The Board of Directors has chosen to share an errata for the Douro book through this special KARA website page.
Update # 1
For our first update, refer to pages 91-92 of Early Douro Settlers and Families to 1870. Here the reader will find the story of the John Sheehan family who arrived as Peter Robinson settlers in 1825. In that year, one of their children was Timothy Sheehan, then 18 years old.
On page 141, in the 1987 work – Peter Robinson’s Settlers 1823 – 1825 – by Carol Bennett, Timothy, son of John and Bridget Sheehan, was identified as being on Lot 3 Concession 3 in Douro Township.
On the same page 141, is another entry for a Timothy Sheehan, aged 34 years. This Timothy is married to Ellen and they arrive in 1825 with a family of four children. He also, is listed as being on Lot 3 Concession 3 in Douro Township.
Further Review
After being contacted by a descendant of the Sheehan line, we at KARA, have completed another several hours reviewing these two family groups. The Peter Robinson quarterly reports of 1826 were used to clarify which Timothy Sheehan was located on Lot 3 Concession 3 in Douro Township.
It is clear that Timothy Sheehan, age 18 years, son of John and Bridget Sheehan, continued to reside in his father’s household for that year, 1826. Thereafter, no further information about this young man could be located.
It is also clear that Timothy Sheehan, aged 34 years, married to Ellen and with four children, is the man who resided on Lot 3 Concession 3 in Douro Township, as he is the man receiving food rations for himself and family during that first year, 1826.
There was only one record of a Timothy Sheehan receiving a location ticket for land in November of 1825. There was only one entry for a Timothy Sheehan in the Robinson reports of 1826. Finally, there was only one Timothy Sheehan who proved up a land grant as a Robinson Settler, receiving his patent in the year 1834.
Therefore, we did conclude and agree with the Sheehan descendant who reached out to us, that it was Timothy and Ellen who lived on Lot 3 Concession 3 in Douro Township. Further, that Timothy was not a son of John and Bridget Sheehan.