It has been 15 years since the Icelandic Emigration Center opened. Is is estimated that between 20 to 25% of the total population of Iceland emigrated to North America in the early 1900s.
Nelson Gerrard, a write from Eyrarbakki, Manitoba has been in Iceland this summer assisting in answering genealogical inquiries, and in helping at putting together exhibits at the Emigration Center.
He specializes in recording the history of Icelandic emigrants in North America, and his books include Icelandic River Saga and The Icelandic Heritage, and he is currently researching Gimlunga Saga, a 3-volume history of pioneers in the Gimli area.
The museum is at http://en.hofsos.is/, and their email is hofsos@hofsos.is
In Canada, Gimli, Manitoba was where many of the Icelandic people settled, and there is the New Iceland Heritage Museum (NIHM). It was founded in Gimli in 1973.
There is archival photos and local history research material, free audio tours, and there is the Gimli Webcam.
Go to the website http://nihm.ca/museum/about.html. You can contact them at nihm@mts.net
A daily blog about Canadian genealogy, heritage, and history
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Free Access - Canadian Immigration Records
Just got notice this morning that Ancestry.ca is announcing FREE online access to 200-million immigration records.
The access is from right now to Sept 5th!
The press release says that “This unprecedented access will allow Canadians to 200 million immigration and travel records from around the world, including 13.5 million records specific to Canada. This includes the complete Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, the official records of the arrival of the majority of people accepted as immigrants in Canada during this key immigration period".
They also say that “An estimated 11.6 million Canadians or 37 per cent of its current population have ancestors included in this collection[, which also includes records for many vacationers and travellers, business people, crew members and historical figures such as foreign leaders, scientists and celebrities”.
Go to http://www.ancestry.ca/immigration
The access is from right now to Sept 5th!
The press release says that “This unprecedented access will allow Canadians to 200 million immigration and travel records from around the world, including 13.5 million records specific to Canada. This includes the complete Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, the official records of the arrival of the majority of people accepted as immigrants in Canada during this key immigration period".
They also say that “An estimated 11.6 million Canadians or 37 per cent of its current population have ancestors included in this collection[, which also includes records for many vacationers and travellers, business people, crew members and historical figures such as foreign leaders, scientists and celebrities”.
Go to http://www.ancestry.ca/immigration
The Buxton Homecoming Weekend
Buxton National Historic Site & Museum located in North Buston, Ontario will be holding their 14th Annual US/Canadian History Genealogy Conference on Friday Sept 2nd.
The event will be co-hosted by The Harriet Tubman Institute of York University & Buxton Historical Society, and there will be a full day of lectures.
There will be a youth panel, and genealogists such as Adrienne Shadd, Henry Natasha, and Irene Moore Davis will be there giving lectures and answering your questions.
Pre-registration is required
To find out more about the activities that will take place at The Buxton Homecoming from Friday to Monday (Sept 2 to the 5th) go to http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/hcoming/hc-event.html
The event will be co-hosted by The Harriet Tubman Institute of York University & Buxton Historical Society, and there will be a full day of lectures.
There will be a youth panel, and genealogists such as Adrienne Shadd, Henry Natasha, and Irene Moore Davis will be there giving lectures and answering your questions.
Pre-registration is required
To find out more about the activities that will take place at The Buxton Homecoming from Friday to Monday (Sept 2 to the 5th) go to http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/hcoming/hc-event.html
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Launch of "Census of Canada, 1871"
The LAC has just released a press release this afternoon -
"Ottawa, August 30, 2011— The 1871 census marked the first regularly scheduled collection of national statistics, and Library and Archives Canada is now pleased to make its results available online. Researchers can access digitized images of original census returns featuring the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time.
The information covers the four provinces that were part of the Dominion of Canada in 1871: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.
Access to the digitized images of the 1871 census is available online in two different ways:
Through a database that is searchable by nominal information such as Name, Given Name (s) and Age, and/or geographical information such as Province, District Name, District Number, and Sub-district Number.
The database is available at: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1871/index-e.html
Through the "microform digitization” research tool, you can browse the microfilm reels page by page.
The tool is available at: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=26&interval=30&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=f0v3thhcgqvau3vslaruumn2a7
For more information, please contact webservices@lac-bac.gc.ca.
"Ottawa, August 30, 2011— The 1871 census marked the first regularly scheduled collection of national statistics, and Library and Archives Canada is now pleased to make its results available online. Researchers can access digitized images of original census returns featuring the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time.
The information covers the four provinces that were part of the Dominion of Canada in 1871: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.
Access to the digitized images of the 1871 census is available online in two different ways:
Through a database that is searchable by nominal information such as Name, Given Name (s) and Age, and/or geographical information such as Province, District Name, District Number, and Sub-district Number.
The database is available at: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1871/index-e.html
Through the "microform digitization” research tool, you can browse the microfilm reels page by page.
The tool is available at: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=26&interval=30&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=f0v3thhcgqvau3vslaruumn2a7
For more information, please contact webservices@lac-bac.gc.ca.
Free Access – Immigration to the US
Yesterday, I had the post about "Free Access - Immigration from the UK", today there is more news, and it is free access (August 29th to September 5th)to "Immigration to the US". One of the areas to check is the “Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956”.
I spent the morning working on my grandfather Lester John BLADES from Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia. There were at least 17 trips he made to New York from 1925 to 1935. While in New York, he worked on yachts that travelled around the world, and while in Boston, he worked in factories.
Do you have Canadian ancestors who went to the States looking for work, or ancestors going on vacation to visit their relatives?
If you do, using Ancestry.com until Sept 5 is an excellent way to discover the trips they made from 1895 to 1956.
The website is at
http://www.ancestry.com/immigration?cj=1&o_xid=0004887102&o_lid=0004887102
I spent the morning working on my grandfather Lester John BLADES from Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia. There were at least 17 trips he made to New York from 1925 to 1935. While in New York, he worked on yachts that travelled around the world, and while in Boston, he worked in factories.
Do you have Canadian ancestors who went to the States looking for work, or ancestors going on vacation to visit their relatives?
If you do, using Ancestry.com until Sept 5 is an excellent way to discover the trips they made from 1895 to 1956.
The website is at
http://www.ancestry.com/immigration?cj=1&o_xid=0004887102&o_lid=0004887102
Call for Papers
The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society have issued a call for speakers to take part in a one-day Branch workshop on Finding Your Great War Ancestors, to be held in Toronto on 31 March 2012. It will be co-hosted by the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library.
To read about the Call for Papers, please go to http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/GreatWarCall_2012.html
The deadline for proposals is 18 September 2011
To submit your proposal, please contact the workshop coordinator, Paul Jones, at announcements@torontofamilyhistory.org
To read about the Call for Papers, please go to http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/GreatWarCall_2012.html
The deadline for proposals is 18 September 2011
To submit your proposal, please contact the workshop coordinator, Paul Jones, at announcements@torontofamilyhistory.org
Monday, August 29, 2011
Free Access – Immigration Records
A reader of the blog wrote to me yesterday to tell me that the British arm of Ancestry.com is offering free access to immigration records from today up until the 5th September.
You can search and view all of the immigration records for free.
I will be checking my Barclay, and Hitchens names to see if there is anything new.
Thank you Craig for passing along the word.
If you want to check them out, they are at http://www.ancestry.co.uk/immigration?o_iid=48750&o_lid=48750&o_sch=Inbound&AID=10402952&PID=1793701
You can search and view all of the immigration records for free.
I will be checking my Barclay, and Hitchens names to see if there is anything new.
Thank you Craig for passing along the word.
If you want to check them out, they are at http://www.ancestry.co.uk/immigration?o_iid=48750&o_lid=48750&o_sch=Inbound&AID=10402952&PID=1793701
New Blog – AFGS Acadian Heritage News
The tag line is “Focus of this blog is to provide news and information regarding Acadian Heritage”.
It is a Heritage Blog by the American-French Genealogical Society, and although it is not strictly a Canadian blog, it is about the Acadians – and there are genealogical societies on both sides of the border, so the blog caught my eye over the weekend as something I would like to read..
One of the blogs is “As tough as her ancestors” which the blogger tells about the being interviewed by his niece about what it is like being Acadian, and shows pictures of her exhibit and video of the process – very interesting! The exhibit “Nova Scotia - Acadian”
Another blog was the 34th Annual Acadian Festival which was held at
Madawaska, Maine on August 11th, and a visit to the The Acadian Historic Village – Caraquet, NB.
The blog is at http://afgs-acadian-heritage-news.blogspot.com/
It is a Heritage Blog by the American-French Genealogical Society, and although it is not strictly a Canadian blog, it is about the Acadians – and there are genealogical societies on both sides of the border, so the blog caught my eye over the weekend as something I would like to read..
One of the blogs is “As tough as her ancestors” which the blogger tells about the being interviewed by his niece about what it is like being Acadian, and shows pictures of her exhibit and video of the process – very interesting! The exhibit “Nova Scotia - Acadian”
Another blog was the 34th Annual Acadian Festival which was held at
Madawaska, Maine on August 11th, and a visit to the The Acadian Historic Village – Caraquet, NB.
The blog is at http://afgs-acadian-heritage-news.blogspot.com/
Saturday, August 27, 2011
London Leaf Newsletter
The August London-Middlesex Newletter August 2011 edition is out, and this edition is all about lists of names.
It contains articles such as “Women Who Were Entitled To Vote In London For The First Time” contains over 400 names of local women in 1885; a list of 80 Glencoe And Wardsville High School Entrans 1900, and a list of the people who offered their help to the inhabitants who were living in Michigan and were affected by the fire of 1881 under the title of Strathroy Request for Help – 1881.
The London-Middlesex County Branch will meet on September 6th at 7:30 pm at the Westmounth Branch of the London Public Library, 3200 Wonderland Road, in which Dennis Mulligan will talk about “Don't Believe Everything You Read: Research Using Internet and Other Sources”.
Their website is http://www.londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca
It contains articles such as “Women Who Were Entitled To Vote In London For The First Time” contains over 400 names of local women in 1885; a list of 80 Glencoe And Wardsville High School Entrans 1900, and a list of the people who offered their help to the inhabitants who were living in Michigan and were affected by the fire of 1881 under the title of Strathroy Request for Help – 1881.
The London-Middlesex County Branch will meet on September 6th at 7:30 pm at the Westmounth Branch of the London Public Library, 3200 Wonderland Road, in which Dennis Mulligan will talk about “Don't Believe Everything You Read: Research Using Internet and Other Sources”.
Their website is http://www.londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca
Oxford County Library Databases & Indexes
I came across a webpage in the Oxford County Library, Ontario the other day, and there is a huge amount of genealogy for those who have ancestor's in the county.
For example, they have -
Newspaper Indexes of the Ingersoll Chronicle (birth, death and marriage index), and also of the Ingersoll Tribune.
