(13 Oct. 1835-9 Jan. 1892), clergyman. (I. J. MacCarthy, Isaac J. MacCarthy) (date of death 5 Jan. also found) Born in Halifax, N. S. Parents: His father, John MacCarthy, was a quartermaster in the British forces. Isaac John MacCarthy moved at an early age with his parents to Kingston, where his parents soon died within a day or so of each other in an epidemic. He studied at Regiopolis College, Kingston, and at the seminary of Quebec. On 20 June 1858 he was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood by Bishop Horan. He was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Williamstown, GC, being the second pastor of this new parish. The appointment was effective 1 Sept. 1858. He was at this time not quite 23 years old. A few years later, in 1861, the remains of the great Bishop Macdonell were returned to Canada from Scotland, and young Father MacCarthy’s church at Williamstown was one of those where the remains were sheltered and honoured on the way to their final resting place at Kingston.

     At his Williamstown church, Fr MacCarthy established the Holy Rosary Society, and the Forty Hours Devotion. He was also able to establish a convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame at Williamstown. This convent existed at Williamstown from 1865 to 1992. He was involved also in establishing the parish of St. Joseph’s, Lancaster. In 1869-1870, Fr MacCarthy accompanied Bishop Horan to Rome, where the bishop was attending the Vatican Council (Vatican I). One of Fr MacCarthy’s associates during this trip was Fr Angus Macdonell. Fr MacCarthy was pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church, Brockville, from 1875 to 1886. In 1886, he again became pastor at Williamstown, and remained pastor there till his death. He died at Williamstown, and is buried in a vault under the alter. He was the author of Recollections of Rome and Other Places, Epoch of the Vatican Council 1869-70 (pp. 208; Toronto, Hunter, Rose, 1888). This volume, which is very rare, includes a history of his church at Williamstown.

History of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Williamstown, Ontario: 1847-1997 (1997): biog. information, portrait, fasimile pp. from his book, photograph of his burial tablet * Cochrane, IV, 422 (with portrait) * Villeneuve 185-188 * Fraser, Gravestones, I, 12 * Flynn: index * Bibliography of Glengarry 17-19 * obituary, Cornwall Freeholder mid-Jan. 1892, cited DTL Standard Freeholder 15 Jan. 1949 * his parish concert, Williamstown, True Witness 3 Feb. 1860 * text of address presented to Fr MacCarthy, by his parishioners, on his leaving Williamstown for Brockville, and the text of his reply, both printed in The Cornwall Gazette [ copy in Archives of Ontario], 17 April 1875; also True Witness 16 April 1875