New Canadian Genealogy Websites

I came across these websites this week, and they are -

Treasured Legacies www.treasured-legacies.com/home.html This is a pay site, and it is based in Calgary, Alberta. Joan Fraser is the president of the company, and she offers research services, and write Storybooks which can tell about your family heritage.

Yvonne's Genealogy Blog: A blog about my French-Canadian ancestry and my husband's Russian roots www.yvonnesgenealogyblog.blogspot.com Yuvonne writes a  refreshing blog about the French roots and her Russian husband. She explores the history of "dit names" (with her name being Belair dit Janvry), and I am sure she will tackle her Russian names in the near future.

Some items that made the newspapers this past week in Canada were -

MacLean clan gathering a show of Gaelic heritage, famed Scottish weather www.edmontonjournal.com/travel/MacLean+clan+gathering+show+Gaelic+heritage+famed+Scottish+weather/7129124/story.html Edmonton Journal journalist, Mairi MacLean, was over to Scotland this summer to attend a reunion of people with the old Scottish surname Maclean, and then travelled around southern Scotland, and visited such places as Perthshire. (accessed 26 August 2012)

Celebrating heritage on Peter Robinson Day www.emcperth.ca/20120823/news/Celebrating+heritage+on+Peter+Robinson+Day Karen Prytula, a local freelance writer, tells us about Peter Robinson, and how in 1823, he brought over to Lanark County people from Ireland to help settle this wild land of wilderness Ontario. They settled in Peterborough, which recently celebrated Peter Robinson Day. (accessed 27 August 2012)

'Memory band' features incorrect name: City may need to make a correction to permanent feature at new Pier Park www.royalcityrecord.com/news/Memory+band+features+incorrect+name/7126762/story.html

Theresa McManus, of The Record, reports that the city of New Westminster, BC will have to make a correction to a name they have put in a Memory Band at Pier Park. The name that is mistaken is that of a former mayor Beth Wood. (accessed 27 August 2012)

Lucille Campey Will Be at The BIFHSGO Conference

Just got a note from Geoff Campey, the husband of Lucille Campey, a lecturer at the BIFHSGO conference in September, and a special speaker at Toronto, also in September.

She will be in Canada to talk about her latest book in her series "The English in Canada" with title Seeking a Better Future - The English Pioneers of Ontario and Québec published recently by the Dundurn Group, Toronto.

In Toronto, she will be giving a public lecture about English emigration to Ontario and Quebec on Thursday 20th September at 7.30 pm at the Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall, 24 Cheritan Avenue, Toronto. For more information,call 416.482.4909 or info@crht.ca

John D. Reid at www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=62 has just interviewed Lucille, and I listened to it this morning.

She talked about her three lectures at the BIFHSGO Conference next month www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=22, and one of the lectures will be about the 200th Anniversary of the Red River Settlement in Manitoba, and it sound interesting.

Another lecture that she will give will be on the Highlanders who settled in Glengarry County in Eastern Ontario, and in other parts of Ontario.

Her website has been updated www.englishtocanada.com

See Two Exhibits for the Price of One

If you purchase a special museum pass before Sept 3 at Smith’s Falls, Ontario, you will be entitled to see two exhibits for the price of one!

The tour called the Rails to Bales Tour will let you go to the Heritage House Museum and the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls .

The Legend of Frost & Wood: Outstanding in Their Field at the Heritage House Museum and A Social History of the Railway in Smiths Falls at the Railway Museum documents the development of Smiths Falls over 150 years, the people and the lasting legacy of these industries.

Heritage House Museum is open daily from 10:30 am to 4:30 p.m. until December, at 11 Old Slys Rd., Smiths Falls. Call 613.283.6311 or visit www.smithsfalls.ca/heritagehouse for more information.

The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario is open daily from 10 am to 4 p.m. until Labour Day, and weekends until December at 90 William St. W., Smiths Falls. Call 613.283.5696 or visit www.rmeo.org for more information

North American Indexing Volunteers Invited to Join New US Immigration & Naturalization Community Project

As many of you know, people who immigrated to North America often went to the United States first, and then proceeded to Canada, and many who went to Canada first, often crossed the border to go to the United States.

So even though this is a FamilySearch Community Project, it should be of interest to Canadians indexers.

FamilySearch says that “It will be an indexing effort to make passenger lists, naturalization records, and other immigration related records freely searchable online. Hundreds of thousands of North American volunteers are expected to contribute over the next 18-24 months, focusing initially on passenger lists from the major US ports”.

