Ottawa - brief Research needed at LAC

[nickgc]

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
 

[KarenM]

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

[nickgc]

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

[|)uncan]

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

[nickgc]

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

[lilybell]

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

[nickgc]

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

[cosmac]

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

[lilybell]

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