Place names COMPLETED

[Ruskie]

In the 1891 census is what appears to be your John Porter married to Elizabeth, living in Satnoskye (? ) Ayrshire. He is a British Subject, born Canada.

[Ruskie]

In 1891 is a James Porter, BS America USA (BS = British Subject) - he is living in Dumfriesshire, but age is a bit out at 29 - he is married to Mary.

[Ruskie]

This will need investigation but in the 1891 there is a Jessie Train married to Hugh and living in Loanfoot, Mauchline, Ayrshire. She is 36 and born in Canada. There are other Jessies born around the right time in Canada, but this one stood out as the age is spot on and they're living in Mauchline. 

[Ruskie]

In case you don't already have this, it may help in the search:
George Porter
b 3 May 1859
Sorn
Father George Porter
mother Robina Henderson
(IGI extracted record)
There may be records of the younger children too but I'll leave them for you to find if you wish. 

[Mackiwi]

Hi Ruskie,

This is my 3rd attempt to post a reply to you.

Yes you are on the right track, Jessie Porter maarried Hugh Train, and they took over the Thistle Inn in 1901.
George senior had died in 1889, Robina carried in on until 1901.

I never dreamed they haad lived in Canada or America, I wonder what took them over there.

Mackiwi

[Ruskie]

It might be worth posting a query on the Canada board (provide a link to this thread), to see if anyone there can help.

I'm guessing that they would have gone for the work - labourers would have been in demand at that time with the expansion that was going on. They may have been taken there by an employer (passage paid for, house provided etc). Maybe they had to work to pay back these costs. Maybe their contract expired so they returned to Scotland or maybe they were homesick? All just speculation. 

I'm sure the folks on the Canada board will be able to help you further, perhaps even with immigration/entry details etc. They may even know of specific projects going on at the time that George may have been working on. Canadian censuses perhaps?
[just checked, and I don't think they would have been in Canada for a census unfortunately - as that might give you all sorts of info]

[Mackiwi]

Hi Ruskie,

You are probably right about work being the reason for them going over.
No they wouldn't have been over there in 1851 or 1861. George and Robina were both still single in 1851 and they were at 28 C Mont _d Bridgend, Sorn in 1861.
I will try the Canada board as you suggested.

Thank you for George Porters birth, some how I got that wrong and had his birth as 1851.
Must go back and check my source for that one.

Cheers
Mackiwi 

[Ruskie]

Yes, not sure of dates they would have been in Canada. In theory, they could have left just after the birth of George in 1849 and arrived back in Scotland just before the birth of Robert in 1861. Would they hve made it on any Canadian censuses?

Might they have arrived in the USA and then travelled to Canada? Someone with better knowledge than me might be able to help with this.

I suppose your birth year for George would have been an estimate from his age in the 1861 census?

Good luck with the search. It's interesting to try to speculate what their movements were and their reasons for travelling so far. 

[Mackiwi]

The 1861 Census in Scotland was the 7th April 

 . It's interesting to try to speculate what their movements were and their reasons for travelling so far.

Adds to the fun of research.

Thank you for all your help