Kelowna & District Genealogical Society - Serving the Central Okanagan

2012-03-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

Cemetery Recording Committeeupdate.

Chris Walker of the CBC radioprogram, Daybreak South, interviewed Bob Hayes about the current project.Please check the Cemeteries page for updated information and a link to this CBCprogram.

Meeting Monday, March 5th

2012-02-26T17:15:00.002-08:00

Our next general meeting will be Monday, March 5th, 7pm at Hawthorn Park's Oak Room (867 KLO Road). Our March program will be Groups: Ontario, Scotland and Potpourri. The Potpourri is a question and answer session and we ask that you have your questions prepared ahead of time.

Family History Forum - February 27

2012-02-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Our next Family History Forum is Monday, February 27th at the Downtown Library in their downstairs meeting room. The topic for February is "Marriage Records: what they are, what they can tell you, how to find them;" this information will be applicable to most countries.
Free to everyone.

Meeting Monday, February 6

2012-01-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

Our next general meeting will be Monday, February 6, 7pm in Hawthorn Park's (867 KLO Road) Oak Room. The topic this month is Attestation Papers; Researching in British Guinea and a fun activity of writing our own Head Stones.

January Family History Forum

2011-12-27T22:14:00.000-08:00

Our next Family History Forum is Monday, January 23rd, 7pm at the Downtown Library in their downstairs meeting room. The topic for January is 'Genealogy on the Internet' - What are some of the best websites; how do I find information about my family; how do I save information; how do I record where I've been and what I've found?
Free to everyone.

Meeting January 9, 2012

2011-12-27T22:04:00.000-08:00

Our next meeting will be Monday, January 9th, 7pm at Hawthorn Parks Oak Room. The topics this month include experiences at Salt Lake City and Groups - Beginners, USA, Canadian Prairies.

Meeting Monday, December 5

2011-11-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Our next general meeting will be held Monday, December 5th at Hawthorn Parks Oak Room, 7pm.
Our December social will have a special activity, silent auction, bake table and Bob will give a presentation about 'Canadian Attestation Papers' and we will discuss 'Christmas Traditions'.

FAMILY HISTORY FORUM - FREE TO EVERYONE

2011-11-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

Our next Family History Forum (formerly called Research Night) will be at the downtown library in the large meeting room on the ground floor Monday, November 28, 7pm.

The topic this month is Mentorship. We will have many genealogy experts, covering a wide variety of topics and this Forum is free to everyone. Bring your questions and have a one on one with a member from our society. Everyone welcome.

Conference Committee Meeting

2011-11-21T08:12:00.001-08:00

Our next Conference committee meeting will be Thursday, November 24, 7pm in the Rosewood Room at Hawthorn Park. All are welcome to come.

LIBRARY MOVE

2011-10-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

The KDGS Libray has a new home! Moving day is Oct. 17, 2011.

Read all about the move on the 'Library' page.

Vietnam Virtual Wall

2011-09-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

The link below is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the names, bio's and other information

< http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm >

News Items

2011-09-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ontario civil registrations updated on Ancestry.ca
Ancestry.ca have now extended the period of record for their Ontario civil registration. The periods now available are:
Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1928
Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947
Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1913
These are indexed records including images of the originals.

Apparently, this is shaping up to be a record month for additions to the FamilySearch website.
They are mostly US state records.
Prince Edward Island Baptism Card Index, 1721-1885 is the most recent addition to the Canadian collection.

Alberta Homestead Records

2011-09-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

Microfilm from the Alberta Homestead Records 1870-1930 series are now on the Internet Archive. There is less than 2% of the 686 microfilm reels in the series, but you may be lucky.

According to the Alberta Genealogical Society, Homestead files normally contain:

An application for homestead, containing the applicant's name, age, birthplace, last residence, prior occupation, number of adults and children in household.
An application for patent, containing name, age, occupation, post office, nationality, residency information, wife/children (no names), breaking/cropping, livestock, buildings, fencing.
A notice that patent (title) has been issued.

The AGS have an index to the files freely available to search by name at http://abgensoc.ca/homestead/search.php where you can find the reel you need to find your ancestor.

All reels are in the series 70.313; those on the Internet Archive are #: 2083, 2084, 2087-2095 and 2830-2837.

Find the Interne Archives Advanced Search page at http://www.archive.org/advancedsearch.php

Search on University of Alberta Libraries in the COLLECTIONS drop down box (it goes through the alphabet twice so it takes a bit of searching to find it)

And the DESCRIPTION of Alberta Homesteads.

Meeting Monday, September 12

2011-08-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

The first meeting for our new year (2011-12) will be in Hawthorn Parks Oak room Monday, September 12 at 7 pm. The topic for the meeting will be Summer Discoveries – Share New Finds – Capsule comment. We will also have a short presentation from Claire and Mary.

Cemetery Tour

2011-06-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

Kelowna Pioneer Cemetery Tour:

Members of the K.D.G.S. who are interested in learning about the Pioneer Cemetery (Kelowna Memorial Park), are invited to join me on a tour of the cemetery. It will start at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011, and should last about an hour and a half.

We'll assemble at the gazebo, in the Pioneer Cemetery, and will then have a look around the cemetery, stopping at various grave sites along the way.

But where is the Pioneer Cemetery? If you are coming up Spall Road (off of Harvey Avenue), you drive to the set of lights at the top of the hill. Before entering Glenmore Drive (straight ahead), turn right at these lights, and follow the road until you come to the Pioneer Cemetery; the Kelowna Golf & Country Club is to your left. Watch for the gazebo on the left hand side of the road.

If you are coming up Bernard Avenue (main street), go past the Apple Bowl (right hand side), over the railway bridge (train tracks below it), and to the set of lights at the intersection of Bernard Avenue, Spall Road, and Glenmore Drive. Go straight through the lights (when it is green, of course), up into the cemetery, and follow it until you reach the Pioneer Cemetery.

There is plenty of parking in the Pioneer Cemetery.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no active ghosts in the Pioneer Cemetery. If you are wanting a spectre, however, I will try to contact some of my Clement, Whelan and Freeman ancestors, to see if they can put in a special "appearance."

News Items

2011-06-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial http://www.svwm.ca/

Library and Archives Canada [The search tool, free of charge and available in French and in English, leads to genealogy and family history databases hosted by federal, provincial or territorial archives centres and libraries, or by other partners.] http://www.thatsmyfamily.info/

British Newspaper Archive - A new website is now available introducing the British Library/Brightsolid newspaper digitization partnership. Actual newspaper content won't be available until the fall with the first release of one million pages of pre-1900 newspapers, the initial fruit for a project which should lead to 4 million pages in the next two years and 40 million pages over the ten year life of the agreement.

There is no mention of a cost structure for the service but it would be surprising if affordable short-term subscriptions were not part of the arrangement.

The site is at < http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ > for further information, and you can register to be placed on an information mailing list.

Attention all MAC users - Recently found article regarding "Family Tree Maker" program for Mac users. If you are interested, contact Eileen Cook and she will pass it on. It is also available in July 2011 issue of "Internet Genealogist". < eacook@yahoo.com >

News Items

2011-04-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

Ontario Genealogical Society Conference 2011 May 13-15 at the Hamilton Convention Centre *** Note: Early Bird prices have been extended to April 15. < http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2011/ >

Ancestry Free Access April 7-14 Don't miss out on this chance to search millions of Civil War era records, including the 1860 and 1870 U.S. censuses, free for one week. Save the date — and you just might find your own Civil War story.

Genealogy in Ireland
A program for adults Tuesday April 12 1:00 pm-2:30 pm Free Peter Kaye Room, Lower Level Central Library 350 West Georgia Street Learn about using key Irish family history records and new internet resources for your Irish research. Finding family in Ireland can be difficult but attention to church and civil records, census substitutes, estate and land records, and even DNA testing will help you overcome brick walls in your research. Seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information please contact Vancouver Public Library at 604-331-3603

Buriels and Cremations in the UK from about the 1850's onwards. A New Website < https://www.deceasedonline.com/servlet/GSDOSearch >

The Society of Genealogists has posted handouts for the presentations and workshops from the recent big expo in London, England. It's a wonderful gift to all those who do British (primarily English) research. http://www.sog.org.uk/events/2011show-handouts.shtml You can view the slides that the presenters used, unfortunately without their commentary. Most are self-explanatory.

Check out the Webinars at the Southern California Genealogical Society and Family Research Library internet site at < http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/JamboreeExtensionSeries2011.htm >

Genealogy "Summer Camp"
Toronto, 5-10 June 2011
Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society
Genealogy "Summer Camp" is a unique program for adults offered by the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society that brings out-of-town
family historians to Toronto for an intensive week of tutorials and hands-on research at the city's many archives and reference libraries. Some tutorials will emphasize Toronto sources, but most repositories have holdings from a much broader area, so researchers with ancestors anywhere in Ontario will benefit. We take full advantage of Toronto's great public transit system and we keep the group small to allow lots of help from our local experts.
The fee for 2011 is $220. This covers
approximately 7 hours of lectures and tutorials, 25 hours of hands-on instruction and all worksheets and handouts..
http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/summercamp.html
Applications should be postmarked by 1 May 2011.

Canada's Ulster Scots is on facebook < http://www.facebook.com/pages/Canadas-Ulster-Scots/194314523916808 >.

Irish Research - free website with Griffiths Valuations, some Cemetery, Marriage, and Quaker Records along with Hearth Money Rolls, Flax Growers Lists of 1796, Directories, etc. < http://www.failteromhat.com/ >

KDGS Library Closure

2011-03-03T09:12:00.000-08:00

In preparation for our Library move, we are no longer lending out books and materials. We will, however, be open on March 7th, 9th and 10th for people to use our collection. We will then be closed so we can pack and move. We need all books and materials returned by Monday, March 7th (our next meeting night). Please make every effort to return these items or contact Claire if you are unable to return your library materials before the deadline. Thank you for your cooperation! We look forward to opening in a new location as soon as possible.

News Items

2011-02-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

OGS Golden Anniversary Conference, May 13-15. For more information on speakers and registration please go to their website < http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference2011/ >.

Halton-Peel Branch of the OGS and the Halton Hills Library have launched a Halton Digital Newspaper Archive. You can follow the links from the Halton-Peel Home page < http://www.halinet.on.ca/sigs/ogshp/ > or go to < http://news.halinet.on.ca/search > to search for your ancestors.

Library & Archives Canada is going digital over the next 7 years. To see the article go to < http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/whats-new/013-503-e.html >.

Ontario Cemeteries

2010-12-03T20:48:00.000-08:00

Help Make Bill 126 Law!

Bill 126 - An Act to Protect Ontario's Inactive Cemeteries was introduced at the Ontario Legislature on November 2, 2010. The Bill prohibits the relocation of inactive cemeteries despite anything to the contrary in another Act or regulation dealing with cemeteries.

Since cemeteries are an important source of genealogical information, we need your help to get the Bill passed so we can preserve them. Find out how you can help here: Bill 126 - An Act to Protect Ontario's Unregistered Cemeteries (www.ogs.on.ca/services/bill126.php).

News from Library and Archives Canada

2010-11-25T21:54:00.000-08:00

New Guide for Internment Camps in Canada during the First and Second World Wars

Ottawa, Ontario, November 25, 2010—Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce the release of a new guide to its collection of documents on internment camps in Canada during both world wars (1914–1918 and 1939–1945). This guide describes the extensive collection of governmental and private records generally consisting of textual documents on paper or on microfilm as well as publications about internment camps located on Canadian soil.

The guide is available at the following address: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/the-public/005-1142.27-e.html

About Library and Archives Canada

The mandate of Library and Archives Canada is to preserve the nation’s documentary heritage for present and future generations and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic development of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge, and is the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.

Genealogy Services (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/) includes all physical and online genealogical services of Library and Archives Canada. It offers information, services, advice, research tools and the opportunity to work on joint projects, in both official languages.

The efforts of the many Library and Archives Canada staff members who have contributed to the realization of this project are greatly appreciated. For more information, please contact webservices@lac-bac.gc.ca.

New Tools for Immigration Records

2010-11-21T20:52:00.000-08:00

Ottawa, November 18, 2010 – Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce the launch of new tools to facilitate the consultation and use of its immigration records, one of the largest and most consulted by genealogists. Transcriptions of headings of different forms used to record the names of immigrants arriving in Canada between 1865 and 1935 are now accessible on the Library and Archives Canada website. Links to different databases and websites offering nominal indexes or digitized images of immigration records have been regrouped on a single web page.

These pages can be accessed at the following addresses:

Immigration Records Headings:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-908.012-e.html

Immigration Records Indexes:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-908.013-e.html

About Library and Archives Canada

The mandate of Library and Archives Canada is to preserve the nation’s documentary heritage for present and future generations, and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic development of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge, and represents the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions. Genealogy Services (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/) includes all on-site and online genealogical services of Library and Archives Canada. It offers information, services, advice, research tools and the opportunity to work on joint projects, in both official languages.

We greatly appreciate the efforts of many Library and Archives Canada staff members who have contributed to the realization of this project. For more information, please contact webservices@lac-bac.gc.ca.

Beginners Organization

2010-11-10T09:08:00.000-08:00

The KDGS Organization Special Interest Group will be meeting on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 6:45 pm in the Oak Room at Hawthorne Park with an introductory session for Beginners.
[A session for Experienced members will be held later on November 30, 2010. An email will be sent later with details.]

If you did not sign up already for the introduction to "Organizing Your Paper Files Using File Folders", please email Susan Campbell (susandec “at” gmail.com).

Please go to the overview of this system and become familiar with the basics.
This is on www.familysearch.org
Then Look for “Research Helps” on the top bar.
Under “Research Helps” see drop-down menu and click on "Articles"
On the left, choose "Sorted by Title".
Then click on the "O" in the alphabet along the top of the page.
Scroll down to "Organizing Your Paper Files Using File Folders" and open.

To print the instruction and Tips, click on the upper right-hand corner PDF symbol.

If you have difficulty doing this, please email Susan.

If you are interested and have not yet signed up, please email Susan Campbell (susandec “at” gmail.com).

Webinars

2010-10-29T09:04:00.002-07:00

A new way to learn - Webinars (online seminars).

Check out the Legacy site for upcoming webinars plus their archives. free < http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/webinars.asp >

Free online classes at FamilySearch.org

< http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp >

Look for 'Free Online Classes' in middle column under Family History Library.

Also check out under News & Events 'Expanded Online Learning Opportunities'.

Ancestry.com - under the Learning Center tab look for 'Webinars: Online Seminars'. These are free.

NEHGS - on the left side under Getting Started look for 'Online Seminars'.

I am sure there are many more out there - you just have to check out your favorite websites.

English Research News & Seminar Display Boards

2010-08-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

Display Boards for Seminar
Hope your having a wonderful summer. I'm sure your looking forward to our upcoming seminar. We want to make it the most informative and interesting as possible. So - if you haven't committed to doing a display board, won't you consider it. It is not to late. I have never made one and have managed to pull it all together in a couple days. In fact it was rather fun! It's really not that hard and doesn't have to be complicated.
So please do consider --- it's never too late.
If you have any questions, call me 250-769-5822
Thanks, Eileen Cook

English Research
Ancestry has recently uploaded the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1861-1941. This is more than an index to all Wills & Administrations for the whole of England & Wales between these dates, it is also an abstract of the Probate, including the exact death date and place, occupation of the deceased, value of the estate and Executor(s) name, occupations, relationship to the deceased and place of residence. If you find something of interest, the actual Will or Administration can either be obtained from Family History Library microfilms (up to 1930) or ordered from the Principal Probate Registry in England (www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1226.htm) for a cost of £5 plus postage.
The Principal Probate Court was established in 1858, at which time the probate system was completely over-hauled so that there was one national registry. Before this time, wills and administrations were the business of a myriad of church courts of various jurisdictions and levels making them very difficult to locate. The National Probate Calendar on Ancestry currently covers only from 1861-1941 with some gaps but these gaps will be filled over time and the database extended back to 1858 and further into the present.

Happy Hunting!

News

2010-08-18T19:45:00.000-07:00

Know any friends or family interested in family history (genealogy). Have you given them a brochure to our September 25 "Harvest Your Family Tree" Seminar? Have YOU sent in your registration yet?

1. Our Archivist, Marina, would like to know if anyone has pictures from recent meetings, Hawthorn Park Appreciation Tea, cemetery gatherings, newspaper articles, etc. for our scrapbook. She can be reached at the "contact us" page on our website www.kdgs.ca. Please don't let a little surfing on our website deter you from sending us your photos.

2. Our raffle is coming together, so be ready in September as everyone will have to sell tickets. Who wouldn't want to win a laptop?

3. To hot outside for you - how about writing an article for our October newsletter (even a half page is good) or maybe a query. Deadline is September 15 and we know how fast the days are flying by. Send to Jennifer at betterhalf@shaw.ca

4. Cool photo project

Here is a photo site where anyone can "pin" their historical photos to their geographical location on the map. You can search by place and timeline. Right now there's only 15,000 photos but I imagine that this is going to become a very cool website once more people hear about it and add their own. Great for padding out the family history! - http://www.historypin.com/ (in partnership with Google).

5. “Connecting Energetically With Your Ancestors Through Genealogy”

You may know your ancestors’ names, but do you really know who they were? When every experience and feeling is recorded in our energy field, then what are the experiences and feelings of our ancestors that we carry?

