It just all depends on how you look at some things...
Carman McGuinty, a professional genealogy researcher in southern Ontario, was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's great-great uncle, Sean McGuinty, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in 1862. Both Carman and Dalton McGuinty share this common ancestor.
The only known photograph of Sean shows him standing on the gallows in Manitoba territory near the present city of Winnipeg:
On the back of the picture Carman obtained during her research is this inscription: "Sean McGuinty, horse thief, sent to Upper Fort Gary Prison 1855, escaped 1857, robbed the Canadian Pacific mail train, caught by the NWMP and hanged in 1862".
So Carmen recently e-mailed Dalton McGuinty about their common ancestor asking for whatever information his side of the family could supply:
Believe it or not, Dalton's staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research once they put their political spin on it:
Sean McGuinty was a famous traveller in the early Canadian territories. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Beginning in 1855 he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1857, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned North West Mounted Police. In 1862, Sean was accidently killed during an important civic function held in his honour when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.
Now there's a twist on things........
Carman McGuinty, a professional genealogy researcher in southern Ontario, was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's great-great uncle, Sean McGuinty, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in 1862. Both Carman and Dalton McGuinty share this common ancestor.
The only known photograph of Sean shows him standing on the gallows in Manitoba territory near the present city of Winnipeg:
On the back of the picture Carman obtained during her research is this inscription: "Sean McGuinty, horse thief, sent to Upper Fort Gary Prison 1855, escaped 1857, robbed the Canadian Pacific mail train, caught by the NWMP and hanged in 1862".
So Carmen recently e-mailed Dalton McGuinty about their common ancestor asking for whatever information his side of the family could supply:
Believe it or not, Dalton's staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research once they put their political spin on it:
Sean McGuinty was a famous traveller in the early Canadian territories. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Beginning in 1855 he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1857, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned North West Mounted Police. In 1862, Sean was accidently killed during an important civic function held in his honour when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.
Now there's a twist on things........
