emigration during boer war

[islay 1]

I'm hoping that someone may be able to guide me in the right direction for discovering if this note my father wrote about his grandfather makes sense.
He says that his g.grandfather had his own saddlery business,and that during the Boer War he emigrated to Canada with this business,(possibly, but not necessarily, to fulfil Canadian Government army contracts).The first Boer War dates are 1880-1881,and the second war 1899-1902,I think.
My gggrandad's name was Edward Smith,although a mystery note from grandad discovered recently says that he may,in fact,be called Edward Swan(n).I am guessing that the man was born around 1825 as he had a son born in Edinburgh in 1853,with his wife, Janet Mclaren.Where would be a good place to begin unravelling this puzzle?Any suggestions would be very gratefully received.Thank you.

[valeriec]

Do you know if he immigrated alone or brought a family with him? If he brought his family can you give some information about them such as birth dates and names. That could make the search easier. You can also check for passenger lists on Find my Past.

Canada was involved in the Second Boer War and sent troops and nursing sisters to Africa. If Edward Smith was born about 1825, he would have been in his 70's when he immigrated and that is quite old to move with a business. I'm not sure what Canada's involvement was in the first Boer War.

The site at Collections Canada also has census information as does Automated Genealogy.

[islay 1]

Thank you for replying.You have given me something to think about - especially about his age for emigrating with a business.Good point!I'll look up your links,thanks.

[JDC]

Hi Islay,

I believe it would be quite possible for him to "transport" his business to Canada. The Canadian army was still using horses and he would have knowledge of making saddles and other things for them from his Boer  War experience. Leather workers of any kind were in demand here then. I have several ancestors from about the same time whom were boot makers and leather workers so it seems your ancestor would have been im demand as well for his skills. He was likely a master craftsman showing young fellas the trade in Canada.

As verie say, the national archives is a good place to start for Boar War, passenger list and other info.  The www.automgenealogyated.com site may be another to check the 1901, 1906 & 1911 federal consus info for him. Although it's a transcription site, it is easy and usefull to use.

Hope this helps,

JDC

[cosmac]

IGI reference for christening of Janet Swan 18 Nov 1857 Edinburgh and
also unnamed male 21 Aug 1863 Edinburgh with parents Edward Swan and Janet McLaren.

Have you found your family in Scottish census records - if so when do they disappear.
There is a family on the 1861 in St Cuthberts Edinburgh with all parties born in St Cuthberts
Edward Swan 44 coachbuilder
wife Janet 30
Robert 6 and Jessie (Janet) 3

Debbie

[islay 1]

Cosmac,how on earth did you find out about the unnames male b.Edinburgh 1863? I have been following this family9don't know if they maried),and have conjectured that the Robert,6,in the census you mentioned may have been  my g.grandfather as a boy.I am struggling so much with this family.
I definitely know that my grandad's father was Robert smith,ship's rigger,who married Mary Ann Byron in Greenock,near Glasgow.On their marriage certificate,which I found at Scotland'speople,he cited his parents as Edward smith,baker and Janet smith m/s McLaren,and there my story ends.I cannot find any trace of their marriage,their deaths,nor where they lived at all.Robert says his birth was in Edinburgh in 1853,although on one later census he says 1856.
Apart from that I know absolutely nothing about this family and have been desperately trying to find them.All I do have is a scrap of paper my dad wrote saying that this Robert's father had a saddlery business and emigrated to Canada during the Boer War.Another piece of this puzzle is another letter my grandad wrote in 1990 when he was in his nineties, to the then Scottish Records Office asking for marriage and birth certificates for our grandparents Edward Swann and his son Robert,born 1820-1840 and 1840-1860 respectively,and a mention of a possible association with anengraver in metal with one of them.
How on earth all this fits together I just cannot,cannot unravel.We have never been aware that there were any Swanns in the family,so this letter from grandad wrote years ago is a complete mystery!I was enquiring to see if Dad's idea about the saddlery business could be true,wwhich would then negate the Swann connection.Am I confused,or what??
Thank you for your interest,though,and for your reply.Best wishes,Carolyn.

[JDC]

good morning,

Sorry, it should have been www.automatedgenealogy.com.

JDC

[J.J.]

IGI submission for an Edward- Birth August 9 1815
Christening Sept. 1815  Canongate, Edinburgh, Midl
Parents Edward Swan & Elizabeth maxwell

Also in same file is an Ann Swan Birth Dec. 20 1816    
Christening Jan 7 1817  Canongate, Edinburgh, Midl
Parents  Alexander swan & Ann Merchant

Have you followed the families through the censuses to see if they remain/change occupation, as a big jump from coachbuilder to baker to saddler, but not unheard of ...There may be an error made somewhere, or someone had something to hide and falsified information...
I suppose could also consider Robert may also have been adopted? I imagine you've checked SP for a birth of a Robert Swan/Smith c.1853 mother Janet Mclaren ?

[J.J.]

Where did the ancestors come to in Canada? Was Robert not with them? There's information missing here that must be known?