Oren Munro

Notes:

Oron (or Aron or Orron) was a farmer in Markham Township, Ontario, Canada appearing on the 1851 census there. In 1852, he moved to Dunkirk, New York and changed the spelling of his name to Monroe.

There is some mystery surrounding Oron's second family. Just ten days after the death of his first wife, he married Selma Erickson at the Methodist Church in Buffalo, New York. Oron was 73 and Selma was 39. It was her first marriage. Both sides of the marriage record are stamped "Not to be published". Selma was living in Bridgeburg, Ontario at the time, and there is no indication that she ever came to Dunkirk to live. From 1917 to 1934, Selma lived with her son, Amos, in Buffalo, New York. She then moved to Cleveland to live with her son, Benjamin. She died in Cleveland in 1935.

Oron died in Dunkirk less than a year after this marriage and no mention of survivors is made in his obituaries in the local papers. Only when the estate was settled, did the administrator, his son, Hazard, admit that Oron had left a widow and four minor children. All four of these children were born before the death of his first wife and one of them, Stephen, actually lived in the household of Oron and his first wife, Mary Ann. Stephen's half-sister, Florence, became his legal guardian after the death of Mary Ann.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Oren married Mary Anne Cartwright in Uxbridge, , Ontario, Canada. Mary was born on 9 Nov 1826 in , , Yorkshire, England; died on 16 May 1899 in Dunkirk, Chautauqua Co., New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Hulda Ann Monroe was born on 23 Apr 1848 in Markham, York Co., Ontario, Canada; died on 1 Apr 1934.
2. Hazard Purdy Munro was born on 8 Sep 1850 in Markham, York Co., Ontario, Canada; died on 19 Nov 1937.
3. Jessie Munro was born on 31 Aug 1853; died on 30 Apr 1854 in Dunkirk, Chautauqua Co., New York, USA.
4. Florence Munro was born on 27 Dec 1854 in Dunkirk, Chautauqua Co., New York, USA; died on 18 May 1935.
5. William Timothy Munro was born on 1 Mar 1857 in , , New York, USA; died on 30 Dec 1937.
6. Oren Munro, Jr. was born on 23 Apr 1859 in Dunkirk, Chautauqua Co., New York, USA; died on 22 Apr 1925.

Oren married Selma Christina Erickson on 26 May 1899 in Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, USA. Selma was born on 19 Jan 1860 in Stockholm, , Stockholms Län, Sweden; died on 11 Apr 1935 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Stephen Henry Munro was born on 24 Jan 1887 in Dunkirk, Chautauqua Co., New York, USA; died on 30 Sep 1918 in Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York, USA.
2. Amos Oren Monroe was born on 3 Jan 1890 in , , New York, USA; died in 1940.
3. Selma E. Monroe was born on 18 Aug 1891; died in 1917 in Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, USA.
4. Benjamin E. Monroe was born on 30 Mar 1894; died in 1937 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, USA.

Notes:

Timothy is recorded as the "child of Scottish parents who settled in the United States previous to his birth".

He was a United Empire Loyalist who lived for a short time in Kingston and in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. He spent most of his life in Markham and later in Epsom, where he served for many years as the principal magistrate of Reach Township.

He is listed in the 1851 census for Markham Township as a farmer age 52, residence - shanty. These census figures indicate a birth date of about 1799. The census shows that Timothy owned lot 16, conc. 2 and raised a good deal of wheat, oats and peas. He also made maple sugar and owned some horses, sheep, pigs and milk cows.

In Markham Township, Timothy was first trustee of Headford Episcopal Church.

He and his second wife were married by Rev. William Jennings.

Timothy was active in the Rebellion of 1837 on the rebels' side, and was arrested on 15 Mar 1838. (The constable who arrested him was later a pall bearer at his funeral.) His quick release on 12 May 1838, is usually attributed to the good graces of his father-in-law, Major John Button, who was on the government side. While in prison, Timothy carved 3 wooden boxes. All say "from Timothy Munro, in prison, Toronto, 1838. One is inscribed to Mrs Anna Button (his wife's sister-in-law) another to Mr. William Button (her son). Jo Ann Munro Tuskin as one (dedicated to Mr. William button), the second was with the Button family in Stouffville. The third is with Mildred Munro Stewart in Toronto.

The inscriptions on two of the boxes read:

Top: Mrs. Anna Button
Bottom: Alas for Lount & Mathews
12 April 1838
Sides: (1) 1838
(2) O my friends, now cease to languish
O're the prisoner whom ye love
Chains dark cells, long nights of anguish
Ne'er prevent Joys from Above.
(3) ?
(4) From Timothy Munro
in prison, 1838

Top: Mr. Wm. Button
Sides: (1) from Timothy Munro
in prison
(2) Toronto
(3) I'm clinging to the massy grate
Uncertain as to future fate
(4) 1838

Timothy seemed to be popular with the Button family for one of Elizabeth's sisters, Polly De Geer, named one of her sons Timothy Munro De Geer. He lived in Uxbridge and was called 'Munro'.

