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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: nickgc on Monday 05 January 09 02:44 GMT (UK)
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I posted this request to the main Emigrants to Canada board on Sept 8, 2008 and received no positive response.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,327703.msg2081275.html#msg2081275
Since that time I have requested that my local library request the film via InterLibrary Loan. They do not request outside the US because of postal requirements.
I am hoping some kind RCer in Ottawa will take the time to do this lookup for me.
Some brief service records of British soldiers in Canada are located at LAC in Ottawa. My 2d G GF, William John Greer, was stationed in Canada from the mid-1860s until he resigned in 1871 and should be in:
British Forces
War Office 97 (MG 13 WO97):
78th Foot 1855-72 Reel B-5667 vol 1619
If no RCer from Ottawa goes to LAC, I would be willing to hire a paid researcher to check for this information. I just need one to contact.
Thank you,
Nick
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Hi Nick,
If you don't find anyone in Ottawa who can do a look up for you, I can order the reel in through my library on inter library loan.
Karen
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Karen,
Thank you for the very kind offer. I'll let this thread run for a while before I consider whether to impose on you. After revisiting the LAC site last night, it might be moot: it is implied that the only service records in this series are for those who resigned with pension, or died in service. My GG GF was in service for 11-12 years, which I don't think qualifies for a pension.
I will post a query on the military board to determine if this is true.
Nick
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Nick
I was just in LAC and had a look at the reel, B-5667, that you were interested in.
The names go from Greenlaw to Grieve. I also looked in the RG8 C-series records and he is not listed there.
Duncan
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Duncan,
Thanks very much for doing this for me.
I have very good documentation for Greer from 1869 (Nova Scotia) until his death in 1917 in the US (?), but have had NO luck finding his family, or anything from his birth in 1842 Scotland until his 1869 marriage in Nova Scotia. This is after years of looking.
I guess these first 27 years will remain a mystery.
Nick
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Hello Nick,
Have you tried Scots Origins for William's birth. Did a quick search and found William Greer born Feb 12 1842 IGI.
Could this possibly be your William? Perhaps someone who has credits on Scots Origins would be willing to do a
look up for you.Did not know Williams place of birth so just checked all counties and districts.
Also checked Mormon site Family Search and found William Greer born Paisley,Abby(Paisley)Renfrew,
born Feb 12/1842. Father Alexander Greer mother Elizabeth Burnside.
Lilybell
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Thank you, Lilybell.
I've been searching for Wm. for many years, and at first thought I had found him as the son of William and Eliz. as you did. His obit DOES say he was born Paisley.
Unfortunately, I now have his two marriage certs from Nova Scotia (1869 and 1881) and they both say his parents were William and Margaret. I've searched censuses, BMDs, etc. with no further luck, and since he joined army at 17 or 18, those records are where I have been placing my hope.
Nick
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It is possible that Margaret and Elizabeth are the same person. Elizabeth Margaret or Margaret Elizabeth. On the marriage certificate you are relying on the son to record his mother's name accurately - perhaps to the family she was always known as Margaret. On documents I know to be accurate I've found people using a name they are known as in the family which is completely different from their given names.
Debbie
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Hello Nick,
I checked on Scots Origins again just putting in William Greer and his year of birth and the only one I come up with is the one I gave you on my previous posting. If you put out a request for a lookup for someone with credits or sign up yourself on Scots Origins I believe the parents names are listed on births. Have checked Ancestry/Rootsweb and really did not come up with any info for William.
Have you found them on any Canadian census records for Nova Scotia? Have you found a passenger ship record for him?
I will dig a little further perhaps I will be lucky.
Lilybell
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Thanks again Lilybell & Debbie.
Debbie - I am basing my deduction on the fact that William's children's names fit perfectly with Scottish naming conventions, and I have them all. Plus there is the problem with also getting his father's name wrong (Wiilliam and Margaret vs. Alexander and Elizabeth).
Lilybell - I've tried to find him (and family) in 1841, 1851, and 1861 UK censuses with no luck. In last he would have been in Army. I have him in 1881 (Nova Scotia), 1891 (Ontario), 1900 & 1910 (Washington State), and a detailed obit (correction from earlier post - he died in 1916).
He wouldn't be on ship's records since he came to Canada (originally Quebec): I have this from a contemporary newspaper report of his 78th Highland Regiment
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"From 1864 to 1867 the regiment spent quiet years in Dublin and Gibraltar. Having spent so much of its career in the sweltering climate of the far east, the 78th embarked in July, 1867, for service at two of the British army’s coldest postings - Quebec and Nova Scotia. The regiment remained in Montreal, with occasional excursions to Quebec City, for almost two years. Then, in 1869 the 78th was transferred to Halifax.
The 78th arrived in Halifax on the afternoon of May 14, 1869 aboard the troopship "Crocodile". A total of 765 men disembarked in full dress uniform. In its dark green kilts, red doublets, tall feather bonnets, the 78th made an immediate impression on Halifax as it marched into town from the dockyard."
It would be great to find out which troop ship they arrived in Quebec on, but so far I haven't been able to... not that there are likely to be records of the men who were on the ship.
Regards,
Nick
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Hi again Nick,
Did William have any siblings> I am asking because I went to www.freewebs.com/renfrewcensus and found
on 1841 census for Abbey Paisley Renfrewshire District 13 the following family.
Alex Greer age 30 occupation Cotton Tenter born Ireland
Elizabeth age 25 born Renfrewshire
James age 1 born Renfrewshire
I also found a marriage for Alexander Greer 7 Oct,1837
I think you should take a look on Scots Origins for William and also for a marriage for Alexander Greer and Elizabeth Burnside. As Debbie has indicated perhaps they went by a different name. My husband's name is Malcolm
and he goes by Mac.
As this is the only parents names I am finding for William born 1842 Scotland I think it is worth taking a look.
In genealogy there are always surprises never discount anything.I have been surprised many times.
I was only able to find Scottish census records for 1841 not sure if there are records for later years.
Still plodding along.
Lilybell
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Hi Lilybell,
I don't want you to waste your time looking at a lot of sources that I have checked over the last 20 years, altho I appreciate any help. I have considered any number of possibilities for where this family might have been between 1841 and William junior's joining the army in 1859.
I really think that the only way I am going to get anywhere on this is to determine if his service records exist, and get them. Perhaps then I will be able to determine parentage, etc. I have written many emails and letters relating to this in the past two years with no success so far.
I am sorry, but I don't know if William had any sibs - sure might help if I DID know.
Regards,
Nick