How Finding Yourself in History Can Be the Most Valuable Gift You Pass Along to Family

How a Terrible Loss Led to an Incredible Find - And It All Stemmed from a Dream

In 2013 my father passed away and quite frankly I still can't believe I'm typing a sentence with the words 'my father passed away' in it. It's been very difficult; I'll never get over it; don't want to get over it.

This page isn't about the sadness of losing dad; I've written many pages about my broken heart on my own website. Rather this page is about how a dream led me to find out some incredible information about my family history.

One night, not too long after dad passed, I had a very intriguing dream: The dream involved Dad and myself, and others who I didn't recognize, sitting on an open roofed old fashioned style train. Dreaming about trains in relation to Dad didn't surprise me as Dad loved Steam Engine Trains.

We were on the train, almost as a sightseeing adventure...something else that didn't surprise me..as dad was known for giving our visitors tours of areas he knew about at home and when we traveled.

What struck me odd about the dream was where the tour took us: It was around a really pretty curved lakes' edge, with lovely turns uphill, all along the water, until we arrived at a stop for a break where we got out to have a snack and drink at a very old fashioned open covered bar area over looking the water. It was pretty and peaceful, but I felt a bit like we had traveled back in time. The clothes seemed old fashioned as well, which I loved! And yes, it felt familiar.

I believe this dream is what led me to discover a fascinating piece of our family history that I didn't know about...More on the story below!

Photo: Me walking through Hollen Cemetery in Wellington County Ontario, Late Fall 2013

What I Already Knew About Our Family History - Our French Lineage is Well Documented - My Mother & Father - I Love You

I was born with the family name, Tremblay. My full name today, as you may have seen online already, is Barbara Tremblay Cipak. With the last name being my married name of course.

There's a well documented history on the Tremblay's. In fact there's a book written about the history of the Tremblays which unfortunately I don't have a copy of (yet). We're from a huge, and I do mean huge, French lineage that originally come from France back in the 1600's and who settled in Quebec, Canada.

From Quebec, my descendants founded a small French Community in Manitoba called St. Lazare. It's a small town that has more fascinating stories than you can imagine! .... honestly, the family stories can keep us entertained all night long; love hearing them!....oh what a great town...prime material for a hit movie!

Since both mom and dad are French, we know a lot about our French Lineage...and I love all of it...am proud of all of it, and not shy to say so. My Dad is a bit of a Legend in our town, lol...lots of stories...lots of history.

Photo: My mother and father

How a Dream Led Me to Discover Another Piece of Our Family History

The dream I spoke about in the intro paragraph left me with a sense to search deeper into my family roots

Although other family members knew about this side of our Family History, it wasn't common knowledge to my father. If it was, it wasn't something he spoke about. I suspect that's because we have such a prominent French history, it always took precedence.

Of course Dad knew his grandparents on his mother's side. But this dream led me further back to a place many of my first cousins and I weren't aware of.

I've shared most of the photos and details with my extended family already, and other extended family members have also added information to this historic find, so I'm not laying claim to being the exclusive family discoverer of this information. However, it is a piece of my history that I would never have sought out, had I not been led by a dream.

Keep reading below if you want to learn what I found!

Photo: The Graves of My 3 & 4X Great Grandparents at Hollen Cemetery in Wellington County, Ontario Canada

Our 3 & 4 Times Great Grandparents are Honored in Historic Hollen Cemetery as One of the Founding Pioneers of Wellington County,

I Had No Idea We Had Family from my Father's Side Emigrate from Scotland and Settle in Ontario - And Coincidentally I Happen to Live an Hour Away from Where They Settled

Hello Scotland! - Although I do know a bit of my Scottish history on my mother's side, I had absolutely no idea of what I was about to discover from my Father's Mother's Side.

Our Family Names from My Father's Mother's Father's Side are King & Boyd & McKee

My 3 and 4 Times Great Grandparents descend from Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Their journey is quite interesting. Barbara Boyd, my namesake, and Robert Kerr King Sr. had 4 children (they had a fifth child, their first, apparently named Andrew, who died at 1 year of age). Their four living sons were, Andrew, Robert, Hugh and John. John was born in Ontario whereas the other three sons were born in Scotland.

