The Boomer Family

George Boomer (1781-1844) was a linen manufacturer of Huguenot descent. He was a descendent of René Bulmer who was driven from France because of the revocation of the edict of Nantes. The family settled in Northern Ireland. George was married to Mary Knox of Scottish descent (related to John Knox, Scottish reformer). The Boomers resided near Lisburn, County Down, Ireland and had five sons and three daughters.

Michael Boomer was born on July 1, 1810. He was educated at the Belfast Royal Academic Institution and at Trinity College, Dublin. He graduated in 1838 and also received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1860. In 1840 he moved to Canada where he was ordained an Episcopalian Deacon by Bishop Strachan. He became a priest the following year and was appointed to the Mission of Galt. He remained in this position for more than 30 years. In 1872, he was called to London, Ontario by the Bishop of Huron where he was appointed the Dean of Huron and Principal of Huron College. He was married to Helen Blair, née Adams. His second wife was Isabella Jemima Davidson and subsequently, he married Harriet Ann Mills. He died on March 4, 1888 in London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada

Anthony Knox Boomer was born on April 13, 1811 in County Limerick, Ireland. He was married to Charlotte Maria Limbrick. He bought land opposite Merritt’s Mill in St. Catharines. He also bought land in Concession no. 2 in Grantham. John Mittleberger and Anthony Knox Boomer are both listed as Grantham Merchants in 1838. A. K. Boomer and H. Mittleberger were in partnership in the mercantile business, but this partnership was dissolved in on June 7, 1844. In the St. Catharines Journal of Feb. 6, 1845, it was announced that Boomer Bros. and Co. had opened next to A.W. Strachan with the sign of the giant anvil. On receipts the store address was listed as “the new brick store near Bank of Montreal St. Catharines.” Boomer Bros. and Co. was listed as being dealers in dry goods, groceries, liquors, hardware, ship chandlery and room papers. The address was listed as St. Paul Street, St. Catharines. In 1847, A.K. is listed as an agent for the St. Lawrence Inland Marine Assurance Company. Mr. Boomer was a member of the Provincial Mutual and General Insurance Company Directors and Agents and he served as a Reeve of St. Catharines in 1851. He was also a member of St. George’s Church where he served as a church warden. He served as the secretary of the Niagara District Agricultural Society. In 1857 to 1859, he is listed as having the companies A.K. Boomer and Co. at 25 Bay Street, Toronto and Boomer and Co. Importers of Shelf and Heavy Hardware at 36 King Street East, Toronto. In 1861, the listing for him is, A. K. Boomer, Mercantile Insurance and General Agent, 53 Yonge Street, Toronto. He died in Toronto on May 13, 1875.

Elizabeth Boomer was born on August 6, 1813 in Lambeg, County Down, Ireland. She was married to Richard Niven of Chrome Hill, Lisburn, Ireland. She died on June 16, 1899 in Lambeg, Ireland.

Mary Ann Boomer was born on August 29, 1818. She was married to Charles Richard Walkem who was one of the staff who was employed at fixing the boundary between Canada and the United States under the Ashburton Treaty. She died on May 14, 1879 and was buried in Kingston, Ontario.

George Boomer was born in Ireland in 1819 and came to Canada in 1832. He was a Barrister and studied law with Judge Campbell of Niagara. He served as a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada. He was also a member of the Agricultural Association. He formed a partnership with Barrister, Richard Miller and later with George Skiffington Connor. He was Mayor of Niagara in 1851 for a short time. He served as a Police Magistrate and Commissioner in St. Catharines from 1862-1865. He was also an alderman in St. George’s Ward in 1858 and 1861. Toronto listings include: George Boomer of Connor and Boomer at 17, Bay Street, Toronto and Boomer and Miller, Wharfingers (keepers of wharves) at Custom House Wharf at the foot of Yonge Street, Toronto.

Hugh Boomer was born in about 1824 in Ireland. He married Sarah Heron, daughter of Andrew Heron of Niagara. He died on March 7, 1856.

Ellen (Eleanor) Boomer was born in 1824 in Northern Ireland. She married Reverend Samuel James Meredith, son of Richard Meredith and Anne Greene, on May 3, 1850 in the U.S.A. She died on 3 Feb 1880 in Troy, New York State, USA.

Joseph Patterson Boomer was born in 1825 in Ireland. He was the Harbour Master and Assistant Collector on the Welland Canal. He married Helena Woodruff, daughter of Richard Woodruff of St. Davids, Ontario. In 1855, he was appointed to a committee to collect voluntary subscriptions for the aid of orphans and widows of soldiers in the Crimean War. He was also a church warden at St. John’s Church, Port Dalhousie. He died on Dec. 9, 1873 in Port Dalhousie, Ontario.

