Marilyn Adams Genealogical Research Centre

The Marilyn Adams Genealogical Research Centre (MAGRC) is located in the Ameliasburgh Ward of the City of Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. The area was settled by the United Empire Loyalists in 1784

Some of the records that they have are -

Hastings County Land Records for about 100 years prior to 1955

Tudor & Cashel Township Records, dating back to 1852

The Klein research on the Tripps' of the Bay of Quinte

Women's Institute Tweedsmuir histories, minute books, and other records

Douglas Crawford canning factory papers

Hessian Research of Johannes (John) Helmut Merz

Heal Research Papers and Records

There are also two databeses online – the Names Database with 1,426 names that you can check, and the Heal Database with 147, 760 names.

The site is at http://quinte-kin.com/magrc.htm

1921 Canadian Census

The 1921 Cenadian Census will be released to the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) on June 1st, 2013 from Statistics Canada. According to the legislation, 92 calendar years must have elapsed before the census is releaded to the LAC. The records will be transforred to the LAC, and it will opened for public use.

The LAC says that it is their intention to make the 1921 Canadian Census available to researchers online, in the same format as previous censuses, as soon as possible after that date.

Here are a few facts about the 1921 Canadian Census -

It was taken on June 1, 1921

It is the sixth comprehensive decennial census to be taken since the creation of the Dominion

There will be five schedules with a total of 565 questions

241 commissioners and 11,425 enumerators were employed

The most important growth of the population was in the prairie provinces with 47% since the 1911 Census

and

the overall population of Canada was 8,788,483 individuals.

If you would like to see the other census records, go to http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-911-e.html

Preparing for the OGS Conference

The Ontario Genealogical Conference to be held from June 1st to the 3rd in Kingston, Ontario will have a number of unique activites going on during the weekend.

Some of them are -

Ask a Pro - You’ll be able to sign up for one free session lasting 15 minutes with a professional genealogist, courtesy of members of the Ontario Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists.

Research Around Kingston – Look at the page on the Kingston Area Research.  Do note that most of these repositories have valuable holdings but are quite small.

Go to http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2012/kingston-facts, and see the many places to research in Kingston.

Research Room – See the separate page about this under “Program”. Sign up on arrival at the College for your hour of free research in genealogical databases for which you would normally have to pay.

The website is at http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2012/research-room tells you what to expect in the Research Room.

Wall of Ancestors – Take advantage of this FREE research activity. Decide which facts you most want to learn about which ancestors, and make up 3×5″ cards ahead of time, to post on the Wall of Ancestors when you arrive.

You can go to http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2012/ancestors ,and read what can be included on your card.

Go to http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2012 to read about the Conference itself.

TONI and OGSPI Update

I have been using Ontario Genealogical Society's The Ontario Name Index (TONI), and the Ontario Genealogical Society Provincial Index (OGSPI) this week.

TONI is an index of every name in every publication relating to Ontario. The index points people to the location of the information about that name, and the location of the information may be a Branch (Chapter) document, a web site, a microfilm, a family history, an archive, etc.

It was started in May 2011, and you should check it often because they are putting on names to the index nearly everyday.

You can check out the index at http://www.ogs.on.ca/integrated/toni_database1.php

Also, don't forget the Ontario Genealogical Society Provincial Index (OGSPI).

There is 1,830,226 names on this index, and the project was started in 1997. It is located at http://www.ogs.on.ca/ogspi/welcome.htm on the Ontsario Genealogical Society.

As with any index, I always compare, and contrast the two indexes – TONI and OGSPI. Since TONI is a "work in progress", I always check it against the OGSPI to make sure that I have found all the information possible that has been put on the two indexes.

The Ship's Company of Penetanguishene

The Ship's Company of Penetanguishene is going to commerate the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812 by building and sailing the HMS Lynx.

Work has continued on the HMS Lynch during the winter. The interior of the vessel is almost complete, including an innovative steering system running from a ship’s wheel to the outside of the stern.

They are planning to launch the HMS Lynx on Sunday June 10 at the Penetanguishene Town Dock. The vessel will then be very active this summer, participating in a range of War of 1812 Bicentennial and community events.


They are based out of Penetanguishene, Ontario on Southern Georgian Bay, in association with the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum.

