RootsChat.Com

I got Glasgow from Robert's children's records later in life. U.S. census 1880 and 1900. The children list mother's place of birth as "Ireland-Eng." and father's place of birth as Glasgow, Scotland, or just Scotland.

Hi Looby -

Sure, he married Bridget McManus in Belfast in 1828 at St. Patrick's Cathedral. They had 2 children in Belfast, Ann & James (my 4th GGrandfather) and the the rest of their children in Quebec. They came to Quebec sometime between 1830-1833. Robert died in 1860, Bridget died 1861.

Another Ancestry member who traced this line attached this note to Robert's & Bridget's records explaining why they might have immigrated:
"The War of 1812 attracted attention to the necessity for a larger population in Canada, particularly of people with British sympathies. Consequently, the policy of encouraging emigration was adopted. Free grants of land were provided, also subsistence during the period of preparing the land for cultivation. Grants of land were also made to persons who agreed to place settlers on the land. Several groups were placed under this system in Upper Canada. Distressed weavers, particularly from Scotland and the north of England, were also assisted to settle in Canada. Assistance was also given to emigrants from Ireland, and in 1823 an experimental colony of Irish emigrants was organized and located in the Bathurst district in 1825. Another colony on a larger scale was settled in the Peterborough district, the district being named after Peter Robinson, the leader of the colony. These experimental settlements ushered in a period of active emigration to Canada which reached its height in 1833, when 66,339 emigrants entered. Canada at this time was even more attractive to emigrants than the United States, and until 1835 received a greater number of emigrants from the British isles than that country. A striking feature of this immigration was the number coming from Ireland. In 1831 about 34,000 Irish immigrants landed at Quebec alone. From 1825 to 1846, 626,628 immigrants landed at Canadian ports. This number is remarkable in view of the interruption to immigration caused by the political troubles of 1837-9. This was a period of remarkable development in Upper Canada, as the majority of the immigrants settled there. In 1824 Toronto was a village of 1,600 inhabitants, but by 1846 its population numbered 21,000."

Would this make sense that they were British sympathizers? They were married in a Catholic Church.

I also found the name Robert McClutchy in 1823 Criminal Records, Lancashire. The record says he was imprisoned for 2 years for receiving stolen property.

Thanks for your help, Looby.

Thank you!

Hello -
I am looking for information on possible relatives of my fifth gg Robert McClutchy born 1807 in or near Glasgow. He married Bridget McManus and emigrated to Quebec City, Canada in the early 1850s. I am unable to find his birth record, or any names for parents/siblings with that spelling.

Could McClutchy a misspelling of the much more common spelling McClatchy or McClatchie? Does anyone know the reason for the difference in spelling? There is a book by William Carleton called Valentine McClutchy: The Irish Agent.

If you have any info on the McClutchy line in Scotland/Ireland around that time period, I'd love lear more.

Thanks,
Sarah