They immigrated to Canada by ship in 1842 and settled in Perth County Ontario. In 1854 they moved to Wellington County Ontario to settle a new community there. That would have been quite a trek. It's a fair distance between Perth County and Wellington County.

Photo: Personal Photo of Ours

Crazy Coincidences in My Own Life with My Ancestors - On my Fathers Mothers Fathers Side - I'm Part of these Surnames: King, Boyd & McKee

I LEARNED WHERE MY NAME, Barbara, COMES FROM

I'm not sure why I didn't know my grandmother (my father's mother) also had Barbara in her name. I never thought to ask I guess?

It turns out my grandmother's name is a complete combination of her family lineage, Roberta Margaret Barbara King - known to me as "Memere" (french).

Memere was given her name for obvious reasons: Roberta (for Robert - her grandfather and great grandfather, Margaret for her Grandmother, and Barbara for her Great Grandmother).

This all sounds basic, but without the dream I wouldn't have felt compelled to seek out any of this.

I FEEL A CONNECTION TO BARBARA BOYD KING

Barbara Boyd King is my 4 times great grandmother, who, as mentioned above, had 4 sons. Well, coincidentally my name is Barbara and I have four sons. Like Barbara Boyd King, I didn't have a daughter born to me.

HOW MY FAMILY TREE FLOWS

Robert Kerr King Sr. & Barbara Boyd (King) - had 4 sons - Andrew, Robert, Hugh & John

Robert King & Margaret McKee had 1 son - William

William King & Henrietta Gwyer Ellis had 3 children (Henrietta was married before, her husband (last name Ellis) passed away. She had many children from the marriage as well - With William she had three kids, Roberta (my Grandmother), Maude, & Robert

Roberta King & Tirel (Israel) Tremblay had 7 children - Billy, Bobby, Buster (Jerome - my dad), Denis, Scott, Ruth & Susie

Buster (Jerome) Tremblay & Georgette Fouillard Tremblay had 3 Kids Together: Barbara (me), Johnny & Larry

Barbara (Me) Married John - and We have four Sons - I don't want my 3 Step Children to feel left out (so I'm mentioning them too) - so yes that's right, 7 kids all totaled.

I WAS ALWAYS DRAWN TO THE NAME BOYD

I'm 53 years old while I'm writing this page, and am just finding out that I'm a Boyd as well as a King. Although I wasn't aware of the extent of the King history, I did know my Grandmother's maiden name was King.

When I was in grade 4, and living in Alberta, my grade 4 teacher's name was Mrs. Boyd and I can tell you that for reasons I couldn't figure out, I always loved her name and was drawn to it. I was a bit of a nervous kid, but strangely enough, around her I wasn't. I've never forgotten her, and frequently think about her.

Another Crazy Coincidence I recently Discovered about a Connection I have to Barbara Boyd King and Her 4 Sons. As you've already read here, I too have 4 sons. Believe it or not, one of her boys has the same birthday as one of my boys!

Photo: Me (Barbara) at the Grave Site of my 3 Times Great Grandparents; Robert King Jr & Margaret McKee King

ROBERT KING Sr. & BARBARA BOYD KING Settle in Ontario in 1842

What's odd is that my dad didn't know any of this, most of us didn't.

Being that the french side of our family came from Quebec to Manitoba, most of the history lessons I learned through family chats pertained to this! Ontario was never mentioned to me growing up as a place where family history or descendants came from. Maybe other family members knew this, but I didn't.

When I was 15 years old, mom and dad and my brothers moved from Alberta to Brockville, Ontario. Well, Perth County (where Robert King Sr and Barbara Boyd King settled in 1842 is quite close to this area!) - And I now live an hour away from where they eventually settled in 1854 in Wellington County Ontario.

MAYBE THE SOUL KNOWS WHERE IT's GOING?

In grade 7 in Alberta Canada, during a social studies class, we were learning about Ontario, specifically Toronto. When I lived in Alberta I never thought about Ontario, ever...after all we were proud Albertans (lol). Anyway, as soon as the teacher mentioned Toronto something in my heart felt drawn to it. I had never been to Toronto; never thought I would go to Toronto and didn't know anything about it ... except I felt drawn to it for some reason. I never forgot that feeling from that day in class.

