Quebec Family History Society Holiday Hours

The library and office of the Quebec Family History Society will be closed from Thursday August 22, 2013 until and including, Monday September 2, 2013.

On Tuesday September 3, 2013 the library and office will reopen and the regular schedule of opening hours will resume.

Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday Evening 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

For information on upcoming events please consult our website http://www.qfhs.ca/

The Quebec Family History Society is the largest English-language genealogical society in Quebec

Transcription of the 1921 Census

People in Nova Scotia are starting to take matters in their own hands, and they are transcribing parts of the census themselves.

For example, Dwayne Meisner has “transcribed the 1921 census for 13 Mile House in Halifax County. The census also includes Beaver Bank, Kinsack, Fall River, Windsor Junction, Lower Sackville, Middle Sackville, Upper Sackville, Lakeview.

Click on "Halifax" on the map to open the dialog window, and then click on
"Halifax County - 1921". If you are not already a member of my site, you will have to register to view the data. Registration is free.

It is available on his website at
www.dwaynemeisner.com

There are other people who are doing the same thing.

Diane Tibert has transcribed parts of the Liscomb census, also in Nova Scotia, at her blog Roots to the Past at http://rootstothepast.wordpress.com/1921-census.  

If you have done the same thing, or have done it yourself, and would like to put the fact out to everyone,  send the particular to me, and I will put it on this blog.

Ancestry.ca Clarifies Access to 1921 Canada Census

Jeri Brown, Senior Consultant with Ancestry.ca, has written to me to make sure that everyone understands that -

“Under the terms of the partnership with Library and Archives Canada, Canadians will be able to access the 1921 Census of Canada images free of charge through the Ancestry.ca website. If you currently do not have an account or registered login with Ancestry.ca, you will be prompted to register (for free) to access the images. Registration requires the entry of a name and email address only. As the images are free for Canadians only, those attempting to access the 1921 Census via the other sites (ie: Ancestry.com, Ancestry.co.uk, etc…), will be prompted to sign up for a 14-day free trial”.

Meanwhile, how is everyone finding the census? Is it easy to work with? Any problems?  

I have heard from some people that the census itself is rather “marked up” and some writing is difficult to read, and that the names are difficult to decipher.  

Other people have said that they have had no problems, everything has gone as planned, and that they found the people they were looking for, without delay.

Remember, the "every name index" will be available in 2 -3 months on Ancestry.ca

Dog Days of Summer Sale!

This exciting notice just came into the office - 

Save 15% from now until midnight August 15th 2013 off all products listed on the Global Genealogy website at http://globalgenealogy.com

Purchase as many items as you want -- order as often as you want!

Enter the COUPON CODE 'Summer Sale' into the COUPON CODE blank in our online shopping cart and click APPLY, or say the code when you phone in your order (1-800-361-5168).

FamilySearch.org reaches 100,000 mark

FamilySearch has announced a milestone in its collection of Family History Books.

One hundred thousand books have now been scanned by the partnership of the Family History Library, Allen County Public Library, and several other important family history libraries in the world.

These books are online and available to search and use on the FamilySearch.org website. You can reach the collection by clicking Search and then Books or by simply clicking the link above.

The majority of the books online are family histories, with a smaller portion made up of cemetery records, local and county histories, genealogy magazines, and how-to-books, gazetteers, and medieval histories and pedigrees.

These valuable aids are viewed by more than 100,000 people a month.


To view the books, go to https://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=1&dstmp=1375809771058&vid=FHD_PUBLIC&fromLogin=true 

New workshop at Toronto

They are planning a full day of lectures on Saturday, 26 October on Tracing Forward – Searching for Relatives in Recent Times – a day designed to provide researchers with new ideas, strategies and tools to help them trace members of their expanded family trees, people who might still be alive or recently deceased.

This is a brand-new workshop topic for Toronto Branch and we’re quite excited about it – we expect to have program and registration details available on our website in the very near future.

Their website at www.torontofamilyhistory.org

BIFHSGO Conference next month

Conference time (Sept 20 - 22) is nearly here, and are you ready to attend a full-day of workshops, and two days of lectures by people from Ireland, and local genealogical experts on Irish roots?

