October 11, 2008:

Hello. I am in the initial stages of tracking back my family history. My grandfather was 
Doctor Robert Law, long-time physician in Sandy Hill, who lived and worked out of 190 
Laurier Avenue. His father was John Law, who I believe founded Caledonia Foundry and Iron 
Works, located in North Rideau Falls (now Sussex Drive)? I believe the family business was 
taken over by one of his sons, Gordon Law. 

Can you provide any insight or suggestions on how I can obtain info on the foundry, and 
on John Law? My mother recalls hearing that the foundry cast the iron fencing on Parliament Hill. 


Any help is appreciated. 

... David Law
___________________________________

Thanks to Allen Craig who has replied to Mr. Law. He has also located an interesting
advertizement indicating that Robert Law did indeed own the Caledonia Foundry and Iron Works
on Sussex Drive:

Mr. Law:

Library and Archives Canada has an online collection of  City of Ottawa
Directories covering the period 1861-1899

A very preliminary search  turned up these entries for Caledonia Foundry and
Iron Works

The Ottawa Directory 1888-89, Ottawa: A. S Woodburn, 1888/89.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/022009/f4/nlc008188.487-v6.gif

The Ottawa City Directory, 1891-92 Ottawa : Might's Directory Co., 1891
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/022009/f4/nlc008191.355-v6.gif

The Ottawa City Directory, 1895-6, Ottawa : Might Directory Co., 1895.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/022009/f4/nlc008193.225-v6.gif

You will probably find lots of entries for 'Law' and variations on
ironworks, foundry, physician etc.



A good selection of City of Ottawa Directories from 1901 to 1923 is
available at Archive.org for free download. search  in Canadian Texts using
Ottawa and directories as keywords.

Hope the above is of some interest.

Regards,

... Allen Craig
________________________________

And here is the Law family in the 1881 Census of Ottawa:

1881 Census Place: Ottawa Ward, Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada
 Source: FHL Film 1375866  NAC C-13230  Dist 105  SubDist E  Div 3  Page 23 
Family 111
 Sex Marr Age Origin Birthplace
John LAW M Married 45 Scottish Scotland
 Occ: Foundry Man
Sarah Jane LAW F Married 38 English Ontario
   Religion: Methodist
Edwin LAW M M 19 Scottish Ontario
 Occ: Pottery Maker Religion: Methodist
John LAW M  16 Scottish Ontario
   Religion: Methodist
Gordon LAW M  13 Scottish Ontario
   Religion: Methodist
Maggie LAW F  11 Scottish Ontario
   Religion: Methodist
Robert LAW M  7 Scottish Ontario
   Religion: Methodist
Helen Marie GILES F  23 English England
 Occ: Servant Religion: Methodist
_________________________________

Thank you for your help. I have recently been directed to some of these sources, and 
came across the 1881 Census. Using the date (1881) and the stated age of my great-grandfather 
(45) it appears he would have been born in 1836. I then found a John Law in the 1852 Census 
stated as age 15, which would mean he was born in 1837. I suspect they are one and the 
same. According to the 1852 Census, he was the third of five children born to John Law 
aged 52, born in Scotland. (Since their 12 year old daughter was born in Scotland but 
the nine-year old daughter was born in Canada, it appears that they emigrated to Canada 
between 1840 and 1843). That John Law would appear to be my gggf, born in 1800 in Scotland. 
Assuming I am correct so far, I am now looking at birth/baptismal records for around 
1800 in Scotland. But I have hit a bit of a wall: I have identified 4 John Laws born in 
1800, with a couple more born 1799.

As to Caledonia Foundry, I found Ottawa Directory 1888-1889 which lists it as 
"Patterson & Law, Props. Caledonia Foundry, Green Island, New Edinburgh." In Ottawa 
Directory for 1891-1892 it lists as "Law Bros. & Co. (John, John Jr. & Gordon Law) Prop., 
Green Island, New Edinburgh, 284 Sussex". A later Ottawa Directory listing, which I 
neglected to record, lists Gordon Law as the proprietor. I think in 1911.