Jan Fennell, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and Genealogist, will help participants identify ancestors and connect with them energetically. What type of life did they lead? Where did they come from? What did they experience?

You do not need knowledge of energy work or genealogy to benefit from this workshop, only a wish to understand your family better.

When: Saturday, September 11^th OR Monday, September 13^th 10:00am-4:00pm at First United Church in Kelowna

Cost: $50 ($15 non-refundable) Refunds available up to September 4th

Space in these workshops is limited to create and ensure a positive environment for all participants

Registration: Lorraine Hladik 215-3335 Richter St Kelowna V1W 3Y1 Telephone 250-763-3142 or email anamcara50@hotmail.com

NEWS

2010-07-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hope Everyone is having a good summer with lots of fantastic finds.

Feel like taking a trip - here are some conferences happening across Canada & the U.S. or you can stay at home and attend our KDGS "Harvest Your Family Tree" Sept. 25, 2010. Plus a new book and an Irish magazine discount.

1. Quebec Family History Tour with NEHGS
September 26, 2010 - October 3, 2010

Discover the records of Quebec during a week of research in Montreal Researchers will explore the Société Généalogique Canadienne-Française (SGCF) and the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ). Daily consultations with expert genealogists, lectures, and group meals will provide you with the tools and resources necessary for a successful and beneficial week in Montreal. http://www.newenglandancestors.org/

2. Join NEHGS for our thirty-second annual research tour to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. You are invited to take part in an intensive week of guided research where you will be aided by the expert staff of NEHGS. Daily programming includes computer tutorials for accessing the library card catalog, research tips and techniques lectures, personalized consultations and group dinning events. October 31-November 7, 2010
http://www.newenglandancestors.org/9063.asp

3. Ontario Genealogical Society, Toronto Branch and the Canadiana Department of North York Central Library present THE WOMEN IN OUR PAST: Strategies and Resources for Researching Female Ancestors. Saturday, November 6, 2010

http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/women.html

4. New Book

Ventonleague-Hayle, Some history and life of a Cornish Village
by Philip A. Rutter jnettrutter@btinternet.com

5. Irish Roots magazine is the only genealogy and family history magazine that deals entirely with Irish ancestral research. Our publication aims to empower our readers with the skills and tools necessary to undertake their own ancestral research journey. I would be grateful if you could let your members know of a special promotion offer to Irish Roots magazine that we are currently running until July 30th only. The offer is a year's subscription to Irish Roots magazine for only €20 euros (including postage) or CAN$35 (normally $40). To avail of this offer, simply visit our website - www.irishrootsmagazine.com , click on the top 'issues' tab, scroll down until you see the 'products puchase' link, click on this. In the description box, type. CAN Offer, in the payment box type 20 (this is euros) and then, click on 'make payment to finish' and continue to enter payment details as normal. Alternatively, subscription can also be made by cheque to Irish Roots Magazine, Blackrock, Blessington, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Irish Roots magazine is a celebration of Irish ancestry, heritage, culture and traditions.

6. Ontario Genealogical Society blog - keep updated with Ontario information
http://www.ogs.on.ca/ogsblog/

7. CROSSING BORDERS Immigration and Migration

2010 Conference

Saskatchewan Genealogical Society and

Manitoba Genealogical Society

September 17-19, 2010

http://www.saskgenealogy.ca/

Record Search Update: 26 Million New Names Added

2010-07-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Twenty-nine new collections were updated or added last week at FamilySearch.org—with 26 million names and 1.5 million digital images! The international collections continue to expand, with exciting new additions for Costa Rica, France, Hungary, Mexico, and Spain. In addition, nine indexes were added to the U.S. 1910 Federal Census collection—that means it is 37 percent complete! This project is moving along quickly.

http://www.familysearch.org/

Under "Search Records" click on 'Record Search pilot'

Seminars & Newspapers

2010-04-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

FOUR items of interest for you.

1. In case you are in Ontario this spring there are 3 workshops taking place at the Durham Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. Please see their website at <> for more details.

2. Are you in the Ontario area in August - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a conference August 21st in Brampton. For more details their website is <>

3. The Victoria Genealogical Society has an event May 15 in case you would like to take a trip (not as far as Ontario).
On Saturday, May 15, 2010, Lady Mary Teviot will be the guest speaker at an afternoon seminar in Victoria, BC organized by the Victoria Genealogical Society.

She will be delivering three lectures, and in keeping with British tradition, they'll have a break for tea. The event is therefore titled "Afternoon Tea with Lady Teviot". Details about the exact subject of her talks on their website by mid April. <>

4. Canada's Multicultural Newspapers
Marian Press draws out attention to the website:
http://www.connectingcanadians.org/
Connecting Canadians: Canada's Multicultural Newspapers Beta Website

Learn about the experiences of immigrants and early pioneers to Canada!

Connecting Canadians provides an opportunity for individuals to connect with their heritage by exploring early newspapers and engaging in learning activities. The collection includes Croatian, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Polish, Serbian, Ukrainian, Yugoslavian, Latvian, and Lithuanian newspapers.

Communication between immigrants and their loved ones in their home country in the pre-internet, television and radio age relied heavily on newspapers. As a result, immigrant newspapers document the earliest years of immigrant experience in Canada.

Often the newspapers were published in the heritage language of the community, making them an invaluable and unique resource for descendants of immigrants, students and teachers of the immigrant experience, scholars and researchers, as well as genealogists.

Websites

2010-03-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

Full issues of Ancestry Magazine viewable online (Jan 1994-Oct 2009)
< http://books.google.com/books/serial/ISSN:1075475X?rview=1 >

Websites for your Canadian Research
Canadian Genealogy Centre, Library and Archives Canada
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca
The Canadian Genealogy Centre is run by Canada’s national archives and library. Their mission is to “facilitate the discovery of our roots and family histories as a basic part of our Canadian heritage” and “to encourage the use of genealogy and the resources available in libraries and archives as tools for life-long learning.”
The Centre is working to provide greater access to the materials in the nation’s libraries and archives. A number of databases are available online, including census, land, immigration, and some vital records. Information is also available on obtaining materials through your local library via Interlibrary Loan.
Canada GenWeb
www.canadagenweb.org
The Canadian counterpart to USGenWeb offers a wide variety of information on researching our neighbor to the north. Each province and territory has its own page, with subpages further dividing the province/territory into sections. There are a number of national projects being conducted, including cemetery transcriptions, Bible transcriptions, and even an Immigrants to Canada list. The CanadaGenWeb blog provides the latest information about the site.
The Quaker Archives and Library of Canada
www.archives-library.quaker.ca
The Quaker Archives and Library of Canada has two components: The Canadian Yearly Meeting Archives and The Arthur Garratt Dorland Reference Library. The library contains thousands of non-circulating books, journals, newspapers, and pamphlets dating from the late 1600s to today. The Yearly Meeting archives, including information from the half-yearly, quarterly, monthly, and preparative meetings and their various committees, are a trove of information for genealogists; finding aids and catalogs are available online for their collections. Also available is the Canadian Quaker Genealogical Index, which provides access to information on individuals mentioned in the meeting records.
Geographical Names of Canada
http://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca
Geographical Names of Canada is a website run by National Resources Canada/Ressources Naturelles Canada. Since 1897 names on official federal government maps have been authorized through a national committee, now known as the Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC). The Canadian Geographical Names Data Base (CGNDB) is the data bank of Canada’s geographical names, maintained by the Geographical Names Section, part of the Centre for Topographic Information, Geomatics Canada, Natural Resources Canada. You can search the database online for free, by name or GPS coordinates. Remember that this records the name of civil divisions and geographical features, not church parishes. You can even get a national or regional map that pinpoints the location of your town.
Canadian Genealogical Projects Registry
www.afhs.ab.ca/registry/index.html
The Alberta Family Histories Society keeps a section on their website devoted to projects being worked on to abstract, index, and transcribe records from across Canada. Listing is free, and a number of projects have information available online. AFHS itself maintains a database of cemetery transcriptions from the province.

1.In Search of your Canadian Past – the Canadian Country Atlas (Ontario) – shows locations and sometimes even photos. http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/default.htm
2. http://www.genealogie.umontreal.ca/fr/ PRDH 17th and 18th Century French Canadian research biographical files on all individuals of European ancestry who lived in the St. Lawrence Valley
3. http://www.rootsweb.com/~qcmtl-w/index.htm searching Anglo roots in Quebec
4. http://www.grandesfamilles.org/ outlines the evolution of French Canadian families beyond 1730
5. http://www.canadiana.org/eco/english/index.html a digital library containing over 9,100 volumes
6. http://www.ourroots.ca/e/home.asp Canada's Local Histories Online (whole books)
7. http://www.islandnet.com/~jveinot/cghl/cghl.html my favorite Canadian search engine
8. http://www.cdnq.org/index_archiv.htm – Chambre des Notaries des Quebec CDNQ online records – I think only the search engine is free and you have to pay for the records now.

Organizing Your Genealogy

2010-03-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

This bit of information is from Ancestry

Spring Cleaning--Family History Style
By Juliana Smith 03 March 2010
As a birthday present to myself each year, I like to schedule a little “Me-time” with my family history. I take a day and just focus on catching up on things that have gotten away from me (e.g., filing, transcribing documents, more filing, scanning photographs, still more filing...you get the idea). While I’m at it, it’s a good time to look at what’s working, and more importantly what’s not. Since organization is an ongoing challenge for many family historians, I thought I’d share some tips today to help you with your spring cleaning—family history style.

Make a List of Goals
Making a list is a great motivator. Not only do you get the satisfaction of being able to check off things from your list as you accomplish them, it also helps keep you on track and gives you an immediate focus when you get a minute to work on your family history. No more, “Where should I start?” Just look at the list and knock off the first item.

Look around your office and see what needs to be addressed. Where are the trouble spots? Is it piles of papers that have gotten out of hand? Books? Periodicals? All of the above? (Yes, my hand is up for the latter.) Start your list with the trouble spots, then think about things that have frustrated you while you were researching and add those as well. Too hard to get to files? Not enough workspace? (Will there ever be enough workspace?)

OK, so now you have a list. Let’s look at some of the common problems on it and some possible solutions.

Unorganized Books
When you need a book does your search for it take you on a seemingly endless hunt through your bookshelves? Perhaps it’s time to organize your books by topic. Reference on one shelf, geographic information on another, and local history on yet another. If you have a large collection, you might want to invest in a software program that allows you to inventory your books, and note their location. Or you could create your own inventory in a spreadsheet.

Too Many Loose Papers
If your filing system is separate stacks for each family and the towering piles are threatening to take over your office, it may be time to rethink it. Invest in some binders and clear plastic sleeves. Three-ring binders help keep those papers from escaping and beginning baby stacks, and if you keep plastic sleeves handy in the binders, it’s easy to just slip your latest find into the sleeve.

No Time to File
We all know that every so often, the perfect research session will be interrupted by everyday life. Dinner will need to be removed from the oven before the fire alarm goes off, dogs will need will need to be walked, and you may even find that you need to sleep on occasion. Keep a bin handy for temporary filing, along with a stash of sticky notes that you can use to note where you left off.

Not Enough Space
I’m convinced that there can never be a large enough workspace for family history. While I haven’t been able to convince my husband that a family history wing be added to the house, I have found some ways to maximize the space in my office. Although my desk is small, I have a small table behind my chair that I use for reference materials I will be using. The top of the table is also large enough for a historical map for the area I’m researching. I also keep a couple TV trays in my office that I can bring out when I need more table space for family history binders.

Too Many Possibilities
Throughout the course of your research, you’ll start seeing names not associated with your family that seem to keep popping up. Are they just friends, or could there be a connection? And how about that guy with the same name as your ancestor, who married a woman with the same first name? You don’t want to throw the records out, but at the same time, they don’t really fit in with your family records. And since you probably have more than enough paperwork on your own family, do you want to add to the stacks with people who might not even be kin?

A great way to organize these types of records is to start an online tree. It doesn’t have to be huge. Just enter what you know about the family, scan any paper documentation you have, and add the images electronically.

As you enter information, Ancestry.com will be searching its collections too and the “shaky leaf” hints will help you learn even more about the family. As the tree fills out, you may be able to determine whether or not they’re related to you. If you eventually find out that they are, you will have a good start on your research for that family. If not, it’s still a good reference that you can refer to when you run across other records for them. And if you make the tree public, you just might make someone’s day when another researcher working on that line locates the tree.

KDGS News & Conferences

2010-03-04T20:25:00.000-08:00

1. Reminder – “Who Do You Think You Are” is this Friday, March 5, 8pm on ch.48
Faces of America – Wed. evenings ch.83 & 46 (Public Television)
Ancestors in the Attic - Thursdays ch.38 (History Channel)

2. Vernon & District Family History Society Open House
The Vernon & District Family History Society is holding a public Open House this Saturday at its Resource Centre in Peace Lutheran Church 1204 30th Avenue.

Come out and see what changes have been made in the past few months. The Resource Centre is more user-friendly than ever before. There now are SIX computers with Internet access and the Library has been re-organized.Bring a Friend (or two!)
Visit your Resource Centre
Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Tea/coffee/goodies will be available

3. NGS Family History Conference is in Salt Lake City this year – 28 Apr – 1 May 2010. For more details visit their website
< http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info >.

4. An article in the Toronto Star on Home Children
< http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/769317 >

5. OGS Conference 2011 - Hamilton
Our 2011 Conference will be held in the Hamilton Convention Centre, May 13-15, 2011. This is the Society's 50th anniversary and so the Conference will celebrate 50 years ... and beyond. We do want to emphasize the "celebrate" part of the Conference! The conference will have an European stream.

6. The British Columbia Genealogical Society & the Jewish Genealogical Institute
Are proud to present Stephen Morse - Sunday, March 28.

Jewish Community Centre
In the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (bottom floor)
950 West 41st Avenue,
Vancouver, BC
Doors open at 1:00 pm / Seminar 1:30 to 4:00 pm
Tickets $7.50 for BCGS & Affiliate Members
$10.00 for non-members

Tickets available from BCGS at PO Box 88054, Lansdowne Mall, Richmond, BC V6X 3T6 or at BCGS meetings or contact Susan Snalam at (604) 273-8209. Cheques should be made out to BCGS, or you can use your Visa.

Light Refreshments offered. For more information, please contact Eunice Robinson at Eunice@dccnet.com or check our website www.bcgs.ca

The two topics presented are: One-Step Webpages: A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools and One-Step Webpages: A Hodgepodge of Lesser-Known Gems

Have a great day. Marlene

KDGS News & Events

2010-02-25T19:38:00.000-08:00

Appreciation Day at Hawthorn Park
to take place Wednesday March 24, 2-4pm. If you know anyone at Hawthorn Park please let them know about this event for tea, coffee, cookies and a tour of our KDGS library. 1/4 sheets will be available at the meeting Monday night.

"Harvest Your Family Tree"
September 24, 25 & 26, 2010 Watch for more details coming on our website < http://www.kdgs.ca/ >.

The KDGS Cemetery Recording Committee needs help.
Needed is someone familiar with computer drawing programs who can draw maps to be published in our cemetery booklets. Is there anyone with these skills who is able to either do this work or give some direction on how to do this?
Please contact Susan. Email is susandec [at] gmail.com

Who do You Think You Are?
begins Friday March 5 at 8pm on NBC.
Also check out Faces of America on KCTS ch.46 public television.

Kent Genealogy
Bob came across a great website which lists literally thousands of monumental inscriptions. Some of the transcriptions were done as early as the late 1700's, and involve stones which have long ceased to exist. If you have ancestors in Kent, this site is well worth visiting. Bob was able to find an 1840's Coast family gravestone, which no longer exists; it gave him lots of names and dates for the elder brother (and his wife and children) of his four times great grandfather. Anyways, the website is as follows: http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/

Mentor Project
The Mentor project is currently on hold until I get my computer back (possibly tomorrow). Thank you to those who have responded. Hopefully, I will have something ready for the Monday night meeting and send it out to everyone next week.

Have a great day. Marlene

KDGS Scrapbook & Saskatchewan News

2010-02-04T20:18:00.001-08:00

Scrapbook

As mentioned at Monday's meeting, Marina has completed the digitizing of the second KDGS scrapbook (2006-to date) and has uploaded all the pages to our website: http://www.kdgs.ca.

To view the scrapbook, click on the "Scrapbook" link on the navigation bar. There are two ways to view it, small size is embedded into the page or large size where you need to click on a link that will open in a new window or tab (depending on your browser). Once you are finished viewing the full size, you can close the window or tab that was opened.

If you have any trouble with the scrapbook or the instructions, please let her know.

And, while you are there, why not take a look at the new layout of our site! In the upcoming months, Marina will update the content of the site as it is quite old. If you have ideas for what you'd like to see on the site, send her an email :)

Saskatchewan

Interested in Saskatchewan? At the link below you will find some old photos that the Saskatchewan Archives Board has posted in a project to celebrate Archives Week. They are looking for information about locations and identification of the people in the photos.

Visit the site often as they add more photos and some interesting comments appear. Look for the "Comments" bar under each photo to read or post comments.

http://sabphotos.wordpress.com/

KDGS Scotland news

2010-01-13T21:34:00.001-08:00

Scotland's Places

Scotlandsplaces.gov.uk has been launched. You can now find information about Scottish places, past and present, selected from the holdings of the partner organizations. This includes digital copies of: maps and plans of cities, towns, villages, farms, roads, canals, harbors, churches, schools, public buildings, private houses, mines and quarries and more.

