Has anyone had trouble with ancestors from Canada? Its like one of mine doesn’t exist !!

+4 votes
183 views
in The Tree House by Mandy Cole G2G Rookie (250 points)

1 Answer

+6 votes
Which one, when and where?
by Living Poole G2G Astronaut (1.3m points)
Hello Marion

Samuel Cameron born 1823 in PEI.  

This man somehow got to Australia by 1852 as his marriage date is this year. The ONLY thing else we know about him is on his first borns bc’ it states Samuels place of birth as PEI’ i cannot find his birth cert nor any info on his parents at all.  

Samuels info prior to 1852 in Melbourne Vic  is a mystery.  

Eltham was his death place in 1868

Martha Taylor. spouse

William’Thomas ‘ James ‘ Letitia were his children

Be ever so grateful for hints’ tips

Cheers

I see 16 Cameron households enumerated in the 1841 Census of PEI, but no children are listed. Like you, I don't see anyone by the name of Samuel Cameron in the baptismal records in that period, but they are by no means complete. There are lots of reasons for that: it was a tiny little colony with a severe shortage of clergy, and high rates of illiteracy. One of my ancestors, as a deacon, performed marriages, baptisms and funerals in his neighborhood literally for decades, waiting for someone qualified to arrive. If the person or people who stepped in for the clergy in your family's community wasn't literate, or wasn't organized, there may not be a birth or baptismal record.  

Many of the records that do exist were compiled retroactively by residents in later years (I'd say 1860 and later) when there were more clergy, mandatory education, and a law requiring record-keeping wasn't put into place until after PEI joined Canada in 1873. So if Samuel Cameron born 1823 left PEI before marriage, buying land etc, then he may not have left many footprints in the usual records there.  

But I wouldn't give up hope. I understand there may be genealogical records in the paper archives that haven't been put online. For example, the local newspapers published pretty much anything they were given, such as a birth, and if Samuel ever corresponded with his family back home, I've also seen the newspapers of that time publish updates about residents who had gone off on adventures, like to Australia. I suggest contacting the PEI Public Archives to see what arrangements can be made for remote lookup of newspapers and any other records that they can suggest:  https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/search-public-archives-material-online

Thank you so much’ i started trawling through papers last night and have sent e mail to the above for remote look up

Related questions

0 votes
1 answer
+9 votes
2 answers
223 views asked Mar 24 in Genealogy Help by Bradley Masters G2G2 (2.7k points)
+5 votes
2 answers
215 views asked Sep 17, 2017 in Genealogy Help by anonymous G2G Crew (730 points)
+5 votes
2 answers
+2 votes
1 answer
+8 votes
1 answer
+4 votes
0 answers

WikiTree  ~  About  ~  Help Help  ~  Search Person Search  ~  Surname:

disclaimer - terms - copyright

...