Genealogy Chat

Peter is an enigma, one of thirteen, born 30 Oct 1900 in Thurso, Scotland and died 2 Oct 1950 in Boon, Canada. I have searched for him on Ancestry, nothing. He was known to have been a cook/chef on logging camps. Probably a batchelor. Confusion about his surname, he was born Peter Shearer because parents were not married at that time, but like his elder brothers and sister, he may have changed his name to Watt in Nov 1944. Loads of photies, but no info. Anyone asking why I have not put this on 'trying to find', my cousin put the same question on that thread, no answers and she died over a year ago. Derek in France

Hi Derek. Do you know when he arrived in Canada? Was that Boon, Ontario? I'm on my way to work right now, but I can look around tonight. I'll check back later.

Hi Derek, There is a Peter Shearer c1900 born Scotland on the Boston passenger list in 1923. His last residence was Cowdenbeath, gives his fathers name as William. Could this be him? Regards, June x

Hiya Lisa, no idea, cannot find a sensible Atlantic crossing for him, so yes I'm happy for you to look. Out back Ontario its huge, luv yer, Derek Hi June, it is the most logical, but his dad was a Peter Watt also and never moved out of Thurso. Thanks for your time and idea. Funnily enough one of his brothers lived, died and was buried in Cowdenbeath. Bye for now, Derek

Hi Derek :) Remember those Mumfords you've been helping me with?? The brickwall ancestor's name was James, but he used Joseph on the 1871 Canadian census! I also have at least three other ancestors in Canada who used their middle names on official documents - perhaps your family 'changed' names for some reason? Just a thought.

Sorry, can't help you Derek, even though I live in Ontario, I've never heard of Boon. Decided to google it and got a map that was completely blank except for a road running through it. I had to zoom out 4 times before I got a place name, still couldn't find Boon, though. I guess it's up in northern Ontario somewhere and I wondered if that's where the expression 'living out in the boonies' started. Good luck with your search. Margaret

Sorry, misunderstood the bit about Cowdenbeath and Thurso. (Shouldn't take a peek here when I'm on break at work, obviously.) I checked around and: 1930 Census Name: Peter P Shearer Home in 1930: Aspinwall, Allegheny, Pennsylvania Age: 30 Estimated birth year: abt 1900 Birthplace: Scotland Relation to Head of House: Lodger Race: White Immigration date: 1923 Occupation: Hospital Attendant Social Security Death Index Name: Peter Shearer SSN: 189-12-6834 Last Residence: 15201 Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States of America Born: 1 Apr 1900 Died: Sep 1971 State (Year) SSN issued: Pennsylvania (Before 1951 ) Perhaps these two records and the one June found are all for the same man (and thus not your relative)? Also, listed directly under Peter's name on the 1923 manifest was a William Birrell. He was 36; Peter and William were miners, last permanent address for both was Cowdenheath and their final destination was Kitsyth(?), Logans Ferry, West Virginia.

Didn't see him on Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid (although very few of my family are listed) http://www*islandnet*com/ocfa/ (replace * with .) British Columbia Cemetery Finding Aid http://www*islandnet*com/cgi-bin/ms2/rsd/search Library and Archives Canada had problems, so couldn't search http://www*collectionscanada*ca/index-e.html inGeneas http://www*ingeneas*com/ingeneas/index.html Marriages in Ontario 1800-1924 http://homepages*rootsweb*com/~maryc/ontmarr.htm Will continue to look.

Hi and good morning Margaret, I do thank you for your time, it has not been easy to find anything about Peter Watt/Shearer. I have a rellie living Peterborough, Ontario and he has heard of Boon and as he works on road maintainance, he's going to look for some maps. He told me last night that you had 20° below, Ouch, luv, Derek

Hi Lisa, will pm you shortly, Derek

Hi Derek, Think I have found him on a passenger list in 1948. Have saved the image if you would like it. June xx

Wow, June! Looks like him. It looks like Hearst, Ontario is just 'above' Boon, Ontario. There's also a great website about Hearst. Great job, June. :) Hope it is Derek's relative.

Derek, I don't know if this site covers mills in Boon, but it's worth looking into: http://scierieshearst.actionhearst*com/travail36-55En.html (replace * with .) Includes photos from the 40's and 50's There's a bit here about logging history in the area ('From Logger to Feller Buncher'): http://www.ecohearst*com/index.shtml