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Topics - argyllshiregirl

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1
Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / Antique Wallpaper Indentification
« on: Wednesday 20 March 24 12:42 GMT (UK)  »
Hello,

This is not the best photo as I took it as the machines were tearing the structure down! The building was built in the late 1860s in southern Ontario, Canada. It was brick and was originally a tea and dry goods store with dwelling space on the second floor.

I am interested in the briefly exposed piece of wallpaper. It is light green in colour with a simple repeated design of perhaps sailboats or maybe a little clump of trees?? What era might this wallpaper have come from? I am writing a local history piece about the early days of the interior design industry.

Thank you! :)

Mary

2
United States of America / John Nugent, Alpena, Michigan 1870 - 1913
« on: Sunday 26 February 23 14:19 GMT (UK)  »
I just received the most wonderful leather bound photo album, filled with photos from the 1880s to early 20th century. So far, it's a mystery. Most of the photos were created by the leading photographers of the town of Barrie in Ontario, Canada. Swithin King, W. Reeves, the Barruad brothers, W.R.Keenan all operated in the 1870s - 1890s. However, the album has been in Michigan, U.S. for decades, perhaps always. It was purchased at a yard sale about 20 years ago near Detroit, and was forwarded to me here in Barrie to be researched, and hopefully sent on to any family who want it. There aren't many clues to be had in this book. The best clues I have are 2 memorial cards, produced by H.F. Wendell & Co. of Leipsic, Ohio. They name a deceased couple, John and Margaret Nugent, who resided at Alpena, Michigan from about 1870 until their deaths in 1912 and 1913. John Nugent was born in Canada about 1839 to Canadian parents but I am stuck there, so far. John died on April 15, 1913 at age 74 years, according to the card, but he may have died on April 20th. The couple are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Alpena. Hoping to find a connection back to Barrie, Ontario. Parents for John Nugent would be a good start. Thank you!

3
Midlothian / Sandersons the Vat 69 Distillers
« on: Thursday 15 September 22 12:36 BST (UK)  »
Hello,

I have been searching for my late mother's younger siblings who were adopted during the early 1930s. All were likely born in Argyllshire. Only one of these siblings was known by name, a sister named Nancy born about 1930. I just had a major breakthrough and found her birth registration.  Nancy was born in January 1931 and the margin states she was adopted. She was born in Oban, Argyll. I have more details (full birth name etc.) but there is a chance she is living so I will hold onto those for now.

About that time, a couple holidaying in Argyll offered to adopt my mother who was being raised by an aunt. The offer was refused as the aunt had promised her own mother to raise Mum. The interested family were the people who distilled Vat 69 Whisky so I conclude they must have been part of the Sanderson family of Edinburgh.

I had heard that this couple wished to have a little girl in particular. They may have had boys already. If anyone is researching their Sanderson roots and knows of an adopted girl in the past, this may be my long missing aunt.

Mary

4
Canada / Robert Graham, Simcoe County, Ontario, Photograph
« on: Saturday 09 July 22 14:15 BST (UK)  »
Hello,

In addition to working on my own family tree, I enjoy working on local history projects in my community. I sometimes come across old photographs etc., in thrift shops or antique stores, and I try to reunite them with interested family members if I can, free of charge, of course. I have been trying to send this one home for a little while now. If you have Graham relatives who once lived in Simcoe County, Ontario, have a look. Here is a story I wrote about the photo and its possible subject.

https://www.barrietoday.com/columns/remember-this/remember-this-a-portrait-of-robert-graham-5222797

Mary

5
Attached is a section of the 1901 census for Preston, Sussex, England. The column lists any disabled persons in the household who are to be noted by a numerical code. However, there are non numerical notations in the column that I don't understand. Both refer to a female, wife of the head, ages 31 and 40, if that helps. One looks like glos/lyos? and the other looks like Max. Would anyone know what they might mean? Thank you.

6
Scotland / Why Two Records of Birth?
« on: Thursday 29 April 21 15:17 BST (UK)  »
Hello,

Perhaps I am not understanding the registration system for births. I am searching for my mother's half sister, born Nancy McGregor, some time between 1929 - 1934. She was the 3rd child born to a single mother who couldn't support them all. A relative arranged for 'wee Nancy' to be adopted. The family was from Argyll and I did find a birth registration for a Nancy Evaleen MacGregor born 1931 in North Knapdale, which might fit. However, there is another registration for that name, that year, in Kilmore and Kilbride, Argyll. Does this point perhaps to an adoption, and a new birth registration? Then I noticed several other Nancy M(a)cGregors on that same page who seem to be registered in 2 different places. Thank you for helping me understand the meaning of this.

Mary

7
Stirlingshire / RAE / RUE
« on: Tuesday 23 March 21 14:20 GMT (UK)  »
Hello,

I am Scottish, living in Canada and trying to help a friend learn about her family. Her great grandparents immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1929. She gave me some notes that said her great grandfather David Murray HERD was born in Scotland but her great grandmother, Allison RUE, was born in France. I thought that was odd but the name does sound French.

I traced the RUE family back 2 generations in Glasgow then lost them. Then, I discovered a family with all the same given names, ages, occupations etc. written as RAE. This led me to the census of 1861 for Govan that showed James RAE as born about 1819 in Stirlingshire. Now, I am trying to find who exactly this James RAE was, his parents, town/parish of birth. His children were named Allison, Elizabeth, William, James and Margaret. Is this a family that anyone recognizes from their own tree? I can provide more information. Thank you! :)

Mary

8
Canada / GORMAN/WHITLEY: A Collection Needs a Home!
« on: Friday 20 November 20 15:11 GMT (UK)  »
Hello,

I am a volunteer with a local history group in southern Ontario. I write a weekly column about our interesting past. A collection of some 200 wartime letters, belonging to a now deceased childless couple, has been found during the renovation of an old house in Toronto.

This first column was written by someone else at the publication. It outlines what was found. https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/contractor-hopes-to-find-family-members-after-discovering-box-of-second-world-war-love-letters-2864496

This second story was written by me after I investigated the family tree. The pair had an unusual amount of early deaths and childless couples in the family. We did learn of some cousins who may yet be living but have not found them. https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/community-bands-together-to-solve-mystery-of-the-second-world-war-love-letters-2879280

Please share this with your Toronto friends, if you have any, especially in the Danforth area. Thank you! Looking forward to writing a third story containing the happy ending!

9
England / Baggs/Beggs
« on: Saturday 29 August 20 20:31 BST (UK)  »
Hello! Trying to solve a 91 year old Canadian mystery which has its beginnings somewhere (maybe Middlesex) in England. Thomas Baggs/Beggs was a single man who came to Canada about 1903 (according to 1921 census) and worked for CNR railway in the town of Barrie, north of Toronto. Even though he bought and furnished a house, and squirreled away money, he lived in a rented hotel room in the town for over a decade. He died there suddenly on December 27, 1929. Every attempt was made to find any family but none were discovered. The hotel keeper knew little except Thomas was born in England around 1875, and was reported to be a war veteran - Boer War? Somewhere, a family in England has long wondered what became of their relative. It would be wonderful to solve the mystery for any interested Baggs/Beggs family historians. Thank you for any clues.

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