To read about The Ship's Company, they have a very nice webpages full of history, and a calendar of events on http://www.shipscompany.ca/

BIFHSGO Special Meeting Event

On Monday April the 2nd there will be a Special Meeting Event from 7:00-9:30 pm at the Auditorium, Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa with English researcher Simon Fowler who will give two FREE lectures.

 Called "An Evening with Simon Fowler" he will give lectures on - Researching your Military Ancestors Online, and British Emigration Records.

Simon Fowler is one of Britain’s most experienced family history teachers, writers and researchers. He specializes in military family history, with a particular focus on the First World War, and is the author of numerous well-regarded research guides and articles. Simon worked on and off for The National Archives/Public Record Office at Kew for over thirty years and edited their family history magazine Ancestors. He also teaches online military history courses for Pharos Tutors.

Come and meet experienced researchers, enjoy some refreshments and listen to this noted family history expert give two FREE lectures. The BIFHSGO website is http://www.bifhsgo.ca/.

See you there!

Immigration to Canada

The following are FREE databases online from the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) which can be used to check the immigration of your ancestor to Canada. They are -

Immigrants at Grosse-Île http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/grosse-ile-immigration/index-e.htmlThis database includes information on 33,026 immigrants whose names appear in surviving records of the Grosse-Île Quarantine Station between 1832 and 1937.

Passenger Lists, 1865-1922 http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/passenger/index-e.html Passenger lists (RG 76) were the official immigration documents from 1865 to 1935.

Passenger Lists, 1865-1922 http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/passenger/001045-130-e.html The database provides access to 21,840 references to passenger lists held at LAC.

List of Head Tax Certificates Held at Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-905.002.02-e.html It gives the person's name, plus particulars of the Head Tax.

Immigrants from China http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/index-e.html It provides access to 98,361 references to Chinese immigrants who arrived in Canada between 1885 and 1949.

Port of New Westminster Register of Chinese Immigration http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/index-e.html

Newfoundland Register of Arrivals and Outward Registrations
http://www.blogger.com/goog_1118683899

Home Children http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/home-children/index-e.html Between 1869 and the late 1930s, over 100,000 juvenile migrants were sent to Canada from Great Britain during the child emigration movement.

Montreal Emigrant Society Passage Book (1832) http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/mes/index-e.html  This research tool provides access to 1,945 references to people who received aid from the Montreal Emigrant Society between May 12 and November 5,1832.

Prince Edward Island Genealogical Society

The PEIGS AGM will be at the Carriage House, Beaconsfield, 2 Kent Street in Charlottetown on April 21, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.

The Guest Speaker will be past-president of the society, Linda Jean Nicholson on the topic of "Until Death

do us Part - Stories from early Island wills and other probate documents."

Go to http://www.peigs.ca/ for more information.

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Smallman Reunion - August 4th, 5th 2012

The descendents of Joseph and Margaret/Ann (Murray) Smallman Reunion will be held on Saturday, August 4th, and Sunday, August 5th, 2012 in O'Leary, Springfeild and Cascumpec.

For information contact Darren Stretch at dstretch@pei.sympatico.ca; Kathleen (Smallman) Poirier at maurice.poirier@pei.sympatico.ca or Lola (Smallman) Stretch at lolastretch@hotmail.com.

If you wish to receive a copy of the registration form please contact one of the above with
your mailing and/or e-mail address.

We look forward to seeing you this summer.

The Diocese of Ontario of the Anglican Church of Canada

The Diocese of Ontario of the Anglican Church of Canada is celebrating their 150th year in Canada, and the Archives will be at the Conference in Kingston of the Ontario Genealogical Society June 1st and 3nd with their computerized index.

The Archives cover the five Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, Hastings and Prince Edward in Eastern Ontario.

The church registers held by the Anglican Diocese of Ontario Archives are normally accessible only at the tiny archives facility, and only for very limited hours each week. However, the Diocesan Archivist, Paul Banfield, has generously given permission for the index to these registers to be available at Conference 2012.

If they find that there are baptism, marriage, confirmation or burial records for the individuals of interest to you, they can provide you with the details (date, register volume number, etc.). You will not be able to obtain copies of the registers during Conference, as the archives will not be open on the weekend; however, you will be able to order copies by mail or email after returning home. Or, visit the archives in person if you’ll be in Kingston following the conference.

