Grantham twp.

Alexander Boles of county Armagh, Ireland arrived in St. Catharine's, Grantham twp. in either 1820 or in 1823. The earliest record that I have is a reference to Mr. Boles of St. Catharine's who "claimed to have come to this town in 1823". Full Article Alexander's 1875 obituary claims that he arrived in St. Catharine's in 1820. Soon after his arrival he became involved with a group of partners in the operation of a salt factory.

They seem to have settled in the city itself but they did also acquire some homestead land. The Lincoln County Atlas of 1876 shows the Boles owning one piece of land of 100 acres at Concession V Lot 5 to the NE of the City of St. Catharine's.

Click on the map to the right for a slightly larger map which is easier to read or download a

Large scale map of Grantham township (may take a while to download)

The 1832 list of Niagara District Innkeepers includes an Alexander Bowles. From Innkeeping they seem to have expanded into the distilleries business as the 1851 Directory of Ontario lists a James and Alexander Boles, distillery on Yates St. in St. Catharine’s.

The 1857 Directory of Ontario lists an Adam Boles, cooper (a cooper is a barrel maker so he was quite likely connected to the distillery business), on Concession St. in St. Catharine’s.

James seems to have died in 1852 as there is a Surrogate Court file for a James Boles of Lincoln county dated 1852 at the Ontario Archives (GS1, reel 651) but I have not checked it yet.

The 1871 Census of St. Catharine's lists Adam Boles age 60 and Alexander Boles age 65 both born in Ireland and also a James Boles, also a cooper, born Ontario in 1836.

Mr. Boles (in Ireland)

1. Alexander Boles b. ~ 1800 Ireland See the Alexander Boles of Lincoln co. Family Tree

2. James Boles b. 1801 Ireland See the James Boles of Lincoln co. Family Tree

3. Adam Boles b. 1809 Ireland (possibly co. Antrim) See the Adam Boles of Lincoln co. Family Tree

The 1851 and 1857 directories also list a William Boles, tailor, on St. Paul St. in St. Catharine's. The 1871 census shows that he was born about 1826 in Ireland so he's a bit young but is another possible brother of the above. The Orange Lodge records for the County of Lincoln show William Boles of St. Catharine's as a Master of the Lodge.

See the William Boles of Lincoln co. Family Tree

A Mary Ann Boles and a John Stainton, both of Moulton twp., Haldimand co. (also on the Niagara Peninsula) were married at St. George's Church, St. Catharine's on June 12, 1858. Coming to St. Catharine's to marry could indicate a connection with one of the above Boles.

See also The Bowles of Welland co. for several other Bowles who lived nearby at Niagara Falls.