I am hoping to find some info relating to my great great grandfather.
His name was William Byrns (Byrne/Byrnes),there is a bit of mystery surrounding him. He arrived in Miramichi, New Brunswick,Canada on or possibly a year or two before 1830. It is said that he jumped a British Ship and ran for days through the woods; only stopping when he was sure the British wouldn't being searching for him. We know that he had a brother John that joined him approx 2 years later. County Down has some significance but I am unsure to what extent that may be-a place of departure, his home-??. He had 13 children:
William Henry, John, Margaret, Jane, Arthur, Elizabeth, Charles, Jane (earlier Jane died), John(again renamed), James Albert, Dan, Mary Ann, and Raymond. Perhaps the names chosen for his children have some relationship to relatives/parents in Ireland. My grand father went by Burns. Could he have been conscripted to sail for the British? Story has it he was running from more than the ship. I would appreciate any assistance in my search. Thank you from Canada
oakeshollow@ns.sympatico.ca