KDGS Australia research

2010-01-13T00:57:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone

For those doing Australian research or Tasmania you might be interested in the newspaper site

< http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home >

Tasmania State Library - right hand column under Family history - Lots of excellent information plus you can check out the census, shipping arrivals and departures, convicts etc.

Main site < http://www.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/ >

Search Portal (searches under 'Name indexes') < http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=91 >

Happy hunting! Marlene

KDGS News

2010-01-01T21:06:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone

Ancestors in the Attic - Season IV premiers Jan 7, 2010 on History Television, Thurday nights 9pm. For more info visit their website < http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=110820&/ >

Marlene

KDGS LostCousins

2009-12-29T10:06:00.001-08:00

LostCousins is offering a free subscriber privilege for old and new members until Jan. 4. Join before Jan.4 and quote offer code Project1881 and you will get a complimentary subscription that lasts until Dec 31st, 2010. The only catch is that you must have at least one British ancestor who was recorded on the 1881 Census.

Marlene

KDGS New Website

2009-12-04T07:54:00.001-08:00

Good Day

Please check out our new website at < http://www.kdgs.ca/ >. We have a new look.

Marlene

KDGS News

2009-12-01T10:04:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone

A few news items for you.

Quinte Branch of the OGS

Recently transcribed inscriptions of the Belleville Cemetery headstones
are now available on CD. Please visit our website at

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canqbogs/publications.htm

The Original Record - Could be very useful if you have an unusual name

We now have 9 million entries directly available online.
Free unlimited search. All records hand-indexed (no OCR).
Purchase sets of scans, or buy open access to the surname(s) of your choice, including variants.

Recent additions

1675-1857 Rugby School Register;1847 Christian Miscellany Tabular Record of Mortality; 1874 Manchester Fat Cattle, Poultry and Dog Show; 1895 Surrey Court Directory; 1924 Coates's Herd Book
; 1957 Crockford's Clerical Directory; 1957 Air Force List: General Duties Branch
More information is available - check the home page under sources and then by year for a full description.

www.theoriginalrecord.com

New Brunswick

Have you checked the First Families on the provincial archives site

http://www.nbgs.ca/firstfamilies.html

Somerset (SOM) and Devon (DEV)

http://www.parkhouse.org.uk/transcr/tcontent.htm

Irish Genealogy

You can now search online - check out what they offer at

http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/index.html

Does someone want to help this fellow

As per my phone call . I am looking for some one to redraw the family tree.

It is currently laid out in the proper form, but no room has been left to add the next geneation to it. Also many written in updates etc.

No research is required.

It starts in 1792 so it is not a large project, but I have no knowledge of where or how to start.

If you could be of some assistance in helping me find someone to do this it would be very much appreciated

Garth Saunders Phone 250-768-4202 g-saunders@shaw.ca

Happy Searching. Marlene

KDGS Meeting Monday Nov. 2

2009-10-30T19:44:00.001-07:00

Good Day Everyone

Meeting reminder for Monday, November 2 at 7 pm in Hawthorn Park's Oak Room. Please find the programme committees survey at the bottom of the e-mail. If you have not already done so, please fill it in and bring to the meeting as your opinion is valuable. If can also fill in the form and return it to me via e-mail.

Note for Irish Research e-mail I sent - the link should be

http://www.irishrootsmedia.com/

The topic this month is Military Research

The program will start with members and their favourite war story, letter, photograph, medal, etc. that you would be willing to share with the group.

After Break we will continue our research strategy -- with brief talks given by 4 members of our program committee.

They will cover subjects such as the 1940 National Registration in Canada, US draft cards, WW1 attestation papers, Commonwealth War Graves, and more.

Lastly Bob Hayes will wind it up with a military related talk with a local twist.

Don't Forget

Library opens at 6 pm

Books, cd's, magazines due at the library

$$ for the library fund

Water and/or mug for tea & coffee

$ for coffee and cookies

Stamps

See you all in December and have a great meeting. Marlene

Please complete, sign and bring to the Nov. meeting. Drop in box at sign on desk.

-Do you have a topic you would like to speak about?

-Is there an interest group you would like to take part in?

-Is there a speaker or topic you would like to hear about?

- Do you have something of interest to show and tell?

Sign your name: _____________________________________________

Thank you from your Program Committee.

KDGS Irish Research

2009-10-26T09:29:00.001-07:00

Irish Roots magazine, the only magazine entirely dedicated to Irish ancestral research within the entire island of Ireland is now on Facebook. Irish Roots magazine features many articles written by Ireland's leading genealogists, tips and tools on how to trace and embrace your Irish ancestry. Irish Roots magazine is a celebration of Irish ancestry, heritage, culture and tradition.

I would be grateful if you could let your members know about Irish Roots magazine and where possible add our website as a link to your site. If you would like any further information on Irish Roots magazine, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Many thanks and kind regards,

Julie Phibbs
www.irishrootsmagazine.com

KDGS Library hours

2009-08-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone

Just a reminder that our KDGS library is open every Wednesday from 1-4 pm and you can book Ancestry with Shirley at < shirley.manning@shaw.ca >. You can use Ancestry even if you have not paid your dues for 2009-10 -- you cannot take out any books though.

Have you checked out these websites lately.

Indexing of Canadian passenger lists http://members.shaw.ca/nanaimo.fhs/

Search Engine that finds genealogical information on Canadian websites http://www.voicimafamille.info/ (I just found my great-grandmothers death)

Happy hunting.

Marlene

KDGS News Items

2009-07-24T20:24:00.001-07:00

Good Day

Anyone searching the surname Dunham please let me know as I have a contact name in Ontario.

Free MICRO-FICHE READER, call Leslie at 250-860-0461

The National Archives in England has a how-to site if you are interested. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/gettingstarted/understand-the-archive/default.htm

Hope you are all having a good summer with lots of fantastic finds.

Marlene

KDGS Ancestry and other news

2009-07-07T09:26:00.001-07:00

Good Day Everyone

Ancestry now has ALL Canadian Census records online with indexes and digitized scans of the originals!! This collection goes from 1851 to 1916. Happy hunting!! Reminder - Ancestry World is available at our library and can be booked every Wednesday from 1-4 pm with Shirley at shirley.manning@shaw.ca.

Other interesting sites for you to browse

British Newspapers < http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/ >

Part of an interesting site - The registers of baptisms and marriages at St. George's chapel, May Fair < http://www.archive.org/details/registersofbapti00inarmy >

Search burial registers in the City of London < http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/burialRegisters/Default.aspx >

Good Luck. Marlene

KDGS News

2009-06-24T22:33:00.001-07:00

Good Day

Great news for adopted Ontarians, the records have been opened. Check out the link below for more info

http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/community/programs/adoptInfo/index.htm

The Family History Centre will be open in July on Wednesdays only. (closed July 1 )

9:30 to 12:30 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Happy Hunting.

Marlene

KDGS Research Night & news

2009-06-12T09:55:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone

Research Night this Monday, June 15, 7pm at our KDGS Library in Hawthorn Park. The topic this month is US Research as well as a section for new members on how to get started.

Those with British Ancestors might be interested in this site < http://www.british-history.ac.uk/Default.aspx >

Have a great weekend. Marlene

KDGS News

2009-05-08T21:07:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone

Our new Newsletter Editor, Jennifer Richardson, will be doing the June newsletter and she is needing a few more articles, queries etc. Deadline is May 15 - one whole week. Please e-mail your articles, queries to Jennifer at < betterhalf@shaw.ca >. Thanks

Welcome to the New Archives of Ontario
The Archives of Ontario (AO) has moved. The doors of 77 Grenville Street closed on Thursday, March 26th at 5 p.m. and the new public service building at 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard on the Campus of York University opened Thursday April 2nd at 9 a.m. This move to a new public access purpose-built facility is long overdue. The new building is fully equipped to preserve and showcase the AO collections, improve service, and increase customer access.
For the location, map, hours and relevant transit schedules, visit: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/about/locate.aspx
By mail, The Archives of Ontario 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard Toronto, ON M7A 2C5
By email reference@ontario.ca

Penny Christensen has a new website. < http://www.drpennyc.com/ >

Irish Research - The National Library of Ireland < http://www.nli.ie/en/parish-register.aspx > and (accessed through Google Books) - "The Irish Catholic Directory, Almanac & Registry"

Online genealogy coarses available at Pharos - check out their coarse seclection at < http://www.pharostutors.com/ >

Rutland May Days is celebrating 50 Years ~May 15, 16, 17 & 18. Saturday May 16th Parade starting at 10:30am. Breakfast every morning from 8 a.m. by the Dry Grad Class. May Days Dance - Centennial Hall 8:30 to 12:30 $10.00 person Everyone Welcome. For more events check out their website at < http://uptownrutland.blogspot.com/ >.

Have a great weekend and happy hunting. Marlene

KDGS Research Night & New Zealand news

2009-03-13T20:44:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone

Research night this Monday March 16 at 7pm in our KDGS library at Hawthorn Park. The topic this month is 'Luck with your Irish'.

New Zealand birth, marriage and death indexes are now available online. As in many other countries access is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, so you can only search for births that occurred over 100 years ago, marriages that took place over 80 years ago, or deaths registered over 50 years ago (or where the individual was born over 80 years ago). Nevertheless, it's great to have such an important source online and - best of all - it's free to search the indexes.

http://bdmhistoricalrecords.identityservices.govt.nz/Home/

Have a great weekend. Marlene

KDGS Prairie province news

2009-03-03T22:43:00.001-08:00

Hello Again

This is the website for Henderson's Directories for the Prairie Provinces.

http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/henderson.html

It includes links to:

Marlene

KDGS English Research news

2009-03-03T22:41:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone and happy hunting. Marlene

Here are the websites Claire mentioned at Mondays meeting for finding English Parish Registers online:

1. Find My Past: www.findmypast.com; hosts the Federation of Family History Society's baptism, marriage and burial transcriptions for most English counties (not complete) plus the National Burial Index; basic indexes are free; subscription or credit purchase required to access search results

2. FamilySearch: www.familysearch.org; 1. International Genealogical Index (IGI), index of baptisms & marriages (not complete); 2. Family Search Record Pilot, transcriptions with some digitized images of English Parish Registers; free site

3. IGI Batch Search Site: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbers.htm; allows you to search individual parishes and also to see what dates and parishes the IGI covers; free site

4. The Genealogist: www.thegenealogist.co.uk; 1. Non-conformist Parish Registers for England: including Quakers, Protestant dissenters such as Baptists or Methodists, some Catholics and followers of foreign churches and other registers (such as Clandestine Marriages, Lying-In Hospital), transcriptions plus digital images; 2. Parish Records Transcripts: not a wide range of places featured; 3. Parish Records Printed Books: Phillimore's Marriage Indexes for several English counties but not all parishes within; subscription or pay-as-you-go for as little as £5 down

5. Online Parish Clerk Projects: www.opc-dorset.com; features links to all the participating English counties at the bottom of their homepage; transcriptions of Parish Registers & Bishop's Transcripts; free site

6. Ancestry: www.ancestry.co.uk; 1. Parish & Probate Records Collection has some Parish Register transcriptions for some English Counties; 2. Pallot's Marriage & Baptism Index, 1780-1837 (limited information for many English Parishes); 3. Ancestry Card Catalogue search will reveal many more parish register transcriptions; free search; subscription needed to access results KDGS Library @ $2 per hour

7. British Origins: www.origins.net; 1. Boyd's Marriage Index, 1538-1830; 2. St. Andrew Holborn Marriages, 1754-1812; 3. London Burials Index, 1538-1853; free search; subscription needed to access results (as little as £6.50)

8. Other Online Parish Register Transcriptions: find these through: 1. English GenWeb, www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~engwgw/; 2. GENUKI, www.genuki.org.uk; 3. Cyndi's List, www.cyndislist.com; 4. Google Search: www.google.ca, <name of county and/or parish> "parish register" [OR] "bishops transcripts" England (i.e. Dorset Beaminster "parish register" England); most sites will be free

9. If all else fails and to verify transcriptions and indexes: 1. order films in from the Family History Library; see the "Family History Library Catalog" on the FamilySearch website above (small fee to order films); 2. If the FHL has not filmed the registers you need, contact the relevant English County Record Office (CRO) as they often have transcriptions and can do a quick look-up or provide you with photocopies for a fee; find Record Offices through the ARCHON directory, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon

10. Tip: Make a chart or spreadsheet for each parish of interest, enter coverage dates of surviving Parish Registers & Bishop's Transcripts (see Phillimore's Atlas & Index of Parish Registers available at the KDGS Library); coverage of IGI; microfilms available from the FHL and coverage dates; coverage in the above mentioned websites. This will allow you to search all available online records and then fill in the gaps by either ordering in the film from the FHL or contacting the relevant CRO

GOOD LUCK!!

KDGS News

2009-03-01T15:03:00.001-08:00

New magazine

A new magazine aims to empower its readers with the tools and knowledge necessary to undertake Irish ancestral research.

http://www.irishrootsmedia.com/

1916 Prairie Census

For those who discovered the 1916 Census went missing from the LDS pilot site it has now reappeared on Ancestry
The 1916 Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta is available through a 14-day Free Trial at Ancestry.ca. Don't delay in accessing this free trial.

Family History Centre hours

Tuesday 9:30 to 12:30 and 7:00 to 9:00

Wednesday 9:30 to 12:30

Thursday 9:30 to 3:30 and 6:30 to 9:00

Some patrons are having success in having a consultant go into the new.familysearch and look up ancestors.

Marlene

KDGS News

2009-02-23T08:35:00.001-08:00

Good Day

2 areas for research that might be of interest

1. The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a resource to help individuals find their ancestors. Find Thousands of Family History Research Articles and How-to Instructions. FamilySearch Wiki is a large, on-line library where you can find thousands of articles and how-to instructions about doing family history in many countries around the world.

https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Main_Page

2. Ontario sites you may have overlooked.

1) Some early Ontario records of the registers of ministers.
http://my.tbaytel.net/bmartin/earlyont.htm
2) Ontario Cemetery Ancestor Search gives the following information:
Name , Given Names , Stone Ref , Death Dt , County , Township , Cemetery (ID). Click on the 'Cemetery ID' for information an the cemetery.
http://ogs.andornot.com/CemeteryIndex.aspx
3) Ontario Locater for locating Ontario place names. This shows the district names for earlier years.
http://www.geneofun.on.ca/ontariolocator
4) Ontario Vital Stats project. Search for births marriages and deaths starting in 1869.
These have been transcribed, so try different spellings of names, and they give the registration number for your sources.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onvsr/
5) A list of the Original Ontario Newspapers at the Archives of Ontario.
http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/guides/pdf/l23_newspapers.pdf

6) Some early Ontario Census records from 1824 to 1911.
Lists the head of household and number of children as:
#MC Number of Male Children #MA Number of Male Adults
#FC Number of Female Children #FA Number of Female Adults
http://ontariocensus.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
7) Canadian Passenger Lists Before 1865
http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/tocan1400-1800.shtml
8) This alphabetical table of links into the pages of the Ontario
Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Register by Bill Martin
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wjmartin/wm-index.htm
9) Early Ontario marriages before registration in 1869.
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/oldies.htm

KDGS News Items

2009-02-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone

Two news items - Heritage Week from the Okanagan Historical Society and 1891 Canadian Census information from Sylvie Tremblay

Heritage Week Program Feb 15-21

A Legacy of Learning: The Heritage of Education

Sunday Feb. 15th - Community Social at Rutland Centennial Hall

Music, Displays, Refreshments. By Donation

2 pm- 4 pm

Monday Feb. 16th - Heritage Week Kick off Breakfast

Okanagan Heritage Museum, 470 Queensway

Guest Speaker - Margaret Moisey

7:30 am - 9 am By Donation

Call 250 763 2417 to RSVP

Daily Monday to Friday - Free Guided Walking Tour of Kelowna

Museums and points of interest in downtown heritage area

Meet at 1 pm at Okanagan Heritage Museum

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday - Heritage School Room Tours with Sig Ottenbreit

Central School, 1825 Richter Street

10 am - 2 pm

Thursday Feb 19th - Central Okanagan Heritage Society Annual Meeting

Benvoulin Heritage Church, 2279 Benvoulin Rd

Reports, Annual Heritage Awards, Refreshments

Guest Speaker Joan Chamberlain

7 pm

Saturday Feb 21st - KSAN and FRAHCAS Tea Party at Central School

2 pm - 4 pm - Tea by Donation

School Room open for Visitors

Census of Canada, 1891

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new online database, Census of Canada, 1891. Through this online database researchers can access digitized images of original census returns featuring the name, age, country or province of birth, nationality, religion, and occupation of Canada's residents at the time of the 1891 Census.

The database is available at:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/index-e.html

The 1891 Census marked the third regularly scheduled collection of national statistics. Information was collected for Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia and the North-West Territories (which at the time covered much of modern-day Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, northern Ontario, northern Quebec, Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut).

The 1891 Census also marks the launch of a new feature that allows visitors to suggest a correction to a record. This will be launched on a wider scale in the next few months.

Library and Archives Canada gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Ancestry.ca, without which this project would not have been possible.

Additionally, the contributions of many LAC staff were instrumental in the success of this project, and their efforts are much appreciated. For more information, please contact us at webservices@lac-bac.gc.ca.

About Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada collects and preserves Canada's documentary heritage, and makes it accessible to all Canadians. This heritage includes publications, archival records, sound and audio-visual materials, photographs, artworks, and electronic documents such as websites. The Canadian Genealogy Centre ( http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogyl < http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/index-e.html > ) includes all physical and online genealogical services of Library and Archives Canada. It offers genealogical content, services, advice, research tools and opportunities to work on joint projects, all in both official languages.

About Ancestry.ca

Ancestry.ca offers access to over 7 billion worldwide names contained in over 26,000 historical record collections from the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France and other locations around the globe. Over 410 million Canadian family history records are available online. In addition to the fully indexed Censuses of Canada for 1851, 1891, 1901, 1906 and 1911, key Canadian collections include the Canadian Passenger Lists - 1865 to 1935 and U.S. / Canada Border Crossings from 1895 to 1956, Quebec Church & Vital Records (Drouin Collection) - 1621 to 1967, Ontario and British Columbia Church & Vital records from as early as 1747 and military records from WWI. Ancestry.ca offers an extensive learning center and robust online tree-building tools. As of October 2008, over 7.5 million family trees containing 725 million profiles and 12 million photographs have been created.

Happy Hunting. Marlene

KDGS News - 1916 Canada Census

2009-01-22T19:52:00.000-08:00

The 1916 Canadian Census records for the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and now available through the Family Search Pilot project site:

Go to: http://www.familysearch.org/

1. Click on 'Search Records'
2. Click on 'Record Search Pilot'
3. Click on 'Canada' on Map
4. The census is near the bottom of the page.

Happy Searching. Marlene

KDGS News - Irish History Link and AGS Conference

2009-01-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

Good Day

Irish History - some video clips and history of a couple of Linen Mills (Mossley and Sentry) as well as some community history. Visit their website to see if this is your area of Ireland. < http://www.newtownabbey.gov.uk/heritage/community.asp >

AGS Conference 2009 - Edmonton
April 18&19. For more information please visit their website at < http://draft.blogger.com/www.abgensoc.ca >

Have a great day and stay healthy.
Marlene

KDGS News

2009-01-06T19:54:00.000-08:00

As mentioned at the January meeting by Claire Smith-Burns, here is further information on some exciting new databases through the Family Search (free) website at www.familysearch.org:

Historical Book Collection: find this link by clicking on the heading, SEARCH RECORDS > HISTORICAL BOOKS (there are almost 26,000 books in this collection).

Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925: this was the database I read about in my Kent OGS Journal (many people in the southwestern corner of Ontario either married in Michigan or migrated to Michigan); find this database by clicking on the heading, SEARCH RECORDS > RECORD SEARCH PILOT; then either use the search engine provided or narrow your search to that specific database by clicking on the map (Canada, US, Mexico) and finding it on the list of databases.

Record Search Pilot: not only will you find Michigan Marriages in this quickly growing collection (see above) but for those of you struggling with Eastern European research, there are some records for countries such as, Czech Republic, Hungary and Russia (not to mention Germany and Norway); records continue to be added, so check often!

Ancestry Card Catalogue: From your home computer you can view the list of databases in the entire Ancestry collection by using the Ancestry Card Catalogue Search Engine; find this by clicking on the SEARCH heading on the Ancestry homepage (www.ancestry.ca); then click on CARD CATALOG under the heading SEARCH RESOURCES on the upper right of the page; rather than using the Search Engine on the main Ancestry page, try narrowing your searches to individual databases.

Also, coming in 2009 on Ancestry: the remaining Canadian census records; parish, tax and other records for London (a collection spanning hundred’s of years) and much more! HAPPY ANCESTOR HUNTING FOR 2009!!

Have a great day and enjoy the white stuff. Marlene

KDGS News - 1911 UK Census

2008-12-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays Everyone
There is a test site for the 1911 UK census available for a few days that is free - use it asap as I am not sure how much longer it will be free.
http://betav3.1911census.co.uk/accept.aspx

Drive Carefully. Marlene

KDGS News - BC Voters List 1898

2008-12-17T19:58:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone

The British Columbia Voters List 1898 is now on line.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canbc/vote1898/voters98.htm

The Peachland Cemetery and Peachland Cenotaph photos are now online at
http://www.gravemarkers.ca/british/okanagan/index.htm

Take care driving. Marlene

KDGS News - Westbank Cemetary Photos Online

2008-12-09T19:59:00.000-08:00

Good Day Everyone

The KDGS Cemetery Recording Committee (CRC) is pleased to announce that the Westbank Cemetery photos are now online at
http://www.gravemarkers.ca/british/okanagan/westbank/index.htm

The Family History Center will be closed from 13 December and opening on 13 January 2009.

Drive Carefully. Marlene

KDGS News

2008-11-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone

Our newsletter editor is desperate for articles for the December issue. I know you all have great finds, stories etc., so please take a few minutes and write them down and share them with us in the newsletter. Please submit articles to Marina
at mgarrison@telus.net;. As today is the deadline - I am sure she will accept your article a few days late.

Research Night this Monday, November 17 - 7pm and the topic this month is Scandanavia (Swedish, Danish, Norse, Finish).

Subject: Immigrants to Canada
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the launch of an online database, Immigrants to Canada.
The database contains Canadian immigration records held at LAC, many of which relate to immigrants from the British Isles arriving in Quebec and Ontario; also included are references to settlers in other provinces. Through this new database, researchers can access references to lists of immigrants and other types of records created before 1865, such as declarations of aliens and names of some Irish orphans.
You are invited to visit the database at: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/immigrants-canada/index-e.html.
The contributions of many LAC staff were instrumental in the success of this project, and their efforts are much appreciated.
For more information, please contact Sylvie Tremblay, Chief, Canadian Genealogy Centre, by email at cgc-ccg@lac-bac.gc.ca.
Warm up your keyboard - look forward to reading your article in the newsletter.

Have a great day. Marlene

KDGS News

2008-11-12T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone
Here are some interesting and exciting news items.

In Quarantine: Life and Death on Grosse Île, 1832-1937:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/grosse-ile

Ancestry.ca and FamilySearch Announce Agreement to Digitize and Index Existing Canadian Censuses
As part of the agreement, FamilySearch will digitize and index Canadian census records that Ancestry.ca has acquired. These digitized and indexed records will then be made available to Ancestry.ca members on the company's Web site, and the indexes will be available for free to the public at FamilySearch.org. The images will be free to all FamilySearch family history centers.

FamilySearch will deliver images and indexes to Ancestry.ca for censuses from 1861, 1871, 1881, and 1916, to launch online in 2009. In return, Ancestry.ca will provide indexes to FamilySearch for the 1891 and 1901 censuses.

Have a great day. Marlene

KDGS News

2008-11-08T20:47:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone

1. During November it will be FREE to search Great War records at the Ancestry.co.uk site (don’t click the ‘Free Trial’ link unless you want to register for a 14 day trial of the entire site – you can search the WW1 records without registering).
http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

2. The Family History Library has been providing classes to patrons for many years. In the past, a patron would have to travel to the Library to take advantage of these classes, but no longer. The Library will begin testing different methods of exporting these classes to patrons who reside outside of the Salt Lake City area. The first method to be tested is a set of five lessons in a classroom setting in a video format. These lessons are now available and cover the basics of getting started with family history research in England. The five lessons are called
Lesson 1: Research Overview
Lesson 2: Census Records
Lesson 3: Civil Registration
Lesson 4: Church Records
Lesson 5: Find Your Ancestors

You are invited to visit familysearch.org, view these lessons, and then give your feedback by using the feedback link there on the online classes’ page.
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/education/frameset_education.asp?PAGE=education_research_series_online.asp%3FActiveTab=2

3. To search the free Canadian Soldiers of the First World War database, go to the Canadian Genealogy Centre, Library and Archives Canada (LAC): http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-909.006-e.html
There is much more there - all free. Always check LAC first for Canadian material.
This is an index to a database of images of attestation papers *usually 2 pages, sometimes more than one attestation for an individual. To order copies of the individual's whole file, see the research information with the free index. The LAC index includes nurses and chaplains, as well as soldiers.

4. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has a searchable database at http://www.cwgc.org/

Remember – if the http://www.kdgs.ca/ address does not work – please copy and paste into the address area at the top of your browser.

Have a great day and good luck on your searches for soldiers.
Marlene

KDGS News

2008-10-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone
Research night this Monday starts at 7 pm – 9 pm. Doors at Hawthorne Park lock at 8 pm.

Ad from the Ontario government:

Has Adoption Touched Your Life?
visit < http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/adoptioninfo >
If you were involved in an adoption in Ontario you need to know about animportant change to your information and privacy rights.

Effective June 1 2008, Ontario adoption records will be opened. This means adopted adults and birth parents will be given access to identifying information from birth records and adoption orders.

If the adoption order was made before September 1 2008, adopted adults and birth parents can file a disclosure veto to prevent the release of the information.

If you want your identifying information to be kept private, you should file a disclosure veto before June 1, 2009.

No contact notices are also available.

To learn more, visit www.ontario.ca/adoptioninfo or call 1-800-461-2156

Have a great day / evening. Marlene

KDGS News

2008-10-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone
Research Night this Monday, October 20 at our KDGS Library in Hawthorn Park. This month the topic is Beginners Research.

20th Great Okanagan Book Sale
October 16th , 17th and 18th 2008
Immaculate Conception Parish Hall
839 Sutherland Ave
Sale Hours
Thursday 16th October 9:30am – 9pm
Friday 17th October 9:30am – 9pm
Saturday 18th October 9am – 3pm

Derbyshire News
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~spire/Yesterday/index.htm
For those with British ancestry the Yesterdays site (link above) has thousands of names of persons who appear on official documents
as found in Derbyshire a central County of England.
A lot of those persons were either born or lived outside the County but for one reason or another were in Derbyshire and have their names recorded on varying documents.

A section on Law and Order lists all types of misdemeanors, whilst the Rogues and Vagabonds were whipped on their way to all parts of Britain. Settlement Certificates and Examinations along with Removal Order may help locate where a person came from. Alternatively. if you have "lost" someone they may help you find where they went.

Have a great day / evening. Marlene

KDGS News

2008-10-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone

3 bits of news for you - if the link does not work please copy and paste the address into your brower address area.

1 ) PEI News - PEIancestry.com is an exciting evolution in archival access made possible by the preservation of original hard copy historical documents at MacNaught History Centre and Archives a part of Wyatt Heritage Properties located in the City of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

< http://www.wyattheritage.com/mainsite2/ >

2 ) The Friends of Fintry Society is holding a Fintry Fireside Thanksgiving Tour. If you’ve never been to Fintry, toured the Manor House or heard the fascinating tale of James Cameron DUN-WATERS, you are missing out! The Fireside Thanksgiving Tour will be a great opportunity to visit this site and help preserve and maintain the Fintry property.

Fintry Fireside Thanksgiving Tours

Saturday, Oct 11, 12:00 - 4:00

The Manor House.

This is an open-house-style of touring.

You can stroll through the house and listen to the history and stories as told by Fintry volunteers.

Mulled apple cider and homemade pumpkin loaf will be served!

The fireplace will be burning brightly in the trophy room to add ambience to the occasion.

Cost is $7 for adults.

This will be the last chance to tour the Manor House this year as we will close for the season at 4:00 pm. Hope to see you and your friends and relatives at the Manor House! You can help spread the word for us by telling your neighbours about this event!

3 ) For those with British ancestry the Yesterdays site ( link
below) has thousands of names of persons who appear on official documents as found in Derbyshire a central County of England. A lot of those persons were either born or lived outside the County but for one reason or another were in Derbyshire and have their names recorded on varying documents.

A section on Law and Order lists all types of misdemeanours, whilst the Rogues and Vagabonds were whipped on their way to all parts of Britain. Settlement Certificates and Examinations along with Removal Order may help locate where a person came from. Alternatively. if you have "lost" someone they may help you find where they went.

There are many other types of records listed, including Bastardy and Apprenticeships.

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~spire/Yesterday/index.htm

Have a great day and enjoy the sun. Marlene

The KDGS Cemetery Recording Project

2008-01-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

January 2009 Update
Starting in 1985, KDGS began to transcribe the cemeteries located in the area from Peachland to Oyama and published these transcriptions. These booklets are no longer available. Now, a committee is actively working on updating these transcriptions.

The Cemetery Recording Committee is in the process of compiling the information from recent transcription fieldtrips and plans to have new updated booklets and/or CDs available for sale. We are presently working on new transcriptions for:

• Peachland Cemetery and Cenotaph
• Westbank Cemetery
• Oyama Community Cemetery
• Old Winfield Cemetery
• Winfield Cemetery
• St. Theresa Cemetery
• Immaculate Conception Cemetery
• St. Andrew’s Cemetery
• Kelowna Cemetery and Cenotaph

Photographs have been taken of the gravemarkers in Peachland and Westbank Cemeteries and these are now available for viewing online at Murray Pletsch’s website, British Columbia Gravemarker Gallery, in the Thompson Okanagan section http://www.gravemarkers.ca/british/okanagan/index.htm

Photographs of Oyama Community Cemetery and St. Theresa Cemetery are in the process of being compiled and will be available later at this site.

If you have any questions about this project or want further information, please contact Susan, Chairperson of the Cemetery Recording Committee, at susandec at gmail.com

Okanagan Researcher: Beaverdell and Carmi voters list

2008-01-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

Okanagan Researcher, Vol. 15 (4), June 1999

Beaverdell and Carmi Voters' List for the 1935 Federal Election

Extracted and compiled by Kenneth G. Aitken

Copyright June 1999 by Kenneth G. Aitken, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

For the genealogist, the challenge of finding a surrogate for a census when doing early 20th century Canadian research is a real challenge. At the time of writing there is great concern by the historical and genealogical community about Stats Canada's reluctance to make the 1911 and other 20th century censuses available to the public. Until this issue is resolved, the genealogist must continue to search for surrogates for the census. One of the most common surrogates mentioned in the genealogical literature is the voters' list. The List of Electors, 1935 for Beaverdell and Carmi, attached to this article, is a sample of such a voters' list. This voters' list has certain limitations. The greatest limitation is that it is limited to those who are Canadian citizens or British subjects who have lived a certain period of time in the Carmi, Beaverdell area and who are over the age of 21 years, the legal voting age in 1935. Another serious limitation is that married or widowed women are identified solely by their husband's name: "Mrs. Anthony Shavela", rather than something more practical to the genealogists, like: "Ida Mae Shavela". Another limitation is the absence of relationships and ages.

The attached voters list was created under the provision of the Dominion Franchise Act, which directed the federal government to create Lists of Electors for use in federal elections. The List of Electors for 1935 has been microfilmed, as have most other federal voters lists up to at least the late 1970s and are available from the National Archives of Canada.

The Lists of Electors are arranged alphabetically by the name of the electoral district (constituency) within each province. Beaverdell and Carmi fall in the Yale Electoral District. Within the electoral districts the lists are further arranged by polling station number and then by street address. Beaverdell and Carmi fall with Rural polling Station No. 6, "Beaverdell". The only time these polling station lists are arranged alphabetically by the name of the elector is for some of the rural electoral districts and polling stations. Polling Station No. 6, Beaverdell is a good example. The original was not arranged in strict alphabetical order, but by first letter order. I have noted this is quite common on most lists in 1935.

The microfilm series for the 1935 electoral rolls are found in the National Archives of Canada and are listed in their Finding Aid 113-1 which covers the Office of the Chief Returning Officer. This Finding Aid was published in February 1989 and can be purchased from the National Archives of Canada. Yale Electoral District is found on microfilm M-4761.

