Richard Palmer Canter & Mary Travers

Having speculated on the origins of the Canters, at the G5 generation we now find ourselves on firmer ground.

The Canters listed in the Limerick Trades Register are shown here. Where relevant the ID number from this register is included in brackets after names below.

Limerick City Trades Register ^{3, 4 & 11}

ID	Name	Trade	Reg Year	Address	Directory
22856	Canter James	Solicitors	1769	Main Steet, Englishtown	Ferrar
22857	Canter Richard	Solicitors	1769	Main Steet, Englishtown	Ferrar
21046	Canter Richd.	Printers (Letterpress)	1824	12 Francis Street	Pigot
25022	Canter M.	Booksellers & Stationers	1838	Patrick Street	Deane
25482	Canter J. P.	Nobility, Gentry & Clergy	1838	Clare Street Cottage	Deane
26456	Canter Mrs.	Printers	1838	Patrick Street	Deane
28955	Canter Mary	Booksellers, Stationers & Printer	1840	43 Patrick Street	Triennial
28956	Canter William	Booksellers, Stationers & Printer	1840	122 George Street	Triennial
28370	Canter Mary	Printers (Letterpress) & stationer	1846	43 Patrick Street	Slater's Munster
28371	Canter William	Printers (Letterpress) & stationer	1846	50 William Street	Slater's Munster
22412	Canter Mary	Printers (Letterpress)	1856	43 Patrick Street	Slater
22413	Canter William	Printers (Letterpress)	1856	Roches Street	Slater
31419	Canter R.P.	Printers	1867	42 Patrick Street	Henry & Coughlan
33143	Canter Joseph	Printers (Letterpress)	1870	Patrick Street	Slater
52956	Canter J.	Hay & Straw Dealers	1886	6 Lock Quay & 4 Charlotte Quay	Guy
56142	Canter J.	Hay & Straw Dealers	1891	6 Lock Quay	Ashe
54291	Canter J.	Hay Dealers	1891	4 Charlotte Quay	Ashe

Note that George Street was renamed O'Connell Street c. 1900.

Limerick City 1837 Electoral List ¹¹

Surname	Forename	Description/Trade	Residence
Canter	Francis	Gent.	Grange
Canter	Joseph	Gent.	Clare Street
Canter	Peter	Printer	Clare Street
Canter	William	Gent.	Grange

GV for Grange Lower,Killeengarriff (18??)

This details holdings of Canters. They appear to have been middling farmers by standards of the time,rather than a landed gentry family.Only five holdings listed:

George Gough: 67 acres, in fee, no house (G.G had extensive holdings around area)

William Canter: 40 acres with house and offices. Rateable value of house suggests a farmer, Ł3 and 7 shillings. Leased from G.G.

Mary Gleeson: House sublet from Wm C.
Patrick Ryan: House sublet from Wm C.

Francis Canter: 19 acres with house and offices. Rateable value Ł2 and 2 shillings. Leased from G.G.

Griffith's Valuation of Limerick City, 1850 ¹¹

Surname	Forename	Street	No.	Parish	Description	Notes
Canter	Francis	Chapel Street	7	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	Francis	Chapel Street	1	St. John's	House	lodgers
Canter	Francis	Chapel Street	8	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	Francis	Chapel Street	9	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	Francis	John's Gate	33	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	Francis	John's Gate	34	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	Francis	John's Gate	35	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	Francis	John's Gate	32	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	Joseph	New Clare Street	40	St. John's	House, office & yard
Canter	Mary	Patrick Street	20	St. Michael's	House & office
Canter	William	Chapel Street	2	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	William	Chapel Street	3	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	William	Chapel Street	4	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	William	Chapel Street	5	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	William	Chapel Street	6	St. John's	House & yard	lodgers
Canter	William	Roche's Street	42	St. Michael's	House	printing

Richard was a printer and publisher. The business is listed as:

Richard P Canter, , 1823
Canter's Commission and Account Book Warehouse, 12 Francis Street, 1828
R P Canter, Francis Street, 1833
R P Canter, corner of Francis Street, 1838 and 1839
William Canter, William Street, 1844 - a brother in a separate business?
R P Canter, printer, 43 Patrick St, Limerick, 1848
Mercantile, Military, Law, and General Printing Office Paper, stationery, and Account-Book Warehouse, 43 Patrick-Street, Limerick, 1850 (signed by Thos. Reidy for M.R. Canter)
R.P. Canter, Printer and Stationer, 42, Patrick Street, Limerick, 1856
R.P. Canter Printer 42 Patrick Street Limerick, 1860
R.P. Canter, Printer, 24 Patrick Street, Limerick, 1863 (I suspect the 24 was a printing error!)