In 1975 my father was transferred to Brockville, Ontario. We had to move. Four years later I ended up going to University in Toronto and, well, you guessed it, I now live and have lived in the west end of Toronto for nearly 30 years. So, does the soul already know?

Photo: My youngest son (my 4th) Jesse and I at the Graves of my 3 & 4 Times Great Grand Parents (his 4 & 5 Times of course) - The tall headstone is Robert King Jr.'s & Margaret McKee King and the stone on the ground is for Robert Kerr King Sr. & Barbara Boyd King (Robert King Jr.'s mom and dad).

Remember that Lake I talked About in My Dream in the Intro Paragraph? - More Coincidences

It seems that the Lake in my dream may have been Conestogo Lake in Wellington County.

When my husband, son and I were driving home from our fun day on our historical quest, all of sudden we're driving down a particular side road (sorry I can't remember the name of it) when I notice the curved shape of a lake that's very similar to the one in my dream. I stretched my head to look further to see how the shape of the lake curved a bit around a bend and honestly, I was shocked. It was almost exactly what I had seen in my dream!

After researching the area, it appears it was Conestogo Lake. Apparently some of the land owned by the King's abutted that Lake. However, I have no idea whether the spot I saw as we were driving had anything to do with their land.

So you tell me? Coincidence? Past Life? Does the Soul Know Where it's Going? I sure loved being led on this journey by a dream though.

Here's a Brochure of Grand Rivers Park, Conestogo Lake - By the way, I've never been here, or seen this lake prior to this day.

Photo: My Youngest Son, Jesse and I, at the entrance of Hollen Cemetery

Our Barbara Boyd Lineage is Quite Intriguing

Have You Seen the Movie Braveheart?

Robert King Sr and Barbara Boyd King originate from Aryshire, Scotland. I'm still trying to verify, via documentation, hopefully in the form of a birth certificate, the parents of Barbara Boyd.

There are some other Trees on Ancestry.com that indicate Barbara does descend from the famous Boyd Line linked to Sir Robert Boyd. If I'm able to definitively prove this by securing documented proof (if it exists), our family could officially be included into The Boyd Clan of Scotland. That's fun!

If you've seen the movie Braveheart, Sir Robert the Bruce was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. He was a famous warrior who led Scotland during the wars for Scottish Independence. Sir Robert Boyd was considered one of the strongest supporters of King Robert the Bruce. He was in fact, one of the Commanders at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Sir Robert Boyd was awarded for his contribution with land in Balliols, Kilmarnock, Bodington and Ayrshire.

Boyd Castles still stand today - You can learn more and see the Castles as well, here at Clan Boyd.

Photo Source Dean Castle - Wiki

This is the Family Crest for our Boyd Ancestry: Our Motto is 'Confido - I Trust'

The Boyd Family Crest is 'Confido - I Trust' - Confido is Latin for 'have confidence in' or 'can rely upon'. A Family Motto is meant to describe and summarize the general motivation or intention of a group, clan or other type of organization.

This family motto resonates with me. I can say with certainty that if I had to define myself personally, it would be, 'someone you can rely upon, have confidence in and trust'. This trait perfectly describes my brothers as well - yes Dad too - As a Boyd in history, I'm honored to be linked to this motto.

The hand symbol on the Crest is a dexter hand held firm having the outer fingers bowed inwards.

Photo: from Wiki

From this Dream, I Like to Think Dad Is Saying What this Song is Saying

'You're gonna make it...yeah I know you can make it...cause I will stand by you, I will help you through...when you've done all you can do and you can't cope...I won't let go" - Maybe that train ride was all my ancestors sending this message - who knows, anything's possible.

Links for Other Members of My Family to View if They're Interested!

• Robert Kerr King Sr. & Barbara Boyd King - Founding Pioneers of Wellington County Ontario
  A brief summary of Robert King Sr. & Barbara Boyd King's history from The Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
• The Town of Moorfield in Wellington County Ontario
  This is the town our ancestors settled in.
• Fascinating Historic Map of Wellington County Showing King Land Ownership
  You can zoom in on this map and see the acreages of land that the King's owned! 100 Acres, 50 Acres etc. Really Interesting. You'll see a plot at VIII plot 179.

Some of Our Family Ancestry Photos

My Two Times Great Grandparents: Robert King (Jr) and wife, Margaret McKee. They had one son William King (not in the photo).They raised the daughters of one of Robert's Brother's - John I think, but am not sure) - girls are Maud & Sarah King.

