Look-up pse

[Magian]

Can anyone help me find a birth entry for a William Gordon in Canada around 1772/1773? His death cert claims he was born at Brilar Julyer, Canada but I've looked on the www and there is no such place. Sorry, I have no other informaton other that he returned to Scotland around 1885.

Magian

[Lisa in California]

Magian:

Did you mean to write down 1785 for his return?  Or, his birth was 1872/73?

My research in Canada starts c1830.  I don't know where you might look for a birth c1772.

If he returned to Scotland in 1785, then you might know his parents names?  Have you tried searching for the parents in Canada? 

[Lisa in California]

Old Place Names in South West Quebec.  I did not see anything similar to your name, but I didn't look too long:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~qcchatea/placenames/names.htm

[Zacktyr]

Hi Magian,

Could you please post a link to the image of the name on the death certificate.  I am well experienced in very early Canadian research and may, with the aid of that image, and a few answers from you, be able to detect the locale.  Very few areas of Canada were officially opened at that time, but there were a number of fur trader and missionary settlements.

Sincerely,
Susan

[KarenM]

He is in Scotland in the 1851 census, born 1773, ancestry has his birth place listed as Brilar Julyer, Canada on the census 

Karen

[Zacktyr]

Hi Karen,

Because of the complexity of early Canadian research it is necessary to have absolutely pinpoint spot-on information to work from, so please don't think I'm just trying to be difficult with these questions:

1.  You use the term "...ancestry has his birth place..." - is that Ancestry the online company? 

2.  If it is, have you obtained the image of the census from scotlandspeople website? I also need to see the actual penmanship - the written appearance of the name. Could you PM me and I can arrange for you to send a copy email to me?

3.  Have you obtained your fellow's death certificate?  If so, was his place of birth given, by any slim chance?

4.  Is there any family information as to why your fellow would have been born in Canada, e.g. father went to work for Hudson's Bay Company, missionary work or was eligible for military land settlement?

5.  Have you found your fellow in the 1841 census in Scotland, England, Wales, Channel Islands?  - just so I can rule out that he may have still been in Canada at that time.

6.  Did he marry in Canada or in Scotland?

7.  Who was living with him in 1851 and 1841, if found, - wife, children and what were their birthplaces?

8.  Is there any other documentation that you have that gives any point of reference in Canada, even a broad one such as Canada East, Canada West or Upper or Lower Canada, or Province of Canada?  Canada's name and respective references changed over time and at some times quite rapidly.

9.  I have a few works of early immigrants to Canada and can check those for your William Gordon but I will need to have the names of his parents and siblings as the resources are arranged by father's name. 

10.  What was the family's religion at the time of William Gordon's birth?  If Roman Catholic, I have other resources that I can check for you.

I await your responses.

Sincerely,
Susan

[Zacktyr]

Hi Karen,

Oops!  Sorry.  Just realized that you are not the interested party but rather a party trying to assist.

Hopefully, Magian will see my post with the questions and respond.  Otherwise, I'd have to repost to her attention.

Sincerely,
Susan

[KarenM]

Here is a the portion of the 1851 Census.  It looks like Britain and then something else very hard to read.

Karen

[Zacktyr]

Hi Karen,

Oh, I am sorry to disappoint you but that place of birth says

"Canada / British Subject"

That is actually what I thought I would see.

Next question is, where to from here?  Back to the list of questions which will really need answering before I will be able to really give some strong assistance.

Sincerely,
Susan