Hi Sue,

Thanks for the prompt and thoughtful note; much appreciated! You asked about the records I have connecting Philip Teare and Ballakenag. Here’s the documented story I have thus far:

• My 2nd Great Grandmother was Jane Tear (b. St Johns New Brunswick, 21 May 1842, d. 4 Oct 1926 in California) wife of Jeremiah Murphy. Via oral history, my grandfather told me that Jane’s dad was named Philip. All census records indicate her parents were from “England”. Her California death certificate lists “Philip Teare from IOM” as her father and her mother as “unknown”.

• The 1851 Census of Canada has a Philip and Eleanor Tear with daughter Jane (about 8, a little off) living in Harvey, Albert County, NB. According to the census, Philip (age 60) emigrated from IOM in 1823 (again, a few years off). Jane was born in NB according to the record. Finally, Philip Tear died 19 Jun 1871 and is buried at Alma, Albert County NB (only 11 miles from Harvey of the 1851 census).

• Thomas Tear wrote in his 1888 memoir of immigrating to Ohio from Ballakenag in 1826 along with his father William and Grandfather John Teare. (A great read, BTW!) I believe he is the William you mention; he also chats about an Uncle Thomas, per your note. But he also mentions at length an “Uncle Philip” who immigrated just prior to NB. As taken from his memoir, “He (Philip), in stead of going to Ohio, went to New Brunswick, because of the fishing there, and it was a long time before my father knew what had become of him. Nothing had been heard from him here, or any of them, for more than twenty years, the address was then Point Wolf, Alma Parish, Albert County.”

• According to Thomas, John Teare and Jony Moore of Ballekenag (I have a copy of their Andreas parish marriage entry) were the parents of William, Thomas (as you mention, Sue) - and Philip. I have likely parish baptismal entries for William and Thomas in Andreas, but not Philip. There is one for a Philip in Lezayre around the appropriate time. John’s father was (perhaps confusingly) also named Philip Teare and had a large family with two boys – William and John (the one who went to Ohio). The mother was not listed by name. Again, both Philip and his unnamed wife died of “stitches” close together, leaving the children seemingly mainly on their own.

So far so good, but that’s where my documentation ends. It seems that my Philip Tear who immigrated to NB isn’t accounted for in the Sally McCambridge book (which I should probably buy anyway – thanks for the look-up!). Thomas in 1888 does mention a ‘long line of Williams stretching back 10 generations at Ballakenag’ as well as the “Lord Teare/Bog” name.

Hence, I’m looking to document – via parish records if possible – the births of Philip NB, his father John, and his father Philip/wife who died of “stitches” - plus any further back I can reasonably prove beyond.

That’s the background. Hope it’s written clearly, sorry for the length but it’s a twisted story that I’m trying to make accurate sense of!

I see Frances has posted some great leads, which I also appreciate, and will follow up again later today after studying her thoughts!

Best,
Lyle