52 Ancestors No. 9: Great Grandmother Elizabeth's Brother John Annal

This is the ninth of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”

This week's blog post is about my great grandmother 'Lizzie' (Annal) Coughlin's brother John Annal (1875-1960). 

John was the last of my great grandmother Coughlin's Annal clan (parents & brothers & sisters). He was a bachelor until he was 51 years old. He was a sailor on the great lakes, a carpenter, and a farmer. He cared for his parents (sailor James Annal and Mary Hess) in his home in their final years and his nephew Lawrence Coughlin was a flower bearer at his funeral in 1960 

John Annal (1875-1960) and his sister Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin (1884-1953)
on 1025 Hickory Avenue, Windsor, Ontario

John was born on the 9th of January 1875 in Pilkington Twsp, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada the second son of James Henry Annal and Mary Hess.

The three eldest children with their mother
Mary (Hess) Annal
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

Annal-Hess men
(John is seated in the front on the left)
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

Annal-Hess family
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

1901

We know (based on the census below) that in 1901 at the age of 26, John Annal was employed as a sailor with his father .

1911-1921

I was unable to locate John Annal (so far) on either of the 1911 & 1921 census reports but it is reported on his eldest brother James' obituary that he was a resident of Windsor in January 1921.

1926

In 1926, at the age of 51 years, bachelor John Annal married widow Martha Jane (Owen) Wood. 

We know from the 1926 marriage record that John was a carpenter living in Windsor at the time of his marriage. The "quiet wedding was solemized on August 31, 1926 at Dresden" and "Mr. and Mrs. Annals will be at home to their friends after Oct 1st at their home on the Wood farm, near Wallaceburg."

1927-1930 Caring for His Ailing Parents

John Annal's mother Mary (Hess) Annal passed away at John's home on the 30th of December 1927. She had been ailing for some time. John's father died in his home as well in 1930. He "had been ailing for the past year and his demise was not unexpected".

John's mother Mary (Hess) Annal's obituary (1927)
She died in John's home Lot 14, Concession 1
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

John's father James Annal's obituary (1930)
He died in John's home Lot 14, Concession 1
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

John Annal (1875-1960)

1955

In 1955, John's wife Martha Jane passed away. She had been seriously ill for some time and died in the house where she had lived all of her life. According to the obituary (below) Martha was an accomplished poet and song writer!

Martha (Owen) Annal's obituary

Martha (Owen) Annal's Funeral Notice

1957

1957 Voters List for Wallaceburg, Ontario

Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan with her Uncle John Annal

John Annal (1875-1960)

1960

John Annal's Obituary 1960

John Annal's Funeral Notice 1960

John was 85 years old when he died. He passed away at the Lapointe-Fisher Nursing Home that was established in 1950.

(Note: When John Annal died in 1960 - Lawrence Coughlin was a flowerbearer: An individual who walks before or behind the casket carrying flower tributes sent to the family.) John is buried at the Riverview Cemetery in Wallaceburg Ontario with many other Annal and Hess relatives.

John Annal, the last of his kin, passed away in the possession of the family bible that he used for a 1949 affidavit to prove the date of birth for my great grandmother Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin. I wonder where that bible is today?

John's 1949 affidavit for his sister Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin