Anthony Canavan
Anthony Canavan, Sr. was a native of Ireland, his birth occurring in County Mayo in 1822. He was one o f a family of eleven children born to Anthony and Catherine Kirby (“Kittie”) Canavan.
Hart Family Tree
Editor's Note: To understand the Canavan family relationship with the Hart family you need to start with the top tree [...]
Anthony Canavan & Ann Hughes Trees
Editor's Note: Our progenitor Anthony Canavan, Sr. was born in Ireland in 1822 to his namesake father Anthony Canavan and his mother Catherine (Kitty) [...]
All the Kids of Anthony Canavan and Ann Hughes and Then Some
Editor's Note: If the tome of Descendants of Anthony Canavan and Ann Hughes were in book form and you weren't careful, [...]
Bill and Gus Bowe, as Remembered by Jim Hart in his Memoirs
8/1/1918 WB JHT 1700 Oakland Street, Des Moines, Iowa -- According to Joe Hart (a retired Canavan relative in Ireland) this is Bill Bowe, [...]
The Families Vol. 2 Website Launches
November 29, 2020 Well over 50 people joined the Zoom launch meeting yesterday for The Families: Vol. 2 website. They came from the West [...]
1951 Reunion of the James Francis and Anna Canavan Hart Family, Des Moines, IA
Front row: Florence, Annie, Mary Ann, Joe Jr., Denise, Mike, Jimmy, Elizabeth, Maureen;Middle row: Florence (Mrs. Paul) holding Paul, Izzy (Mrs. Pete) holding Katie, Anna [...]
2023 Anthony Canavan and Ann Hughes Descendants
Descendants of Anthony Canavan & Ann Hughes Index of Individual Canavan Descendants Index of Canavan Descendant Locations
The Children of Anthony Canavan and Ann Hughes
Long story short: they quit after 13.
Without Doubt, the World’s Greatest Hart & Canavan Genealogist
Mary Gwinn Bowe may have pioneered the Canavan family tree 50 years ago in her work The Families, but Joseph Christopher Hart is today without doubt The World's Greatest Canavan and Hart Genealogist on the planet.
How the Younger Anthony Canavan became Anthony Canavan, Sr.
Anthony Canavan's father was also named Anthony Canavan. So why is the younger Anthony Canavan given the Senior suffix?
Canavan Journeys from Ireland to Philadelphia to Kankakee County to Iowa
Joe Hart recalls the family of Anthony Canavan, Sr. and Ann Hughes sailing to America in a nine week voyage.
Anthony Canavan Sr.’s Son John Canavan Marries Anna Doyle
Anthony Canavan Sr.'s son John Canavan married the daughter of Anthony's sister Honora, Anna Canavan Doyle.
After WW II service as a Navy Doctor, Joe’s Father settles in California
After WW II, Joe's pediatrician father leaves Iowa behind and begins to raise a family on the West Coast with wife Rita West.
Joe’s Family Later Settles in the Portland, Oregon Area
Joe notes that before long, his family relocated to the Portland, Oregon area.
Iowa Hart Reunions in the 1950s Are Fondly Remembered
Joe recalls two Hart reunions back in Iowa in the 1950s and well remembers the family pictures that resulted.
Keeping In Touch with the Cousins
In compiling the necessary information for his 12,000+ member family tree, Joe was in contact with a large number of his cousins.
Genealogy in Relation to Family Trees
While the term genealogy has a number of scientific connotations, for Joe Hart, it's all about family trees.
Interest in Genealogy Spiked Upon Retirement in 2003
Joe explains that his early, casual interest in genealogy spiked when he retired from several years working for the fire service in Kodiak, Alaska.
Bicycle Vacations in Europe and the Allure of Ireland
An avid bike rider, Joe Hart talks about how his bicycle vacation trips to Europe led to him thinking more about a move to Ireland.
From Kodiak, Alaska to Killybegs, County Donegal, Ireland
Joe Hart was not one of those that ever thought of moving south in retirement.
Uncle Jim Hart’s Memoirs: Understanding the Hart & Canavan Ancestors
Joe explains how his uncle Jim Hart's memoirs helped him focus on the source of his Irish ancestry and prompted his research into the Hart and Canavan roots in Ireland.
