Something to consider in areas of early Ontario (Canada West, then Upper Canada) where settlement was just opening up, the priority was to clear the land of trees, build a log cabin and a shelter for farm animals to protect them from the cold winters; building a church would come later. The nearest church was a long distance away with bad roads to get there. So when the itinerant Methodist ministers, aka "circuit riders" came by it provided the opportunity to baptise the children and marry the couples. Some might have stayed Methodist, some might have eventually return to their original church. --- Just a thought. Bonnie Anderson Kitchener PS: My Irish people arrived in Canada in 1850. By 1853, they had acquired land in the newly surveyed township of Artemesia in Grey County. Coincidentally, the area has the headwaters of a number of rivers, so the land is very marshy. An Irish friend told me "If anyone could, a Fermanagh man could farm it." On Sun, Mar 8, 2015 at 9:40 PM, Allan & Kathy Lowe via < fermanagh-gold@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Hi Dave > > I suppose that rural Ontario was far enough away - though it was the > original Protestants who emigrated! > > Thanks for the info. > > Kathy >

Hi Bonnie You’re right! In Canada, in the earliest days of the 1800s, the only church for Protestants was the C of E in the main town, so everyone went into town for marriages and baptisms in that church and everyone was officially C of E. By mid-century, smaller Methodist churches had been built in the smaller towns, so people could be married and baptised closer to home, and many Protestants in Canada were reportedly Methodist. In subsequent decades, other Protestant groups started building churches of their own and Protestant Canadians reported more diverse religious affiliations. Kathy From: Bonnie Anderson Sent: Monday, March 9, 2015 12:48 PM To: Allan & Kathy Lowe ; FER-GOLD Subject: Re: FERMANAGH-GOLD religion Something to consider in areas of early Ontario (Canada West, then Upper Canada) where settlement was just opening up, the priority was to clear the land of trees, build a log cabin and a shelter for farm animals to protect them from the cold winters; building a church would come later. The nearest church was a long distance away with bad roads to get there. So when the itinerant Methodist ministers, aka "circuit riders" came by it provided the opportunity to baptise the children and marry the couples. Some might have stayed Methodist, some might have eventually return to their original church. --- Just a thought. Bonnie Anderson Kitchener PS: My Irish people arrived in Canada in 1850. By 1853, they had acquired land in the newly surveyed township of Artemesia in Grey County. Coincidentally, the area has the headwaters of a number of rivers, so the land is very marshy. An Irish friend told me "If anyone could, a Fermanagh man could farm it." On Sun, Mar 8, 2015 at 9:40 PM, Allan & Kathy Lowe via <fermanagh-gold@rootsweb.com> wrote: Hi Dave I suppose that rural Ontario was far enough away - though it was the original Protestants who emigrated! Thanks for the info. Kathy

Certainly is confusing as my Methodist married in Presbyterian in Toronto but thankfully because of write up on early Methodism in Canada I found the baptism of child, so they returned to religion they were in Ireland. http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/oldies.htm and links is where I found mine. DH On 10/03/2015 03:55, Allan & Kathy Lowe via wrote: > Hi Bonnie > > You’re right! In Canada, in the earliest days of the 1800s, the only church for Protestants was the C of E in the main town, so everyone went into town for marriages and baptisms in that church and everyone was officially C of E. By mid-century, smaller Methodist churches had been built in the smaller towns, so people could be married and baptised closer to home, and many Protestants in Canada were reportedly Methodist. In subsequent decades, other Protestant groups started building churches of their own and Protestant Canadians reported more diverse religious affiliations. > > Kathy

The same was true in the US. In the "early days" (1600s --1750s) RCs were rare (and discriminated against) , at least outside of Maryland and the Spanish-settled areas (California, Mexico, Florida) and Catholic priests even rarer, so RC immigrants went wherever they could, or got married or had children baptised by the traveling "circuit rider" minister. That's why in Ireland I have found it unusual for Cassidys _not_ to be RC, but in the U.S., especially in the South, there are many who are Protestant. After a generation or two, it was unlikely the family would change back. Janet C. On 3/9/15 11:55 PM, Allan & Kathy Lowe wrote: > i Bonnie > > You’re right! In Canada, in the earliest days of the 1800s, the only church for Protestants was the C of E in the main town, so everyone went into town for marriages and baptisms in that church and everyone was officially C of E. By mid-century, smaller Methodist churches had been built in the smaller towns, so people could be married and baptised closer to home, and many Protestants in Canada were reportedly Methodist. In subsequent decades, other Protestant groups started building churches of their own and Protestant Canadians reported more diverse religious affiliations. > > Kathy