Charles Wesley and William Thomas Munro information

as gathered by Dick & Mark Munro on 7/17/1998
and by Charles Munro in August 1998

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In the year 1819 (1820?), Charles Wesley Munro was born in Glengarry County, Ontario Canada. Around the age of 29 he moved to Beckwith Township in Lanark County (near Carlton Place), Ontario Canada. He married Margaret Pearson, (Canadian born September of 1817). They had five children, three boys, William Thomas, Peter and John and two girls (first names unknown) married names Mrs. Watkins and Mrs. J. W. Wolfe.

The 1851 census of Beckwith Township (page 24b) reads as follows:

Charles Munro, Concession 11 Lot 15P, Born: Canadian, Religion: Church of England,
32 yrs, Married Male, Farmer.
Mrs. Margaret Munro, Born: Canadian, Religion: Church of England, 30 yrs, Married
Female, Housewife.
William Munro, Born: Canadian, Religion: Church of England, 13 yrs, Single Male,
Labourer. (This would have If W.T. born in 1838.)
(Note: Concession I I lot 15P (as shown by a township map) is a plot of land immediately adjacent to the eastern city limits of Carlton Place which may be reached by proceeding to the end of the current east-west, 5 block long Munro Street. Actually the block furthest east of Munro Street has been added since the afore-mentioned township map was printed.)

C. W's Son, William Thomas Munro married Catheryn Billings (Born 1855)

In the November 21, 1888 Carlton Place Herald the following is listed under Birth: Munro - In Beckwith, on Nov 12 to the wife of Mr. W. T. Munro, a son. This would be Charles Wesley Munro. Accounts of C. W. having one additional brother and one or three sister's conflict. A newspaper account of W. T's death (see later) states he left one additional son and one daughter. Annabelle Munro (C. W.'s second wife) claims he had one brother: Ross Carleton ("Money") Munro (a jockey) Born July 17,1891 Died 1933 (42 yrs) and three sisters: Delilah born 1882 86 yrs old when last heard of in 1968, Amanda born 1883 died 1929 (46 yrs), and Mable born 1886 died 1923 (37 yrs). (A third account follows.)

In the year 1889 William Thomas Munro wife Catheryn and family moved to Chicago Illinois.

A newspaper item in the September 5, 1905 edition of the Carlton Place Herald reads as follows:

Mr. Thomas Munro, a former citizen, brother of Mrs. J. W.; Wolfe met an accidental death in Chicago August 22nd. He was engaged on a building as a carpenter when he fell from a scaffold a drop of 25 feet, and landed on a picket fence. Mr. Munro was 52 years of age (this would have W. T. born in 1853, see above conflict) and leaves a wife, one daughter and two sons. It is about sixteen years since he left Carleton Place.
In the ?????? issue of the Chicago Tribune the following death notice is listed.
MUNROE - William Thomas Munroe, 209 Nebraska, husband of Catherine Billings, father Mrs. Thomas A. Bielby, Mrs. Evan J. Morton and Amango, Mabel, Charles, Ross, Munroe.
Aug 23. Funeral from St. Ann's church, Kimball and Armitage ave. Friday at 10 a.m. Aug
(25.") by carriages to Lyonsville cemetery.

The official (STATE OF ILLINOIS, County of Cook) CERTIFICATE OF DEATH filed August 25, 1905 reads as follows: 1. Name of Deceased William T. Munro. 2 Sex: M Color: W. 3. Place of Birth: Ontario, Canada Fathers Birthplace (blank) Mothers Birthplace (blank). 4. Age. 52 years, (blank) months, (blank) days. 5. Lived in Illinois (blank) years in Chicago (blank). 6. Died on the 23rd day of August 1905 at about (blank) M. 7. Married. Occupation: Carpenter. 8. Place of Death St. Elisabeth Hospital. 9. Place of usual residence 209 Nebraska Ave Ward (blank). 10. Place of Burial: Lyonville Cemetery. 11. Undertaker: (unreadable name and address) Telephone: (blank) (Mortician?) Number 101. Date of Burial: Aug 25, 1905, Hour: 10 am. CAUSE OF DEATH.- From shock and injuries received cause by (falling?) from a wall of Building in course of construction at 965 Evergreen Ave. to the ground below on Aug 23rd AD 1905. (Pre-printed) - I hereby certify that the above stated personal particulars are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and that the cause of death of the above named and described deceased was as above written by me. Witness my hand, This 24th day of August 1905. Signature: Peter M. Hoffman.

