CWGC: Are you related?

The Commonwealth War Grave Commission in the UK is looking for the next of kin of soldiers who fell in war. Could you be connected to any of these individuals?

please contact through the link here.

There is also a Canadian list with 12 entries, most long-standing queries, See them here.

Edward Nicholl: CEF Beechwood

Private Edward Nicholl was born 28 October, 1870 in Ireland, the son of Mrs. B. Nicholl, of 14, Napier St., Belfast, Ireland. A bricklayer by trade he served with the 77th Battalion of the CEF.
He died in bed of heart failure at the Ottawa House, Hull on 10 January 1918. According to an autopsy his health had been "worn down by a strenuous life."
He was given a military funeral with the band of the GGFG leading the procession and buried in Section A, Row 21, Plot 20.

AncestryDNA unites family

The Doc Project on CBC recounts a happy story of an adopted man reunited with birth mother and brother after 50 years. Read the story and listen to the 20 minute segment at http://www.cbc.ca/radio/docproject/lost-and-found-a-doc-project-special-1.4414357/when-this-man-took-a-dna-test-he-discovered-a-50-year-secret-1.4414360

Ontario Historical Land Registration Books Online

Land registration provides interesting resources for genealogists, especially as wills are frequently part of the record, but "searching land registration records can be a complex process."

Access to some Ontario records just got easier. Under the headline OnLand is Here! comes this announcement from Teranet, in partnership with ServiceOntario:

The first phase of the web portal offers customers the opportunity to test out the historical land registration book search and view option only. Customers will still be required to visit a land registry office to print any records. For more information on Historical Books, please click here.
We will provide an update when full search capabilities are available on OnLand in late 2018.
When fully implemented, OnLand will allow users to search historical and current property records, anywhere in the province, from the convenience of your home or office, instead of visiting a land registry office.

Posts on Monday on My Moynahan Genealogy Blog by Cindi Foreman look in detail at what's available now, with examples. There are two parts of a four part series available as I write:

Part I: OnLand Records: Historical Books: Abstract / Parcel Register Book
Part IV: OnLand Records: Historical Books: First Registration Book

Deceased Online to add millions more burial and cremation records in 2018

In a blog post Deceased Online review the records added in 2017 and mention that "In 2018, there are plans to add millions more burial and cremation records from across the UK"

Specifically mentioned are "the exciting release of 'magnificent' West Norwood Cemetery." It has about 200,000 burials.

Also, records for cemeteries from the Macclesfield area of Cheshire:

• Alderley Edge Cemetery – 4,000 records from 1906 to 2015
• Knutsford Cemetery – 7,200 records from 1902 to 2015
• Macclesfield Cemetery – 62,000 records from 1866 to 2015
• Meadowbrook Cemetery – 500 records from 2006 to 2015
• Wilmslow Cemetery – 6,600 records from 1907 to 2015
• Macclesfield Crematorium – 64,000 records from 1960 to 1997

Altogether that's well short of one million so other major additions must be in the works.

QFHS Conference 2018

The Quebec Family History Society Roots 2018 International Conference on Family History dates are announced:

18, 19 and 20, May 2018

As in previous years the venue is McGill University, this time at the New Residence Hall. That's a healthy one mile walk from the train station. There's good Via Rail service from Ottawa, Toronto, points east and west plus Amtrak service from New York City.

Ottawans with the British Red Cross 1914-18

A database of over 90,000 people who volunteered for the British Red Cross, 1914-18 was recently added to Findmypast.
You don't need Findmypast access to benefit; all the information is at the Red Cross site.
Searching Locations/Hospitals I was surprised to find 47 women, no men, who crossed the Atlantic but gave an Ottawa address, frequently more an one. The basic information for them is tabulated below ordered alphabetically by surname. Are any of them in your family tree?  Go back and search in the database to view a linked original page image that includes the home address.

