New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs Week 19

Here are some of the websites and blogs that I have come across the week ending February 5, 2012.

Yukon Territory Online Historical Directories  http://sites.google.com/site/onlinedirectorysite/Home/can/yt Over a dozen directories, and you can search them online. They include telephone directoties, city directories, and Alaska-Yukon City and Business Directory.

GenDisasters: Events That Touched Our Ancestors' Lives http://www3.gendisasters.com/taxonomy_menu/6/80 News reports about Newfoundland and Labrador disasters.

Ancestral Notes: A family history blog with genealogy links, resources, ancestors, and related topics http://ancestralnotes.ebradt.org A blog wich talks about family history found in Southwestern Ontario in Essex County.

Madeline's Essex County: A History of Canada's Deep South http://alifeinessexcounty.wordpress.com/about  A completely blog to the piece just written in the previous post. It is a blog about Madeline Wallace, and her time in Essex County by her daughter Victoria Fenner.

Mining Accidents U.S., Canada and Australia http://www.genealogy.com/users/s/h/e/Jerry-Sherard There have been 485,000 mining accident records (fatal and nonfatal) covering most of the United States, and the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec in Canada

Family Names: Beck, Keffer, Kratochvil, Moore, Puterbaugh, Secor http://ks-gt.blogspot.com This blog covers the families of Beck etc as they moved to Ontario from Pennsylvanian.

Canadian Vital Stats Genealogy Canada: Births Deaths & Marriages Exchange
www.olivetreegenealogy.com/can/bdm/index.shtml Have you checked this resource lately? The Olive Tree Blog has the Canadian Births or Baptism, Deaths and Marriages Exchange on file.

Panoramic Maps Canadian Map http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/pmhtml/canmap.html Check out these panoramic maps of the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec.

War of 1812 http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/sswetw/index.html?launch=true It gives a history of each of the topics covered as well as nifty graphics!

Rare list of P.E.I. Acadians intrigues N.B. researchers http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/01/31/nb-acadian-list-pei.html They have found a "rare list" of PEI Acadians at l'Université de Moncton. The list is of 289 names of Acadians who were living on Prince Edward Island in 1763.

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://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com

For more on the booklets, please visit these links -

War of 1812 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html, and

Migration - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Rama-Mara History Website

On February the 16th, Rama-Mara History Society of Orillia, Ontario will meet at 7 o'clock at the Rama-Mara History Website

On February the 16th, Rama-Mara History Society of Orillia, Ontario will meet at 7 o'clock at the
Udney Community Centre at 2347 Concession Road 10, Rama Township at which Mike Crosby will conduct a "Genealogy 101 Workshop."

Recent acquisitions of the society are Fires of 1881, McKinnon Family Tree, Murphy-Heiztener Tree/genealogy site, Sebright United Cemetery, and St. John's Anglican Cemetery Atherly/Ramara Cemeteries.

They have records of 26620 individuals, 8694 families, 3759 Surnames, Photo of the Day, and 2136, Photos, and 126 Photo Albums online at www.ramarahistoricalsociety.net/index.php?module=pnTNG&func=main.

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://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com

For more on the booklets, please visit these links -

War of 1812 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html,

and

Migration - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Genealogical Society Study Groups

Some genealogical groups in Canada have study groups, and Brant County Branch has two such groups -

The British Isles Study Group meets at the Brant County OGS library, 114-118 Powerline Road, Brantford at 7:30pm on the 1st Tuesday of each month.

There is also The Family History Study Group meets at the Brant County OGS library at 10:00am on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

Bring what you have, and the groups will be glad to assist you. The groups are a great place to meet fellow researchers and to obtain valuable assistance in your pursuits of elusive ancestors.

The website is http://brantcountybranchogs.ca

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://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.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

Are You Listening to RootsTech 2012?

All keynote speakers, and people who are giving lectures in Room 155 in the Salt Palace are having their talks live streamed to us at RootsTech 2012. Are you listening to them? Lots of interesting things are being said with many new features being introduced now at the conference.

I have heard from Louis Kressler, a Canadian from Winnipeg, and founder of Behold Genealogy (who is at the conference), and have read three posts on his blog already at
www.beholdgenealogy.com/blog/?p=915. 

Follow him and his posts. He is giving a demo of his product on Saturday at 12:30 at the conference. So if you know someone there, be sure to tell them about it.

To go to the conference, click on www.rootstech.org

Remember GeneaBloggers Radio Birthday Bash tonight. It's been a year since Thomas MacEntee started the radio program, and sounds like it is going to be fun with everything that is going on at the conference.

Check www.geneabloggers.com to see the time in your area.