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© 2014 Barbara Tremblay Cipak

Have You Researched Your Own Family History?

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on November 18, 2018:

French Canadian, very cool

Virginia Allain from Central Florida on November 18, 2018:

Now, I've done the DNA and it opens a lot of doors into connecting with 2nd and 3rd cousins who have photos and stories to share. My husband is French Canadian (note the Allain surname) and he did the DNA also. It's a fascinating search to fill in the puzzle of our ancestors.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on July 05, 2018:

Peggy thank you. Wish my dad had been alive when I discovered it all, but I guess he knows since it was him in my dream that spurred me to researching, lol.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on July 04, 2018:

It is amazing that a dream of yours led you to discovering more about your family lineage. Nice! It sounds like you have an interesting family history.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on February 19, 2015:

Aesta, I still talk about how this came about to my family, it's so wild

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on February 19, 2015:

How you were led to your family ancestry is such an interesting story. It's fascinating how you were just led to eventually find out more.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on February 19, 2015:

Wow, that's fascinating! had to be a blast when you discovered that!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on February 19, 2015:

Elsie, genealogy is so much fun isn't it. Exciting that you found that out about your family! Just thinking about the lives of those who came before us fascinates me too

Stephen J Parkin from Pine Grove, Nova Scotia, Canada on February 19, 2015:

I do not have a copy but one of my uncles drew a family tree and we have English, French (William the Conqueror's troops) and Flemish (Dutch/Belgian) ancestry. Apparently he went back as far as there were records.

I now live in Nova Scotia (Pine Grove) just outside Bridgewater.

Elsie Hagley from New Zealand on February 19, 2015:

Returning again to this article, after 11 months. I love reading and learning history about anyone, especially my ancestors.

Just recently I started putting my family genealogy on the internet. I have lots of records, but was quite surprised when I started adding it I found out I knew nothing about my great grandmother on my mothers side, got quite excited when I realise I had Irish blood in me, my grandmothers maiden name is Riley, I will be looking forward to St Patricks Day this year as I now feel I'm part of the Irish clan off-spring.

Hope 2015 is a great year for you, all the best.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on October 08, 2014:

Thanks Sandy - we have similar ancestry then :)

Sandy Mertens from Frozen Tundra on October 07, 2014:

I have Welsh, English and French in my nationality. Wonderful to explore your family history. The photos of your family is a treasure.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on September 26, 2014:

my goodness, you and I have all the same nationalities in our family line - Scottish, English and French! - who knows, we could have distance relatives in common

Wednesday-Elf from Savannah, Georgia on September 26, 2014:

I haven't researched my family history very much, but know that both my maternal grandparents were Scottish, with ancestors coming from Aberdeen and settling in Canada. My maternal grandfather was born in Toronto and came to New York State in his teens. On my dad's side his ancestors came from England, but his mother had some French relatives from Quebec. It's interesting and I've been thinking quite a bit lately about looking into it further.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on September 19, 2014:

@jimmythejock, this comment alone makes me so glad I'm now on hubpages! I just read this to my husband and his jaw dropped..what are the odds that you live so close to where my ancestors are from. Crazy stuff. Love it. In fact, about 4 days ago, I was googling Beith to see where it was and what it looked like. in fact I watched a video on youtube to learn more about it. This is another nice coincidence to add to my story - and I just added the one about one of my four sons sharing the same birthday with one of my 5 times great grandmother's four sons (my namesake too, Barbara)

Jimmy the jock from Scotland on September 19, 2014:

Wow! on more than one count I love stories of family history and your family have a very interesting tale to tell, Strange that all of this started with a dream.

I just have to say that I live about a 20 minute drive from Beith and that I used to work in a factory there, right next to the whisky bond. I also live around the same distance from Kilmarnock, my brother actually lives there.

my children love to visit Dean Park country center, and castle.

I wonder if our ancestors ever met or fought together with William Wallace.