Mary Bowe’s Book The Families as a Canavan Guide
Joe discusses the role Mary Bowe's 1970 book The Families played in his unearthing the details of the Canavan roots in Ireland.
From Baby Book to County Cavan, Ireland: Is it Hart or Harte?
First in pursuit of his Hart ancestors, Joe took a clue from a baby book and began some of his research at the Genealogy Center in Cavan, Ireland.
Move to Ballinamore, County Leitrim In Search of Meehan and McGloin Hart Cousins
After a few years living in the Atlantic Ocean port of Killybegs, Ireland Joe moves inland to Ballinamore in County Leitrim to pursue his Hart ancestors.
Canavan Origins Found: Curraghadooey Townlands, Crossboyne Parish, County Mayo
After several years in Ireland looking into the roots of the Hart and Canavan families, Joe Hart head to the genealogy centers in County Mayo.
Ballyglass Townland In County Mayo: Another Early Canavan Home?
Joe consults with a Mr. Delaney at one of the two County Mayo genealogy centers about the fact that while there were once Canavans in Curraghadooey, there are none today.
One Billboard in Kilnaleck: The Search for His Great, Great Grandfather Hart Heats Up
Joe Hart returns to the search for his great, great grandfather James Thomas Hart by getting help from a shopkeeper in the town of Kilnaleck in County Cavan.
Joe Hart Meets Jimmy Harte, Who Consults with His Cousin Norbert: Enter DNA
With Jimmy Harte Suggesting the new DNA testing for family relationships, Joe Hart discusses it with an American visiting Ballinamore who is using it in researching his own family.
The Three Flavors of DNA: Y Chromosome, Autosomal and Mitochondrial Testing
Joe Hart gives a brief tutorial on what DNA testing can and can't do in helping to track down people you're related to. He says [...]
DNA’s Limitations: Its Statistical Basis & the Need for an Hypothesis about Who You’re Looking For
Joe Hart says that DNA testing can be helpful in genealogical research, but its limitations can be frustrating as well.
DNA Proves Joe Hart and Jimmy Harte are Cousins: Maybe 10 Generations Removed
Joe Hart and Jimmy Harte can call each other cousins after the Y Chromosome DNA testing.
Joe’s DNA Success Story: French Ancestors Identified Using Both Y Chromosome and Autosomal Testing
Though DNA testing didn't help much with the Irish side his family, Joe does have some success in tracking down some of his French ancestry with Y Chromosome and Autosomal testing.
Using DNA Testing with Ancestry.com and Other Genealogy Databases
Once you have you DNA test results, Joe explains you need to consult one of the companies that manages genealogic databases.
The Non-Paternity Event – Denial and Reconciliation
Joe explains DNA testing turned up a non-paternity event on his mother side of the family.
Coming to Grips with Non-Canavan Canavan Cousins
Joe Hart discusses how he came to deal with the change a non-paternal event brought to his thinking about family relationships, even at a distance of three generations.
DNA Testing: Criminal Records, Lizzie Borden as an Ancestor
Joe goes into the other things that may turn up in a DNA test.
Joe Hart’s Meticulous Research Notes and Jim Hart and Mary Bowe’s More Narrative Forms of Family History
One hallmark of Joe Hart's genealogy research is his meticulous attention to detailed notes regarding his sources.
The Importance of Citing Sources and the Pitfalls of Importing Ancestry.com Trees
Being committed to getting things right, Joe explains the importance of making the sources of your factual findings transparent.
Other Genealogy Resources: Libraries, Travel to Ancestral Places and Professional Genealogists
Having done it all himself over the years, Joe catalogs the variety of resources available besides the internet in finding out about your ancestors.
Bill Bowe Notes Joe Hart’s Exceptional Contribution to Hart and Canavan Family History
As Joe Hart's interview with Bill Bowe winds up, Bill takes note of the exceptional value of his contribution to our understanding of the Hart and Canavan histories.
Need Advice? Joe’s Ready to Help
Joe Hart ends his talk with Bill Bowe by saying he's happy to talk to other cousins interested in learning how to go about understanding their family better.