Oxford County Genealogy Records (1793 - 1858)
Cemetery Records of the Index of Ingersoll and Area Cemeteries, and some headstone photos
Land Records of Oxford County Land Patents (1798-1852)
Local History Books & Indexes including -
Index to History of North Oxford Township 1867-1967
Index to Ingersoll: Our Heritage by Henry W. Whitwell
Index to The Axe and the Wheel: a history of West Oxford Township, 1790-1974
Index to With Mortar and Pine: a collection of the architectural heritage in the Township of Norwich
Autobiography of Thomas Brush Brown, 1804-1893 : a pioneer of East Nissouri Township
From the Roaring 20s to Y2K by Elsie McSpadden
Zorra Boys at Home and Abroad or How to Succeed by William Alexander McKay
Pioneer Life in Zorra by William Alexander McKay
Musings on the Banks of Canadian Thames by James McIntyre
Zorra by William M. Campbell
Souvenir Manual of the Embro Congregational Church
Directories, Gazetteers & Voters' Lists -
1852 Oxford Gazetteer by Thomas S. Shenston
1857-58 Directory of Oxford
1871 Gazetteer of Oxford County : Ingersoll (11 MB)
1877 Town of Ingersoll Voters' List NEW
1883 Town of Ingersoll Voters' List NEW
1894-95 Town of Ingersoll Directory
1908 Union Publishing Company's Directory of the Town of Ingersoll(12 MB)
1911 Town of Ingersoll Directory NEW
1927 Town of Ingersoll Telephone Directory NEW
History of the Town of Ingersoll including -
Town of Ingersoll Historical Photo Gallery
Industrial Ingersoll Illustrated, February 1907
Industries of Canada : Ingersoll, 1887
Ingersoll in the Eighteen Seventies : excerpts from the Ingersoll Tribune
Index to Ingersoll: Our Heritage by Henry W. Whitwell
The Ingersolls of Hampshire in the line of John Ingersoll of Westfield, Massachusetts by Charles Stedman Ripley
History of the Town of Ingersoll by James Sinclair, 1924
1947 Ingersoll Fall Fair Souvenir Program
The amount of information here is astounding!
If you wish to read some of these histories, directories, newspapers go to http://www.ocl.net/genealogy/.
For example, they have -
Newspaper Indexes of the Ingersoll Chronicle (birth, death and marriage index), and also of the Ingersoll Tribune.
Oxford County Genealogy Records (1793 - 1858)
Cemetery Records of the Index of Ingersoll and Area Cemeteries, and some headstone photos
Land Records of Oxford County Land Patents (1798-1852)
Local History Books & Indexes including -
Index to History of North Oxford Township 1867-1967
Index to Ingersoll: Our Heritage by Henry W. Whitwell
Index to The Axe and the Wheel: a history of West Oxford Township, 1790-1974
Index to With Mortar and Pine: a collection of the architectural heritage in the Township of Norwich
Autobiography of Thomas Brush Brown, 1804-1893 : a pioneer of East Nissouri Township
From the Roaring 20s to Y2K by Elsie McSpadden
Zorra Boys at Home and Abroad or How to Succeed by William Alexander McKay
Pioneer Life in Zorra by William Alexander McKay
Musings on the Banks of Canadian Thames by James McIntyre
Zorra by William M. Campbell
Souvenir Manual of the Embro Congregational Church
Directories, Gazetteers & Voters' Lists -
1852 Oxford Gazetteer by Thomas S. Shenston
1857-58 Directory of Oxford
1871 Gazetteer of Oxford County : Ingersoll (11 MB)
1877 Town of Ingersoll Voters' List NEW
1883 Town of Ingersoll Voters' List NEW
1894-95 Town of Ingersoll Directory
1908 Union Publishing Company's Directory of the Town of Ingersoll(12 MB)
1911 Town of Ingersoll Directory NEW
1927 Town of Ingersoll Telephone Directory NEW
History of the Town of Ingersoll including -
Town of Ingersoll Historical Photo Gallery
Industrial Ingersoll Illustrated, February 1907
Industries of Canada : Ingersoll, 1887
Ingersoll in the Eighteen Seventies : excerpts from the Ingersoll Tribune
Index to Ingersoll: Our Heritage by Henry W. Whitwell
The Ingersolls of Hampshire in the line of John Ingersoll of Westfield, Massachusetts by Charles Stedman Ripley
History of the Town of Ingersoll by James Sinclair, 1924
1947 Ingersoll Fall Fair Souvenir Program
The amount of information here is astounding!
If you wish to read some of these histories, directories, newspapers go to http://www.ocl.net/genealogy/.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Abbotsford Sikh Temple
From 1901 until 1911, about 5,000 Sikhs (the majority who were young single men), came to Canada. They mostly settled in British Columbia to work in the logging, farming and railway industries.
In 1911 they built the Abbotsford Sikh Temple or Gurdwara. It is the oldest surviving Sikh temple in Canada.
In 2002, Parks Canada designated it as National Historic Site of Canada.
Parks Canada website http://www.pc.gc.ca/culture/ppa-ahp/itm1-/page04_e.asp
East Indians http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-905.015-e.html
In 1911 they built the Abbotsford Sikh Temple or Gurdwara. It is the oldest surviving Sikh temple in Canada.
In 2002, Parks Canada designated it as National Historic Site of Canada.
Parks Canada website http://www.pc.gc.ca/culture/ppa-ahp/itm1-/page04_e.asp
East Indians http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-905.015-e.html
A Walk to Remember
On the 24 & 25 of September there will be a tour of St. Ann's Cemetery (established 1835) in Penetanguishene, Simcoe County, Ontario.
The press release says to “Join Deb and Pam for a walk through this historic cemetery and meet sinners and saints, the famous and infamous. We've uncovered some fascinating and interesting facts about the citizens of Penetang and we'd like to share them with you.”
The Walk starts at 2 PM each day.
Tickets are limited to 25 for each day and must be paid for in advance.
Tickets are $8.00 each, and you call the museum at 705-549-2150.
All proceeds are for the Cemetery Board for the upkeep of the grounds.
The Penetanguishene Centennial Museum and Archives website is http://www.pencenmuseum.com/events-exhibits/
The press release says to “Join Deb and Pam for a walk through this historic cemetery and meet sinners and saints, the famous and infamous. We've uncovered some fascinating and interesting facts about the citizens of Penetang and we'd like to share them with you.”
The Walk starts at 2 PM each day.
Tickets are limited to 25 for each day and must be paid for in advance.
Tickets are $8.00 each, and you call the museum at 705-549-2150.
All proceeds are for the Cemetery Board for the upkeep of the grounds.
The Penetanguishene Centennial Museum and Archives website is http://www.pencenmuseum.com/events-exhibits/
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The 35th Norfolklore Genealogy Fair
Simcoe is a town located in the southwestern part of Ontario, and every fall it hosts the oldest genealogy fair in Ontario – The Norfolklore Genealogy Fair.
The resource providers/exhibitors for 2011 included Colonel John Butler Branch UELAC, Elgin County OGS, Grand Erie Education Archives, Grand River Branch UELAC, Haldimand County OGS, Hamilton Branch OGS, Heronwood Enterprises, Kent County OGS, Kinfolk Finders, Log Cabin Publishing, Mayholme Foundation, Niagara Branch OGS, Norfolk Historical Society, Norfolk County OGS, Norwich and District Historical Society, Oxford County OGS, Ruthven Park National Historic Site, Waterford Townsend Historical Society.
It will be held on September 24th, and tickets will be available for $5.00, and this includes admission to both the Norfolklore Fair as well as to the Eva Brook Donly Museum and Archives where you can do some local research with volunteer help. Usual admission to the Archives is $10.00.
It will be held ay the Simcoe Seniors Centre, 89 Pond Street, Simcoe from 10 am to 4pm.
The website is http://www.norfolklore.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=20
The resource providers/exhibitors for 2011 included Colonel John Butler Branch UELAC, Elgin County OGS, Grand Erie Education Archives, Grand River Branch UELAC, Haldimand County OGS, Hamilton Branch OGS, Heronwood Enterprises, Kent County OGS, Kinfolk Finders, Log Cabin Publishing, Mayholme Foundation, Niagara Branch OGS, Norfolk Historical Society, Norfolk County OGS, Norwich and District Historical Society, Oxford County OGS, Ruthven Park National Historic Site, Waterford Townsend Historical Society.
It will be held on September 24th, and tickets will be available for $5.00, and this includes admission to both the Norfolklore Fair as well as to the Eva Brook Donly Museum and Archives where you can do some local research with volunteer help. Usual admission to the Archives is $10.00.
It will be held ay the Simcoe Seniors Centre, 89 Pond Street, Simcoe from 10 am to 4pm.
The website is http://www.norfolklore.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=20
Biographical Research for Ontario Genealogists
Do you need help in learning the stories behind your ancestor's life? What was the historical events in their life at that time?
Then you need this course to help you answer the questions -
This course is for experienced genealogists who want to learn the stories behind their Ontario ancestors’ names, places and dates. Whether your ancestors were county farmers or city merchants, you can learn more about their lives using the records and techniques taught in this class. This class is ideal preparation for writing the family history book.
Schedule: Tuesdays, 6:15-8:15 PM, September 13,20, 27 and October 4, 2011 (a four week course)
Location: Toronto Reference Library, Learning Centre 1.
Instructor: Janice Nickerson
Janice is a professional genealogist based in Toronto. In addition to her private client work, she assists the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee in locating missing heirs, was the “behind the scenes” genealogical researcher and coordinator for the CBC’s genealogical TV program, Who Do You Think You Are? and is the author of the recent OGS/Dundurn publication, Crime and Punishment in Upper Canada: A Researcher’s Guide (For readers of Families, an excerpt, and review of the book was published in the February 2011 edition.)
Fee: $66 ($60 for OGS members.
Their website is at http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/courses.html
For further information, to discuss prerequisite equivalents and to check before mailing a late application: email: courses@torontofamilyhistory.org or call (416) 733-2608 (voicemail)
Then you need this course to help you answer the questions -
This course is for experienced genealogists who want to learn the stories behind their Ontario ancestors’ names, places and dates. Whether your ancestors were county farmers or city merchants, you can learn more about their lives using the records and techniques taught in this class. This class is ideal preparation for writing the family history book.
Schedule: Tuesdays, 6:15-8:15 PM, September 13,20, 27 and October 4, 2011 (a four week course)
Location: Toronto Reference Library, Learning Centre 1.
Instructor: Janice Nickerson
Janice is a professional genealogist based in Toronto. In addition to her private client work, she assists the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee in locating missing heirs, was the “behind the scenes” genealogical researcher and coordinator for the CBC’s genealogical TV program, Who Do You Think You Are? and is the author of the recent OGS/Dundurn publication, Crime and Punishment in Upper Canada: A Researcher’s Guide (For readers of Families, an excerpt, and review of the book was published in the February 2011 edition.)
Fee: $66 ($60 for OGS members.
Their website is at http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/courses.html
For further information, to discuss prerequisite equivalents and to check before mailing a late application: email: courses@torontofamilyhistory.org or call (416) 733-2608 (voicemail)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
120th Anniversary of Ukrainian Settlement
Over 1.2 million Ukrainian-Canadians are celebrating this year's events in the 120th Anniversary of settling in Canada.