For more information, you can go to the Archives at http://www.ontario.anglican.ca/joomla/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=56&Itemid=138

Archives Awareness Week

Archives Awareness Week will be held from April the 2th until April the 4th.

This year, members of Durham Region Area Archives Group (DRAAG) are working together to host their first joint event.

On April 4th, they will be hosting the first Preserving Your Family History Event. Join us at the Northview Public Library, 150 Beatrice Street, East in Oshawa from 2 pm until 8 pm.

The website says that “Members of DRAAG institutions will be on hand to assist you with repairing and preserving precious documents and photographs from your collection.  Members will also be available to assist with digitizing items and providing the most up-to-date methods for digitally preserving your family archives.  The event will have several other information stations so check back here for further information in the coming weeks”

Residents are encouraged to bring along their family photos and documents.

Durham Region Area Archives Group (DRAG) was formed in June 2011, and is made up of archives, libraries, and galleries from across the region.

For more information visit http://www.durhamregionarchivesgroup.com/ or contact the Oshawa Community Museum and Archives at 905-436-7624 ext. 100.

Discover Mail Order Catalogues

The Library and Archives Canada (LAC) says it's like going on a journey where you “Time Travel” back in time to research in mail order catalogues. They have been available in Canada since the 1880s. The LAC has them from 1880 to the 1970s.

They say “These department store catalogues provide a detailed record of many aspects of everyday life over the last century. They contain everything from household furnishings and furniture, to all manner of clothing and accessories, kitchenware, patent medicines, toys, tools, and sporting equipment.

These catalogues can be used to identify and date collectables and memorabilia; to price household items from a certain time period; to establish the approximate dates of photographs by studying fashion trends; or to research props, sets and costumes for theatre and film. The possibilities are endless”.

I put in the search for women's hats, and I got a 28 returns - everything from Eaton's Spring and Summer 1916 Ready-to-wear Hats - women's, misses', children's to Eaton's Spring and Summer 1965 Hats - women's.

You can search at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/mailorder/029006-100.01-e.php

Stone Family Gathering 2012

The descendants of George Stone & Mary Doody will meet for a family reunion July 19^th to the July 22, 2012 at Bras D'or Lakes Inn, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia.

They have a full days planned with a Ceilidh on Thursday, a “Meet and Greet” on Friday evening, a full day of activities on Saturday, including a church service at 11:00 AM at the Ecumenical Church Service at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Barra Head,  and they will have a  Family Gathering Meal at St Peter's Lions' Hall on Sunday

 It is believed that George & Mary Stone and their one year old son Jonas arrived at Sydney CB, aboard a vessel from Trepassey NL, named "the Elizabeth" on the 21st of July, 1800

 If you can’t go to the Gathering, they have various articles on their website, with photos, and a Guest Book on their website  at http://stonefamilygathering2012.webs.com/weekendschedule.htm

Canada Celebrates St. Patrick's Day

GenealogyCanada's Blog Search - Yes, using our very own search box (at the top right), just type in "Irish" or "Ireland", and see what resources or news items have been posted here. (This also works for other topics of interest).

The Irish Canadian Society http://www.irishcanadiansociety.net/ - This website etablished a connection between Canada and Ireland, and gives an account of how to search for Irish immigants.

Irish Resources at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-905.005-e.html - Canada's most recent census returns list the Irish as the fourth-largest ethnic group in Canada, with almost 4.5 million Canadians claiming either some or full Irish lineage.

Irish Ships Passenger Lists www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ote/iriship.htm

Canadian Immigration Records: Irish Immigrants www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/Canadian-immigration-records.html - Canadian immigration records on Irish immigrants.

Grandma's Family Tree http://judycorbettbarker.com/index.html - Judy Barker is tracing the surnames of CORBETT, HAWCO, COSTIGAN, FUREY, KENNEDY, LACOUR, MURPHY, QUINLAN, CRAIG, HEALEY, and SULLIVAN from Ireland. They emigrated to Chapel`s Cove, Harbour Main, and Holyrood in Newfoundland.

