RE statement "as a follow up to Price's email about two Donald Camerons settling in Finch close to each other in both space and time...."

Unfortunately, you both are rather confused about all these different Cameron lines.

Please note the following in reference to the above mentioned statement:

There were numerous Donald Camerons who settled within the counties of Stormont/Glengarry [yes, there were numerous Presbyterians in Glengarry]

Although the following may seem rather repetitive, sometimes repetition is necessary:

1] Donald MacDonald [now deceased] of Brockville, Ontario, produced a booklet about the Camerons in 1995 [for which I paid $40.00]. Unfortunately, Chart 17, page 66, of this booklet was copied "directly" from the property Abstract for south half Lot 12, Concession 3, Finch Township [west of Finch village]wherein the Donald Cameron and Janet Cameron mentioned in both the Abstract and on Chart 17 were alive in 1878 [Date of Instrument].

Persons listed at date of Instrument are alive, but not necessarily so at Date of Registration. In other words, the chart 17, page 66 of abovementioned booklet, was not valid and this fact was known by Duncan MacDonald. This booklet is online at the Cornwall Library, and is presently being sold by Global Genealogy without corrections. Genealogy is big business often aimed at gullible people.

2] The Crown Patent for Lot 15, Concession 6, Finch Township was given in 1844. When I visited the Registry Office in Cornwall a few weeks ago I was told by staff that anyone who had lived on that property, known as Lot 15, Concession 6, Finch Township, before 1844 would have been called "squatters". Also, there is no record of a 'grist mill' on the property known as Lot 15, Conc.6 Finch Township....and no record for a destitute widow named "Janet Cameron" living on that property.

A destitute widow named Janet Cameron petitioned for property but the name McDonell was the name of the clerk mentioned on the petition. No mention that her maiden name was McDonell. This Janet Cameron did not own property. There is no record that this destitute widow, Janet Cameron, whose husband drowned, was given property in Plantagenet area.

Janet Cameron, the destitute widow, is not the one and same Janet Cameron who is mentioned on Chart 17, page 66, of Mr. Duncan MacDonald's booklet on the Camerons, which chart was copied word for word from the property Abstract for south half Lot 12, Concession 3, Finch Township, the only difference being the fact that the Donald Cameron and Janet Cameron were alive in 1878.

The Cameron family which had lived at south half lot 12, Concession 3, Finch Township, were related to the Cameron family which had lived at Lot 15, Concession 1, Finch Township. David Platt Cameron, Lot 15, Conc 1 Finch Township[descendant of Donald Cameron, mig 1802, settled Lot 15, 1 Finch Township], the nephew of Charles Cameron [born after 1808==see death cert. of his daughter Janet Cameron McLean]was the father of Jenny Cameron Bicks a lady whom I knew well and who had discussed her family history with me. Hill McLean was the grandson of Charles Cameron who was born after 1808. There are no property records for this Charles Cameron.

3] Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson Blair, at one time the genealogist for the UEL, produced in 1986 a roughly typed manuscript wherein she wrongly claimed to descend from my
great great grandfather, Donald Cameron, who, along with his brother, Allan Cameron, had 'gone north' to Finch Township in 1808 to take over the property known as Lot 21, Concession 4, Finch Township [Cameron School].

My gtgt grandfather, Donald Cameron was killed by a falling tree within a year of his arrival in Finch Township in March 1809, Lot 21, Conc 4 Finch Township, just two hundred years ago. It took three days and nights to take his body out along the blazed Indian trail on the boughs of the tree which had killed him to his father's farm [John Cameron of Clunes] for burial, Lot 6, Concession 4, Cornwall Township. His wife, Nancy [Ann] Cameron, my gtgt was already at the front visiting relatives and acquiring seed potatoes for the Spring planting.

Duncan MacDonald used Mrs. Blair's rough inaccurate manuscript for 'research'..

The tragedy of my great great grandfather, Donald Cameron, was a well known one within Finch Township. My grandfather, Donald Cameron, born 1847, was the Reeve of Finch Township at various times, and was assessor and collector for more than thirty years, also county auditor for two years. He had excellent records. as did my father, J.G. Cameron, County Engineer of SDandG from 1917 until 1962. Unfortunately, many books/booklets/etc. by local gen/authors have made errors about my family.

4] In reference to a Daniel or Donald Cameron [no one seems to know his correct name]mentioned in Mrs. Blair's manuscript, who was born c 1832 mig. to Texas. No records.

There were numerous Donald Camerons, Margaret Camerons, and Janet Camerons who had lived and still live within the counties of Stormont Dundas and Glengarry. Genealogy has sprouted up over the past twenty years into almost a fetish. Me. I'm jsut protecting family....

Margaret Janet Cameron
Long Sault
Ontario