Irish Palatine Group Sponsors Ontario Genealogical Tour

The Irish Palatines have the Irish Palatines in Ontario Tour in September of this year. And it seems like they will be visiting many spots of interest to the Irish Palatines in Ontario.

Here is the press release that was sent out a few days ago -

The Irish Palatine Special Interest Group (IP-SIG) is pleased to sponsor a 10-day Irish Palatines in Ontario Tour to take place September 5-15, 2013. You do not have to be a member of the IP-SIG in order to join us on the tour.

However, seating is limited and the bus is already over half full so if you want to be part of the Tour, book your seat today. Download the Tour brochure that outlines the places we will visit, as well as the cost. The tour brochure is available at http://briandunk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/tour-brochure-final.pdf

The tour will highlight several Irish Palatine settlement areas and we will meet various Palatine descendants along the way. The tour also includes visits to many major historical and tourists sites across Ontario. Accommodations will be at quality hotels in the heart of several major Ontario cities as well as a one night stop at a lovely, large Ontario cottage country resort.

If you are interested in joining our tour, please do not hesitate to contact "Great Canadian Holidays" for details at 1-800-467-8687 (ext. 280).

They now have a WordPress page at www.ogs.on.ca/ip-sig , in addition to the website at www.ogs.on.ca/ireland

Reminder: If you want the GenealogyCanada blog updates to come to you everyday in your email, send your address to genealogycanada@aol.com with the subject heading Blog Update, and I will put you on the email list.

UPDATE: Cemetery Project – Ontario GenWeb

The Cemetery Project Section of the Ontario GenWeb was updated Feb 11th.

Additions have been made to the names, when the person born, and when they died.

The following are the cemeteries that were updated –

Brant County:

- Farringdon Cemetery

Essex County:

- McDowell Cemetery

Grey County:

- Greenwood Cemetery

- Salem Cemetery

- St George's Cemetery

Haldimand County:

- Canborough Cemetery

Halton County:

- Lowville United Church Cemetery

Huron County:

- Greenhill Cemetery

Leeds County:

- Abandoned / Brennan Cemetery

- Blanchard Cemetery

- Maple View Lodge Cemetery

- Soper's Cemetery

- Weeks Cemetery

Middlesex County:

- Oakland Cemetery

- Strathroy Cemetery

Norfolk County:

- Port Ryerse Memorial Church Cemetery

Simcoe County:

- Minesing Union Cemetery

Waterloo County:

- Elmira Union Cemetery

- Riverside Cemetery

- St James Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery

Welland County:

- Hansler's / Christ Brethern Church Cemetery

Wentworth County:

- Hamilton Cemetery

- Winona (Fifty) Cemetery

Thanks to the many volunteers who put this information, and take the photos, and to Sherri Pettit who puts it on the Ontario GenWeb site.

This is a FREE site, and the volunteers do not get paid.

You can go to
http://canadacems.blogspot.ca/2013/02/ontario-update.html

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles - 11 February 2013

I have come across the following websites, blogs, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too –

Websites

Francis Drake in 48° North Latitude http://home.surewest.net/rte395/Drake_48.html Here is a website that says Francis Drake made a trip to the 48° North Latitude (southern coast of Vancouver Island), and stayed there for six weeks in 1579.

Blogs

Wibbling Jo’s Genealogy Blog http://wibblingjogenealogy.blogspot.co.uk This blogger is conducting research the surname TILLIN in the US, Canada, Scotland and Gibraltar.

Newspaper Articles

New history museum will ‘pleasantly surprise’ Canadians, CEO predicts www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/history+museum+will+pleasantly+surprise+Canadians+predicts/7916909/story.html There will be an exhibit on the Empress of Ireland, the passenger ship that sank in the St. Lawrence River in 1912 with the loss of more than 1,000 lives, and an exhibit on Confederation tentatively planned for 2016

The search for family roots: Seeking out our ancestors is becoming a global phenomenon www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/the-search-for-family-roots/Content?oid=2450132 Follow the delightful story of how John Barker discovered old photos on a trip to Tantallon, Saskatchewan.

Taking charge www.theguardian.pe.ca/Arts/Entertainment/2013-02-07/article-3172484/Taking-charge/1 Did you know that there were recruiting agents in Prince Edward Island looking for young men to join the Glengarry Light Infantry in Eastern Ontario in the War of 1812? Winston Johnston has written a book about it called The Glengarry Light Infantry, 1812-1816: Who were they and what did they do in the war?

