 Matthew WilkinsBorn 10 Feb 1829 Sligo, Ireland, died 10 May 1915 Orangevillle, Ontario, Canada, 86 years, buried Forest Lawn Cem. Orangeville Matthew WILKINS, 26, Co. Sligo Ireland, Mono, s/o Matthew & Ann WILKINS, married Sarah LITTLE, 18, Mono, same, d/o George & Alice LITTLE, witn; William FORD of Adjala. 24 July, 1858 http://virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/simcoe58.htm WILKINS DEAD. - Was One of Orangeville's Oldest Citizens and Fenian Raid Veteran. - Mr. Matthew Wilkins, one of Orangeville's oldest citizens, died at the family residence on Zina St. about 8 o'clock on Monday evening at the ripe age of 86 years. Deceased had been confined to the house for perhaps three months, but had only been bedfast for the last two weeks. His death was due to general breakdown resulting from extreme old age. The late Mr. Wilkins was born in County Sligo, Ireland and came to Canada when about 18 years of age. A short time after his arrival he settled in Mono township, where he farmed for a number of years. About 50 years ago he moved to Orangeville and opened a real estate and insurance office. This business he has carried on ever since, in recent years in partnership with his son George, who intends to continue the business. Mr. Wilkins was one of Orangeville's young men in the stirring times of the Fenian Raid. His loyalty and ardour impelled him to volunteer for the defence of his country and he enlisted and served through the Raid with the Orangeville militia company As one of the veterans of the Raid he received his medal from the Government, the grant of $100 voted a few years ago and a land grant in New Ontario. Deceased was a member of the Methodist Church, a pronounced Conservative and was formerly identified with the Orange and A.O.U.W. Orders. He was closely attentive to his business affairs and until last year or so was seldom absent from his office in business hours. As a citizen he was held in general esteem and he will be greatly missed by many old and tried friends. He was married to Miss Sarah Little, a daughter of the late George Little, of Mono. His widow and a family of four sons and three daughters survive. The sons and daughters are: -- Matthew, of Regina, Sask., Will and Chas., of Killarney, Man., George, of Orangeville, Mrs. Will Richardson, of Winnipeg, Mrs. D. Grierson and Mrs. Geo. Switzer of Toronto. The sympathy of their many friends is extended to the widow and family in their time of sorrow. There was a large attendance of friends and townsepeople at the funeral which was held to the Forest Lawn Cemetery at 2.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Rev. G. W. Robinson and Rev. G. W. Tebbs conducted services at the house and grave and members of the Methodist Church choir led in the song service. There were numerous beautiful floral offerings. The pallbearers were Matthew and Geo. Wilkins, two of the sons, D. Grierson, a son-in-law, Roy Switzer, a grandson, T. J. Wilkins, a nephew, and Wm. Little, a brother-in-law. Married 24 Jul 1858 Mono, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada (56 years married) to:  Sarah Little, daughter of George Little and Alice Francis Barber.Born 1838 Mono Township, Simcoe Ontario, Canada, died 4 Apr 1934 Parkside Private Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 95 or 96 years, buried Forest Lawn Cem. Orangeville Matthew WILKINS, 26, Co. Sligo Ireland, Mono, s/o Matthew & Ann WILKINS, married Sarah LITTLE, 18, Mono, same, d/o George & Alice LITTLE, witn; William FORD of Adjala. 24 July, 1858 http://virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/simcoe58.htm (Sarah Little) The late Mrs. Wilkins was a staunch member of the Anglican church, and Rev. H. A. West-McMaster had charge of the funeral services assisted by Rev. Robert Pogue. The pallbearers were Messrs Hugh Carson, Ottawa, Delbert Wilkins and Ernest Baker, Toronto, John Little, Shelburne, and Geo. A. Leighton and E. A. Robinson, Orangeville. The flowerbearers were Edgar Island, Orangeville, and Wilkins Embrey, Toronto. Among the friends here for the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Carson, Ottawa; Mrs. M. Switzer, Mrs. C. H. Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. E. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Wilkins, Mrs. Cecil Patterson, Mrs. Barefoot, Mrs. E. Peart, Mr. Wilkins Embrey, a great grandson ,of Toronto and many others. Toronto Daily Star - April 5, 1934 - DEATHS: WILKINS - At Parkside Private Hospital, Toronto, Wednesday, April 4, 1934, Sarah Wilkins, in her 96th year, widow of the late Mathew Wilkins, mother of Mrs. M. Switzer, Toronto, and Mrs. W. Richardson, Winnipeg. Funeral Friday April 6th, at Orangeville. Orangeville Banner - April 12, 1934 - OBITUARY - SARAH LITTLE WILKINS: The funeral of Mrs. Matthew Wilkins, whose death in Toronto on Wednesday April 4th was briefly noted in last week's Banner, was held from the residence of her son, and the late George Wilkins, Zina street, to the Forest Lawn Cemetery on Friday afternoon, April 6th, when many friends and citizens assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to one who had spent the greater part of her lifetime in Orangeville. The late Mrs. Wilkins, who was in her 94th years was Sarah Little before marriage and was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Little of Mono. Her husband who carried on a real estate and insurance business in Orangeville for many years, died about twenty years ago. For the last ten years Mrs. Wilkins had made her home with her daughter in Toronto. She is survived by a family of two sons and two daughter: William and Charles Wilkins, Killarney, Manitoba; Mrs. M. Switzer, Toronto, and Mrs. Will. Richardson, Winnipeg. The late Mrs. Wilkins was a staunch member of the Anglican church and Rev. H. A. West-McMaster had charge of the funeral services assisted by Rev. Robert Pogue. The pallbearers were Messrs. Hugh Carson, Ottawa, Delbert Wilkins and Ernest Baker, Toronto, John Little, Shelburne, and Geo. A. Leighton and E. A. Robinson Orangeville. The flower bearers were Edgar Island, Orangeville; and Wilkins Embrey, Toronto. Among the friends here for the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Carson, Ottawa; Mrs. M. Switzer, Mrs. C. H. Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. E. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Wilkins, Mrs. Cecil Patterson, Mrs. Barefoot, Mrs. E. Peart, Mr. Wilkins Embrey, a great grandson, all of Toronto and many others. Children: 1. Sarah Alice WilkinsBorn 14 Sep 1859 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 2 Feb 1920 Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 60 years 2. Charles George WilkinsBorn 24 Nov 1861 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 3 Jan 1946 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 84 years 3. William Joseph WilkinsBorn 5 Nov 1865 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 22 Sep 1935 Turtle Mountain, Manitoba, Canada, 69 years 4. Mary Jane (May) "Mary Jane Wilkins" WilkinsAlso known as: Mary Jane, born 12 Jun 1867 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 21 Nov 1936 Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 69 years, buried Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 5. Matthew WilkinsBorn 26 Apr 1870 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 17 Oct 1919 Scarborough, Yorkshire, UK, 49 years, buried Orangeville, Ontario, Canada 6. John James WilkinsBorn 25 Feb 1872 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 13 Jun 1890 Turtle Mountain, Manitoba, Canada, 18 years 7. George WilkinsBorn 22 Jul 1874 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 30 Nov 1933 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, 59 years, buried 2 Dec 1933 Forest Lawn Cem. Orangeville 8. Margaret Ann "Annie" WilkinsBorn 18 Jul 1878 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 31 Mar 1914 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 35 years 9. Eleanor "Ellen" WilkinsBorn 12 Dec 1878 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, died 21 Oct 1951 St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 72 years | |||