In the January 26, 1897 edition of the Carleton Place Herald the following notice is

listed under "Died":
Munro - At Carleton Place on Jan 20th, Margaret Pearson, beloved wife of Mr. Chas. Munro, aged 79 years and 4 months.
In the Tuesday December 20, 1898 edition of the Carleton Place Herald the following
notice is listed:
Sudden death of Charles Munro. On Tuesday last Mr. Charles Munro, one of our oldest citizens, passed away somewhat suddenly. Mr. Munro was far past the threescore an ten limit, being 79 Years of age, and although not ailing at all was certainly growing very feeble. Tuesday afternoon Mr. Munro, who had been residing with his stepson, Mr. J. P. Moore, for sometime, retired to his room upstairs and a short time after a heavy thud was heard. Mrs. Moore hastened up to find the old gentleman upon the floor. When asked if he had hurt himself the answered in the negative, then it was observed that he was not looking bright and a physician was called, but before he arrived the life spark had departed. Mr. Munro was born in Glengarry county, and came to Beckwith nearly fifty years ago. He married and was blessed with a family of five children, three sons and two daughters. Some years ago he came to town The sons are Thomas and Peter in Chicago, and John in Michigan - The daughters are Mrs. Watkins in Michigan, and Mrs. J. W. Wolfe of Carleton Place. Mrs. Munro died two years ago. The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon to Cram's Cemetery.

Further investigation by Dick & Mark Munro led to the discovery of the grave marker of Charles Wesley and Margaret Munro(e) in what is now know as Pine Grove Cemetery, Beckwith Twp, about three miles northeast of Carleton Place. The marker is in three parts, one on top of the other. In all, the marker stands about 5 feet tall. The topmost and tallest portion of the marker is four sided. It seems to be the oldest portion and is somewhat difficult to read but apparently says: In memory of Charles W. MUNROE died Dec 13, 1898 aged 78 yrs. His wife Margaret PEARSON died Jan 20, 189 7 aged 79 yrs 4 mos.

On an adjacent side of the marker is the following inscription: In memory of Sophronia MUNRO died Jan 10. 1887 aged 17 yr, and 3 mos.

Between this tall marker and the base stone is the second portion made of a different type of stone which is very easy to read and obviously says "MUNROE"
The reader will note several name and date conflicts in the above material. We do not try to explain them. All italicized material is presented exactly as written in the original copy.

Which brings us to Mystery #1: ALL of the above listed documents refer to the person as Charles Wesley MUNRO. The only deviation of the name is MUNROE on the gravestone (Twice - "Munro" once). It has been surmised this was a mistake by the engraver. However one above newspaper account clearly states C. W. left "a daughter, Mrs. J. W. Wolfe of Carleton Place". If indeed it were an engraver mistake, wouldn't one think Mrs. J. W. Wolfe would notice it and perhaps ask for a correction?

As a result, by actual count there are 99 MUNRO's buried in the cemeteries within 50 miles of Carleton Place. Charles Wesley is not listed as one of them. Instead, he is the first name listed under MUNROE.

Mystery #2: The 1851. Beckwith, Twp census lists "William" Munro as 13 yrs of age, which would have him born in 1838. The 1905 death certificate and has "William T" Munro as 52 yrs 1 mo of age at death, which would have him born in 1853 (two years after the 1851 Beckwith Twp census.)

Mystery #3: The 1851 Beckwith, Twp census lists Margaret Munro as 30 yrs of age, which would have her born in 1821. The January 1897 death notice has Margaret Pearson as 79 yrs 4 mos at death, which would have her born in 1817.

Mystery #4: Who was Sophronia Munro?


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