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://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.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

2012 Bruce & Grey Branch Family Story Contest

For the second year, the KEN YOUNG FAMILY STORY FOR GREY COUNTY and the BETTY WILSON FAMILY STORY FOR BRUCE COUNTY is being sponsored by the Bruce & Grey County Branch of the OGS. 

The story must be a previously unpublished work in essay form, 800 to 1500 words in length telling of the arrival, the life, or other interesting detail of your family in Bruce or Grey County.

The entrants must be a member of BGOGS or another branch of OGS., and the winner will be announced at the Bruce Grey Annual Fall Event in September 2012

Please submit your entry by e-mail to rdclark@sympatico.ca or by regular mail to BGOGS, Box 66, Owen Sound, Ontario, N4K 5P1.

The winners will receive a Certificate of Achievement and the Township CD of their choice. The winning stories will be published in the Branch Newsletter with the author retaining the copyright. 

The Branch is also inviting members to a fall trip for research to Salt Lake City on August 12-18, 2012.

For details, go to http://tiffanyweb.bmts.com/~bgogs/calofevent.html

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://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.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

Spring Meetings for Toronto Branch OGS

The Branch will be presenting five courses in April and May 2012. Three are co-sponsored by the Toronto Public Library, and two are being held at the Archives of Ontario:

Going Back to Basics – A Refresher

This course will cover the basic resources used to find your family history – it will be centred on Ontario records, but can be expanded to cover participants’ areas of interest. Instructor: Ruth Burkholder

Hands-On Ontario Estate Records

Participants will follow assigned case histories to learn hands-on at the Archives of Ontario how to find estate files and land registry records. Instructor: Jane E. MacNamara

Advanced English Family History

This course will focus on the 1700-1837 period – topics will include vital events, parish research, population listings, poor relief, apprenticeship, land tenancy and inheritance records. Instructors: James F.S. Thomson and Joan Read

A Day of Technology for Family Historians

Spend a full day finding out how technology can assist family historians in finding and organizing information, and in editing and sharing photographs and other images. Instructor: Carol Nichols

Hands-On Early Ontario Land Records

Participants will learn through hands-on practice how to use the collections at the Archives of Ontario to trace ancestors’ attempts to acquire land in Upper Canada. Instructor: Jane E. MacNamara

For program details, course dates, speaker biographies and information on how to register for Toronto Branch courses, visit www.torontofamilyhistory.org/courses.html.

Black History Month in Canada

This year, the government of Canada will celebrate Black History Month (February) by recognizing the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812. It will honour the contributions of Black soldiers in the fight for Canada.

Black History Canada: War of 1812 http://blackhistorycanada.ca/events.php?themeid=21&id=5 This site gives the history of Black volunteers (Canadian) who fought for the British in the War of 1812.

Toronto Celebrates Black History Month www.toronto.ca/blackhistory As the website says, “Each year, the City of Toronto is proud to support events and exhibits scheduled for Black History Month, inviting members of the public to explore and celebrate the heritage, traditions and culture of African-Canadians”.

Black History Month www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/black-history/index-e.html Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has a list of resources as well as related Internet links on their website.

Books

I have just published two booklets with references to Blacks in Canada -

• The War of 1812: Canada and the United States includes a section on Blacks who fought both on the Canadian and American sides during the War of 1812, and

• Migration: Canada and the United States has a section on the migration of Blacks to Canada

They are available for purchase through Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.com

For more on the booklets, please visit these links -

War of 1812 - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-1-war-of-1812-canada-and-united.html, and

Migration - http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2012/01/booklet-2-migration-canada-and-united.html

Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865)

The Library and Archives Canada has put the Upper Canada Land Petitions.

They say that “Before the arrival of the Loyalists and British military settlers, the present-day Province of Ontario was an extension of the Province of Quebec. Following the Constitutional Act of 1791, the colony of Quebec was divided to create Upper Canada (today Ontario) and Lower Canada (today Quebec). Many early settlers, both military and civilian, submitted petitions to the Governor to obtain Crown land. Sons and daughters of Loyalists were also entitled to free lands.

The Upper Canada Land Petitions contain petitions for grants or leases of land and other administrative records. This research tool provides access to more than 82,000 references to individuals who lived in present-day Ontario between 1783 and 1865”.

For example, there is a Thomas Barclay in the database. 

The information an him was that he was from New York, the year was 1819, Volume 43, Bundle B 12, Petition 273, Microfilm C-1625, Reference RG 1 L3.

To check out the database, go to www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/upper-canada-land/index-e.html?PHPSESSID=9ukhscr15duaokeg7j3vk5qtf6

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://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.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

Canadian Bloggers will be at RootsTech 2012

I have deviated from the usual New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs for the week, so that I can wish our Canadian Official Bloggers the very best at the RootsTech 2012 in Salt Lake City starting Thursday.