To find out more about the project, Individuals, societies and other groups that want to participate should visit From Sea to Shining Sea: Helping Everyone Find US Immigration Ancestors at https://familysearch.org/immigration

More Photos of the Dieppe Raid on Flickr

The Library and Archives Canada has put on more images of the Dieppe Raid on Flickr. 

I didn’t know that the Dieppe Raid was also called “Operation Jubilee” and it was supported by over 5000 Canadian troops.

There are photos showing advertisements in newspaper about Victory Bonds, a striking photo showing men from the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry kneeling at the graves of Canadian soldiers killed at Dieppe, and an unidentified infantrymen of the Essex Scottish Regiment.

The images are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/sets/72157630512532280/with/7556117254


You can also see other photos at Through a Lens: Dieppe in Photographs and Film at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/dieppe/index-e.html

Library Hours at QFHS

This has just come in from Jackie Billingham of the Quebec Family History Society –

Attention: All Members of the Quebec Family History Society, and other Researchers

The Library and Office of the Quebec Family History Society will be closed Thursday, August 23, 2012 to Monday, September 3, 2012.

On Tuesday, September 4, 2012 the QFHS will re-open and resume our regular opening hours.

The web page will remain active during the library closure at www.qfhs.ca

Genealogy Workshop

The Halton-Peel Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society and Heritage Mississauga invite you to attend a Genealogy Workshop featuring co-star of television’s "Ancestors in the Attic," Fawne Stratford-Devai on Saturday, September 8th, 2012 at The Grange, 1921 Dundas Street West, Mississauga.

The workshop will cover two sessions:

• Early Ontario Birth Marriage and Death Records

• Leaving Ontario – Resources for Tracking Migrants

Time: 10 am to 3 pm; Registration fee: $25. Space is limited. You must make your own accommodations for lunch.

For more information or to reserve space, please contact Heritage Mississauga at 905.828.8411 ext. 0 or email info@heritagemississauga.org.

Ontario’s British Home Child Day

Upper Canada Village in Morristown will hold the First Anniversary of Ontario’s British Home Child Day on Friday, September 28th.

This day will recognize the accomplishments of the more than 100,000 children sent to Canada from Great Britain from the 1860s to the 1930s. They worked as farm labourers and domestics in homes in Ontario and across Canada. A special emphasis will be placed on the Quarrier’s Homes, and a travelling museum exhibit from Ontario and Quebec will be showcased at this event.

A British Home Child Symposium/Information Session will also be held at the South Stormont Township Hall in Long Sault (close to Cornwall) on Saturday, September 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This event will present a full day of exhibits, displays, speakers, and research information. Cost for attendance at this event is $10.00, which includes refreshments and attendance at the event.

If you wish more information, go to www.uppercanadavillage.com/index.cfm/en/home, or drop by their Ontario East British Home Child Family Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Ontario-East-British-Home-Child-Family/122254607880910.

I will be at both events, so I will see you there!

The Ottawa Genealogist

The summer issue of The Ottawa Genealogist has been published, and it is chock full of the latest news about the Ottawa Branch.

There are articles on "Frederick Alfred Weedmark and Susan (DeLorge) Fraser: The Mystery is Debunked", and "Your Introduction to GOONS!".

Photos and a write-up of "The Eighteenth Annual Historical Walking Tour of Beechwood " which was given to Edward Kipp, the editor of the newsletter.

The War of 1812 Timeline is in The Ottawa Genealogist, and an OGS Conference 2012 report which was held in Kingston this year is in the newsletter, as well as photos.

This newsletter is for members only, but if you want to become an member, go to www.ogs.on.ca, and click on Membership.

A Genealogical Day in Quebec: 1621-2012

A seminar will be held on Saturday, September 29 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the QFHS Heritage Centre and Library, 173 Cartier Avenue, Pointe-Claire. It will be presented by Sharon Callaghan and Gary Schroder.

This seminar will examine the main sources used in Quebec genealogical research regardless of whether your ancestors originated from France, the British Isles, or any other part of the world.

They will explain church records, civil registration records, censuses, notarial records, ship lists, newspapers, land and judicial records. There will also be emphasis on the most important websites used in Quebec genealogical research and how to use the website and databases of the Bibliotheque et Archives nationales du Québec.

The registration fee is $30.00 members, and $40.00 for non-members. Reservations are required.

