James Killeen was born in 1793, Kings County ( Offaly ) Ireland. He most likely was born near Banaher. In 1824 when James was 31 years of age and single, he emigrated from Ireland to Canada, via New York City. On board the vessel, he met Mary Carroll, who also was from Co. Offaly and travelling with her parents, Martin Carrol and Catharine Moore and other siblings. Although Mary Carroll was much younger than James, they both fell in love, but marriage was not to occur for several more years.
James arrived in New York City in the early months of 1824 and along with other Irish families, travelled up the Hudson River and on to York, now Toronto, Ontario. There, James applied for Crown Lands and was granted 200 acres ( Lot 30 Concession 1, Albion, Peel, Ontario). He set about clearing the land, building a shanty and planting his new crops. Mary during this time obtained a job as house maid in Toronto. In 1828 James and Mary wed and moved to their new homestead and over the years, raised nine children.
James and Mary Killeen were early pioneers of Albion. James died Novermber 1, 1868 and Mary died June 1, 1870. Both are buried at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Cemetery, Albion.