Saving history a piece at a time www.parisstaronline.com/2013/02/03/saving-history-a-piece-at-a-time Read how the Brant County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has a huge collection of newspaper clippings. The massive collection includes indexed and alphabetized copies of obituaries from The Expositor (the local newspaper), as well as indexed binders bursting with copies of The Expositor's historical Flashback column, all dating back to 1965.

Canadian family, Vancouver researcher key to dramatic announcement: Richard III’s remains found (with video) www.vancouversun.com/technology/Canadian+family+proves+parking+corpse+Britain+King+Richard/7914806/story.html Read how a London, Ontario born furniture maker’s DNA helped to identify Richard’s III remains in England last week.

Focus on family www.tricitynews.com/entertainment/189709851.html Read how genealogy influences art pieces for Shaped by the Past, a multi-media exhibit by the ARTforce Collective. The exhibit is open on February 14th, Thursday at 7 p.m. at Place des Arts, 1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Look for more articles next Monday February 18th.

Newspaper Stories Every Monday

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

I love to go across this grand county of ours and pick out the interesting things that have happened in the genealogy, history, and heritage world the previous week and bring them to you.

I also check on the latest Canadian blogs, and websites to see what is new in them.

So don’t miss the New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles blog on Monday February 11th.

It has been a regular blog since April 23, 2012.

Elizabeth

Manitoba to Put Local Histories Online

Here is an exciting resource that will be available tomorrow -

“MORE than 200 local Manitoba history books are only a mouse click away, thanks to a project headed by the Manitoba Library Consortium and Manitoba Historical Society, with funding from the Winnipeg Foundation.

The local histories, covering Manitoba communities from Altona to Zbaraz, bring 100,000 pages' worth of digitized Manitoba history to the website www.manitobia.ca.

Also included on the site, designed as a resource for students, teachers and researchers, are digital copies of dozens of Manitoba newspapers going back to 1871, as well as historical photos and maps.

The site will be launched Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Manitoba Legislature Reading Room”.

A great day for genealogists!

RENINDER: New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles Blog

Don’t forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.

There will be newspaper articles Monday about the agents who went down to Prince Edward Island to recruit men for the Glengarry Light Infantry in Eastern Ontario in the War of 1812, a new blog which features families from Prince Edward Island, and a story about the Empress of Ireland and an exhibit that goes up in 2014 at the new Museum of History in Ottawa, plus many more stories.

There is something of interest for everyone!

Elizabeth

UPDATE: 1921 Canada Census

We are starting to get release information on the 1921 Canada Census bit by bit.

Apparently, it is going to be released by Statistics Canada to the Library and Archives Canada on June 2, 2013, and then to us sometime after that date.

‘Sometime after that’ could mean months, not days, after the LAC receives it, but it will be in the system June 2, 2013.

The population of the country was 8,788,483 in 1921, and the census was taken on 1 June .

The Library and Archives Canada plan to digitize the microfilmed population schedules and make them available online with a nominal index as soon as it is possible.

Stay tuned!

Workshop Friday at the OGS Conference 2013

Years ago when the annual Conference of the OGS was held, it was a two-day affair – Saturday and Sunday.

Over the past couple of years, it has expanded to include Friday, and now since 20011, a Thursday evening “Meet the Board” Reception. It is a "get togther" with the OGS Board who have arrived early to have their pre-conference board meeting on Thursday.

So come out on Thursday evening 7:00 to 9:00, and meet the people who keep our organization running. There will be refreshments and snacks. Its a sort of a warm-up top the Conference.

And on Workshop Friday, there will be 4 workshops to choose from, and then in the evening, there is the Houston Memorial Lecture. Each year, the Ontario Genealogical Society sponsors a prominent genealogist to speak at the Conference Opening Ceremonies and Reception.

This year’s speaker will be Dave Obee, who will address the attendees on the topic of Seven Habits of Highly Successful Genealogists.

I have heard him on a number of occasions, and he has even written a paper for Families a few years ago, and he is worth listening to so that you can hear his latest thoughts on genealogy.

The two workshops I will be attending on Friday will be

An Introduction to Ontario Wills and Administrations & Beyond the Estate File by Jane MacNamara.

She is such a good lecturer, and the estate files are a rich source for finding family connections and social and financial circumstances. I hope to find out how to access these important court records.

In the afternoon, I will be going to The Scots-Irish: Origins, Emigration, Religion, and Research Sources by Dick Doherty, in which he will explore the Scots-Irish  from Scottish origins to Ulster Plantation, Presbyterian religion, emigration from Ireland to North America, and 17th and 18th century settlement patterns in Canada.

