Hello All , New Information about ALFRED WILLIAM REED 's father. When I last posted on 23 October it was a bit of a shot in the dark about the family emigrating to Canada but I am now sure that this is probably what took place. Since then I have found evidence of three boys in the family being born in England- - but no sign of Alfred born there -plus there is this detail on his death certificate about being born in Canada . I reason that the following is probably the sequence of events- [now have to try and find evidence of this. ] That between the birth of his older siblings [1828, 1830, 1834] and himself in approx. 1838-39, his parents and young family had emigrated to Canada. There was also the family story of the sons being sent back to England to stay with a related family - to train in the Royal Navy. Last week , when I posted I didn't know that Alfred William Reed's father as an engineer. Today I was talking with my husband's elderly uncle [of 80+ yrs] and he told me that his greatgrandfather John REED [ father of Alfred William REED] was an engineer working on the building of the CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. Looking forward to hearing from any one who may have information about any Canadian Reed who had ancestors immigrating from England around this time- who may have been remotely connected with this Canadian project in the 1800's. Still looking for Alfred's birth- I received information last week from list members that B.C. records were not started till about 1872-74. Would there be information held in Company Archives- did CPR keep employee records ? Any information of REED family, or addresses re archives re CPR or URLS welcomed. Regards and Best Wishes Aileen. Original Message Hello Everyone, I am doing a search for family of the name of REED. I have Alfred William Reed [ grgrandparent] who died in Auckland, New Zealand in 1915 aged 77 years. I have his date of birth as in 1838 approx. On his death certificate it states that he was born in British Columbia, CANADA But we are not certain of that.. This date seems to be too early for any records available in B.C. as they apparently do not start till the 1870's. Family talk is that he was sent to England to train in the Royal Navy at Sheerness where a connected family lived. There was a cousin called Emily [ born in CANADA] aged about 45 yrs old and single, who was visiting England in 1881 - this is from the British 1881 census.. If there is anyone researching this name of REED and has family with naval connections and a sailing tradition or for whom the name Emily Reed born about 1836-- 40 in CANADA rings a bell please contact me. Do hope there is someone out there who may have a link for us to follow. Regards and best wishes Aileen.