help.... thomas french

[SarahND]

P.S. Have you managed to escape the snows that are hitting Europe? We are experiencing bare roads and 2 foot snowbanks - but as you know, that can change in the blink of any eye!

No escape, even in the south of France this year. We had more snow than I've even seen in this region, with high winds blowing it horizontally and creating some amazing drifts. Now it's over, though... for the moment...

Sorry to have diverted your topic, Frenchy... Time to get back to Thomas French!

I see where your problem is... Agnes is a widow already in 1851, so not only did Thomas leave Scotland before the first census in Scotland that lists people by name, but he died before the first one in Canada!

Is that Agnes' death in York in 1878? Since no parents' names are given, I'm wondering how you found out her parents' names and if there was a similar way of find out Thomas' parents also. I tried to find the children's marriages to see if the parents' birthplaces were given, but it didn't pan out.

Interesting that her parents were James and Elspeth, since by the Scottish naming pattern one would have expected those to be his parents' names and her's to be David and Janet Maybe they decided to reverse things just to confuse future generations!

Sorry not to have some brilliant answer... I'll keep trying. It's often a matter of luck to find just the right tidbit of information in the years before compulsory registration.

All the best,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Hi again,
I note from an index that there is a reference to their arrival on page 34 of:

WHYTE, DONALD. A Dictionary Of Scottish Emigrants To Canada Before Confederation. Vol. 3. Toronto: The Ontario Genealogical Society, 2002.

Name: Thomas French
Year: 1837
Place: Ontario, Canada
Family Members: Wife Agnes Dunwoody;Child James;Child Elizabeth;Child Jane;Child David

Annotation: Name, place and year of arrival, birth and death years, occupation, and relative names are also provided.

Have you seen this book? It looks as though it could contain some useful information, depending on which "relative names" were given. And his exact birth year would be nice.

Unfortunately for google or other searching, there was a Thomas French who was captured in Deerfield and carried off to Canada-- this is the one who continually shows up when one searches for the name.

All the best,
Sarah

[frenchy69]

thanks sarah....how do i retrieve this information...this looks to be the one i am looking for...according to my sources they had 5 children in scotland jane being janet and then jean. but i think this is a good lead though....thanks again

[SarahND]

Hi,
Not sure where you're located, but I would look in your local library or genealogical society to see if they have the book. If not, the library should be able to get it for you on interlibrary loan. Try searching on WorldCat.org for the closest library with the book. http://www.worldcat.org/

Keeping my fingers crossed that there will be a useful clue in that book!
Sarah

[frenchy69]

here is an update to my earlier posts:
The closest match to the couple you mention are

Agnes Dinwoodie Daughter of James Dinwoodie and Elspeth Charters b 16 Apr 1803 Johnstone, Dumfriesshire

Thomas French Son of Simeon French and Ann Corrie b 1 Jun 1808 Wamphray, Dumfriesshire

Wamphray and Johnstone are neighbouring parishes which makes sense.



The marriage records for Johnstone Parish did not survive between 1740 and 1852 which is why their marriage would not show up on scotlandspeople

They had four children recorded here:

James 30 Dec 1825 Johnstone

Janet 10 Feb 1828 Lochmaben

Elizabeth 28 Mar 1830 Lochmaben

Jean 2 Dec 1832 Lochmaben

Now the question i have is would anyone have any information on Thomas and Agnes or on Thomas' father Simeon? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[SarahND]

Hello again,
Were you able to find the Whyte book? Is that where the parent information came from? It would help others to know what sort of information was provided in the book.

All the best,
Sarah

[frenchy69]

yes i did find that book and it was helpful in that i found the year in which Thomas and Agnes arrived in Canada with their children as well as their ages. The book was a stepping stone for further research, thank you. I may have traced Thomas' father Simeon ( Simon ) back to his birthplace of Eskdalemuir, Dumfries, Scotland on May 29, 1772. The name of his wife was Ann Corrie. I have posted on that community board for feedback. So until another door opens i guess its back to the waiting game again, oh well a little bit at a time. Hopefully soon, fingers crossed. Thanks again, talk soon.