To find out more details, go to www.ogs.on.ca/conference2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OGSConference2013Registration-Dec27.pdf

Did your ancestors come from China?

The Library anf Archives Canada just sent this out -
Do you ever wonder who your first Chinese ancestor was and when he or she left China and arrived in Canada? Are you curious about your family’s Chinese heritage?

If so, the Library and Archives Canada website at www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng is a great place to begin your research. For instance, you will find a page specific to genealogical research for the Chinese people. It provides you with historical background information, archival and published material from our collection, as well as links to other websites and institutions. This page also contains a link to the Immigrants from China database which provides access to more than 98,000 references to Chinese immigrants who arrived in Canada.

If your ancestor came to Canada between 1865 and 1935, you might find his or her name on the passenger lists at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/index-e.html

Smiths Falls Heritage Week Feb. 17-24

Smiths Falls in Ontario will celebrate Heritage Week this month by offering te following events -

LEST WE FORGET -

EXHIBITION GRAND OPENING!

This event will happen on Feb. 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Heritage House Museum.

Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute students will host the grand opening of their "Lest We Forget" exhibition. Learn the personal stories of the men and women from Smiths Falls and surrounding area who served in World War One and Two. Take this opportunity to discover more about each soldier with the chance to talk to the students behind the exhibit. Each student will have researched one of the soldiers highlighted. Refreshments will be provided. Admission free. You will not want to miss out on this great event. For more information please contact the Heritage House Museum at 613-283-6311 or by email at heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca

DISCOVER YOUR ROOTS:

GENEALOGY WORKSHOP

Come to the Heritage House Museum on Feb. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. and discover your roots. In partnership with the Lanark County Genealogical Society, learn the skills and 'tricks of the trade' in our genealogical reference library. Price of $5 admission includes a full-year research membership to the Lanark County Genealogy Society. This workshop is for beginners or for those who have hit a road block in their family research. For more information or to register, please contact the Heritage House Museum at 613-283-6311 or by email at heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca

INTRODUCTION TO ANCESTRY LIBRARY EDITION

On Feb. 24 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. check out the free event at the library. Join staff at Smiths Falls Public Library to research your personal history with Ancestry Library Edition. One of the most important international genealogical collections available today, it contains thousands of databases including census, vital statistics, church, court, and immigration records. Starting with an overview of the content, you will then learn how to browse and search the various collections, view, print and save the materials. Handouts will be provided to help refresh your memory after the session. Limited number of spaces. To register call the Library at 613-283-2911

To learn about these events, go to www.smithsfalls.ca/heritage-house-museum.cfm

Tradition in Felicities: Celebrating 155 Years of Victoria’s Chinatown at the Royal BC Museum

I just received this press release from the Rotal British Columbia Museum -  

Victoria, BC – Follow the lanterns into Tradition in Felicities: Celebrating 155 Years of Victoria’s Chinatown, a display on Canada’s oldest Chinatown, featuring a unique artifact, images and stories from the collection of the Royal BC Museum, from Feb. 7 to Sept. 29, 2013. This display reveals a close-knit community of families developing new identities as Chinese Canadians and the felicities – the joyful celebrations of traditional Chinese holidays – that united and strengthened them since their first arrivals in the mid-1800s.

Four families from different walks of life recall, in video interviews, the period from 1930 to 1970 and their annual celebrations of the Chinese New Year. These are the personal views of this last generation to grow up in Victoria’s Chinatown, including the Low family. Kai Ho Low was one of the donors listed on the Chinese Freemason’s lantern, a unique item, part of a growing collection representing BC’s diverse communities at the Royal BC Museum.

‘This display is the result of an important partnership with the Victoria Chinese community,” said Professor Jack Lohman, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal BC Museum. “Generating a variety of cultural perspectives, then pairing those with the rich collections from the museum and archives, help us tell BC's diverse stories."

The centrepiece is one of a kind – the oldest-known Chinese Freemason’s lantern from Victoria’s Chinatown – and was likely on display for the Lantern Festival in the 1930s. Hand-made from paper over a bamboo frame, this large traditional ‘running-horse’ style of lantern used the heat from lights or candles to power an intricate system of wheels and long black hairs used like puppet strings. These moved parts of the lantern to animate scenes from nature set among stencil-like decorations, freemason’s symbols, hand-lettered poems and the names of the lantern’s original community sponsors.