They have completed the Historical Train of Ukrainian Pioneers from Halifax stopping in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Edmonton where they traced the steps of the people who came here in 1891; yesterday they honoured the annual Black Ribbon Day in which they remembered the victims of Communism and Nazism in Europe, and on the 24th of October of this year they will celebrate Ukrainian Day on Parliament Hill.
To view the history of Ukrainian-Canadians, the website is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadian
To view the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, visit the http://www.history.alberta.ca/ukrainianvillage/default.aspx
They have completed the Historical Train of Ukrainian Pioneers from Halifax stopping in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Edmonton where they traced the steps of the people who came here in 1891; yesterday they honoured the annual Black Ribbon Day in which they remembered the victims of Communism and Nazism in Europe, and on the 24th of October of this year they will celebrate Ukrainian Day on Parliament Hill.
To view the history of Ukrainian-Canadians, the website is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadian
To view the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, visit the http://www.history.alberta.ca/ukrainianvillage/default.aspx
BIFGSGO Begins Fall Meetings
The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO)first fall meeting will be Saturday, Sept 10, 2011 at Library and Archives Canada Auditorium, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa from 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Tom Rimmer has done research on the Fancy Railway Stations in Westmorland. His great-grandfather was absent from his Lancashire home as shown in the 1871 Census of Rainford, Lancashire. When Tom eventually found his great-grandfather, he was building railway stations in the Lake District. Tom's granddaughter, Anne Rimmer, will present the talk.
Come early, have a coffee, and explore the Irish, English, and Scottish Discovery Tables before the talk.
The website is http://www.bifhsgo.ca/
Tom Rimmer has done research on the Fancy Railway Stations in Westmorland. His great-grandfather was absent from his Lancashire home as shown in the 1871 Census of Rainford, Lancashire. When Tom eventually found his great-grandfather, he was building railway stations in the Lake District. Tom's granddaughter, Anne Rimmer, will present the talk.
Come early, have a coffee, and explore the Irish, English, and Scottish Discovery Tables before the talk.
The website is http://www.bifhsgo.ca/
Digging up the Parliament Building (Montreal)
On Tuesday, the CTV News http://m.ctv.ca/topstories/20110823/archaeologists-montreal-dig-110823.html had a story about archeologists digging up the Parliament Building which was burnt down by rebels of the Rebellions of 1837 in Montreal.
Reports say that they are starting to find items including a tea set, and a pair of glasses which was probably left behind by someone when the building burnt to the ground.
The ground will be turned into a green space in time for Montreal's 375th birthday, which will take place in 2017.
Read the history of the Parliament Building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_the_Parliament_Buildings_in_Montreal
For a history of Montreal, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal
For the Rebellion of 1837 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellion_Losses_Bill
Reports say that they are starting to find items including a tea set, and a pair of glasses which was probably left behind by someone when the building burnt to the ground.
The ground will be turned into a green space in time for Montreal's 375th birthday, which will take place in 2017.
Read the history of the Parliament Building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_the_Parliament_Buildings_in_Montreal
For a history of Montreal, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal
For the Rebellion of 1837 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellion_Losses_Bill
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Ireland Canada Monument Newsletter
Over the weekend I received this letter from Brendan Flynn at brendanflynn_1@hotmail.com
“Hello Everyone,
Please find the 50th edition of the Ireland Canada Monument Newsletter. We hope you will forward it to others.
The newletter can also be downloaded from the following link at the top of the page. Go to http://irelandmonumentvancouver.com/monumental-news/
Thank You.
The Ireland Canada Monument Society"
“Hello Everyone,
Please find the 50th edition of the Ireland Canada Monument Newsletter. We hope you will forward it to others.
The newletter can also be downloaded from the following link at the top of the page. Go to http://irelandmonumentvancouver.com/monumental-news/
Thank You.
The Ireland Canada Monument Society"
"Ask Granny!" Genealogy Program
The Victoria Genealogical Society's “Ask Granny!” Genealogical Program which is a free seminar in retirement homes is ready for their fall season.
They have presented four seminar so far in 2011 to a total of 29 students, and it sounds like they have been very popular.
I wonder if other societies are doing this as part of their outreach program.
For further information about “Ask Granny!' email vgsprojectdirector@gmail.com or visit the VGS Programs page on this Victoria Genealogical Society's website at http://www.victoriags.org/index.htm.
They have presented four seminar so far in 2011 to a total of 29 students, and it sounds like they have been very popular.
I wonder if other societies are doing this as part of their outreach program.
For further information about “Ask Granny!' email vgsprojectdirector@gmail.com or visit the VGS Programs page on this Victoria Genealogical Society's website at http://www.victoriags.org/index.htm.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Kingston Cemetery Repaired
On 27 May 2008 a number of Kingston citizens concerned about the deterioration of the Lower Burial Ground of St. Paul's Churchyard in the heart of the city gathered and decided to establish a non-profit corporation to be known as The Lower Burial Ground Restoration Society.
Since then, they have repaired the burial ground, and was able to repair the wall which surrounds it.
You can view the work that has been done by going to http://www.uelac.org/Kingston/lower.html
Since then, they have repaired the burial ground, and was able to repair the wall which surrounds it.
You can view the work that has been done by going to http://www.uelac.org/Kingston/lower.html
Keffer Writing Contest
Every year the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) has a writing contest called the Keffer Writing Contest. The deadline for entering the contest is November 1st.
The entries must be Canadian or Ontario based genealogy, and they should be between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length.
There will be three judges, and lots of nifty prized -
1sr prize $100.00 plus 2 annual OGS memberships
2nd prize $75.00 plus 1 annual OGS memberships
3rd prize $50.00
4th prize $25.00
You have to be a member of the OGS in order to enter. They have a new membership offer of $35.00 for a half year membership. Details are at are at http://www.ogs.on.ca/home/essay.php
The entries must be Canadian or Ontario based genealogy, and they should be between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length.
There will be three judges, and lots of nifty prized -
1sr prize $100.00 plus 2 annual OGS memberships
2nd prize $75.00 plus 1 annual OGS memberships
3rd prize $50.00
4th prize $25.00
You have to be a member of the OGS in order to enter. They have a new membership offer of $35.00 for a half year membership. Details are at are at http://www.ogs.on.ca/home/essay.php
Sunday, August 21, 2011
New Blog - Beehive Genealogy
Just like a busy bee, Erin has been writing blog post, as she puts it “It is my attempt to make sense of my ancestors, their place in time, and the communities they lived in as they moved west in Canada”.
She had been on since August the 11th , and has written such blogs as “Vic and Cassie Lloyd”, and 'The Benefits of Asking Questions and Questioning Answers”. She also does blogs on such subjects as “Friday Funny”, “Saturday Surnames”, and “Tombstone Tuesday
Erin writes with an easy and informed style, and one hopes that she keeps up the blog so that we can learn more about Western families in Canada.
The blog is at http://beehivegenealogy.wordpress.com/.
She had been on since August the 11th , and has written such blogs as “Vic and Cassie Lloyd”, and 'The Benefits of Asking Questions and Questioning Answers”. She also does blogs on such subjects as “Friday Funny”, “Saturday Surnames”, and “Tombstone Tuesday
Erin writes with an easy and informed style, and one hopes that she keeps up the blog so that we can learn more about Western families in Canada.
The blog is at http://beehivegenealogy.wordpress.com/.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Genealogy Education
The theme of the August 2011 edition of the OGS journal, Families, was “Genealogy Education”, and it contained seven papers -
The Training of Teachers is taken from the excellent book, Education and Ontario Family History, by Toronto genealogist, Marian Press. The article and book shows us where to find the educational records in such places as The Archives of Ontario.
Childhood Forgotten: The Story of a Home Child, by Robert McCauley, the winner of the 2011 Mike Brede Genealogical Essay Prize, tells the rather tragic story of Ada Victoria Girling from London who was put in numerous homes before she came to Canada as a Home Child, and the many years it took to find her story. It's her likenesses on the cover (above), as a sad little girl, and as a striking young woman.
Genealogy for Young People: Interest, Involvement, Nurturing by OGS Vice-President, Shirley Sturdevant, is a paper by a former teacher taking us through the process of teaching children about family history.
Our Heritage … Our Past is a paper be Carol White in which she tells us about the success of Heritage Fairs in Ontario. They have gone from having one fair in 1998 to 20 in 2011!
Robert Halfyard, in his paper, Never Assume!, tells us about the people that may be related to James Miller and his wife, Jane Bradley, and how he assumed that certain people were related, but weren't.
Gwen Patterson, in Documents for the Education Sector of Ontario, recounts the history of the Ontario Educational System.
Dave Obee's Tech Tools for Genealogists is the paper you should read if you want to be brought up-to-date on Social Media. It is taken from the Conference's closing lecture that he gave in Hamilton this past May.
The upcoming themes of the November 2011 issue of Families will be "The War of 1812", and "Immigration".
The Ontario Genealogical Society now has a half-year membership available for $35.00 at www.ogs.on.ca/membership/types.php
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Dieppe Raid
The 69th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid (also known as The Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter, or later on as Operation Jubilee), is today, August 19th.
It happened during the Second World War, and was an Allied (mainly Canadian), attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France.
Over 6,000 infantrymen were involved in the attack. Of those, a total of 3,623 (almost 60%) who made it ashore were either killed, wounded, or captured.
You can check the following three webpages to view more about the Dieppe Raid -
Canada in WW II http://www.junobeach.org/main.html
Canadian Forces after 1918 (including Second World War) Military Records Held by Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-909.007
The Books of Remembrance … The Second World War http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/bww2
It happened during the Second World War, and was an Allied (mainly Canadian), attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France.
Over 6,000 infantrymen were involved in the attack. Of those, a total of 3,623 (almost 60%) who made it ashore were either killed, wounded, or captured.
You can check the following three webpages to view more about the Dieppe Raid -
Canada in WW II http://www.junobeach.org/main.html
Canadian Forces after 1918 (including Second World War) Military Records Held by Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-909.007
The Books of Remembrance … The Second World War http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/books/bww2
VanKleek Hill Family History Day
Family History Day will be held at the Musée Vankleek Hill Museum, 95 Main Street East, and at VanKleek Hill Community Centre, VanKleek, Ontario.
The museum has invited four guest speakers – Harold MacMillan will introduce the local Galic language history, and teach you some words in Galic; David Abderson, a local book collector will tell you what to do with the collections that you have been left; Doroth Smith will talk about her research into the early history of the Van Kleek Hill Agricltural Aociety; Denis Sequin who is president of the VanKleek Hill & District Historical Society will explain the importance of the unique Victorian built-heritage as a tourist attraction.
Ottawa genealogists Glenn Wright, President of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/ who will be there to answer your questions on immigration, the Anglo-Saxon family roots, and military history, and genealogy.
