Kingston Ontario Canada

Today, we are going to outline the life of a Rochestown, Glenmore man who was born just over 200 years ago. Maurice Denn was baptized at Rochestown, Glenmore on 16 January 1825. According to Danny Dowling (1927-2023) the Denn’s were major local landholders before Cromwell, however Maurice Denn was born into more humble circumstances. We know very little about Maurice Denn’s early life except what can be gleaned from parish records.

Parents & Godparents

Maurice Denn was the son of Morgan Denn and his wife Margaret Mullally of Rochestown, Glenmore. Maurice, and particularly Morgan, are not common Glenmore first names. It may be the case that the names passed down from more affluent times. Maurice’s godparents in 1825 were Patrick Dollard and Catherine Mullally. We believe that Maurice’s godfather was later to become Rev. Patrick Dollard (1804-1868) who went to Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and built St. Mary’s Cathedral.  See our post of 23 February 2025 regarding Rev. Patrick Dollard.

We believe that Maurice’s godmother Catherine Mullally, of Rochestown, married Garrett Murphy on 18 February 1828 at Slieverue. The witnesses to the wedding were Daniel Sullivan and Morgan Den (sic) Maurice’s father. Per the baptismal records of their two eldest children, Garret and Catherine Murphy resided at Glasshouse in Slieverue. In 1838, the address for their third child was recorded as Newtown, and Mary Denn was her godmother. The following year their address was Ferrybank. In 1841 their address was Slip, Ferrybank. In reviewing Kingston, Ontario mid 19th Century records all of these surnames are present.

Siblings

Morgan Denn and Margaret Mullally of Rochestown were married on 11 January 11, 1822 at Glenmore. The following children were found in parish records.

[1] Mary Denn, bapt. 11 May 1823
[2] Maurice Denn, bapt 16 Jan. 1825 (mother recorded as Mary Murry)
[3] Elizabeth Denn, bapt. 12 Aug. 1827
[4] Ellen Din (sic), bapt 21 May 1831 (Ellen Denn married Patrick Henneberry & was the mother of Maurice Henneberry (1859-1917). See our post of 14 Dec. 2025 for further information).
[5] Catherine Denn, bapt. 1834

Emigration to Kingston, Ontario, Canada

It isn’t clear when Maurice Denn emigrated to Kingston, Ontario, Canada, but he did marry Ellen Brennan (c.1816-1892) on 5 February 1852 in Ontario, Canada. The priest performing the marriage ceremony was Fr. Patrick Dollard (1804-1868) another Rochestown, Glenmore native, and we believe was Maurice’s godfather. The bride was the daughter of Patrick Brennan (deceased) and Mary Healy from the Parish of Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny.

Although we located Mary Brenan (sic) (b. 1802), at Byrnesgrove, Ballyragget, for this couple we could not locate Ellen. Our date of birth for Ellen is solely based on her published obituary although we note the 1871 Census states that she was 35 or born around 1836. However, the 1871 Census also provides that Maurice was 38 or born in 1833 and we know he was actually born in 1825.  The 1871 Census also reveals that Ellen Denn née Brennan could not read or write and this may have hampered her recall of her birthdate and/or age.

Employment

The Kingston, Ontario City Directory 1857-1858 (p. 34) provides that Maurice was employed for a time as a guard at the Provincial Penitentiary and resided on Block Street. There are only three entries for Denn in the City Directory.

Denn, M.H., Brock St.
Denn, Maurice, guard, Provincial Penitentiary, Brock St.
Denn, William, gentleman, 30 Gore Street

In reviewing the 1873-1874 Kingston City Directory and Vicinity (p. 16) it soon became apparent that William and Maurice Denn were not probably related.

Denn, Maurice, res. Bay St., Grocers and Provisions
Denn, William, res Sydenham St., Sexton W.M. Church [Wesleyan Methodist]

William was a Sexton for the Sydenham Street Methodist Church, which was established in Kingston in 1852. By this time Maurice was living on Bay St. and was employed with respect to “grocers & provisions.” Contemporary newspapers report that Maurice Denn owned a tavern (Kingston Whig Standard, Thur. 18 April 1872, p. 3).  

