Summary
Rose Ann Gibson was the widow of William Gibson and the mother of four children named in the February 2026 account. The article identifies her as a daughter of William and Hannah Boyle and a sister of Margaret Boyle Gallagher.
Evidence and limits
The source reports Helen Collar’s note saying Rose Ann was the one sent away by Bowery, but treats that as a clue rather than a settled explanation. Her residence and fate after William’s death are unknown; the missing 1890 census removes a major possible bridge.
Open questions
- Where did Rose Ann live after 1885, and when and where did she die?
- What civil, parish, cemetery, or land records identify her marriage and parents?
- Was “sent away by Bowery” literal, and what did it mean in the family context?
See also
Sources
See the sources block above.
Sources
- Connie Wojan, "The Stories Behind the Names of Islanders Lost on the Great Lakes," Northern Islander, February 2026.Described in this archive: Northern Islander (1850–1856).Names Rose Ann as William Gibson's widow, identifies her parents as William and Hannah Boyle, and names her children and sister Margaret. The article preserves her later whereabouts as unresolved.