Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Duff, Thomas |
Born |
Oct. 24, 1848 |
Birthplace |
Hamilton, Upper Canada |
Places of residence |
Hamilton, Canada West Sullivan Township, Grey County |
Father |
James Duff |
Mother |
Annie Ferguson |
Nationality |
Canadian |
Notes |
Grey Roots has a wedding coat, that belonged to Mr. Thomas Duff and that was worn on the occasion of his marriage. Thomas and Catherine McKenzie were married on March 22, 1876. Thomas Duff was born in Hamilton. He was the eldest son of James Duff and his wife Annie Ferguson. James Duff was born in Little Dunkeld, a parish in Perthshire, Scotland. Annie Ferguson also was a native of Scotland (born in Aberdeen). James Duff was a stone mason, and moved his family up from Hamilton to the Owen Sound, Canada West area to work on the Grey County gaol and courthouse building in the early 1850s. This large stone building had a number of Scottish tradesmen working on it (Gideon Harkness, et al). South of Owen Sound was also a place called "Ferguson's Clearing" (it might have had a connection to Annie Ferguson Duff's family?). Thomas Duff was born Oct. 12, 1848, and he was just a young man when he served in the local militia during the Fenian Raid crisis of 1866. He later purchased Lot 10, Concession 6, Sullivan Twp., before his marriage to Catherine McKenzie on March 22, 1876. Catherine McKenzie, born August 16, 1854, was the eldest daughter of John McKenzie and his wife Grace McDonald, natives of Rossshire, Scotland. Catherine was born in Sullivan Township, Grey County. Thomas Duff and his wife Catherine lived in Sullivan Township on their farm, where five sons and three daughters were born, until the farm was found to be too small for them. It was then sold to Archibald Duff, brother of Thomas, and 200 acres were purchased from the Dobbin Estate, at Dobbinton, in 1893. The youngest child, a daughter, was born here and the Duff family lived here until 1917, when they moved to Chatsworth, Ontario. Thomas Duff died November 7, 1922 and Catherine Duff continued to live at Chatsworth until she died on June 19, 1937. Miss Annie M. Duff later resided at Niagara Falls, Ontario. She was a daughter of the couple. Her sister, Mrs. Herbert Withers of Glenville, West Virginia was nee _____Duff. |
Occupation |
Farmer 31st Grey Battalion (Militia) |
Publications |
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP THE HISTORY OF ELDERSLIE TOWNSHIP 1851-1977, p. 258, has an image of the Thomas Duff family. |
Relationships |
Brother: Archibald Duff Brother: Alexander Duff (There is an image of him in one of Rose MacLeod's books). |
Role |
Farmer |
Spouse |
Catherine McKenzie, m. March 22, 1876 |
Children |
5 sons, 3 daughters: Miss Annie Duff Mrs. Herbert Withers |
