Alfred James Raffan and James Raffan

[cosmac]

There is a birth for Alfred James McDonald b. 1892 Glasgow on ScotlandsPeople.
Perhaps yours?? possibly no official marriage between parents - therefore registered under mother's maiden name at birth.
It might be worth a few dollars to rule this in or out.

[dog_foster_carer]

Thankyou so very much to everyone for all your help.  I'll definitely be looking further into the information each of you have supplied.  Keep it coming, please!     

[Skoosh]

I think the name Raffan derives from the parish of Rathven.

Skoosh.

[dog_foster_carer]

James Raffan, 41, mason, destination Calgary, arrived 11 april 1910 on Hesperian from Glasgow to Halifax

Mrs. M. Raffan, 35 with children
Margaret 11 1/2, Catherine 10 1/2, Emma 9, James 4 1/2 arrived on 07 May 1913 on the Saturnia Glasgow to Quebec

1916 prairie census for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
living at 122 18 Avenue Calgary are
James W. Raffan, 42 with wife Mary, 34 and children Maggie W 16, Katie 14, Amil 12 (I assume Emma) and James 9.

In Burnsland Cemetery Calgary
Mary Raffan 1884-1949 and James Raffan 1872 - 1931.

1940 Canadian Voters Lists for Calgary J. Raffan working for Hudson Bay Company with widowed Mrs. Mary Raffan and Mr. and Mrs. J. O'Neill are living together in the same household.

I've bought a copy of the obit and headstone from Burnsland Cemetery for these two Raffan's and unfortunately I'm fairly certain that they are not the two I'm looking for.

The more I find the more I'm convinced that Alfred James wasn't born in Canada as he keeps saying but that he went there with his parent at a young age and went back and forth from Canada to Scotland a number of times. 


Posted by: jfremont
« on: Monday 28 April 14 21:12 BST (UK)  »
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It appears A. Raffan age 18, departed London on Apr 8, 1911 on Norseman which arrived Brisbane 22 May 1911 He got off at Sydney. His occupation given as labourer.

In the 1901 Scotland census, Alfred is living with his grandparents, George and Isabella Raffan at Deskford, Banffshire.

John

[/quote]

Thanks John
I am sure this A. Raffan is my Alfred James Raffan, everything fits. 


Posted by: cosmac
« on: Monday 28 April 14 19:53 BST (UK)  »
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Haven't found the Raffan family in 1921 census yet.  From directories they would have been living at 1412 Centre Street at the time.
I wouldn't be too concerned about the W. in the 1916 census - people added and subtracted initials quite easily and there is always enumerator mistakes as well.

http://genforum.genealogy.com/raffan/messages/23.html
A descendant of the son James Alexander Raffan born in Inverness to James and Mary.

I've just looked at this link again and it is the same as my tree so I'll join genealogy.com and see if I can get in touch with the person who posted that info.

Thanks everyone for your help, you are all AWESOME!!!!!!