Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone, I'm trying to discover my mothers half brother. My mother was Maryann (Mary Ann) Burley b. 18/02/1921, . Her father was Alexander Burley and mother Isabella Wilson. They married 21/06/1912 at the ages of 34 and 33 respectively in the parish of Benholm, Kincardine. I think the half brother was called William. Somewhere along the way he moved to Canada and as wee child we would receive gifts from Canada. Can anyone help me discover his name and parents? My guess is that one of my grandparents, if not both, had a first marriage. Any help or suggestions most appreciated :) James in New Zealand

Have you got your grandparents marriage certificate (since you have the exact date, you could look up the reference on Ancestry if you haven't got it). This would tell you if either of them was a widow or widower or divorced. Kath. x

which parent do they share?

lol - I don't know which parent they shared.

with that in mind-how do you know they are half siblings?-surely there is more family background here to make it clearer?

The hand writing on the birth cert for my mother is almost illegible. It looks like she was born in Longforgan - I cant make out the county. The marriage cert just records 'stone quarrier and flax & fow millworker' as ranks or profession. I just don't know where to start looking.

My mother, who had no other siblings, always said she had a half brother in Canada. And like I say we used to get leather gifts etc from him in Canada. What little is left since my mother died in 1985 doesn't give me a clue to who he was. Sorry - I know it was a long shot. I thought someone might have an idea of where to look :)

if they had the same father you have a chance- if fathers name is unknown,it may be more difficult if before 1911 birth-what country was he born?

Although it is a long time ago, peoples' memories are quite long especially if it is a little village. Try to make contact with someone in Benholm who has several generations living there. For a start try the village/town Post Office or village shop if there is one. Postmistresses/shopkeepers always know everyone. Also try a Minister, probably Church of Scotland or Wee Free, or Catholic Priest. Try looking for a birth, possibly in mother's or grandmother's maiden name. Do you have any idea at all at the part of Canada, even the state might be enough. Many places have their own village/small town websites. These give tourist info. Businesses, etc, but also often have a message board. Post some messages, its an amazingly small world. good luck

The marriage refered to in the header box is in Scotland.

I believe he was born in Scotland and imigrated to Canada. I'm guessing that the common parent is Alexander otherwise William? would have continued to live with my mothers parents. Unless he is like many years older than my mother?

Thanks for the tip re: village. I'm in New Zealand now but I'm planning a trip over next year so I could do that. I do have a brother in Aberdeenshire but he isn't the slightest interested in family history. I don't have any clues about where in Canada.

just looked up Benholm on Google. There are quite a lot of references. It looks like quite a small place on the East coast of Scotland - I live on the West coast and do not know the area the other side! There is an article about an historic mill that has been restored. There are several references to family trees in great detail, so it might be worth contacting the person who has been researching his own tree there. Pity you don't know the area in Canada - I traced relatives from simply knowing the State, and using International Directory Enquiries, but I did know our rather unusual surname, so it was not too difficult - got other rellies. from local message sites. This William ? is your uncle - if I have got this right. Assuming he went to Canada as a young man - perhaps because of lack of employment - maybe he went on an assisted passage of some sort, I believe there are ships lists, but don't know exactly, maybe someone else on GR does. I will see if I can find a telephone no. for a post office or some other local service or Church.

looked up on BT directory enquiries - there does not appear to be a shop, church, or school in Benholm - many small places have lost all these services. Best I could find was an address for the local Kincarding Newspaper. Kincardineshire Observer 44 High St Laurencekirk Post code - AB30 1AB Tel: 01561 377283 sorry not to find more Eileen

Thanks everyone for being so wonderful - Before I asked, I had no idea where to start - now I have plenty of places to start looking that I wouldn't have thought of by myself. Godbless and I hope I can return the favour one day soon :)

Hi James, Regarding the half brother who came out to Canada. If you know his last name & if you have approx time frame when he did come out to Canada....here is a site for you to search ships passenger lists...really good for those who came out especially mid 1920's to mid 1930's. Library & Archives Canada www(.)collectionscanada(.)ca {remove brackets around (.)'s} There's other links within to search around in too. The main Ports on the East Coast...Halifax Nova Scotia, St John N/Brunswick & down the St Lawrence to Quebec...some immigrants stayed in same Province where they arrived, or travelled further West to other Provinces also to the Northern Territories. There is another site....of help only tho, if you know family name & approx where they settled & perhaps eventually had a family....... findaperson(.)canada411(.)ca Best of luck in your search. K/Regards, Carol.

Update: After a chat with family, we are sure that he went to Ontario, Canada. Don't know when he went though. I will try to search using Burley (mums dads name, Alexander Burley). Alexander was born 1876 (birth cert) and my mum 1921 (birth cert) so my guess is the half brother could be as much as 20 years older than my mum. I'll let you know how I get on. I wonder how many ships went to Canada each year back then?? I could be busy for quite some time :)

When did the presents stop? might give me a guide as to when he died,then i can work back.

James....Have pm'd you. K/R Carol

Age: 16 Sex: M Year of arrival: 1891 Microfilm reel: C-4538 Ship: SS Circassian Port of departure: Liverpool Departure Date: 11 Jun 1891 Port of arrival: Quebec Arrival Date: 21 Jun 1891 Party: Dr BARNARDO's lot. Comments: Via stop in Londonderry, 12 Jun 1891. registered as Hy? Burley-went to a home in Ontario. just a possible-have just started to trawl