Unearthing Jane Doritty's Hidden Past: A Genealogical Journey

As I have been researching the Doritty family of Niagara, one particular family member, Jane Doritty, had eluded my grasp for quite some time. Despite my best efforts, I had only managed to uncover that she was born around 1835 in Upper Canada, as indicated by the 1851 and 1861 census records. Her confirmation record from St. Mark’s Anglican Church further corroborated this approximate year of birth. However, beyond 1861, Jane seemed to vanish from the historical records.

I had nearly resigned myself to the possibility that Jane’s story might remain incomplete when, serendipitously, I stumbled upon the County Marriage Registers for Lincoln & Welland Counties, spanning the years 1858 to 1869. There, among the entries, I found a glimmer of hope: “Lowe John, 28, Port Huron MI, Canada, s/o John and Ann, married 27 July 1862 Jane Dority, 26, Niagara, Canada, d/o Thomas & Ann.” The details were a perfect match—Jane’s age, location, and her parents’ names aligned with what I already knew. This revelation opened a floodgate of information. Armed with the knowledge that she had married a man with the surname Lowe, I was able to delve deeper into her life.

As I continued my research, knowing that her married name was "Lowe", I unearthed records of her children and traced her presence in various census records. The final piece of the puzzle came when I discovered her listing on Find a Grave, which noted her date of death as 16 October 1903 in Detroit, Michigan.

Jane Doritty’s story had been hidden in the shadows of history, but through persistent research and a stroke of luck, I was able to bring her life back into the light. There is always more to discover, and as I continue to uncover the stories of my ancestors, I am reminded of the importance of perseverance and curiosity in the pursuit of genealogical research.

Stay tuned for more updates as I continue to unravel the intricate tapestry of my family's history. Each new finding is a step closer to understanding the lives of those who came before us.