Call 514.695.1502 or contact Jackie Billingham at qfhs.communications@bellnet.ca.

For more information, go to www.qfhs.ca

Toronto Family History Courses

Gwyneth Pearce has written to tell me that the Toronto Family History Branch of the OGS will have two new courses in October and November.

Basic Genealogy and Family History (3 Oct – 21 Nov)

This 8-session course is aimed at those just beginning to research or looking to upgrade basic research skills and will cover terminology, types of sources, the use of on-line resources, libraries and archives, including LDS Family History Centres, and record-keeping – to help you “think like a genealogist”.

Instructor: Jane E. MacNamara

Coming in Waves: British and Irish Emigration to Canada (7 Nov – 28 Nov)

Set within the context of an overview of British and Irish emigration to Canada in different eras, this new 4-session course will offer strategies for identifying and using emigration records from different periods effectively in genealogical research.

Instructor: James F.S. Thomson

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

And she says that they are planning an Irish Family History Workshop on Saturday 17 November 2012.

Sge says this will be a full-day workshop covering a comprehensive range of topics of interest to family historians with Irish research interests – details to come soon.

Ottawa Chapter has Fundraiser

The Bytown Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will be hosting a fundraiser dinner on Sept 8 at 6:30 pm at the Museum of Civilization with Mr. Victor Suthren, who is the former Director General of the Canadian War Museum.

The topic of his talk will be “A Peaceful Place: The Wartime Origins of an Unwarlike Capitol”.

It will be $100.00 per ticket, and you can call Dorothy Meyerhof at 613.822.2946.

The deadline for registration is August 27, or until tickets are sold.

The proceeds from the dinner will go towards the DAR Bytown Chapter History Award given at Carleton University annually.

TONI Is Growing Everyday!

One of the best resources that a genealogist should check is the Ontario Genealogical Society’s TONI – The Ontario Name Index.

The Ontario Name Index (TONI) is a mega-index of names with the goal of including every name found in any publication relating to Ontario

Started in 2011 TONI is growing with new resources added every day!

There are already many names on the index. There is a low cost to download the information on the name(s) you have found,but the index itself is free to use!

To see how to use TONI, go to www.ogs.on.ca/integrated/toni_database1.php

Hint: I still use the Ontario Genealogical Provincial Index at www.ogs.on.ca/ogspi/welcome.htm to compare information with TONI to make sure that I have all the information that I need.

Families Who Came Through Pier 21

Anne Renaud, a writer of children’s book, want to talk to people who emigrated to Canada, and came through Pier 21 in Halifax in the years 1928 to 1971.

Anyone willing to share their family history with young readers is invited to contact her at earenaud@yahoo.com.

Should you wish to obtain additional information regarding her writing background, she encourages you to visit her website at http://annerenaud.net

OGS Families - August 2012

The August Families has just been published, and this issue contains six  papers, and they are –

Dealing with Documents – This is excerpt from the book by Althea Douglas called Time Travellors Handbook: A Guide to the Past. A review of the book is available on page 33.

How An old Handkerchief Helped Me Discover my Kinston Roots – This paper was by the 1st place winner of the Keffer Writing Contest Virginia Reid.

She tells the story about how her great-grandfather Thomas James Reid was wounded by a shell that left holes in a handkerchief in his back pocket.

A Mystery Like No Other – This paper was written by William Vollmer, the winner of the 2011 Dr. Don Brearley Genealogical Essay Prize, and it is about his ancestor Charles Vollmer who disappeared from Maryhill, Ontario.

Life of a Guyanese in Canada – by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh in which he follows the life of Hector Lachmansingh, an Indian- Caribbean.

The Family of Jacob Phillips and Sarah “Sally” Kaake of Etobicoke: An Overview – by David Phillips in which he traces the life of the Kaake and Phillips family in Etobicoke.

The Search for Auntie Hutton – by Donald R. McLaughlin in which he discovers who Auntie Hutton of Ross Township, Renfrew County really is – Almeda Rosanna Fuller Palmer Hutton.

In order to receive this magazine you must be a members of the Ontario Genealogical Society at www.ogs.on.ca.

BIFHSGO Conference in September

I have just registered for the 17th annual BIFHSGO conference tobe held in Ottawa from September 14th to the 16th. This year’s theme is Scotland.

