Notes:

Frederick and Isabella's marriage record [Ontario County Marriage Registers 1858-1866 Vol. 66] shows A.J. Williams (presumably an incorrect version of Williamson) as the witness, and Rev. Dr. Stinson of the Wesleyan Methodist Church as the officiating minister.

Isabella married Frederick in 1859, Isabella managed boarding houses, which were probably owned or leased by Frederick. From the beginning of their marriage there was strife between Frederick and Isabella, intensified by the influence of Frederick's mother and sisters. A documentary record of the marital discord was kept by Frederick between 1859 and 1871, and is included with his surveying papers in the City of Toronto Archives.

The documents reveal that from the beginning, Frederick claimed that he had been "trapped" into marriage by Isabella and her guardian, Dr. Alexander Williamson. The couple's first child, Alfred Clarence Passmore, was born 8 months after their very quiet wedding. Two more children, Forneri Frederick and Isabella Mary Eugenie, were born in 1862 and 1864, respectively. Domestic discord and Frederick's wish for a legal separation started again on 28 April, 1867, when Frederick claimed that Isabella and a young male boarder named Lowe were guilty of adultery by having a conversation late at night behind a closed door in her boarding house. This event triggered numerous brooding notes by Frederick to himself, as well as letters to and from lawyers in the next four years. A record of an eventual court case in 1871 has not been found, but indications are that a physical separation was effected, that Frederick had to continue supporting Isabella, who continued to manage boarding houses, and that the couple's three children eventually came to live with Frederick and his mother and sisters.

A Toronto Globe article of 18 Oct., 1867 is indicative, and is titled "Domestic Difficulties":
"Another of the 'Lords of Creation', named F.F. Passmore, a resident of Duke Street, was also arrested, at the instance of his wife, whom he has frequently mistreated in a variety of ways, occasionally winding up the proceedings by locking her out in the cold".
A year later, on 22 Oct., 1868, another Globe article, titled "Wife Abuse", read:
"A respectable looking woman named Mrs. Passmore stepped into the box, and stated that her husband, who was present in court, was in the habit of ill-treating her, and had on the previous day kicked her in the presence of several of the boarders, whom she keeps for a livelihood. Mr. Grant, the husband's lawyer, proceeded to interrogate the witness in a very rude and irrelevant manner, when the magistrate stopped him and asked the witness if she would swear that she was in "bodily fear" of her spouse, to which she replied in the affirmative.
The Magistrate - Very well then, Mr. Passmore will have to find sureties to keep the peace for twelve months."

During much of the marriage, Isabella and Frederick lived separately, but usually only a few blocks apart. Their children lived sometimes with their mother, sometimes with their father and his sisters, and sometimes with both parents when they were together. In the 1871 census. Isabella's occupation is listed as "boarding house", and she was listed as head of household, born in Ireland, Presbyterian. The only other member of her family listed in the 1871 census [Toronto East (47) ,St. James Ward Sub-district B, Division 4, page 38] was Nelly Passmore, age 5, born in Ontario. Other members of the household were: William and Catherine Bailey (35, married) and their son William, 15; James and Charlotte Swinburne (40 and 25, married); Gamble Geddes (22, single); Eliza Hayes (19, single); and Mabel White (24, single).

Thus by 1871, Isabella had separated from Frederick. She was listed in the Fisher and Taylor's 1874 Toronto Directory as the "widow of Frederick", and living at 228 Church St. W. , while he was listed as living at 58 Wood St.

In the 1881 census [Toronto, St. James Ward, District 134, sub-district E, division 1, page 19, household number 112], Isabella, age 40, Irish origin, member of Church of England, and head of household, living with Nellie Passmore, age 12, who was born in Ontario, but whose ethnic origin is Irish. There are also two domestic servants and one lodger listed in her household. She is listed as a widow, with no employment, even though her husband Frederick is known to be still alive.

Over the years, according to Toronto Directories, Isabella lives at:
1874: 228 Church St. (Mrs. Isabella Passmore, widow)
1881: 63 1/2 Mutual St. ("Mrs. Passmore"). Also at same address: Wm. Darlington, roofer
1884 and 1885: 91 Wilton Ave. ("Mrs. Mary Rankin" at 91 Wilton in 1883)
1890: 209 Jarvis St.
1891:238 Jarvis St.
1895: 226 Sherbourne St.
1900: 51 Carlton St (Isabella and Blanch (sic) are also shown at this address in "Foster's Blue Book or Ladies' Directory of Toronto", for 1900
1905 and 1906: 561 Church St. (perhaps should be 650 Church St.?)
In some of these she is listed as "widow of Frederick Passmore".

In the 1891 census of St. James Ward, in Toronto, Isabella Passmore is listed as age 54, married, head of household, Church of England, born in Ireland, and living with Blanche Passmore (listed as her daughter), two domestics and one lodger. Blanche Passmore is listed as aged 21, being born in Ontario (thus about 1870). Blanche's father's birthplace was England and her mother's birthplace was Ireland.

