McAdam In Ontario

Irish Emigration to Canada

Prior to the Napoleonic Wars (which ended in 1815), most Irish emigrated to the American colonies that had become the United States. These Irish were predominantly Protestants, most descended from the Scots who settled in Northern Ireland in the 1600s and 1700s. These people are often called Scotch-Irish. Many of the McAdams in the United States arrived during this period.

English-speaking Canada, however, grew rapidly after the Napoleonic Wars with the Irish being the largest group of immigrants, more than the English or Scots. Between the Peace of Waterloo (1815) and the Great Irish Famine (1845), more than half a million Irish traveled to Canada, greater than the number going to the United States. This migration was due significantly to the drop in agricultural prices in Ireland after the Napoleonic Wars forcing marginal farmers off their land.

Through 1825, most Irish emigrants were smaller, well-to-do farmers who could afford the long voyage to North America to purchase land. As the price of voyage dropped after 1825 and more jobs, such as lumbering, became available in Canada, less well-to-do farmers and laborers started making the trip. In the peak years, there were 40,000 Irish emigrants in 1830 and 60,000 in 1831. Our Samuel and Phoebe McAdam likely emigrated around this time.

More than half the Irish arriving in Canada ended up in the United States. Irish Catholics did not emigrate in great numbers until the famine years in the 1840s. By 1871, however, a little less than half the Irish in Canada were Catholic, compared to the United States where the solid majority of Irish were Catholic. Ontario had by far the largest number of Irish in Canada; but New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec also had sizeable Irish populations.

References:

Houston, Cecil J. & William J. Smyth, Irish Emigration and Canadian Settlement: Patterns, Links & Letters, University of Toronto Press, 1990.

Leyburn, Jame G., The Scotch-Irish: A Social History, University of North Carolina Press, Reprinted 1989.

We have evidence that my McAdam family, Samuel and Phoebe and their children, were in Canada before the potato famine of the 1840’s. [See Sam & Phoebe's Genealogical Report.] According to a notice in a Napanee newspaper dated June 18, 1831, "Letter waiting for Samuel McAdam at the Napanee Post Office." While not conclusive, it is very possible that Samuel and Phoebe McAdam had just arrived in the area when a letter from friends or relatives back home in Ireland arrived. Irish immigrants often kept family and friends back home informed, especially as to opportunities for more immigrants.  We are still trying to determine the date of arrival.

The first conclusive evidence of our family is the 1851 Canadian Census that showed Sam (age 58) and Phoebe (age 57) living in Tyendinaga Township, Hastings County, with their children John (age 30), Mary (age 28), and Samuel (age 25). All were born in Ireland. Thus, the family likely came to Canada between 1826, when Samuel was born, and 1831.

There is a question as to whether Mary was a daughter of Samuel and Phoebe.  The 1851 Census shows her as a nonmember resident of the household.  She was likely visiting the day the census taker was there and may not be a family member, although census errors were common.

We have some information about what happened to John McAdam but nothing about Mary.  Were there any other siblings? Did Samuel and Phoebe have brothers and sisters who also immigrated? Of course, you can search a our family tree for descendants of Sam and Eliza.

John McAdam Moved to Western Ontario.

This is strongly suggested by to the following facts.

According to Anglican Church records, Samuel Stuart McAdam, son of John and Ann McAdam, was born August 30, 1853 and baptized October 2, 1863 in Tyendinaga Township, Hastings County, Ontario. This is encouraging because, in Irish naming conventions at the time, first born sons often were named after the father's father.  

According to the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid, there are five McAdams buried in Wroxeter Presbyterian Cemetery (abandoned), Howick Township, Huron County, Ontario. They are Ann McAdam, Ann (Pyer) McAdam (w/o John McAdam), Jane (i/d/o John & Ann McAdam) McAdam, John McAdam, and Samuel Stewart McAdam.

According to the 1871 Ontario Census, John McAdam lived in Huron North, Howick, Division 3. He was a 50 year old head of household, born in Ireland in 1820 or 1821, was a Presbyterian, occupied as laborer.

Family lore has it that one of the brothers moved west. This could be John. It is unknown if his son, Samuel Stewart, had offspring. 

David and Robert May Have Been Sons of Samuel and Phoebe Too.

Sam and Phoebe may have had other sons named David and Robert, who are included on Sam & Phoebe's Genealogical Report.  Their genealogical information are also  included on the Family Tree.

David McAdam married Sarah Jane Cross in Tyendinaga Township and settled in Hastings County near Samuel and Phoebe. David and many of his children are buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Rawdon Township, Hastings County.  Please contact  David and Sarah's descendants, Rick Parcels (kenzie71@pathcom.com) or Rob McAdam (rob_mcadam@hp.com),  if you have information to share or would like additional information.

A Robert McAdam lived in Tyendinaga Township in 1851 near Samuel and Phoebe McAdam also. Robert married Charlotte Dunning of Tyendinaga on February 7, 1855. On February 6, 1856, Robert and Charlotte had a son, Samuel. We believe they eventually moved to Stella, Washington, USA.  Please contact Jo Slingerland (slingrj@fidnet.com) if you have information to share or would like additional information. 

