Author Topic: James Allan  (Read 2034 times)

Offline Shastonkate

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James Allan
« on: Saturday 04 February 12 17:02 GMT (UK) »
I am looking for information about James Milne Allan, born Kelso, Scotland 1877 and marriied Lilian Ursula Cryer in 1905 in Urmston, Lancashire.  In 1921 he left his wife and traveled alone from Liverpool to Quebec.  He is then lost.  There is a family rumour that he died in Ireland before 1948.  But know more in known.

Offline RunKitty

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Re: James Allan
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 04 February 12 18:03 GMT (UK) »
Hi,

Here is the free image of the passenger list from the library and archives Canada.  It isn't very clear, but he is the second name from the top.   He is going to Dauphin, Manitoba and he is a cotton goods buyer for Simpson and Mc??? .   He says that he is married. 

This is on the Empress of Britain, May 1921. 

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0k3h/

This image would also be on An...y, if you have access to that.  Your library may subscribe to the free Library Edition.   (might be a bit clearer??)

Will look for a Form 30 A...

Here it is... says he is going to join a friend.  Gives wife's name as contact in the UK:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0k3i/

RK   

Offline Shastonkate

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Re: James Allan
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 04 February 12 18:57 GMT (UK) »
What exciting information, how did you identify him on the list so quickly.  he is my husbands missing grandfather that we have been looking for for many years.  If you can find any details we would be eternally grateful.

Regards
Kate

Offline RunKitty

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Re: James Allan
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 08 February 12 05:44 GMT (UK) »
Hi again,

I haven't been able to find anything that I can tie to your James.  :'(

Here is a list of some Manitoba Resources - maybe these will help. 

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,218830.0.html

RK


Offline RunKitty

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Re: James Allan
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 08 February 12 06:01 GMT (UK) »
I think I may have figured out the address he gave on the passenger list and on the Form 30 A. 

I believe it is the law firm, Simpson and McGirr in Dauphin. 

http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/simpson_fe.shtml

I had originally thought it might be a company that he was going to work for.  He says he is a cotton goods buyer, then the Form 30A looks like it says he is going to join his friend in farming??, then he gives his contact address as a law firm in Dauphin, Manitoba.  Rather confusing!!   Unfortunately, I can't see the name of the friend on either form.  ??? Yikes!

RK

Offline Shastonkate

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Re: James Allan
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 11 February 12 16:32 GMT (UK) »
Thank you very much for the further information, which we are following up in every way we can think of. James Milne Allan was my grandfather. His only-known child (to us, anyway) was my mother, incidentally called Kitty, short for Christian. She died in 1948, aged 44, when I, her only child, was 11, so I am now 75.

My memories of stories she told me included that he had left for work without a word one morning and she and her mother never heard from him again. I later remember her in tears, having opened post which told her he had died, but I don’t know who it was from. At a guess this must have been around 1944/5/6/7.

I do not know if he and my grandmother were divorced. It is of course perfectly possible that he had more children, my unknown half-cousins.

Your information about Dauphin as his destination was a major breakthrough, because he must have had a specific contact there, and I am Googling the firm Simpson & McGirr. We do really appreciate your trouble in looking these things up.

Kind regards

Bryan Pickard

Offline RunKitty

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Re: James Allan
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 11 February 12 20:14 GMT (UK) »
Hi,

That must have been heartbreaking for your Mom.

It is good that you can narrow down the year of his death to a small range.  Do you still have the letter (it would be interesting to see who sent it).   

If he stayed in Dauphin, you might try the local library.  Maybe they would have some cemetery listings or a newspaper archive?   It would be great to find an obituary.

http://www.parklandlib.mb.ca/DauphinNew.htm

There is also a Manitoba Genealogical Society.  Hopefully, he stayed in Manitoba - it would certainly make him easier to track.  The Genealogical Society might have some more leads for you.  Here is the link to the Dauphin branch:

http://www.mbgenealogy.com/index.php?page=dauphin-branch

I believe that Manitoba death records are protected up to 70 years in the past.  So, the mid 1940s records should be available soon.     

When the records become unrestricted (the required amount of time has passed), you can search here:
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php

It sounds like you are the next of kin.  You can contact the Vital Statistics agency to see if they will give you information from the restricted records (I am not sure - I don't know much about Manitoba genealogy!!):

http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/index.html

The 1921 Canadian census will be made public sometime next year.  I don't know that date that the census was taken.  Hopefully, it will be after your grandfather arrived and you will find some useful information about him. 

RK