If you wish to go to the Family History Day at Vankleek Hill on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. , please follow Highway 417 to Exit 17. It is located at the crossroads at Highways 10 and 34. It is free!
The website is http://www.vankleek.ca/index.php you can email them at info@vankleek.ca, or phone them at 613-678-2323.
Last year we went to the Family History Day, and completely enjoyed it, so much so, that we will go again this year. See you there!
The museum has invited four guest speakers – Harold MacMillan will introduce the local Galic language history, and teach you some words in Galic; David Abderson, a local book collector will tell you what to do with the collections that you have been left; Doroth Smith will talk about her research into the early history of the Van Kleek Hill Agricltural Aociety; Denis Sequin who is president of the VanKleek Hill & District Historical Society will explain the importance of the unique Victorian built-heritage as a tourist attraction.
Ottawa genealogists Glenn Wright, President of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/ who will be there to answer your questions on immigration, the Anglo-Saxon family roots, and military history, and genealogy.
If you wish to go to the Family History Day at Vankleek Hill on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. , please follow Highway 417 to Exit 17. It is located at the crossroads at Highways 10 and 34. It is free!
The website is http://www.vankleek.ca/index.php you can email them at info@vankleek.ca, or phone them at 613-678-2323.
Last year we went to the Family History Day, and completely enjoyed it, so much so, that we will go again this year. See you there!
Juvenile Inspection Reports
I have been reading about the immigration to Canada of children from Britain, and the creation of inspection report cards as they carried out regular inspections of the children. I was interested in this because Robert McCauley wrote about a Home Child named Ada Victoria Girling in a paper in this month's Families entitled “Childhood Forgotten: The Story of a Home Child.”
Most of these reports at the Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html concern the British Home Children. Some 100,000 British Home Children immigrated to Canada between between 1869 and 1948.
There is usually one page in the inspection report per child, with the following details -
name
age or date of birth
year of arrival
name of ship
sending organization, and,
names and addresses of farmers with whom they were placed.
In some cases, you may have to consult the List of Abbreviations to determine the name of the sending organization, such as the Middlemore Home Children in the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa. http://www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=4
This series also includes inspection cards for some European children, including those brought to Canada by the Armenian Relief Association of Canada (1923-1932) and the Canadian Jewish War Orphans Committee (1920-1921).
The Juvenile Inspections Reports are available on the following microfilm reels, arranged in approximate alphabetical order by the Library and Archives Canada at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html
T-15420 A to CARDNO, Leslie
T-15421 CARDWELL, Andrew to EVANS, Arthur E.
T-15422 EVANS, Arthur L. to HENDERSON, Ann F.
T-15423 HENDERSON, Charles H. to LOCK, Annie
T-15424 LOCK, Herbert to O'BRIEN, Samuel
T-15425 O'BRIEN, Thomas to SHAW, Victor
T-15426 SHAW, Walter A. to WEALE, Walter
T-15427 WEALLS, Eric to ZYCZYNSKI, Leon
This is the only known source for children sent by the British Immigration and Colonization Association from Britain to Canada.
Most of these reports at the Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html concern the British Home Children. Some 100,000 British Home Children immigrated to Canada between between 1869 and 1948.
There is usually one page in the inspection report per child, with the following details -
name
age or date of birth
year of arrival
name of ship
sending organization, and,
names and addresses of farmers with whom they were placed.
In some cases, you may have to consult the List of Abbreviations to determine the name of the sending organization, such as the Middlemore Home Children in the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa. http://www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=4
This series also includes inspection cards for some European children, including those brought to Canada by the Armenian Relief Association of Canada (1923-1932) and the Canadian Jewish War Orphans Committee (1920-1921).
The Juvenile Inspections Reports are available on the following microfilm reels, arranged in approximate alphabetical order by the Library and Archives Canada at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html
T-15420 A to CARDNO, Leslie
T-15421 CARDWELL, Andrew to EVANS, Arthur E.
T-15422 EVANS, Arthur L. to HENDERSON, Ann F.
T-15423 HENDERSON, Charles H. to LOCK, Annie
T-15424 LOCK, Herbert to O'BRIEN, Samuel
T-15425 O'BRIEN, Thomas to SHAW, Victor
T-15426 SHAW, Walter A. to WEALE, Walter
T-15427 WEALLS, Eric to ZYCZYNSKI, Leon
This is the only known source for children sent by the British Immigration and Colonization Association from Britain to Canada.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Cemetery Outing
News from the Halton-Peel Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society http://www.halinet.on.ca/sigs/ogshp/tells us that there will be a Cemetery Outing to St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery on Saturday September 10th at 2099 Dickson Road, Mississauga.
They are looking for people to finish transcribing the cemetery, and if you are able to help out please contact Dorothy Kew at dkew@cogeco.ca for directions to the cemetery.
They are looking for people to finish transcribing the cemetery, and if you are able to help out please contact Dorothy Kew at dkew@cogeco.ca for directions to the cemetery.
Writers' Groups in Genealogy
There are two genealogical societies in Canada which have a writer's group.
They are -
The SouthEast & Winnipeg Branch of the Manitoba Genealogical Society http://www.mbgenealogy.com/index.php?page=southeast-and-winnipeg-branch
They have just started their group, and they say “The focus of each meeting will be to help and support each other’s desire to write about our families”.
They say that they will be “Exploring writing techniques — how to find and develop a theme, how to add details to catch the reader’s interest, and how to tighten or expand our writing.
Everyone with a willingness to write and share is welcome! Bring a notebook and your favourite pen to write with”.
Contact Virginis Braid at vbraid@mts.net for more information.
The other society which I know has a writing group is -
The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, and they hold their meetings right after the regular monthly meeting on Saturday morning at the Library and Archives Canada,5th floor cafeteria.
They are a Special Interests Groups and they meet from 11:45 am to 2:30 pm.
They say that they are “Open to BIFHSGO members who want feedback on writing their family history or memoirs, the Writing Group meets after the monthly BIFHSGO Saturday meetings. We bring extra copies of our writing to share with members. Most of us also bring a lunch to eat before we begin our”.
The website is at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/events.php, you can contact them at
queries@bifhsgo.ca
Are there any more writing groups out there? If there are, write and tell us about the group.
They are -
The SouthEast & Winnipeg Branch of the Manitoba Genealogical Society http://www.mbgenealogy.com/index.php?page=southeast-and-winnipeg-branch
They have just started their group, and they say “The focus of each meeting will be to help and support each other’s desire to write about our families”.
They say that they will be “Exploring writing techniques — how to find and develop a theme, how to add details to catch the reader’s interest, and how to tighten or expand our writing.
Everyone with a willingness to write and share is welcome! Bring a notebook and your favourite pen to write with”.
Contact Virginis Braid at vbraid@mts.net for more information.
The other society which I know has a writing group is -
The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, and they hold their meetings right after the regular monthly meeting on Saturday morning at the Library and Archives Canada,5th floor cafeteria.
They are a Special Interests Groups and they meet from 11:45 am to 2:30 pm.
They say that they are “Open to BIFHSGO members who want feedback on writing their family history or memoirs, the Writing Group meets after the monthly BIFHSGO Saturday meetings. We bring extra copies of our writing to share with members. Most of us also bring a lunch to eat before we begin our”.
The website is at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/events.php, you can contact them at
queries@bifhsgo.ca
Are there any more writing groups out there? If there are, write and tell us about the group.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
NIGS - GRADUATION CEREMONY
Even though it is still a month away, things are starting to happen for the 17th annual BIFHSGO conference! Their website is at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/
I just got this notice last night from The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, and it says that there is “Only one month to go for our GRADUATION CEREMONY. Join us in Ottawa to honour our 'Graduates'. Everyone is welcomed......
If you have not yet let us know you are attending, please do so as soon as possible. The instructions are below or you can send an e-mail to: admin@genealogicalstudies.com to indicate the number of people. Here was the original announcement:
THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE. The National Institute for Genealogical Studies and the Continuing Education unit of the University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto, invites you to come celebrate with us, with our students and our graduates. The graduation ceremony will take place at 4:00 pm, just prior to the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO)'s opening ceremony at Library and Archives Canada. You will hear from a few of our graduates and mingle with our students and instructors. Graduates, remember to invite your family and friends to attend - everyone is welcome!
Friday, 16 September 2011 at 4:00pm
Library and Archives Canada
Room 156, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
To reserve your complimentary tickets:
please go to http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/
click on LOGIN (top right hand corner), type your e-mail address and your password, click OK,
click on SERVICES & TIPS (on the left under Other Products),
click on National Institute for Genealogical Studies,
Click on Graduation Ceremony,
click on ADD TO CART, click on SHOPPING CART,
in Quantity: change the number of tickets you would like, click on UPDATE,
click on CHECK-OUT STAND, Click on PAY BY CHECK/CHEQUE.
There will no charge. This will simply complete the request.
Or if you prefer, or have any questions, call us at 1-800-580-0165 or if local, to Toronto 416-861-0165.
Hope to see you in Ottawa...”
I just got this notice last night from The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, and it says that there is “Only one month to go for our GRADUATION CEREMONY. Join us in Ottawa to honour our 'Graduates'. Everyone is welcomed......
If you have not yet let us know you are attending, please do so as soon as possible. The instructions are below or you can send an e-mail to: admin@genealogicalstudies.com to indicate the number of people. Here was the original announcement:
THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE. The National Institute for Genealogical Studies and the Continuing Education unit of the University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto, invites you to come celebrate with us, with our students and our graduates. The graduation ceremony will take place at 4:00 pm, just prior to the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO)'s opening ceremony at Library and Archives Canada. You will hear from a few of our graduates and mingle with our students and instructors. Graduates, remember to invite your family and friends to attend - everyone is welcome!
Friday, 16 September 2011 at 4:00pm
Library and Archives Canada
Room 156, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
To reserve your complimentary tickets:
please go to http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/
click on LOGIN (top right hand corner), type your e-mail address and your password, click OK,
click on SERVICES & TIPS (on the left under Other Products),
click on National Institute for Genealogical Studies,
Click on Graduation Ceremony,
click on ADD TO CART, click on SHOPPING CART,
in Quantity: change the number of tickets you would like, click on UPDATE,
click on CHECK-OUT STAND, Click on PAY BY CHECK/CHEQUE.
There will no charge. This will simply complete the request.
Or if you prefer, or have any questions, call us at 1-800-580-0165 or if local, to Toronto 416-861-0165.
Hope to see you in Ottawa...”
Bruce & Grey Branch Fall Event
The annual Bruce & Grey Fall Event will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the Ayton Centennial Hall, 818 Albert St. Ayton, Ontario.
The speakers will be Kathleen LaBudie-Szakall who has spent over 30 years researching her Polish ancestors, and lectured for over 25 years on various Polish, Michigan and Ontario resources, and along with Jan Zaleski developed an on-line genealogy course & companion textbook, "Finding Your Polish Ancestors", and Steve Fulton as a Network Admin/Compter Tech., is the Chair of the Niagara Penninsula Branch, and the Technical Support and Innovation Committee as well as Webmaster and Tech Support for Niagara.