One thing which BIFHSGO does, and has done for the past two years, is to present interviews with the conference speakers.

This year, some of the interviews are -  

Lesley Anderson Previews her Pre-conference Seminar  Lesley talks about her lecture on Ancestry.ca and how it can help you with your Irish family history research.

Interview with Linda Reid Toronto genealogist Linda Reid will be presenting "Around the Brick Wall: Tracing Back an Irish Family through Collateral Lines" and "Are They Really My Ancestors? Using Autosomal DNA Tests to Confirm (or Deny) Relationships and Ancestors."

and

Success through One Name Studies Sandra Adams, Bill Arthurs and Elizabeth Kipp along with John D Reid talk about the successes they have had by pursuing their one-name studies and what you can expect to learn if you attend the Saturday afternoon session "Success through One Name Studies"

If you want to listen to these interviews, go to www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=62

If you still haven’t registered, you can register online at http://www.bifhsgo.ca/cpage.php?pt=109

The website for BIFHSGO is www.bifhsgo.ca

LAC Update: 1861 Canada Census available online

Once again, the Library and Archives Canada has released a census – this time, its the 1861 census. Information was collected for people living in Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

You can search this new database by nominal information, such as the surname, given name(s) and age of an individual, as well as by geographical information such as district and sub-district names.

This wasn’t a uniform census – the questionnaires were different in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and in the Canadas (Canada West – Ontario and Canada East – Quebec).

Also, the enumeration day in the Canadas was January the 14^th, March 30^th in Nova Scotia, and August the 15^th in Prince Edward Island.

The census was also divided among rural and urban centres of the country.

So if an ancestor lived in Toronto (an urban centre), the enumerator would drop off the form for the inhabitants to fill out themselves, and then they would stop by a couple of days later to pick up the form, or if your ancestor lived in a rural area, the enumerator would fill out the form.

Districts and sub-districts did not all survive. To see which district survived, go to www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1861/Pages/census-districts-sub-districts.aspx

To search the census, go to www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1861/Pages/about-census.aspx

Sword family pioneer cemetery, Gatineau, Quebec

A meeting will be held in Gatineau, Quebec, sponsored by the City of Gatineau, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, 2 pm at the Alonzo-Wright House (College Saint-Alexandre), 2425 rue St-Louis, Gatineau, on the Sword family pioneer cemetery.

The speakers will be Suzanne Bigras and Jean-Guy Ouimet’

At least 46 members of a family are buried in the heart of a residential area of modern day Gatineau. The oldest family cemetery lies in the undergrowth, wedged between two single family homes! So far, a total of eight headstones have been found of the Barber, Davidson and Langford families in the Sword family pioneer cemetery.

The web site of the Société de généalogie de l'Outaouais is at  http://genealogieoutaouais.com

First Ever Video Streaming IAJGS Confernce LIVE!

Mark the date August 4 – 9th on your calendar! It will be the  live streaming of 50 sessions at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Society Conference (IAJGS) in Boston, Massachusetts.

The International Association of Jewish Genealogy Society (IAJGS) brings the best minds and knowledge in the field of Jewish genealogy to its conference. More than 1,000 attendees from 17 countries will attend. 

Anyone in any location with the desire to learn more about their Jewish family history will be able to tap into this knowledge and attend the event via the Internet.

To learn more, go to web site at www.live.iajgs2013.org

350th anniversary of “Filles du roi”

Arrival of the Brides Library and Archives Canada, Acc. no 1996-371-1

The Library and Archives Canada released this blog post yesterday -

"Summer 2013 marks the 350th anniversary of the arrival in New France of the first contingent of the “Filles du roi” (“King's daughters”), young women who became the ancestors of numerous French-Canadian families. A variety of celebrations are planned throughout Quebec, culminating in the New France Festival in Quebec City from August 7 to 11, 2013. The website is at www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca/index.php/en

Between 1663 and 1673, King Louis XIV supported the emigration of these young women, many of them orphans. Their passage to the colony was paid and they received an average dowry of 50 livres, along with a small hope chest containing clothing and sewing materials. In exchange, the women agreed to marry on their arrival in New France, to start a family and to help their husbands work the land. These women were instrumental in helping to populate and develop the colony.

