The Brinsmeads in Canada

Brinsmead Migrations to Canada

Hugh Brinsmead's Family

The wider family in London, Ontario

Other Canadian Migrations

Mary Ann Tanton (nee Brinsmead)

Hugh Brinsmead's older sister Mary Ann was born in St. Giles in the Wood, Devon on December 1st, 1835. She married Thomas Tanton in England in 1855 and then the couple left for Canada. Their leaving is described on another page.

Children

Thomas and Mary Ann Tanton had five children, all born in London, Ontario:

  • Thomas James, born March 31st, 1859;
  • Alice Maud Mary, born in 1861;
  • Henry Brinsmead, born July 29th, 1868;
  • Arthur William born July 3rd, 1874; and
  • Alice Mable, born May 24th, 1883.

Only the first two children survived, the last three all dying within their first year. They are buried in the Woodland Cemetery. The family lived at 479 Maitland Street, in London.

Thomas Tanton

Mary Ann Tanton sleigh riding
Mary Ann Tanton sleigh riding with Alice and James Tanton.
 

Thomas appears to have served in his first four years in some military capacity, living in the barracks. After that, Thomas went into the shoe business, entering into a partnership with another St. Giles in the Wood ex-pat, William Ashplant who was related through Rebecca Brinsmead who married his Grandfather. For a short while, Hadley Brinsmead-Williams worked in the Ashplant and Tanton store. Thomas Tanton died in 1889 while on a visit to relatives in Rockford, Illinois. After Thomas died, Mary lived with her daughter Ethel and her son-in-law James B. McKillop, a lawyer in London.

Mary Tanton's death

Mary Tanton died on January 11th, 1916, in London, Ontario. She left a will, and a significant estate amounting to about $16,000.  She left her brother Hugh, who survived her, $50.00 per year for four years.