Mocavo offer free access

Cliff Shaw in his blog at Mocavo is offering all Mocavo Basic members free access to all of the premium Mocavo Gold features until Sunday at midnight. 

Over the past few months, he says, “we received so much positive feedback about our free access weekends is offering that we decided to do it again!

Back by popular demand, all Mocavo Basic members can now access all of the premium Mocavo Gold features for free until Sunday at Midnight. This means you can search our entire collection to your heart’s content, upload your tree to receive new discovery alerts, download and print any document you find, and much more”!

During their last free offer, I found a marriage notice of my g-g-aunt Aunt Louisa Barclay (daughter of Andrew Barclay from Shelburne, Nova Scotia) to Caleb Haley of California (formerly of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia) in a New York newspaper. I had been looking for a notice of her marriage for years, because I had been lead to believe they were married in Yarmouth, even though I had known she had taken frequent trip to New York. There is a lesson here - 

The details of the blog is at http://blog.mocavo.com/2014/03/open-access-mocavo-gold-sunday-midnight

OGS Conference 2014

Steve Fulton U.E., on behalf of the OGS Conference 2014 Committee, has sent out an invite and a reminder that the conference is almost most here! 

The Conference is between May 1 to 4th at Brock University in St Catharines, and here are some of the activities - 

• Hank Jones Jr - Banquet Speaker - Coming from California

• Chris Paton - Houston Lecture Speaker - Coming from Scotland

• Saturday Morning Plenary - International Panel on Social Media

• Thursday Board Meeting & Greet at Donnelly's Pub in Thorold

They are also providing an opportunity for those who can't come for whatever reason. They will be streaming 7 speakers onto the Internet so you can view them in your home. 

Three Speakers will be streamed in from their locations (England, Salt Lake City & British Columbia). 

Other amazing Speakers and opportunities to meet other genealogists!

The website is at http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2014/index.php

The Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/NiagaraPeninsulaBranchOgsConference2014?ref=hl

The Gatineau Valley Historical Society

The Gatineau Valley Historical Society will host An Evening with Brian Doyle that will be held at the Larrimac Golf & Tennis Club, 1148 rte. 105, Chelsea Quebec on Monday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. 

Brian will talk about and read from his 2013 e-book Confessions of a Depression Baby, a series of 24 essays he wrote for the Ottawa Citizen about growing up in the 1930s. 

A former Glebe Collegiate teacher in Ottawa, Brian is best known for his grainy young-adult novels about growing up in Ottawa and along the Gatineau River, and as a consummate storyteller, his 24 essays are no less engaging than the vivid scenes he painted for readers in such books as Angel Square, Up to Low and Easy Avenue.

The website is at http://www.gvhs.ca

They have a great Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gatineau-Valley-Historical-Society/810653888950823

FamilySearch Online Training is NOW a Click Away

Kudos to FamilySearch because now you can now get training through the use of  their online manuals. 

Some of the manuals which are available are - 

The Family Tree Reference Manual 

The FamilySearch Learning Center (on this site is the 2014 RootsTech live streaming talks) plus other videos – and they are all FREE)

The Training Link

The Family Tree Quick Start Guide

Go to https://familysearch.org/blog/en/familysearch-online-training-click

Canadian Week in Review - 10 March 2014

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

Websites

Timber Trade History
http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/timber-trade-history/
This site tells the Timber Trade History in Canada in the 1800s, and the effect that world events had on the industry.

Social Media

No blogs this week.

New Stories 

Canadian War Museum
http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2014/03/01/canadian-war-museum-to-highlight-canadian-art-of-the-first-world-war
The exhibition is called Witness – Canadian Art of the First World War and will be ob at the Canadian War Museum from April 10, 2014 to September 21, 2014 at the Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae Gallery.

It examines how Canadians captured their First World War experiences in art, both at home and overseas, whether as official war artists or as soldiers in the field.

Anne Murray's Nova Scotia hometown of Springhill applying to dissolve status
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/anne-murray-s-nova-scotia-hometown-of-springhill-applying-to-dissolve-status-1.1714497
There is news that the town of Springhill, Nova Scotia is applying to the government to have the town dissolved of its town status. The reason: economics!. 

Roderick Benns: Our prime ministers are worth honouring
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/03/04/roderick-benns-our-prime-ministers-are-worth-honouring
The plan for 22 life-sized statues of Canada’s prime ministers, once intended for central parkland in Kitchener, Ontario, has been quashed because 79% of the survey’s 2,441 respondents rejected the plan!

Shilling discovery could rewrite Canadian history
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hLjve_XGNlbeteLjroFpOsUBfJrg?docId=4fbf6ac4-3c2f-4bf2-a21d-e395052d4578
An amateur treasure hunter has discovered a 16th century shilling buried in clay on the shores of Vancouver Island, and he may have found something that may overturn the theory that says that a British explorer (Sir Francis Drake) had made the voyage here two centuries before it was discovered by Spanish sailors. 

Words take on different meanings to describe Quebec’s history
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Words+take+different+meanings+describe+Quebec+history/9554528/story.html
Apparently, young francophones and anglophones see Quebec’s history differently — they even use different words to recount that history.

Heritage policy getting an overhaul
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Heritage+policy+getting+overhaul/9585207/story.html
Saskatoon city council has been asked to look at a proposal to create a public database listing all heritage properties in the city, but also a comprehensive resource for people interested in heritage. 

Restoring tradition
http://www.thepacket.ca/News/Local/2014-03-06/article-3639375/Restoring-tradition/1
Learn of the history of the Pelley House in Boyd’s Cove, Newfoundland, as it receives a Heritage Plaque from the province. 

Medalta receives grant money to preserve kilns
http://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2014/03/07/medalta-receives-grant-money-to-preserve-kilns
Read how the flood which hit Alberta in 2013 almost destroyed an historic kiln in the torn of Medicine Hat.

After the deluge, High River’s museum thaws out Alberta’s history
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/after-the-deluge-high-rivers-museum-thaws-out-albertas-history/article17361855
And in High River, learn how the archivist is undertaking a groundbreaking project to reanimate part of Alberta’s history that was nearly wiped out by last summer’s floods.

MP Greg Kerr speaks about Cape Forchu Light in House of Commons
http://www.novanewsnow.com/News/2014-03-07/article-3641283/MP-Greg-Kerr-speaks-about-Cape-Forchu-Light-in-House-of-Commons/1
The lighthouse at Cape Forchu at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, is on this year’s cover of the 2014 Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers Travel Guide.

Story of the Week

The Ukrainian Uprising 

In 2011, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons of full or partial Ukrainian origin residing in Canada. It is the 9th largest group living in Canada. It is the third-largest Ukrainian population behind the Ukraine itself, and Russia.

The first wave of settlement was from 1891 to 1914. The first wave of Ukrainian immigration came to Canada in 1892. Ivan Pylypow helped found the Edna Star Settlement, east of Edmonton, the first and largest Ukrainian block settlement.

The second wave was in 1923 to 1939. The majority of immigrants who came became workers in the growing industrial centers of Montreal and southern Ontario, and the forests of Northern Ontario.

And the third wave from 1945 to 1952, when most of the immigrants were political refugees and displaced persons who tended to move to cities in southern Ontario and Quebec.

The History of Ukraine in Canada
http://www.torugg.org/History/history_of_ukrainians_in_canada.html

With the political unrest in the Ukraine over the past couple of weeks, there had been newspaper reports showing that the Ukraine people in Canada still remember their homeland.

Rich Ukrainian history in Saskatchewan: Province's ties to Ukraine date back to late 1800s
http://www.newstalk650.com/story/rich-ukrainian-history-saskatchewan/273635
The earliest Ukrainian settlements in Saskatchewan date back to 1896. By the 1930s, Western Canada had over 200,000 Ukrainians.

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be on 17 Match 2014.

British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa September 2014 Conference

 

Here are the speakers who will appear at the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa Conference this fall in Ottawa -

OTTAWA, 8 March 2014 — The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) has announced the speakers for the annual conference, to be held 19-21 September, at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa.

For its 20th anniversary year, the society will celebrate with an ambitious program which will help family historians delve into their British Isles roots.

The society expects to welcome more than 250 attendees at the event, which has three special themes:

•  English family history; 

•  Immigration from the British Isles, including Home Children; and 

•  Genetic genealogy. 

“Our nation’s capital is also its family history capital. Every year we have welcomed folks from far and near, researching their ancestors in collections at Library and Archives Canada and learning about resources for discovering their British and Irish roots at our conference ” said BIFHSGO President Glenn Wright.

This year’s conference speakers will include:

Dr. Lucille Campey — emigration historian, author of numerous books on British Isles emigration to Canada who will launch her latest book Ignored but not forgotten - Canada's English Immigrants at the conference.

Gail Dever — BIFHSGO webmaster, social media expert and blogger at Genealogy à la carte

John Dickenson — a former professor at Liverpool University who now researches Canada’s Home Children, especially their involvement in the First World War.

Dr. Janet Few — freelance researcher and prize-winning author specializing in the south-west of England who will give a streamed-in presentation on North Devon immigrants to Canada.

Paul Jones — retired publisher, “Roots” columnist for Canada’s History magazine who speaks frequently on offbeat topics at family history events.

Debbie Kennett — an avid genetic genealogist, author of DNA and Social Networking (2011) and The Surnames Handbook (2012). Debbie is Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at University College London.

Paul Milner — an internationally recognized speaker specializing in British Isles research, author of Discover English Parish Records and Genealogy at a Glance: English Research.

Gary Schroder — long-time President of the Quebec Family History Society and a frequent guest on Quebec radio and television promoting family history research.

In addition, speakers at pre-conference seminars on September 19 will include, from Library and Archives Canada, Paul Marsden and Sylvie Tremblay.

BIFHSGO looks forward to welcoming you at its 20th anniversary conference. Reserve 19-21 September in your agenda now and look for more details coming soon on the society website at www.bifhsgo.ca.

BIFHSGO Contacts: John D. Reid, Conference Program Chair, conference@bifhsgo.ca or Mary-Lou Simac, Publicity Director, MLMSIMAC@gmail.com

Free Conference: The Art of Biography

 

There will be a freeday-long conference on The Art of Biography in Toronto this March. This conference is going to be an excellent opportunity to hear four prominent authors and historians discuss their approach to writing biography, with a focus on Canadian history. It is being presented by the Dictionary of Canadian Biography and Department of History, University of Toronto.

The speakers will be -

CECILIA MORGAN - An (Almost) Accidental Biographer: Finding Lives in the Archives

SUZANNE MORTON - The Exploration of a ‘Hidden Life’ Performing ‘Unhistoric Acts’: Jane B. Wisdom and the Development of Social Work in Canada

JOHN ENGLISH - Writing the Biography of Pierre Elliott Trudeau

CHARLIE FORAN - Richler Was Funny, Why Can’t You Be? On Writing the Biography of Mordecai Richler

The conference is taking place at the Jackman Humanities Building (corner of Bloor and St. George) in Toronto on Saturday March 22, 2014.

If you would like further information about this event or would like to confirm your attendance, please contact Michael Wilcox at 416-946-8593 or by email at: michael.wilcox@mail.utoronto.ca

The website is at http://www.biographi.ca/en/article/art_of_biography.html

Note: If anyone is going to this conference, I would be interested to hear how it went.

Family History Library: Orders for Microfilm and Fiche Will Be Restricted During April, 2014

FamilySearch posted this notice on their blog Mar 6th –

“The Granite Mountain Vault will be shifting a large amount of films into their newly renovated space. This entails moving half a million rolls of film, and numerous cabinets of fiche and digital media. Since it will be risky to pull items during this time, the Family History Library will not be able to order microfiche or any microfilms above 1,881, 705. Film and fiche with numbers less than 1,881,704 and lower can still be ordered.

This move is scheduled for early April of 2014 and will last about two weeks. Another update will be posted as soon as we have more information.

We are sorry for the inconvenience”.

The Times are A-Changing!

Sunday, March 9, the GANS Office Open from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm located at 3258 Isleville Street, Halifax, NS

The time is changing this weekend, but don't be sad! If you're tired on Sunday because you lost an hour's sleep, you can just come into the GANS office in your PJs. We don't mind!

The Office is open to everyone. Stop by to chat, do some internet research, check out our library or buy a publication or membership. Bring a friend!

Web: http://www.NovaScotiaAncestors.ca
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NovaScotiaAncestors
Twitter: @NSAncestors

The book catalogue of the OGS is on VITA

The Book Catalogue and the Cemetery Locator of the OGS has been moved to VITA, a division of OurOntario (a site which tells the story of Ontario) at http://vitacollections.ca/ogscollections/search

Some feature are –

Family Histories

You can now search our Family History Collection at VITA

Periodicals

The entire Periodical Collection is easier to search. They have now been able to provide more info for their Branch Newsletters, i.e., location information for branch libraries and contact information.

Mystery Photos

They have had the Mystery Photos site on their OGS Old Photos flickr site for a while, and now they have moved them over to the new VITA site and have them all accessible in one place.

WWI Memorial Wall

I know that the OGS has wanted to do something like this for a number of years. If you have a WWI vet in your family and you would like to share their photo and a bit about their life, the OGS would be honoured to include your WWI vet on our Memorial Wall.

Where are your Ontario Roots?

This is brand new for OGS, an interactive feature where you can share a bit of history about your family and your Ontario roots! You will find this located on the top right hand corner of the page.

Contact librarian@ogs.on.ca if you have any questions.

Editor’s Note: Your editor has used this new service and has found it to be very good. I had a series of surnames, and place names that I wanted to check, and the search feature worked very fast and was complete. Have you tried it yet? How did you find it? Was it a good finding research tool, or could it be improved?

Was your ancestors buried in Ottawa between 1828 and 1845?

I first became aware of this story at the end of last year, while doing the Canadian Week in Review, my weekly online newspaper summary.

As it turned out, the construction crew with the Light Rail Tunnel who has been digging beneath Queen Street in downtown Ottawa, came upon burials in the area.

Subsequently, it was determined that they were the remains in the Barrack’s Hill Cemetery, and that they would have to be removed and reburied elsewhere.

So Ontario's Registry of Cemeteries is looking for descendants of persons buried in the Barrack’s Hill Cemetery which existed near Elgin & Queen Streets in Ottawa between 1828 and 1845.

Descendants will have a say in where the remains are placed if they contact the Registrar by March 21, 2014.

You can contact the registry by going to http://www.omba.com/contact_government.php

For a history of the Barrack’s Hill Cemetery, you can go to the http://www.ottawagraphy.ca/bayfkeyword/cemeteries

A Kensington Market Childhood

There will be an upcoming event at the Lillian H. Smith Library at 239 College Street Toronto called A Kensington Market Childhood on March 20th, 2014 at 6:30 pm.

Leslie McGrath, Head, Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books will present a talk on the programs for children run by the Toronto Public Library from Boys and Girls House on St. George St., and Lillian Butovsky will talk about growing up above the family grocery store at 45 Bellevue Avenue, the youngest child and only daughter of Joe and Sadie Winemaker. Lillian will share memories of growing up in Kensington Market with her five older brothers in the 1940s.

Information is available at http://www.kmhs.ca

The Toronto Public Library has an on-going series of lectures Finding Your Roots at the Library, as well as Grace: A Teacher’s Life, One Room Schools, and a Century of Change in Ontario on March 19th, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the North York Central Library, Room 1.

Join Millie Morton as she talks about her book. Hear about how it was to grow up on a farm, teach in one-room schools, and live in small rural Ontario communities

Go to the Toronto Public Library genealogy website at http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and-classes/categories/history-genealogy.jsp

Canadian Week in Review - 03 March 2014

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

Websites

No new websites this week.

Social Media

Black History Month is Not a Feel-Good Mass Therapy Session
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/dr-lisa-tomlinson/black-history-month_b_4839232.html
Dr. Lisa Tomlinson, in the Huffington Post blog, offers her view on Black History Month.

Top five Team Canada wins in hockey history
http://www.saultstar.com/2014/02/23/top-five-team-canada-wins-in-hockey-history
Here are the top five Team Canada hockey victories in history (with accompanying videos).

New Montcalm videoconferencing activity - Quebec High School students virtually visit the Plains of Abraham
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1757631
Here is a new way to learn history. The National Battlefields Commission has produced new video called Montcalm, an interactive way to learn about the history of the siege of Québec and the battles of the Plains of Abraham.

So Many Ancestors!
http://so-many-ancestors.blogspot.com
Beth Gatlin studies her ancestors including a Canadian ancestor, Ann Walker, whom she thinks was born in Ontario, Canada.

South Coast Family Research
http://www.southcoastfamilyresearch.co.uk/blog
This blogger is studying the surname Hiscock in Canada, as well as in other countries such as England and Wales.

News Stories

Groups worry Saskatoon historic site threatened by cell tower
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/groups-worry-saskatoon-historic-site-threatened-by-cell-tower-1.2533492
The Friends of the Forestry Farm House and the Saskatoon Heritage Society are teaming up to try and protect what they consider to be a valuable piece of prairie history, but SaskTel already has approval for the tower.

History and memory lives in the archives at the Stony Plain Multicultural Heritage Centre
http://www.stonyplainreporter.com/2014/02/28/history-and-memory-lives-in-the-archives-at-the-stony-plain-multicultural-heritage-centre
John Althouse, from the Alberta Genealogical Society, says taking a course may be the best way to get started — and incidentally, he’s teaching a few of them in March at the Multicultural Heritage Centre in Stony Plain.

Vaughan African Canadian Association pays tribute to accomplishments of community
http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/4380772-vaughan-african-canadian-association-pays-tribute-to-accomplishments-of-community
Members of the Vaughan African Canadian Association marked Black History Month with a brunch at the GTA Faith Alliance office in Richmond Hill last Saturday.

The story of Canada in Oshawa: Historical prints on display at Robert McLaughlin Gallery 
http://www.durhamregion.com/whatson-story/4374192-the-story-of-canada-in-oshawa
The prints, which date from the late 18th to the late 19th centuries, are being publicly exhibited for the first time. There is a video on the news site called Capturing Canada.

Never pause blankly over history
http://www.innisfailprovince.ca/article/20140225/INN0902/302259982/-1/inn09/never-pause-blankly-over-history
Red Deer historian, Michael Dawe, is the subject of an article that talks about Alberta history.

Young Newport woman nets provincial African Heritage Month award
http://www.novanewsnow.com/Community/2014-02-24/article-3626417/Young-Newport-woman-nets-provincial-African-Heritage-Month/1
A West Hants resident is one of six recipients of a provincial award recognizing young Nova Scotians of African descent who are making positive contributions to their communities.

Inclusive society best way to honour pioneers
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1189978-inclusive-society-best-way-to-honour-pioneers
There is an opinion piece in The Chronicle Herald which says that the best way to honour the pioneers of our community is to include them in our history – something which is not always done.

Column: For one dollar, a history of Nova Scotia
http://www.theadvance.ca/Opinion/Columnists/2014-02-27/article-3628867/Column%3A-For-one-dollar,-a-history-of-Nova-Scotia%0D%0A/1
Learn how a family discovered how the book Atlantic Hearth: Early Homes and Families of Nova Scotia was available for a dollar on the Internet.

Conservation of Painted House earns AGNS a heritage award 
http://www.novanewsnow.com/section/2014-02-28/article-3629811/Conservation-of-Painted-House-earns-AGNS-a-heritage-award/1
The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia has recognized the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia for its conservation of Maud Lewis’ painted house.

Redpath Mansion is history — will be demolished
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Redpath+Mansion+history+will+demolished/9565724/story.html
After a 10-day reprieve, Quebec Culture Minister Maka Kotto issued a decision late Friday declaring the mansion, built in 1886 for the Redpath family, “does not present a national heritage interest” and can be torn down.

City riddle of WWI soldier's ID found in Sefton Park
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/id-world-war-one-soldier-6760071
Thomas Evans from Liverpool, England found a WW1 Canadian dog tag in 1991 as he was planting daffodil bulbs for the Field of Hope in Sefton Park, England. And he is wondering how to get in touch with the descendants so that he can return the tags. This story was first seen on Gail Dever’s blog, Genealogy à la carte at http://genealogyalacarte.wordpress.com

Story of the Week

March 8th is International Women’s Day in Canada , and this year, the theme of the day is Strong Women. Strong Canada. Canadian Women – Creating Jobs One Business at a time.

Some facts about women and business in Canada are –

According to the BMO Financial Group, women-owned businesses currently employ over 1.5 million Canadians. The same study indicated that 71% of Canadian women would like to start their own business

Each year, March 8 and the week of March 8 provide an opportunity to take stock of our progress towards gender equality of women in Canada. We honour the contributions women have made and are making — both in Canada and around the world.

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be on 10 Match 2014.

Goin' to the Corner Volume 2: An Update

The Elmsdale and Area Historical Society, located in the northwest corner on the province, has produced an Update to its book Goin' to the Corner Volume 2: An Update

A printed copy of the Update has been placed with the Alberton Museum; The MacNaught History Centre and Archives, Summerside; the Public Archives of PEI; and the UPEI Library. It includes a CD which has all the material in the Update on it. The Update covers errata in the book, new material that has been received by the committee over the past three years, plus material from new sources that have become available in the last three years (e.g 1921 Canadian census, 1940 US census, PEI marriage and death records, and recent obituaries). Copies can be made of the CD at those four locations.

Or if people prefer, they can email send an to johnacwilson1@pei.sympatico.ca and John can email a copy of the material in the Update. The Update also includes an Index to the Names in the Update plus an Index to the Names in Volume 1.

Copies of Volume 2 are still available for $40.00 from members of the Elmsdale and Area Historical Society (plus shipping) and from Bookmark in Charlottetown, the MacNaught History Centre and Archives in Summerside, Pridham's VandS in Alberton, Elmsdale Corner Gas and Convenience Store in Elmsdale and from the Alberton Museum (when it is open in the summertime).

RootsTech 2014 Wrap-up

FamilySearch has put on a wrap-up of the Roots Tech Conference 2014 on their blog at https://familysearch.org/blog/en/rootstech-2014-wrapup.

They say that nearly 13,000 people attended this year’s conference, and there will be another 130,000 people are expected to attend local history fairs as they are held throughout the world in the months ahead.

I was interested to read that Dennis Brimhall, CEO of FamilySearch, talked about “the dash,” - the line between the date of birth and the date of death on a person’s tombstone or genealogical record. 

The blog says that “He described how traditionally genealogy tends to focus on names, dates, and places in a family tree. However, the expanding interest in family history today, where the vast majority of people are drawn into their ancestors’ lives, focuses on the countless stories represented by the dash”. 

I have been working on a column for an online magazine in which I discuss the question Is Family History morphing into Life Stories? I layout the process which I think has spurred the subject forward from genealogy, to family history (social history) and finally to life stories (personal history). It is now a combination of all three disciplines – ending with the life story of an ancestor. 

I will let you know when the column is published.

Seafarers of the Atlantic Provinces, 1787 - 1936

This is an interesting index to me on a personal notes, because my ggg uncle James Barclay is in the database as well as his son Andrew from Shelburne, Nova Scotia. They owned ships - James owned a schooner called the Superb in 1842, and Andrew owned three ships – a brigantine called the Argus in 1837, a brigantine called the Ina in 1851, and a schooner called the Surprise in 1862. They were in the trading business and carried lumber and fish from Shelburne to the Caribbean, and fruit from the Caribbean back to such eastern American ports as New York, then back to Shelburne for more lumber and fish.

They were descendant from the Loyalist Andrew Barclay (1738-1823) from Scotland, Boston and New York. This was rewarding to me because I had looked for these records for years, and had not expected to find them, although I knew about the records at the Maritime History Archives in St. John’s Newfoundland. So this time Ancestry.ca brought them to me! Thank you, Ancestry for putting this index online!

Here is the announcement -

“This is a fully searchable database containing data on the vessels, captains and crews of Great Britain and Atlantic Canada, 1787-1936. This index-only collection contains records of crew members, masters, and ship owners for vessels registered in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The collection comprises several sources from the Maritime History Archive in Newfoundland & Labrador. It is fully searchable by name, and other particulars and the records include a wealth of information including birth and residence, rank, voyage departure and arrival places and dates, vessel name and registration, and even wages and deaths at sea.

Records for the following ports are included:

· Miramichi, New Brunswick (1828–1914)

· Richibucto, New Brunswick (1880–1914)

· Saint John, New Brunswick (1820–1914)

· St. John’s, Newfoundland (1820–1936)

· Halifax, Nova Scotia (1812–1889)

· Sydney, Nova Scotia (1820–1914)

· Pictou, Nova Scotia (1820–1914)

· Windsor, Nova Scotia (1849–1914)

· Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (1840–1914)

· Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (1787–1914)

Details you may find in the records include:

· name

· age

· birth year

· birthplace

· residence place

· voyage departure date & port

· voyage arrival date & port

· date joined present ship

· discharge date

· rank

· wages

· discharge description

· vessel name, type, registration place, year constructed

The Maritime History Archive will research some of the records in its custody and provide reports and/or copies of documents on request for a fee. For more information on this collection and the Archives’ research services, visit the MHA website.

The database is on http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=9275

FamilySearch has designated 2014 as “The Year of the Obituary’’

Now here is an exciting announcement that FamilySearch.org made at RootsTech 2014 -

The year 2014 has been designated as “The Year of the Obituary” for FamilySearch. We know that many family history centers have clipped obituaries from newspapers and we’d like to place these collections online on the FamilySearch website. FamilySearch will scan and digitize the collections. They will then be indexed and placed online. Digitizing obituaries will make these valuable collections easier to access and simpler to attach to FamilyTree. Information gathered from obituaries will help users to add people and data to Family Tree.

Here are some guidelines for what FamilySearch wants to collect:

· These records should be actual obituaries, not indexes.

· They must be camera-ready which means the obituaries should be attached to the same-sized cards (3×5, 4×6) or to 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper.

· If you have already indexed the collection and it is in paper format, please include that with your submission.

After the obituaries are scanned, you may request that they be returned to you or discarded.

If you have a collection you would like to submit to FamilySearch, please contact Nathan Murphy at murphynw@familysearch.org

Newfoundland Index of Birth, Marriage & Death Notices from Newspapers, 1810–1890

Ancestry.ca has announced a new database –

“This collection from the Maritime History Archive in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, includes an index to birth, marriage, and death notices from 42 Newfoundland newspapers. Entries from 1825 through 1890 were originally compiled in 13 volumes by Gertrude (Murray) Crosbie and then added to by the Maritime History Archive from newspapers dating back to 1810.

Almost all the entries are for eastern Newfoundland since the newspapers are primarily from St. John's, Newfoundland. The Newspaper notices collection can corroborate what you already know, or adds new names and/or details. It is an easy source to use to search for a family name or an individual. The database can also include disasters such as fire, outbreaks of disease and death by suspicious circumstances as well as trace the careers for members of the clergy, coroners, justices of the peace, surveyors and other government officials. People had to pay for an entry in the BMD column, so they may not include those individuals of lesser means”.

There are more than 40,000 records in the collection, which can include:

· name

· newspaper title and date

· age

· gender

· residence

· event type, place, and date

· place of burial for some deaths

· church

· cause of death

· spouse’s name and residence

· parents’ names

· comments

The website is at http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=9275

Canadian Week in Review 24 February 2014

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

Websites

No new website this week.

Social Media

Genealogy à la carte http://genealogyalacarte.wordpress.com Gail Dever recently launched her blog, Genealogy à la carte that was inspired by conversations she had with her genealogy friends over lunch and coffee. The blog is about family history news, resources, trends, issues, and education from a Montreal point of view. While the focus of the blog will often be about Quebec genealogy, it will also include posts about elsewhere in Canada and from around the world. Congratulations, Gail!

News Articles

Why we need to rethink Black History Month http://rabble.ca/news/2014/02/why-we-need-to-rethink-black-history-month Read why this writer is feeling overwhelmed by all the publicity that Black History Month has received this year.

Pride in our nation's history: O Canada! Tour stops in Pembroke, Cobden http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2014/02/20/pride-in-our-nations-history-o-canada-tour-stops-in-pembroke-cobden O Canada! Tour is a bilingual play that is in the midst of a 60-school tour across different regions of Ontario.

New book details Canadian Rangers history http://hqyellowknife.com/news/local/news/v/Local/351689/New-book-details-Canadian-Rangers-history The book is entitled: The Canadian Rangers -- A Living History and was launched in last Friday in Yellowknife.

Epilogue: History through quilting http://theaquinian.net/?p=17978 The University of New Brunswick ‘s Memorial Hall is hosting The Secret Codes exhibition. It is a display of colourful hand-woven quilts.

Steveston MLA backs bid for world heritage Status http://www.richmondreview.com/news/246002951.html A local MLA has added his voice to that of city council in a local bid to get Steveston Village added to the United Nations World Heritage list.

P.E.I. Heritage Awards handed out during ceremony at Eptek Centre
http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2014-02-18/article-3620517/P.E.I.-Heritage-Awards-handed-out-during-ceremony-at-Eptek-Centre/1
Read about who had won awards at P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation’s annual Heritage Awards last week.

Living history http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Living+history/9518292/story.html
The internment and relocation of Canadians of Japanese descent during the Second World War is the subject of a play The Tashme Project: The Living Archives at the Great Canadian Theatre Company during the theatre's Undercurrents 2014 season.

Author’s first book looks to the past http://www.airdrieecho.com/2014/02/18/authors-first-book-looks-to-the-past Read about how Stacey Carefoot wrote the story of Four Sisters, who were born in Victoria’s Chinatown in the early 1900s. The sisters were among the first Chinese children born as Canadian citizens.

Story of the Week

Canada Olympic Park (COP) (formerly known as Paskapoo Ski Hill) is located in Calgary, Alberta.

Canada comes up GOLD!

Yesterday, Canada won its 10th gold medal of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. It has been a good Olympic Games for Canada, and especially for our women’s and men’s hockey teams.

We won 10 gold, 10 silver, and five bronze from Sochi. Canada’s 25 medals total was fourth overall, behind Norway (26), the United States (28), and Russia (33).

The CBC has the latest on the men’s hockey win at http://olympics.cbc.ca/news/article/canada-beats-sweden-win-hockey-gold.html

The women’s hockey team is covered in The Toronto Star Canada’s golden generation in women’s hockey pulls it off one more time http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2014/hockey/2014/02/20/team_canada_wins_womens_hockey_gold.html

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be on 02 Match 2014.

MyHeritage and a BillionGraves Announcement

MyHeritage and a BillionGraves have a new imitative to announce  -

Dear friends

I'm delighted to share with you that MyHeritage has teamed up with BillionGraves to launch a global initiative to digitally preserve the world's cemeteries.

As we know, gravestones are very important for genealogy due to the rich information they contain, such as names, dates and biographical details. But there are thousands of cemeteries worldwide whose gravestones have never been documented nor has their information been made available or searchable online.

In addition, time is chipping away at the gravestones and many are becoming unreadable over the years.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be working with our global community to preserve and document gravestones worldwide, for future generations, using the BillionGraves app. The app uses patent-pending technology to let users photograph and document gravestones, and, with the help of MyHeritage, the app will be available in 25 languages, and will support Gregorian, Hebrew and Julian dates. The app also records the GPS locations of gravestones to make them easy to find, and volunteers can easily see which areas of any cemetery remain undocumented, to maximize efficiency and avoid duplication.

The records will be available free on BillionGraves' website, and MyHeritage's search engine for historical records, SuperSearch. MyHeritage's Record Matching technologies will ensure that our users will receive notifications whenever a gravestone matches their family tree.

Best regards

Daniel Horowitz
Chief Genealogist and Translation Manager

At the same time they issued a news release in which they said –

“We’re thrilled to embark on this global initiative with BillionGraves", said Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “Gravestones are among the most valuable information sources for family history research, and although there are many thousands of cemeteries worldwide, most of them have never been documented, and their information is not available online. Time is chipping away at the gravestones and many are becoming unreadable over the years, so it’s up to our generation to preserve them.”

“We’re delighted to work with MyHeritage on digitizing the world’s cemeteries”, said Hudson Gunn, President of BillionGraves. “At BillionGraves we are working to provide a comprehensive family history database for records and images from the world’s cemeteries—but it’s not something we can do alone.With MyHeritage’s support in mobilizing its massive user community and working with us to launch in 25 languages, we’ll be able to provide incredible value for millions of families and preserve this valuable data for generations to come.”

Over the coming weeks, MyHeritage users will receive documentation about the project and will be able to download the application via a special website designed for this project.

MyHeritage is available at www.myheritage.com

Southeast & Winnipeg Branch of the Manitoba Genealogical Society has an on-line e-zine

Did you know that the Southeast & Winnipeg Branch of the Manitoba Genealogical Society has an e-zine online at http://ymlp.com/zvyD8n?

In the November issue, there is news about the Manitoba Probate Records, the University of Manitoba on-line collection of historical records and photographs, a calendar of events up to June 2014, and The Family Genealogy Trivia Game.

The fall Seminar was covered. Robin Shimpa and Louis Kessler were the guest speakers, and the e-zine gives a short summary of their talks.

They also have a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Manitoba-Genealogical-Society-Inc/7054423205

THE BEAUREPAIRE-BEACONSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 The Beaurepaire-Beaconsfield Historical Society meets for lectures each 3rd Thursday of the month. Everyone welcome. Free for members and $2 for non-member. Become a member for just $5 per year.

For 2014, our theme is The United Empire Loyalists

There will be a lecture entitled The United Empire Loyalists: an overview and it will be presented by Robert Wilkins.

A general overview of the United Empire Loyalists, what made them who they were, their diversity(religious, linguistic and racial), and their heritage in Canada today, with a couple of specific examples, just to illustrate what they lived through and experienced during the Revolutionary War and afterwards when getting re-established in what remained of British North America (now Canada).

Lecture in English, bilingual question period.

WHEN: Thursday, March 20, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Centennial Hall, 288 Beaconsfield Blvd, Beaconsfield, H9W 4A4 

Information: 514-695-2502 or http://www.hist-beaurepaire-beaconsfield.com

They have a very interesting website which tells the history of the BEAUREPAIRE-BEACONSFIELD area of Quebec. There are many on-going projects, exhibits, and histories of  people who use to live in the area.

Saving Historic Buildings; A Tale with Three Endings

 The Beach & East Toronto Historical Society, along with the Toronto Public Library, is pleased to present former editor of the Beach Metro News and vice Chair, Toronto Historic Board, Carole Stimmell, as their first speaker of 2014.

Date: Wednesday February 26, 2014

Time: 7:00 – 8:15 pm

Location: The Beaches Library, 2161 Queen St. E, Toronto

Admission Free. All Welcome

Early Bird pricing for Conference 2014 will end on Feb. 28th, 2014

Until Feb 28th a full weekend package (covering Friday night, Saturday and Sunday lectures) is only $120 for members and $150 for non-members.

The price increases on March 1st, 2014.

Check out the prices and register at https://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2014/register.php

Conference 2014 committee is making arrangements for shuttle buses to operate between the Conference at Brock University and accommodations at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus of Niagara College. More details on the shuttles and costs will be available shortly.

Registrants who will not be bringing their own vehicle to Conference are advised to book their accommodations at the Niagara on the Lake location: http://www.stayrcc.com/properties/view/index/Niagara-on-the-Lake

Tools to help you tell the Story of Your Family

Pierre Clouthier of Progeny Genealogy will give a talk at the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the Akins A/V room at the Nova Scotia Archives on University Avenue, Halifax.

They say that "Pierre has been programming computers since 1965, learning FORTRAN at the University of Montreal. He has programmed for the life insurance industry, computer manufacturing and sales, electronic publishing, food, transportation, telecommunications, paper, petroleum, banking, electric utilities, provincial and municipal governments. His grandfather got him interested in genealogy in the 1970s.

Progeny Genealogy was founded in 1995, to develop and distribute graphics software to genealogists in over 50 countries. Progeny has partnered with Ancestry.com, Corel, Mindscape, The Learning Company, Individual Software, and the LDS Church. Their mission is to help you tell the story of your family".

And he will be offering a 40% discount on sales of his software CDs at the meeting.

The general public is invited to join us for this free lecture!

For more information on our lecture series visit
http://www.NovaScotiaAncestors.ca or you can phone 902.454.0322 or email them at Info@NovaScotiaAncestors.ca

Canadian Week in Review 17 February 2014

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

Websites

No new website this week.

Social Media

IRV'S LONDON http://www.irvslondon.blogspot.com The Fugitive Slave Chapel is located in London, Ontario. A group has been formed to raise money so that they can move the chapel to a new location. 

Lesser Known Databases for Scottish Genealogy Research Christine Woodcock is holding a free webinar on Thursday, February 27, 2014 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM EST. https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/155864215

The South Peace Regional Archives has produced a video of stills and film to celebrate Grande Prairie, Alberta's 100th anniversary this year. This is posted on A YouTube website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwjra9axXEY&feature=youtu.be

3D model a virtual tour of Saskatoon's past http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/model+virtual+tour+Saskatoon+past/9492980/story.html Michael Swaan is using video game software to construct a virtual model of the city's downtown in the 1930s. There is a YouTube video on the news site.

News Articles 

Sleep in a First Nations longhouse
http://www.montrealgazette.com/travel/Checking+Ancient+long+house+addition+chic+hotel/9503741/story.html The longhouse is the newest addition to the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake, Quebec, 15 minutes north of Quebec City. Visitors, who opt not to sleep in one of the 55 deluxe hotel rooms, may sleep under bearskins on one of the bunk-style platforms in the longhouse where firepits provide heat. A longhouse stay includes a snack of bannock, dinner in the hotel, and traditional Huron storytelling. 