Thanks for sharing this.....jimmy

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on June 30, 2014:

@GrammieOlivia: Thank you Grammieo :)

GrammieOlivia on June 30, 2014:

Great lens and so deserving of LoTD! Congratulations on a great family tree and lens.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on April 26, 2014:

@Gypzeerose: really appreciate that :)

Rose Jones on April 26, 2014:

I think genealogy is wonderful, and I appreciate your personal search. Pinned to my genealogy board.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on April 13, 2014:

@Andromachi: that's sad that your records were burnt! but on Ancestry sometimes other people have records that happen to match your family history (if you're sure it's your family line)

Andromachi Polychroniou from Maurothalassa, Serres, Greece on April 13, 2014:

I really enjoyed your lens. I felt jealous of you. I wish I could find so many things about my family history as well. However I don't think that would be easy here in Greece. I don't believe I could find the necessairy records because everything was burnt in my hometown 100 years ago

Laurel Johnson from Washington KS on March 19, 2014:

Wonderful lens!! Family history is a fascinating topic.

AlleyCatLane on March 16, 2014:

Loved reading about your family history! Isn't genealogy fascinating? I do believe the soul knows where it is going and that there is no such thing as coincidences. I believe everything happens for a purpose. Your Dad was reaching out to you in your dream, I am sure. Wonderful, wonderful!!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 14, 2014:

@Heather426: that's fascinating!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 14, 2014:

@changrcoacher: you've lived a lifetime from the time you were born, I hope you can find the answers you surely deserve - blessings to you

changrcoacher on March 14, 2014:

Timing....I'm just now in the process! I had two (2) goals; to find out who my father was and why my family didn't keep me. I was given away when I was eight (8). My 8 year old memory remembered many people, many places, a couple of orphanages and being delivered to live with preachers. Then chaos, abuse and, most importantly, survival! Maybe I'll write about it.

Your story is fascinating, romantic and wonderful. Thank you for this lens....

Heather Burns from Wexford, Ireland on March 14, 2014:

@Brite-Ideas: actually both of my parents were descended from royalty so I have done my line way back in history on both sides. It's easier if they are royal since there are more records. According to Geni and Ancestry, Solomon was also my up the line great grandfather. :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 14, 2014:

@Sensuintell: wow, that's pretty fascinating too - thanks for reading !

Sensuintell on March 13, 2014:

I have researched part of my family roots (my father's side), and oddly enough a VERY distant cousin whom I actually came to work with (he is a Mormon) told me that we are descended from the same Mormon grandfather. It was incredible to learn that, so I know how excited you must have been to make your discoveries. Congratulations!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@AnitaJax: thanks very much

Barbara Radisavljevic from Templeton, CA on March 13, 2014:

I know little of my family history except my mother's family dates back to the American Revolution nd my dad's family has Scotch-Irish roots. Since we are the last of our family line, I saw no reason to go digging. I'm glad you were able to find how you related to your family history.

genderyc on March 13, 2014:

has a very complete family photo from time to time very enjoyable. we do not have time for it.

anonymous on March 13, 2014:

I honestly can't say I have but it is an intriguing idea. Congratulations on getting LotD!

Heidi Vincent from GRENADA on March 13, 2014:

Lovely family history, Brite-Ideas! There are no co-incidences. So I believe that dream was a wonderful ancestral awakening. Congratulations on winning the LOTD, also! My family history is a bit difficult to trace back that far, though, given that I am a descendant of African slaves who were shipped off to the Caribbean.

SteveKaye on March 13, 2014:

Yes, I've researched my family history. I think it's important to do this because our history connects us with our ancestors. Congratulations on receiving the LOTD.

fyrdragon350 on March 13, 2014:

ironically i found most of the information i have to date from my father's side of the family 2 years after he passed away and realized that everything he had told me growing up was true. none of his siblings nor himself are listed in the family genealogy which makes me wonder if that's because they were given up for adoption, but nevertheless it's very nice to find more about who you are because of their ancestry...nice lens

AnitaJax on March 13, 2014:

What a poignant way to remember your father. Seeing how one's fore bearers weathered the storms of history can be fascinating. Best wishes for continued success in your research.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Ibidii: Well this is fascinating too! You were also led by a dream ...gheesh...now that's amazing! thanks for commenting - I'll visit some of your lenses later this evening!

