Roche

(from Who Are These People? A Family History by Eric James McIntyre.)*To download the entire volume, see the “Books” section under “Libraries” on the website.*

David and Hannora (Dorsey) Roche had a family of seven children, all born in County Tipperary, Ireland. It appears that David and a number of the children died there and Hannora took her four surviving children, John, William, Mary, and Margaret, to Canada.

Hannora (Anna, 1801–1891) came to Warwick Twp. in 1841. The 1891 census indicates that Hannora was living with her daughter Mary and her husband Richard Lewis. By then she was known as Mrs. Quigley. She previously had remarried in London, Ont. Her unique grave monument in the Roman Catholic Cemetery north of Watford is a beautifully crafted cement tree stump.

Hannora’s son John (1819–1894) settled on Lot 9, Con. 3 SER. Her son William purchased Lot 10, Con. 4 SER but later moved to Australia. One daughter, Mary (1832–1920), married Richard Lewis (1835–1891), and the other daughter Margaret (c.1832–1850) died at the age of 18 in Watford.

John Roche married Mary Ann Lewis. They were married at Walpole Island by Rev. Father Durankey because at that time there were no resident priests in Warwick Village, although Warwick had a little log church. Mary Ann was the daughter of Richard and Bridget (Shea) Lewis, who brought their family to Lot 28, Con. 2 SER (Zion Line) in 1832. John Roche cleared and operated his farm on Con. 3 SER and bought more land until he owned 450 acres and more property in Watford and Sarnia. He invested largely in cattle and horses. Before the railway came, he did a large horse teaming business between Sarnia and Hamilton.

The first school house in School Section 3 was located on the Roche property between 1865 and 1883.

A story of interest showed John’s courage, as one night his neighbour asked his assistance to rescue a hog that had been carried off by a bear. John took his trusty axe and the two men caught up with the bear and, with a well directed blow to the animal’s head, recovered the pig. It was badly disfigured but survived.

Later in life John moved to Watford where he was injured by a horse while driving his cart. He died at the age of 75. John Roche donated land for the building of the new Catholic Church in Watford. Our Lady Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church was built in 1875.

John and Mary Roche had 12 children. Only Bridget, David, William and Thomas remained in the Watford-Warwick area. Bridget Ann Roche (1849–1898) married John Rogers Sr. in Strathroy. Sometime after the birth of their fifth child, her husband left to find work in the United States and never was heard from again. Bridget lived at Lot 181, Warwick St. in Watford. The children were: Maria, Kate, Annie, John (Jack) and Fred Rogers.

David Roche (1852–1925) in 1873 embarked on a grocery and liquor business in Watford. In 1876 he married Mary O’Meara (1856–1937) from London. They had eight children. In 1895, with his brother Thomas, David purchased the hotel which had been built by H. O. Baker in 1881. They called it the Roche House. The property had large barns and sheds and the brothers bought more real estate which they rented out for other businesses. David was fire chief for eleven years. He and his five brothers belonged to the famous fire hose team (Watford Defiance) of Watford. Like all his family he was a lover and breeder of thoroughbred horses.

David’s children were all well educated. While they were all at home, the church choir in Our Lady Help of Christians Church was the Roche choir. John and Edythe played the organ and David’s children sang. In 1920 David and his wife retired and moved to Toronto to live with their daughters Edythe and Loretto, who were music teachers.

William Patrick Roche (1856–1930) died in Watford at the age of 74 and never married.

Thomas Roche (1860–1936) married Sarah McPhee (1871–1954) and they had two sons, Francis Clare (1898–1962) and Harold (1901–1980). Harold was an accomplished pianist. Thomas and his sons carried on the Roche House business after his brother David retired around 1920.

During the time Frank Restorick Jr. was the owner of the Maple Leaf Hotel in Warwick Village horse and foot races were common. One race was between Thomas Roche, owner of the Roche House in Watford, and Frank Restorick Jr., the owner of the Maple Leaf Hotel in Warwick. The race was seven miles from Watford to Warwick Village. Mr. Restorick was the winner, but later disqualified, because he was seen holding the buggy whip that some friend had extended from the rear of a buggy, giving him an unfair advantage.

Thomas Roche owned the famous trotting horse Paddy R. The story is told of the day a Port Huron breeder challenged David to a race. He took Paddy R on the ferry, which became wedged in heavy ice. Roche unloaded his horse and cutter and, with thousands of people watching from both banks, completed the journey on the ice floe itself. Paddy R won the race and a $500 bet. Paddy R and Red Rose, another outstanding Roche horse, won many races.

Michael Roche (1865–1936) married Elizabeth McPhee and they had three sons. He owned the other Roche House in Forest, Ont. He owned the original 100 acres at Lot 9, Con 3. SER, and was a lover of horses. He owned Black Witch, a renowned racehorse.

Of interest, the Roche Hotel in Watford continued operation by several new owners until May 1979, when it burned and never was rebuilt.

Roche family, Watford (T.B. Taylor, photographer).

Chapter 24 of 25 - Roche Family

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