Mary MAHOFFEY

Female Abt 1801 - 1883  (82 years)


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  • Name Mary MAHOFFEY 
    Born Abt 1801  Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Female 
    Died 11 Aug 1883  Whitchurch, York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I37  David Falconer Family Tree
    Last Modified 8 Aug 2020 

    Family William RANKIN
              b. Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 1848, York County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. William RANKIN
              b. Abt 1821, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. UNKNOWN  [natural]
     2. John RANKIN
              b. Abt 1824, Antrim, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 16 Sep 1896, Toronto Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years)  [natural]
     3. Samuel RANKIN
              b. Abt 1830, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 30 Jan 1900, East Oxford Twp, Canada West Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)  [natural]
     4. Isabella Henrietta RANKIN
              b. Abt 1833, County Antrim, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 14 Aug 1906, Toronto Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)  [natural]
     5. Abraham RANKIN
              b. 20 Mar 1835, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 22 Apr 1924, Barrie, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years)  [natural]
     6. Mary Ellen RANKIN
              b. 5 Nov 1837, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 25 Nov 1915, Orillia, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)  [natural]
     7. Daniel RANKIN
              d. UNKNOWN  [natural]
     8. George RANKIN
              d. UNKNOWN  [natural]
     9. Andrew RANKIN
              b. Abt 1839, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. UNKNOWN  [natural]
     10. Margaret RANKIN
              d. UNKNOWN  [natural]
     11. Robert RANKIN
              d. UNKNOWN  [natural]
     12. James RANKIN
              d. UNKNOWN  [natural]
    Last Modified 8 Aug 2020 
    Family ID F37  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.

  • Sources 
    1. [S57] 1861 census of Canada.

    2. [S59] York County Estate Files, File 5088, probated 3 Jan., 1884.