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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: BigDaddy on Thursday 06 January 22 17:19 GMT (UK)

Title: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: BigDaddy on Thursday 06 January 22 17:19 GMT (UK)
Hi,

I've recently discovered that my great-grandfather's brother had a child, which I had thus far not known about, who seems to have emigrated to Canada at some point after 1949. I've found a death certificate for him (from Virginia in the USA, although he was a Canadian citizen, and it looks like he was cremated in Canada).

How do I approach finding relatives/decedents of his and more details about his wife (who will almost certainly also be dead now). In the UK we have the freeBMD site which is really useful, but I can't seem to find an equivalent in Canada? Ancestry is so far returning very little in terms of leads. I wonder if he was in Virginia receiving medical treatment because he seems to have died of heart failure, relating to lung cancer, in a hospital there.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Paul
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: iluleah on Thursday 06 January 22 17:27 GMT (UK)
Maybe a start could be the databases of bmd on Library and Archives Canada https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/genealogy/Pages/introduction.aspx
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: *Sandra* on Thursday 06 January 22 17:41 GMT (UK)

Canada has very strict privacy laws.  There is no central registry for BMD records.

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/vital-statistics-births-marriages-deaths/births-marriages-deaths-recorded/Pages/births-marriages-deaths-recorded.aspx#b

If you are willing to give us the name of the one who died in Virginia, we can check for possible obits/death notices which could take you further.

Sandra
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: BigDaddy on Thursday 06 January 22 18:44 GMT (UK)
Yes sure. The person who died was Alfred John Knight. His death date was 02 Apr 1982. His wife was Barbara D Knight.

What is VERY confusing is his death certificate says 'State of Residence: Canada', 'County of deceased residence: Ontario Providence', and 'City or Town of Residence: Perkinsville'. There doesn't seem to be a Perkinsville in Canada though? This seems to be in the USA. He died at Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton, Virginia. The funeral home is 'Moser Funeral Home, Warrenton, Virginia 22186', but the place of burial is stated as Mt. Pleasant Crematory, Toronto, Canada.

Paul
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: *Sandra* on Thursday 06 January 22 19:18 GMT (UK)
Alfred could have been working for Aerospace engineering firm located in Warrenton, Fauquier, Virginia but lived in Toronto.  Although he was 68 years old so you would have thought retired.   :-\

Sandra

Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: *Sandra* on Thursday 06 January 22 19:30 GMT (UK)

Canada Voters List 1972 shows the couple living at 63 Athabaska Avenue, York North. Ontario.
Alfred John Knight (aircraft fitter)  and Barbara Knight (stenographer)

Canada Voters List 1967 - Alfred J Knight (aircraft mec) Barbara Knight (Typist)

Canada Voters List 1957 - 63 Athabaska Avenue, York North Ontario - Alfred J Knight (Aircraft Engineer)  Beatrice Knight, Barbara Knight.

Sandra
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: *Sandra* on Thursday 06 January 22 19:38 GMT (UK)
Perhaps there might be an obit in Toronto, haven't come across one in Virginia.
Our obit expert Run Kitty might be able to check that when she comes online.

Sandra
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: BigDaddy on Thursday 06 January 22 20:07 GMT (UK)
OK great thanks.
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: *Sandra* on Thursday 06 January 22 20:17 GMT (UK)
It may be possible that he had a child, married and living in Virginia and was visiting at the time of his death.  :-\

Sandra
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: BigDaddy on Thursday 06 January 22 20:27 GMT (UK)
Yes I did think that as well. He died of a heart condition related to lung cancer so it would've been either something that was planned in terms of staying there for a while (e.g. medical treatment, or visiting a friend or relative). Thinking about it he would've probably been a couple of years into retirement I would think at the time of death.
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: RunKitty on Thursday 06 January 22 21:58 GMT (UK)
Hi,

I found him...under the name Ted!!

Obit in the Globe and Mail newspaper, 6 April 1982, page C9

It says Ted Knight died in Warrenton, Virginia on Friday 2 April 1982.  Husband of Barbara.  Brother of Elsie.  Uncle of Valerie and Michael.   Service at the Trull Funeral Home on Yonge Street.  Cremation.   Donations to Canadian Cancer Society. 

I looked through the Mount Pleasant Cemetery database, and I don't see either him or Barbara.  Odd

https://www.finditatmpg.com/Default.aspx

RK

Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: BigDaddy on Thursday 06 January 22 22:59 GMT (UK)
Hi Run Kitty,

Thanks for that - that's brilliant. How do I view that? When I search their obituaries using the 'powered by legacy.com' searchbox that comes up on the Globe and Mail website it returns nothing?

Paul
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: RunKitty on Friday 07 January 22 01:12 GMT (UK)
Hi Run Kitty,

Thanks for that - that's brilliant. How do I view that? When I search their obituaries using the 'powered by legacy.com' searchbox that comes up on the Globe and Mail website it returns nothing?

Paul

Obituary also in the Toronto Star, 7 April 1982, page D15

I will PM you

RK
Title: Re: Family Tree Advice When Searching In Canada
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 07 January 22 09:24 GMT (UK)

Great find RK. Cracked it again  :)

Sandra