2021-03 Coming to America – John Casey on Anthony Canavan, Sr. and Ann Hughes
Coming to America - John Casey on Anthony Canavan, Sr. and Ann Hughes Editor's Note: In 1987, I sat down with my uncle [...]
2021-04 The 13 Children of Anthony Canavan, Sr. and Ann Hughes
The 13 Children of Anthony Canavan, Sr. and Ann Hughes In this family tree, you see all the 13 children of Anthony Canavan, [...]
2021-05 James Canavan & Julia Kingsley (Mabel Canavan Lecour)
James Canavan & Julia Kingsley (Mabel Canavan Lecour) As the oldest of the 13 children of Anthony Canavan, Sr. and Ann Hughes, James [...]
2021-08 John Canavan and Anna Doyle (Anna Delores Canavan)
John Canavan and Anna Doyle (Anna Delores Canavan) To understand the double Canavan connection of the Hart and Duhn families, we turn from [...]
2021-09 Honora Canavan Smokes a Pipe!
Honora Canavan Smokes a Pipe! Honora was some woman. Joe Hart reports that Jimmy Canavan’s father and stepfather both said that Honora Canavan [...]
2021-10 Anna Delores Canavan & James Frances Hart Family
Anna Delores Canavan & James Frances Hart Family Though John Canavan and Anna Doyle Canavan had 11 children, I’m going to focus on [...]
2021-11 A Gun Totin’ Woman & James Francis Hart’s Bravery
A Gun Totin' Woman & James Francis Hart's Bravery Anna Delores Canavan married James Francis Hart in 1913 and they had seven children [...]
2021-12 James Austin Hart & Marie Kelliher Family
James Austin Hart & Marie Kelliher Family The first born to James and Anna Delores Hart was James Austin Hart. He and Marie [...]
2021-13 Peter Hart & Mary Spies (Maureen & Francis Hart)
Peter Hart & Mary Spies (Maureen & Francis Hart) Here you can see another one of the seven children of Anna Delores Canavan [...]
2021-14 Maureen Hart & Jerald Duhn (Tom, Erik, Michael & Stephen)
Maureen Hart & Jerald Duhn (Tom, Erik, Michael & Stephen) Maureen Hart's marriage to Jerald Duhn brings along Thomas, Erik, Michael and Stephen [...]
27 The Cliff Notes Version of How We’re All Related
27 The Cliff Notes Version of How We're All Related Well, there you have it. That’s the Cliff Notes version of how this [...]
2 From Wolf Point to Montgomery Ward on The North Branch
Rounding the confluence of the North and South Branches of the Chicago River at Wolf Point, Chicago’s Classic Lady headed up the North Branch to the turning basin at Goose Island by the original Montgomery Ward warehouse and office complex.
1 From the Riverwalk to Wolf Point
Out chartered tour boat proceeded west towards Wolf Point, passing under the DuSable, Rush, State, Dearborn, Clark, LaSalle, Wells and Franklin bascule bridges over the Chicago River. Our docent guide from the Chicago Architectural Foundation filled us in on the significance of the City’s famous buildings along this stretch of the River.
The Impossible Dream – Renaming the Reid Murdoch Building
Unfortunately I got carried away at the end and proposed that the name of the Reid Murdoch Building be changed to the Bowe Building. From the laughter and smirks on the faces of my kin, I could see they hadn’t been persuaded. That night I cried myself to sleep, knowing the Bowe Building would never come to be.
5 Eastbound to Navy Pier & a Return to Riverwalk
The next leg of the Canavan Family Reunion architectural boat tour took us east to the turning basin by the Chicago locks. There, adjacent to nearby Navy Pier, we stared into the sun and took in Chicago’s striking skyline.
6 The Canavans Abandon Ship
The Canavan related crowd abandoned ship in good order and surprisingly quickly. The rapidity of their departure was driven no doubt by the desire not to miss a minute of the approaching cocktail hour at The Cliff Dwellers.
Architectural Boat Tour: The Movie
Architectural Boat Tour: The Movie Editor's Note: The first event of the Canavan Family Reunion in 2021 was an exclusive Chicago River tour with [...]
The Hart Family
My earliest recollection of having Hart family cousins came from my mother mentioning James Austin Hart to me. he was then the Dean of the DePaul University business school in Chicago.