Emigration From Cork Island to Upper Canada: The First Peter Robinson Settlers http://webhome.idirect.com/~obrienr/cork1823.html - The website explains the reasons behind emigration to Canada, and lists other websites.

Discover Your True Irish Roots in our New Historical Records www.ancestry.ca/irish?o_iid=50529&o_lid=50529&o_sch=Web+Property - Ancestry.ca has Irish Records that you can check online. Their 14-day FREE access offer is available.

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Books

I have just published two booklets - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States, and Migration: Canada and the United States.

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/, the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/, and now, in the U.S., from the Family Roots Publishing Company at http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/.

For more on the booklets, go to http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html and http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Genealogical Day in England and Wales (Seminar)

Gary Schroder, QFHS President, will give a talk on Sa turday, March 31st 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Quebec Family History Society Llibrary, 173 Cartier Avenue in Pointe-Claire.

The purpose of this seminar will be to A) examine the basic structures of family history research in England, Civil Registration of BMD's 1837-2005, Censuses 1841-1911, Wills 1858-2011, etc., and B) examine how to find your ancestors for the period prior to 1837 and how to make the best use of the English databases to found to be found on Ancestry and other commercial websites.

Reservations are necessary: call 514.695.1502, or you can visit the society online at http://www.qfhs.ca/. The fee $30.00.

Canadian Air and Space Museum Set to Close

Anna-Louise Richardson, a videographer from Toronto, has written me about the closure of the Canadian Air and Space Museum. She wrote to say that the museum has recieved notice from developers that the museum will be evicted from the old DeHavilland Building at the old Downsview airforce base in Toronto.

She noticed that this blog had posted a press release from the North York Central Library's Canadiana Department about an appearance by Keith Hyde and his talk on the DeHavilland Mosquito (Wednesday March 7, 2012) www.genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/03/dehavilland-mosquito.html, and Anna-Louise said that reading it had compelled her to write me about the closure of the CAS Museum.

There is more information available about the museum here - www.casmuseum.org/home.php

She said that the developers plan to demolish the building to put up a hockey arena. She goes on to say that it is "So sad....I have started to interview one WWII vet who volunteers there and hope to interview another who has written a book about his WWII experiences as a pilot. This place is rich in history and they need our help."

I checked the website the other day, and was impressed by the amount of information that they have made available. There is a full account of the closing of the museum, the awards that they have received, a history of the mueum, and a video and photo gallery.

She produces vidoes at http://www.treeoflifevideo.com/. There you can see interviews from two WWII pilots that volunteer at the CAS Museum. One is Philip Gray, who has written the book, "The Ghosts of Targets Past", about his time as a Lancaster pilot.

New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs Week 21

Here are some of the websites and blogs that I have come across the week ending March 11, 2012.

Family History Alive http://www.familyhistoryalive.com/ Sue Fenn has had this site for about a year now, and she sees the site as a 'where to find it' resource, providing information on what's available, and where to find it, in Canada, the UK, and to some extent, the US. You should go to the site to see what is there because it is absolutely fabulous!

Rowe Families of Newfoundland www3.sympatico.ca/john.rowe A website which follows Edward Rowe (1699-1754) of Trinity, Newfoundland; Benjamin Rowe (1786-1850) of Carbonear, Newfoundland; and Henry Rowe (1780-1833) of Carbonear, Newfoundland.

St. Columban-Irish: Our Mission: Honour Our Irish Ancestors http://www.stcolumban-irish.com/ Settlers came in the early 1820s and settled in the Village of St. Columban, Québec. In July 2010, the descendants and friends of St. Columban unveiled the cemetery monument dedicated to the original Irish settlers.

Wyemen – McKay http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~raeb Researching WYSEMAN, WISEMAN, HAMILTON, ROBERT, OGILVIE, GAIR, JAMIE, MORRICE, TIMMON. They are primarily from Scotland and the Dundee area but the WISEMAN/WYSEMAN name is originally from Essex, England.

Cape Breton Genealogy: Point Edward Grants http://charlesgrantcb.blogspot.com/ Douglas Grant has taken the Charles Grant family of Point Edward, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada and has put the research notes on a blog. I have read though them, and they are most interesting.