See footnote on the Francis Street area. Presumably the area had declined in the 50 years since the Canters lived there? Today the area is a modern shopping center (Arthur's Quay) and modern government office blocks.

abt 1796	Richard born, son of James Canter & Francis Palmer
3 May 1817	Richard & Mary married
1823	founded the Canter printing works, Limerick
17 Sep 1834	Richard died
abt 6 Jun 1867	Mary died

From the IGI and other records their children were:

G4

Richard Palmer Canter
(ca 1796-1834)
= 3 5 1817
Mary Travers
( -1867)

G3

Frances Canter
(14 2 1820- )
= 10 9 1845
John Barry

Richard Canter
(24 3 1822- )

James Canter
(11 12 1823- )

Mary Anne Canter
(10 9 1826- )
= 15 12 1853
Francis Guy

Catherine Letitia Canter
(30 3 1828- )
= 12 5 1863
Joseph Guy

Margaret Canter
(30 3 1830- )

Richard also published the 'Observer' Newspaper (from Pigot's Directory of Ireland, 1824 ⁸):

Observer, published Wednesday and Saturday, Francis street by Rd. Palmer Canter, John O'Driscoll, esq, proprietor.

While I have not established the link, it is fairly certain that Mary Travers was a member of the Cork Travers family who married into the Steward family in Great Yarmouth. William Thomas Locke Travers, who emigrated to New Zealand was a member of this family. He was an early explorer and amongst other things named the Travers Range and the Spenser Mountains (after the poet Spenser who had married a Travers) in Nelson.

Frances Canter married John Barry, John was the son of John Barry who was probably the John Barry, Stationer referred to in the Canter History page (see Item 43445 from the Limerick Museum on that page).

Mary Anne Canter's story is continued in "Francis Guy".

Catherine Letitia Canter married Joseph Guy, Francis's brother. From the IGI

RICHARD PALMER CANTER m. MARY TRAVERS

02 MAY 1817 Saint Michael, Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

Batch No.: M700571

Christenings at Cathedral St Mary Limerick City, Limerick, Ireland
Batch No.	C700561
Father	RICHARD CANTER
Mother	MARY
FRANCES CANTER	14 JAN 1820 (F)
RICHARD CANTER	24 MAR 1822
JAMES CANTER	11 DEC 1823
MARY ANNE CANTER	10 SEP 1826
CATHERINE LETITIA CANTER	30 MAR 1828
MARGARET CANTER	30 MAR 1830

Communication with Larry Walsh, curator, Limerick Museum:
The Canter firm was established at 12, Francis St. by Richard Palmer Canter about 1823. He was the son of James Canter and Frances Palmer, who were married in 1794. He died on 17 September 1834, and the business was carried on by Mrs Mary Canter, presumably his widow, who moved 43 Patrick St and is listed there in 1838 and 1846. In 1867 and 1870 (when it seems to have closed) it is listed under Joseph Canter.

From TIARA obits:

Name	CANTER, Mary	CANTER, Mary
Age	80	---
Where From/Died	Limerick LIM IRL	Limerick LIM IRL
Newspaper	Cork Examiner	Cork Examiner
Date Published	1867-6-8	1867-6-6

This must have been Mary Canter (nee Travers). Note that it fits with her disappearance from trade register.

