Why can't I find an Ontario death? SOLVED!

[cosmac]

Ontario death registrations vary.  Some forms had spaces for parents names to be filled in (of course this might or might not be complied with) while others had a space for name, cause of death etc. but nohting useful to trace lineage.  Some records have probably been lost or were so illegible that they couldn't be transcribed.  I have a death in 1917 that I have never been able to find and the family was compliant with filling in paperwork as deaths before and after were registered.  Sometimes things go missing.

Since the parish record states she died in Montreal the day before her burial under Paterson either the cemetery has mistranscribed data or the parish has and you have to decide which to believe.

Debbie

[chinakay]

Right...you'd think they could find a nursing home a bit closer to Montreal, wouldn't you?

Thanks Debbie.

Cheers,
China

[chinakay]

I just emailed the cem to ask if there might be an error...we'll see what they say.

Cheers,
China

[andycand]

Hi China

Have you actually checked the Quebec death records? As you say the St Giles PR states she died at Montreal and was buried the next day. This entry was also witnessed by Wm Paterson. I know this differs from the cemetery records but it's still worth checking out.

Andy

[chinakay]

Hi Andy, yes of course...the PR record is the Quebec death record, there was no civil registration in Quebec until I think 1996. The PR is all there is. And there's no uniformity in the Protestant records, the minister could write as much or as little as he wanted

Thanks though

Cheers,
China

[Jacquie in Canada]

Are John Patterson and Catherine Soutar the names of the parents you suspect are William's? Have you found them on the 1851 census in Dundee? I'm not related. I just saw their names in an IGI entry for the birth of an Elizabeth Patterson and there is a 1851 census entry in Dundee that seems to match the family that I think is yours in the 1861 census in Dundee. On the 1851 census there is a Elizabeth Soutar and Archibald Soutar in the same household.

Jacquie

[chinakay]

Yep, that's them.

John had died by the 1861 though, and I can't find a death. He was a seaman and Gadget says if he was lost at sea it's anybody's guess if it would be registered, or where.

William was in the household in 1851 & 1861 but had disappeared by 1871, and didn't arrive in Canada till 72. I wonder what he was doing, and where...

Cheers,
China

[Gadget]

I think what Gadget said was that he could be listed in the GRO Marine deaths or in the Minor Records deaths  or in a particular reg district  on SP (post 1855) or elsewhere if he died outside of British waters, but if he was 'missing, presumed drowned', then that would be an added complication 

So far, I've not found him. See:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,357383.0.html


Gadget 

Added - I see you've got William's marriage though, China 

[cosmac]

Possibility for William in the 1871 Scottish census lodging in Airdrie, Lanarkshire and working as a roller.  Date of birth is off.  Shows 1853 but place of birth Dundee.

Debbie