Need your two cents

[shawncameron]

I would like to pose a straight up question here and ask your opinion.
There is a hand full of us here in Canada and the US who have been working for years on our family heritage, traveling North America for the facts. To date there are a couple of folks who have really excelled in their search, we have all come to a stand still with a name we can agree on who was the first to North America but before this gentleman we are dead in the water. So what to do......should be drudge along and hope others who do the DNA pop into the equation, keep searching for that one break, or should we consider hiring someone? If we went that route who can you trust to not just spin what you already know back to you? Have you had any luck with hiring some help? We are not getting any younger. I welcome your suggestions and would think others might wonder too....

Kind Regards,



Shawn Cameron

[cabooky]

Hi Shawn

I'm in the same predicament only I'm the third generation of researchers who've been looking for that elusive link between Scotland and our first immigrant.

One of the things I started doing was tracking Camerons who settled the same place as my ancestors at the same time, and intermarried families as well. In that process, I came upon a Cameron who was willing to do the DNA test. While we don't know where his ancestor was from precisely, we have some clues that link him to a few sites.

My philosophy is don't do too far afield from what you already know..and if you already know there are no standard records left to review, only those where a hint may lie in an unexpected place, I wouldn't think a researcher would be much help.

my two cents..good luck!
Kim

[ianjonefan]

For what it's worth . Back in the mid 80's while walking around town I was passing a toy store . In a window display there was a model magazine , but what caught my eye was that the magazine had a article on the Highland Regiments that fought in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 . I found out that parts of the article was based on Col. John Cameron of Fassiefern who was a Col. in the Gordon Highlanders . Some other sources said he was a Captain in the Gordon's , but both sources do agree that Col. / Capt. John Cameron of Fassiefern died 2 day before the battle A short time later I attended a Cameron family reunion , and found out that john Cameron of Fassiefern was supposed to be one of my ancestors . There's every indication that the information is correct , but I'm still not ab able to connect all the dots . While in Scotland to attend the Clan Cameron Gathering I stopped by the James Watt genealogical Library in Greenock . I've left them a copy of this article for their records . As it turned out the information that I left with them had much more information on John Cameron of Fassiefern than they had on file . Also I was able to find some information about my great- great grandfather that I've been looking for since the mid 80's when I attended the reunion I mentioned before . Just ! maybe this article might have the information that you're looking for . To find it go to your browser type in James watt genealogical library greenock scotland . As reported earlier you never know where the information you're looking for will pop up . Anyone that's reading this let me know if it was helpful for you .

[billcam]

I have been waiting several years, with no success, hoping to make a close match on the DNA test study. The few matches I've made are so distant, sharing a common ancestor 1000 or more years ago is of little help in genealogy today. The problem, I believe, is that people who know their family history have no reason to take the test. After reading John Steward's "The Camerons" where some family trees are given that go back to the 1500's I've often wondered how do we get some of these people into the study? Possible a way to pool money to pay for the test if will men could be found?

[ianjonefan]

Oops the name of the magazine was Military Modeler it this issue came out sometime during I think arooung the Summer of 82' Maybe you might find it on the internet .

[cabooky]

Bill

Your idea about setting up a pool to pay for DNA tests is a great one. I think the main question is how to handle the money appropriately.

I'm also adding a "most wanted" page to our hope-to-be-published-soon-dna-project-web-pages. It will list family lines that participants are willing to pay for. That way volunteers can connect directly until we figure the money thing out.

There's also a very active research group here in the US and Canada working on Camerons who moved through the northeast US and southeastern Canada. When they find direct descendants of documented lines, the question is always put to them.

Best
Kim

[2006]

So many of these Camerons were in the military British) which used to mean going to KEW or hiring a researcher. I did that in 2005 and struck a great one nad have muster rolls and paysheet copies. However I did not know his father or guardian was in the same regiment at the time. I do now but the same researcher is not around and a different one was useless. I am reluctant to try again. In the meantime, that record section has changed their methods, some records have been discarded and it is dicey to know exactly what approach to make. In the meantime I am aging and am not adapting as well to these changes. I did hire a researcher 2007/8 and she did nothing !
Currently I shall make another approach to ARK and ask them to do the search. Some things have been removed from the list however. In the meantime he would be our common ancestor, b 1757, who enlisted in New York, 1777, by 1780 was in Lower Scotland recruiting , in Ireland late 1783, in Quebec, 1787, died 1800. Family lore says he was also born in Quebec of a soldier at the time of the French and Indian War. His son or guardian, Charles was b 1783(his gravemarker says, Inverness-shire, Scotland, a Grandson said b Quebec. I am going for facts.He was enlisted as a drummer at age 7 at Montreal in 1790. Since he was b 1783 and that was the end of the Revolution., and he enlisted at Montreal, I have been searching for refugee listing there or at Lachine. No luck so far. There were about seven camerons who stayed Quebec after the Plains of Abraham, 1759/60 but none I can associate with him. He may have been an orphan. We are said to be of Clan Lochiel, probably descending from the 19th Chief's family ( probably remotely). Several families in the USA descend
from this James b 1757, and William b 1797. The latter person proved. My G/G GF Charles be 1783
may be but not proved. The two families carry the same names and after 1800 were in Town of York (now Toronto) at the same time. William's family were in Canada until leaving for Iowa late 1840's or 50. Charles settled in Peel County and died ther 1867. Sorry to be so wordy but I am hoping this might strike a 'chord' with someone. It would be great to have a response. Delphine Cameron Large 2006

[2006]

Sorry, I said "son or guardian" and I meant James as being the guardian or father of Charles .
Delphine 2006