From the IGI:

JAMES CANTER
Spouse: ELIZAETH DARTNELL
Marriage: 01 SEP 1841 Saint Michael, Limerick
Batch No.: M700571

ca 1795/99	Joseph born. Son of James Canter & Francis Palmer (?)
13 Dec 1820	Joseph and Elizabeth married
1838	Probably the J.P. Canter listed in Deanes Directory as "Nobility, Gentry & Clergy"
1850/60s	moved to Liverpool
1867-1870	running the Canter printing works, Limerick.
18 Jan 1876	Joseph died, Liverpool

From the IGI records their children were:

G4

Joseph Palmer Canter
(ca 1795-1876)
=13 Dec 1820
Elizabeth White
(ca Oct 1793- )

G3

Benjiman White Canter

Sarah Canter
(25 8 1826- )

Joseph Henry Canter
(13 3 1828- )

Elizabeth Francis Canter
(ca 1834/35- )

Charles George Townley Canter
(18 3 1834-1913)

Matilda Canter
(ca 1843- )

From Kent Jaffa:

Joseph Palmer Canter's wife was Elizabeth White.
Joseph Palmer Canter died in Liverpool in 1876
Joseph Palmer Canter and some of his children immigrated to Liverpool, Lancashire, England in the 1850-60s
Kent excludes two children listed in the IGI but they may also be Joseph and Elizabeth's children:
- Charlotte Anne Canter (11 1 1836)
- Matilda Catherine Canter (12 4 1832)

From the IGI:

SARAH CANTER
Spouse: JAMES STEWART
Marriage: 17 SEP 1839, Saint Michael, Limerick
Batch No.: M700571


G4	Peter Palmer Canter (ca 1814-1860) =ca 1838 Elizabeth Heath (ca 1814- )


G3	Francis Canter (ca 1839- )	Anne Elizabeth Canter (ca 1841- )	... and others ...

From Kent Jaffa:

Peter Palmer Canter and his wife Elizabeth Heath also immigrated to Liverpool.
In the 1851 British census, Peter's age is 37 and his occupation is printer compositor and he was a journeyman printer on his death certificate in 1860.
The census also lists his wife Elizabeth (37), son Francis (12, Scholar) and daughter Anne Eliza (10, at home) all born in Ireland

ca 1820	William born	date based on business ownership, son of ?
1840-56	printer
bef 1841	William married to ?
bef 1841	Mary born	m. 5 May 1862, William F Joseph Canter

ca 1820	William born	date based on children's birthdate, son of ?
bef 1837	William married to ?
ca 1837	Francis born	m. 23 Jan 1861 George Tate
bef 1841	William F. Joseph born	m. 5 May 1862 Mary Canter
bef 1844	Peter born	m. 6 Nov 1865, Marcella Powell
ca 1845	Mary born	m. 9 Feb 1864, Daniel Murdoch

Canter - May 27, at Mount St. Vincent, Amelia, widow of late William Canter. Esq.

Death notice from the Limerick Chronicle newspaper, 4th June 1881 (ref 9).

While there is no record of it being used as a hospital, Mount St. Vincent would appear to be the Sisters of Mercy convent in O'Connell Avenue, Limerick City. It is possible but unlikely however that it was the name of William Canter's farm in Killeengarriff.

Map Ref	Name	Street, Townland, Parish	Leased to/from
(6)3.a	Canter, Francis	Grange Lower, Killeenagarriff	40 acres, Ho Offs & Ld, from George Gough
(6)2.a	Canter, William	Grange Lower, Killeenagarriff	19 acres, Ho Offs & Ld, from George Gough
	Canter, William	Grange Lower, Killeenagarriff	to others
	Canter, Eliza	Knockane, Monagay	from the Trustees of the Earl of Devon
	Canter, Francis	Irishtown, St John's	to lodgers
	Canter, William	Irishtown, St John's	to lodgers
	Canter, Joseph	Monamuck, St. John's	from Miss Matilda Bowles
(5)1.42	Canter, William	Roches St, Prior's-Land, St Michaels	Ho & Printing Off, from Thomas O'Donnell
(5)1.20	Canter, Mary	Patrick St., Prior's-Land, St Michaels	Ho & Off from David L Arthur Esq

Killeenagarriff Parish is east of Limerick city
Monagay Parish is in the SW of Limerick

From the Irish Civil records (from Kent Jaffa)

