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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: Stanza on Friday 22 October 10 18:49 BST (UK)
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Hi
I am looking for any information about George Harrower, born in Alloa, Scotland on 5 May 1894. It is believed that he died somewhere in Canada, possibly Ontario, in his 30s, ie roughly 1924-1933. It is not known if he married or had any children.
Family Background:
George's parents were Colin Harrower and Maggie McKinnon Harrower (ms Arthur).
Colin and Maggie emigrated from Scotland to South Africa, where their daughter Katherine was born and where Maggie died. Colin returned to Scotland and then re-emigrated to Canada (possibly in 1907), working in the mines at Sudbury, Ontario, where he married Mary Lauder in 1910. Their daughter Mary Allan Harrower was born there on 28 Feb 1911.
The family came back to Scotland, but Katherine then went on to marry and eventually die in the United States. It is believed that George remained in Canada, and may well have served in the Canadian armed forces as there is some sort of military medal involved (no details yet known).
Any information about George or the other family members, either from censuses or BMD records or any other source, or any suggestions on how best to proceed, would be very much appreciated.
Thanks for reading this far!
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George's parents were Colin Harrower and Maggie McKinnon Harrower (ms Arthur).
Colin and Maggie emigrated from Scotland to South Africa, where their daughter Katherine was born and where Maggie died. Colin returned to Scotland and then re-emigrated to Canada (possibly in 1907), working in the mines at Sudbury, Ontario, where he married Mary Lauder in 1910. Their daughter Mary Allan Harrower was born there on 28 Feb 1911.
I have just looked at the actual marriage entry it was on 23rd July 1910 in Sudbury Ontario.
Mary Lauder single 28 presbyterian,Living at Garson mine,father John Lauder Mother Mary nee Allan.
COLIN Harrower Engineers Helper widowed,43 Presbyterian,also Garson Mine,father George Harrower mother Christina nee Stewart.
Witnesses J Hinton, Beatrice Soubliers Sudbury.
Can't find anything for sure on George b abt 1894 though?
Carol
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Thanks for the speedy response, Carol.
George was born in 1894 in Scotland and I think he was still here (with his grandparents) at the 1901 census - slightly unsure as there several "George"s in the family.
There's a photo of the rest of the family taken on a visit to Scotland c 1913 and George isn't in it, suggesting he didn't make the trip, and there's no death in Scotland that fits him. The family understanding is that he died somewhere in Canada in his 30s - are Canadian death records for the 1924-1933 period publicly available?
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There is no central BMD registry in Canada. Each province handles its own records and some provinces are more research friendly than others. Additionally, Canada has very strict privacy laws and they vary from province to province.
The 1911 Canada Census is free to search on automatedgenealogy.com. Be sure to select the split screen view to see the actual images and the transcription. Maybe you can find the family on there if you think they were living in Canada at that time.
Susan
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Thanks susano.
Maybe I'm not looking properly, but I can't see any of the family on automatedgenealogy.com, which is a bit surprising as George's half-sister Mary Allan Harrower was apparently born in Sudbury on 18 Feb 1911 (although I haven't seen the original documentation for this) and I believe the census was on 1 Jun 1911.
I suppose they might have come back to Scotland immediately after the birth, (probably carefully timed to miss the UK census on 2 Apr 1911, which for Scotland will become available next year!)
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Thanks susano.
Maybe I'm not looking properly, but I can't see any of the family on automatedgenealogy.com, which is a bit surprising as George's half-sister Mary Allan Harrower was apparently born in Sudbury on 18 Feb 1911 (although I haven't seen the original documentation for this) and I believe the census was on 1 Jun 1911.
The family arrived back in the UK(Liverpool) on the 1st July 1911 on the Laurentic, which sailed from Montreal.
Colin Harrower -carpenter
Mrs Harrower
Kate -child
Mary- infant
Not much info there was there ;D
Carol
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Thank you, Carol, much appreciated. Can you let me know the source of the information?
As suspected, George wasn't with the family so I guess he must be lurking in the Canadian records somewhere! (As should the rest of the family if they were still in Canada on 1 Jun 1911!)
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I have a worldwide subscription to Ancestry.
But if you can get to see the ships list from Canada,maybe there's a bit more family info on it from that end?
Hope someone from there can tell you where to look.
Carol
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When the father Colin came to Canada around 1907, who came with him?
Did George have a middle name that he could be using? I can see quite a number of people with Harrower as a surname but not finding a George born around 1894.
Susan
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Hi Susan
My guess (and that's all it is at the moment) is that he would have been accompanied by his children George and Kate, and possibly by his future wife Mary Lauder.
However, it's also possible that he travelled alone and that the others went to Canada once he had established himself.
Thanks for your involvement.