Dominion Franchise Act

List of Electors, 1935

Electoral District of Yale, Rural Polling Division No. 6, Beaverdell

Surname	Given	Occupation	PO Address
Barrett,	George	miner	Beaverdell
Beamish,	Edward	miner	Beaverdell
Bell,	Alexander John	miner	Beaverdell
Benson,	William	miner	Beaverdell
Berchtold,	Fred	section man	Carmi
Berchtold,	Walter	section man	Carmi
Berger,	Leona, Miss	housekeeper	Carmi
Blackburne,	William	miner	Beaverdell
Bongalis,	George	section foreman	Beaverdell
Bongalis,	George, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Bongalis,	Paul	section man	Beaverdell
Bongalis,	Paul, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Bradley,	John	miner	Carmi
Brodie,	John	miner	Beaverdell
Brown,	Richard, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Brown,	Richard	miner	Beaverdell
Bubar,	Bayard	farmer	Beaverdell
Bubar,	Bayard, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Bubar,	Chas	farmer	Beaverdell
Bubar,	Chas, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Cameron,	Angus	miner	Beaverdell
Cameron,	Angus, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Cappos,	Constantine	section man	Beaverdell
Christisen,	Nels	miner	Carmi
Clarke,	Thos	postmaster	Beaverdell
Clarke,	Thos, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Cook,	John	cook	Beaverdell
Cousins,	Edward	miner	Beaverdell
Cousins,	Edward, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Cousins,	Irvine	miner	Beaverdell
Cousins,	Francis	truck driver	Beaverdell
Cousins,	Francis, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Crowe,	Thos. Edward	blacksmith	Beaverdell
Crowe,	Thos. Edward, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Cummings,	Ewart Gladstone	miner	Beaverdell
Dickson,	Gordon	miner	Beaverdell
Didcote,	Frank	section forman	Beaverdell
Didcote,	Frank, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Drum,	James	miner	Beaverdell
Drum,	James, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Eaton,	John Wesley	farmer	Beaverdell
Eaton,	John Wesley, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Edstrom,	Elmer Atli Efraim	miner	Beaverdell
Ellett,	Bert Ernest, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Ellett,	Bert Ernest	miner	Beaverdell
Elliott,	Chas. Franklin	miner	Beaverdell
Elliott,	Chas. Franklin, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Ferroux,	Jean Francois	farmer	Carmi
Ferroux,	Leon John	section man	Carmi
Ferroux,	Leon, Mrs.	married woman	Carmi
Fletcher,	Alfred Sydney	miner	Beaverdell
Ford,	Henry	section man	Carmi
Foster,	Ira Low	miner	Beaverdell
Fripp,	Humphrey	miner	Beaverdell
Fripp,	Humphrey, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Fritz,	Frank	blacksmith	Carmi
Fry,	Herbert	miner	Beaverdell
Fry,	Herbert, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Gachain,	Jean Pierre	carpenter	Carmi
Gallioz,	John B.	postmaster	Carmi
Gallioz,	John B., Mrs.	married woman	Carmi
Gilmore	Chas. Ernest	farmer	Beaverdell
Gilmore	Irma, Miss	housekeeper	Carmi
Gustafson,	Axel, Mrs.	cook	Beaverdell
Gustafson	Kermit	miner	Beaverdell
Halstrom,	John	miner	Beaverdell
Hanna,	Adeline, Miss	spinster	Beaverdell
Hanna,	John, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Hanna,	John Alex	mine supt.	Beaverdell
Harrison,	James	farmer	Beaverdell
Harrison,	James, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Henderson,	Thos.	miner	Beaverdell
Henderson,	Thos., Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Hendrickson,	Arthur	miner	Beaverdell
Hood,	Delbert E.	labourer	Beaverdell
Hood,	Delbert, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Horner,	Geoffrey	farmer	Beaverdell
Houck,	Henry, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Houck,	Henry	storekeeper	Beaverdell
Houlind,	Oluf	miner	Beaverdell
Hoyes,	Wm. Thomas	physician	Beaverdell
Hurley,	Wm. Allan	miner	Beaverdell
Inglis,	George Ross, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Inglis,	George Ross	miner	Beaverdell
Jackson,	Eric E.	miner	Beaverdell
Jensen,	Frederick	miner	Beaverdell
Johnson,	Jarl	miner	Beaverdell
Keefe,	Eulie	miner	Beaverdell
Keefe,	Walter	labourer	Beaverdell
Keefe,	Walter, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Kelley,	George	miner	Carmi
Kennedy,	William	mine foreman	Carmi
Kernaghan,	William	truck driver	Beaverdell
Kernaghan,	Wm, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Kerr,	James	miner	Carmi
Kerr,	James, Mrs.	married woman	Carmi
Kerr,	Mary, Miss	stenographer	Carmi
Kerr,	Daniel	miner	Beaverdell
Kerr,	John	miner	Carmi
Lane,	John D.	miner	Beaverdell
Legiest,	Raymond	engineer	Carmi
Lind,	Charles	miner	Beaverdell
Lind,	Charles, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Lindsay,	Thos.	school teacher	Beaverdell
Lord,	Edward	mechanic	Beaverdell
Lowndees,	John	miner	Beaverdell
Lucente,	Leonard	miner	Beaverdell
Lutner,	Edwin Charles	labourer	Beaverdell
Lutner,	Peter	retired man	Beaverdell
Madge,	Victor Edward	miner	Beaverdell
Marsh,	Thomas	section foreman	Carmi
Marsh,	Thomas, Mrs.	married woman	Carmi
Matheson,	James	farmer	Carmi
Mattson,	Nels	mine supt.	Beaverdell
McDonald	Finley	mail carrier	Beaverdell
McKenzie,	Donald Edward	labourer	Beaverdell
McKenzie,	Donald Edward, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
McLanders,	Roy	miner	Beaverdell
McLanders,	Roy, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
McLennon,	Stanley	miner	Beaverdell
McPhee,	Alex	miner	Beaverdell
McPhee,	Alex, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Michaud,	Albert	miner	Beaverdell
Monroe,	Geo. Alex.	section man	Carmi
Monroe,	Geo. Alex., Mrs.	married woman	Carmi
Montgomery,	Wm. Boydell	surveyor	Beaverdell
Moran,	Patrick, Mrs.	hotel keeper	Beaverdell
Morrison,	Allan Richmond	miner	Beaverdell
Morrison,	John Donald	miner	Beaverdell
Morrison,	John Donald, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Mosti,	Edward	miner	Beaverdell
Muir,	Thomas, Mrs.	hotel keeper	Carmi
Muir,	Thomas	blacksmith	Carmi
Mulhern,	Samuel	miner	Beaverdell
Mulhern,	Samuel, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Murray,	Duncan John	miner	Beaverdell
Neaves,	Ira	cook	Beaverdell
Neaves,	William, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Neaves,	William	miner	Beaverdell
Nordman,	Charles	miner	Beaverdell
Nordman,	Charles, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Noren,	Carl	farmer	Beaverdell
North,	Albert, Mrs.	housekeeper	Beaverdell
Olsen,	Charles	section man	Carmi
Paterson,	Gordon	miner	Beaverdell
Pederson,	Hans A.	restaurant keeper	Beaverdell
Pederson,	Hans A., Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Perry,	Robt. Henry	miner	Beaverdell
Petterson,	Frank Oscar	farmer	Beaverdell
Rambo,	Washington H.	miner	Beaverdell
Richter,	Frank Edward Sumner	bookkeeper	Beaverdell
Robertson,	Malcolm	section man	Carmi
Rose,	Emil	blacksmith	Beaverdell
Rusch,	Roscoe	section foreman	Carmi
Rusch,	Roscoe, Mrs.	married woman	Carmi
Russell,	Charles	mechanic	Beaverdell
Russell,	Harold	miner	Beaverdell
Russell,	William	miner	Beaverdell
Sargent,	Clayton	section man	Carmi
Saunders,	Thos. Edward	miner	Beaverdell
Saunders,	Thos. Edward, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Saunier,	Eugene	miner	Carmi
Schofield,	Arthur	steam engineer	Carmi
Schofield,	Arthur, Mrs.	married woman	Carmi
Shavela,	Anthony	cook	Beaverdell
Shavela,	Anthony, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Shuster,	Anthony	miner	Beaverdell
Smith,	David	retired man	Beaverdell
Smith,	Edward George	trapper	Beaverdell
Smith,	Mark	miner	Beaverdell
Smith,	Mark, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Snider,	Charles	labourer	Beaverdell
Snider,	Charles, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Staples,	Edwin Palmer	miner	Beaverdell
Sutherland,	George Duncan	blacksmith	Beaverdell
Sutherland,	James	farmer	Beaverdell
Swanson,	Swan Julius	miner	Beaverdell
Thomas,	Joseph	section man	Carmi
Thompson,	Milton	miner	Beaverdell
Timmermeister,	Frederick	mine foreman	Beaverdell
Vickery,	Aldo	miner	Carmi
Warrington,	Wm.	miner	Beaverdell
Warrington,	Wm., Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Watson,	David	carpenter	Carmi
Worthing,	Reginald	miner	Beaverdell
Worthing,	Reginald, Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Worthing,	Thos.	miner	Beaverdell
Worthing,	Thos., Mrs.	married woman	Beaverdell
Wynne,	Wm. J.	prospector	Beaverdell
Youngson,	Wm.	hotel keeper	Beaverdell

Okanagan Researcher: Lessons Learned in Researching English Ancestry

2008-01-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Okanagan Researcher, Vol. 16 (1), September 1999 Lessons Learned in Researching English Ancestry

by Kenneth G. Aitken

Copyright September 1999 by Kenneth G. Aitken, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Kenneth G. Aitken has been Prairie History Librarian at Regina Public Library, Regina, Saskatchewan for 15 years. He has been researching family history for the past 20 years, the last three as a professional genealogist.

The purpose of this article is to summarize some of the research lessons I have learned, or should have learned, in the twenty years I have been researching English ancestry. The underlying principles of research strategy, and sources in English research I first learned through the works of David Gardiner and Frank Smith. Their three volume set, Genealogical Research in England and Wales1 has been a favourite reference work of mine for 20 years. The thirteen concepts reviewed in this article are drawn from this work. The reader will note references to "we" numerous times in the article. "We" refers to a group of my Hambrook cousins who were learning together the pitfalls of English research.

This article assumes the reader has some familiarity with concepts like "primary and secondary sources" and "direct and indirect evidence". For those who need to brush up on these thing see my article "Evaluating Genealogical Evidence"2. References will be made in examples to parish registers, bishop's transcripts, censuses, probate records and other sources of English genealogical and historical data. Those not familiar with these should consult basic genealogical resource guides for England.

Genealogical and family history research seldom results in absolute proof in pedigree. Researchers devote much of their effort to sifting sorting and organizing a variety of primary and secondary source information about their ancestor. The following thirteen procedures are useful in strengthening or eliminating the acceptance of evidence, and clarifying what is truly a factual record of part of an ancestor's life.

1. Confirm the calculated or stated year of birth and birthplace from the clue document in at least two censuses.

Lets say that you have found a memorial card for your ancestor that was distributed at his funeral in 1924. From this you discover that he died at the grand old age of 88 years. You realize that this is indirect circumstantial evidence of a birth because there was unlikely to be anyone present at the death that had a perfect remembrance of his birth. But you have a clue. You do the math. 1924 minus 88, and come up with a birth year of about 1836, the year before civil registration begins in England. Can you confirm that 1836 is the year? A review of the census returns for 1841 through 1891 would prove most useful here. (Though the 1841 Census for England rounds the ages to the nearest multiple of 5, which will skew dates, it does not round off the ages for those under 15 years, a useful fact in this case.) The several census returns will also help narrow down the possible birth places.

2. Check the census of the stated place of birth in the clue document to determine where there are others of the same name, age and birthplace living there who might be confused with the likely candidate.

Among my Hambrook ancestors there is a problem with Richards: there seem to be one in every family, and they clog up the 1851 to 1881 censuses of Kent. Usually by gathering all of the Richard Hambrooks in the ancestral parish, and the contiguous parishes, I have been able to sort them out. Once in a parish in Kent, however, there were two Richard Hambrooks born less than a year apart, appearing on the census with the same age. I, of course, chose the wrong one, without accounting for all of the census returns. Thus I proposed a line of descent from a boy who died at age 11, and was found in a nonconformist church burial ground. Proceed with caution.

3. Consider ages given in as many dated events as possible to see if they agree as to the year of birth of the ancestor. In cases of wide variation, the earliest is likely to be the more accurate.

When there is a potential for confusion of identities, and there always is to some extent, we need to widen our search to examine not just census returns but monumental inscriptions, baptism, marriage and burial records, and any other records that can clarify birth dates. In my Richard Hambrook error mentioned above, if I had lined up all the monumental inscriptions for Richard Hambrooks in the parish, including those in the nonconformist churchyards, I may have spotted my error. Get the ducks lined up in a row chronologically, and value those records created earliest more than the later ones. That is to say, let later dated information be the support for the earliest data, and be hesitant to accept more precise dates that run counter to the early documented dates. From the Bible comes the notion we use in law even today; in the mouths of two or three witnesses shall the truth be known.

4. Search for birth or christening records from 5 years before the calculated birth year to the year of marriage looking for others of the same name and birthplace who might be confused with the likely candidate.

This may puzzle the researcher, so let me explain. Lets assume you have discovered the marriage of a James Atkins in a parish register in Warwickshire in 1821. The entry says he is a bachelor, but the age is simple, "of full age", meaning he is not a minor. You want to find his christening date. In cases like this I assume the person was married at age 26 plus or minus 5 years. Thus placing his birth date between 1790 and 1800. However as we are looking for a christening date we need to allow for the fact that he may have slipped through the cracks and was christened as a young adult, or was a precocious young man who married a tad early. Consequently we will widen the search beginning in 1790 and continuing to the actual marriage date in 1821.

I find this the hardest procedure to follow because there is a tendency to think that when we have found someone in the record being searched that fits our need, that we cry "Eureka!" and stop looking. Over the years I have found it best to continue plowing through the record, extracting and rounding up all the likely suspects. There can be some real surprises. While researching a family in Warwickshire last year I found a christening in a Church of England parish register that fit perfectly the profile I was looking for. However, further down the page, about 13 months later, I found another one. Now I had two James Atkins with the same parents, that fit in the same time frame I was looking for. I continued on. Another possible James Atkins appeared a few years later. He too fit the profile. I added him to the list of suspects. I now had three.

5. Burial records must be searched to determine whether any person found in a birth or christening entry had died as an infant or child. Search all local and neighboring parish burial records of all churches.

This is what someone once referred to as "killing off the impostors". I now had three James Atkins in the parish my James was supposed to be in. A search of the burial records of the parish church eliminated the first James I found. A search for burials in the nearest non-conformist church registers, as well as the registers of the contiguous parishes would be the next step here. In the present problem I had reduced the suspects to 2 possible entries. I had a favourite, but could not eliminate the other so far.

6. Searches should be made for alternative births or christenings in the records of all adjoining or surrounding parishes within a five mile radius for a period of five years before the calculated birth year to the year of marriage looking for others of the same name and birthplace who might be confused with the likely candidate.

I have found that the careful use of maps is most productive in solving these sorts of problems. I have a small collection of Ordnance Survey maps for the county of Kent where most of my research is done, but even the small scale maps in The Phillimore Atlas and Index to Parish Registers3 can be used. Simply copy the relevant county map, and using a compass (do you remember those from your ninth grade geometry class?) measure off 5 miles. Then find the parish where you expected to find your ancestor, and scribe a 5 mile radius circle using that parish as the centre. When you do this with the parish boundary maps you can quickly see the parishes you should be searching. Map study may reveal natural constrictions to, or channels of movement like wide rivers, or mountains which may modify this strategy.

Ancestral connections to military installations may require an extension to the five mile radius. I have found that Kitzmiller's book, In Search of the Forlorn Hope4, to be a useful place to start to identify military camps in England.

Parishes or towns associated with a particular occupation should be included in a search if the occupation is known. A mine worker will most likely move to a place where there are mines; a stone mason to where there are construction projects. One genealogist couldn't find his stone mason in Devon, but learned from his research of other masons in Devonshire working in the Channel Islands, and searching there found his ancestor at a port town where a harbour was being built.

7. In large, heavily populated industrialized parishes, check all the churches in the parish, not just the main parish church, and check the adjoining parishes.

In a search for members of the Hambrook family who moved from east Kent to Middlesex, I searched the records of the main parish church in Islington, but without success. Another genealogist found the family by searching through the all the daughter churches in the rapidly urbanized parish. I felt rather foolish. The challenge in larger urban areas where there are numerous churches is to figure out the most logical places to search first. Here again map work helps. Careful use of city directories can also be most helpful. I have found the best listing of British directories is Shaw and Tipper's British Directories5.

8. The economic conditions of the time and place should be considered. The collapse of older factories, mines, mills, local agriculture etc. may cause out migration. A booming economy in a neighbouring centre may do the same.

I am presently in a rather frustrating search for a Henry Augustus Thompson, a house painter who, though born in Bilton in Warwickshire, was attracted to neighbouring Rugby, then nearby villages, then to Birmingham in search of larger markets for his "have paint, will smear" business. His children were born along the way and may even have been born in an adjoining county. The need to expand the search horizon is there in most research puzzles, but the impact of mobility in the latter half of the 19th century is a real challenge.

9. Check the marriage registers of the candidate's stated place of birth to see if a person of that name might be "married off' to someone other than the known spouse. This check should extend from 15 years after the birth or christening to 40 years after.

In the problem of the two James Atkins mentioned earlier, I found that a review of the parish registers in the region revealed several marriages that might account for one of the two men. This search coupled with a search for the christenings of the wives in the parishes assisted in eliminating one of the James. As Sherlock Holmes put it, after you eliminate the impossible, what is left, no matter how improbable is the truth.

10. In the case of a male ancestor, careful watch should be kept for the possibility of a person with the same name and surname having children born or christened in the same or adjoining parishes. These conflicting possibilities need to be resolved.

Over the past 20 years of doing research I have run into this problem many times. The problem can be complicated when the spouses name is unknown or very common. In the very early 17th century I was searching for a Richard the son of Richard Hambrook and found three possible suspects in the 5 mile radius. Two were married to Elizabeths! All three families were gathered from the various records, and marriage records, christening, burials, tax rolls and probate records were examined. Eventually we sorted through and accounted for all, creating three family groups, establishing relationships between numerous people and discovering two of the elder Richards were cousins, and the other with an as yet unknown relationship. The puzzle took years, and many wills and probate records sorted out but we are more confident ours was the Richard the son of Richard and Margaret.

11. No matter what religious denomination of your ancestor, check the records of all churches in the area: E.G. Church of England, Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, Roman Catholic. Be aware that the areas served by nonconformist chapels and Quaker meeting houses were larger than the traditional Church of England parishes.

As you read this remember my proposed pedigree that was devastated by the discovery of the eleven year old Richard Hambrook who was buried in the Methodist Church yard, thus preventing him from becoming the father of a large family of grocers!

