Again, I am trying to find those Rannie/Rennie/Rainnie relatives ... familysearch.org, google, the Family History Library in Salt Lake. I have looked for them everywhere and all the time, meaning when I am not sleeping and working I am looking ... and I am certainly not cleaning! I have birth records, marriage records, land records, census records, but I STILL am missing a link. John and Margaret Raeburn Rannie/Rennie (it is spelled Rainnie on older Canadian documents) came to Canada in or near 1834 and settled in Guelph Township. Their daughter Jean/Jane Rennie married George Lillie in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The historical atlas of Wellington County says, "RENNIE, John, was b. Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married Margaret Raeburn, and came to Guelph in 1834. Issue: John (d),Guelph; Mrs. George Lillie, Guelph (my Great, Great Grandmother); James (d.) Mildmoy; Alexander (d.) Nichol, and William. Can't find where John and Margaret were married and where they died or are buried, or even if Margaret came with John. BUT, I have found so much. I need to crack this one!
I have said this already once, Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said," None of us ever fully utilizes the people-opportunities allocated to us within our circles of friendship. You and I may call these intersectings "coincidence." This word is understandable for mortals to use, but coincidence is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of an omniscient God. He does not do things by "coincidence" but instead by "divine design."
Two weeks ago I got back from Canada, where I went to visit and hopefully help take care of my mother. At least 20 hours later Steve and I were in Winnipeg. There was not ONE room available in Winnipeg. A city of approximately 700,000 people ( and 27 million giant mosquitoes)! After at least 2 hours of searching we set off west on the Trans-Canada Highway to Portage La Prairie. At 1:30 a.m. we checked into Hotel 8 .... new, clean, beautiful, and friendly, and home for the next three nights. Portage La Prairie, hmmmm ....., didn't Elizabeth Jane Rannie marry William Dunn and move to .... Portage La Prairie. Time for the phone book and a little punching numbers. First call, NO, second call NO, but wait, the lady on the other end of the receiver said, "I know Barbara from Oakville is a DUNN." Barbara, was at the end of about three calls and was really interested in family history. I couldn't make the connection yet, but Barbara called and we had a few more names.
On Sunday, as Steve sat with my mother I headed to the Manitoba Genealogical Society near Polo Park. It was closed, contrary to the posted hours, but with my nose and eyes pressed right up to the door window, I could see someone inside, sitting at a table. The website said they were open on Sunday afternoons, but it didn't say only until May. She must have seen my despair, so she not only let me in, but HELPED ME! In two hours I found much more about the Rannie's/Rennie's/Dunn's, Prouts, Coates etc. from Manitoba. Not just Elizabeth Jane and William, but Dr. William Henry Rennie, son of James Rannie, who married AMAZING INFO: James, the father, moved to Portage and died in Portage. The records of the United Church even let me know that he was buried in Ontario. I already had that, but had no idea that he lived at any time in Manitoba and died there!!!! BOOYA!!! Seeing me, she came to the door and let me in. Together she helped me find some indexes of the United Church in Portage La Prairie and armed with some photocopies I departed. She said she would stay with as long as I needed to stay and then let me know how much I owed for copies and trusted me to send the money to her ... I did! For a few hours the next day, Steve waited for me while I searched the United Church Archives at the University of Winnipeg. Birth entries, marriage entries, death entries and even baptism records for adults (probably rebaptism) with birthdates and places in Ontario, for the Oakville Circuit, Portage La Prairie linked the Rainies/Rennies in Ontario to the family in Manitoba. I am still working the tree, but was there a reason I was in Portage La Prairie, besides the Carrie Underwood concert in Winnipeg and no more rooms in the inns. There is always a reason!
On Sunday, as Steve sat with my mother I headed to the Manitoba Genealogical Society near Polo Park. It was closed, contrary to the posted hours, but with my nose and eyes pressed right up to the door window, I could see someone inside, sitting at a table. The website said they were open on Sunday afternoons, but it didn't say only until May. She must have seen my despair, so she not only let me in, but HELPED ME! In two hours I found much more about the Rannie's/Rennie's/Dunn's, Prouts, Coates etc. from Manitoba. Not just Elizabeth Jane and William, but Dr. William Henry Rennie, son of James Rannie, who married AMAZING INFO: James, the father, moved to Portage and died in Portage. The records of the United Church even let me know that he was buried in Ontario. I already had that, but had no idea that he lived at any time in Manitoba and died there!!!! BOOYA!!! Seeing me, she came to the door and let me in. Together she helped me find some indexes of the United Church in Portage La Prairie and armed with some photocopies I departed. She said she would stay with as long as I needed to stay and then let me know how much I owed for copies and trusted me to send the money to her ... I did! For a few hours the next day, Steve waited for me while I searched the United Church Archives at the University of Winnipeg. Birth entries, marriage entries, death entries and even baptism records for adults (probably rebaptism) with birthdates and places in Ontario, for the Oakville Circuit, Portage La Prairie linked the Rainies/Rennies in Ontario to the family in Manitoba. I am still working the tree, but was there a reason I was in Portage La Prairie, besides the Carrie Underwood concert in Winnipeg and no more rooms in the inns. There is always a reason!
I have said this already once, Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said," None of us ever fully utilizes the people-opportunities allocated to us within our circles of friendship. You and I may call these intersectings "coincidence." This word is understandable for mortals to use, but coincidence is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of an omniscient God. He does not do things by "coincidence" but instead by "divine design."
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