In addition to the Conference, you are invited to visit the Bruce County Cultural Centre and Archives and Grey Roots to see what they have to offer. There will be two free days of research to Fall Event participants on Thursday, September 23, and Friday, September 24. You must pre-register to take advantage of this offer.
You can send the registration form to Bruce & Grey Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society (BGOS), Att: Korleen Halbert, P. O. Box 66, Owen Sound, ON. N4K 5P1
The Registration Fee is $30.00 before Sept.10th or $35.00 at the door (includes a hot lunch of Chicken & Beef with Homemade Pies.-
Their website is at http://tiffanyweb.bmts.com/~bgogs/calofevent.html
The speakers will be Kathleen LaBudie-Szakall who has spent over 30 years researching her Polish ancestors, and lectured for over 25 years on various Polish, Michigan and Ontario resources, and along with Jan Zaleski developed an on-line genealogy course & companion textbook, "Finding Your Polish Ancestors", and Steve Fulton as a Network Admin/Compter Tech., is the Chair of the Niagara Penninsula Branch, and the Technical Support and Innovation Committee as well as Webmaster and Tech Support for Niagara.
In addition to the Conference, you are invited to visit the Bruce County Cultural Centre and Archives and Grey Roots to see what they have to offer. There will be two free days of research to Fall Event participants on Thursday, September 23, and Friday, September 24. You must pre-register to take advantage of this offer.
You can send the registration form to Bruce & Grey Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society (BGOS), Att: Korleen Halbert, P. O. Box 66, Owen Sound, ON. N4K 5P1
The Registration Fee is $30.00 before Sept.10th or $35.00 at the door (includes a hot lunch of Chicken & Beef with Homemade Pies.-
Their website is at http://tiffanyweb.bmts.com/~bgogs/calofevent.html
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
FREE Genealogy Workshop in Windsor, Nova Scotia
Members of the West Hants Historical Society are holding a FREE Genealogy Workshop on Saturday, 20 August, 2011 from 10 a.m. until everybody gives up!
The workstations will be -
- Locating and using on-line sources
- Demonstration of a 'typical' genealogy package (Legacy)
- Thinking of writing a book?
- Hants County Cemeteries
- WHHS Library resources (try them)
- Care and storage of photos and documents.
- Lots of handouts.
They ask that you join them at the West Hants Historical Society, 281 King St., Windsor, NS
Their website is at http://www.westhantshistoricalsociety.ca/
The workstations will be -
- Locating and using on-line sources
- Demonstration of a 'typical' genealogy package (Legacy)
- Thinking of writing a book?
- Hants County Cemeteries
- WHHS Library resources (try them)
- Care and storage of photos and documents.
- Lots of handouts.
They ask that you join them at the West Hants Historical Society, 281 King St., Windsor, NS
Their website is at http://www.westhantshistoricalsociety.ca/
National Acadian Day
August 15th was National Acadian Day.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday that “The Acadian people endured early hardships with great resolve and courage to emerge a proud and determined community that continues to make significant contributions to Canada, in every area of endeavour. Their customs, traditions and way of life have become a distinctive part of Canada’s social fabric”.
They have just finished the Acadian Festival and Cyr Family Reunion http://www.acadianfestival.com/
Read about the Congress in 2014 The Acadian World Congress http://www.acadian.org/congres5.html
Acadian Arts & Crafts in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia http://www.yarmouthandacadianshores.com/
They have just had the festival The Acadian Festival of Caraquet http://festivalacadien.ca/en
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday that “The Acadian people endured early hardships with great resolve and courage to emerge a proud and determined community that continues to make significant contributions to Canada, in every area of endeavour. Their customs, traditions and way of life have become a distinctive part of Canada’s social fabric”.
They have just finished the Acadian Festival and Cyr Family Reunion http://www.acadianfestival.com/
Read about the Congress in 2014 The Acadian World Congress http://www.acadian.org/congres5.html
Acadian Arts & Crafts in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia http://www.yarmouthandacadianshores.com/
They have just had the festival The Acadian Festival of Caraquet http://festivalacadien.ca/en
Former Titles for Canadian Forces
There is news in Ottawa this morning that Canada will return the titles of the Maritime Command, Air Command and Land Force Command to their former title of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Canadian Navy today.
It will happened 100 years to the day that the British granted Royal Consent to the Naval Service of Canada that it could call itself the Royal Canadian Navy.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay is announcing the name changes in Halifax today.
If you want to read of their history, the websites are -
Canadian Forces http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces
The History and Heriitage of the Royal Canadian Air Force http://rcaf.com/
Royal Canadian Navy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Navy
It will happened 100 years to the day that the British granted Royal Consent to the Naval Service of Canada that it could call itself the Royal Canadian Navy.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay is announcing the name changes in Halifax today.
If you want to read of their history, the websites are -
Canadian Forces http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces
The History and Heriitage of the Royal Canadian Air Force http://rcaf.com/
Royal Canadian Navy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Navy
Monday, August 15, 2011
Tall Ship “Pride of Baltimore II” in Amherstburg, Ontario
The "Pride of Baltimore" will make its grand arrival at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2011, and will stay overnight until Sunday, August 27, 2011 in Amherstburg.
The 157-ft "Pride of Baltimore II" is a reproduction of an 1812-era Baltimore-built topsail schooner privateer. The original "Pride", Chasseur, defended America's freedom during the War of 1812 by serving as an offensive weapon of war and blockade-runner, capturing or sinking 35 British vessels. The British attacked Baltimore in 1814 in an attempt to destroy the Fells Point shipyards where privateer ships were built. During the September 13, 1814 Battle of Baltimore, Francis Scott Key wrote the words that became the United States national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner”.
Amherstburg welcomes the "Pride II" as part of the celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.
Complimentary tour times are as follows at Duffy’s dockside -
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Dockside Deck Tours: 2 p.m. to 7:00 pm
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Dockside Deck Tours 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
You can go to the website http://www.1812amherstburg.com
The 157-ft "Pride of Baltimore II" is a reproduction of an 1812-era Baltimore-built topsail schooner privateer. The original "Pride", Chasseur, defended America's freedom during the War of 1812 by serving as an offensive weapon of war and blockade-runner, capturing or sinking 35 British vessels. The British attacked Baltimore in 1814 in an attempt to destroy the Fells Point shipyards where privateer ships were built. During the September 13, 1814 Battle of Baltimore, Francis Scott Key wrote the words that became the United States national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner”.
Amherstburg welcomes the "Pride II" as part of the celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.
Complimentary tour times are as follows at Duffy’s dockside -
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Dockside Deck Tours: 2 p.m. to 7:00 pm
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Dockside Deck Tours 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
You can go to the website http://www.1812amherstburg.com
Stories of a Canadian Family
A new blog appeared yesterday, and it is named “Stories of a Canadian Family”.
It is by Lianne Lavoie, and it explores her “French, English, Scottish, and Swedish ancestry”. Genealogy is right up there with the things she likes to do (right after computer science, languages, and philosophy), and she says that most of her “research so far has been on my dad’s side of the family, simply because it is the French Canadian side, and there are ample resources available. However, I do plan to discover as much as I can about my mom’s side, which is English, Scottish, and Swedish, as well. There are many gaps still in my family tree, and I intend to fill them in”.
She has the surnames of her paternal side, which are -
Bard
Daineault
Deshaies
Ducharme
Gagne
Lavoie
Levasseur
Ouellet
Paradis
Richard
Voyer
And the surnames of her maternal side, which are -
Angus
Aspinal
Fretwell
Jackson
Johnson
Pehrsson/Peterson
Prince
Watts
So if you have any of these names in your family, be sure to drop Lianne a note, and help her along the way.
The website is http://storiesofacanadianfamily.blogspot.com/
It is by Lianne Lavoie, and it explores her “French, English, Scottish, and Swedish ancestry”. Genealogy is right up there with the things she likes to do (right after computer science, languages, and philosophy), and she says that most of her “research so far has been on my dad’s side of the family, simply because it is the French Canadian side, and there are ample resources available. However, I do plan to discover as much as I can about my mom’s side, which is English, Scottish, and Swedish, as well. There are many gaps still in my family tree, and I intend to fill them in”.
She has the surnames of her paternal side, which are -
Bard
Daineault
Deshaies
Ducharme
Gagne
Lavoie
Levasseur
Ouellet
Paradis
Richard
Voyer
And the surnames of her maternal side, which are -
Angus
Aspinal
Fretwell
Jackson
Johnson
Pehrsson/Peterson
Prince
Watts
So if you have any of these names in your family, be sure to drop Lianne a note, and help her along the way.
The website is http://storiesofacanadianfamily.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 12, 2011
Late Summer Reading
The August issue of Families has just out, and in it, five books were reviewed. They are -
Education and Ontario Family History: A Guide to Resources for Genealogists and Historians by Marian Press.
This book is for the person who had ancestors in the educational system in Ontario, from the earliest days to the 1960s.
The six chapters range from Chapter One: "Where the Resources Reside" to Chapter Six, which covers the topic of post-secondary education.
The website is at http://ogs.on.ca/ogscart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=722
Tracing Your English & Scottish Ancestry Moorshead Magazines Ltd.
This is a collection of nineteen articles previously published by the company in their magazines, and include "British WWII Merchant Vessel Cards", "35 Top Sites for Scottish Research", and "Cornish Online Parish Clerks".
Each of the nineteenth subjects are written by such writers as Davis A. Norris, George G. Morgan (one of the Genealogy Guys), and Alan Stewart.
The website is www.moorshead.com
This book lists 167 articles about genealogy in Ontario. Among the headings are "Afro-Canadian Ancestry", "Loyalists", and "Vital Statistics".
The website is at http://ogs.on.ca/ogscart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1085
Perseverance, Pranks & Pride by Joy V.C. Forbes.
There are over 1,700 personal names listed in this book about one-room schoolhouses in the Ottawa Valley.
Over 120 schools are listed, and photos are available.
You can go to her website to see more about one-room schoolhouses at www.oneroomschoolhouses.ca
Education and Ontario Family History: A Guide to Resources for Genealogists and Historians by Marian Press.
This book is for the person who had ancestors in the educational system in Ontario, from the earliest days to the 1960s.
The six chapters range from Chapter One: "Where the Resources Reside" to Chapter Six, which covers the topic of post-secondary education.
The website is at http://ogs.on.ca/ogscart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=722
Tracing Your English & Scottish Ancestry Moorshead Magazines Ltd.
This is a collection of nineteen articles previously published by the company in their magazines, and include "British WWII Merchant Vessel Cards", "35 Top Sites for Scottish Research", and "Cornish Online Parish Clerks".
Each of the nineteenth subjects are written by such writers as Davis A. Norris, George G. Morgan (one of the Genealogy Guys), and Alan Stewart.
The website is www.moorshead.com
Some Early Scots in Maritime Canada, Volume 1 by Terrence M. Punch.
Here, he follows the history of the emigration of Scots from the mid-1700s to the 1800s.