FULL NAME	ENLISTMENT DATE	AGE WHEN ENLISTED
MRS MAZIE BIRD	16/09/1918	25
MISS ALICE HARIETT BRAY	30/09/1916	23
MRS ETHEL GORDON BROWN	09/05/1917	48
MISS MARION CALHOUN	01/10/1918	34
MISS HELEN MURIEL CARTER	12/04/1918	23
MISS MARY LOUISE CHARLESON	20/07/1917	32
MISS HESTER COSSAR	12/04/1918	37
MRS EDITH NAOMI WHEELER DAWSON	29/12/1917	31
MRS PATRICIA DAWSON	12/12/1917	24
MRS VERA WATERS DICKSON	15/04/1918	28
MRS ALICE DOBSON	08/11/1917	28
MISS GEORGETTE DUFOUR	23/10/1916	24
MISS ESTHER LAURA GIBSON	26/11/1917	25
MISS HELEN MARGUERITE GRANT	01/10/1916	25
MISS ALICE S HOUSTON	30/09/1916	38
MISS MARIAN GLADYS HUMPHRYS	30/09/1916	25
MISS EDNA LOUISE JOHNSON	30/09/1916	37
MISS MARGARET CLARE KINGSTON	01/10/1918	36
MISS ADA MARY LEE	04/1916	30
MISS ELIZABETH EWING SCOTT MACFARLANE	12/04/1918	33
MISS BETTY MASSON	01/10/1916	24
MISS MARION MAY	01/12/1917	32
MISS JESSIE M. MCLACHLIN	25/12/1916
MISS LAURA JANE MULVAUGH	12/04/1918	26
MRS MARY ALLISON O'HALLORAN	01/10/1916	23
MISS SARAH EVELYN OLIVER	12/04/1918	23.5
MISS. CATHERINE SISTER O'NEIL	21/05/1915
MRS LILIAN MARY O'NEILL	20/07/1917	30
MISS ETHYLE PETERS	15/04/1918	30
MISS MARY ANNA ELIZABETH PHILLIPS	20/07/1917	35
MRS LEONORA POWELL	24/07/1918	23
MRS MURIEL STUART ROBINSON	15/04/1918	26
MISS KATE ROE	01/10/1918	29
MISS LOUISE DE SALABERRY	12/04/1918	23
MISS ELLEN BEATRICE SCOBIE	01/10/1916	26
MRS EVA OLIVE SCRIVENS	12/04/1918	23
MRS JANE ANNIE SPENCER	10/1915
MISS JANET WILHELMINA STEWART	24/07/1917	31
MISS FRIEDA ROBERTA STOTHERS	01/10/1918	24
MISS LAURA RAY STOTHERS	01/10/1918	30
MISS KATHERINE ROSANNA SYMES	01/10/1918	34
MISS FLORENCE THOMPSON	18/04/1918	31
MISS MURIEL HAZELWOOD STOWE WAINWRIGHT	19/07/1917	28
MISS FLORENCE WATTS	25/10/1914
MISS LOLA CLARABUT WILSON	20/07/1917	30
MISS LORENA MONTAGUE YORKE	30/09/1916	28
MISS WINIFRED VAN ALLEN PHILLIPS YOUNG	12/04/1918	28

Findmypast adds England, Cheshire School Records, 1782-1950

Sourced through FamilySearch, Findmypast now includes direct access to 423,400 transcription records of more than 120 schools across the county of Cheshire. Transcriptions may include name, birth date, residence, the name of their school and years attended and, importantly, father’s name which helps link generations.
I was able to find my two times great-grandfather Richard Lewis attending Sunday school in Stockport in 1836, prior to civil registration and the nominal census.

OPL Winter 2018 Genealogy Events

Here's advance notice of three events in February, one in March, being organized by the Ottawa Public Library in the Genealogy series. That's in addition to those being presented by OPL staff.

Thursday, February 1, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
The Barber Family: an Ottawa Story
Born into slavery in Kentucky, Paul Barber became a respected horse man who not only trained the horses of Ottawa’s elite but showed veterinarian abilities and was himself a skilled horse racer. One of Ottawa’s earliest Black permanent residents, he founded a family that  still thrives here. Join us as Paul’s grandson, award-winning Ottawa Black historian Thomas Barber, shares the story of his family and its place in Ottawa’s history.
Main, 120 Metcalfe, Auditorium

Wednesday, February 7, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Find Your Ancestors in Church Records

Church records of all denominations can be a treasure trove for genealogists.  Gloria Tubman will discuss these valuable records and their place in family history research.  Discover the information that is available from the record of a church rite, regardless of location, and learn some further clues to get the most from church records.

Carlingwood, 281 Woodroffe

Wednesday, February 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Black History Month Documentary Screening

Enjoy two short documentaries: Simply the Best, the story of Ottawa union activist Cal Best; and Welcome to Dresden: Jim Crow Lived Here Too, set in Dresden, Ontario.  Followed by a panel discussion with Arthur Carkner, producer of Simply the Best, and Sarah Onyango, Black History Ottawa.

Greenboro, 363 Lorry Greenberg

Monday, March 19, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Finding Birth Families: Genealogy and Adoption Research
How can adoptees and birth families find each other? Genetic genealogy and traditional research sources both play a role in tracing long-lost relatives.  Monica Byrne, Parent Finders Ottawa, will discuss adoption in Ontario and the resources of Parent Finders.  Mags Gaulden, Grandma’s Genes, will illustrate the uses of DNA testing for adoption research.
Cumberland, 1599 Tenth Line.