The first contingent of 36 “Filles du roi” landed in 1663. Over the next ten years, an estimated 800 young women settled in New France under the same program.

If you would like to know whether one of your ancestors was a “Fille du roi,” there are many genealogical publications and reviews you can consult".

You can visit the website http://lesfillesduroy-quebec.org

Gwyneth Pearce, head of publicityfor the Ontario Genealogical Society - Toronto Branch, sent the following announcement to me yesterday –

The Branch will be presenting three courses between September and November – ranging from one day to eight weeks in length –

Introduction to West Indian Genealogy Saturday, 21 September: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. A fast-paced introduction to the principles of West Indian genealogical research with a focus on methodologies and records for African, East Indian and Chinese West Indian ancestors.

The instructor is Pooran Bridgelal.

The meeting will take place at North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

Basic Genealogy and Family History Wednesdays, 2 October – 20 November: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. For those just beginning to research or looking to upgrade basic skills, this 8-week course will cover terminology, types of sources, on-line resources, libraries and archives, and record-keeping – to help you “think like a genealogist”.

The instructor is Jane E. MacNamara

The meeting will take place at North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

Maps and Mapping for 21^st Century Genealogists Thursdays, 7 - 28 November: 6:15 - 8:15 p.m.This 4-week course, designed for intermediate and advanced-level genealogists, will explore sophisticated ways in which maps and mapping tools can contribute to family history research, analysis and writing.

The instructor is James F.S. Thomson

The meeting will take place at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto

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

War of 1812 and Nova Scotia

Ships Duke of Kent, Charles Mary Wentworth and Earl Spencer from a modern drawing by C.H.J. Snider. Medium: drawing Artist: C.H.J. Snider Reference no.: NSARM Photo Collection: Ships: C.M. Wentworth

The War of 1812 began in June 1812, and the remaining British North American colonies — Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island (then separate from Nova Scotia), New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Lower Canada (Quebec) and Upper Canada (Ontario) were automatically at war with the United States.

The role of Nova Scotia during the war was mainly at sea. The Royal Navy from its North Atlantic Squadron base at Halifax, joined by privateer vessels from home ports along the Atlantic coast and Bay of Fundy – like the ports of Halifax and Liverpool.

There are several virtual exhibits –

Spoils of War: Privateering in Nova Scotia – Read about the history of privateering in Nova Scotia. For example, there  are digitized original log-books for the privateers Charles Mary Wentworth (1799), Nelson (1802) and Dart (1813).

Acadian Reporter – This newspaper was published in Halifax beginning in January 1813, and this is four-page weekly newspaper. This newspaper “carried local, provincial, British and international news stories, a weekly almanac, shipping news, marriage and death notices, and a wide range of advertisements”

Black Refugees 1812 – 1834 - This is a virtual exhibit made up of 75 digitized documents, news clippings, documentary art and print items.


Go to http://gov.ns.ca/nsarm/war1812

The Ottawa Genealogist July-September 2013

The latest edition of The Ottawa Genealogists was in my mail box the other day, and it covers such events as Genealogy Research in London, UK and Attending WDYTYAL Conference 2013, Step into History: The 19^th Annual Beechwood Cemetery Historical Walking Tour, and the article Early Bytown Settlers Index.

One thing I have always enjoyed reading has been Edward and Elizabeth Kipp’s research trips. I have always found them informative, news worthy, and entertaining.  

This time, they were in London and went to the WDYTYAL where they saw some fellow Canadians from Ottawa  – Glenn Wright, John D. Reid, and Leslie Anderson – and took in some lectures while there too.

And they did some research too – on the BLAKE, PINCOMBE/PINKHAM, BULLER, BEARD families.

A good report was given of the Beechwood Cemetery Historical Walking Tour that took place on June 9^th, and the theme was the War of 1812.

Some of the people honoured was British Army Officer William Brown Bradley, and his son Edward Sands BRADLEY, Louis-Theodore BESSERAR, and Maria HILL.

It is reported that 300 people were there e to take the walk in good weather, which was led by Kurt Johnson of the Goulburn Museum.  

Jim Stanzell continues with the Early Bytown Settlers Index, and this time he covers the letters J to L.

He gives both the surname, and given name, the reference and page number, and any notes that is included in the Information column.

There is lots of other news in the journal, and you can receive The Ottawa Genealogist by joining the Ontario Genealogical Society at http:// www.ogs.on.ca/membership.php 

UPDATE: New version of the Census of 1851 (1852) database

The Library and Archives Canada has updated the 1851 (1852) census.

  

The 1851 Census marked the second collection of statistics for the Province of Canada (consisting of Canada West and Canada East). Information was also collected for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

In addition to searching by geographical information such as province, district, and sub-district, users can now also search by nominal information such as name, given name(s) and age of an individual.

In Canada East and Canada West, the census was supposed to have been taken in 1851, but was actually take in January 1852. 

So, in the Canada East and Canada West, it will be the age of the person's next birthday in 1852, not in 1851 (Column 6).

Also, in Canada East and Canada West, there was an urban and a rural census, and they asked different questions. 

In Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, the census was taken between June and December 1851.

If you are having difficulty finding the person you are looking for in the 1851-1852 census, not all schedules survived.  

Go to   

www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1851/Pages/about-census.aspx 

Kent Branch, OGS – Meeting & Event Info

Many societies are getting their fall meeting schedule out there for us to post, and I am busy with the November edition of Families, so the fall season is rapidly approaching for us genealogists.

The Kent Branch has speakers for September, October, and November, and the schedule is -

Date: Friday, September 13, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

Meeting: Kent Branch OGS

Location: St. Andrews Residence, 99 Park St., Chatham

Title of Talk: “Dealing with Conflicting Information”

Name of Speaker: Vicki McKay

Brief Info: Vicki McKay will walk us through some of her own family research challenges

Contact Info: www.ogs.on.ca/kent 

Date: Friday, October 11, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

Meeting: Kent Branch OGS

Location: St. Andrews Residence, 99 Park St., Chatham

Title of Talk: 150 YEARS! THE HISTORY OF THE CHATHAM GRANITE CLUB

Name of Speaker: Reg Johnson

Brief Info: Learn the history and the people involved in this 150 year old organization. .

Contact Info: www.ogs.on.ca/kent

Date: Friday, November 8, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

Meeting: Kent Branch OGS                                                            

Location: St. Andrews Residence, 99 Park St., Chatham

Title of Talk: “Major Telford Steele – WWII”

Name of Speaker: Ted Steele

Brief Info: Ted Steele will share the adventures of his uncle in WWll.

Contact Info: www.ogs.on.ca/kent 

What will happen to Barnardo’s Home photos?

Barnardo’s Homes is going to start digitizing their photos (of children), and then has plans to destroy the originals.  Some 30,000 of these photos are Home Children that came to Canada.

There's more at http://britishphotohistory.ning.com/profiles/blogs/barnardo-s-archive-up-for-grabs

You can help find a home for the collection by signing an e-petition; it's quick, simple and free. Here is the link

www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/save-barnardo-s-photographic-archive-find-a-new-home-for-the-original-photographs?share_id=cwjMybIulb&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

UPDATE: Prince Edward Island/Ontario Cemeteries

The following cemeteries have been upgraded on the GenWeb site as of July 22, 2013 – 

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Queen's County:

- Hyde & Crosby Pioneer Cemetery

ONTARIO

Brant County:

- Bethany Mission Cemetery

- Hatchley Cemetery

Bruce County:

- Chesley Cemetery

Carleton County:

- Beechwood Cemetery

Essex County:

- Annunciation Roman Catholic / L'Annonciation Cemetery

- Irwin Cemetery

- St William's RC Church Cemetery

- Tecumseh Historical Museum Cemetery

Frontenac County:

- Christ Church Anglican Cemetery

- Point Alexandria United / Horne Cemetery

- St Lawrence United / Foot Cemetery

- Trinity Anglican Cemetery

Grey County:

- Boyd Cemetery

- Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Halton County:

- Colling Cemetery

Hastings County:

- Abandoned (Purchase Farm) Cemetery

Huron County:

- Maitland Bank Cemetery

Kent County:

- Christ Church Anglican Cemetery

- Duart Cemetery

- Hyatt Cemetery

- Ridgetown (Old) Cemetery

- Smith & Hopper Burying Ground

- St Thomas Anglican Cemetery

Lambton County:

- Alvinston Cemetery

- St Matthew's Cemetery

- Thedford Baptist Cemetery

Lennox & Addington County:

- Glenwood Cemetery

- Pentland Cemetery

Middlesex County:

- Dorchester Union Cemetery

- Woodland Cemetery

Norfolk County:

- McQueen Cemetery

Oxford County:

- Tillsonburg Cemetery

Perth County:

- South Easthope / Shakespeare Cemetery

Waterloo County:

- Oswald / Hoffer / St Paul's Lutheran Cemetery

- Pioneer Tower / Doon Pioneer Cemetery

- Zion United Cemetery

Wellington County:

- St Martin's Roman Catholic Cemetery

Wentworth County:

- Christ's Church Cathedral Columbarium

These updates were not be possible if not for the volunteers, such as Alison Mitchell-Reid, Elizabeth Warwick, Kate Ford, Lorna Eggert, Marilyn Whiting, Robert Gevaert, Sharon Mattiuz, and William Cooke for indexing.

Thanks to Michael Stephens, Robert Gevaert & Ed McKeon, Doug Smith, Ron Spurr, Angela M. Clatworthy, Corinna Rumble, Alison Mitchell-Reid, Sharon Mattiuz, William Cooke, Carolyn Nordin, Lanny Robinson, Lorna Eggert, Beverly Fern McKenzie, Bonnie Philbin & Patt Preston, Bruce Nuckowski, Elizabeth Warwick, Ken Monk, and Doug & Donna Gammon for photos of the cemeteries.

Go to http://canadacems.blogspot.com/2013/07/prince-edward-island-ontario-update.html

Photo Contest at The Armchair Genealogist

  

Received this news release from fellow Canadian blogger Lynn Palermo yesterday -

“Family reunions are a great summer time activity that enables family historians the opportunity to gather family together to capture stories, travel to ancestral hometowns and reconnect with family. Share your family history summer adventure in the form of a photo of a recent or past family reunion. Tell us briefly about your photo. Open for entries from Monday July 22nd 8 am EST, closed at 12 pm Sunday July 28th EST. On Monday morning July 29th Week 2, photo theme will be announced for another chance to win.

Head over to our Contest Page on Facebook and submit your family reunion photo now!  One entry, per person, per week. One winner will be randomly drawn each week and will receive a 1-year subscription to FindMyPast.com. On Monday July 29th we will announce another photo theme for week 2 and you'll have another chance to win!

Week 1- July 22nd 8 am - July 28th midnight EST - Family Reunion Summer Adventure

Week 2- July 29th 8 am- Aug 4th midnight EST.

Week 3 - Aug 5th 8 am- Aug 11th midnight EST.

Open to U.S. and Canadian residents. One entry per person per week. Check the Contest Rules for all the details".

You can also post your photo using Twitter or Instagram use hashtag #outofmyarmchair

Go to www.thearmchairgenealogist.com

UPDATE: 1842 Census of Canada East and Canada West

On Friday, I posted that the LAC had released the 1842 Census of Canada East (Quebec) and Canada West (Ontario), but I did not say that only certain areas (districts and sub-districts) were enumerated.

The following districts are available in Canada West -

Bathurst

Gore

Johnstown

London

Newcastle

Niagara

Ottawa

Toronto (City)

1842 Census for Canada West: Districts and Sub-districts is at www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1842-canada-west/Pages/census-districts-sub-districts.aspx

The following areas are complete in Canada East -

Beauharnois

Berthier

Chambly

Champlain

Deux-Montagnes

Dorchester

Dorchester-Bellechasse

Drummond

Huntingdon

Huntingdon-Chambly

Lotbinière

Missisquoi

Montréal

Ottawa

Portneuf

Québec

Richelieu

Rimouski

Rouville

Saguenay

Shefford

Sherbrooke

Terrebonne

1842 Census for Canada East Districts and Sub-districts is at www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1842-canada-east/Pages/census-districts-sub-districts.aspx