On Day 1 I plan to attend 4 lectures –

Session 1

An Introduction to Researching Scottish Family History – presented by Chris Paton

Session 2

Lord Selkirk and the Settlement of Scottish Highlanders in Canada – presented by Lucille Campey

After the lunch break, I will take in two more lectures, and they are –

Session 3

Scottish House and Land History – presented by Chris Paton

Session 4

Online Books: Are they Really Good Resources? – presented by Tony Bandy

And I will top off the day by having a “get together” supper held at the Bay Street Bistro where my husband and myself usually have good food and conversation with fellow genealogists.

Then on Sunday, I will attend –

Session 5

Seeking a Better Future; The English Pioneers of Ontario and Quebec – presented by Lucille Campey

Session 6

The Good Commonwealth – presented by Chris Paton

I will enjoy lunch, and then I will attend the following sessions in the afternoon -

Session 7

The Scots in Ontario – a New Look at the Data – presented by Lucille Campey

Session 8

The Mount Stewart Murder – presented by Chris Paton

All of the lecture abstracts are at www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=98.

The biographies of each of the speakers is at www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=94

I will post my reactions to the different lectures that I plan to attend on Monday, September 17th.

Acadian Myths

There are many “myths” in genealogy, and Yvon Cyr has explained 15 of the “myths” with Acadian genealogy.


One "myth" I didn’t know was that I thought the Acadians went directly to Louisiana when they were expelled by the English 1755. But apparently that is not true. Only about half ended up in Louisiana, the rest of the people went to other English colonies in North America, France, Haiti, and the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon off of Newfoundland.

Yvon has taken the time to explain the “myths”, and I will keep them in mind when I come across my husband’s Acadian ancestors – the Comeau of Salmon River, Nova Scotia.

To read the “myths”, go to www.acadian.org/acadianmyths.html

OGS Blog Poll #2

The first poll of the OGS blog has taken place, and now it’s time for Poll # 2.

The subject of this poll is Records. You can choose as many choices from the list as you wish. To view the results after you have voted, simply refresh the page.

Aside from Census, Birth, Death and Marriage records, what other records have you found useful in building your family tree?

So far, the poll has shown that Cemetery Records as the first choice, Church and Parish Records in second place, and Wills and Probate in the third place.

Go to www.ogs.on.ca/ogsblog, and put in your choice!

70 Years Since the Dieppe Raid

It has been 70 years since the Dieppe Raid of the Second World War, and Canadians are taking part in the ceremonies -

“Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, will attend ceremonies in Dieppe, France, from August 19 to 20, to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.

The Governor General will join the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, who will lead an official delegation to France from August 17 to 21, which includes Veterans who participated in the Dieppe Raid.

While in France, the Governor General, Minister Blaney and the Canadian delegation will attend a number of commemorative ceremonies including the Government of Canada’s signature event at Canada Memorial Square on August 19 and a ceremony at the Pourville Memorial on August 20.

In addition to the ceremonies taking place in France, there will also be a ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, as well as a number of events in communities across the country.

The raid on Dieppe, France, on August 19, 1942, was a pivotal moment in the Second World War. With virtually all of continental Europe under German occupation, the Allied forces faced a well-entrenched enemy. A method had to be found to create a foothold on the continent, and the raid on Dieppe offered invaluable lessons for the successful D-Day invasion in 1944, saving countless lives in that momentous offensive.

The Dieppe Raid was particularly devastating to the Canadian military. Of the nearly 5,000 Canadians who embarked on the operation, less than half returned to England, many of whom were wounded. There were 1,946 prisoners of war and 913 who lost their lives.

The Canadians who fought in the Dieppe Raid sacrificed much in their efforts to help bring freedom and democracy to the people of France and Europe. Their task was a difficult and costly one, but their effort was not in vain.

Lest we forget”

To read more about Canada and the Dieppe Raid, go to www.canadaatwar.ca/page53.html

Family Tree Magazine Picks Best Canadian Genealogy Sites

The sites that they have picked are -

Automated Genealogy - I use this site quite often to check the census of 1901, 1906 (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) and 1911. As is pointed out, they have a "Link Centre, which has already connected 2 million records of individuals between censuses as well as other sources, such as WWI soldiers and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography".

This is very important, if you want to make to a connection between the First World War and the 1911 Census.

The website is at http://automatedgenealogy.com

Canadian - This site I use every so often, maybe not as much as I should for there is 60 million-plus pages from libraries, museums, universities and government agencies.

