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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: bestdriver on Tuesday 12 July 11 00:59 BST (UK)
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My Grandfather was last heard of in Canada in 1926. His name was JOSEPH QUIRK. I do not know where or when he died in Canada. He was born in Cork in 1889/90. I had got a birth date 8th May 1890 but I think that was his baptismal date. He was born in 1889 Ithink. He arrived in Alberta on the ss Marburn in August 1924. He had a big family with him but they left on 21st. August 1926 to go back to Scotland without him on the ss Metagama. I do know Canada is a BIG place but where do I begin, in the death columns searches or cemetaries? Thanks for any help. Desperate....Paul ps. There is a son Vincent who was born in early July 1926 in Canada but AGAIN where?
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On both Joseph's 1924 Form30A and Christina's 1926 Form 30a, they state that the passage has been paid by the Empire Settlement, and that their destination is to Rev. Andrew MacDonnell in Red Deer.
Rev. Andrew McDonnell organized the settlement of Clandonald in Alberta, for migrant Scottish and Irish families.
Some of his papers can be read by clicking on the image of the paper at: http://chung.library.ubc.ca/collection/details/7941
There is a LOT of info on the settlement here: http://lib-contentdm2.lib.sfu.ca/ecugrd/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=/ubcScot&CISOBOX1=probably&CISOSORT=title|f&CISOSTART=1,1
I don't know if you will be lucky enough to find your family mentioned, but I did come across several notes about families that came and left within days. It is apparent though, that all families were given supplies, chickens, tools etc, so from what I read, most of the people not staying seemed to be overwhelmed by how hard it would be in the harsh climate and/or had an extremely unhappy wife.
If those links don't work, just google clandonald alberta Rev Andrew MAcDonell, there is lots of info on the settlement out there.
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Thank you bbart for the info. It is a lot of reading but very informant. I have found somebody who is doing research on the Clan Donald Colony, so I am keeping my fingers crossed she might find the answer to my problem. Thanks again. Paul
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I found that Vincent or Patrick Vincent was born on the 26th june 1926. He must/maybe was born in a hospital near the Clan Donald Colony in Alberta. Thanks
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Hello,
I live near Edmonton, Alberta and conduct a lot of research here.
There is a Clandonald in Alberta Canada
Clandonald (a.k.a. Wellsdale); 17-53-5-w4; Vermilion River; Hamlet.
I'm afraid I don't know anything about the Colony aspect of it.
There is a mention of the Quirk Family in the book Vermilion Memories II, The Alberta Genealogical Society has a copy of this book.
There is an obituary of a John Quirk in the Edmonton Journal in 1992. Not sure if there is a relation or not.
Cheers!
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Thank you Alberta Research. My uncle John was born in 1914 in Cork in Ireland. My grandfather might have remarried and had another child by another woman after my grandmother came back to Scotland. This gentleman John MIGHT have been his grandson! Do you know of any hospitals that were there near the Clan Donald Colony in 1926 where my uncle Vincent might have been born? Thanks for all the help. It is surely a poser. Paul
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Hello
After reading pages and pages of the papers at UBC I have come accross a bit of information which may be useful to you.
You mentioned that your grandfather moved on after going to Alberta in 1924. The site at Clandonald was established in 1926. Some of the settlers also went to St Brides, Pibrach and Red Deer.Pibrach is in Westlock County,St Brides is in St. Paul County.
I have put out a lot of queries to cemeteries in these communities and so far Joseph has not shown up.
I am still waiting for some to contact me back.
As to your question about where Vincent was born I see that someone found his birth.Would be interested in finding out where they got the information. Christina more than likely had a home birth if she had the baby at Cleadonald as there was no hospital there. Now if she had the baby at on of the above locations the same might apply.
If they were at Clandonald at the start of the settlement which was around 1926 ,the winter of of 1924-25 had been very severe.
The immigrant families started working for others to gain expeirence and learning conditions and then went on to their own farms.