12. When Bishops Transcripts are searched, missing and illegible entries need to be searched in the Parish Registers.

In my most recent researches I have been even more conservative in my faith in parish registers and bishop's transcripts. I read both in their entirety. I have found that in some cases the Bishops transcript is the original, and the parish register, the copy, the reverse of what one would expect. There may be errors and omissions in each.

13. When a search for a birth or christening record fails, consider the possibility that the child was born out of wedlock and took his mother's surname, most likely totally unknown to you. Such a situation calls for listing all entries with the same given name, then matching these names against marriage and death or burial records to determine who might fit.

There was a certain James Hambrook who owned an inn during the mid 19th century in one of the parishes along the Thames estuary. After his own wife had passed on, and his children grown and moved, James seduced the barmaid (or at least I suspect he did). Miss Moore came to live with him and bore him children. The children are listed in the 1851 census as Hambrooks, along with James and his common-law wife. Based on the ages of the children in 1851 a search was made in the parish registers and the Bishop's transcripts without success. Next a search was made of the index to civil registrations for these children under the surname Hambrook. The search was again unsuccessful. At this point in the search someone started to use their head and went looking for the marriage of Miss Moore to James Hambrook and when one was not found, the search began again assuming the children were christened or registered under the surname Moore. In the civil registration of that particular corner of Kent we found the children, most with the second given name of Hambrook, and the surname of Moore. Some of the children married as Moores, some as Hambrooks and one as a Hambrook-Moore. All credit for the discovery and the sound reasoning behind it go to my research colleague. I was the learner.

14. Although naming customs among the English are generally undetectable, odd given names may be clues. One needs to become familiar with the range of names commonly found in a county or area before you can determine whether a name is uncommon enough to be a significant clue. Occasionally surnames appear as given names, and this may help identify parents or grandparents.

Among my Hambrook ancestors and the vast local cousinage of Hambrooks that populate eastern Kent county in England names like Richard, James, John, Elizabeth, and Mary abound. However, from time to time I have found the truly odd name, Oddin Hambrook of Dover, Kent was one such oddly named ancestor. A group of us were collaborating on gathering all 19th century Hambrooks and sorting them into families, a real challenge. Oddin, however, despite three or four marriages, numerous moves, and changes in religious faith, social status etc., was relatively easy to find - at least until he named a son Oddin!

15. When other conflicting birth or christening records are found in other records in the prescribed area, one needs to follow these individuals forward in time through marriage and burial records to eliminate possibilities. Probate records are also useful: check for wills of all fathers of these individuals. If the conflicting individual is found outside the parish of your first candidate, then the searches for marriage and burial information must be made within a five mile radius of the new parish.

Many readers will be horrified at the amount of work that is suggested by these procedures and especially this last one. There is indeed a lot of work involved. I am reminded of an account of the work of a well known professional genealogist, now 1ong deceased, who when he ran out of the easily located records, made up the "facts" necessary to complete his project. His clients would find everything in order until they reviewed the critical link, and their they would not find the record. Many of his fraudulent pedigrees were only discovered years later. Some are still surviving. If your ancestral research is worth doing, its worth doing right.

Concerning probate records, it has been my experience that if a family has resided in an area for some time, it is fruitful to gather not just the wills of all fathers of the suspects you have rounded up, but all those in that part of the county with the same surname, or if the name is an uncommon one, all wills and inventories, etc. in the county or adjoining counties.

There were two Richard Hambrooks with wives named Elizabeth who lived in adjoining parishes, each having a son called Richard. (Readers will have noted that Hambrooks had very imaginative naming patterns). And these sons were born within a year of each other. The problem was finding which was the Richard who married my known ancestor. We knew that our Richard the younger was residing in a particular parish several miles away. In the census was a clue to his birthplace. We extracted all Hambrook baptism, marriage and burial records from the contiguous parishes to those the senior Richards lived in, and established burial dates. All the wills for Richard Hambrooks probated around the times of the burials were examined. Only one of the two suspect senior Richards had a will. His Richard junior was mentioned as residing in another location than our Richard junior was known to reside in at the time. The evidence was not conclusive, but sufficient enough that we felt comfortable declaring for one and not the other christening and parentage.

I have found from my experience messing up on my own research that there is a real value in extracting all instances of the surname you are searching for in the records you search, particularly if the name is not common. For example, when researching members of the Atkins family in Newbold on Avon, Warwickshire, I would extract all the Atkins from the beginning of the register to the end, not just those in the decade of the event of the sought after ancestor. Similarly, when examining the census, I would extract all Atkins in surrounding parishes on the same reel of microfilm as the census for Newbold. Many times this has made it possible when I find the missing link in the immediate puzzle, to push back one or two or three generations without returning to the same microfilmed record later. For a detailed discussion to this approach researchers should seek out another older book, Family History for Fun and profit6.

Endnotes

1Gardner, David E. and Frank Smith. Genealogical Research in England and Wales. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1958 - 1966 (Revised edition). A three-volume classic in English genealogy. Volume 3 is particularly useful for this subject. 2Kenneth G. Aitken. "Evaluating genealogical evidence", Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Bulletin, Vol. 30, No. I (March 1999) pp. 3-11

3Cecil Humphrey-Smith (ed.) The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers. Chichester, West Sussex: Phillimore & Co., 1995

4John M. Kitzmiller. In Search of the Forlorn Hope: A Comprehensive Guide to Locating British Regiments and their Records 1640-W.W.I. Salt Lake City: Manuscript Publishing Foundation, 1988

5Gareth Shaw and Allison Tipper. British Directories: A Bibliography and Guide to Directories Published in England and Wales 1850-1950 , Scotland 1773- 1950. London: Mansell Publishing, 1997

6Vincent L. Jones, Arlene H. Eakle and Mildred H. Christensen. Family History for Fun and Profit. The Salt Lake City: Publishers Press for Genealogical Institute, 1972. This book outlines a jurisdictional approach to family history research, and was an important influence in my work..

Copyright September 1999 by Kenneth G. Aitken, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Okanagan Researcher: Claires British Studies Tour

2008-01-01T10:42:00.000-08:00

Okanagan Researcher, Vol. 16 (2), December 1999

Claire's British Studies Tour,

to England, July 1 to 23, 1999

Claire Smith-Burns

BIGHR Tours, Samford University:

My British Genealogical Tour was organized by Samford University's British Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (BIGHR) in Birmingham, AL. It is open to anyone with serious genealogical interests; the Institute also offers genealogical credit courses throughout the year. The seventeen participants on my tour were from Vermont, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Washington, Georgia and BC (three). Various options are usually offered on this annual trip. The tour focuses on different regions of Britain each summer: i.e. Summer 1999 was the English West Country counties; Summer 2000 will be Ireland; Summer 2001 will be Scotland. For more information check the BIGHR Website: www.samford.edu/schools/ighr/ighr.html , or contact Jean Thomason, Director, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Samford University Library, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL USA 35229. Prices for my tour varied from $2250 to $3300 USD; I received a reduction of $700 USD as I made my own air travel arrangements. The Summer 2000 Irish trip ranges from $1500 to $3600 USD.

The tour is based in London and stays at Daniel House in Kensington. Daniel House is owned by Samford University. It is six stories high (counting the basement) and is divided up into small, Spartan, dormitory-style rooms - some single, some double (bunks), some quadruple, all with cupboards, drawers, a desk and sink. Each floor shares one toilet and shower. I was on the fifth floor and there were 80 stairs from my room to the Breakfast Room. Fitness is desirable, if not required! There are several public sitting areas, a public phone, laundry facilities, a study/lecture hall, several computers, TV Room, Kitchen, Breakfast Room, and public refrigerator. A buffet breakfast is provided and one is welcome to prepare simple meals.

Daniel House is well situated. There are a number of hotels, restaurants, grocery stores and deli's very near by. It is two short blocks from the Gloucester Road subway station and bus stops. Kensington Palace and Gardens, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Museum of Natural Sciences are all within walking distance. The London branch of the LDS Family History Centre is nearby and the beautiful Kensington Library which is the repository for the London library system's genealogy collection is a short bus ride away. The BIGHR tour included a London transit pass valid for tube and bus travel within Zone 1 and a first-class BritRail Pass. So getting around couldn't be easier.

There is a Research Leader (Sherry Irvine was ours; David Rencher will lead the 2000 tour) and a Director on the tour (Jean Thomason, Director of the Samford University Library always manages the tours). Jean is a wonderful person who quietly trouble-shoots any problems and ensures that each participant gets the most out of their BIGHR experience. I just loved her "Southern" mannerisms: it was easy to get used to being addressed as "Miss Claire." As well, there were several members of the tour who are veterans of this program and they were also full of tips and advice. Most of the tour members were fairly advanced genealogists so it was a great opportunity to learn - a kind of "genealogical immersion!"

Although there were several "free" days, in actuality every minute is organized to make the most of every opportunity. Sherry Irvine is extremely well organized and an expert on London (having grown up there). She herded us around with great efficiency. Of course, you are always free not to go with the group. The BIGHR tour is well established and respected and we received special handling at every research repository. Our research leader was always available for on-site help and one-to-one guidance. She provided a series of lectures in the evenings and even brought in a director from the Corporation of London Archives one evening for a fascinating talk on the "Freedom of London." In addition, many guided side-trips were squeezed in, such as a visit to one of the largest map-stores in the world, antiquarian bookstore browsing (Sherry knew where all the good bookstores were), cathedral tours, a short visit to the National Gallery, tour of the Museum of London, trip to Needham Market to attend a Genealogy Fair, etc. Time was truly at a premium but with good planning tour members also took in concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, musicals, cathedral services, museum tours, bus tours, Thames cruises and train trips all over the countryside. As the tour offers several options, it is possible to customize your trip to suit your requirements.

The basic tour included your room and breakfast at Daniel House for the duration of the trip. There was an option to travel with the research leader and director to Exeter for the middle week, where the group stayed in student residences at the University of Exeter (these were quite luxurious) and visited various repositories in and near Exeter. I opted to meet the group in Exeter for two days but to then travel with a distant cousin up to York and several points in between. Jean Thomason graciously accommodated my special request and worked out a price for me.

For months before the tour, I received by email and post, detailed information about the tour, preparatory information from Sherry Irvine along with websites to check out and email addresses for the other participants so that we could be in touch and chat about issues like currency and clothing.

Repositories Visited in London:

London LDS Family History Centre: This is a long but easy walk from Daniel House (20 min.); we received a brief tour from the Director of the Centre. The London FHC has a good collection of films regarding London in their permanent collection. They also have on microfiche the complete indexes for the English Births, Deaths and Marriages since 1838.

Society of Genealogists: There is a fee for non-members to use this facility - one visit was paid for through our tour. We were met by one of the head librarians and given a lecture and tour of the facility then were free to use it until closing. This is an extremely cramped but comprehensive repository. It has several unique collections like the Bernau Index of PRO Court documents, Boyd's "Inhabitants of London," Rogers Collection on Cornwall, Snell Collection on Berkshire, Campling Collection on Norfolk, Macleod Collection on Scottish families, Surname Document Collection, Dwelly Index of West Country material, Whitehead Index of East Anglian references, Fawcett Index of Clergy and North Country families, etc. Housed on several stories, the collection is roughly broken into three categories: Place, Surname and Subject (i.e. Heraldry, Religion, Armed Forces, Schools and Universities). Although the collection mainly focuses on English research, they also have a good collection of Scottish and Irish records and a representative collection on the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The ground floor houses several card indexes, the microfilm and microfiche collection, and the wonderful bookshop. Membership is fairly steep but it includes their quarterly periodical and free use of the library so if you're planning a trip to London, it may be worthwhile. The facility is mainly staffed by volunteers so quality of help varies. I visited the SOG twice while in London. They have a useful website detailing their collection and publications: www.sog.org.uk/.

Family Records Centre: Not to be confused with the LDS FHC. This new government facility houses the part of the Public Records Office that was formerly at Chancery Lane, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and a very good genealogical bookshop. Admission is free but security is very strict. We were given a lecture and tour but had the unfortunate luck to arrive on a hot, sticky day when the air conditioning had broken down. The staff were in a panic and several had fainted and were going home as the building was stifling. Needless to say, these conditions did not deter the hoards of visitors (genealogists are a very tough bunch); if they had dared announce that they were closing the facility, they would have had a riot on their hands!

At the ONS on the main floor, one can use the giant index volumes on open shelves to look up births, deaths and marriages since 1838. Once found, a form is filled in and you can order the records at the bank of cashier wickets. The cost of �6 per certificate includes postage to Canada (or you can pick up the record in about a week). The ONS website is: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/registration/default.asp. Downstairs is a large locker room, washrooms, vending machines with sandwiches, etc. and a large lunchroom. On the second floor are housed all the English census films and related indexes; indexes to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and microfilms of the original wills, inventories, administrations and probate; the PRO collection of Nonconformist Registers; rows of microfilm and fiche readers, photocopiers and helpful FRC staff. I visited this repository twice while in London. More information, including research leaflets, can be had through their website: http://www.pro.gov.uk/.

Kensington Library: Besides being the designated genealogical library for the Greater London system, the Kensington Library is the custodian of an excellent local history collection for Kensington and Chelsea. We had a most informative talk by the two local history librarians and access to the local history and genealogy computer database. Useful materials include: the British Biographical Database on microfiche, the British Record Indexing Society volumes indexing English wills, Harleian Society publications, Victoria County Histories, Illustrated London News, Index to the Gentleman's Quarterly, etc. It is free to use the library but the Local Studies and Genealogy section has limited opening hours (a great amount of material is stored in the basement or locked cabinets, rather than on open shelves).

Guildhall Library: As its name implies, this library is the repository for all records to do with London Guilds but there is also much more. We received an informative but lengthy lecture and tour by the Chief Librarian. The Guildhall Library Manuscript Section is also the repository for records relating to the City of London (Corporation of London records are held in the Corporation of London Record Office [CLRO], located next door) including parish registers, tax, probate and court records. Records go back to the 11th Century. It also has a huge library collection representing Greater London and other counties of England, including directories from 1677, poll registers, indexes to various newspapers, etc. It holds all the publications for all the English record and historical societies! The IGI, 1881 Census Index and the CD-ROM index to the Times of London are also available. The Prints and Maps Section has prints, drawings, photographs, maps and ephemera relating to London. Some of this collection is available on-line through the Collage website: http://collage.nhil.com/. The library materials are on a computer catalogue. The manuscript collection is mainly catalogued through a card index. This is a fairly new facility located next to the old London Guildhall. There is an excellent bookshop at the Guildhall Library. For more information, check their website:
http://ihr.sas.ac.uk/gh/.

Public Record Office, Kew: Here is a vast treasure-house of information. The Public Record Office (PRO) Kew is located outside of London in Richmond (towards Heathrow Airport). It is an impressive building surrounded by a huge pond and gardens and is close to the famous Kew Gardens. Again, security is very tight. Always be sure to bring your Passport and the full address and telephone number of your residence in London with you to all repositories as you may need this information to obtain a reader's pass. Purses, backpacks, fanny packs, binders and books must all be stored in lockers. We had an informative lecture and tour at the PRO Kew and the staff were very helpful. Documents here are records of central government - i.e. Army and Navy, Colonial Office, Exchequer (taxes of various sorts), Civil Courts, Criminal Courts, etc.
There are several research areas: the Reference Room with shelves of finding aids, Calendars describing the collections, research leaflets, and several computer catalogues; the main Reading Room where you order your documents and are given a pager that indicates your assigned reading table and when your document is ready for pick-up. For large documents and maps, you are usually directed to the Large Document Reading Room that also houses British Military Records. There is a good computer database to Soldier's Discharge Papers, 1760-1854 in this room. There is also a large library of periodicals and other materials of use to British historical researchers (the book I requested could not be located!!). On the main floor are the lockers, a large bookshop of genealogical and historical materials, washrooms and a cafeteria-style lunchroom. The PRO Kew catalogues (Calendars) are now accessible on-line: www.pro.gov.uk - click on the "Search" icon to get to the catalogues.

Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (HMC): Located in Quality Court near the old Public Records Office at Chancery Court, this facility holds the key that may unlock important family information for you. They are the keepers of: the National Register of Archives (NRA), UK Archival Gateway (ARCHON) and the Manorial Documents Register (MDR). We were given a very informative lecture by a young archivist. In this little facility is amassed finding aids on archival collections for most repositories in the United Kingdom. A computer database, which is also accessible on-line, helps you discover materials which may be of interest to you. From there, an NRA number indicates the finding aid volume in the Reading Room which details that particular collection. This organization also keeps the register for Manorial Documents, many of which are in private hands. The Manorial Documents catalogues for Wales, all three Yorkshire ridings, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are now on-line but it may be years before the entire catalogue of manorial documents is posted. ARCHON is an informative on-line service that lists details on archives throughout the UK and other useful data. The HMC has a small number of publications for sale. To access the various databases, go to the HMC website at: www.hmc.gov.uk/main.htm.

House of Lords Library: Needless to say, security was tight for this library which is located in one of the towers of the famous Parliament Buildings. We listened to a short lecture in the top of the tower while sitting around a table full of ancient documents and scrolls. The place was like a maze and had what must be the world's smallest public elevator ("Max. 8 persons" said the sign but we were squashed with only three). Here, one finds parliamentary records and documents like the Protestation Returns, Enclosure of Common Lands and many records relating to Estates. Several of our group stayed on to do research. Visit their website at: http://www.parliament.uk/.

