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John Thomas? Coumans Sr.
Born: 1795 in Cork, Co., Ireland
Parents: unknown
Siblings: Possibly Thomas, possibly Anne
Spouse: Jane Sargeant (b. 1800, d. Mar 2, 1890)
aka Johanna Sargeant
Married: Prior to 1827
Children:
1. Mary (married Thomas Inglesby).
2. Simon (b. 1828, m. 9-8-1856 to Mary O'Farrell, d. 1910)
3. Jane (married to unknown Kearney)
4. Elizabeth (m.on 9-8-1856 to Patrick Toohey Jr., d. 1902?)
5. John Jr. (married to Helena (aka Ellen) Lawlor
6. Thomas (married Bridget O’Grady)
7. Anne (married to John Fleming)
Immigration/Migration: IRE>NB,CAN>MI>ON,CAN
Ocupation: possibly a sawyer and farmer?
Death: August 18, 1868 or August 8, 1867
Burial: Old Mary Immaculate Cemetary, Chepstow, ON
John and Jane immigrated to Canada from Ireland sometime around 1819 or
1820. Jane Sergeant (born 1800) had converted to Catholicism to marry
him, and her family may have immigrated with the Coumans (perhaps a
relative named William). It is unknown if John and Jane met and married in
Ireland, or after immigrating to Canada. On January 16th, 1827, John
petitioned for a land grant for a piece of land on the southwest side of
the southwest branch of the Mirimichi River in New Brunswick (between the
George Price grant and the Stephen Hovey application). On the petition, he
stated that he was 27 (or 29) years old, had a wife and one child, and
that he had been in New Brunswick for seven years prior. One year later,
the couple had a second child - Simon.
The family moved to Flint, MI for a bit, then around 1840, the family
moved to North Easthope Township in what was known at the time as Huron
County. The 1842 Library and Tax Assessment Rolls show him and 7 other
household members living there on about 100 acres of land (Conession 1,
Lot 39).
(
http://www.huroncap.org/assess/neas1842.htm ).
In 1852, a man named John Phelan Jr. and his family settled along the
banks of the Yokassippi River. They were followed by several pioneering
families - one of which was the Coumans family. A sawmill was built, as
well as a dam to power it. The families started constructing homes, and
the tiny community was dubbed “Phelan’s Dam.” Mr. Phelan (being Irish like
the Coumans) petitioned the government to name the town “Emmett” after and
Irish rebel. Instead, the government changed the town’s name to Chepstow -
after the first invader of Ireland (in 1170 A.D.). In 1863, a church was
erected, and in 1865 was dedicated as “St. John the Baptist” by Bishop
Farrell. This name was chosen to honor the two pioneering Johns in the
community - John Phelan and John Coumans . . . either Sr. or possibly
his son, John Jr.
In 1867, John Snr. was listed (under the name Comans) as living (or at
least as owning land) in Bruce County, Greenock Township, Ontario. The property was
located at Consession 9, Lot 6. His son, Simon Coumans had property right
next door - Con 9, Lot 7, and another son, John Jr., had property in the
area as well (Con 11 & 12, Lot 5)
John Coumans Sr. died on August 18, 1868 and was buried in the Old Mary
Immaculate Cemetery in Chepstow, Bruce County, Ontario. His wife,
Jane died in the March 02, 1890 and was buried with her husband.
This is a photo of Jane Sargeant (submitted by Gabriel Sheridan):
To read further about the lineage of John Couman Sr.'s children, please
select the name of one of his sons or daughters:
Mary Coumans
Simon Coumans
Jane Coumans
Elizabeth Coumans
John Coumans Jr.
Thomas Coumans
Anne Coumans
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