We have two Official Bloggers going to RootTech (that I know of right now), and they are -

Olive Tree Genealogy Blog

http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/01/rootstech-presentation-international.html Lorine McGinnis Schulze is subbing for Joan Miller, and will be present at an International Panel slated to present a discussion of Social Media at Rootstech 2012.

It will be her second year at RootsTech, and usually does interviews – so watch for her!


^{Lynn Palermo The Armchair Genealogist http://www.thearmchairgenealogist.com/ This will be Lynn's first RootsTech, and she is planning great things at the conference. She has carried a number of posts already on RootTech. So check out her site.}

As for me, as many of you know, I am a great RootsTech follower, and this year there will be streaming videos of all the keynote speakers at http://rootstech.org/downloads, and there will sessions that will be covered. 

The site at http://rootstech.org.

Leeds and the Thousand Islands Archives

It is reported that the Leeds and the Thousand Island Archives, located at the Front of Escott Township Hall in Escott, Ontario, is regularly receiving significant donations of local historical material, including both documents and over 1,500 digital images depicting the history of the area.

They have over ten fonds available, including the Darling Family Fonds, McAlonan Family Fonds, and the Hewitt Family Fonds. As well, over ten places are listed on their website, such as Black Rapids, Ellisville, Escott, and Grenadier Island, as is information on over 40 subjects like the Loyal Orange Lodge #51, and Global Heritage Press.

They are having an "Introduction to Digitization Workshop", on Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Elgin Community Hall, Elgin, Ontario.

Erika Heesen, the archivist for Leeds and the Thousand Islands Archives, will talk about digitization, as will Patrick McMaster, the Digitization Co-ordinator for "Lakes & Islands Times Past Project", an ongoing digitization program. It is the largest and most comprehensive digital repository for heritage and historical documents from the area. You can search it at www.lakesandislands.ca

The website of the archives is located at http://216.168.105.110

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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://globalgenealogy.com, and the National Institute of Genealogical Studies at www.genealogicalstudies.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

Genealogy Hands-On Workshop

A genealogy hands-on workshop will be held at Heritage Mississauga. 

It will be held Saturday February 11th, 2012 from 10am-4pm for a fee of $10.00 per person.

There will be three speakers at the workshop, and they are -

Fawne Stratford-Devai - Co-Star of television's “Ancestors in the Attic”

Dorothy Kew - Executive Member Halton Peel OGS

Jane Webb - Executive Member Halton Peel OGS

Sponsored by the Halton-Peel OGS at  www.halinet.on.ca/sigs/ogshp and the Heritage Mississauga at www.heritagemississauga.com.

Formation of a Scottish Interest Group - OGS

Christine Woodcock, the OGS Provincial Region IV Director, has put forward the idea of forming a Scottish Special Interest Group as part of the Ontario Genealogical Society.

She writes that -

"I am interested in forming a Scottish Special Interest group through the OGS. In order for the Scottish SIG to work, we will need 25 members as a minimum. I am hopeful that we will get this support. If you are aware of anyone in your respective branches, who may have an interest in joining this group, please pass along my e-mail address to them and I will be in touch with them from there.

I am hoping that this SIG will be a supportive group in terms of those researching Scottish Ancestors, and I am also hoping that we will be able to provide some training opportunities as well.

At this time, I would think that the membership fees will be the same as for the British Home Child SIG, which is $5 over and above your OGS annual membership".

You may contact her at genealogytoursofscotland@gmail.com

Canadian Genealogy on Facebook

FamilySearch.org has put Canada on Facebook! 

Although this particular Facebook first appeared in May 2011, how of us know that it existed?

FamilySearch says that is it a popular site, and “These pages and groups are run by experienced genealogy volunteers for those areas. These virtual communities are the online equivalent of asking for help at your local Family History Center. We grew from 4 communities to 59 over the past several months. With a minimum need of 2-3 admins per community--and a greater need for larger communities--we are at less than 50 percent "staffed." Advisers are looking to recruit more volunteers”.

Would you want to to help by volunteering your time to connecting researchers the world over? It looks like a good idea that FamilySearch has here. Maybe it could be a good place to post your brick wall. 

Find out about the Facebook Community by going to "Join a Facebook Research Community" at www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Join_a_Facebook_Research_Community.

Sault Ste. Marie Public Library

I see where the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library Community Access Program is offering free Ancestry.com workshops to members of the community.

The one hour workshops will be available until March 29, 2012. Morning, afternoon and weekend workshops are offered. Class sizes are limited to six participants and spots are filling up quickly.

They says that they are "pleased to bring back one of their most popular workshops “Using Ancestry.com”. This workshop will help you discover your genealogy and build your ancestral family tree. Using the library’s account on ancestry.com you have access to millions of historical records to research your family tree. This workshop will guide you through using the ancestry.com database".