 Pardon Me: A genealogy blog by Tamara Tillinghast Haskett http://pardonmetammy.wordpress.com/ Another blog just started in March which traces the family of Hasketts from Ireland that emigrated to Ontario.

Where The Story Takes Me http://wherethestorytakesme.ca/ Jane MacNamara, from the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genelogical Society, has started a blog in which she has put handouts of the talks she has given to people who have attended her Family History Library Lectures in Salt Lake City; has given her thoughts on RootsTech Conference 2012; and has posted lots of research on the site that she has come across along the way.

Canadians Who Fought in the Boer War

Forces War Records (a British website) has just added an additional 250,000 searchable military records.

Boer War records have been added to the Forces War Records database, and these records contain data about members of the British and Commonwealth Forces who were issued campaign or gallantry medals during the second Anglo Boer War 1899-1902.

The war ended with the Treaty of Vereeniging, signed on 31 May 1902.

The website is at http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/default.asp

Canada sent 7,368 soldiers and 12 Nursing Sisters to the Boer War.

The personnel records include medal registers, land grant applications, and correspondence relating to those who served.

One interesting thing I found was that L. Beverly Webster from Kentville, Nova Scotia (a distant relative of mine), served with the British Army, and he is recorded in the Forces War Records as having died in England.

But a legal reprensentative made an application for land grantis on his behalf, but he didn't live long enough to enjoy the benefit of being awarded the grant of land. His body was sent back to Nova Scotia, and he is buried in Kentville.

The website at the Library and Archives Canada is www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/south-african-war/index-e.html

Simon Fowler is Coming to Canada!

Gwyneth Pearce, of the Toronto Family History Branch, sent this reminder to me to send out to everyone about a workshop to be held on March 31st called "Finding Your Great War Ancestors"in Toronto.

She says that "This day-long workshop is jointly presented with the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library, and will take place on Saturday 31 March 2012 at the North York Memorial Community Hall, with convenient access from the North York Centre subway station.

Participants can choose one of three concurrent lecture streams - British Research, Canadian Research and "Case Studies and Curios" - or mix and match the topics that interest them the most. It will be an opportunity to learn from some of the world's leading Great War experts, including Simon Fowler, one of Britain's top family history teachers, writers and researchers.

Full program, speaker and registration details are available on the Toronto Branch website at http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/GreatWarWorkshop2012.

The early registration deadline has now passed but OGS members are still eligible for reduced rates - a full day of learning for just $55.

And then on Monday, Simon Fowler will be speaking in Ottawa at the Auditorium at the Library and Archives Canada at an event sponsored by the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa.

He will present "An Evening with Simon Fowler" from 7 until 9:30 in which he will give two FREE lectures on "Researching your Military Ancestors Online", and "British Emigration Records".

Simon Fowler is one of Britain’s most experienced family history teachers, writers and researchers. He specializes in military family history, with a particular focus on the First World War, and is the author of numerous well-regarded research guides and articles. Simon worked on and off for The National Archives/Public Record Office at Kew for over thirty years and edited their family history magazine Ancestors. He also teaches online military history courses for Pharos Tutors.

The BIFHSGO site is at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/events.php.

Dave Obee Gives Two Talks

His first talk, entitled “Destination Canada”, will be given on Saturday, March 24th from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the West Vancouver Memorial Library.

More than seven million people arrived in Canada from Europe, the United States, and Asia between 1815 and 1930.

This talk discusses the wide variety of sources that deal with immigration to Canada, including ship passenger lists (available from 1865 through 1935), border-crossing records, and naturalization and citizenship documents.

The second talk, “Writing Your Family History”, will be held from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. in the Welsh Hall, and touch upon the reason for writing a family history, and how a well-written story will make other family members more interested in the research that you are doing. He will also discuss ideas that will help you get over writer's block.

For more information, visit the West Vancouver Memorial Library at http://www.westvanlibrary.ca/, or write info@westvanlibrary.ca.

The DeHavilland Mosquito

This talk, to be held tonight on military aircraft, will be of interest for those people who are interested in World War II history. The North York Central Library published this press release yesterday, and it says -

'The North York Central Library's Canadiana Department is proud to host aviation historian and aero-engines expert Keith Hyde for a talk on the DeHavilland Mosquito aircraft, built locally at DeHavilland's Plant #1 at Downsview. Prior to Keith Hyde's talk on the Mosquito at 7 p.m., aviation history resources available at the Toronto Public Library will be discussed by Canadiana Department staff.

