St Thomas, Walkerton Anglican Church

Lying on the corner of Colborne and Jane Street in Walkerton, Ontario is the oldest church in Bruce County. Built in about 1865, St Thomas Anglican Church was the home church of the Kinseys from 1875 to 1890. The long serving rector for these years was Rev. William Shortt.

The parish registers for St Thomas, Walkerton are held in the Diocese of Huron Archives at Huron College in London, Ontario. The archives are only open to the public on Tuesdays and there is a $25 research fee. It is recommended that you book an appointment beforehand.

An inspection of the 1874 - 1889 register indicates that the Kinsey family were active members of the congregation. This was right up to the death of Stephen Wilson Kinsey where it mentions that he was the church sexton (i.e. caretaker.)

Here are the extracts that mention members of the Kinsey family:

Parish Register #1 of St Thomas, Walkerton Anglican Church

Section 2 – Families

p. 36

Joined September 1875, The Kinsey Family (age/bapt or conf.)

Stephen a/c

Anne (Vaughan) a/c

Stephen V. 22/c

Anne (absent) 18/c

Sarah Cecelia 16/c

Mary Elizabeth 15/bc

Margaret Jane 13/bc

Amelia Matilda 11/b

John Henry Wilson 8

Albert Edward 7

Agnes Louisa 5

Alice Maud 2

Section 3 – Baptisms

p. 65

#22 On 8 August 1876, at a dwelling, Alice Maud Kinsey, b 20 February 1874 to Stephen and Anne Kinsey of Walkerton, Sponsors: Parents & Sarah Cecilia Kinsey, officiated by Rev. William Shortt.

#23 On 8 August 1876, at a dwelling, Evelyn Ada Luscon, b. 4 April 1876 to Thomas and Marsha (nee Rolph) Luscon of Walkerton, Sponsors: Parents & Sarah Cecilia Kinsey, officiated by Rev. William Shortt.

p. 82

#140 On 14 November 1886, at St Thomas, Walkerton Anglican Church, Lewis Russell of Walkerton, age -, Sponsor: William Kinsey, officiated by Rev. William Shortt.

p. 83

#141 On 14 November 1886, at St Thomas, Walkerton Anglican Church, Alice Russell, of Walkerton, age - , Sponsor: William Kinsey, officiated by Rev. William Shortt.

#142 On 14 November 1886, at St Thomas, Walkerton Anglican Church, Lilian Maud Jennings, born 26 October 1885, to William Walter Jennings and Alice (nee Russell) Walker Jennings of Michigan, United States, Sponsors: Emma Russell, Alice Jennings, Lewis Russell, officiated by Rev. William Shortt.

p. 86

#168 On 15 November 1888, at St Thomas, Walkerton Anglican Church, Ethel Baughan (sic) Botsford, b 28 August 1888, to William (sic) Earl Botsford and Anne Eliza (nee Kinsey) Botsford, of Walkerton, Sponsors: Stephen V. Kinsey and Celia Kinsey, officiated by Rev. William Shortt.

Section 4 – Confirmed

p. 103

#68 On 22 August 1880, Mary Elizabeth Kinsey age 20, officiated by Bishop C. R. Alford

#69 On 22 August 1880, Margaret Jane Kinsey, age 18, officiated by Bishop C. R. Alford

p. 104

#110 On 19 October 1884, Amelia M. Kinsey, age - , officiated by Bishop M. S. Baldwin

Section 5 – Marriages

p. 144

#89 On 14 October 1887, at St Thomas, Walkerton Anglican Church, Wilmott Earl Botsford, age 27 bachelor, of Collingwood, and Annie Eliza Kinsey, age 27, spinster, of Walkerton, son of Joseph Botsford and Fanny Earle, and daughter of Stephen W. Kinsey and Anne Vaughan, married by Licence, signed W. E. Botsford and A. E. Kinsey, Witnessed by Stephen V. Kinsey and Tillie Kinsey, officiated by Rev. William Shortt.

Section 6 – Burials

p. 153

#67 On 1 March 1889, Stephen Kinsey, age 58, of Walkerton, died 27 February 1889, Sexton, buried at cemetery, by Rev. William Shortt.

A few things that emerge is that Walter William Kinsey is not mentioned as he was already living in Bracebridge, Ontario at that time. Also, the other sons are largely absent from being mentioned in the register. Finally, the burial of Anne Vaughan Kinsey in 1885 is also not recorded in the parish register. However, this is not too uncommon especially with funerals.