Hello, fellow researchers - This is my first posting on Rootschat.
I have a William Irvine who had something of a mystery about him.
He married Mary Ritchey in Ontario in 1883. The official record of their marriage gives his age as 20 ( birth year - 1863), birthplace as Ireland, parents "unknown".
Less than 10 years later, on another document he gives his birth year as 1851 and birthplace as Quebec. He was well regarded in his community of the Orangeville, Shelburne area as a cabinetmaker. William was an active Mason and an accomplished piper. He travelled in Canada and the US training Masonic and other pipe bands.
The story he told to the family was that he was a Highland Scot. His father , or perhaps his grandfather, had fallen in love with a young woman of whom his family did not approve. So they ran away, first to Ireland and then to Canada.
That could be a cover story for an illegitimate child who was born in Ireland and had a Scottish Irvine for his father.
To add to this mystery, in the 1920's a package arrived from the UK. The package contained several genealogical charts , at least one was adorned with holly leaves. According to witnesses there was a signet ring and other small items in the package. The gist of the letter was that the writer wished to heal some schism in the family. This overture was rejected and the contents of the package were thrown in the fire. He was heard to say things along the lines of " I wasn't good enough for them then", which made some in the family suspect that he was either born out of wedlock or given up for adoption. Whatever was in the letter affected him very deeply and he would never speak of it.
I would be very grateful for any information about an illegitimate or orphaned Irvine boy who might have been sent to Canada to be fostered or information about what this schism might have been.
I would be glad to share all the information I have on Irvines in Canada.
Thank-you for reading my posting.
The best of luck with your research,
Elizabeth
