Margaret C. McDonald and Family

Margaret C.² McDonald (Bridget¹ Blaney, Daniel^A) was born 16 August 1833 in St-Basile, in what was then Carleton County and is now Madawaska County in New Brunswick. Her parents were Bridget Blaney and James McDonald. Her godparents were John McDonald and Susanne Hébert. [1] Maggie grew up in New Brunswick, emigrating with her family to Ohio in 1853 when she was 20 years of age. [2]

It was probably in Ohio that Maggie married a Mr. Forbes c. 1855. By 1860 she was back living on the family farm in Thompson township in Delaware Co. Ohio, presumably a widow. The Forbes family seems to have led a picaresque life in their few years together, as Maggie had a daughter born in Pennsylvania c. 1856 and another born in Illinois c. 1858. [3] Mr. Forbes himself had been born in England. [4]

Maggie then married George W. Wensell, probably c. 1865, as the two had a son born c. 1866. George was born in Pennsylvania, as were his parents. His date of birth is unclear, as the 1870 census gives his age as 38, suggesting a birth year of 1832; and the 1880 census a mere 40; suggesting 1940. His headstone shows a birth year of 1836. Maggie had left farm life behind; the family was living in the city of Delaware, in Delaware County, where George was employed as a tinsmith and Maggie as a milliner. She may have had her own milliner's shop, as the 1880 census showed her daughter Mamie working as a milliner and another milliner, Mary Whitman, boarded with the family. [5] Maggie died between 1880-1890, as George married a Jessie Brown c. 1890. [6] He died on 10 October 1907 and is buried in Oak Grover Cemetery, Delaware, OH, alongside Maggie. [7]

Margaret C. McDonald and Mr. Forbes had the following children:
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Margaret C. McDonald and George W. Wensell had the following child: