At the 1881 Canadian census, John Carey and his wife Mary resided "Quebec, Megantic, Halifax South, Dist 50, Sub-Dist B, Div 2". He was born in Ireland about 1830-31; she was born Canada about 1833-34, but her ethnicity was noted as Irish. They had 11 children living at home at the 1881 census, all born Canada, the eldest born about 1855-56. From this can be deduced that John Carey emigrated from Ireland to Canada prior to 1855, and perhaps Mary's parents were Irish immigrants as well.
Also living with the family at 1881 was James Powell, age 50, Irish, born Quebec. Perhaps the brother of James Carey's wife Mary?
Family history has it that the family resided "Three Rivers" [Trois Rivieres], Quebec, and I believe the 1901 Canada census shows one or more Carey families in that city.
John Carey's 5th child, James, appears to have been the first of perhaps 3-4 of the Carey children who emigrated to the U.S. He married and had 2 children born in Canada [1885 and 1887]. He ended up in Lincoln, Grafton County, New Hampshire, where his occupation per the federal censuses was foreman in a mill yard; night watchman; and for many years, policeman.
His daughter Mary married Joseph McCaffrey, another Canadian/Irish immigrant; they remained in Lincoln, NH and, after his wife died, James Carey evidently moved in with them.
His son George moved eventually to Massachusetts where he probably married, and thereafter worked and raised a family. George was my son's paternal great-grandfather.