The lantern is too fragile to operate as it once did. It arrived at the museum in poor condition with many parts broken or missing. The museum’s object conservator will be a live exhibit – a rare opportunity to see expert staff at work – using science-based treatments to stabilize and preserve the lantern while visitors look on, Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm until Sept. 29th.

For more information about the Royal BC Museum, visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca or call 1-888-447-7977.

Discovering History in Cemeteries

On Sunday, February 24, 2:00 p.m. at the Ste-Elisabeth Parish Hall, 47 Ste-Elisabeth Road, Cantley, Quebec (just north of Gatineau – right across from Ottawa), there will be an illustrated talk given by Carol Martin, called Discovering History in Cemeteries.


Everyone is invited to our tea party – an illustrated talk, our annual meeting and some sharing of family photos, archives and memories of Cantley’s early years. Cantley 1889 is looking for contacts for material for our archives; you are encouraged to bring photos and momentos of your family’s past. …free admission, everyone welcome

The event will be held by the Gatineau Valley Historical Society.

The website is at www.gvhs.ca

UPDATE: Policy Change for Patrons Requesting Photocopies From the Family History Library

Has anyone seen this notice on the latest post on Family Search blog?

Appearently, Merrill White from the Family History Library posted on the Family Search blog the other day that as of Feb 4 “all requests for information copied from films, book pages, CDs, marriage, death or birth certificates, wills and/or deeds, etc. will be copied in digital format and emailed to patrons in a zipped PDF or JPG file format. There is no charge for this service if we are able to email to information to patrons”.

They say that patrons of the library can request copies by emailing their request to Photoduplication@familysearch.org. All requests MUST include the following information -

■Film or Fiche number

■Item number

■Name of Individual(s) referred to in the record

■Title of the record

■Name of parents, spouse, grantor, grantee, etc.

■Event type (Birth, Death or Marriage)

■Complete event date and place

■Event place (county, parish, township, etc.)

■Volume or page number

■Registration or Certificate Number

■Any other information that will help us locate your record

Global Genealogy Valentine Sale

Canadian based Global Genealogy located in Milton, Ontario has just announced a discount of 15% off of all items until Valentines Day, February 14th at midnight.

You can use the coupon code Valentine when checking them out to receive the discount. Call them at 1-800-361-5168, or drop by their website at www.globalgenealogy.com.

My two booklets – War of 1812: Canada and the United States at http://globalgenealogy.com/countries/canada/military/resources/101034.htm and Migration: Canada and the United States at http://globalgenealogy.com/countries/canada/general/resources/101035.htm are available for sale, and for the 15% discount!

Ontario Genealogical Society’s Cemeteries Project

There will be a meeting at the Hamilton Branch of the OGS on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 2:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Hamilton Room, Hamilton Main Public Library, 55 York Blvd., Hamilton .

The topic will be Ontario Cemeteries, and the speakers will be Diane Clendenan and Marjorie Stuart.

The presentation will describe what is available at present in Ontario with respect to records and plans of cemeteries, photos of gravestones, and future plans for the Society’s Ontario Cemeteries Project.

You may contact www.ogs.on.ca/hamilton

Ontario Cemetery Locator http://ogs.andornot.com/CemLocat.aspx Records for all Ontario cemeteries, both existent and non-existent, cairns, columbariums, family plots, and burial registers, that have been identified by the Ontario Genealogical Society at this time

Cemeteries and Name Indexes www.ogs.on.ca/services/indexes.php This index includes names taken from transcriptions of the monumental inscriptions, cemetery records, and other sources that have been identified by various groups.

LAC Update: The Home Children — Harold Mornington

In the third article in the LAC series called The Home Children, the LAC looks at Harold Mornington, who served in the British Army in the Second World War.

As the LAC says “the process begins with a search of our main online resource on Home Children. Entering the family name Mornington and the given name Harold into the database yields a single reference; it indicates that Harold was 14 years old when he left Liverpool on March 11, 1932 aboard the SS Montclare, and arrived in Halifax on March 19, 1932. He was part of the last group of 36 children sent to Canada by the Barnardo agency.

The passenger lists from 1925 to 1935 have been digitized and can be consulted online. The digital image of the list of passengers aboard the SS Montclare can be examined as well, which confirms the information found in the home children database. It also contains other information, such as the name and address of Harold’s mother, Mrs. Mornington, who lived at 16 Orlando Street, in Caldmore, Walsall, England. More information about Harold Mornington’s family history can be found by contacting the Barnardo’s Family History Service.

