Do you know that on November 11th, Canada will mark 90 years since the First World War ended?
More than 100,000 Canadians fought in that war and this year, the period from August 8th to the signing of the armistice on November 11th will be called "The Last Hundred Days."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement (08/08/08) that "Over 'The Last Hundred Days', Canadian soldiers advanced 130 km and 30 Canadians and Newfoundlanders earned the Victorian Cross."
If you are searching for your WWI ancestor, the best place to start your search is at the Canadian Genealogy Centre at <www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/022/022-909.006-e.html>.
There you will see the 600,000 personal records of Canadians who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).
If you enter the last name and the first name of your ancestor in the search engine, you will see the actual enlistment papers that your relative signed - the enlist papers that got him into WWI.
Also on the site is a section devoted to the Aboriginal Soldiers, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and Newfoundland Forestry Corps, the Air Force and the Navy. (Some of these files may not be online - check with the LAC first to see if they are, or have to be, borrowed since they would be on microfilm.)
If you would like, you can also go to the Veterans Affairs Canada <www.vac-acc.gc.ca> site for information about the graves and memorials of the 116,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who died.
The site contains digital images of photographs and personal memorabilia about individual Canadians.
A daily blog about Canadian genealogy, heritage, and history
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Let Cousins Find You
It one of the subtitles in the handout piece of Jeffrey Bockman I received Wednesday when I heard him speak at the "Genealogy and Local History" conference in Ottawa last week.
And it had a direct application for me because when I checked my email Wednesday night after I got home, there was a note from a man, Peter Budgell in Burlington, Ontario, telling me that he had a picture of Andrew BARCLAY (1814-1866).
I have been searching for my g-g-g-uncle for a number of years - six years, in fact!
Peter finally answered my email query with a picture. It was more than I could have hoped for - and there was Andrew right in front of my eyes! He had gotten the picture from his Mom's aunt, and there he was - Andrew!
(He was the son of James Barclay, the grandson of Andrew Barclay who worked in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Around 1860, he and his two sons left Shelburne and went to the West Indies, where he and his son died of yellow fever. His youngest son left for New York.)
And this morning I received another email from Peter saying that there still is material I haven't ime to digest.
The sons and daughters of Andrew——so sketchy in the book that I have almost finished on the progenitor Andrew BARCLAY——will now be just a little closer to getting done.
So Jeffrey Bockman was right when he said, "Let Cousins Find You", for, as he added, "Passive Genealogy can be very helpful".
Monday, August 11, 2008
1881 Census of Canada Released
At exactly 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 7th, the 1881 Census was released online!
The people who first got the news were the attendees at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) who were at the Library and Archives Canada attending a conference on Genealogy and Local History. I was one of the attendees.
On the database, researchers can access the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time of the 1881 census. It also has the actual census return itself, which you can also access.
The press release said that "It is the first regularly scheduled collection of national statistics in Canada. Information was collected for Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, and the North-West Territories".
I checked the census Thursday evening for the BARCLAY (my direct line) family in Nova Scotia and I found them, but I found the children in one grouping and the mother and father in another grouping. Funny - but that is how it was.
Also, their surname was spelled as BARCKLAY - which was also unusual.
Sylvie Temblay, the Chief Project Head at the Canadian Genealogy Centre, expects 750,000 searches per week on the 1881 census.
The index was created by familysearch.org, and access to the digital images of the original census was work done by the Library and Archives of Canada.
The database is available at <www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881>.
The people who first got the news were the attendees at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) who were at the Library and Archives Canada attending a conference on Genealogy and Local History. I was one of the attendees.
On the database, researchers can access the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time of the 1881 census. It also has the actual census return itself, which you can also access.
The press release said that "It is the first regularly scheduled collection of national statistics in Canada. Information was collected for Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, and the North-West Territories".
I checked the census Thursday evening for the BARCLAY (my direct line) family in Nova Scotia and I found them, but I found the children in one grouping and the mother and father in another grouping. Funny - but that is how it was.
Also, their surname was spelled as BARCKLAY - which was also unusual.
Sylvie Temblay, the Chief Project Head at the Canadian Genealogy Centre, expects 750,000 searches per week on the 1881 census.
The index was created by familysearch.org, and access to the digital images of the original census was work done by the Library and Archives of Canada.
