McConnell Ancestry – The Story of William Harold McConnell (1846-1930) and Mary Ann Bloomer (1856-1932) – Part 1

William McConnell and Mary Ann Bloomer - Family Tree

So far, our family history has discussed the McConnell Ancestry – Ireland to Canada and the McConnell Ancestry – The Story of Harold William McConnell (1900-1988) and Marjorie Uldean Latta (1905-1988). In this segment, we tell the story of Harold William McConnell’s parents, William McConnell (1846-1930) and Mary Ann Bloomer (1856-1932).

Much of the data are drawn from two unpublished family history books by the daughter of William McConnell, Beavin Moncrief (McConnell) Taylor, a school teacher. The first source is a 16-page document titled Life in Percy Township on the Quin(n) Farm dated January 1969. The second source is a document titled McConnell Clan Memoirs dated July 1974 with numerous inserts and more than 100 pages in total.

William Harold McConnell was born on May 7, 1846, in Percy Township (Lot 23, Concession 13), Northumberland, Ontario, near his grandfather Quinn’s farm. He was the second son of Mary Ann Quinn (1825-1905), age 21, and James Allen McConnell (1823-1892), age 22.

When quite young, he moved with his parents and older brother, Robert, to Belmont Township where the North School was located on one corner of the property. In those days, there were there no compulsory school attendance laws, so boys went to school in Winter and worked at home on the farm in the Summer. William (called “Willie”) was never very strong and his mother had wanted him to learn a trade. Harness making was his choice, but this did not materialize. Like his four brothers, he stayed with the land.

On April 8, 1874, William married Mary Ann Bloomer (1856-1932), at Peterborough, Ontario. They settled on a rented farm in Dummer Township (north of the village of Norwood), where they lived for five years. By the fall of 1879, they had saved $500. They used it to buy the property at Lot 23, Concession 13, Percy Township of Northumberland County. Located on the south shore of the Trent River near Hastings, it was always known as the Quinn farm.

"Quinn Farm (renovated)"

In the Fall of 1887, William had been burning brush south-west of the present buildings on the farm. The crop had been threshed and a straw stack was beside the barn. When a wind got up, the barn was burned with all the contents including grain, fodder, implements and tools. It is said that William jokingly told Mary Ann that it was the only time she ever disobeyed him - when she went into the burning barn to save their new buggy. But, she did save the buggy. Although they had no insurance, none of the livestock was lost and a neighbour, who owned a farm on the next concession, rented them his buildings for the winter. William objected to anyone canvassing the settlement for help, but stated that he would accept any extra feed or bedding that anyone could spare for his livestock.

William Harold McConnell and his horses, circa 1915

William had a bright, cheery disposition with a pleasant word for young and older folks alike. He was a life-long member of the Methodist Church, bringing his devotion. vision and activity into the United Church. He served for 40 years on the Quarterly Official Board. The Story of William Harold McConnell (1846-1930) and Mary Ann Bloomer (1856-1932) continues in Part 2 of the McConnell ancestry.