 Other McAdam in Ontario

There were several McAdam families in Ontario (or Quebec near Ontario) in which no direct relationship with Samuel and Phoebe McAdam could be found.  It is possible these families are connected through Ireland or Scotland and could be brothers or cousins of Samuel. Many other McAdam(s) in Ontario and in other Canadian provinces are unaccounted for.  If you are able to contribute additional information, make any connections between the families or would like additional information, please email Bruce McAdam or contact the people identified with each family below.  

William McAdam and Family of Lanark County.

William McAdam was born in County Antrim in Northern Ireland in 1797. He and his wife, Annie McKeown emigrated to Ontario between 1820 and 1823. In the book A Pioneer History of the County of Lanark, J. McGill, Packenham Mills’ first settler in 1823, William McAdam, built the first inn, Norway House. He is buried at St. Mark's Anglican Church, Lanark County, Pakenham Township, Ontario. Click here for a genealogical report on William McAdam and his descendents.  Please contact  William's descendents, Berkeley Allen (b.allen@cyberus.ca),  or Cory McAdam (cmcadam@sympatico.ca), if you have information to share or would like additional information.

Samuel McAdam and Eliza Henderson of Bruce and Huron County

Samuel McAdam was born in Scotland about 1826. He moved to County Mayo, Ireland when he was 2 years old where he married Eliza Henderson. They moved to Bruce County, Huron Township, Ontario in 1855. After Eliza’s death in 1856, Samuel married Sarah Wiggins. She is buried in Morris Pioneer/McBurney Cemetery, Huron County, Turnberry Township. Click here for a genealogical report on Samuel McAdam and his descendents.  Please contact descendents Robert Clayton McAdam (cmcadam@compusmart.ab.ca), or  Claire Schneider (cmarie@pacbell.net), if you have have information to share or would like additional information. 

James Alex McAdam and Elizabeth Bothwell of Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec

James Alex McAdam was born 1815 in Glasgow, Scotland, and died 1897 in Grenville, Quebec.  He married Elizabeth Bothwell in 1844 in Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec.  She was born 1817 in County Down, Ireland, and died 1899 in Grenville, Quebec,  Their son, David McAdam, married Matilda L. Blair on September 5, 1866 in Chatham.  Many of the children and other descendents of James and Elizabeth lived in Ontario.  Click here for a genealogical report on James and Elizabeth McAdam and their descendents.  Please contact descendent, William Tonn  (btonn@home.com), if you have have information to share or would like additional information. 

John McAdam and Ellen McKenzie of Middlesex County

John McAdam and Ellen McKenzie were born and married in Scotland about 1800 before they immigrated to Canada sometime between 1812 and 1819 after the birth of their sixth child, Alexandria.  They are buried in the Melrose United Church Cemetery,  Lobo Township, Middlesex County.  Click here for a large genealogical report on John and Ellen McAdam and their ancestors and descendents.  Please contact the following descendents  if you have have information to share or would like additional information. 

Thomas and Margaret McAdam of Hastings and Bruce Counties

Thomas and Margaret were born in Ireland about 1795.  Thomas might have been in the British Military service as their son, Thomas Jr., was born in Greece in 1825.  Thomas and Margaret and two of their daughters are buried in Kincardine Cemetery, Bruce County.  Click here for a brief genealogical report on Thomas McAdam and his descendents. Please contact,  Laurie Stewart Tokarsky (laurst@attglobal.net) or Mitch McAdam (mmcadam@attcanada.ca), if you have have information to share or would like additional information. 

Michael McAdams and Ellen Walker of Russell County, Ontario.

Michael McAdams and Ellen Walker emigrated from County Antrim, Ireland to Canada in 1856. They lived in Cumberland, Russell County, Ontario.  Michael's father, who was also named Michael, also emigrated to Canada.   Click here for a small genealogical report on their ancestors and descendents.  Please contact Tom Moffatt (tmoffatt@nbnet.nb.ca) if you have have information to share or would like additional information. 

James McAdam & Christina Ballantyne of Toronto, Ontario

James McAdam and Christina Ballantyne were both born in Edinburgh, Scotland around 1880 and were married in Toronto in 1911.  Click here for a small genealogical report.  Please contact Robin Coombs (coombsr@yrbe.edu.on.ca) if you have have information to share or would like additional information. 

McAdam Cemetery Records

The Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid  has more than 2.2 million burial records for Ontario.  There are almost 400 McAdams (McAdam, McAdams, MacAdam) on the list which are presented on a table in the link below.  This includes the name of the person, cemetery, township, county and reference information.  In some cases, maiden names, spouses or parents have been identified.  Many on the table are part of the McAdams in Ontario families identified on this website.  Many have not been identified.  Please check the list to see if your ancestors are listed and you are invited to share the information with Bruce McAdam. 

  Click here to see a table of the McAdams listed in the OCFA.