watford for over 60 years, until her death. An article of unknown origin states that

“yearly openings” [at her shop] brightened the life of the tiny village and such dates were truly highlights of the town’s society. With her nimble fingers, a twist of a bit of ribbon, a gay flower here, a bit of veiling there, she created many a chapeau….

Eliza was buried in Watford Cemetery beside her brother John.

Although the first Minielly family settled in Plympton, many others of them moved to Warwick and their descendants continue to live in the area to this day.

One Minielly descendant to move to Warwick was William (1860–), grandson of William and Elizabeth. He married Eleanor Falloon (1864–). Their five children were: Mabel who married Stanley Maw, then Harry McKay; Maurice who married Edna Thomas; Warner who married Marguerite Kernohan; Adelbert who married Helen Mathers; and Gladys who married Lawrence Cates. Maurice moved to the United States. The others all remained in Warwick Twp.

A 1903 Forest Standard newspaper noted that William Minielly and John Davis of Warwick sawed 60 cord of wood in four hours and 45 minutes with their buzz saw, on the farm of A. J. Mathews, Fourth Line, Warwick.

Warner and Marguerite’s son, Eldon, and his wife Carrie Thurgood, continue to live in Warwick Twp. in 2008.

Minielly and Cates families at Laverne Cates’ Home, 1954. Eldon Minielly, Jack Levi, Barbara Minielly, Frances (Minielly) Levi, Gladys Cates, Karen Levi, Marguerite Minielly. Courtesy A Hart.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Minielly Family

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