Join us at the North York Central Library Auditorium at 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto, on Wednesday March 7, 2012, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

DeHavilland Aircraft of Canada's Plant #1 was established at Downsview in October 1928 after moving from its first site at Mount Dennis. DeHavilland built Gipsy Moth aircraft totalling 1384 between 1939 and 1945 as well as building 375 Avro Ansons which were assembled from parts sent over from England. Both of these aircraft were used to train aircrews for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan that was established December 17, 1939.

Downsview Plant #1 took part in another significant war effort, building 1134 DeHavilland Mosquito aircraft. Known as the "Wooden Wonder", it was the world's fastest aircraft in World War II from 1939 to 1944 and also the world's first multirole aircraft, which in different variants carried out interception, bombing, reconnaissance and pathfinding missions for larger bomber formations. Planes built at Downsview flew to Goose Bay, Labrador for refuelling and then over to England to front line RCAF and RAF squadrons.

The Canadiana Department holds a reference collection of Canadian genealogy, Ontario local history, North York history, and materials related to Canada. The Department also houses collections from these genealogical societies such as Ontario Genealogical Society,  Jewish Genealogical Society (Toronto Branch), Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants, York Pioneer and Historical Society, and Société franco-ontarienne d'histoire et de généalogie"

Contact the North York Central Library at 416-395-5623.

English Historical Society of West Nipissing

A meeting took place at the Sturgeon River House Museum in Sturgeon Falls on February 25th, where twenty people came together to form the English Historical Society of West Nipissing.

They formed the group because they were concerned that local English history was quickly disappearing, and that something should be done so that historical documents and photos can be given a home where people can come, research, and learn about their English background.

An interim board will meet during the next several months to discuss writing a constitution, raising funds, discussing incorporation, and holding an election for officers of the new society.

TheWest Nipissing area has two Francophone historical societies, and the municipality has recently appointed the Advisory Heritage Committee.

For more information regarding the English Historical Society, please contact Jean Johnson at 705- 594-2513 or Wayne LeBelle at 705-758-9669.

New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs Week 20

Here are some of the websites and blogs that I have come across the week ending March 4, 2012.

Many Branches, One Tree http://www.manybranchesonetree.blogspot.com/ This blog covers the family names of Amaro, Baron, Bennett, Fay, Gaffney, Hoppin, Huesca, Kangas, Makepeace, McGinnis, Perroyin, Quinn, Riney, Sannella, Schiavon, and Tully, in Ontario.

The Gray and Haley Family http://gailgray.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=gailgray&view=9&ver=455 There are 7,990 names listed on this website, and it all started as a genealogicak project when the webmater started to research his parents from Nova Scotia, and how they met.

Canada Genealogy Queries www.cousinconnect.com/p/a/3 Have you checked out this site lately? They have now have 1,9286 Canadian queries posted.

The Clark(e) Family Homepage http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~c239 James Clarke, born circa 1810, came to North America with the British army. Married to Bridget Duffy (b. 1830), James Clarke settled on Howe Island, an island south of Kingston, Ontario.

Stimers Genealogy http://home.cogeco.ca/~rstimers Descendants of Jacob Stimers and Catherine Light. Jacob and Catherine came to live in Thurlow Township, Hastings County, Ontario in 1800 from Dutchess County, New York State.

Ontario Churches in Ontario http://pg.webring.com/members/blog/anglicanchurch History of some Anglican churches in Ontario.

Twigged: The Blog http://twigged.ca/blog Included is a WWI album, and the history of the Bray family of St. Teath, Cornwall, England, who emigrated to Ontario, Canada.

Aboriginal Peoples: Guide to the Records of the Government of Canada (Revised Version) www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/the-public/005-1143-e.html Originally released in 1996, the revised online guide includes updated instructions on how to locate records from the Department of Indian Affairs (RG 10 / R216) and the Department of the Interior (RG 15 / R190) in Archives Search. The guide also explains how to search by finding aid number in Archives Search.

