Author Topic: TRACING MY ERRANT PATERNAL GRANDFATHER IN CANADA  (Read 587 times)

Offline Elaine Williams

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 11
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
TRACING MY ERRANT PATERNAL GRANDFATHER IN CANADA
« on: Thursday 10 October 19 13:51 BST (UK) »
I really could do with some help in tracing my paternal grandfather Francis (Frank) Arthur Johnson, who was born on 26 December 1877 in Leek, Staffordshire, England. He 'did a runner' to Canada following a scandal at his place of work; a major department store in London (possibly Selfridges or Liberty) where he was a boot buyer. He fathered four sons out of wedlock with my paternal grandmother Alice Victoria Johnson whilst also having a legal wife and two daughters. His youngest child, my Uncle Michael, was born in Rochester, Kent on 14 Dec 1922 so this 'runner' to Canada must have been after Michael was conceived in Feb/March of that year. I have tried everything on Find My Past, Ancestry and Family Search to find him. I can't find him on any passenger lists, either into the US or Canada so have hit a brick wall. Incidentally there are several listings of a Frank Johnson in and out of New York at that time but it isn't my grandfather as this other Frank had a wife in Grimsby and he was a Horseman working the trans-Atlantic route. I'm finding it it really hard to find my way around Canadian records so would really appreciate any help, support or advice any more experienced members could give me. Thanks so much.


Offline Kloumann

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 2,188
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: TRACING MY ERRANT PATERNAL GRANDFATHER IN CANADA
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 10 October 19 14:27 BST (UK) »
How do you know that he went to Canada?

Offline Elaine Williams

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 11
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: TRACING MY ERRANT PATERNAL GRANDFATHER IN CANADA
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 10 October 19 14:51 BST (UK) »
It was always accepted by family as told by my grandmother Alice Victoria whose surname was Fenn.

Offline *Sandra*

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 59,720
  • Marie Curie
    • View Profile
Re: TRACING MY ERRANT PATERNAL GRANDFATHER IN CANADA
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 10 October 19 15:11 BST (UK) »
There is a census of the praries for 1926 (Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan) Otherwise the latest for Canada is 1921.  Canada does not have a BMD index as does the UK. We would rely on Voters Lists/Obituaries/Newspapers etc to try and locate someone.  However, we really need to know the area of Canada they may have settled in which unfortunately you cannot give.

Of course he could have changed his name or used any variation of Francis/Frank/Arthur/ etc., which makes the search even harder. Nothing showing at the moment.  :-\

Sandra
"We search for information, but the burden of proof is always with the thread owner"

Census information is Crown Copyright  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

British Census copyright The National Archives; Canadian Census copyright Library and Archives Canada


Offline Elaine Williams

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 11
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: TRACING MY ERRANT PATERNAL GRANDFATHER IN CANADA
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 10 October 19 15:32 BST (UK) »
That's pretty much what I thought too. I had hoped that I would at least find him on a passenger list but that search has come up with nothing. I guess he didnt want to be found but I am not giving up that easily.