William MacDonald

[Dannemois]

At some point after 1930 William 'Bill' MacDonald went to Canada to work at 'Hillcrest' ranch, Lethbridge, mainly logging.  By 1939 he travelled the ocean again and returned to the UK. 
I wonder if someone could help locate any information on him. 

Thanks in advance and sorry there is so little detail.

Regards
Roy

[cosmac]

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abwcobit/index.htm
From this site you can access the Lethbridge paper for this time period.  There might be some information there.

There might be a record of his arrival in Canada or back in Britain.  Date of birth and place would be helpful there as his name is common.

Debbie

[Dannemois]

Hi Debbie
Thanks for the information.  Excellent site but unfortunately out of luck, nothing on the fellow I am tracking. 

Roy

[Dannemois]

I located the following record which I'm pretty sure it is the fellow I am tracking.
Would appreciate any other details on William.

Surname:
MacDonald
Given Name:
William
Age:
27
Sex:
M
Nationality:
Wel
Date of Arrival:
1929/03/24 (YYYY/MM/DD)
Port of Arrival:
Halifax
Ship:
ANDANIA, Cunard
Reference:
RG76 - IMMIGRATION, series C-1-b
Volume:
1929 volume 5
Page Number:
97
Microfilm reel:
T-14818

[cosmac]

The image shows that he is 27, single, born Troedyniw Wales, R.C., paid his own fare, occupation before emmigrating was miner, intended occupation was farming, destination/employer he was going to in Canada was C.N.R. Winnipeg, Manitoba (railway), nearest relative in Britain was his father W. Macdonald 20 Hebert St. Brithdir.

Debbie

[Dannemois]

Hello Debbie
Many thanks for coming back so soon, that is excellent news.  The record is of the William I am researching; 20 Herbert Street, Brithdir is the family home and "Troedyrhiwfiwch" is the name of the small village where he was born, a small hamlet of cottages clinging to the side of Cefn y Brithdir mountain in the Rhymney Valley of South Wales.  Sadly they are no longer standing.  The mountain has a history of movement due to the mining workings below and were demolished as unsafe to live in.   I don't know how long William stayed in Canada, I do know he was back home in Wales by 1939.  Any suggestions on how I can find further information on him?

Best Regards
Roy

[cosmac]

Now that there's something to narrow the choices we might find him on his return trip but anything other than that might prove difficult.  I take it there were no references to the Hillcrest Ranch in the Lethbridge Herald for the time period you're looking for?

Debbie

[Dannemois]

Hi Debbie
You presume right, I didn't find any reference to WM and the farm, 'ranch'

Roy

[J.J.]

well, he was only here for a decade....Here's the rancher for whom he may have worked, although this ranch was in Coronation, about 350 kms north of Lethbridge...Also there is a more recent Hillcrest Ranch in Marwayne which is even further north of Coronation
from the Stockman's lists...  S. R. Northwood, (Hillcrest Ranch) from Coronation http://www.smflibrary.ca/brandn.html