Martha Blake.
Her parents were James Blake Sr. and Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Shannon. Both her parents were immigrants from Armagh County, Ulster Province, in Northern Ireland. Her father immigrated with his parents Thomas Blake & Ann Jan or June Chambers in 1829 to Ontario, Canada.

Martha was her parents 3rd child. She was born Nov. 5, 1857 in the family home in Alton, Caledon Township in Peel County, Ontario. Alton is located in the top NW area of Peel County. Here her older sister Elizabeth Ann Blake, John Blake, herself, and James Blake Jr. who was born February 21, 1859.

Between Feb 1859 to before Jan 11, 1862 (when her bother George Thomas Blake was born.. the family moved to Seaforth, Tuckersmith or McKillop Township*, East Huron County (whose west county borders on the eastcoast of Lake Huron (one the North America's "Great Lakes". After George Thomas' birth her mother bore Solomon Valentine Blake Feb 14, 1864 and Margaret Jane "Maggie" Blake.

1868, March 25th - Martha's mother Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Shannon died at age 39. Martha was 10 years of age. Her mother was buried in Egmondville United Cemetery, Seaforth, Tuckersmith Twp (concession 2 Lot 11), Huron East Cty, Ontario, Canada (location of many of the Shannon family.

1870, May 10 - Two years later her father James Blake Sr., married for the 2nd time to spinster Hannah Lee. Hannah Lee age 29, residing in th Hullett Twp, Clinton Town, Huron County, Ontario Province, Canada. Place of Birth is Streetsville a neighborhood in the NW corner of the City of Mississauga, Peel County, Ontario, Canada Single - Parents: James Lee and Thomasine June Witness James Mc?? of Hullett Twp. James was a widower, 43 years of age living in McKillop Township.

After the marriage and before 1871 - James Blake Sr,'s moved his 7 children and his 2nd wife, Hannah northwest to the Indian Peninsula where he bought or built a farm in Wairton/Colpoy's Bay area of Albermarle Township, North Bruce County, Ontario, Canada. Hannah's father moved his family to Albermarle at some time and Hannah would live near her parents & family.

Hannah Lee bore 4 children for James Blake Sr.: Thomasena "Sena" Blake Jul 5, 1871; Henrietta "Etta" Blake May 11, 1873; Mary Hannah Blake Apr 21 1876 and Fredrick Lee Blake Sept 28, 1879.

Martha was a spinster, age 22. 24 hours after the birth of her half-brother Fredrick, Hannah Lee passed away. She had been ill for 6 week prior his birth and died of lung disease, heart disease & dropsy. She was buried in Colpoy's Bay Cemetery-Edgehill Cemetery, Colpoy's Bay- 239-249 Bruce Road 9, Wiarton, North Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada.

Martha would become the main housekeeper for the home and manager of her fathers younger children. The children chipped in to help their father on the farm and in the home.

Her father, James Sr. would once again marry on Feb 14, 1881. Martha Armstrong-McLaughlin-Lachay was twice widowed and brought 8 children into the home. James' daughter Elizabeth moved with her son, John married Annie Gawley and had his own place. The house was still 17 children and 2 adults.

1881, Nov. 7 Martha Armstrong-Blake gave birth to Lillis Blake. Soon after her birth, Martha was with child again when her first husband arrived home. She had been notified that Robert McLaughlin was killed in action and she was a widow but this was not true. Her marriage to James Sr. was null and void. Martha moved with her 8 McLaughlin children, and baby Lillis Blake to Mar, Albemarle Township, North Bruce, Ontario (not too far from the Blake home). Victor Colonel Blake was born in Mar, Albemale Twp., N. Bruce, Ontario.

In 1883 her father now was a parent to 13 children and a widower. He had buried 2 wives and one marriage was annulled. James Blake decided to move to the United States and immigrated to Lopez Island, San Juan, Washington Territory in 1883. There he bought 200-300 acres of good farm land.

1887 - With a homestead and a place for his children, he send for Martha who had remained in Wiarton, Albemarle Twp., North Bruce, Ontario with the children, asking her to join him and bring his 4 younger children bore by his 2nd wife Hannah Lee. It was thus that Margaret immigrated to Lopes Island, Washington USA in 1887.

Later many of James Blake Sr.'s children, spouses, and grandchildren immigrated to Lopez Island to join their father. Only the oldest girl Elizabeth, John the oldest son, her younger sister Maggie (Margaret Jane Blake) and the two baby Blake children bore during his 3rd marriage.

The older three married and stayed in Canada with their spouse(s) and their in-laws. Lillis and Victor Colonel Blake lived in Sarna, Lambton, Ontario with their mother Martha Armstrong-McLaughlin. (note: 10 years later a Census show her using the name Martha Blake and living with some of her Laughlin sons and the two Blake children: Lillis & Victor.

Martha continued to live in her father's home on Lopez Island. She had not married and would have not children.

In 1900 Martha married John "Jack" Clancy. She 43 and would no longer bear a child. Jack moved Martha to Seattle, King County, Washington where she continued to live until her death. Jack and Martha separated and Martha managed a boarding house in Seattle for many years.

Martha, age 72 years, 5 months and 1 day of age, died on April 6, 1930 in Seattle, King County, Washington USA. She was buried on Lopez Island, San Juan County, Washington USA where many of the James Blake children lived and regarded Martha warmly as the sister who cared for them as children in absents of their mother.

She lies in peace in Lopez Union Cemetery, Davis Bay Road, Lopez Island, San Juan County, Washington USA Plat 2 Plot U21

Martha Blake was the daughter of James Blake Sr. and his 1st wife Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Shannon.

She was their 3rd child. Born in Alton, Caledn Township, Peal County, Ontario, Ontario.

She was 43 when she finally married. Her father had been widowed 3 times, loosing a mother for his children..thus the job of being her father's housekeeper and tending for his children (both her brothers and sisters but her half-siblings) she continued to care for her father and his home until 1900.

At that time she moved to Seattle with her husband, Jack Clancy. Later she and her husband separated and she ran a boarding house in Seattle until her death on April 6, 1930. Marth was buried on Lopez Island near her father and many of her immediately family.