Timothy also is found on the 1871 census for Reach Township (near Uxbridge). This census gives Timothy as a Scotch Farmer age 64. His wife, Elizabeth (born in England), is also listed as 64. This would place both of their birthdates in about 1807. That date is probably inaccurate for both of them.

Timothy took a prominent part in public affairs while a resident of Reach and was several times a member of the township council.

**********
The following is an obituary for Timothy Munro from the Uxbridge Times-Journal, 21 Jan 1892 via The Munros of Mallorytown and Beyond compiled by Jo Ann Munro Tuskin:

Timothy Munro, whose death is recorded in this issue, was born in Mallorytown, Leeds, Ontario, on 29 Jul 1803. He afterwards resided in Markham, and married his second wife, a daughter of the late Major Button, of Markham. His brother, the late Henry Munro of Bowmanville, represented West Durham in the Old Parliament of Canada.

Timothy Munro moved from Markham to Epsom and during many years he was the principal magistrate of Reach Township. He was all his life an ardent Liberal and a consistent member of the Methodist church. He leaves four sons, and one daughter. Orron Munro of Dunkirk and William Munro of Markham are sons of his first wife, who was Miss Huldah Purdy of Thornhill, and James and N. B. Munro and one daughter are the children of the second marriage. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at the Methodist Church and Uxbridge cemetery, the sermon being preached by Rev. George J. Bishop of Toronto.
**********

From "A History of Richmond Lodge 1824-1974", (The Masons) There is a Munroe, Timothy -- residence: Vaughan; occupation: shoemaker initiated 15 Jan 1829.

Comment from Jo Ann Tuskin: since I had never heard of Timothy either being in Vaughan or of being a shoemaker, as the earliest records show him as a farmer, I thought this was not "our" Timothy. However, in his will, he leaves to his daughter, his sewing machine. So, indeed, this may be our Timothy.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Yonge Township

Buried:
Uxbridge Cemetery

Timothy married Huldah Purdy on 10 Sep 1824 in Markham, York Co., Ontario, Canada. Huldah (daughter of William Purdy and Hulda Yates) was born on 8 Apr 1803 in Thornhill, York Co., Ontario, Canada; died on 25 Apr 1828 in Markham, York Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Markham Township

Notes:

Daniel made a petition for land as a United Empire Loyalist. In it he stated that he was the son of Catherine Leech, widow, and that he had attained the age of 21 years, so he was born in or before 1787.

An old family note records "born 1774" in the notes column, but we don't know to whom this refers. It also has the note, Mrs. Mallory, widow, 4 sons 1 daughter. Hannah, later Page, was possibly the widow, Mrs. Mallory, who may have married again after Mallory's death. Her son, James Page stated that he was the half brother of Henry Munro.

Daniel died between 1808 and 1810 as he is listed on the 1808 census of Yonge Township, Leeds County, Ontario, but on the 1810 census, his wife Hannah Munroe is listed.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Daniel married Hannah before 1802. Hannah was born about 1781; died on 19 Feb 1853. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Hannah is believed to have married three times. Early family notes have a "Mrs. Mallory, widow" listed in the remarks after Daniel Munro. Her tombstone, "Hannah Page" was "erected by her affectionate son, Henry Munro, Esq." In another note, her son, James Page, is noted as the half-brother of Henry Munro. Eleanor Munro Garvin (1854-1952), daughter of Henry Munro, in a letter in 1937, says that she remembers Pete Mallory and James Page in connection with her grandmother and the family. In, "History of Leeds and Grenville from 1749 to 1879", on p. 112 listing the Mallory family, is noted a son, Peter Mallory (no wife named), with sons William (deceased) and Peter, living in Oshawa (1879).

By 1837, Hannah was the witness for her Munro sons' land grants and was granted her own land in Markham Township.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Buried:
Bethel Cemetery

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

William married Hulda Yates. Hulda was born about 1780; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

(See UPDATED NOTE below, with corrections, Oct 2019)
He died during the Revolutionary War. His son, Daniel, served in the 77th Regiment under Col. Montgomery. A list of officers of the 77th includes George Munro, which could possibly be this person's name.

He could also be named Duncan, who according to family records, owned considerable land in Washington, D.C. where the White House now stands. This property was confiscated during the Revolutionary War. His widow later sued for recovery of property that was taken from her husband.

"Catherine Leech, petitioner, sweareth that she had considerable property taken from her in the colonies and her husband was murdered by the rebels on account of his attachment to the British Government." Misc./158,Vol 306.