And before you go to the library, check out the Genealogy Section of their website, where they have put resources in a pdf. Some examples are "The Anishainaabe: Tracing Your Ancestral Line", and "French Canadian Genealogy".

To sign up for a workshop, or for more information please visit the main branch of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library or contact the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library Reference and Information Desk at (705) 759-5236.

Their website is http://www.ssmpl.ca

UPDATE! I see where the Ontario Genealogical Society has revamped it's front page to reflect the end of the 50^th Anniversary Year, and they have put it back to the way it was before – somewhat.

If you are looking for TONI (one of the OGSs most popular pages), go to the right, and click on the page. It use to be at the front of the page in the old configuration.

The OGS site is www.ogs.on.ca.

New/Improved Canadian Websites and Blogs Week 18

Here are some of the websites and blogs that I have come across the week ending January 23, 2012.

Family Photo Reunion www.familyphotoreunion.blogspot.com A wonderful blog which is an "An archive of found family photos and artifacts for genealogists and historians". Carol MacKay says that she has reunited over 300 family photos with people over the past 20 years.

Tom Hawthorn's Blog www.tomhawthorn.blogspot.com Tom is a local newspaper writer who lives in Victoria, B.C., and writes about local people and places. He also writes a twice-weekly column for the Globe and Mail.

The Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection http://chung.library.ubc.ca/news  At the Library of British Columbia, they have over 25,000 rare and unique items (documents, books, maps, posters, paintings, photographs, and other artifacts) that you can go and see.

Out and About Nova Scotia www.outandaboutns.com Photos of Nova Scotia, with a bent towards history of the province.

The Shoreline Journal www.theshorelinejournal.com/obits.html The Shoreline Journal is a monthly community newspaper based in Bass River, Nova Scotia, and serves the Fundy Shore/Glooscap Trail from Truro to Parrsboro. They have obituaries from 2009 to the present.

AuthentiCity: The City of Vancouver Archives Blog http://vancouverarchives.ca This blog provides access to authentic records about the history and culture of Vancouver.

Elmwood Cemetery: Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke County, Quebec www.interment.net/data/canada/qc/sherbrooke/elmwood/index.htm Contributed by Joan Cruickshank, with the last edition being submitted Jan 17, 2012. There are a total of 6,331 records. 

New Canadian Panelist for RootsTech

Lorine McGinnis Schulze has just posted that she will be at the Rootstech Presentation: International Panel: Genealogy 2.0 in Salt Lake City next month.

She explains on her blog that Joan Miller, a blogger from Alberta, was to appear on the panel, but she can't make it due to illness, so Lorine will take her place.

Lorine will appear at the Salt Palace for the presentation in Room 225B at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 3, 2012.

If you are going to RootsTech http://rootstech.orghttp://rootstech.org be sure to say “Hello” to Lorine!

Lorine's blog, "Olive Tree Genealogy Blog", is at http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com

And we hope that Joan will get better soon, and return to blogging! Her blog is at www.luxegen.ca

Simcoe Counyy Ancestor News

The November newsletter of the Simcoe County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society celebrates the 175^th years in 2012 of the founding of the community of Bond Head, Simcoe County.

Bond Head was originally named Wragg Corners, but in 1837 it was renamed to it's present name after Sir Frances BOND HEAD.

The article "Half-Way Stopping Place: A pioneer Ontario Community"gives a very good history lesson about Bond Head, and the article ends with "Bond Head Presbyterian Church – Communion Roll" which gives the names on the communicants, their residence, their profession or occupation, how and when they were admitted, and how and when they removed from thr roll.  

There are 202 names on these pages of Presbyterians who were living in West Gwillimbury in 1822.

In previous meeting in September Melissa Ellis gave a talk about the "Web Sites to further your Family History Project" in which she used Margaret Rudy (ROUTCLIFFE) EDMUND as a case study.

You can go to their website at http://www.simcoebogs.com

If you are interested in joining Ontario Genealogical Society, and the Simcoe County Branch there are two ways to join. Read about the two ways at http://www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php.

Articles at GenealogyToday.com

Since 2002, from time to time, I used to contribute articles on Canadian genealogy for a column called "Canadian Connections" on Illya D'Addezio's website, Genealogy Today, at www.genealogytoday.com/ca/connect/index.html

They are still on his site, and when I took a look at them again, it brought me back to thinking of the time I spent writing for Illya, and the many pleasant memories of researching the subjects and getting them published.

They covered all subjects, from “Canadians 'Out West'” to "Maritimers in the 'Boston States'" to "The Irish in Canada" to “Canada Remembers” to “1906 Canadian Census Released Today”, and more.

If you get a chance to take a look at the articles I wrote, there still is lots of good information in them, and it will provide you with an interesting peek into my life as a genealogical writer.