The database is available at <www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881>.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
LAC Conference 2008 - Blog
I will be away on vacation from Friday, August 1st to Sunday, August 11th. But, "I will be away on vacation", is a relative term - because for two days I will be at the "Genealogy and Local History for all: Services to Multicultural Communities" (August 6 & 7) in Ottawa. It is a Satellite Conference sponsored by GENLOC/RISS International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions under the organization of the Library and Archives Canada.
While there, I plan to meet with Dave Obee, a genealogist from British Columbia, and Janet Tomkins, a librarian with the genealogy department at the Vancouver Public Library.
While I am gone, if you want something of mine to read, you can check "Canadian Connections" on the <www.GenealogyToday.com> website.
I have been writing for them since 2002 about everything Canadian in genealogy, heritage, and history.
And you can also read the current issue of e-NewsLeaf, which can be accessed if you are a member of the Ontario Genealogy Society <www.ogs.on.ca>. I became the editor of e-NewsLeaf when it was started back in April.
The latest newsletter just came out last weekend (July 2008 Volume 1, No. 4) and has articles on the Nipissing Branch Receives Trillium Award, "The Wall of Ancestors" at Conference '08, Information Wanted for Local History Book, African Roots in Canada, and Ottawa Branch Supports Local Library.
I will be back on the blog Monday, August 11th.
While there, I plan to meet with Dave Obee, a genealogist from British Columbia, and Janet Tomkins, a librarian with the genealogy department at the Vancouver Public Library.
While I am gone, if you want something of mine to read, you can check "Canadian Connections" on the <www.GenealogyToday.com> website.
I have been writing for them since 2002 about everything Canadian in genealogy, heritage, and history.
And you can also read the current issue of e-NewsLeaf, which can be accessed if you are a member of the Ontario Genealogy Society <www.ogs.on.ca>. I became the editor of e-NewsLeaf when it was started back in April.
The latest newsletter just came out last weekend (July 2008 Volume 1, No. 4) and has articles on the Nipissing Branch Receives Trillium Award, "The Wall of Ancestors" at Conference '08, Information Wanted for Local History Book, African Roots in Canada, and Ottawa Branch Supports Local Library.
I will be back on the blog Monday, August 11th.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
FamilySearch.org - From a Canadian Point of View
Every since the Internet has become like a second skin for the genealogy public, one site has become essential for research: <FamilySearch.org>.
I did that back in 1995 when I started my family history. There were three genealogies which had been done - but there were no supporting documents. So I am grateful that <FamilySearch.org> was there and that I was able to use them for free. But that might be changing in the near future.
In a recent press release from them, the word "free" is more clearly defined.
So what does this mean to you?
To me, it sounds like you will have to pay for access unless you fall into one of those categories. Will you be willing to go the local Family History library to do your research rather than turning on your home computer? Are you willing to index so much material per quarter in lieu of paying for access?
They are going to have the software by next year to verify that you are a member of FamilySearch so that you will be able to access future home use.
What do you think?
I did that back in 1995 when I started my family history. There were three genealogies which had been done - but there were no supporting documents. So I am grateful that <FamilySearch.org> was there and that I was able to use them for free. But that might be changing in the near future.
In a recent press release from them, the word "free" is more clearly defined.
"Where possible, FamilySearch will seek to provide free public access to digital images of original images of original records. Due to affiliate obligations, free access to some images may be available only to FamilySearch members (volunteers and indexers who meet basic contribution requirements each quarter, patrons at Family History Centers, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who's contributions supply FamilySearch's operations)."
So what does this mean to you?
To me, it sounds like you will have to pay for access unless you fall into one of those categories. Will you be willing to go the local Family History library to do your research rather than turning on your home computer? Are you willing to index so much material per quarter in lieu of paying for access?
They are going to have the software by next year to verify that you are a member of FamilySearch so that you will be able to access future home use.
What do you think?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A Nation's Chronicle: The Canada Gazette
The Canada Gazette has been published in Canada for more than 160 years. It is the known as "the official newspaper of the Government of Canada", for it has "informed Canadians of the operations of government and encouraged them to participate in the legislature process."
In other words, in it are published new statutes and regulations, proposed regulations, decisions of administrative boards, and an assortment of government notices.
The Canada Gazette (from 1841 to 1997) will, over the next few years, be made available online. You will be able to "keyword' search of all the content of the Canada Gazette.
Right now, the database is of 30% (300,000) of the pages in Canada Gazette and by 2009 all of the pages will be on the Internet.