British Library Newspaper Library: Located in St. Pancras, on the out-skirts of London, this was probably the most interesting lecture and tour we received. It was fascinating to be taken through the "back-rooms" of this facility to see the newspapers being preserved, microfilmed, bound and stored. We were even allowed to "run loose" in the stacks and pull volumes for a few minutes. The BL Newspaper collection includes newspapers, journals and periodicals from all parts of Britain and on all topics - just think of some obscure interest and there is sure to be a journal devoted to it! The Library also collects newspapers from all over the world, and is especially strong on the Commonwealth countries. The downside is that it is not particularly user-friendly. Our group all requested material but only two of us received our documents after waiting almost two hours and reading space is limited. There is a card catalogue and some finding aids in bound volumes. There is also a library of relevant material and some newspaper indexes on open shelves. Much of the collection has not been microfilmed so the researcher is often reading through original newspapers which is a great nostalgic treat.

British Library (BL): This famous repository was a bit of a disappointment. The building is new and quite striking, especially as it stands in front of an ornate Victorian building - the contrast is astounding. Inside are a lovely book and gift shop, thematic displays, artwork and several public facilities. Unfortunately, the library was not prepared for our group's arrival (someone on their staff had got the date wrong) and we therefore could not gain admittance to the Reading Room (there was quite a long line up for admission with only so many allowed in at a time). The British Library actually discourages public use and is known as a library of "last resort." As well as Library materials, the BL houses the former British Museum manuscript collection - I had wanted to see my seventh Great-grandfather's letters and notes but this was not to be. The BL catalogues and other interesting information are on-line at: http://portico.bl.uk/.

Repositories Visited Outside of London:

Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies, Canterbury: I opted out of this day-trip but those who went greatly enjoyed themselves, including the lovely lunch hosted by the Institute. Also in Canterbury are the Cathedral Archives and the Huguenot Archives.

Dorset County Record Office, Dorchester: I visited this RO on a Saturday morning. I made my microfilm reader reservation over the Internet and was able to cover a lot of territory during the three hours the repository was open on Saturdays. The staff was fairly helpful and I was thrilled to hold original Churchwarden Account Books in my hands. The catalogue is all on cards with several bound Finding Aids to the Dorset Parishes. With some help from the archivist, I was able to find my way around without any problems. In the Reading Room are printed volumes of Parish Registers, Bishop's Transcripts and other related materials on open shelves. There are also Surname Files maintained which could prove very useful (I didn't get lucky, of course). All archives require you to use good archival etiquette when handling original documents so be sure to apprise yourself of the rules. I had some photocopying done and these documents were promptly mailed to me in Canada with an invoice.

West Country Studies Library, Exeter: I visited this library with the Exeter contingent of the BIGHR tour. We received an informative, if harried, lecture and were set loose to research. Much of the collection is on a computer database designed by the Chief Librarian. The Burnet Morris Index is a unique slip-index to Devon references - the handwritten paper slips are often illegible and Heaven help you if you drop a drawer and get them all mixed up!! The Devon and Cornwall Record Society (DCRS) has a reading room here but you must buy a membership in order to consult their publications (you can use the printed volumes free at the Guildhall Library) and manuscript indexes; the West Country Studies Library computer database includes the DCRS materials.

Devon County Record Office, Exeter: This RO is housed in the same building as the West Country Studies Library. It is a fairly cramped facility with card catalogues to the various manuscript collections and a crowded microfiche reading room (most of the parish registers are on fiche). The parish register fiche collection is self-serve which speeds up the process somewhat. The staff here were not particularly helpful but they did have a fair crowd to deal with. There are a few publications for sale.

Northamptonshire County Record Office, Northampton: This facility is located on the outskirts of Northampton and proved a little hard to find on the first visit. The collection is excellent but it is accessed only through card indexes and some bound Finding Aids - no computerization here! Over the years, zealous archivists have created many types of indexes to Marriage Licenses, Poor Law Records, Wills and Administrations, Surnames, Town Records, Places, etc. These indexes are stuffed onto every available shelf space, some in flimsy cardboard drawers and piled on top of each other. There are microfilm and fiche readers available and Parish Registers have all been microfiched. The Parish Register fiche sets are available for purchase. Manuscript documents are ordered in the Reading Room (not between 12 and 2, of course, while the staff stops for lunch!!). This is a spacious room with large tables; the walls house the library collection of published materials on the county and printed parish register indexes, transcripts and Bishop's Transcripts in bound volumes. I did find that the handling of precious ancient materials (I handled huge land deeds on velum complete with seals dangling from the 16th Century, bound volumes of town records on parchment from the 16th Century and folded, grubby settlement certificates from the 18th Century) was very casual - no cotton gloves, weights or foam props were issued. In contrast, photocopying is regarded as blasphemous - the only alternatives are to copy things out laboriously by hand or to hire a photographer at great cost.

I visited this facility twice, I had requested a collection before my first visit and it was waiting for me upon my arrival. Another collection I requested could not be found and it was thought to be part of a large load of materials being worked on by their Chief Archivist. When she died several years ago, the material was all boxed up and has been sitting in a warehouse since! I had ordered a huge amount of photocopying on my first visit that was to be mailed to me with an invoice. My second visit was spontaneous but upon my arrival, the archivist asked if I was the same Claire Smith-Burns who had placed a photocopy order, if so, they had my documents ready. So I was able to pay for them and take them with me which made for great reading on the plane trip home. There is a small sitting room where one can consume food and beverages and a beverage vending machine. It would be wise to bring food with you as there are no restaurants or stores close by.

General Hints and Tips:

Travel as light as possible - this makes travelling by Tube and Train easier.

Wear comfortable, practical clothes and bring two pairs of good walking shoes - I never did so much walking on a daily basis in my life!
You do not need dressy clothes - EVERYTHING is casual. Layered clothing can take you through all types of weather and temperatures.
I was warned that Traveler's Cheques are not always accepted so I went with only some cash and my Visa (best rate of exchange). I used my Visa for cash advances.
I brought a small backpack with me that accommodated my camera, notebooks, pencils, cardigan, had room for small purchases, bag lunch, etc. Most people had carry bags but I enjoyed being "hands free."
I kept my money and valuable documents in a small pocketbook that I wore slung around my neck - it really was ideal; I brought a money belt but never used it.
Buy stamps at a post office as booklets at grocery stores usually do not come in the correct denominations and the clerks have no idea how much it costs to mail a postcard to Canada.
It is easy and relatively cheap to pick up a variety of meals to go at most grocery stores; try to keep some food with you as it may come in handy.
Buy a small London A-Z book as soon as you arrive in England or before (Chapters does not carry them but several versions are available in London); this book is indispensable for maps, Tube Stations, Bus Routes, etc.
Buy all your film in Canada before you leave - film in England is very expensive; it's better to take too many photos than not enough!
Be very careful crossing streets - we tend to look the wrong way! Most London crosswalks have "Look Right" written on the pavement!
It is not a good idea to rent a car, especially in the cities - the rules of the road are quite different, round-abouts are everywhere and, of course, they drive on the wrong side! Good public transit exists to almost everyplace.
England comes to a grinding halt on Sundays, especially outside of London; be prepared as it can be difficult to obtain food (I had to go without lunch AND dinner one Sunday!!) and transportation.
Try to make arrangements ahead of time if travelling to one of your ancestor's churches; most are locked and it may be difficult to find someone who can let you in; Sundays are best; historically important churches in larger towns are generally open for at least part of most days.
Be security conscious: never leave windows open (not even a crack) in hotels and always lock your door; never leave valuables where they can be seen through a hotel-room window; never keep valuables in back pockets or jacket pockets - secure them close to your body where you can see them; leave valuable jewelry at home; be extremely careful at night and in crowded places.
Displaying a Canadian flag (on your backpack or as a lapel pin) can be beneficial - most Brit's consider our accent to be American and they generally aren't particularly fond of Americans.
British rail timetables are available through the Internet (be aware that there are many different companies operating British rail lines): www.rail.co.uk/ukrail/planner/planner.htm. Virgin Trains are great - try to take them whenever possible.

Research Hints and Tips:

Although I brought binders of information with me, I only took a coil-bound notebook with thick cardboard covers (to give support when writing in unaccommodating circumstances) and a few relevant notes into research repositories - most archives limit severely what you can bring in with you but provide lockers to store your excess.
Bring lots of pencils as most repositories only allow pencils - many do not allow erasers.
Laptop computers are okay in most facilities but they can be stolen and you must get special plugs, etc.; also they are heavy to carry around.
Keep a stash of 20p and �1 coins for lockers
Take a good current map of the country plus maps of your research areas showing parishes, towns, etc.
Don't try to do too much when you are there - pick two family lines (a main one and an alternate) and focus your research on those.
When possible, try to order manuscript collections ahead of your visit; this can save you valuable time.
Don't waste your time looking at records which are easily available here (i.e. most Parish Registers and Census records are available through the LDS); do your homework before coming to England).
Some records I found to be very useful were:

Poor Law Records and Churchwardens Accounts; most of these have not been filmed but many are on manuscript indexes at local Record Offices.
Wills, Administrations and Inventories: I only looked at pre-1858 records (the system was changed after this date) for the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Consistory Courts and Archdeaconry Courts for counties relevant to my research; many will abstracts and indexes have been compiled by the British Record Indexing Society (these volumes are available at some Canadian libraries) and by the local County Record Offices.

Okanagan Researcher: A Treasure from the Past

2008-01-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

Okanagan Researcher, Vol. 16 (3), March 2000 A Treasure From the Past

Maggie Nuyten

An old manuscript book containing recipes and remedies was given to me by my father before he died. This book was passed to him from his Aunt Cissie to be kept for me. The oral tradition was that the book had been passed from mother to daughter or closest female relative since it had been started many years before. The books "back" was not broken although it's cover was in a sad state and was only attached by a few threads. The pages inside seemed to be in reasonably good shape apart from a few at the beginning which had the edges torn.

It was 1991 before I would have the time to do more than take it out of the brown paper bag it had been stored in. My only idea, at that time, was to put the book into a safe situation and condition, one that would make it possible for me to be able to pass the book on to one of my daughters in due course. The British Columbia Museum in Victoria helped me to find an antique book restorer who removed all the pages so that I could have copies made. Some of the original pages were too fragile to work with on a regular basis. After studying the writing, using the copies, I realised that the book had been muddled up; some of the oldest writing was NOT in order. Years later, after many tries I was able to rearrange the pages as they had been when the book was started. This was only possible with a lot of patience, time and the help of a grapho analyst, the watermarks inside the paper and a correct series of page numbers. The page numbers had been altered a few times by possibly three different people in the early 1800s; the earlier writers had originally composed and followed a well organised plan only to have it rearranged by their descendants. It was a great breakthrough and Mr. Asfhar was able then to rebind the book and make a special air-tight case for it. Everyone who had helped me with the sorting and preservation advised me to publish it, the University and Museum people all told me that they had not seen a recipe book which covered such a long period of time in one family. It is interesting from the point of view of historians, genealogists, grapho-analysts, women's studies, pharmacists, cooks, linguists and others.

Now came the genealogy work to find the writers' names and relationships. I knew NOTHING about beginning this task. The Genealogy Club in Kelowna showed me the basics and the LDS History Library was absolutely essential and tremendously helpful for my tracking down Aunt Cissie and her whole family. I did have some family oral records but most of the written ones are now not accessible because they are in the possession of a cousin who does not answer my requests for help. Aunt Cissie did not have any children, neither did any of her nieces so she chose the eldest great-niece (me), to inherit the book. It appears that her Aunt Jane gave her the book because she also did not have any children. Neither of Jane's sisters married so I presume that the book was passed to her in the hope that she would have a daughter. Alternately I need to trace her husband's family because it is possible that Jane received the book from her mother-in-law. Although I had heard parts of this story before I felt I had to prove the dates and certification before I could publish. I now know the dates of deaths, marriages, baptisms, names and addresses of the people who wrote in the book, back to about 1796. There I am stuck, stuck along with a few other genealogists researching the same family.

There is much oral history but none of it checks out, even Harry Susans has not been able to help. Maybe the family just dropped out of space!!!!!! Many of you know the feeling I am sure. This puzzle is not something I will just leave although I am now in the last stages of publishing the book. If and when I manage to trace the last three or four people (fortunately one person wrote recipes and remedies over a period of about seventy years according to the grapho-analyst), I will add the information so that my children have a complete history of the book back to 1650 when the first page was written. I plan to write my recipes and remedies in a second book which Mr. Asfhar has made from all the extra unused pages, watermarked 1827, they are stronger and whiter than any paper I have seen in books published 40 years ago.

Tracing these family ancestors has entailed writing many letters and e-mails to various parts of England, Australia, Europe etc. I have been amazed at how helpful people have been: for example the Brighton Museum in Sussex was able to identify a whole page of titles of dance music, which I had thought to be Public House names, from 1827. This turned out to be a great clue, which I am still following. The archivists of many counties helped a lot. Harry Susans, a genealogist, in London, England, found wills and death certificates for me. On a trip to England the people at the records offices, Guildhall, Museums, the British Museum, London University, the Welcom Institute, Arundel Castle etc. etc. were helpful and interested. The LDS library of fiches and films provided another great wealth of information and I appreciated the people who helped me with learning to use them. I learned that one has to follow any clue, even if it seems absurd at the time, often it proves to be the final piece of a particular puzzle. Also it was so easy to get off-track and start researching other angles about recipes and/or other parts of the family; for example: I found information and saw examples of the beautiful paintings done by one ancestor which now are stored at the Tate Gallery in London and it was hard not to be fascinated by the various herb concoctions and their possible modern usage.

This searching for my ancestors is continuing for me especially around the recipe book. I find the remedies and food ideas are fascinating and I would like to have the time to try some of them. A Pharmacist told me that we still use many of the herbs etc. but often under different names or put together under a brand name and patent. Somehow though the ones using opium, musk and truffles may be a little hard to duplicate and would be awfully expensive.

Okanagan Researcher: Some Central Okanagan Marriages

2008-01-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

Okanagan Researcher, Vol. 17 (1), October 2000

Some Central Okanagan Marriages

Submitted by Robert M. Hayes

The following marriages (1888 to 1909) are recorded in the Vital Statistics of the Province of British Columbia. These records are now readily available on the Internet (BC Archives). The "B" number listed refers to the microfilm on which the entry is recorded, and the other entry indicates the book and item number on that film. These films are available in a number of libraries, including the Kelowna Regional Library.