Beginning in the 1920s, immigration inspectors drafted Juvenile Inspection Reports when conducting periodic evaluations of children brought to Canada by different agencies. These files are available only on microfilm. A search on reel T-15424 shows that between 1932 and 1936, Harold Mornington worked for five different employers in the Ontario districts of Durham, Brant, Oxford and Hastings.

A reference found on the site of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission reveals that sometime between 1936 and the beginning of the Second World War, Harold Mornington returned to England. He joined the British Army and died on May 23, 1941, while still a member of the Royal Artillery. He was the son of William Joseph and Elizabeth Mornington.

Lastly, Harold Mornington’s military service record is kept at The National Archives in the United Kingdom”.

If you suspect that your ancestor was a Home Child, or would like to check the databasdes mentioned here, click www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-908.009-e.html

Western Development Museum, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The Western Development Museum has four branches in the province of Saskatchewan, and they are located in the cities of Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Saskatoon, and Yorkton.

In the month of February, they are holding Heritage Days in Moose Jaw on Feb 9th, and on the 17th in Yorkton. They have already held Heritage Day at Saskatoon on Feb 3rd.

They also have a Curatorial Centre in Saskatoon. There they have “over 3,200 reference books, more than 300 journal titles with 27 active subscriptions, 6,000 photographs, slides and negatives, over 20,000 agricultural manuals, parts lists, promotional materials, and mail order catalogues as well as other print material of research value”

The collection is non-circulating, but is open to the public for research purposes.

You can go http://wdm.ca/research.htm where you can browse their collection of articles, papers, and online exhibits.

To go to the home page, click on http://wdm.ca/index.html

1,000 Posts Today!

Well, it hard to believe, but thanks to you, my readers from all over the world, I have reached my 1,000 posts today!

By far the most response that I have ever received was the post about the 1921 Canada Census on May 30, 2012 at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.ca/2012/03/1921-canadian-census.html

There are lots of exciting things that are going to take place this year on the blog - so stay tuned!

Elizabeth

New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles - 04 February 2013

I have come across the following websites, blogs, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too –

Websites

BC Archives - Genealogy
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/textual/governmt/vstats/v_events.htm Indexes to births (1854-1903), marriages (1872-1936), deaths (1872-1991), colonial marriages (1859-1872) and baptisms (1836-1888). I had the occasion to use this index again this week, and wanted to remind you that British Columbia Achives has a good website with many resources.

Blogs

Twisted Twigs On Gnarled Branches http://twistedtwigsgnarledbranches.blogspot.ca Read about Deidre Erin ancestors as they came on immigrant ships to North America, and how she is applying to the Canadian Unite Empire Loyalist Association.

Newspaper Articles

100 Letter Cornwall Competition – Donna Robinson of Cornwall Ontario – January 28, 2013 http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/01/45420 The Free News of Cornwall, Ontario tells the story of a girl who has lived in both Cornwall and Alexandria during her childhood, and what the two communities meant to her, and her genealogy.

Bowmansville church celebrates expansion www.durhamregion.com/community/article/1574268--bowmanville-church-celebrates-expansion Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church in Bowmanville is expanding its genealogical office to service its area.

Still going strong http://www.thechronicle-online.com/2013/02/01/still-going-strong West Lorne Women’s Institute has just celebrated its 100th anniversary last week as the writer of the Treedsmuir Histories. The Ontario Genealogical Society began digitizing the Tweedsmuir History Collection in 2009.

Unexpected Surprises www.baytoday.ca/content/columns/details.asp?c=50547 See how Tammy Tipler-Priolo orders the genealogical and history books she uses from the Internert.

OGS celebrates 30 years in Simcoe County www.simcoe.com/news/article/1572573--ogs-celebrates-30-years-in-simcoe-county Read about the great celebration that Simcoe County Branch is planning for its 30th Anniversary on Feb 2nd.

Outside agencies may have to brace for funding cuts www.cornwallseawaynews.com/News/2013-01-17/article-3158715/Outside-agencies-may-have-to-brace-for-funding-cuts/1 St. Lawrence Genealogy Centre is asking town council for $12,000 that the council may have a hard in granting.
Test your knowledge of the penny before its Monday demise www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/penny-quiz Did you win?

And
Read about the history of the penny in Canada since it was first introduced in 1870 at www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/03/30/f-penny-faq.html

Look for more posts on websites, blogs, and newspaper articles next Monday February 11th.