Hudson's Bay Company Biographical Material

Hudson's Bay Company formed in 1670 as a company which—at one time—covered the central and far western part of North America. Its archives is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. and some of the records (in part) are online at
www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/about/hbca.html.

Besides photos, maps, sound recordings, and textual documents, it has "biographical sheets" online of various people who use to work for the company at www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/biographical.

The website says that "Biographical sheets outline the person's employment history and may also include the parish of origin or place of birth; positions, posts and districts in which the person served; family information, if available; and references to related documents, including photographs or drawings".

For more information, you can contact them at hbca@gov.mb.ca.

Genealogy Corner

Do you know that Statistics Canada has a "Genealogy Corner" webpage on its site at http://census2011.gc.ca/ccr03/ccr03_000-eng.htm? On the website is this quote: "The 2011 Census questionnaire contains a question that permits you to be part of the history of Canada. If you check yes to this permission question, your descendants will be able to do family and genealogical research on you and your family in the future".

If you go on the "Release of personal information after 92 years" webpage at http://census2011.gc.ca/ccr03/ccr03_002-eng.htm, you will see where they held "citizen focus groups and "Town Hall" meetings" before they decided to take the course that they have now adopted, and have passed as law (against the wishes of the Canadian genealogical community) as the "new" standard for Census Canada.

Make sure that YOU answer YES to the question on the Census Form so that 92 years from 2011, your census information will appear on the forms that are released to Library and Archives Canada.

Brant Branch Blog

The Brant Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has a new blog at http://brantcountyogs.blogspot.com.

It just recently started, and already in their second posting of the blog this month, they have put on what is available at their library! A good way to start!

I look forward to following their blog, for it looks like it could be asset to the Branch, and may encourage more people to take a look at the website to see what is available.

Easter Treats from Ancestry.ca

Have you seen this notice from Ancestry.ca? All Canadian marriages look-ups are free from today until April 30!

So busy yourself with research over the next few days to see if you have all the marriage records which are available on Ancestry.ca. Here are the ones which are available, free!

Just go to http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/group/Canada_Marriages

• Acadia, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1670-1946
  
• Births-deaths-marriages, Christian messenger
• British Columbia Marriage Index: 1872 to 1924
• Canada Parliamentary Marriage and Divorces, 1867-1919
• Mariages de l'Enfant-Jesus de la Pointe-aux-Trembles, 1674-1975
• Marriage Notices of Ontario 1813-1854
• Ontario Marriage Notices [1830-1856]
• Ontario People: 1796-1803
• Ontario, Canada Marriage Registers by Clergy, 1896-1948
• Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1928
• Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967
• Ontario, Canada, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869
• Ontario, Canada: Civil Marriage Registrations, 1869-73
• Ontario, Canada: Roman Catholic Marriages, 1827-1870
• Quebec Notarial Records (Drouin Collection), 1647-1942
• Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
• Repertoire des mariages de Sainte-Ccile-de-Masham, comt de Gatineau : 1853-1963
• Repertoire des mariages du Lac-Sainte-Marie (Comt de Gatineau) : (1881-1963)
• Repertoire des mariages, Sainte-Anne-de-la-Perade, 1684-1900
• Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Genealogies

Enjoy!

Anglo-Celtic Roots

The Spring issue of Anglo-Celtic Roots (a quarterly publication of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa) is here, and in it is an article by Naomi Ridout "Shearton Godfrey Bird and Amoi Chun: From Colonial Hong Kong to Pioneer Barrie, Ontario" in which she recounts the story of a British Army Officer who marries a Hun Chinese woman in 1859, and they eventually settled in Barrie. They were her great-great-grandparents.

In the second article "A Mother for Albert Edward Weir" the author Patty McGregor uses the census reports from 1861, 1871, 1881, and 1891 to try to find out who the mother was for Edward Weir. Was she successful? You will have to read the article to find the answer.

Besides giving a report of the last AGM (held last June, 2010), the issue also has a history of "The Brian O'Regan Memorial Library" written by Betty Warburton, who has been a librarian there from the beginning.

Scattered throughout this issue is reminders of the BIFHSGO Conference which will be held this year on Sept 16 to the 18th.

This year it will feature Wales and England with a focus on London and Home Countries.

You can go to www.bifhsgo.ca for more information.

New British Home Child SIG

Over 100,000 children were sent to Canada between the 1860s and 1930s. Many Ontario genealogists have found they have a family connection with a Home Child, and many more will learn this as they continue their research.

A SIG has been formed by the Ontario Genealogical Society, and they are looking for all interested people to join and share their skills and enthusiasm to continue the growth of the group.

Right now, the goals are to

- bring together genealogy researchers who have like interests in British Home Children (BHC) to share their research experiences.
- encourage possible descendants of BHC to investigate their ancestry.
- raise awareness of the history and contribution of the BHC in Canada.
- identify resources for research on individual BHC.
- identify resources for research into the social conditions in the UK and Canada which influenced the lives of the BHC.

If you are interested in meeting others who share your interest in Home Children, or if you have ideas to shape this group further, please contact OGS Vice President Shirley Sturdevant at vp@ogs.on.ca to find out how to get involved.

Mischief, mayhem, manslaughter & murder!

This sounds like it will be a most delightful way to spend an afternoon. The press release was sent in by Scott Gillies, Curator/Manager, of the Eva Brook Donly Museum & Archives -

"Mischief, mayhem, manslaughter & murder!

Join me on Tuesday May 24th for a presentation on crime and criminal activities in Norfolk County.

Presented as part of the monthly lecture series "Coffee With The Curator", admission is just $2 per person and includes coffee and light refreshments plus the presentation, and of course the chance to tour the Museum and see the newest display 'Memories of Mom - a tribute to Jeanette Hamilton'

"Just the Facts Ma'am"

What is this? – a special lecture on the topic of local crime in Norfolk County

Who done it? – the Museum Curator did it

When? – Tuesday May 24th at 2:00pm

Why? – so you can enjoy an afternoon outing with light refreshments, and learn about new research on old crimes

Where? – the Eva Brook Donly Museum & Archives

How Much will this cost me? – only $2/person (what a steal!)

Need more clues? Got questions?

Notorious Norfolk is presented as part of the new monthly lecture series, "Coffee with the Curator, at the Eva Brook Donly Museum & Archives generally held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month."

For more information, go to www.norfolklore.com.