Conditions were very different from what they were used to in Scotland,and Ireland. I think that lots of families did not stay.
There does not appear to be a list of families who came with the Scottish Immigrant Aid Society so rather hard to track down just who went where.
I have run accross a piece of information which I will check into and if anything comes of it I will pass it on.
You mentioned a John Quirk born 1914,Cork. That would be Joseph's son. Do you think he came back to Canada
after leaving with his mother in 1926?
The John Quirk mentioned in one of your messages is probably not your ancestor. He had a farm here in Alberta but before the times your family came to Canada.
If Vincents birth was registered in Alberta you should be able to get a copy of his birth certificate through Alberta Vital Statistics. As it was so long ago I believe anyone can now get a copy. Check out their website for information. and fees.
The birth registration should have place of birth listed,if it was a home birth it will have a land discription on it.
My mom was born at home and her birth registration had a land discription on it for place of birth.
I hope this has been of some help to you.
I will keep searching as there are a few things that I can still try. In case your wondering I live in Red Deer,AB
Lilybell
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Hi all. I live outside of Red Deer, Alberta & am well acquainted with the senior historian in our area. While I will be away for three weeks starting Wednesday, let me know if there is anything you need searched here. I'm happy to aid where I can.
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The Alberta Genealogical Society has an offline database, an index of many burials in Alberta, not including Calgary and area.
To see what cemeteries have been indexed and when, check out the document called "Alberta Sources"
at http://abgensoc.ca/databases.html.
I checked this database for the surname Quirk, and found no Joseph.
The John Quirk that passed in 1992, I checked the obituary, passed away Oct 29, 1992 age 66, so too young to be the same John that homesteaded early in Alberta. No mention of who his parents were.
There are vital statistic registers available for viewing at the Provincial Archives of Alberta. It isn't a full collection. They are organized by place name and then chronological after that. Unfortunately, for events that occurred in Clandonald a register doesn't exist. There are more than 2000 registers for places all over Alberta. I always recommend people to check records (or have someone check for you) before spending money through the Alberta Vital Statistics website.
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Thank you Lilybell. That is a lot of information that you have supplied.It must have taken you a lot of time. The John that I said is indeed Josephs son. He died about 20 years ago in Kilwinning.. I will try the Alberta Vital Staticts site but as Alberta Research said below that they charge for this service Thanks again. Paul
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I forgot to add. There was some talk of some Indians from a Reservation encroaching my granfathers (farm) plot trying to sell/trade with Joseph and Christina. That might have been a bit too much for my grandmothe, as I was also told she (and the rest of the family) did not like the cold. I think that was the end of the Quirk families escapade in Canada. I don't know where they stayed but it might have been quite close to some Reservations but then again this is 1926 and not 2011. Any thoughts friends?
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Hello
Could you please indicate if Joseph had a middle name.
Still working on your ancestor but with the summer holidays on here it will take some time.
If I come up with information I will definately contact you.
Lilybell
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No,but but my uncle who was one of his children was called Joseph John, but he wanted to be called just John. He suddenly died with a heart attack in Kilwinning over 20 years ago. I heard about a Quirks' farm somewhere near Alberta? Any relation I wonder/hope? Thanks for the help. Paul
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Hello again bestdriver.
Sorry I took so long to get back to you.
I have some information for you conserning Joseph and Christina. If you could PM me with your email I will provide you with the information
as it is to long to post to list.
Patrick Vincent was born June 26,1926 at what appears to be Winnipeg,Manitoba.
I see someone sent you Christina's passenger list returning to Scotland. If they were looking carefully at the passenger list they would have seen she
and the children were deported.
Now I have found a passenger list for a Joseph Quirk age 41 born 1890. Sailed on ship Mooltan port of departure Austraila arrived 6 May 1931
He was a merchant and he was going to James Street Tipparay,Ireland and his country of last permanentn residence was Ireland.
Is this is the Joseph you are searching for?.
Lilybell :) :) :)