Hi,
I'm looking to write an article and produce a short video in order to promote IrelandXO here in Canada. My intention is to connect with relatives of my great grandmother Annie Gibson (born 1883, Richhill, Co. Armagh, died, 1927 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). I have always been drawn to Ireland and have an interesting family history which contains many connections between Ireland and Canada. My great-grandmother, Annie Gibson emmigrated to Canada, met my great-grandfather (a Canadian) and had children. She died from TB when she was only 44 years old. Her son, my grandfather (whom I never met), was then stationed at Shannon airport with his wife after World War II (he was a pilot during the war). My father was born there. They left Ireland when my father was around 3 years old. I have an old map with some of the trips they took, but it doesn't seem as if they ever returned to Armagh to search for any living relatives. As my grandfather died a few months before I was born, I was never able to hear his stories. He was a very quiet man and it seems didn't speak much about his childhood. I've only obtained the information I have through his medical history found in his war records.
I obtained my Irish citizenship through my father and in 2008, and took my first trip to Ireland. I fell in love with it, and have since been living between Ireland and Canada. My experiences have provided me with the opportunity to work in a job that allows me to promote the deep connections between Ireland and Canada everyday. I'd love to write the next chapter of this story and connect with relatives who may be able to shed light on the "Irish" side of me.
saraht15
Monday 11th Feb 2013, 09:07PMMessage Board Replies
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Do you have any other details on Annie Jane ie: who her parents were. The only Ann Jane Gibson I've found in Richhill for that period was born in 1885. Her parents were James Gibson and Sarah Towell. Is this your great-grandmother? They lived in Crewcat, Richhill.
Eglish Armagh
Sunday 17th Feb 2013, 11:44PM -
Hi there,
Wow, well this very well could be! We're going by the age of death my grandfather listed in his war records, but he could have mistakenly wrote age "44" rather than "42". I'm going to try to get a rush service on my great-grandmother's marriage certificate from Manitoba, Canada, and phone my aunt right now to see if she can remember anything else. Thank you! And back to you very soon.
Sarah
saraht15
Monday 18th Feb 2013, 05:44PM -
Hello!
Forgive my long absence. Finding information on our Canadian end to verify dates has not been easy. However, I've seached the 1901 and 1911 census' using the information you provided and can 99% confirm that the Ann Jane Gibson you describe above is in fact my great grandmother. She is not listed on either census, but all of her "siblings" names, and father's name repeat throughout my father's side of the family (his father and aunt's and uncles etc. are Margaret, William, Ann, James, George - Looks like Sarah Towel's mother even stayed in their home during the 1911 census, and her name was Jane (Ann's middle name) and the date you give above is only 2 years off from what my grandfather wrote down in his war records.
We're currently trying to locate her place of marriage and death to retrieve her certificates- which would 100% confirm the above. Would be great to track her on a passenger ship to Canada - and to maybe gain any insight into why she left etc.
So two questions:
1. Do you have any more information for the names you found? ie. possible burial locations, addresses?2. What is the local newspaper in the area where one could advertise to find living relatives? Or what would be the best way to go about this. Would love to add Crewcat, Richhill, Armagh onto my next trip to Ireland!
Any information would be so very much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Sarah
saraht15
Sunday 29th Dec 2013, 11:19PM