Ibidii on March 13, 2014:

Congratulations on LotD Barbara! I have been doing FH for 10 years+ and have a tree on Ancestry.com. I have posted lenses about FH as well. I love it is an understatement! Your lens is great! I am sure that your Dad is very happy that you followed through on the dream to find this information and keep it in your heart! My Grandma came to me in a dream about FH as well. It's great to have that connection. I am sorry for your loss Barbara. Hugs to you! :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Corrinna-Johnson: so sorry about your mom - can't even imagine how hard this is, to have to go through the family home - we haven't had to go down that road yet - thanks for the lovely comment, and I think the soul knows as well..all of these events have been so wild (the dream, the research, going on the quest, finally writing about it, which I wasn't going to do, and LOTD...crazy stuff!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@writerkath: Kathy thank you and wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we're related through ancestry - in fact I'll be more surprised if we aren't! lol

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Elsie Hagley: thank you :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Mary Crowther: thank you :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Kim Milai: it is an emotional journey to do this - and time consuming - I'm a paid member of Ancestry :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Zeross4: thank you

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Donna Cook: good luck with your searches - it's so addictive once we start our searches - I ended up becoming a paid member because I had completed so much work and didn't want to lose it!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Charlino99: This Scot says thank you and hello!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@serendipity831: thank you - you are bang on with what you said about how you never get over it and it just becomes a part of you :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@ecogranny: it's so addictive once you start working on this stuff, it's hard to stop cross referencing and comparing when you get going on this!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@esmonaco: I think you're right! somehow someone wants me to know this - because otherwise I would never know this stuff!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Margaret Schindel: Margaret you're a wonderful, kind and a very hard working soul! thank you for taking the time to comment and read - very appreciated <3

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@vsajewel: thank you - it was written to leave to the kids and their family after I'm gone - hope they can always read this and know where they've come from

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Virginia Allain: that should be an interesting search - there are still so many blanks on other lines I have to fill in - that dream I had just stayed with me, almost until I searched all of this out - crazy, lol

writerkath on March 13, 2014:

Hi Barbara! Congrats on LotD! I'll have to ask my father in law if there are any descendents from St. Lazares for his family. I do know they were from Quebec as well... Wouldn't it be funny if you and my husband were cousins a gajillion times removed! :)

Corrinna Johnson from BC, Canada on March 13, 2014:

Sorry about the loss of your dad. My own mom just passed away 6 months ago. I have been sorting through my parents home of 40 years and finding all kinds of pieces of history about my family and pictures that I have never seen before. Such a treasure! I believe there are no such things as coincidences, everything happens for a reason! You are right, the soul knows! And of course, your dad is right alongside you guiding the way. Beautiful article!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@MariaMontgomery: thank you for this wonderful comment and for reading this page with such interest, I appreciate that! You want to hear something interesting - I have a McPherson in our lineage as well - in this story, Robert Kerr King Sr's mother was Agnes McPherson back to the 1700's I believe but we haven't been able to track down her parents names yet! maybe we're related too as I am via ancestry with someone else here - Squidoo is such a fascinating place to write and learn!

Virginia Allain from Central Florida on March 13, 2014:

I'm working away on my Tower/Stone/McGhee/Kennedy/Martin/Vining lines. Haven't had any dreams about it yet.

You've showcased your findings well here.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Merrci: thanks Merrci, you're so right..when I saw that lake I my jaw just hung open in shock - thanks for reading and the comment too :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@fullofshoes: This I found fascinating! that our ancestors can be traced back to the same ancestor - gheesh we never know what we'll find on Squidoo!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@GrammieOlivia: Thank you :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@delia-delia: So many of use seem to have lineage from Scotland and France, lol - we're probably all related in some crazy way too ! thank you for the comment and it should be fascinating to see what else comes from this lens (in terms of other ancestry relations)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Wednesday-Elf: you have an extensive and interesting lineage and so many places to research! thank you for such an interesting comment!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Diana Wenzel: that should be an interesting search for you - and you're so right about following our intuition

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Amanda Howdeshell: You have a very extensive and interesting family history, fascinating!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Seasons Greetings: sounds like you went to school with my first cousin? if that's the case it really is a very small world! thanks for taking the time to comment :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Craftymarie: Thanks Marie for such a well thought out and kind comment, and I think you're right in what you say - that the people we love never really leave us

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@linfcor: sorry for your loss as well and thank you for the lovely comment