In the 1901 census [Toronto Centre, Ward 3, sub-district A-27, page 16], Isabella is listed as "Is Passmore", widow, born 1833, age 67, living with her daughter, B McKay, born March 25, 1874, her daughter's husband R McKay, born 1868, and 5 boarders (4 females, 1 male).

A later confirmation of daughter Blanche comes from a record of a marriage of Blanche C. Passmore with Robert McKay, a lawyer, on 17th July, 1900 in Toronto. Blanche's parents are listed as Frederick F. Passmore and Isabel (sic) Rankin Passmore. Her birth year is listed as about 1872, and her birthplace Toronto.

After her death on Aug. 14, 1906, the Globe and Mail obituary is as follows: "On Tuesday the 14th August, 1906, at the residence of her daughter Mrs. Robert McKay, 650 Church St., Toronto, Isabella Henrietta Passmore, widow of the late F.F. Passmore. Funeral (private) on Thursday, Aug. 16 at 4 PM."

In the death certificate of Frederick Forneri Passmore (son of Frederick Fortescue Passmore and Isabella), Isabella is listed as Isabella Cunningham, born in Ontario. The informant was A.C. Passmore, Frederick and Isabella's other son and Frederick Forneri's brother. It should be noted that Isabella's sister Mary (born about 1837, same parents' names listed) had married George Cunningham on 12 September 1861.

Isabella's will, written in 1904, and witnessed by Lillie Coates and Nellie Browse, left an estate of $190 to her daughter Blanche Ellen, who was also the executrix.

Isabella is buried in St. James Cemetery, Toronto (58th grave south in Section Eps, off Parliament St). Cemetery records show that her grave authorized by her son-in-law Robert McKay Jr. and the site owner was her daughter Blanche. Her buial information shows that she was living at 650 Church Street, and that she died of appendicitis. It also records her birthplace as County Antrim in Ireland. Her gravestone reads:
MOTHER
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ISABEL RANKIN
WIDOW OF F.F. PASSMORE
DIED AUGUST 14 1906
AT REST

Ther is a nearby gave marker for a James Passmore and his family. James died in 1905, and other members of the family died as late as 1960.

Isabella married Frederick Fortescue PASSMORE on 4 Aug 1859 in Toronto, Ontario. Frederick (son of Peter PASSMORE and Maria DOWNING) was born on 13 Jan 1824 in Selby, Yorkshire, England; died on 10 Jan 1892 in Toronto; was buried in Toronto Necropolis and Crematorium Section P-36b. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Alfred Clarence PASSMORE was born on 6 Apr 1860 in Toronto, Ontario; died on 26 Mar 1956 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Toronto Twp. No. 1 Churchville Cemetery plot 341.
2. Forneri Frederic PASSMORE was born on 29 Oct 1862 in Toronto, Ontario; died on 11 Mar 1932 in Hamilton, Ontario; was buried in Toronto Necropolis and Crematorium P-36b.
3. Isabella Mary Eugenie PASSMORE was born on 14 Nov 1864 in Toronto, Ontario; died on 10 Feb 1881 in Toronto, Ontario; was buried in Toronto Necropolis and Crematorium P-36b.
4. Blanche Ellen PASSMORE was born about 1870 in Toronto; died on 7 Oct 1949 in Toronto; was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto Plot C, Section 21, Lot 15.

Notes:

The death record of William's son John and the burial record of his daughter Isabella stated that they were born in Antrim, Ireland. From this we may infer that the family came from that county.

There are two listings of a William Rankin in the 1828 Tithe Applotment Book in Antrim [PRONI ref. FIN/5/A/134 - in Dunluce Parish, one in Park townland, and the other in Ballyhome townland. A Hugh Rankin and a Thomas Rankin are also listed in Park townland. These tithe applotment records list no Mahaffeys. Dunluce Parish contains the spectacular ruins of Dunluce Castle situated on a rocky promentory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The 1796 flaxgrowers bounty list includes: a Hugh Rankin in Ballyrashean Parish, 2 James Rankins in Dunluce Parish, a Thomas Rankin in Ballyrashean Parish and a William Rankin in Derrykeighan Parish.

1824-1827 Vestry minutes of the Church of Ireland parish of Dunluce, held in PRONI [MIC/1/90//1] mention a Hugh Rankin as a church warden. The following Rankin baptisms are also mentioned:
Jan. 16, 1814: John, son of James Rankin of Lisales, Billy.
July 7, 1817: Hugh, son of William Rankin of Park Mountain.
July 25, 1822: James, son of William Rankin of Ballyhome.

The 1901 census listing for William's son Abraham states that the family immigrated to Canada in 1842.

According to the biography of Frederic Fortescue Passmore in "Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of York, Ontario: containing biographical sketches of ..", J.H. Beers, Toronto, 1907:

".. Mr. Passmore married Miss Isabella Rankin, who belongs to a family long identified with County York, being a daughter of William and Mary (Mahoffey) Rankin, natives of Ireland, who came to Toronto at an early date, settling on Yonge Street, where Mr. Rankin owned a tract of land, and where both he and Mrs. Rankin died. Of their thirteen children, Mrs. Passmore and her sister Mrs. Cunningham, and one brother, Abraham Rankin, are the only survivors....".