Year	Name	District	Vol:pg., FHL	Certif.
1845	Canter,Francis	Limerick	6:455, 101241	FHL 101269
	10 Sep 1845, Francis Canter, full age, spinster, res. Patrick Street Father Richard Canter, printer To John Barry, full age, ??? broker, res. Seixtain?? Street Father John Barry, occ. spirit?? By license in the parish church of St. Michaels, City of Limerick Witnesses - Jos Canter, James Hewson
1853	Canter, Mary Anne	Limerick	6:652, 101244	FHL 101347
	15 Dec 1853, Mary Anne Canter, full age, spinster, Patrick Street Father Richard Canter, printer To Francis Guy, full age, bachelor, gentleman, res. Cork Father Richard Feltham Guy, Royal Navy By license in the parch church of St. Michaels, City of Limerick Witnesses - Joseph Canter, James Hewson
1861	Canter, Francis	Limerick	6:614, 101248	FHL 101427
	23 Jan 1861, Francis Canter, age 24, spinster, res. Castle ?? Father William Canter, farmer To George Tate, age 25, bachelor, res. Feskle C of Clare Father Thos. Tate, farmer By license in the parish church of Stradbally Witnesses Robert Keays, Peter Canter
1862	Canter, Mary	Limerick	6:655, 101248	FHL 101437

1862	Canter, William F. Joseph	(same as above)
	5 May 1862, William F. Joseph Canter, full age, bachelor, draper, res. Procliss?? Street, St. Michael Parish, Limerick Father William Canter, farmer To Mary Canter, full age, spinster, same address Father William Canter, printer By license in the Registers Office, City of Limerick Witnesses William Canter, Percy ?eaulan
1863	Canter, Catherine Letitia	Limerick	6:619, 101249	FHL 101447
	12 May 1863, Catherine Letitia Canter, full age, spinster, Patrick St Father Richard Palmer Canter, printer To Joseph Guy, full age, bachelor, Engr??, res. Cork Father Richard Guy By license in the parish church of St Michael, City of Limerick Witness - Carolina Shirley??, Eliza Canter
1863	Canter, James	Dublin South	5:401, 101249	FHL 101446
	10 Sep 1863, James Canter, full age, bachelor, Civil Service, 20 Essex Quay, parish St. Johns, City of Dublin Father William Canter, agent To Agnes Kane, full age, spinster, same address, Father Daniel Kane (deceased), Engraver. By license at Register's Office, City of Dublin, District of Dublin South. Witnesses - Francis Kane, Frances Kane.
1864	Canter, Mary	Limerick	5:439, 101249	FHL 101456
	9 Feb 1864, Mary Canter, age 19, spinster, res. Craufe, parish of Killeenagarriff, Father William Canter, farmer To Daniel Gilchreest Murdock, full age, bachelor, farmer, res. Kilcuff Sulla ??, County Clare, Father William Murdock, farmer. By license at Castle ??, parish church of Stradbally, County Limerick. Witnesses Wm Walson, Peter Canter.
1865	Canter, Peter	Limerick	20:235, 101249	FHL 101486
	6 Nov 1865, Peter Canter, full age, bachelor, farmer, res. Parish of Castle ?? Father William Canter, farmer To Marcella Powell, full age, spinster, res. Parish of O'Briensbridge Father Thomas Powell, farmer. By license at parish church of O'Briensbridge, County Clare. Witnesses Robert Garrison, Henry Powell.

20th Century Canters

Surprisingly, given the number of males in these families and the reasonable certainty that there were other Canter families in Limerick, by the 20th century the Canter family seem to have either moved away or the Canter name had largely died out. The records found are below. (Ref 11)

It is interesting to note that the only family found were still living at Killeenagarriff.

The 1901 census of Grange Lower, part of enumeration district of Ballyvarra:

Susan Canter, 42, widow, farmer, born Co Tipperary. Children:
Marcella, 25 (daughter)
Francis, 16 (son)
Elizabeth, 14 (daughter)
Richard, 9 (son)
Notes:
All born Co Limerick and members of the Church of Ireland-Anglican.