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@MarcellaCarlton: That is fascinating! I too have so many other wonderful connections on other lines, but my goodness it is a full time job just putting it all together - you come from Kings, I love it :)

MarcellaCarlton on March 13, 2014:

Yes, my Grandmother's side is full of Royalty. You mentioned Robert the Bruce above. I'm a direct descendant. Charlemange, also a direct descendant, John Baliol is a descendant, in fact King Henry the VIII is my third cousin 15 times removed. I'm related to Kings of Sweden and William the Conquer. It is all to much fun to do this genealogy. Very nice lens.

vsajewel on March 13, 2014:

Working on it now. So sorry about your Dad...it's so hard. I so appreciate your story, with all the little turns and surprises. I suspect your work will be appreciated by scores of new generations!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 13, 2014:

@Heather426: Heather426 - Edward Longshanks, wow that's pretty amazing too - thanks for your checking your genealogy on this - on Ancestry it shows him as a different relative (grandfather line, but it there's conflicting data on a few sources)

Heather Burns from Wexford, Ireland on March 13, 2014:

yes, extensively. Here is what Geni sent to me regarding Robert Boyd: Sir Robert Boyd II is your second cousin 25 times removed. But sadly Edward Longshanks was one of my great grandfathers.

Margaret Schindel from Massachusetts on March 13, 2014:

Barbara dear, this is an absolutely extraordinary piece of work written straight from the heart. No wonder it was selected as today's LOTD - it's outstanding!!! Fascinating, touching, very personal to you and your family and yet something that nearly every reader can relate to at some level. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful gift with us and congratulation on your well deserved LOTD honors, my friend! <3

Eugene Samuel Monaco from Lakewood New York on March 13, 2014:

A wonderful story and I'm so glad you are finding more as you go. My opinion is, that you were meant to have that dream only to find more, as it led you to more family history. Some how somebody wants you to know this. Congratulations on LOTD!!

Kathryn Grace from San Francisco on March 13, 2014:

A little. I only started really digging into documentation about a year ago, although I've been intrigued with family stories and lore all my life.

Drake McSherry from Milwaukee, WI on March 13, 2014:

Sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad. I find you never really get over a loss, just becomes a part of you. Thank you for sharing your story. Congratulations on LOTD!

Donna Cook on March 13, 2014:

Great lens! Yes I have, thanks to free days on Ancestry.com. So far, I've only gotten to the mid 1800's, my great grandparents on my Dad's side in Bohemia. There are probably church records like baptism, marriage, and death in Blovice and Obenice. I would like to visit those towns to look.

Tonie Cook from USA on March 13, 2014:

Beautiful contribution to history and the arts~ From one sister Scot to another.

Renee Dixon from Kentucky on March 13, 2014:

This was great, wonderful story!

MariaMontgomery from Coastal Alabama, USA on March 13, 2014:

I have been on Squidoo for almost 3 years, now. This is the only lens that drew me in, to the point that I read with chin in hand. I am very interested in history in general, and in genealogy in particular. Unfortunately, my parents never talked about their ancestry. They and my grandparents are gone now, so I have been questioning my remaining aunts and uncles for information. I, too, have a Scottish ancestry. My mom's mom was a Lawson. Her mom was a McPherson. That's as far back as I can remember right now. I remember visiting the graves of my great grandparents. One headstone said simply "Jalie, wife of so & so." It made me angry that her full name wasn't given, but that of her husband was. Congrats on the LOTD. It's a wonderful feeling. And good luck on your search.

Merry Citarella from Oregon's Southern Coast on March 13, 2014:

Congratulations on a well deserved LotD, Barbara. It was so interesting to read about your history, and even more so to see how you got there. Amazing dream that one!!! I like thinking that God would give our loved ones ways to connect with us, to give us surprises now and then, even when they can't be with us in person. Can't imagine how it must have felt to see the lake from your dreams! Anyway, thanks for sharing this with us. It's inspiring.

fullofshoes on March 13, 2014:

I haven't kept up with my family history although it's something that I want to do... my mother's side was traced by a family member all the way back to Europe. Looks as though our Canadian ancestors can be traced back to the same ancestors of Ray Bourque :) It's amazing what you find.

I love your story and applause for your LOTD !

GrammieOlivia on March 13, 2014:

Great Job, and yes, my father did the research on his family about 5 years before he passed, it is really interesting and rewarding to know your roots! Congrats on LoTD!