A copy of William Rankin's will, dated Mar. 8, 1848, is among the personal papers of his son-in-law, Frederick Fortecue Passmore. He requested that his possessions and his farm, at Lot 10, Concession 1, in Whitchurch Twp., be sold to pay his debts and funeral expenses. The will lists his wife and his 11 children - William, Robert, James, John, Samuel, Margaret, Isabella, Daniel, George, Mary Ellen and Andrew.

In census and marriage records, many Rankins, probably from several families, were listed in Vaughan, Whitchurch and Markham Townships in York County in the mid-1800s. Among the marriages, with Rankin parents listed as William and Mary were:
John Rankin, b ~ 1824 in Ireland, m. Elizabeth Hope Nov. 26, 1879
Harriet Rankin, b. ~1846 in Canada m. James Cochrane, Aug. 1, 1868
Mary Jane Rankin, b. ~1842 in Ireland m. James Kelly, Jul 18, 1866
Samuel Rankin, b. 1830 in Ireland m. Ellen Sleightholm, Sep 25, 1861
Isabella H. Rankin b. 1833 in Ireland m. Frederick Fortescue Passmore, Aug. 4, 1859

Other Rankin marriages, for which parents were not listed included:
Elizabeth Rankin m. Daniel McPherson Feb. 13, 1834 witnesses: James Rankin and Esther Rankin
James Rankin m. Mary Sweetman Oct 21, 1836
Margaret Rankin m. James Stewart Dec 22, 1846 (1891 census shows her as b. ~1826 in Ireland)

The 1861 census for Whitchurch, York County (which includes upper Yonge Street), includes a Mary Rankin, age 60, widowed, born in Ireland, and living with her daughter Mary, age 22.

William married Mary MAHOFFEY. Mary was born about 1801 in Ireland; died on 11 Aug 1883 in Whitchurch, York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The maiden name of Isabella's mother comes from the article on Frederick F. Passmore in "Commemorative Biographical record of the County of York, Ontario", 1907. In Isabella's marriage record, her mother's surname is given as McKay.

There is a Mary Rankin listed in the 1853 Toronto tax assessment rolls - owning a 1 3/4 acre property on Queen St. West (west of Denison's Ave.) in St. Patrick's Ward.

The book "Inhabitants of York County, Ontario, 1850", by N.K. Crowder, lists Mrs. Rankin occupying Lot 70 Concession 1 in Whitchurch Township.

The 1861 census for Whitchurch, York County (which includes upper Yonge Street), includes a Mary Rankin, age 60, widowed, born in Ireland, and living with her daughter Mary, age 22.

In the York North 1871 census for the Whitchurch sub-district, there is a Mary Rankin listed, age 70 (b. ~1801), of Irish ethnic origin, Scotch Presbyterian religion. This is the same district as that of her daughter Mary and son-in-law George Cunningham.

The 1881 census for the Whitchurch sub-district of York North shows Mary Rankin, age 82, widow, Presbyterian, born in Ireland.

Mary Mahoffey Rankin died 11 Aug. 1883. Her probated will was as follows:
"I Mary Rankin of the Township of Whitchurch in the County of York, widow of William Rankin formerly of the same place, farmer, deceased, declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills and testamentary dispositions by me at any time heretofore made.
I devise and bequeath all of my estate real and personal to my son John Rankin of the Township of Trafalgar in the County of Halton his heirs and assigns, my personal estate consisting of some money and securities and household furniture and clothing, and my real estate of one acre of land with buildings thereon erected situate on the southwest corner of Lot number Ten on the east side of Yonge Street, in the Township of Whitchurch aforesaid upon [?] for the purposes following, namely FIRST to specifically divide my household furniture and clothing into six equal shares of as nearly equal value as possible and give one of each share to each of my six children now named, namely to himself, John Rankin, Margaret Stuart, wife of James Stuart of the Township of King, Isabella Passmore, wife of Fortescue [sic] Passmore of Toronto, Abraham Rankin of Barrie, Mary Ellen Cunningham, wife of George Cunningham of Whitchurch and Andrew Rankin whose residence is now unknown. SECOND, as speedily as possible to convert the remainder of my said estate which shall not consist of money, into money and after payment of my debts and general and testamentary expenses, to divide the balance thereof equally amongst my six children just named.
And I direct that if my son Andrew's residence is not certainly made known or came to the knowledge of my son John within three years after my decease, then that immediately after the expiration of such three years his share shall vest in and become the property of the other five of my said six children named and shall thereafter be divided amongst them by my said son John.
AND for the disposition sale or conversion into money of my real estate I give my said son John as full and absolute power and authority as he would have over the same were he the owner thereof in fee simple absolute without encumbrance
AND appoint my said son John Executor of this my will."
Mary X Rankin
(her mark)
The will was dated 15 Feb., 1876, and was witnessed by Joseph Rankin and William Rankin.

The will does not mention William, Samuel, Daniel, George, Robert or James as children of Mary Rankin. The will does mention Abraham, who was not listed in the earlier will of Mary's husband William.

The probate record shows the estate valued at about $169, of which real estate constituted about $100, and the rest personal goods.