He even partly reconstitutes passenger lists for the ships William Tell and Harmony.
The website is <www.genealogical.com/products/Some%20Early%20Scots%20in%20Maritime%20Canada%20%20Volume%201/4713.html>.
This book lists 167 articles about genealogy in Ontario. Among the headings are "Afro-Canadian Ancestry", "Loyalists", and "Vital Statistics".
The website is at http://ogs.on.ca/ogscart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1085
Perseverance, Pranks & Pride by Joy V.C. Forbes.
There are over 1,700 personal names listed in this book about one-room schoolhouses in the Ottawa Valley.
Over 120 schools are listed, and photos are available.
You can go to her website to see more about one-room schoolhouses at www.oneroomschoolhouses.ca
Family History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
Have you been to the Family History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador site lately?
They have recently put new slides and audio recordings on the site from their April and May lectures, and Members can access these on their "Meetings & Lectures" page.
All 25+ years worth of back issues of The Newfoundland Ancestor have been digitised and put on their website for their members. For non-members they have made available a free sample issue that you can download and read.
And their website now has an interactive forum where they invite you to post genealogical queries, etc.
To go to the website, click om http://www.fhsnl.ca/
They have recently put new slides and audio recordings on the site from their April and May lectures, and Members can access these on their "Meetings & Lectures" page.
All 25+ years worth of back issues of The Newfoundland Ancestor have been digitised and put on their website for their members. For non-members they have made available a free sample issue that you can download and read.
And their website now has an interactive forum where they invite you to post genealogical queries, etc.
To go to the website, click om http://www.fhsnl.ca/
Camrose Founders Days Festival
Celebrations at Camrose Founders Days Festival, Camrose, Alberta, August 12th to the 14th. It will mark 100 year milestones for many Camrose organizations. Daily activities take place Downtown on Main Street, Camrose Centennial Museum and the Camrose Railway Station Museum & Park.
On Friday, August 12 at 12:30, a "promenade" down Camrose's Main Street will take place before arriving at Founders Square for the honouring ceremony of the three founders - Rev. Thomas Torger Carlson, Mr. M.A. Maxwell and Mrs. Carla Didrickson-Hoyme.
After the ceremony, the public is invited to the Bailey Theatre to take in a reception, "meet" the founders, tour the 100-year-old theatre and visit the City of Camrose historical inventory.
On Saturday evening there be a graveyard expedition through Poplar Grove cemetery. Following that, you can meet Glenys Smith at the Railway Station for a ghost tour through the city.
On Sunday, a display at the Camrose centennial museum will highlight another groundbreaking member of the Hoyme family, this time featuring the millinery of Miss Hoyme, a relative of Carla Didrickson-Hoyme. A Mad Hatters fashion show at 1 p.m. will be held to recognize her accomplishments.
If you wish to go to the website, the address is http://www.camrosefoundersdays.com/
On Friday, August 12 at 12:30, a "promenade" down Camrose's Main Street will take place before arriving at Founders Square for the honouring ceremony of the three founders - Rev. Thomas Torger Carlson, Mr. M.A. Maxwell and Mrs. Carla Didrickson-Hoyme.
After the ceremony, the public is invited to the Bailey Theatre to take in a reception, "meet" the founders, tour the 100-year-old theatre and visit the City of Camrose historical inventory.
On Saturday evening there be a graveyard expedition through Poplar Grove cemetery. Following that, you can meet Glenys Smith at the Railway Station for a ghost tour through the city.
On Sunday, a display at the Camrose centennial museum will highlight another groundbreaking member of the Hoyme family, this time featuring the millinery of Miss Hoyme, a relative of Carla Didrickson-Hoyme. A Mad Hatters fashion show at 1 p.m. will be held to recognize her accomplishments.
If you wish to go to the website, the address is http://www.camrosefoundersdays.com/
Thursday, August 11, 2011
GANS Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia
On Tuesday the 27 of September, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia (GANS) will hold a talk which will be given by Conrad Byers of Parrsboro. The topic of his talk will be "Sea Captains: The Men Who Took Their Wives and Families to Sea With Them".
The meeting will be held at the Akins Room, Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, 6016 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Their website address is http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/GANS/
The meeting will be held at the Akins Room, Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, 6016 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Their website address is http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/GANS/
Another View of Genealogy Survey
There is another view of the Canadian Genealogy Survey given by British Columbia blogger M. Diane Rogers on her site "CanadianGenealogy, or, 'Jane's Your Aunt'" on August 9th at http://canadagenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/08/another-genealogyfamily-history-survey.html
Do you agree or disagree with her views?
She says in part that "I've already submitted my answers, and yes, I knew right away I couldn't agree with some of the broad assumptions apparently being made. Has there been a recent "surge of interest" in genealogy/family history as the Cape Breton Post put it? If so, when, where and what forms has it taken? Or are some paying more attention to television ads than perhaps is wise. Remember how long the widely heralded show 'Who Do You Think You Are' lasted in Canada?"
What are your views? Is she right, or is she too critical of the survey?
If you haven't taken the survey yet, it is on http://www.cusurveycentre.ca/gensurvey
Do you agree or disagree with her views?
She says in part that "I've already submitted my answers, and yes, I knew right away I couldn't agree with some of the broad assumptions apparently being made. Has there been a recent "surge of interest" in genealogy/family history as the Cape Breton Post put it? If so, when, where and what forms has it taken? Or are some paying more attention to television ads than perhaps is wise. Remember how long the widely heralded show 'Who Do You Think You Are' lasted in Canada?"
What are your views? Is she right, or is she too critical of the survey?
If you haven't taken the survey yet, it is on http://www.cusurveycentre.ca/gensurvey
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
Just got this message from John D. Reid http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com/ about an event to take place at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum on Thursday August 25th at 7 pm.
You are invited to "Remembering the British Home Children in Canada "where you will view "the Memorial Quilt prepared to commemorate the British Home Children in Canada and hear a personal account from Mary Thurston of Perth, Ontario, an accomplished author who wrote “Into the Hills.” Mary is the daughter of Isabella Hilson, a home child who is featured on the Memorial Quilt. Bob Stacey of Carleton Place, Ontario will talk about memories of his father, who also was a home child.
Please join us for this occasion. Refreshments will be served.
There is no admission charge but a goodwill donation would be appreciated.
The Memorial Quilt will be on display in the museum’s Norah Rosamond
Hughes Gallery until 31 August 2011".
Michael Rikley-Lancaster
Executive Director / Curator
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
613-256-3754
curator@mvtm.ca
http://www.mvtm.ca
You are invited to "Remembering the British Home Children in Canada "where you will view "the Memorial Quilt prepared to commemorate the British Home Children in Canada and hear a personal account from Mary Thurston of Perth, Ontario, an accomplished author who wrote “Into the Hills.” Mary is the daughter of Isabella Hilson, a home child who is featured on the Memorial Quilt. Bob Stacey of Carleton Place, Ontario will talk about memories of his father, who also was a home child.
Please join us for this occasion. Refreshments will be served.
There is no admission charge but a goodwill donation would be appreciated.
The Memorial Quilt will be on display in the museum’s Norah Rosamond
Hughes Gallery until 31 August 2011".
Michael Rikley-Lancaster
Executive Director / Curator
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
613-256-3754
curator@mvtm.ca
http://www.mvtm.ca
Death Notice in the "Island Register"
Dave Hunter keeps a website at http://www.islandregister.com/ about Prince Edward Island genealogy. As part of the website, he also issues a weekly free e-newsletter called the Island Register for over ten years. To subscribe, go to http://www.islandregister.com/whatsnew.html#newsletter
Since 2005, Eldon Sentner has put weekly obits on the newsletter, and you can read them at
http://www.islandregister.com/2005obits.html. His email is daleandeldon@eastlink.ca
There is also "Centenarians in the Death Notices Listings" at http://www.islandregister.com/eldoncentenarians.html
Since 2005, Eldon Sentner has put weekly obits on the newsletter, and you can read them at
http://www.islandregister.com/2005obits.html. His email is daleandeldon@eastlink.ca
There is also "Centenarians in the Death Notices Listings" at http://www.islandregister.com/eldoncentenarians.html
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Peacekeeper's Day
Three years ago, National Peacekeepers' Day become an official day in Canada. Every year on August 9, past and present Canadian peacekeepers have been honoured through events, and activities across Canada.
Veterans Affairs Canada National Peacekeepers’ Day Also gives their history, and a list of events that are taking place across the country.
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=feature/peacekeeper
Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping
http://www.cavunp.org/pkday.html
Gives the history of the RCMP as peacekeepers
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/po-mp/pks-gsp-day-jour-eng.htm
Veterans Affairs Canada National Peacekeepers’ Day Also gives their history, and a list of events that are taking place across the country.
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=feature/peacekeeper
Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping
http://www.cavunp.org/pkday.html
Gives the history of the RCMP as peacekeepers
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/po-mp/pks-gsp-day-jour-eng.htm
Museum Explores Mining Heritage
The Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre is putting on "Mining Rocks of the North" exhibit from August 3 to September 5, 2011
They will have special events that will include "Gold Panning on Vermillion River" on August 20, 2011, as well as the exhibit.
If you have questions about the history of Capreol and Area including the towns of Sellwood and Milnet, the museum has books, and photos.
The museum is located at 26 Bloor St. Capreol, Ontario.
The website is http://normhc.ca/silverstripe/
They will have special events that will include "Gold Panning on Vermillion River" on August 20, 2011, as well as the exhibit.
If you have questions about the history of Capreol and Area including the towns of Sellwood and Milnet, the museum has books, and photos.
The museum is located at 26 Bloor St. Capreol, Ontario.
The website is http://normhc.ca/silverstripe/
Fergus Scottish Fesival & Highland Games
From August 12th to the 14th, Fergus, Ontario will be the place to be if you have an interest in things Scottish.
There will a full genealogy program at the The Record & Guelph Mercury's Genealogy and Education Venue, which is situated beside the Heavy Events field within the picturesque Avenue of the Clans.
The site says it "Lectures from our featured author, book signing, Scottish musicians, The Chieftain, dance, Scottish and Celtic related lectures given by top Canadian academics, featured athletes, tartan and kilt making, weaponry, battles, geography, sculptor, croft display, the distillation of Scotch, the many uses of Highland heather and much more".
There is a Historical Research Centre, Genealogy Research Centre and Tartan Research Centre within the venue. The Scottish Athletic Hall of Fame is the only comprehensive exhibit in the world illustrating the recorded history of indigeneous Scottish sport.
The exhibit is interpreted by historian-author Lynn Boland Richardson and renowned sports author and Commonwealth official Mr. David P Webster O.B.E. Photo opportunities and athlete autographs are available.
To go to their website http://www.fergusscottishfestival.com/
or contact them at info@FergusScottishFestival.com
There will a full genealogy program at the The Record & Guelph Mercury's Genealogy and Education Venue, which is situated beside the Heavy Events field within the picturesque Avenue of the Clans.