Delia on March 13, 2014:

Congratulations on LOTD! Your story and interest is right up my ally! Great story here, keep it up! I've researched for close to 50yrs, and because of Squidoo I've been able to have closure on some of my questions, this from people contacting me from other countries after reading my family lenses. There is no coincidence, everything happens for a purpose.

I just found out I have a connection to Scotland and France...I'm from Germany so searching is hard because so much has been destroyed....

Wednesday-Elf from Savannah, Georgia on March 13, 2014:

Very intriguing. Especially how a dream began your search into such interesting family history. I've not researched my family history, but have always known that my maternal grandfather came from Toronto (after his family had immigrated to Canada from Scotland) and eventually settled in New York State where my mother was born. When, as a teen, I remember asking my dad about his heritage, he said he was English and Dutch and, he'd heard somewhere, a little bit of French... but he didn't know where that came from. Well, many years later some distant relative on my father's side of the family did a brief bit of research and I accidentally learned that my paternal grandmother (whom I never knew) had ancestors who came from Quebec! The French side was then explained, albeit a very tiny bit. :-) Now you are getting me interested. I may have to begin a search to learn more..... Congrats on LotD. Very well done!

Renaissance Woman from Colorado on March 13, 2014:

A beautiful journey of discovery and connection. Goes to show we should always follow our intuition when something like a dream stirs us to action. I started researching my family history quite a few years ago and have found it very rewarding. Now I would like to visit the places that represent my roots (mostly in Norway and Germany).

Amanda from Florida on March 13, 2014:

I love your story! Finding your family history is so exciting.

I traced my father's paternal line back to Alsace, France. I traced another line back to Germany. Another back to Sweden. The earliest records I found were the late 1300's. I love knowing my roots!

Laura Brown from Ontario, Canada on March 13, 2014:

I went to school with a David Tremblay. He was into family history as well. I could never get too far into my own. I know there are Griffins, Lamonts, Earles, Scherles, Armbrusters and another name which I can't remember right now. It was interesting to find out about those people.

Kim Milai on March 13, 2014:

I have and its been an emotional journey for me as well. Your telling of the story is wonderful to read. Have you tried ancestry.com? I got a lot of information there.

Marie on March 13, 2014:

Congratulations on a very special article that has made LOTD. It is amazing how a dream shaped your discoveries with your family history - that is more than just a dream, that was like some kind of spiritual message meant just for you. I am so very lucky to still have my parents and I can feel how hard it must have been for you with your Father passing away but I really do believe that the people we love never really and truly leave us. Memories and spiritual moments like your dream are comforts that can stay forever. No one can take those away. Enjoy this well deserved recognition, Barbara.

Linda F Correa from Spring Hill Florida on March 13, 2014:

I lost my Dad in 2013 also, and this lens touched my heart. We sisn;t have the same history as your family, but the celebration of your family was truly inspiring

Marika from Cyprus on March 13, 2014:

Wow what a fascinating story, thanks for telling and I loved looking at the photos! I do believe in the power of dreams, btw.

And congrats on your well deserved LOTD!

Mary Crowther from Havre de Grace on March 12, 2014:

I love your story and how great to find special family connections. Congrats on LOTD!!!

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 12, 2014:

@Pam Irie: Thanks Pam, it was all such a surprise to just learn this at this stage of life

Pam Irie from Land of Aloha on March 12, 2014:

What a wonderful discovery for you! I've done some research. It is always fascinating to learn new things about where you come from. :)

Barbara Tremblay Cipak (author) from Toronto, Canada on March 11, 2014:

@Jerzimom: Thanks Cheryl, very sorry about your dad too

Cheryl Fay Mikesell from Mondovi, WI on March 11, 2014:

My sister does genealogy in our family so I learn a lot from her. Wow - amazing lens your put together about your family heritage. The beginning though about your Dad was touching. It gave me a few tears. I miss my Dad. He's been gone since 2002.

Sandy Mertens from Wisconsin on March 11, 2014:

Nice to learn about your family history.

Elsie Hagley from New Zealand on March 10, 2014:

Yes I have research family records on both side of my family, have learnt a lot but still working on other links. I enjoyed reading about your ancestors and wish you all the best n your future findings.