I have just found it to be so frustating because I get lost in the Early Canadiana Online collection. But I understsnd that it is going through a "a makeover" with improved searching and navigation facitilty.

The website is at www.canadiana.ca/en/home

Library and Archives Canada - The LAC came in third place, and it appears that the biggest mark against it is "not searchable by surname". That is the thing isn't it - there are all of these records online - but the majority are not searchable by surname.

They have a new website at www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx

Our Roots/Nos Roots - I agree - this is a good site! They have put online over 5,000 local history books, and if you haven't gone there before, it does deserve a look because I have found many refernces which has helped me in my reserarch.

The website is at www.ourroots.ca

Le Programme de recherche en démographie historique (The Research Program in Historical Demography) - I have used the database when I have had ancestors in Quebec. They have as their objective to collect every bit of information on all "biographical files on all individuals of European ancestry who lived in the St. Lawrence Valley". They charge to do full research - although nothing is charged to see if a name is listed in the database.

The website is at www.genealogie.umontreal.ca/en/leprdh.htm.

That's My Family/Voici Ma Famille - I have used this database to check to see if a marriage (specially in Quebec) is there. This was a database put together by the Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec and Library and Archives Canada sometime ago, but it is still worth a look.

The website is www.thatsmyfamily.info

New to the OGS Blog

This is an exciting development in blogs - they are instituting the use of Polls on the OGS blog at www.ogs.on.ca/ogsblog/?p=1389.

There are going to be a new one each week.

This week they asked the guestion - What regions have you been searching to build your family tree?

The results so far are -

Canada 81%

England 73%

Scotland 63%

United States 61%

The poll has been set up to allow you to choose as many answers from the list as you wish. Missed something or having second thoughts on your choices? No worries, simply refresh the page, and you can vote again!

Give it a try and have some fun!

Update of Quinte Finding Aid

Bob Dawes just wrote me a note to say that the Quinte Branch of the OGS has just issued over 100,000 records to it's online finding aid -

PRESS RELEASE

Quinte Branch - OGS announces an update of its online finding aid available at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canqbogs

Originally intended for use within the Quinte Genealogy Centre Research Library located in the Quinte West Public Library, it was added as an online resource in 2007. While the finding aid is primarily used to locate collateral surnames in the large collection of genealogies and other documents it also provides a lot of relevant information if you know where to look. A guide to using the finding aid and library catalog is provided on the above website.

The latest update adds over 100,000 records to the database bringing the total number to 1,120,000. Information on how to use the online Finding Aid to obtain additional information on search results from research volunteers is also available on the website.

2012 PEI Highland Games

The Caledonian Club of Prince Edward Island was formed on June 2, 1864, and on August 4th and 5th, they will present The PEI Highland Games at the Lord Selkirk Provincial Park, Eldon, PEI.

The Highland Dancing Competitions will be held on August the 4th at 8:30 a.m., as well as the junior heavy and track and field competitions (under 16). At 1 pm the ladies heavy competitions, and at 2 p.m. there will be men's heavy Scottish competitions.

Lots of food and entertainment including three Mass Bands on August the 4th, step-dancing competitions at 2 p.m. on August the 5th, followed by afternoon concert in the park with fiddler Richard Wood accompanied by Gordon Belsher.

There will also be a Gathering of the Clans Maclean and Ramsay where you can ask questions, and find out about Scottish enigration to PEI.

The website is www.caledonianclubofpei.ca

New Canadian Blog

We congratulate Betty on staring a new blog that is going to contain Canadian content, and it is called The Pye Plate at http://thepyeplate.blogspot.com.

Since she is a Mayflower Descendent, she will discuss ancestors who travelled from England to New England, and from there to the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and to New Brunswick.  

She promises that the blog will be mostly about her family, but she will post for anyone who is seeking assistance in researching their family.

Welcome aboard Betty!

Africville Summer Reunion

This weekend will mark the 29^th summer reunion to be held in the former land in north-end Halifax, Nova Scotia known as Africville – a place where American slaves, and other Black people settled in the 1830s.  

They will also dedicate the newly rebuilt Africville Church and Museum this weekend, and it will be the highlight of the reunion of the many American and Candian families which are expected to be there.

CBC Halifax has a story on the church at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/07/24/ns-africville-church-museum.html.

And you can read about The Africville Genealogical Society at http://www.africville.ca/society

GANS at the Halifax Pride Community Fair

Pamela Wile, NSG Editor, write to say that the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia (GANS), will be at the Halifax Pride Community Fair on the Halifax Commons this
Saturday, July 28.

