Hi
I have been scrolling back through any records I can find regarding John Welsh and found the above posting. John Welsh (and his wife Mary Forrest) was the nephew of my GGGG grandfather William Welsh who emigrated to New Zealand from Scotland. Johns father was Alexander (1827-1867) who was also a blacksmith. His mother Mary Forsyth was born in Cumbernauld Dunbartonshire Scotland and she was a Pirn Winder (1825-1877). John had 9 or maybe 10 siblings. Two of the younger ones, Robert (1862) and Elizabeth Forsyth (1866) can both be found in the Canada census of 1881 living/holidaying with John and his wife Mary Forrest. John and Mary had twins, in 1873 Alexander and Minnie (she died in 1935 a widower at 273 Cobourgh Street Stratford. John Alexander Welsh was born i1/5/1875. The next child George was born and died in 1880. I think there may have been another George in 1885. There was an Alexander who was the informant of Minnies death and he lived in New York - I wonder if he used his middle name rather that his first. I would be very interested if any one can add any further information on this branch of my family. I have not been able to find an immigration document for John from Scotland but gather it is around 1870 as this can be deduced from the Canadian Census of 1871 were he is recorded as a foundary man.
Hope this helps someone with their search - happy to continue the thread if anyone is seeking more info :)