Walter Hayes
ID # 9635, (1846-1918)
| Birth | Walter Hayes was born in 1846 at Bastard Township, Johnstown District. |
| Marriage | He married Elizabeth Ann Monk, daughter of Stephen Monk and Jane Craig, on 27 November 1872 at Clinton, Huron County, Ontario. Mrge reg. Clinton, Huron Co. Walter Hays, 26, bachelor, farmer, Wesleyan Methodist. Born Bastard (Township), residing Dorchester, Ont. Parents Mathew and Ann Hays. Elizabeth Monk, 26, spinster, Wesleyan Methodist. Born Chinguacousy, residing Hullett Twp. Parents Stephen and Jane Monk. Witnesses James Eagan and Mary Monk. On Nov. 27, 1872, at Clinton, by Rev. James Graham. Walter's place of birth, Bastard Township, has all sorts of stories relating to the origin of it's name, but the most likely one is that when Lord and Lady Simcoe came to Upper Canada (he as the first Upper Canada Lieutenant Governor), they set about with a will to name townships, for most of them were numbered. The Simcoes had family friends back in Devonshire, so it is understood, and they must have been of Anglo-Norman stock for the family name was Bastard. And so the Simcoes named this particular township Bastard. (In all seriousness? With a touch of levity? Bles't if your researcher knows.) Indeed, in Bastard Township, there was for a long time a village known as Bastard. Years ago, the village was renamed Delta. The residents of Delta and the township wanted to retain the original township name and indeed, when it became known that the government wanted to change the name printed cards made and could be pinned to shirts and jackets: Proud to be a Bastard. Notwithstanding, the name was changed, and Bastard was amalgamated with another township and it is understood that it is now known as the Township of the Rideau Lakes. And, yes, yes, it all sounds quite lovely. To your reseacher's mind, however, something was lost in the renaming. Other researchers might like to sprinkle a bit of salt on my explanation, but...the above is my understanding of the story. Walter's place of residence, Dorchester, Ontario, was apparently in North Dorchester Township, at the time of Walter's marriage in Middlesex County. It may be in a present day township known as Thames Centre. Your researcher isn't clear on modern name changes. |
| Death | He died on 14 March 1918. |
| Burial | He was buried at Sec. M, Palmerston Cemetery, Minto Twp., Wellington Co.. |
| Note | Walter's place of birth, shown as Bastard Township, was in the old Johnstown District. When the county system came into being, Bastard was located in Leeds County. For something of a backgrounder on the township name of Bastard, see marriage notes for Walter and Elizabeth Ann. Walter's surname was shown on his marriage registration as Hays. Later information shows his name as Hayes. A death registration for Walter has not been found. Elizabeth Ann died in Saskatchewan in 1907 and her remains evidently returned to Palmerston in Wellington County, Ontario. According to Walter and Elizabeth Ann's gravestone in Palmerston Cemetery, Walter died on 14 March, 1918. No death registration for Walter has been found. At a guess, an obituary, somewhere, will tell the tale. Walter, however, was in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, as of the 1911 census. He has yet to be found in the Western 1916 census. He may have died in Saskatchewan, but, for the moment, we simply do not know. |
| Last Edited | 29 May 2023 |