Names	Marriage Date & Location	Film & Registration Number
Louis Morand and Salomee Quesnel	April 3, 1888; Okanagan Mission	B11387. 167676
Charlie Small and Mary Favell	Nov. 22, 1896; Kelowna	B11387. 167900
John Haynes and Christina Moore	April 23, 1894; Okanagan Mission	B13767. 413010
Henry R. Burtch and Gertrude E. Hayward	October 2, 1900; Kelowna	B I 1386. 166228
Francis Joseph McIntee and Villerie Caron	Jan. 10, 1900; Okanagan Mission	B11382. 117647
Harold C. Stillingfleet and Frances Maud Lambly	Sept. 12, 1901; Kelowna	B11387. 167907
William H. Spencer and Maggie May McKinley	April 23,1902; Kelowna	B11387. 167910
Francis Edwin Small and Gertrude Mary Budden	Nov. 6, 1902; Kelowna	B11387. 167912
William Cecil McKechnie and Zella Baright Robinson	July 30,1902, Peachland	B11387. 167751
William Samuel Munsen (Munson) and Clara Elizabeth Clarke	October 14, 1903; Kelowna	B11387. 167693
Charles Warner Mohr and Minnie McQueen	November 25, 1903; Kelowna	B11387. 167694
Odile Fasciaux and Madeleine Gruyelle	Feb. 24, 1903; Okanagan Mission	B11386. 166446
Hamilton Lang and Gertrude Lena Pope	June 17, 1903; Peachland	Bl1387. 167645
John Henry Bessette and Hattie Ella Rice	Oct. 20, 1904; Black Mountain	not filmed. 900435
George Samuel Brown and Mary Ellen Lefevre	Nov. 3,1904; Kelowna	B11386. 166236
Alfred Edwin Lye and Margaret Lilian Etlinger	Sept. 17, 1904; Kelowna	B11387. 167649
Joseph Ferman Bell and Nellie Florence Whelan	Dec. 14,1904; Okanagan Mission	B11386. 166239
Arthur Litton Lucas and Edith Mable Mair	Dec. 6, 1904, Okanagan Mission	B11387. 167650
Thomas Paton Hill and Kate Moore Boyer	October 11, 1905; Benvoulin	B11386. 166549
John Murray Black and Maude Murdoch	November 14, 1905; Kelowna	B11386. 166243
Alan Henry Crichton and Edith Alice B. Lambly	June 13, 1905; Kelowna	B11386. 166325
Ronald Helmer and Edith Lilian Pope	November 15, 1905; Kelowna	B11386. 166554
Palmer Brooks Willits and Ellen Carrie Bailey	May 10, 1905; Kelowna	B11387. 167037
Frederick William A. Wood and Vivien McKie	November 16, 1905; Kelowna	B11387. 167039
William Andrew Pitcairn and Annabella Lyon Buchanan	Nov. 23,1905; Kelowna	B11387. 167824
Arthur Horace Raymer and Edith Muriel Sma11	October 11, 1905; Kelowna	B11387. 167859
Frank Maxwell Stevenson and Chrissie J. MacDonald	Dec. 23, 1905; Kelowna	B11387. 167927
William John Beattie and Martha Elizabeth Fyffe	October 23, 1906; Kelowna	B11386. 166245
Hubert Bertram D. Lysons and Emilia Howard Thomson	June 19, 1906; Kelowna	B11387. 167655
Henry Cecil Mallam and Giffortina M. Thomson	February 6,1906; Kelowna	B11387. 167702
Oswald Allen Pease and Evangeline Agnes Begbie	Aug. 29,1906; Kelowna	B11387. 167825
Charles Martin Renshaw and Carolina Brent	May 16, 1906; Kelowna	B11387. 167860
Hugh Strathnairn Rose and Florence Amelia R. Ablett	Nov. 3, 1906; Kelowna	B11387. 167861
Antonio Casorso and Marguerite MacGarrity	September 5, 1906; Kelowna	B13748. 278404
William Lupton and Mary Helen Baird Aitkens	Nov. 21, 1906; Peachland	B11387. 167656
Robert Walter Carruthers and Raine Claire Talbot	April 9, 1907; Kelowna	B11386. 166331
William Fairall Hopkins and Louisa Miriam A. Budden	Nov. 6,1907; Kelowna	B11386. 166562
Albert Paul 0. Minzlaff and Dorothee M.K. Erbrick (Sneider)	Aug. 26, 1907; Kelowna	B11387. 167708
Burton McLellan and Amanda Davis	December 18, 1907; Kelowna	B11387. 167767
Clarence Roy Trusler and Margaret Matilda Wilson	Nov. 12, 1907; Kelowna	B11387. 167982
George W. Collins and Louisa Richards	December 21, 1908; Kelowna	B11386. 166341
William Alfred Dinnock and Gladys Margaret Jones	Sept. 23, 1908; Kelowna	B11386. 166395
Frank Varney and Mabel W. Goldsmith	November 10, 1908 Kelowna	B11387. 167008
Montague G.E. Woodmass and Katherine Angel Hobson	Sept. 19,1908; Kelowna	B11387. 167049
Thomas Russell Lewers and Mary Louise McCurdy	Nov. 28, 1908; Kelowna	B11387. 167658
Robinson Ridley and Hilda Margaret Heather	September 2, 1908; Kelowna	B11387. 167866
John Downton and Agnes Wanostrocht	November 21, 1908; Kelowna	B13765. 406619
Ralph C.H. Mansfield and Letitia Helen Mousely	Nov. 10, 1908; Kelowna	B13765. 406620
Louis Casorso and Catherine Depao (Depavo)	Aug. 25, 1908; Ok. Mission	B11386. 166339
Elisie Gauvin and Lydia Vigeant	Sept. 28,1908; Ok. Mission	B11386. 166500
Adelard Mallet and Marie Anne Vigeant	Sept. 28,1908; Ok. Mission	B11386. 167713
Jean Thibault and Adelina Vigeant	April 27, 1908; Ok. Mission	B11387. 167986
Frederick Marceleay and Clementine Ortoland	June 28, 1908; Peachland	B11387. 167712
Ernest Freeman Pratt and Rachel Moore	January 15, 1908; Peachland	B11387. 167829
James Brodie and Annie Gold	June 1, 1909, Kelowna	B11384. 143430
Frank George Budden and Lena Ross Brightman	July 7,1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166265
William Henry Botting and Mabel Elizabeth Eyre	Aug. 11, 1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166267
Robert Chambers Bennett and Norah Mary Vernon	Sept. 4, 1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166268
John Brixton and Bertha Redsull	September 24, 1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166270
Richmond Charles Barclay and Emma Maud Collins	Nov. 16, 1909, Kelowna	B11386. 166271
Cecil Henry Bond and Edith Magaret Thompson	Oct. 27,1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166274
Henry Caesar Childero and Sybil Christobel Allen	June 7, 1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166343
Ernest L. Clement and Margaret A. Whelan	December 22, 1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166353
James John Daviss (Davis?) and Annie Nicholl	July 21, 1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166399
M. James Fetherstonaugh and Vera Bertha Verity	Aug. 17, 1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166466
Edgar William Hall and Julia Dusket Hodkinson:	Feb. 27,1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166571
Albert Robert T. Krienke and Elizabeth Weaver	April 21, 1909; Kelowna	B11386. 166620
Harold Hornby Verity and Olive Ethel Allen	February 20, 1909; Kelowna	B11387. 167009
Ernest John Pettigrew and Blanche McGuin	June 12, 1909; Kelowna	B11387. 167832
William George Russell and Katherin Connell Moffatt	August I 8, 1909, Kelowna	B11387. 167873
Arthur Malcolm Skae and Mary Elizabeth Keefe	January 27, 1909; Kelowna	B11387. 167946
Charles Clarke and Agnes Rebecca Treadgold	June 9, 1909; Kelowna	B13765. 406618
Ferdinand Brent and Mathilda Berard	Feb. 22, 1909; Okanagan Mission	B11386. 166261

Okanagan Researcher: 1882 Directory

2008-01-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

Okanagan Researcher, Vol. 17 (2), December 2000 1882 British Columbia Directory

Submitted by Robert M. Hayes

The following is a description of the Mission (Okanagan) Valley and a list of some of its inhabitants, as found in the British Columbia Directory of 1882. Area covered is the length of the Okanagan Valley, from present-day Penticton north to Vernon.

MISSION VALLEY - is reached by a trail from Hope 160 miles, and by wagon road from Kamloops and Spallumcheen, the former 100 miles and the latter 56. The Valley runs north from the Mission 40 miles, and is bounded on the west by Okanagan Lake, and on the east by a range of high hills, a large portion of which is excellent for grazing purposes. Abundance of farming land open for pre-emption. Fruit of all kinds grown in a temperate climate, do well. All varieties of cereal thrive to perfection. Irrigation necessary. One store, 2 blacksmith shops, 4 flour mills, saw mill with planer attached, 1 school, 1 church (Roman Catholic), and post office. Prairie farms, or timbered, to suit settlers. Well watered; dry climate; moderate winters. Owing to the large amount of stock kept by settlers, the ranges will not afford enough food for winter, consequently it is necessary to feed stock during a portion of the year. Extensive bottom lands provide abundance of wild hay. Market for produce limited. Most settlers keep a great number of hogs, which pay well. Weekly mail 9 months. Roman Catholic Mission stationed here - Rev. Fathers Richards (sic) and Chispini. Cherry Creek Silver Mines about 60 miles distant. Good prospects; one company at work. Okanagan Lake from 1 to 3 miles wide, 80 miles in length, and navigable. It is expected that a canal will be made from head of Lake to Spallumcheen River, when a magnificent stretch of navigation will be opened, so as to afford a good outlet for produce in connection with the Railway construction now proceeding....

Andrews, Joseph (farmer; Priest's Valley)
Bercier, Louis (herder; Priest's Valley)
Best, Arthur (farmer)
Brent, Frederick (farmer and mill owner)
Brent, Joseph (farmer)
Brent, Louis (farmer)
Brewer, Charles (farmer; Priest's Valley)
Boucherie, Isadore (farmer and stockraiser)
Cain, William (labourer)
Campbell, Ronald (labourer)
Casey, James (labourer; Priest's Valley)
Christien, Charles (labourer)
Christien, Joseph (farmer and stockraiser)
Christien, Louis (farmer; Priest's Valley)
Clark, W.H. (stockraiser)
Daley, John (labourer; Coldstream)
Delorier, Amos (farmer; Priest's Valley)
Dewear, Aeneas (farmer)
Douley, George (labourer)
Duteau, Vincent (farmer; Coldstream)
Ellis, Thomas (J. P; farmer; Penticton)
Ellison, Price (blacksmith; Priest's Valley)
Fulton, James (farmer)
Gillard, Augustus (farmer; Mission)
Girourard, Luc (farmer; Priest's Valley)
Greenhow, Thomas (farmer and trader)
Herbert, Octave (farmer and stockraiser)
Heywood, John (miner; Mission)
Johns, Joseph (farmer; Coldstream)
Jones, David (carpenter; Mission)
Jones, Thomas (farmer; Mission)
Jones, William (carpenter; Mission)
Keefer, George (farmer; Coldstream)
Keogan, Michael (farmer; Dog Lake)
Kopp, V. (miner; Dog Lake)
Lambert, Stephen (labourer; Priest's Valley)
Lawrence, Charles (carpenter; Mission)
Lawrence, Joseph (labourer; Mission)
Lawson, Charles (farmer; Priest's Valley)
Lefavre, Alphonse (farmer)
Leman, Frank (farmer)
Lequime, Bernard (farmer)
Lequime, Eli (trader, hotel keeper, and post master)
Lequime, Gaston (farmer; Mission)
Lumby, Moses (J.P.)
Lyons, James (farmer; Priest Valley)
McAdamson, Donald (miner; Coldstream)
McCanlay, George (farmer; Coldstream)
McDougall, Alex (farmer; Mission)
McDougall, David (farmer; Mission)
McDougall, E. (farmer; Mission)
McDougall, John (farmer; Mission)
McInnis, John (farmer; Mission)
McKenzie, John (labourer; Coldstream)
McNeil, Alfred (herder; Priest's Valley)
Moore, J.B. (farmer; Mission)
Nicholson, Daniel (blacksmith; Mission)
O'Keefe, Cornelius (farmer, stockraiser, trader, and post master)
Ortolan, Francois (farmer; Mission)
Postill, Alfred (farmer, stockraiser, and mill owner; Mission)
Postill, Edward (farmer, stockraiser, and mill owner; Mission)
Postill, William (farmer, stockraiser, and mill owner; Mission)
Powers, John (labourer; Coldstream)
Seymour, George (labourer)
Simpson, George (farmer; Mission)
Smith, William (labourer)
Thibeau, Peter (farmer)
Tronson, E.J. (farmer, stockraiser, and mill owner; Priest's Valley)
Vance, Alexander (stockraiser; Priest's Valley)
Vernon, Forbes, G. (farmer and stockraiser; Coldstream)
Verselle, Louis (labourer; Mission)
Walker, George (farmer; Coldstream)
Walters, John (labourer)
Whelan, George (farmer and stockraiser; Mission)
Williams, James (farmer)
Wood, Thomas (J. P., stockraiser, Winfield Lodge; Mission)

Note:
North Okanagan = Priest's Valley and Coldstream
Central Okanagan = Mission
South Okanagan = Penticton and Dog (Skaha) Lake

Okanagan Researcher: A Bunch of Roses

2008-01-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

Okanagan Researcher, Vol. 17 (3), March 2001 A Bunch of Roses

Georgie Brown, K131

I really don't know what possessed me to go into the chat room the other night. I guess I was just messing around dumping pages and programs that I don't use anymore, a kind of 'almost-but-not-quite' reformatting. In any event, having a browser up, I typed in the addy and popped in for a quick peek at genforum.genealogy.com.

The minute the page loaded, I remembered why I didn't go there anymore: you can't save anything; nothing is archived so you better be armed to the teeth with pen & paper and have the ability to read quickly as the chat screen is not very big, and be able to type fast too.

Well, I was there, and read the greetings from those that were also there, then thought I had better type in my names, wait the customary few minutes, and then leave. So I typed ROSE, MARKLAND, FOWLER, MELICK, and RULOFSON.

I was less than 60 seconds into my stay when one of the persons there piped up and asked me, 'Where are you looking for your ROSES?' I replied, 'In the Picton, Ontario area of Canada.' (Remembering that most of the genealogy chat rooms were US dominated, I tacked on the "Canada" part thinking I was being about as specific as I could possibly get.) To my surprise this person replied back to me, 'I am sitting in the middle of Picton Ontario now, and am reaching for the phone book as we speak.' My mouth dropped. And I typed the only thing I could think of, 'Oh My'. Within a few more seconds, she replied to me, 'there are 11 ROSES and 14 MARKLANDS in my phone book.'

Needless to say I was overjoyed, and still in a tad bit of shock at this hit as all the times I came to this gen chat before, I had never even come close to finding a link to me. Within 5 minutes of my arrival, I had found a very nice lady who offered to do some 'hands on' checking for me. We exchanged email addys and I went off to bed not knowing I was to get an even greater surprise the next day.

The following day began like most, doing this n' that, and finally wandering to the computer in the mid afternoon. My email came up and again I was aghast as I read the subject line from the lady I had spoken to the night before: FOUND YOUR ROSE FAMILY BIBLE. She went on to say that she called the first Rose in the book, and as it turns out it was to be a hit. She was my second cousin, her Grandfather and mine being brothers. My gen chat friend had had a very long chat with my new cousin, and she passed along her phone number for me to call, but I was to respond to that email immediately so she call her back with a time that I would call. To say my fingers never moved so fast is an understatement.

Later that evening, I phoned my newfound cousin and we chatted for a couple of hours. I was able to tell her about my grandfather taking my father back to Picton in 1936. He hadn't been there since 1888, so it was time he went was his reasoning. When he stepped off the train, he was looking a tad lost, and a gentleman came toward him and asked if he was looking for somebody. My grandfather told him that he was looking for his brother, Charles. The gentleman replied that Charles was 'his' brother too, and thus the two, Robert Wesley, and John Herman were face to face once again after 38 years. The only pictures I had of that trip were some of the two brothers, Robert and John standing at their mothers Grave with one of their sisters. Audrey, my new cousin did not have those pictures, in fact she did not know what my grandfather looked like. As it turned out, I had many pictures to share with her. I also related to her the information I had of my grandfathers brothers and sisters was a certified copy from the Rose Family Bible, taken by one of his brothers to a notary so my Grandfather could collect his pension. Audrey then told me that there was one page in the Bible that had been torn out, and then taped back in. It turned out to be the very page that was copied and notarized.

Our call ended on a very positive note and we have corresponded and talked since that first day. She also sent me a hand written transcription of every single entry in that Bible.

Reveling in the joy and excitement of my success, I once again caressed my computer gave thanks to that great cyber genie. How quickly I was humbled when I learned that my new Cousin didn't have a computer.

Okanagan Researcher: English Websites

2008-01-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

FreeREG: searches of baptism, marriage and burial records in parish and non-conformist church registers in England.

Free BMD: free search of English Birth, Marriage and Death indexes on-line (transcribing is on-going and far from complete).

Family Records Homepage: used to be a subpage of the PRO website (England & Wales); offers more information on Civil Registration, Wills, Parish Registers, India Office Records, Welsh Registers, etc.

English Origins: pay to use but free surname search of several collections held by the Society of Genealogists (England); more collections to be added throughout the year.

Scots Origins: pay to use; includes all the Civil Registration indexes for Scotland (starting 1855) and the old Parish Registers index, all held at the Scottish Record office; also links to "Scots Life," etc.

Informational Leaflets from the Public Record Office: many different printable and/or downloadable leaflets.

Kelowna & District Genealogical Society - Serving the Central Okanagan

Meeting Monday, March 5th

Family History Forum - February 27

Meeting Monday, February 6

January Family History Forum

Meeting January 9, 2012

Meeting Monday, December 5

FAMILY HISTORY FORUM - FREE TO EVERYONE

Conference Committee Meeting

LIBRARY MOVE

Vietnam Virtual Wall

News Items

Alberta Homestead Records

Meeting Monday, September 12

Cemetery Tour

News Items

News Items

KDGS Library Closure

News Items

Ontario Cemeteries

News from Library and Archives Canada

New Tools for Immigration Records

Beginners Organization

Webinars

English Research News & Seminar Display Boards

News

NEWS

Record Search Update: 26 Million New Names Added

Seminars & Newspapers

Websites

Organizing Your Genealogy

KDGS News & Conferences

KDGS News & Events

KDGS Scrapbook & Saskatchewan News

KDGS Scotland news

KDGS Australia research

KDGS News

KDGS LostCousins

KDGS New Website

KDGS News

KDGS Meeting Monday Nov. 2

KDGS Irish Research

KDGS Library hours

KDGS News Items

KDGS Ancestry and other news

KDGS News

KDGS Research Night & news

KDGS News

KDGS Research Night & New Zealand news

KDGS Prairie province news

KDGS English Research news

KDGS News

KDGS News

KDGS News Items

KDGS News - 1916 Canada Census

KDGS News - Irish History Link and AGS Conference

KDGS News

KDGS News - 1911 UK Census

KDGS News - BC Voters List 1898

KDGS News - Westbank Cemetary Photos Online

KDGS News

KDGS News

KDGS News

KDGS News

KDGS News

KDGS News

The KDGS Cemetery Recording Project

Okanagan Researcher: Beaverdell and Carmi voters list

Beaverdell and Carmi Voters' List for the 1935 Federal Election

Okanagan Researcher: Lessons Learned in Researching English Ancestry

Okanagan Researcher: Claires British Studies Tour

Claire's British Studies Tour, to England, July 1 to 23, 1999

BIGHR Tours, Samford University:

Repositories Visited in London:

Repositories Visited Outside of London:

General Hints and Tips:

Research Hints and Tips:

Okanagan Researcher: A Treasure from the Past

Okanagan Researcher: Some Central Okanagan Marriages

Okanagan Researcher: 1882 Directory

Claire's British Studies Tour,

to England, July 1 to 23, 1999