I appreciate your help, and would be happy to have info posted. I am enjoying this process 
a lot, although it can be an addictive way to spend a lot of time! 
My father, who passed away a few years ago, understood that we were descended from the 
Laws of Lauriston Castle, near Edinburgh, and my brother and I have rings with the same 
family crest and motto as those Laws, but I have no authority or proof as to how anyone 
arrived at this association. One of these was a rather infamous John Law of Lauriston, 
and I have uncovered a couple of books written about him, which include genealogical 
information going back reliably to the early 1500's, and to a Robert Law of Bogness, granted 
estates from King Robert III of Scotland in 1398, as well as a Law of Lawbridge, c. 1260.  
It would be neat to have a way of confirming (if true) the connection between the John Law 
that emigrated to Canada c. 1840 and one of the Laws of Lauriston. Maybe impossible, but 
more fun  than watching tv...

... David Law
October 12, 2008:

Thanks to Sue, as usual, for her detailed insight, as follows!

John Law, widower, aged 44 and born in Scotland, married Sarah Jane Telford, aged 36 
and born in Canada, on 13 September 1879.  The children in the 1881 census are from his 
earlier marriage.  On his marriage registration, he gives his parents as James and Ann Law.  
Sarah Jane gives her parents as John and Larena Telford, nee Andrews.  
 
Son Gordon Law married 19 Jan 1909 in Ottawa, Muriel Ettles, a daughter of John Ettles and 
Ina Telford.  On his marriage registration, Gordon says his parents were John Law and 
Margaret McGovern, so that is obviously the name of John Law's previous wife.
 
Son Edwin Law died 7 Oct 1891 at age 29 of TB in Ottawa
 
John Law died in Ottawa 21 April 1893 at age 58 (born Scotand)
 
Sarah Jane Telford Law died in Ottawa 15 June 1929 at age 86 years, 11 months, and 19 days.  
Here it says she was born in Lanark county, Ontario to John Telford (born England) and 
Laramy (Larena?) Andrews (born Ontario).
 
John and Sarah and family are in the 1891 Ottawa census and with them is 16-yr-old Cindy
Telford. Sarah and the kids are in the 1901 and 1911 Ottawa censuses  (Cindey Telford is 
still there in the 1901 census)
 
Not all of the 1851 census is transcribed as many parts of it are missing.  Although there 
is a John Law with father John Law in the Niagara, Lincoln area in the 1851, I see that 
they were of the Church of Scotland, whereas your John Law was a Methodist and gives his 
father as James Law.
 
According to the 1871 census, a John Law, born in the mid 1830's emigrated to Canada in 
1847.  Whether or not this is your John or the Niagara John is unknown.  Given Edwin's 
birth at about 1862 in Ontario, all we know for sure is that your John arrived sometime 
before that date.
 
Maybe you can get someone to look up the 1871 or 1861 censuses and see where he is with 
wife Margaret McGovern.
 
Hope this helps,
 
... Sue
October 13, 2008:

Thank you so much, Sue. A book on Dr. Robert Law, titled "Two Dollars a House Call" 
identifies his parents as John Law and  Margaret McGovern. Robert was John's youngest child, 
I believe, being born in 1874. So John remarried a few years later, and Robert would have 
largely been raised by Sarah Jane. I have taken a second look at the 1881 census image, 
and I cannot tell the religion for John Law, although Sarah Jane and all the children are 
Methodist. I am pretty certain that John Law was something else, but that part of the page 
seems damaged. Perhaps you can figure that out. Now I know to search for a James Law rather 
than a John.

... David


 August 10, 2010:

Mr. Waggy writes:

I have a pot, pictured below, which was made by John Law & Co, Glasgow, and is #3.  It appears 
about 1 1/2 - 2 qt.  The pot is 7 3/4"x3 1/2" and the handle is 8" long.  The work appears late 18th century 
or early 19th century  Was this made by your John Law before he moved to Canada?

   

David Law replies:

The John Law who emigrated to Canada (b. 1835) left Glasgow as a young man, so I highly doubt that his company 
made this. However I believe that it may have been made by his grandfather's company. It seems that both his 
father (James law, of Pinkston Foundry) and grandfather were in that business. It's an interesting item you have there!

For what it is worth, I have a photo of the home of James Law, father of John Law 
who moved to Ottawa. The house was known as Pinkston Villa, in the town of Lenzie, outside of Glasgow. It still 
exists, pretty much intact, which I confirmed when I located it on Google Maps using Street View. Let me know 
if you want me to forward a scan of the image. I also have family photos of John Law and one of his father James, 
as well as some of their properties on Sussex Drive (long since expropriated). None of the foundry, however. 

One photo which I found interesting was of the iron trusses for the Library of Parliament. I know that a Manchester 
firm was contracted for these, but don't know if there was any collaboration with the family foundry in Ottawa. 
If not, then the photo is a mystery.

... David Law