1872 Publications

Maurice Denn was 47 in 1872 and the following newspaper articles show one of his interests. This year also represented the last before the family experienced an era of tragedies.

The British Whig (Tue. 16 Jan. 1872, p. 3) reported that Mary Connell was charged with vagrancy and larceny. She admitted that she stole two buffalo robes from the sleigh of Mr. Maurice Denn. The robes were not recovered because the prisoner would not tell how she disposed of the robes.

The British Whig (Mon. 26 Aug. 1872, p. 2) under the title Aquatics reported that a four oared race of three miles for $40 a side was to take place on Monday evening at five o’clock in the harbour, providing the water is till. The strokes of the crews are Messrs. Maurice Denn and John Dacey. The amateurs are practicing up for the contest, with the two outrigger boats lately stored at O’Gorman’s. The course was from Cataraqui Bridge to the buoy off Morton’s Wharf and back.

Death of Maurice Denn (1825-1873) and Ellen Denn née Brennan (c. 1816 -1892)

The following short newspaper death notice was found in The British Whig (Thu. 18 Dec. 1873, p. 2). “In Kingston, Dec. 17^th Mr. Morrice (sic) Denn, aged 45 years. The funeral will take place on tomorrow (Friday) afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from his late residence, Bay Street, to St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend.”

Almost twenty years later Maurice’s widow died. The following death notice was published inThe Weekly British Whig (Thu. 9 June 1892, p. 1). “Denn—In Kingston, on June 1^st, Ellen, relict of the late Maurice Denn, native of the county Kilkenny, Ireland, aged 76 years.” At the time of Ellen’s death only her daughter Margaret survived her.

Children of Maurice Denn & Ellen Denn née Brennan

Three children were found in the Denn household in the 1871 Census. Two were born to the couple, and the third child was recorded as adopted. Although recorded as adopted the child retained the surname Burke.

[1] Patrick Denn was born on 30 Oct. 1852 and died from drowning on 3 July 1879 at the age of 27. The British Whig (Fri. 4 July 1879, p. 3) “SAD DROWNING CASE—Last evening about 9 p.m. an accident of a very painful character occurred just after the barge “Minnie” loaded with cordwood had passed through the locks at Kingston Mills. A young man named Patrick Denn, aged about 22 years, was busily engaged in coiling some rope near the cabin; while engaged in pulling the rope it came too suddenly and he slipped, tumbling overboard.”

“A board was thrown from the barge to him, but he was so much exhausted as to be unable to reach it. The barge was stopped and an active search made for the body which was found about an hour afterwards. He was brought to the city and tenderly carried to the home of his widowed mother, on Bay Street. The young man was well known in the city, and was highly respected by his companions. He was formerly employed in Conroy’s store on Market Square. His sister left this morning on the ‘Maud’ for Watertown, and has been telegraphed for.”

[2] Margaret Denn (1854-1892)–On 9 February 1880, William McQuaid and Margaret Denn were married in Kingston.  The groom was the son of Wm. McQuaid and his wife, Mary O’Neil. Three years after their marriage, Margaret and William McQuaid were witnesses when her adopted sister Mary Burke married.

In the 1891 Census Margaret and William McQuaid had four children comprised of one girl and three boys. William was employed as a “Miller of Sounding Boards for Pianos.” [2a] Mary McQuaid was born about 1883; [2b] Parnell McQuaid was born about 1884; [2c] Maurice McQuaid was born about 1885 and [2d] John McQuaid was born about 1888. Also in the household in 1891 was Margaret’s mother, Ellen Denn née Brennan, who reported that she was 78 years of age. A fifth child was recorded in the 1900 U.S. Census [2e] Katie McQuaid who was reported as having been born in May 1890.

Margaret McQuaid née Denn died on 2 November 1892 of TB in Kingston, Ontario. Margaret died just 5 months after her mother died. Margaret McQuaid née Denn had in 20 years suffered the loss of her only brother, her father, her sister and her mother. Her husband was left with 5 young children under 10 to rear.