Cyndi's List http://www.cyndislist.com/ She celebrated her 16th birthday yesterday! It's hard to believe that when I first read this new "List", she would still be going strong years later. Congratulations, Cyndi!

Family History Event in Muskoka

Mark Saturday, March 24th on your calendar for a workshop on discovering your family tree.

This event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located upstairs in the Masonic Building at 4 Miller Street in Parry Sound, Ontario.
Come and learn “how-to” information, available resources, and how to find help.

This event is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with assistance from the Bracebridge Family History Centre, the Muskoka Parry Sound Genealogy Group, the Parry Sound Public Library, and Seguin Public Libraries.

Everyone is welcome.
For more information, please call 705-346-0366, or visit www.sites.google.com/site/discoveryourtree

Scottish Ancestry Research Workshop

A press release was received from Christine Woodcock the other day, and it says -

"Christine Woodcock will be giving a talk at the Kitchener Public Library (Country Hills Branch) on Monday, March 19th at 6:30 pm.

Her talk will center around the Statutory Records, Old Parish Registers, The Scottish Naming Pattern, Irregular Marriages, Making Use of the Census Records, and other useful resources including online resources, local resources, and more.

Admission is free (being Scottish, this is always my favourite price!) but you are asked to call the library ahead of time to register (519-743-3558). This will also help us to ensure we have enough hand-outs for everyone.

You can also contact Christine at cdwoodcock56@sympatico.ca”

The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario

The Smiths Falls & District Historical Society, in collaboration with the Smiths Falls Municipal Heritage Committee, asked the following question at a recent meeting - should the downtown area, called Uppertown, be considered as a heritage conservation district?

This question was answered in the affirmative by Nicole McKernan, a graduate student at Carleton University who summarized her findings of the Uppertown Heritage Conservation District Study.

She said that the area north of the Rideau River is generally known as the Downtown Core. She said that 150 years ago, when the town began as a booming economic centre for the county, this same neighbourhood was referred to as Uppertown. She looked at this 11-square block area straddling the main thoroughfare of Beckwith Street North, and she evaluated the architectural, historical, and cultural significance of the buildings in her study.

The Speaker Series will continue in March with Rideau Canal Heritage Visualization, presented by the Department of History of Carleton University. Discover how this innovative project will bring visual heritage out of archives and museum collections, and puts them into the mobile devices and apps technology.

For information, go to the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario http://rmeo.org/, call them at 613-283-5696, or send an e-mail to info@rmeo.org.

For information on how you can become involved in the Smiths Falls & District Historical Society, please call the Heritage House Museum at 613-283-6311 or e-mail them at heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca.

Canadian Emigration: Parliamentary Papers of 1826

The following press releases was received from FindMyPast, and it says, in part -

“This parliamentary paper publishes the correspondence and extensive supporting documents of the British government with the Governor-General of Canada concerning the settlement of poor Irish in the Newcastle District in 1826, or 'Mr. Robinson’s Emigrants' as they became known. This was the result of a Commons request to be furnished information on the settlement as it had been publicly funded.

The official title of this parliamentary travel and migration record is:

Return of the Assessed Value of the Townships in the Newcastle District in Western Canada, which were settled by Pauper Emigrants from Ireland, between the years 1825 and 1828 at the public expense: Of the number of various Emigration Societies formed in Canada in 1840, by Canadian Proprietors desirous of Settling Emigrants from Great Britain and Ireland upon their Estates. (1848)”.

Initially the Governor-General just sent updated valuations of the relevant townships (Ashpodel, Douro, Dummer, Emily, Ennismore, Ops, Otonabee and Smith) which had since be designated as part of the District of Colbourne. But following further demands for information, he sent a detailed breakdown of every plot settled by Irish paupers in 1826 by Peter Robinson.

The details listed include:

- Name of the 1826 settler
- Number in the settler’s family
- Lot number
- Concession
- Acreage
- Number of acres cleared by 1847
- Number of horses and horned cattle on the plot
- Name of present occupants on lot
- Relationship of occupants to settler
- Other critical pieces of information

In total, around 260 plots are covered, giving details of over 700 people. While this is a short publication, it is an essential migration resource for those who became known as the Robinson Irish settlers, and indeed, for anyone in Southern Ontario with an Irish family history.

The information is at http://www.findmypast.ie/