The Museum
The Ireland
Family
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Ireland House
at Oakridge Farm
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The Ireland Family
Joseph Ireland
( 1792 - 1868 )
 Joseph
Ireland was born in 1792 at Bowes, Yorkshire, (county Durham) England
and was the 5th child of eight born to Thomas Ireland (1753-1808)
and Mary Fadden (1756-1836).
In 1819, Joseph moved to Canada and
petitioned for 100 acres of land in Nelson Township. A year later,
he purchased an additional 100 acres and it was on this land that
he built the house.
In 1823 at St. John's Anglican Church in Ancaster, Joseph married
Ruth Best (1802 - 1867). Twelve years later, he began building
the Ireland house. The house was completed in 1837 and was built
of fieldstone covered with lime-based mortar. An addition was
built in 1840 which provided for living quarters for hired hands.
Joseph and Ruth had eight children; three died in childhood.
Joseph was a well respected resident of Nelson Township. He served
on the Nelson Township Council, was an overseer of highways, a
Justice of Peace, one of the founders of St. John's Anglican church
and became a church warden. He opposed the 1837 Mackenzie Rebellion
and even supplied a sleigh to go to the Chippewa on the Niagara
River. Joseph, along with many men who lived near him, went to
Chippewa where they were successful in helping to put down the
rebellion.
Ruth died in 1867, Joseph 2 years later. His properties were
divided among his sons Robert, James, Thomas and John. His granddaughters,
who were his daughter Mary's children, each received 100 acres.
In the end, it was John who inherited the farm and homestead in
1869.
John Ireland
( 1839 - 1904 )
 John
was the first member of the family to be born in the Ireland House.
At the age of 21, he travelled to England and married Elizabeth
Breckinfield. A year later, 1860, she gave birth to Mary Ruth
but tragically, that same year, both mother and daughter died
within ten days of each other.
In 1868, John married a local girl, Eliza Ann Naisbitt, and they
had twelve children. In 1886, John was president of the Township
of Nelson Association for the Apprehension and Conviction of Horse
Thieves. He was also the Fruit Grower's Association director in
1896.
Eliza died in 1900, John died four years later. After his death,
the farm was left to the unmarried Ireland children. In 1917,
George Ireland purchased the farm from his brothers and sisters.
George Ireland
( 1885 - 1972 )
 George
was born in 1885 and was the 10th child of John and Eliza. In 1917,
he took over the farm. He was a farmer, businessman and a member
of the Holstein Breeder's Association. He married Lucy Davis Springer
that same year. Their only child, Lucie Marie, was born in 1923.
Lucy Davis Springer was an accomplished pianist, earned her A.T.C.M.
(Associate of the Toronto Conservatory of Music), taught piano,
was always on call to accompany the lead vocalists, and played
the organ at St. John's Church on Dundas Street. She died in 1938.
In the 1960s, George retired from farming. Before his death in
1972, portions of the farm were sold for housing developments.
He kept the house and four acres of remaining land, leaving them
to his daughter.
Lucie Ireland
( 1923 - 1985 )
 Lucie
Marie Ireland was born on September 14, 1923. Although she was known
as Marie throughout her life, she was baptized "Lucie Marie"
at St. John's Anglican Church on Highway #5.
Marie loved music and animals. She frequently helped her father,
George, on the farm and became an accomplished horsewoman. She
went to school at S.S. #5, Nelson on Guelph Line north of Highway
#5. In 1936, she attended Burlington High School and then attended
McMaster University in 1941. A year later she went to Teacher's
College and, upon graduation, she taught at Moffat Public School.
She returned to McMaster in 1946 and two years later she earned
a Bachelor of Arts degree. She held teaching positions in Thunder
Bay (then called Port Arthur) from 1948-1949 and Ottawa from 1949-1963.
Marie returned to Oakridge Farm in 1963 and married William C.
Bush. Their marriage ended in divorce. She continued teaching
at Ryerson Public School in Hamilton from 1965-1977.
Marie was also highly involved with the community and was a part
of the Burlington Historical Society, the Garden Club of Burlington,
the Teacher's Federation and St. John's Anglican Church. From
1972 until her death in 1985, Marie lived in the Ireland family
home.
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