The site says it "Lectures from our featured author, book signing, Scottish musicians, The Chieftain, dance, Scottish and Celtic related lectures given by top Canadian academics, featured athletes, tartan and kilt making, weaponry, battles, geography, sculptor, croft display, the distillation of Scotch, the many uses of Highland heather and much more".
There is a Historical Research Centre, Genealogy Research Centre and Tartan Research Centre within the venue. The Scottish Athletic Hall of Fame is the only comprehensive exhibit in the world illustrating the recorded history of indigeneous Scottish sport.
The exhibit is interpreted by historian-author Lynn Boland Richardson and renowned sports author and Commonwealth official Mr. David P Webster O.B.E. Photo opportunities and athlete autographs are available.
To go to their website http://www.fergusscottishfestival.com/
or contact them at info@FergusScottishFestival.com
Monday, August 8, 2011
Saint John Branch Genealogical Fair
On October 1, 2011, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, at The St. Joachim’s Church Hall, 603 Loch Lomond Road, Saint John, New Brunswick the Saint John Branch of the NBGS Inc. will be hosting a Genealogical Fair.
Several exhibitors will be in attendance, and it will feature the NB Archives Road Show which includes research material from the New Brunswick Provincial Archives.
I understand that Dave Obee, genealogist from Victoris, British Columbia will be there giving talks.
This fair will be of interest from the beginner to the experienced researcher.
They say that you will be able to "Learn the first steps in the lifetime journey of family research, perhaps find that small piece of information that chinks away at that brick wall you've encountered or make connections with researchers that are on the same trail as you are".
There will be a small entrance fee, and refreshments will be available to purchase.
Plenty of free parking is available.
Their site is http://www.nbgssj.ca/GenealogicalFair_October12011.asp
Several exhibitors will be in attendance, and it will feature the NB Archives Road Show which includes research material from the New Brunswick Provincial Archives.
I understand that Dave Obee, genealogist from Victoris, British Columbia will be there giving talks.
This fair will be of interest from the beginner to the experienced researcher.
They say that you will be able to "Learn the first steps in the lifetime journey of family research, perhaps find that small piece of information that chinks away at that brick wall you've encountered or make connections with researchers that are on the same trail as you are".
There will be a small entrance fee, and refreshments will be available to purchase.
Plenty of free parking is available.
Their site is http://www.nbgssj.ca/GenealogicalFair_October12011.asp
PoW Camp in Winnipeg
The Whitewater PoW Camp Archaeology Project http://whitewaterpowcamp.com/ is the site where German prisoners of war spent much of the Second World War in Manitoba.
The archaeology dig is at Riding Mountain National Park, located about 300 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, where the Whitewater PoW camp was located.
The camp housed about 500 people. About 450 German Afrika Korps soldiers were sent to the camp after their capture in October 1943 during the Second Battle of El-Alamein in Egypt. They were kept at the camp until October 1945.
There is a list of some of the POW camps in Canada (There were some 40 camps)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_POW_camps_in_Canada
The archaeology dig is at Riding Mountain National Park, located about 300 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, where the Whitewater PoW camp was located.
The camp housed about 500 people. About 450 German Afrika Korps soldiers were sent to the camp after their capture in October 1943 during the Second Battle of El-Alamein in Egypt. They were kept at the camp until October 1945.
There is a list of some of the POW camps in Canada (There were some 40 camps)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_POW_camps_in_Canada
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Articles for "The Toronto Project"
I came across this notice today in the "Loyalist Trails" UELAC Newsletter 2011-31 Aug 7, 2011 -
"The Toronto Project, which is an online museum of the history of Toronto and its' people, will launch publicly on October 12th at The Art Gallery of Ontario. Amongst a number of initiatives, The Toronto Project is creating a wiki history of the city. This will eventually be an interactive forum open to everyone's contribution. Prior to the public launch of the wiki history, The Toronto Project is looking for contributions of some core articles with which to seed the wiki.
We have been asked to submit stories of our Loyalist ancestors and their contributions to the city of Toronto and the area around. Please submit your story to torontouel@bellnet.ca. We will review and edit, if necessary, and forward them on to the project co-ordinators".
Karen Windover UE,President, Toronto Branch
"The Toronto Project, which is an online museum of the history of Toronto and its' people, will launch publicly on October 12th at The Art Gallery of Ontario. Amongst a number of initiatives, The Toronto Project is creating a wiki history of the city. This will eventually be an interactive forum open to everyone's contribution. Prior to the public launch of the wiki history, The Toronto Project is looking for contributions of some core articles with which to seed the wiki.
We have been asked to submit stories of our Loyalist ancestors and their contributions to the city of Toronto and the area around. Please submit your story to torontouel@bellnet.ca. We will review and edit, if necessary, and forward them on to the project co-ordinators".
Karen Windover UE,President, Toronto Branch
Shelburne County (Nova Scotia) Archives and Genealogical Society Newsletter
The summer issue of their newsletter arrived with some sad news – the retirement of Canadian genealogist, Eleanor Smith.
I have known Eleanor since the early 1990s, and she was always been most helpful in my many projects (especially the Port Roseway Associated Loyalists). She was always willing to explain Shelburne County genealogy to me, and I will always be grateful for that.
She wrote a number of books - Loyalist Foods in Today's Recipes; Land of my Fathers, Vol 1 & 2; and Descendants of Alexander and Agnes (Hamilton) Hogg Family of Nova Scotia. She edited Lost Mariners Vol 1, and co-authored The Veterans of Shelburne County: A Memorial Vol One and Two. They are available at the SCA&GC website at http://nsgna.ednet.ns.ca/shelburne.
I interviewed her in 2009, and it was published in the May/June 2010 issue of Internet Genealogy under the title of "Going Back to Her Roots: Eleanor Robertson Smith".
In the Family Bible section of the newsletter, they have reprinted marriages, births, and deaths from the King family of Shelburne, and in the article, "News from Yesterday", they have excerpts from The Coast Guard, Clark's Harbour and Yarmouth, 5 May, 1809 newspaper.
The last article is an excerpt of the book by Gerald MacApline called "Mason's Division Stories of Jordan Bay and Jordan Ferry in Shelburne County" in which he talks about the great forest fire that swept through the village of Roseway in August, 1911, and how the Halifax newspapers spearheaded donations to the county.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Tracer
The August edition of The Tracer from the Oxford County Branch of the OGS arrived this week, and as usual, is a very "newsy" newsletter.
In "Governor's House or Turnkey's House?", an article written by D. Gregory in which he explores the question about the original destination of the house, was it either the governor's house of the jail, or did it belong to the jailer (turnkey) himself? This question is still up in the air. But as the article points out, it will soon be the home to the Oxford County OGS, the Oxford County Historical Society, and the top floor will be the home to the Oxford County Archives.
Another article, "Margo Kidder – The Oxford Connection"wonders when the episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (Canadian version) program aired a couple of years ago featured Margot Kidder. They followed her maternal grandparents, John "Jack" Wilson and Ruth Pyne Wilson, but the writer wonder why they didn't follow her great-grandfather, Charles A. Pyne and Ruth Helen Pyne, for they would have led the viewers to Oxford County, instead of to British Columbia.
Conference 2011 are covered in pictures, Fall Meetings are in the newsletter, and they are starting a new feature called "The Treasure Chest: A look at the family heirlooms of our members". The first person which brought in pictures of her family was Marilyn Whyley.
The website is http://www.oxford.ogs.on.ca, and the email is oxford@ogs.on.ca.
The Ontario Genealogical Society is offering a half-year membership for $35.00 until the end of 2011. You can find out more by going to http://www.ogs.on.ca/membership/types.php
Friday, August 5, 2011
Ottawa Genealogical Society Changes It's Meeting Place
As a result of the opening of the new City of Ottawa Central Archives, the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will now hold their meetings at the new location starting this fall.
The meeting will take place at 7:00 pm, 3rd Tuesday monthly except July and August at the City of Ottawa Central Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa.
The library of the OGS can be accessed at the Resource Centre, City of Ottawa Central Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa. The hours are 9:00 to 4:00 Tues to Fri, 10:00 to 5:00 Sat (Sep to May, closed holiday weekends)
There has also been an expansion to the coverage of the Region. It now includes Prescott & Russell Counties.
The first meeting will be Tuesday, 20 September 2011 at 7:00 p.m. The topic will be "The Eyes That Shone: From Ireland to Canada" and the speaker will be Phil Donnelly, an author who will speak about his book, and a program titled Heritage Tierworker which encourages, and helps people write their stories
The website is http://ogsottawa.on.ca/
The meeting will take place at 7:00 pm, 3rd Tuesday monthly except July and August at the City of Ottawa Central Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa.
The library of the OGS can be accessed at the Resource Centre, City of Ottawa Central Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa. The hours are 9:00 to 4:00 Tues to Fri, 10:00 to 5:00 Sat (Sep to May, closed holiday weekends)
There has also been an expansion to the coverage of the Region. It now includes Prescott & Russell Counties.
The first meeting will be Tuesday, 20 September 2011 at 7:00 p.m. The topic will be "The Eyes That Shone: From Ireland to Canada" and the speaker will be Phil Donnelly, an author who will speak about his book, and a program titled Heritage Tierworker which encourages, and helps people write their stories
The website is http://ogsottawa.on.ca/
The Canadian Genealogical Survey Update
The New Glasgow News reports this morning that Del Muise, professor of history, and Leighann Neilson, professor of marketing, will be at the Hector Exhibit Centre on Monday at 11:30 a.m. in Pictou.
They will be talking about the The Canadian Genealogical Survey which is a national project with the pilot being launched in Nova Scotia.
According to Muise, 25 million North Americans are able to trace their families back to Nova Scotia, and the professors are touring the province to promote the survey.
I wrote about the survey in a blog on July 27th. Their site is online at http://www.genealogyincanada.blogspot.com/.
They will be talking about the The Canadian Genealogical Survey which is a national project with the pilot being launched in Nova Scotia.
According to Muise, 25 million North Americans are able to trace their families back to Nova Scotia, and the professors are touring the province to promote the survey.
I wrote about the survey in a blog on July 27th. Their site is online at http://www.genealogyincanada.blogspot.com/.
Canadian Vital Records Databases - Updated
FamilySearch Records has just released a summary of updates since they started to report the program in April, 2010. Two of the records have been updated since July,2011, and they are -
British Columbia Birth Registrations, 1854-1903 https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1307731 – These are birth registrations, delayed birth registrations, and delayed registrations of Indian births. 38,340 Records as of 23 July 2010
New Brunswick, Death Certificates, 1920-1934 https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1840145 Browsable Images of death certificates from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. 76,812 images as of 29 July 2010
British Columbia Birth Registrations, 1854-1903 https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1307731 – These are birth registrations, delayed birth registrations, and delayed registrations of Indian births. 38,340 Records as of 23 July 2010
New Brunswick, Death Certificates, 1920-1934 https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1840145 Browsable Images of death certificates from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. 76,812 images as of 29 July 2010
Thursday, August 4, 2011
New version - Canadian Naturalization Database Online
Just received this press release -
(Ottawa, August 4, 2011) Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the online database Canadian Naturalization 1915–1951.