The 1911 census of Grange, Lower Ballyvarra, Limerick:
Susan Canter, 53, Farmer, b. Co Tipperary, Church of Ireland, Read and write, Head of Family, Widow
Marcella Canter, 33, Farmers Daughter, b. Co Limerick, Church of Ireland, Read and write, Daughter, Single
Frank J Canter, 25, Farmers Son, b. Ballyvarra Limerick, Church of Ireland, Read and write, Son, Single
Elizabeth Canter, 22, Farmers Daughter, b. Co Limerick, Church of Ireland, Read and write, Daughter
Notes:
The only other Canter in the census is probably not a member of the Limerick branch:
T Canter, Henry Place, Dock Ward, Antrim, 23, born England

The county border must have moved - check when.

The 1930 census of Brooklyn, New York, USA:
Richard Canter, 39, head, b. Ireland, Policeman NYPD
Teresa Canter, 38, wife, b. NY
Richard, 13
Peter, 11
Francis, 9
Joseph, 6
Marcella, 4
Una, 2
Kevin, 1 mnth
Mary McGoldrick (?sp), 65, Mother [of Teresa?], b Ireland
Notes:
All not noted otherwise were born in New York
Richard migrated in 1908 and, given the age and children's names he is almost certainly the Richard from the 1901 census above.

Canter Printers: Examples

Sermon - printed by Richard Canter in Limerick in 1823 (from Limerick Museum)

Canter example 02
Pamphlet - printed by Richard Canter in Limerick (from Limerick Museum)

Notes & References

Unless otherwise noted this information is from communications with Martyn Guy and Kent Jaffa.
International Genealogical Index
Ferrar's Limerick Directory of 1769
Limerick Trades Register, a compilation of directories published between the years 1769 and 1925.
Irish Ancestors
Ireland.com, The Irish Times
FREEMEN OF LIMERICK 1746-1836
PIGOT'S DIRECTORY OF IRELAND - 1824
Limerick Museum OnLine Catalogue
From The Limerick of Angela's Ashes [see the website to view the photos] :
....swing left onto Arthur's Quay, which also fronts onto the park.
This stands on the site of the most derelict tenements in Limerick. It is said that these buildings were not demolished, that they fell down of their own accord. In this photograph probably from the 1920s you can make out several lines of washing drying along the quayside. Imagine how decrepit the buildings had become by the forties.
Somewhere here was the home of Paddy Clohessey. Even Angela had warned Frank not to go there - the people down there were wild and ye could get robbed and killed. Frank's description of the access to the Clohessys' single-roomed home gives us some idea of the state of the place - some of the steps are missing and there is shit on the ones that are still there. There was only one privy and that was in the back yard.
The scene of distressing poverty described by Frank is borne out by several old people who lived in Arthur's Quay and the neighbouring Francis Street. For the people who existed there times were really tough. Hunger was the order of the day, and clothing consisted of whatever rags could be picked up in the trash-cans of the Ennis Road and the North Circular Road. Food came from charity. It was commonplace for people to go to the convents with a penny and a bucket to get soup or boiled potatoes to try to feed their families.
This photograph is of Arthur's Mews, a dismal narrow lane which cut through the houses of Arthur's Quay and was home to dozens of starving families like the Clohesseys. And despite the poverty, hundreds survived and rose above their misery to make better lives for themselves after the Second World War.
We will continue along Arthur's Quay, and turn right into Francis Street. The intersection at the end of this street goes left into Rutland Street and right into Patrick Street. Both of these streets lie on a straight line extended from O'Connell Street.
Limerick Records which include at the date this was last updated:
- 1901 Census - Limerick City
- 1911 Census - County Limerick
- 1911 Census - Limerick City
- 1837 Electoral List
- Griffith's Valuation of Limerick City, 1850
- 1923 Register of Electors
- Obituaries & Funeral Notices from the Limerick Chronicle newspaper
- Limerick City Trades Directories, 1769 to 1920
- Local Studies Books & Journals
- Who's Who of Limerick
- Newspapers Collection
- Limerick City Trades Register Online
- The Seamus O Ceallaigh GAA Collection at Limerick City Library
- The Mayors of Limerick, 1197-2006