A virtual exhibit on the South Peace Regional Archives website that will interest family historians with Western Canadian homesteaders in their ancestry Oliver H. Johnson’s diary. From June 1908 to January 1909, Johnson recorded his daily activities about working on his homestead and interacting with neighbours. The last few pages of the diary list recipes, drugs, groceries, dry goods, and hardware. 

Digitized images of the diary and a transcription are available at http://southpeacearchives.org/publications/photo-essays/oliver-h-johnson-diary. 

Festival du Voyageur Warms Up Winnipeg - Minister Glover joins thousands of Manitobans at annual winter celebration http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1736619 The Festival du Voyageur is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. 

Black History Month: CBC readers pay tribute to inspiring black Canadians http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/02/black-history-month-meet-some-inspiring-black-canadians.html Every day, black Canadians break barriers, create change and evoke empowerment. Read about seven people and how they do it to give back, to speak for the voiceless or for pure joy.

Black History Month in full swing across the island http://www.westislandchronicle.com/Community/2014-02-13/article-3614925/Black-History-Month-in-full-swing-across-the-island1See how the West Island in Montreal has celebrated Black History Month. 

(Some stories were suggested by Special Correspondent Gail Dever). 

Story of the Week

Family Day at the Museum

Today is Family Day in parts of Canada, with lots of events taking place.

In the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan, it is observed on the third Monday of February. In the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island,  the statutory holiday on this date is instead referred to as Louis Riel Day and Islander Day

If you are in Ottawa, you can go to the Museum of History. Join in, play games, listen to music and learn about traditional snowshoe making. And don’t forget to visit the Snow exhibition… indoors.

Their website is at http://www.historymuseum.ca/home

Reminder: Check the Canadian Week in Review next Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be on 24 February 2014.

Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on National Flag Day

February 15, 2014

Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark National Flag of Canada Day:

“The Canadian flag is an inspiring and endearing symbol that unites Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It is equated both at home and abroad with a peaceful and progressive country of enormous natural beauty, prosperity and generosity of spirit. At no time is national pride in our flag more evident than during the Olympic Games, and it is certainly on prominent display in Sochi over so many podiums and around so many of our magnificent athletes. We could not be more proud.

“In keeping with the recent tradition of presenting a Peace Tower flag to deserving Canadians, I am deeply honoured to present this symbol of our country to Gordon Burke and Jan Phelan, parents of the late Sarah Burke, who are accompanied today by widower Rory Bushfield. Sarah was a gifted athlete, a trailblazer in freestyle skiing, and one of the principal reasons why the half pipe was introduced as an Olympic sport this year in Sochi, Russia. She was a great Canadian whose efforts have had a remarkable impact on the world of sport, and whose story has touched the nation. Her legacy will live on in the many athletes who take up the sport she so championed.

“On this day, I invite all Canadians to take a moment and reflect on our national icon and what it means to be Canadian.”

February 15 was declared National Flag of Canada Day in 1996. To celebrate this special day in Canadian history, each year the Peace Tower flag is presented to a Canadian who has exemplified the values our country holds most dear.

To read about the history of National Flag Day, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Flag_of_Canada_Day and go to http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359736104513

FUNDING FOR GENEALOGICAL PROJECTS

 

The Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical society is offering grants of up to $2,500 each to support genealogically related projects within the geographical area under the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, which includes the amalgamated City of Ottawa, the United Counties of Prescott & Russell, the County of Lanark and the County of Renfrew. The total grant money available for 2014 is $5,000.

Acceptable projects will contribute to the knowledge of genealogical techniques and to the knowledge of genealogy relating to names, places, dates and family histories. This can include creating publications, developing databases, digitization of archival material collections, hosting training sessions and workshops, and the preservation of archival material collections. This grant is not meant to fund employees, or other in - house labour wages , but can be used to contract services and goods.

Only non - commercial entities may apply for this grant money including, genealogy societies, museums, archives, libraries, schools, historical societies, and community groups. An eligible applicant may submit more than one project proposal in any given year, and may apply in any year the grants are offered regardless of previous proposals or grants issued.

Successful applicants will be required to prepare and deliver a presentation related to their funded project at either a Branch Meeting or Ottawa Branch Conference. The support and funding given by the Ottawa Branch must be acknowledged with the logo, web address, and name of the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society appearing on all promotional material and/or physical aspects related to all projects receiving funding. Successful applicants must agree in writing to these conditions.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2014

Their website is at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/grants

Thanks to Gail Dever, Special Correspondent to Canadian Week in Review, for bringing this to our attention.

Heritage Day in Saskatchewan

The Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society invites you to join them at “Heritage Day” on Sunday, February 16 at the Western Development Museum in Yorkton from 2 PM – 5 PM..

The theme of Heritage Day is “Have Fun with Heritage: Historic Places Made for Play”, with the goal of seeing the historical value of places designed for play.

The press release says that "Guest speakers will talk about interesting locations in the area that have special memories for them. You can take your genealogy work one step further and record special family stories and memories as part of your family archives.

Every family has a story: make this the year to discover yours with the Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society”. 

The website is at http://www.saskgenealogy.com. 

The Western Development Museum where Heritage Day is being held is in the city of Yorkton. The website is http://wdm.ca

And they have a Family History File at http://www.wdmprairiegamble.com 

All Saskatchewan-based stories of family, community, organization and business history are welcome. The Family History Album is a perfect celebration of anniversaries, birthdays and family milestones like becoming a Century Farm.