The nominal index has been extended with the addition of more than 91,000 names and now covers the years from 1915 to 1936, inclusively. Work is ongoing to extend the nominal index to 1951, and volunteers are welcome to help. Those interested should write to Cdn-Nat-Coord@jgs-montreal.org.
This database is one of the few Canadian genealogical resources specifically designed to benefit researchers having roots other than British. The reference numbers indicated in the database can be used to request copies of the original naturalization records, which are held by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The database is available at the following address:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/naturalization-1915-1932/index-e.html
Library and Archives Canada would like to thank the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal [http://jgs-montreal.org/] and its volunteers, especially Mrs. Ruth Diamond, without whom this project would not have happened.
For more information, please contact webservices@bac-lac.gc.ca.
(Ottawa, August 4, 2011) Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the online database Canadian Naturalization 1915–1951.
The nominal index has been extended with the addition of more than 91,000 names and now covers the years from 1915 to 1936, inclusively. Work is ongoing to extend the nominal index to 1951, and volunteers are welcome to help. Those interested should write to Cdn-Nat-Coord@jgs-montreal.org.
This database is one of the few Canadian genealogical resources specifically designed to benefit researchers having roots other than British. The reference numbers indicated in the database can be used to request copies of the original naturalization records, which are held by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The database is available at the following address:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/naturalization-1915-1932/index-e.html
Library and Archives Canada would like to thank the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal [http://jgs-montreal.org/] and its volunteers, especially Mrs. Ruth Diamond, without whom this project would not have happened.
For more information, please contact webservices@bac-lac.gc.ca.
Resources for Discovering First Nations Heritage
Back in May, the British Columbia Genealogy Society http://www.bcgs.ca/Index.htm had a special speaker Laura Cooke, and she spoke about "Resources for Discovering First Nations Heritage".
In her talk she noted that "First Nations ancestors is not something covered in most genealogy books. Whether you are exploring your heritage, you need to prove your genealogy for First Nations status, or you are following up on an aboriginal ancestor in your family story, finding out about specialized resources can be a good first step".
I just checked the BCGS "What's New" http://www.bcgs.ca/news.htm website, and found that on July 19th, they put the handout of Laura's talk on the Internet at http://www.bcgs.ca/Documents/Metis%20Research.pdf
It is a 5-page handout with websites, books, and other information available to you if you have First Nations ancestors.
In her talk she noted that "First Nations ancestors is not something covered in most genealogy books. Whether you are exploring your heritage, you need to prove your genealogy for First Nations status, or you are following up on an aboriginal ancestor in your family story, finding out about specialized resources can be a good first step".
I just checked the BCGS "What's New" http://www.bcgs.ca/news.htm website, and found that on July 19th, they put the handout of Laura's talk on the Internet at http://www.bcgs.ca/Documents/Metis%20Research.pdf
It is a 5-page handout with websites, books, and other information available to you if you have First Nations ancestors.
Stirling-Rawdon Genealogical Fair
Lewis Zandbergen, President of the Stirling-Rawdon Historical Society of Stirling, Ontario told me yesterday that the Genealogy Fair which is usually held towards the end of August has been cancelled this year.
Scheduling conflict of both the vendors, and speakers necessitated the cancellation. But Lewis tells me that we can check the local newspapers in Stirling-Rawdon next year for the 2012 Genealogy Fair.
Scheduling conflict of both the vendors, and speakers necessitated the cancellation. But Lewis tells me that we can check the local newspapers in Stirling-Rawdon next year for the 2012 Genealogy Fair.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Puslinch Historical Society Newsletter
The Puslinch Historical Society (PHS) of Guelph, Ontario issued it's newsletter the other day, and the lead article is on the Vimy Ridge Farm. It is a property that is now going under renovations to restore it to it's former self as Vimy Ridge Farms – a place which was a rehab centre for injured veterans of the First World War.
News comes from the PHS that an "exquisite old quilt. by Elizabeth McTague Fleming -- a descendant of the Lehman family, innkeepers of Aberfoyle Hotel in the last century. The quilt, made by Elizabeth's grandmother and dated 1890, is a piece of family history and a work of art with family names embroidered on the patchwork. The quilt will hang in a place of honour in our new quarters in the library now under construction".
There are upcoming events, and information on membership in the PHS. They have a number of books for sale, and the Archives are located at the Township Office. They are open Wednesday afternoons. For book orders or enquiries, e-mail puslinch 1898@aol.com or Smye85@aol.com. Call 519-658-9923 (b.andersen@sympatico.ca) for general information.
News comes from the PHS that an "exquisite old quilt. by Elizabeth McTague Fleming -- a descendant of the Lehman family, innkeepers of Aberfoyle Hotel in the last century. The quilt, made by Elizabeth's grandmother and dated 1890, is a piece of family history and a work of art with family names embroidered on the patchwork. The quilt will hang in a place of honour in our new quarters in the library now under construction".
There are upcoming events, and information on membership in the PHS. They have a number of books for sale, and the Archives are located at the Township Office. They are open Wednesday afternoons. For book orders or enquiries, e-mail puslinch 1898@aol.com or Smye85@aol.com. Call 519-658-9923 (b.andersen@sympatico.ca) for general information.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
One World - One Family Conference
Press Release -
"The Toronto Ontario Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is putting on a conference that will assist new and seasoned researchers in conducting research both in Canada and across the globe at the world.
For research in Canada, we are offering workshops addressing...
Aboriginal, Canada/USA relatives, Quebec, and Ontario Municipal Records.
For global research, we are pleased to address your interests in...
Britain, British West Indies, China, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jewish, Philippines, Poland, and Spanish family history research.
In addition, be sure to consider the offerings on...
How to Begin, Finding Research Done by Others, Learning more about maximizing the use of FamilySearch.org, Preserving Family Memories, Involving Children and Youth in Family History, Indexing, Genetic Genealogy, Interactive Family History Blogs, and Scrapbooking.
We warmly welcome you to our Second Annual Conference and know you will have an enlightening and uplifting experience"!
It will be held September 17, 2011 from 09:00 am to 05:00 pm. The Toronto Ontario Stake is located at 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto ON M3C 3V4".
Registration is $20 Includes Box Lunch. Registration is at http://www.oneworldonefamily-theevent.com/Registration
"The Toronto Ontario Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is putting on a conference that will assist new and seasoned researchers in conducting research both in Canada and across the globe at the world.
For research in Canada, we are offering workshops addressing...
Aboriginal, Canada/USA relatives, Quebec, and Ontario Municipal Records.
For global research, we are pleased to address your interests in...
Britain, British West Indies, China, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jewish, Philippines, Poland, and Spanish family history research.
In addition, be sure to consider the offerings on...
How to Begin, Finding Research Done by Others, Learning more about maximizing the use of FamilySearch.org, Preserving Family Memories, Involving Children and Youth in Family History, Indexing, Genetic Genealogy, Interactive Family History Blogs, and Scrapbooking.
We warmly welcome you to our Second Annual Conference and know you will have an enlightening and uplifting experience"!
It will be held September 17, 2011 from 09:00 am to 05:00 pm. The Toronto Ontario Stake is located at 24 Ferrand Drive, Toronto ON M3C 3V4".
Registration is $20 Includes Box Lunch. Registration is at http://www.oneworldonefamily-theevent.com/Registration
Scottish Immigrants to Canada
I have just received permission to repost this notice by Caitlin McNally of PBS in New York -
"My name is Caitlin McNally, and I'm doing research for an American public
television genealogical program. I'm trying to learn about Scottish
immigrants to Canada, particularly the McLauchlen and Murray families. I
have a few names and dates, and was wondering if someone could help me fill
out these family trees a bit. Most importantly, I'm trying to discover if
and when these families came to Canada from Scotland, what their livelihoods
were in Canada, and why they left Scotland.
Also, any larger context about Scottish immigration to Canada during the
generations when these families immigrated would be much appreciated!
Here are the individuals and the little information I have:
John Robert McLauchlen
born 1851 (?) in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick
married June 18 1875 in Boston, MA
and
James McLauchlen
born in Scotland??
and Sarah McLauchlen
born in New Brunswick?
wife of John Robert McLauchlen: Jesse Murray
born January 1854 in Pictou (?), Nova Scotia
--daughter of--
John and Mary Murray
born in Nova Scotia?
If you know of anyone I could speak with about these families as well as
Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia, I'd appreciate it greatly. Many thanks
in advance and I look forward to hearing from you -- I can be reached at
this email caitlinarkmedia@gmail.com, or at my office in New York: (718) 935-9745".
All the best,
Caitlin
--
Caitlin McNally | Producer/Director | Ark Media for PBS-WNET
office 718.935.9745 | mobile 917.981.5541
"My name is Caitlin McNally, and I'm doing research for an American public
television genealogical program. I'm trying to learn about Scottish
immigrants to Canada, particularly the McLauchlen and Murray families. I
have a few names and dates, and was wondering if someone could help me fill
out these family trees a bit. Most importantly, I'm trying to discover if
and when these families came to Canada from Scotland, what their livelihoods
were in Canada, and why they left Scotland.
Also, any larger context about Scottish immigration to Canada during the
generations when these families immigrated would be much appreciated!
Here are the individuals and the little information I have:
John Robert McLauchlen
born 1851 (?) in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick
married June 18 1875 in Boston, MA
and
James McLauchlen
born in Scotland??
and Sarah McLauchlen
born in New Brunswick?
wife of John Robert McLauchlen: Jesse Murray
born January 1854 in Pictou (?), Nova Scotia
--daughter of--
John and Mary Murray
born in Nova Scotia?
If you know of anyone I could speak with about these families as well as
Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia, I'd appreciate it greatly. Many thanks
in advance and I look forward to hearing from you -- I can be reached at
this email caitlinarkmedia@gmail.com, or at my office in New York: (718) 935-9745".
All the best,
Caitlin
--
Caitlin McNally | Producer/Director | Ark Media for PBS-WNET
office 718.935.9745 | mobile 917.981.5541
Monday, August 1, 2011
Lambton Lifeline
In the June 2011 edition of Lambton Lifeline are a number of interesting articles -
Alan Campbell writes about "Loyal Orange Lodges of Lambton County" in Part II. He is still "seeking an explanation of some of the information found in following chart of the Loyal Orange Lodges of Lambton".
He has put in a two-page chart covering Lambton County East and West, showing the place where the lodge originated, and the date of the warrant.
So if anyone can be of help, please contact Alan at campbeal@sympatico.ca.
Ann Hentschel give a good summary of the meetings held by the Lambton County Genealogical Society.
At the February meeting, Eliza Grueing gave a talk about growing up in Germany during WWII, wile Alan Campbell gave a talk on researching newspapers in the March meeting, and Gail Benjafield — although she did not give a talk to the society — wrote an article on how family lore can "often be misleading and difficult to unravel".
You can go to their Lambton County Branch website at http://www.ogs.on.ca/lambton/index.html.
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