GANS will have a booth at the Halifax Pride Community Fair from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.

She says to look for their new GANS banner at the fair, and she encourages you to come by, and say “Hello”. They will have their publications for sale and some handouts too.

The Fair will set up on the Halifax Commons - here is a link to the Fair website where you can see a map of the Pride Grounds and download a program
http://www.halifaxpride.com/index.php/pride-week/community-fair.

The GAS site is at http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/recreation/GANS.

FindMyPast Ignores Canada

The British site FindMyPast.com is starting to begin an International Records web site.

They will include international records from England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and Wales. Where is Canada! Canada is among the missing.

When will this county be included? There are lots of records here that could go on their site.

For those who want to search the new records, there is an introductory offer for the World Subscription of $4.95/month (U.S. funds) instead of the normal $20.83/month.

Go to findmypast.com

Podcasts at the LAC

Sylvie Tremblay, the Manager, Content Delivery and Coproduction Services at the LAC has just announced the following -

“Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the release of our latest podcast episode: The Shamrock and the Fleur-de-Lys.

In this episode, we consult a panel of experts about the massive immigration of Irish settlers to Quebec in the 1800s. We examine the journey they made in order to establish their new lives on foreign soil, as well as the cultural bond that formed between the Irish and the Québécois.

Subscribe to episodes using RSS or iTunes, or just tune in at: Podcasts – Discover Library and Archives Canada: Your History, Your Documentary Heritage”.

I have listened to the podcasts, and have read the transcript, and have found them to be very good.

People are interviewed including Sylvie from the LAC, Jo-Anick Proulx from Parks Canada, and Simon Jolivet, a history professor from the University of Ottawa each with their own knowledge in the area. And you get a good, rounded view of the Irish as they came to Canada – and many of them were sick and died at the Grosse-Île Quarantine Station just beyond Quebec.

It deserves a listen.

Go to http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/news/podcasts/Pages/shamrock-and-fleur-de-lys.aspx 

Nova Scotia Historical Newspapers Digitization Initiative

The Public Archives of Nova Scotia has just released The Acadian Recorder and the The Liverpool Transcript newspapers on the internet.

The Acadian Recorder (1813 to 1853) was a Halifax weekly, and it printed local, national, and international stories.

The Liverpool Transcript was published in the town of Liverpool on the province’s south shore (1854-1867), and I am interested in this paper because it printed shipping news – who owned what ships – and I am looking for my ancestors who owned ships in Shelburne around the same time that the newspaper was printed.

If you wish to read these newspapers (they are not indexed), go to http://gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/newspapers

Do You Read/Speak Italian?

FamilySearch.org is looking for people who can read/speak Italian, so that they can transcribe and put the rest of the Italian records online. Here is the press release that they put out the other day .

“FamilySearch launched a historic partnership with the National Archives of Italy in December 2011 to digitally preserve and index its civil registration records (birth, marriage, and death) for all states from 1802 to 1940. Since the project launch more than 24 million images have been published, and 4 million names have been made searchable on FamilySearch.org.

But there are 115 million historic Italian documents with over 500 million names remaining to index and publish. Tens of thousands of volunteers are needed. To meet this opportunity, FamilySearch is requesting help from indexers and arbitrators who speak or read Italian or a closely related language, such as Spanish, or who are willing to learn a handful of simple Italian words and phrases to help facilitate the initiative.

Descendants of Italians and Italy historic and genealogy societies are especially invited to participate to help accelerate the publication of this valuable record set”.

Interested individuals, societies, or groups should visit www.familysearch.org/italian-ancestors to learn more.

To search the completed Italian records online and to learn more about reading Italian records, visit familysearch.org/italy.

Finding Your Canadian Ancestors

This is an interesting article in the Edmonton Journal the other day at

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/Millions+Canadians+inspired+shows+websites+investigating/6930978/story.html.

It shows how doing research in Canada can be interesting when you combine doing the research on the computer, and belonging to a local genealogical society.

The two go hand-in-hand, and can lead to great results, especially when the society has a "Members Only" website, as many Canadian societies have now. They are storehouses of information!

Good luck in finding your Canadian ancestors!

 

SCOTCH ROAD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

This a press release that was sent along the other day - 

“St Mungo's United Church will hold a Scottish Memorial Day in honour of the 

Scottish pioneers of the North Shore of the Ottawa River, on August 19, 2012. 

