Tuesday, November 30, 2004

I've come upon a reference to another brother (Robert Watt) of our gggfather (Andrew) who emigrated from Ireland about 1850 and was reported to have been "lockmaster at the Soo", most likely before 1900. I've Googled all I can think of and checked the Sault St. Marie library...who might I contact to see if this is true and if they have information on him?

Was he lockmaster at Sault Ste Marie, Ontario or Sault Ste Marie, Michigan? Have you tried contacting the current lockmaster and asking where employment records would be kept? If he was lockmaster in Ontario go to: Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site of Canada, if Michigan go to: Soo Locks. Also check out Downward Bound, a website for those seeking persons who worked in the shipping industry on the Great Lakes.

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

i have been researching my family tree. i live in scotland and am having great difficulty finding any information on the where adouts of the family i have over there. i have an address from 1957 names but still seem to get no where. i was wondering if you could give me any tips as all the ones i have tried are failing my and i would really like to get in touch with anyone who could help.

Given the 1957 time frame you're up against a challenge - Canada has privacy laws that don't allow access to certain genealogy records. However there are places you can look. Start with the address & time period you have and become familiar with the resources available in that area. What libraries and genealogy societies there can help you? What is available at your local library or LDS family history centre (it's surprising how many don't check their local resources - you can always request material from other countries if it's been microfilmed!). Check newspapers, city directories, and phone directories where they lived. Put an advertisement in the newspaper of that area - if there are any family members still living there they might spot it. Check Canada411 to see if anyone by that name still lives in or near the area.