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Recent Submissions

  • Agreement between Lewis Shickluna, St. Catharines and M.W. and E. Browne of Hamilton to build a schooner, 1845

    Unknown (2023-06-23)
    A drafted agreement between Louis Shickluna and M. W. & E. Browne of Hamilton to build a 110 foot schooner in 1845. The cost of the ship was to be £2100 Halifax Currency. The terms of the agreement are laid out as well as the payment schedule which included the transfer of two older schooners to Shickluna.
  • H.G. Hunt's Ticket Office Circular

    H.G. Hunt's Ticket Office (n.d.)
    An advertisement for H.G. Hunt's Ticket Office on St. Paul street in St. Catharines. A few of the statements include: " Has any one been so kind as to die and leave you a few thousands, and you want to be at the funeral, and must know the very quickest way you can get there, so as to be in time? Go to H. G. Hunt's Ticket Office, St. Paul street, St. Catharines. Are your lungs affected, and would you like to ascertain the best, cheapest and quickest way to get to Florida, or the Californian and Southern Pacific Slope; what town to go to; the best hotel or boarding house to stop at, and what you would have to pay per week, and the name of the doctor who has made the most cures of your particular complaint? Got to H.G. Hunt's Ticket Office, St. Paul street, St. Catharines."
  • Circular Surgeon Dentist C.O. Beam

    Beam, C.O. (n.d.)
    A circular advertising Surgeon Dentist C.O. Beam at Office No. 30, St. Paul Street. The circular includes the following: "The preservation of the natural organs is unquestionably the highest triumph of dental art, and while every pains will be taken to secure perfection in all branches of the profession, special attention will be given to those operations designed to preserve the natural teeth."
  • Statistics from the Department of Transport Welland Ship Canal

    Department of Transport (1937)
    Statistics from the Department of Transport on the Welland Ship Canal.
  • Supplement to the Inland Revenue Report – Canal Statistics, 1875

    Department of Inland Revenue (1875)
    A "supplement to the Inland Revenue Report for Year ended 30th June, 1875. Canal Statistics for season of navigation, 1875." Included in the supplement are several charts like "General statement shewing the Quantity of each Article transported through the Welland Canal",
  • Canadian Cricketer’s Guide

    1858-01
    Canadian Cricketer’s Guide sent to John L. Ranney, St. Catharines, 1857-1858. The guide begins "So well and favorably known in Cricketing Circles. Tho aim and objects of the Publication my be thus briefly stated: 1st - To supply in a succinct form a Copy of the Laws of the Game with reliable comments on the same for the guidance of all who desire to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the theory as well as practice of Cricket."
  • Letter - William Woodruff to Agricultural Society

    Woodruff, William (1846-10-15)
    A letter to the Agricultural Society from William Woodruff regarding the growing of grapes, 1846. He writes "The Isabella grape vine stands the winter well, easy raised and cultivated, they want no laying down nor housing in the Winter."
  • Indenture between Queen Victoria and the Minister of Public Works in Canada to William Hutchinson of Port Dalhousie

    1875
    An indenture between Queen Victoria and the Minister of Public Works in Canada to William Hutchinson of Port Dalhousie for a wharf lot in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, 1875.
  • Shares in Niagara District Bank

    1844
    A promise to take shares in the Niagara District Bank. Some of the names include: estate of Samuel Street, Thomas Street, W. Hamilton Merritt, Oliver Phelps, Thomas Keefer and S.D. Woodruff among others, 1844.
  • Account A.K. Boomer to James Mahoney

    Boomer, A.K. (1848)
    Account A.K. Boomer to James Mahoney, 1848. The bill includes "repairing two pair pants, balance of an Irishman's Act., cutting vest for boy..."
  • Workbook from Boomer Brothers of St. Catharines, 1851-1853, 1857

    1851-18531
    Workbook from Boomer Brothers of St. Catharines, 1851-1853, 1857.
  • Broadsides from Niagara District Agricultural Cattle Show and Fair

    18471849
    Broadsides from Niagara District Agricultural Cattle Show and Fair announcing meetings of the officers of the Niagara District Agricultural Society. A.K. Boomer is listed as secretary on both posters. John Clark is listed as president on one poster, but the name is crossed out and replaced by John Gibson. John Gibson is listed as president on the second broadside. [The 1847 broadside is slightly stained and jagged on edges], 1847 [crossed out], 1849.
  • Schedule of Convictions returned to the Clerk of the Peace, for the District of Niagara

    Richardson, Charles (1848)
    Schedule of Convictions returned to the Clerk of the Peace, for the District of Niagara up to January Sessions. It is interesting to note, that in some cases half the fine is paid to the inspector and half is paid to the informer. [There is a hole in the centre of the page which slightly affects text] The document is signed by Charles Richardson, Clerk of the Peace, 1848.
  • Broadside for Tenders for the construction of a lighthouse tower in Port Dalhousie

    Smith, WM. (1878-10-24)
    Broadside for Tenders for the construction of a lighthouse tower upon the pier at Port Dalhousie, County of Welland, Ontario. This was put out by the Department of Marine in Ottawa and signed by William Smith, Deputy Minister of Marine, Oct. 24, 1878.
  • Canada Company’s list of lands for sale

    Canada Company (1845-06-02)
    Canada Company’s list of lands for sale. The Canada Company was located on Frederick Street, Toronto, Ontario. Included are lands in the Niagara District including Caistor, Rainham and Walpole, June 2, 1845.
  • Letter from Hugh Richardson to William Hamilton Merritt

    Richardson, Hugh (1840-11-18)
    A letter from Hugh Ricardson to William Hamilton Merritt discussing the purchase of the ship the Transit.