William CRAWFORD

Alf, you're amazing. I hope to make a trip to Ulster next year, at which time it would be my honour to treat you to a beer (at least). I was in your part of the world as a university student in 1972. I'm sure that much has changed. Back then, I had no idea about these family roots of mine.

Jim

(PS: If you'd like to get to know one another a bit better, in advance of the beer, feel free to e-mail me at jamesc.crawford@sympatico.ca )

Alf, more details! I found the elusive William in the 1901 census in the Kilkeel workhouse..,by initials only, but the right age, the right religion, and this time reporting as a "widower". It has to be him! Who knows why he transferred to the Downpatrick workhouse , ten years later? Who knows why he and his wife would report themselves as widowed? Financial angle, I wonder? He was honourably discharged from the Army in 1873 on a pension. Too bad we can't trace him through it, but I understand that those records may have been destroyed in WW2. The family legend was that he left Canada in the 1890's to collect an inheritance. I'll check out that angle again, even though it looks as if he failed. Jim