Methodical Searching Pays Off!

Shannah wrote to ask Olive Tree Genealogy about her Great grandfather William James Twiss

I have been trying to find out where my Grfa., TWISS, William James, had "landed" for over ten years, to no avail, from Cty. Cork, Ireland to New York, USA..  He was a mere 17 year old, at the time. 

The story I was told was that it was my Grfa. who had left Cork, Ireland, from Sept. to December of 1887 (I believe these are the months) on the Barque Julia, from Edinburough to Cork and to New York.  This particular Barque was a ship of supplies and the Captain was a friend of my Gr-Grpars., TWISS, Francis Edward Day, Sr..  It was my Grfa. who had suggested that he, himself, come out to Canada, first and they allowed it but he must go with someone they knew.  [he stayed] in New York for a while then travelled up into BINBROOK, Wentworth Cty., Ontario, Canada to stay with our cousins/family there while his own pars. arrived through Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the following springtime.

Olive Tree Genealogy responded:
 

Source: Ancestry.com

William James Twiss' father, mother and siblings are found arriving in 1888. 

Ed Twiss, age 40, farmer, his wife Ellen age 40 and three daughters Sarah (20) Mildred (17) and Marcella (17) arrived 4 September 1888 at Halifax Nova Scotia  on board the steamer Peruvian. Their destination was noted as "Victoria BC" Your ancestor is not with them on this journey.

 

 Your ancestor William James Twiss' birth registration on FamilySearch.org shows his place of birth as Annascall, Kerry Ireland. Now you have an exact date of birth and a location. Armed with this new information you have a lot of clues to help you in your search.

Continue reading to see how I tracked Shannah's ancestors.