Apparently soon after his wife’s death, William moved with his children to Chicago Illinois. The 1900 U.S. Census provides that he was a 48 year-old widower born in Canada and both his parents were also born in Canada. We know this is not correct. He alleged that his youngest child, Katie was born in May 1890, but the child is not reflected on the Canadian 1891 Census. All four of the other children are present in Chicago, and Parnell, Maurice and William are employed as piano makers. William recorded that the family immigrated in 1892 and he was a naturalised citizen.  

William McQuaid apparently died on 7 October 1904 in Chicago and at that time his occupation was saloon keeper.   For further information see William McQuaid’s grave information available at findagrave.

[3] Mary Burke (1857-1889) per the 1871 Census, was adopted by Maurice and Ellen Denn. Mary Burke was born at Kingston on 15 April 1857. Her parents were John Burke and Margaret Delaney. Her parents were married on 17 April 1856. Fr. Patrick Dollards performed the marriage and noted that the witnesses were George Russell, James Burke, and Mrs. Ellen Denn (née Brennan). The groom was the son of James Burke (stone mason) and his wife Bridget Brennan and the bride was the daughter of James Delaney and Mary Brennan.

Mary Burke was born one year after her parent’s marriage. Her godmother was Mrs. Ellen Denn née Brennan. Her mother Margaret Burke née Delaney (c.1834-1859) died on 14 July 1859 at the age of 25. Her mother’s death notice states that she was a native of County Kilkenny (The Kingston Whig Standard (Sat. 16 July 1859, p. 2). Fr. Patrick Dollard conducted Margaret Burke née Delaney’s funeral and noted that she was interred in the presence of John Burke, George Russell and Maurice Denn and others. A headstone in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery of Kingston provides that Margaret Delaney died 14 July 1859 at the age of 25 and was a native of Toor Parish, Ballyragget, Kilkenny, Ireland. See findagrave to view the headstone.

Mary Burke married Patrick McKenty on 16 April 1883. Her parents were listed as John Burke and Margaret Delaney. Witnesses to the wedding were Wm. McQuade and Margaret McQuade (née Denn). Patrick McKenty was 33 years of age and the son of John McKenty and Mary Carr. The groom was born on Amherst Island, Canada.                   

After only six years of marriage, Mary McKenty née Burke tragically died on 23 June 1889 of Consumption [TB]. She was just 31 years and 9 months old when she died, and we believe she left three small children. The Kingston Whig Standard (Wed. 10 July 1889, p. 2) published a short article. “Much regret is expressed in Kingston circles over the untimely death of Mrs. P. McKenty, (nee Mary Burke) in your city. The deceased lady was not only well known but highly thought of by a multitude of former Kingstonians, now citizens of Chicago.”

Other Family Deaths

In the course of trying to unravel Maurice Denn’s family we came across a two related notices or obituaries.

Margaret Delaney née Brennan (c. 1834-1859) [mother of Mary Burke] The Kingston Whig Standard (Sat. 16 July 1859, p. 2) published “Died—In Kingston, on the 14^th of July, Mrs. Margaret Delaney, wife of Mr. John Burke, aged 25 years a native of the County Kilkenny, Ireland. The funeral was held from the residence of Mr. John Burke on William Street.”

Patrick McKenty (c.1847-1912) (widower of Mary McKenty née Burke died 23 years after his wife)The Daily Standard (Mon. 30 Dec. 1912, p. 2) published a short obituary. “The remains of the late Patrick McKenty, who died in Hamilton last week, were brought to this city on Sunday afternoon for burial. The late Mr. McKenty was well known in Kingston, where for many years he resided and where he was accustomed of late to spend his winters. He was 65 years of age and always enjoyed the best of health. His death was quite unexpected. Survived by son John of Hamilton and two daughters. Mrs. V.C. Joyce of Fort William and Mrs. (Dr.) Keating of Chicago.”

Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

The feature photo is an old postcard of St. Mary’s Cathedral of Kingston, Ontario.

The postcard of Kingston Market Square is c. 1902 and is courtesy of The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “Market Square and City Hall, Kingston, Ont.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed February 8, 2026. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/9fca5540-c62c-012f-9bb0-58d385a7bc34