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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: David Nicoll on Tuesday 18 March 25 21:41 GMT (UK)
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I have been working on trying to find my Leys ancestors of Deeside, Scotland.
In my research I have found an interesting man.
John Leys - Steamboat Engineer in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/leys_john_7E.html
It mentions a will and family, but frustratingly no source.
Does anyone have any ideas where it might be, or have any other information on this fascinating early engineer.
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I have been working on trying to find my Leys ancestors of Deeside, Scotland.
In my research I have found an interesting man.
John Leys - Steamboat Engineer in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/leys_john_7E.html
It mentions a will and family, but frustratingly no source.
Does anyone have any ideas where it might be, or have any other information on this fascinating early engineer.
I have just read the article, interesting, my parents lived in Kingston for many years, so it caught my attention.
Just wondering if the contents of his will were published in the local paper (it is called the Kingston Whig-Standard, and if memory serves, it has been around for many years).
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Diane,
Hi, yes a fascinating story, both of early 19th century Canada and steamships.
Do you know if the newspaper you mention is available on line?
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Hi,
If you are in Canada, you can access the "Digital Kingston" site online. It has early Kingston newspapers. I can see a couple of mentions of Francis Leys. I will have another peek...
There is a Great Lakes Museum in Kingston. It might be a source of information...
https://greatlakesmuseum.ca/
RK
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Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner, David.
Some good advice from RunKitty.
I would also try emailing the Kingston Public Library system and see if someone there can help you.
Since he did not die in Ontario, perhaps his will was not registered there. It would be worth asking the librarian if they know anything about Ontario wills for the Kingston area.
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Kingston Gazette, Sept 14 1816, page 3
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This is interesting
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The indexes say this is the Frontenac - Kingston Gazette May 24 1817
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Could be brother Francis? Died 1853 aged 67. Pickering
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130520833/francis-leys
Also Francis - engineer on steamship Niagara
https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/67229/data
RK
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Wow, thank you very much. Lots of fascinating stuff there.
Makes me even more determined to find out where the family came from.
I think you are probably right about Frances, I think his son became quite eminent.
I will try the library department as suggested.
I have also reached out to the Halton Hills Library where Walter Lewis who wrote the entry used to work.
They have yet to get back to me.
Unfortunately John and Frances are fairly common names in the Leys family, but perhaps if I try cross referencing them I will come up with something.
I will update if I do.
Thanks again for info and suggestions to RunKitty and DianaCanada
PS Unfortunately I am in Sunny Edinburgh, Scotland so remote research a bit tricky!
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Hi,
This may explain where some of the information came from ....
https://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/documents/Scadding/default.asp
Original document from 1873. See the 1815-1827 section.
RK
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Maybe the Will was Probated in Scotland? If property in Scotland was also involved??
RK
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Francis Leys of Pickering had 2 sons who went into business and politics - John and Francis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Leys
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Baxter_Leys
RK
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Somebody's tree online- no idea if is it right...
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/family-tree-of-aurelia-milan/I282319369443.php
RK
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RunKitty, Thanks, yes just revisiting, it seems quite possible. I had not come across that tree before. I have a few gaps in my Leys tree which looks tempting, but I have been caught that way before. The will would make me certain and would be a nice update to the story.