Registration is required for all these.
Thanks to Romaine Honey for the information. See the full genealogy program here,

BIFHSGO Conference 2018

The dates for BIFHSGO conference 2018 are now set. Put them in your schedule now.

28 - 30 September 2018.

The location is Nepean Centrepointe again. 

Keynote speaker Bruce Durie has been booked for the theme of Scottish genealogy. I recall hearing him speak on Scottish testaments at TNA many years ago.

Having missed out on DNA in 2017 the organizers were pleased to be able to secure Diahan Southard as a main speaker. I heard her in Dublin and Edmonton in the past couple of years.

Both are highly recommended. 

The call for presentation proposals is open until 31 January. There's an online form for proposals. If you're uncertain about making a presentation proposal and would like to discuss get in touch with conference co-|Chair for the  program Duncan Monkhouse at conference@bifhsgo.ca/.

Super UK Family Tree Magazine January Sale

Not just 30%, a massive 61% off if you take an annual subscription to the online version of UK Family Tree Magazine.  The regular price is $49.99 Cdn, the discount $34.99 Cdn. I couldn't resist.

Findmypast adds London area burials

Burial records from Brompton Cemetery, one of Britain's oldest and most distinguished garden cemeteries, are in the most recent update to Findmypast. T
As it's Twelfth Night it's appropriate to note those at Brompton  who achieved greatness, Nova Scotia born Sir Samuel Cunard, and Dr John Snow credited with bringing an end to the 1854 cholera outbreak in London. Some others were born great and yet others had greatness thrust upon them.
With about 205,000 people interred there were plenty of ordinary folks too with burials in common graves, especially young children.
There are 645,301 records, both transcripts and images of documents digitized from the original register held by the UK National Archives at Kew in series WORK 97.
These records also continue to be available through Deceasedonline.com/ which has over 8 million London cemetery records in its collection.

An additional 19,619 records are added to Findmypast's Greater London Burial Index. The total of records is now 1,690,022 within over 300 Anglican and non-conformist parishes across Greater London.

Toronto Genealogy Summer Camp

Repeat clients are the best recommendation. A few years ago former BIFHSGO Librarian Betty Warburton would tell me about her time at the Toronto Genealogy Summer Camp run by Jane MacNamara. She was a repeat client.

After a two-year hiatus Jane is running the Summer Camp again.  Just recently I ran into someone, remaining nameless, who said she was applying to attend this June. She assumed you have to show you're experienced enough to benefit.

However, Jane tells me she asks questions about skill level and experience, not to exclude beginners but rather to help tailor the program to suit the group. She wants to be sure there’s a reasonable chance they’ll find something—that the time period and location they want to explore is feasible.
 
As Jane writes on her blog, "in Toronto, we’re lucky to have a wonderful cluster of archives and libraries. They are filled with information about ancestors who lived in Ontario. It is a great city for family history researchers to visit.
Genealogy Summer Camp can help you make the best use of your time in Toronto by suggesting what records to look for and where, and helping you navigate the various systems and finding aids at each repository.
You’ll spend less time finding the archives and more time finding information!"

The Genealogy Summer Camp runs from 4 to 8 June 2018, that's immediately following the OGS conference.

Find out more at https://wherethestorytakesme.ca/week-in-june/

Weather Chaos, and Calm

Super storm in Atlantic Canada ...
Snow and extreme cold in Quebec
Extreme cold in Ontario and Manitoba ...

Freezing rain and fog in BC

20th anniversary of the 1998 ice storm ...

It's a natural opportunity to remind you that a huge amount of weather data is available from Environment Canada's Meteorological Service. Use it to put a context around events in your Canadian family history. 

Check it out at http://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_e.html

Detailed Birmingham Street Maps ca 1887

The January issue of the UK's Family Tree magazine brings news of a project to digitize about 400 very detailed street maps of Birmingham and its surroundings that were surveyed by The Ordnance Survey around 1887-1888.
Each map covers an area of about 500 yards by 350 yards, and the scale of 1:500 means that pillar boxes, lamp posts and garden details can be clearly seen.  Several are now available.
Digitisation when complete will cover mostly the Warwickshire parts of the city; maps are not available for the Worcestershire and Staffordshire sectors.
Maps are £5.00 each for download. There's a free Birmingham comprehensive INDEX, valuable by itself, including Streets, Roads, Terraces, Yards, Passages, etc., Public Houses, Hotels, Railway Stations, Hospitals, Schools, Churches, Post Offices, Police Stations, Wharfs and Industry plus many other Places of Interest available from http://www.bmsgh-shop.org.uk/pdf/Birmingham_maps_index.pdf/.