It is divided into three parts -
Part I - 1983-1997 - Contains all public notices, appointments and proposed Regulations from the government, and it is published every Saturday.
Part II - 1950-1976 - It contains all proclamations and order-in-council. It is published every other Wednesday.
Part III - 1983-1997 - This section contains all Acts of Parliament, and it is published as soon as possible after the act is given Royal Assent.
Issues of the Canada Gazette after 1997 are available online at the website of the Canada Gazette Directorate at <canadagazette.gc.ca/index-e.html>.
The Canada Gazette is a project funded by the Canadian Culture Online program of the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Gazette Directorate.
It is available at <www.collectionscanada.gc.on/canada-gazette>.
In other words, in it are published new statutes and regulations, proposed regulations, decisions of administrative boards, and an assortment of government notices.
The Canada Gazette (from 1841 to 1997) will, over the next few years, be made available online. You will be able to "keyword' search of all the content of the Canada Gazette.
Right now, the database is of 30% (300,000) of the pages in Canada Gazette and by 2009 all of the pages will be on the Internet.
It is divided into three parts -
Part I - 1983-1997 - Contains all public notices, appointments and proposed Regulations from the government, and it is published every Saturday.
Part II - 1950-1976 - It contains all proclamations and order-in-council. It is published every other Wednesday.
Part III - 1983-1997 - This section contains all Acts of Parliament, and it is published as soon as possible after the act is given Royal Assent.
Issues of the Canada Gazette after 1997 are available online at the website of the Canada Gazette Directorate at <canadagazette.gc.ca/index-e.html>.
The Canada Gazette is a project funded by the Canadian Culture Online program of the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Gazette Directorate.
It is available at <www.collectionscanada.gc.on/canada-gazette>.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Nova Scotia Celebrates Loyalists
Nova Scotia celebrates the 225th anniversary of the arrival of Loyalists this summer. The majority came from other cities and areas to the city of New York, and then left in the spring and summer of 1783 to settle in such places as Shelburne, Digby, and Guysborough. They were given the choice of going or staying in the U.S., but many found it difficult because they supported the British Crown during the American Revolution.
I just received the newsletter from the Shelburne County Archives & Genealogical Society Newsletter <http://nsgna.ednet.ns.ca/shelburne>
.
The newsletter reports that people at the Society has written two books which will be of interest to Loyalists. They are "Founders of Shelburne Nova Scotia Who Came, 1783-1793", and "Remarks and Rough Memorandums: Captains William Both Royal Corps of Engineers, Shelburne, Nova Scotia 1785, 1787, 1789".
In this newsletter, from page 4 to page 5, is the preface to the first book mentioned in the above paragraph, and it is very interesting. Did you know that at the beginnings of the town, it was the fourth largest city in North America!
On page 6 to page 7 are excerpts from the Shelburne Budget from 10 January, 1901 to 15 September, 1901.
Not only is it my hometown, but I am Loyalist on both sides of my family (Barclay & Blades), as is true of a lot of people from Shelburne and area.
Although I was unable to go to Shelburne myself to help with the celebrations, I encourage you to go to their website and see what is available. They have oodles of resource materials, and the centre of the town is a heritage section where you can see the town as it looked in 1783.
I just received the newsletter from the Shelburne County Archives & Genealogical Society Newsletter <http://nsgna.ednet.ns.ca/shelburne>
.
The newsletter reports that people at the Society has written two books which will be of interest to Loyalists. They are "Founders of Shelburne Nova Scotia Who Came, 1783-1793", and "Remarks and Rough Memorandums: Captains William Both Royal Corps of Engineers, Shelburne, Nova Scotia 1785, 1787, 1789".
In this newsletter, from page 4 to page 5, is the preface to the first book mentioned in the above paragraph, and it is very interesting. Did you know that at the beginnings of the town, it was the fourth largest city in North America!
On page 6 to page 7 are excerpts from the Shelburne Budget from 10 January, 1901 to 15 September, 1901.
Not only is it my hometown, but I am Loyalist on both sides of my family (Barclay & Blades), as is true of a lot of people from Shelburne and area.
Although I was unable to go to Shelburne myself to help with the celebrations, I encourage you to go to their website and see what is available. They have oodles of resource materials, and the centre of the town is a heritage section where you can see the town as it looked in 1783.
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