The activities will start with a church service at 3:00 p.m. and continue with a 

barbecue afterwards. Taking part in the festivities will be the Black Watch 

Association Pipes & Drums of Montreal under the command of Pipe Major Brian 

MacKenzie, and Gaelic singers, Fiona McDonald, Director of the Gaelic Choir of 

Ottawa and Catherine-Ann MacPhee of Barra who is universally regarded as one of 

the most gifted and engaging Gaelic singers of her generation.

The impressive stone church, built in 1836 by the Scottish stonemasons who 

worked on the Ottawa River canals, has undergone extensive restoration of the 

exterior in recent years. This event will launch St Mungo's fundraising for the 

restoration of the interior. Official tax receipts for all donations over $20.

WHEN: August 19, 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: St Mungo's United Church, 661 Route des Outaouais (Highway 344) in 

Cushing on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River.

For more information, call 514-937-2131 or e-mail avoca@allstream.net” 

Want to go to Salt Lake City?

Bruce & Grey Branch of the OGS is planning a research trip to Salt Lake City from August 12-18, 2012.

The hotel is the The Carleton Hotel (about 2 blocks from Family History Library) at 140 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT. 84111.

To get all the information that you need, plus prices, go to http://bruceandgreygenealogy/com

To ask any questions, email Kathleen at labuszkl@bmts.com

Database Back Online

A person posted on the NS Mailing List that the Colchester Archives’s databases are back online at www.colchesterhistoreum.ca.

The database has been offline for quite a while now, and I agree that it is very useful when researching Colchester County families in the Truro area.

Just click on Search Historical Colchester Records Online.

A FREE Concert in Ottawa on Canada Day!

The Central Band of the Canadian Forces will perform a free outdoor Canada Day concert, July
1st, 11am - noon, on the National Arts Centre Terrace, corner of Elgin and Queen. 

 

In case of inclement weather, the concert will move to the main lobby of the NAC.

 

The National Arts Centre is honoured to be displaying the seventh Book of Remembrance in Le Salon at the NAC from 10am - 5pm.

 

Visitors will be able to view this unique work of art, containing the names of all Canadians who have
died in service since the end of the Second World War. 

Toronto History Branch Fall Meetings

Gwyneth Pearce has sent information about the Toronto History Branch meetings, and workshops to be held this fall.  

DATE: 22 September 2012: Saturday (9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.)
LOCATION: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto
TITLE OF COURSE: "Ancestry Day"
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Lesley Anderson
BRIEF INFO: This course will provide detailed information about the most effective strategies for searching Ancestry’s growing number of databases with special emphasis on some of the newer features. Participants will also learn how to create and share their online tree.

DATE: 3 October – 21 November 2012: Wednesdays (2:00- 4:00 p.m.)
LOCATION: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto
TITLE OF COURSE: "Basic Genealogy and Family History"
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Jane E. MacNamara
BRIEF INFO: Designed for those just beginning to research or looking to upgrade basic research skills, this course will cover terminology, types of sources, the use of on-line resources, libraries and archives, and record-keeping – to help you “think like a genealogist”.

DATE: 17 November 2012: Saturday (9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.)
LOCATION: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto
TITLE OF WORKSHOP: "Irish Family History Workshop"
NAME OF INSTRUCTORS: TBA
BRIEF INFO: This full-day workshop will cover a comprehensive range of topics of interest to family historians with Irish research interests. Detailed information about the program, speakers and registration to come.

For a full schedule, go to www.torontofamilyhistory.org

Ancestr.ca is FREE!

To celebrate Canada Day on July 1^st, Ancestry.ca is offering FREE access to more than 40 million historical records that is available now to July the 2^nd.

Free access includes -

 Canadian Passenger Lists and Ocean Arrivals - outlining the masses of people who arrived by ship -- the only form of international travel available to people at the time -- at port cities across Canada

The 1871 Census of Canada - the first Census Canada conducted as a nation, which gives a snapshot of the life of the people living at the time, including who they lived with, their ages, their jobs, the birthplaces of their parents, their neighbours and more

Vital records (i.e. birth, marriage and death records) from British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia - outlining the significant moments in the people’s lives like children born, marriages and deaths.

Visit http://www.ancestry.ca/ to search all of the records being made available for free this weekend.

Stewiacke Valley Museum present Genealogy Day

 If you are interested in genealogy or family history of Stewiacke Valley, Nova Scotia, you should plan to attend the Genealogy Day on July 28^th.

