THOMAS SAUNDERS SR

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THOMAS SAUNDERS: Born c1770 Co., Kilkenny, Ire., died 20 Mar 1845, Beckwith Twp., Lanark Co., Ont. He married Jane Saunders. (No dates on Jane. She is said to have been his 1st cousin).
Both are said to be buried in the cemetery in Franktown, Ont.
They had 4 children. Jane, Mary, Eleanor and Elizabeth.

(Some documents show the name as being spelt SANDERS)

Thomas re-married Sarah Daley. (No dates on Sarah).
They had at least 5 children. Sarah, Thomas, Johannah, Catherine and Deborah.

Other Saunders histories states that Thomas and Jane (Saunders)
Saunders had 8 children: Jane, Maria, Ellen, Betsy, Sarah, Thomas,
Johannah and Catherine. Thomas re-married Sarah Daley in Beckwith Twp., Ont., and that they
had no children.

They also say that Thomas, Jane and Sarah are all buried in the Cemetery at Franktown, Ont. After
an extensive search, I have not been able to establish this as being fact. Since daughter Mary
died 6 months after her father, it would be assumed that she is buried in the same location, but again, nothing can be found.

Mothel Church of Ireland Parish Registers, Co. Kilkenny, Ire.
Marriage and Baptismal Records shows the following entries.

(1) 3 May 1818: Mary (not Maria) Saunders of Knockalane married by Banns to John Lett of
      Coolcullen.

(2) 2 Jun 1813: Baptized Catharine A. Saunders, daughter of Thomas and Sara Saunders of
      Knockalane. (Dally).

(3) 2 Apr 1820: Baptized Deborah Saunders, daughter of Thomas  and Sara Saunders of Knockalane.
      (Dally).

     Other Saunders histories have never shown or mentioned a  child Deborah. It's possible that
      she died in infancy or early  childhood and thus nothing was ever known about her.

I am of the opinion that Thomas and Jane (Saunders) Saunders had the following children: Jane: Mary: Eleanor and Elizabeth.
That Jane died, more than likely in childbirth, and she is buried in the Knockalane district of Co.
Kilkenny, Ireland.

Thomas Saunders re-married c1806 in Co. Kilkenny, Ire., to Sarah/Sara Daley and they had the
following children: Sarah/Sara, Thomas, Johannah, Catherine and Deborah.

Since the records show Catherine baptized 2 Jun 1813 and Deborah on the 2 Apr 1820. Deborah
could have been born prior to 1820, but if her actual birth year is 1819/1820, this leaves a 6-7
year gap between births and thus more children could have been born to this couple that we know
nothing about at the present time.

Most of the Saunders and Edwards data for their histories seem to have been based on a series of Newspaper articles written in the Smiths Falls, Ont., Daily Record titled "An Irish Clan The History of
Two Franktown Families" (Saunders and Edwards) written between December 1962 and March 1963
by Emerson Smith who lived in St. Ignace, Michigan. (Emerson was a descendant of Thomas and
Martha (Edwards) Saunders).

These articles were extracts of names taken from the so called "Edwards Estate Papers" which was
a real scam and just lined the pockets of some very smart Lawyers. I have a letter written
by Emerson in which he states "I have never been to Smiths Falls and have done no actual research
on these families, but I am related to every tribe in Canada."

Saunders/Sanders of Co. Kilkenny, Ireland seem to have all lived in an area/district known as "Knockalane." It is not shown on any early maps, but is located near a place called Griffiths Br.,
which is shown on early maps.

CHILDREN OF THOMAS, JANE, SARAH SAUNDERS