Archive CD Books Canada Sale

Malcolm and Chris Moody at Archive CD Books Canada have been low profile recently, even for those of us in Ottawa.

Malcolm tells us that "we are reconfiguring all of our Canadian products to be "Downloadable," to serve you better.  As this (and a host of other important things) is using up all of our working time we have not been able to make any new products - and we won't waste your time with "Fake News!""

What isn't fake is 50% OFF the regular price of most of their Canadian Made Products - including downloadable products. That's in addition to the ongoing clearance items.

Check out the sale items at https://archivecdbooks.ca/

Ottawa DNA Special Interest Group meets on Saturday

Saturday, January 6, 2018
DNA Special Interest Group  (Special Interest Group)
9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Room 115, City of Ottawa Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa, Ontario

Genetic Genealogy DNA Guidelines for Analysis of Segments – Re cM size
Shirley Monkhouse will give a short presentation, describing and explaining the confidence levels for different sizes types and sizes of cM values for DNA Analysis.

Triangulation for Genetic Genealogy – Who What Where When Why How for Autosomal DNA
Shirley will give a second presentation, an introduction to Autosomal DNA Triangulation, recent news and examples from the all the Companies and third-party sources.

There will be a round table discussion with any remaining time.

Attendees will be required to sign in and out at the reception desk on the ground floor.

Clair Llewellyn Hugh Manhard: CEF Beechwood

Gunner Claire Llewellyn Hugh Manhard, birth registered in Smith's Falls as Lewellyn Hugh Manhard on 22 September 1879, died of pulmonary tuberculosis in Ottawa on 4 January 1918.
He had been invalided back to Canada in June 1916 having suffered many wounds in the field.

He is interred in Plot 29. Lot 13-14. West part. 17. at Beechwood Cemetery.

Church of Ireland Gazette Archive Online

A full archive of editions of the weekly Church of Ireland Gazette published from 1856 to 1923 is now freely accessible online.

Claire Santry's blog post points out that "Genealogists don't need to have Church of Ireland ancestors to find the Gazette valuable to their research. As well as exploring the major national and international issues of the day, the paper also carried localised church and social news, which would have been of relevance to all local communities whatever their beliefs." Search the word Ottawa and find more than 100 articles, more than 450 for Toronto.

A Wandering Minstrel - home child?

It's easy to go off on a tangent when you find someone from your British home town in Canada.
The cause this time was William (Joseph) Carter. A summary of his colourful life as a wandering minstrel in Canada and the UK, reproduced from the Stories Behind the Stones: The Churchyard and the Old and New Cemeteries at Great Yarmouth  by Paul P Davies is on the British Home Children in Canada website here.
No civil birth registration could be found although he claimed to be born in Great Yarmouth (GY). His GY baptismal record for 12 November 1881 included a birth date of 5 December 1875. His school attendance has the same date a year later.
An article in the 16 March 1935 Winnipeg Tribune quotes him "My mother died when I was three years old and I was taken into Dr. Barnardo's Homes. In 1899 they sent me to Canada, to Portage la Prairie.  I stayed there a few years and have worked over wide areas of Manitoba and Saskatchewan."
He was confused about his early life. In the 1881 census he's in the GY workhouse as is his mother Emily. A sister Eliza died later that year and his mother in 1882. There's no sign of a father.
In the 1891 census he's listed as an errand boy living at Belfort Place, an independent home for orphan boys in GY supported by charity and the earnings of the boys.
He variously gave his year of migration to Canada as 1899 or 1900. I was unable to find any record.
In the 1901 census there's a possible fit to William J Carter in Rockwood, Selkirk, Manitoba as a farm servant, born in England 11 July 187?, emigrated in 1901. In 1906 a William Carter is a roomer in Portage le Prairie, age 30, emigrated in 1900. He was elusive in censuses from 1911 to 1921.
He claimed to have been rejected for war service and to have moved to a haunted rented farm in the Carrot River valley north of Melfort, Saskatchewan in 1926. The house burned down in 1929 and he took to life as a wandering minstrel playing violin and tin whistle.
He nurtured a modest fame in numerous newspapers with many stories including playing at an event for the Dionne quins and renowned violinist Fritz Kreizler dropping a dollar in his hat. Articles mention his sunny disposition.
He returned to England in 1937 continuing as an itinerant musician seeking media attention including on the BBC.
In September 1939 William Carter is in the National Register in GY listed as a musician, his birth date is given as 8 March 1875.
He died on 7 July 1958 at Westminster House Home for Elderly People, Liverpool leaving £267. The body was buried in GY beside the graves of his mother and sister which mention their relationship to "Canada's Wandering Minstrel".

Comment: Should an immigrant 24 years old be counted a home child?