Local family researchers will be present to talk and share their

information, and their methods of research and documenting their family

Trips to local cemeteries will be arranged for those who request them.

Please notify us in advance (if possible) which cemetery you wish to visit.

Starter kits will be available for those wanting to begin their research

The resources of the Museum, including nearly 2000 photographs, community history books,Genealogies, Obituaries, Scrapbooks, School Registers,

Diaries, house histories and much more will be available to help with your research.

Photocopies available at a nominal charge.

Genealogy Day will be held on Saturday, July 28 from 10a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Stewiacke Valley Museum, 5445 Highway 289 in Upper Stewiacke

Light refreshments available

For more information, call Judy at 671-2929

"Classic FamilySeach.org" No Longer Exists

They have finally closed the Classic FamilySearch.org, which to many of us was where we cut our teeth on doing Internet genealogy research.

I know there were many problems with the information that the Classical FamilySearch.org had, and some of it was downright incorrect – but one can say it was an admirable first attempt to put the information online.

I started my research on my ancestor Andrew Barclay on the site, and became a regular visitor, and user when I first went on the Internet in the mid-1990s.

One fellow who continues to write about FamilySearch.org is The Ancestor Insider at  http://ancestryinsider.blogspot.com/2012/06/classic-familysearch-is-no-more.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AncestryInsider+%28The+Ancestry+Insider%29.

Read his posting “Classic FamilySearch is NoMore” posted on June 25, 2012.

OGS President Interviewed

Read Shirley Sturdevant’s interview in the 21 June edition of the Chatham Daily News at http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2012/06/20/connecting-ancestors-to-the-present called “Connecting ancestors to the present.”

She gives her own story of how she became president after joining the OGS five years ago, and the OGS thoughts on the current Library and Archives Canada situation.

It’s worth a read - quite a good interview.

Genealogy Sessions Part of Jubilee Celebrations

                                                                          The  Alberton Historical Preservation Foundation is marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with two days of special events at the Alberton Arts and

Heritage Centre in Prince Edward Island.

The celebration starts with a genealogy seminar with George Sanborn from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11.

Sanborn is an eminent researcher who has worked in the field of genealogy for over 51 years. He will discuss the connections of Prince Edward Islanders who went to work and live in Maine and other New England states.

From 7 to 9 p.m. the Centre will play host to well-known genealogist and CBC Radio Noon personality, Terry Punch, who will speak on Irish and Scottish ncestry and name origins. A question and answer session will follow his

presentation.

Admission to both sessions is free, but seating islimited. Individuals can reserve a seat by calling the museum at 853-2275, or e-mailing the museum at alac@bellaliant.net.

Seven experts in various fields of antiques have been confirmed for an Antique Fair, which will get underway at the centre on Thursday, July 12, starting at 10 a.m.

Areas of expertise include furniture, silver, china, jewelery, books and paintings, military, tools and musical instruments.  Interested persons are

encouraged to bring their special possessions along to be identified, evaluated and explained.

To close out the special Diamond Jubilee celebrations, a giant fireworks display will take place on the Prince County Exhibition grounds just after dusk.

British Columbia Genealogical Society Has Updated Two Indexes

The BCGS has updated two indexes -

British Columbia Auto Permit Holders, 1904-1905

This indexing project is on-going, and is part of a project documenting early vehicle owners in British Columbia, Canada.

This information has been extracted from BC Motor Vehicle Branch records held by the British Columbia Archives.

In some cases, additional information is available from the indexer, who would be happy to hear from those with more information about the vehicle owner or their vehicles. Please contact M. Diane Rogers at diane_rogers@shaw.ca
A headings are the year of the permit, the nunber of permit(s) given, the name of the owner, and his address.

Victoria, British Columbia Naturalization Index, 1859

British Columbia Naturalization documents from the British Columbia Archives are now digitized and available free at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/2001101 which begin with Oaths of Allegiance signed in 1859.

The BC Archives has names of individuals already on-line from the Cranbrook records and FamilySearch has digitized the official Cranbrook index book.

If you would like to search for a Cranbrook name in the Cranbrook naturalization applications 1905-1923. you can go to http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-234C840/search

Finally, if you want to get rid of your pennies, the BCGS are collecting pennies to contribute to the fund for a Coat of Arms for the Society.

Any pennies will be accepted at all general meetings. Volunteers will roll them, if need be.