Catherine Leech of Yonge, Ontario, Canada is found in W.B. Reid's Book of Loyalists. A 1790 petition says she was from Augusta, New York. She moved to Lower Canada in 1782-3 and then to Upper Canada in 1785 and settled in the Township of Yonge.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Davidson, William
Schneider, Norma

Ref: "The Monroe Book" by Dr. Joan S. Guilford - Conn. Unconnected Monroes

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

UPDATED NOTE OCT. 2019 (By B.J. Steele, via email from Jo Ann Munro Tuskin)

Married 30 Oct 1776, Fair Haven Church, Fairfield, Stamford Darien, CT to Katherine Reed, both of Norwalk in the records, as found in "The Monroe Book" by Dr. Joan S. Guilford-Conn. Unconnected Monroes, p. 600
The 77th Regiment was disbanded in 1763, therefore none of his sons could have served in that Regiment.
The Upper Canada Land Petition of Samuel Reid Munro states, "That your petitioner is the son of Catherine Leech, deceased, formerly widow of John Munro also deceased."
The Upper Canada Land Petition of Catherine "Kitty" Munro states "that in the Fall of 1782 ... Mrs Catherine Leech and children ... were waiting at Crown Point (NY) for a boat to take them across Lake Champlain to St. John's in the Lower Province" (this is St Jean sur Richeleau, in Quebec)
The Upper Canada Land Petition of Catharine Leech, written in 1789 in Augusta, Upper Canada (now Ontario) states: "that she had considerable property taken from her in the colonies and her husband was murdered by the rebels on account of his attachment to the British Government."
Therefore, it would seem that John Munro died before 1782 during the Revolutionary War. There is a persistent family story that he was in one of the Highland Regiments that served in North American during the "French and Indian War", but the exact regiment has not been ascertained as yet. There is also evidence that the family had lived in either Kingsbury or Whitehall, Washington County, New York, and Catherine and the children escaped from there north into the British territory of Lower Canada, now Quebec, and then finally settled in Mallorytown, Ontario.
Ref: Clan Munro files-- Davidson, William
Schneider, Norma
Ref: "The Monroe Book" by Dr. Joan S. Guilford-- Conn. Unconnected Monroes
Clan Munro files-- Tuskin, Jo Ann Munro, Jo Ann Munro Tuskin, The Munros of Mallorytown (and Beyond!) - compiled by Jo Ann Munro Tuskin
Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA
Family ID F1858

Birth:
Estimate: John's birth date is an estimate based on the birth date of his wife, Katherine.

Died:
John died before 1782.

John married Catherine (Katherine) Reid (Reed) on 30 Oct 1766 in Stamford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA. Catherine (daughter of Samuel Reid and Sarah Kellogg) was born in 1749 in Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA; died before 1836 in , , Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

**********
The following is from "The Munros of Mallorytown (and Beyond!)" - compiled by Jo Ann Munro Tuskin - Apr 2008:

Catherine Leech sent a petition from Augusta Townshiip in Aug 1789: "That your Petitioner had considerable property taken from her in the Colonies, & her husband was murdered by the rebels, on account of his attachment to the British Government. That your petitioner is Desirous of becoming an Inhabitant in this district. She therefore prays the Home board will be pleased to Grant her two Hundred acres of land, as a compensation for her Losses and Sufferings." As a result, she was "admitted for two hundred acres". (NA RG 1, L 3, Upper Canada Land Petitions, vol 306, 'L' Bundle, Miscellaneous, No. 158, microfilm C-2138)

C2490
I the subscriber do certify that in the Fall of 1782 - was sent by General Haldimand, then Commander and Chief of the Province of Quebec etc etc etc - as a ??? to take a number of prisoners, men, women - to East Bay at the south end of Lake Champlain in the State of New York - and when he arrived there found three families waiting for an oppontunity to get to Saint Johns in the Lower Provinces - and after Landing the prisoners sent those boats back to Crown Point to the shiping - and the families waiting (Viz) - Mrs. Spooner and Children, John Atkins, wife and children and Mrs. Catherine Leech and Children - and do certify that Mrs. Catharine Proctor is Daughter to the said Mrs. Leech. Given under my hand in Yonge this 17th Jan'y 1808. Thomas Smyth J.P.

We have assumed that Catharine Leech, widow, was the Katharine Reid who married John Munro in Norwalk, Connecticut, 30 Oct 1766, for two reasons: an old, hand-written family notebook has the name Kathryne Reid' beside Daniel's name; and the name Reid has been passed down in her son Samuel's line as well as in her grandson Timothy's line and a note from a cousin says that he (Timothy) wanted the name Reid given to his grandson as 'it was his grandmother's name'.
**********

Katherine's daughter, Freelove, is the only child at law and heiress of Thomas Golden. He settled before 1796. In the original documents, the last 3 girls are listed as "illegitimate".

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Munro, Ronald Geyer - Research in Branford, Connecticut
for Mrs. Elise Wildman Hammer - undated

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Married:
"Fair Haven Church, Stamford, Darien, CT"