John
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Hi
I found them on FindMyPast coming to Canada on the Laurentian departing Glasgow on January 26, 1907 and arriving Halifax via Boston on February 7, 1907.
Colin Harrower, age 41, railwayman, born Scotland, destined for Sudbury, Ontario
Geo Harrower, age 10
Kate Harrower, age 8
There is also a Peter Harrower, age 39, farm labourer, born Scotland, destined for Sudbury on the same journey. Could this perhaps be Colin's brother?
On Ancestry, the family is transcribed as Harrison. Colin's occupation is shown as Fitter on Ancestry.
If you would like to see the image of the passenger list you can search from this link using the ship's name and arrival date given above. They are listed on page 4.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a5t/
Susan
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Maybe this is your man or maybe it is coincidental that they have the same name, birthplace and birth date...
On Ancestry, I have found a WWI US Draft Registration for a George Harrower, born Alloa, Scotland on May 5, 1894. This George is working as a miner at Mt. Con Mine in Butte, Montana. He states that he is 23, single and an alien. He also states that he has a father and mother who are solely dependent on him and he is claiming exemption from the draft due to Phy Dis which I am guessing means physical disability. The form was signed on June 2, 1917.
You said that George's sister Kate settled and died in the US. Do you know what year she went to the US and where she lived?
Susan
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I further found a Petition of Naturalization in the U.S. District Court of Oregon for George Harrower, born May 5, 1894 in Alloa, Scotland. He states he immigrated to the U.S. via Canada and crossed the border on foot at Sumas, Washington on August 12, 1913. His place of residence is Vancouver, Clarke County, Washington and he is a soldier. He is single, has no children, and has lived in the U.S. since August 12, 1913 and in Washington State since January 1, 1914.
The following statement is typed on the form: "The petition was filed under Amendatory Act of May 9, 1918." George signed the document on August 8, 1918.
I think I may have found him in Illinois on the 1920 Census but will post that separately.
Susan
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Well done Susan- I searched high and low in Canada last night for a George born in 1894- and even discounted the one who travelled out in 1907 as George was clearly 10 (b 1897).
So does he appear in the 1910/1920 US censuses?
Carol
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I think I may have found George on the 1920 US Census in Summit, Cook County, Illinois.
He is transcribed on Ancestry as George Harrover, age 26, single, born Scotland, father born Scotland, mother born Ireland (?), immigrated 1906 and naturalized 1918. He's a roomer, occupation of Quarryman in a Stone Quarry.
I checked a couple of George Harrovers on the 1910 Census but they were with family groups and weren't born Scotland.
On the Cook County, Illinois Death Index there is a George Hrehor who died January 3, 1925. There is no further information and the death document would have to be ordered. That's the closest I've been able to come.
I had no luck finding George on the 1911 Canada Census but will keep looking. It seems that he was transient so could be in one of the Western provinces....I had been concentrating on Ontario up until now.
Susan
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The Family record search has a death of a George Harrower b 5 May 1894 in Scotland........he died in Broadview Cook Illionis on 5 May 1929
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=home
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a5u/
It says his father was Cullen( Colin?) and mother Margaret Arthur.
Buried on 7 May 1929 at Fairmont Cemetery Palos Cook Illinois.
Carol
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What a team eh Susan ;D
Carol
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Wow, Carol....good find!! That's much better than my "clutching at straws" George Hrehor...that was quite a stretch!!
Yes, yah for teamwork ;D
On this high note, I must get to bed...it's almost 1:30 am on the West Coast of BC. I love a good puzzle but now I'm exhausted.
Susan
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Night night Susan ;)
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I can't believe this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to bed last night thinking that the Rootschatters were on the trail but hadn't really caught up with the quarry.
I sign on today and not only have they caught up with him, they've delivered him first class!!!!
I am so grateful to you all for this work.
The vast majority of my family tree is within the UK so I have limited my Ancestry subscription to UK only, but I needed experts with a worldwide subscription to find George. Rootschat should be claiming a reward from Ancestry for so successfully advertising the benefits of a worldwide subscription!!!
Thank you again.
John
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Susan found him in the US and then I decided to look at the LDS mormon family search site,and knowing that he was in the US found his death there.
So in the end it was info from the free LDS site that clinched it.
Carol
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As you say - what a team - gold medal status!!!! :) :)
Thanks again - I've changed the thread heading to show "COMPLETED"
John
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Hi, I've just discovered this thread and would like to discuss some of the content with Stanza.
I am a direct descendant of Mary Allan Harrower (George's half-sister, born in Sudbury in 1911), she was my paternal grandmother, and I was curious to read that you may have access to early family photos of the Harrower family?
Also, I have quite detailed information on Mary's family history, including the Harrower and Lauder sides. Would like to see if there are any areas we could help each other out?
(I'm based in Glasgow, Scotland)
John