17 March 2016

Ancestry adds to Yorkshire records

Three new collections are added to Ancestry's Yorkshire records originating from the West Yorkshire Archive Service.

Yorkshire, England, Quarter Session Records, 1637-1914 has 331,599 items from the Leeds and Wakefield offices. You''ll find the guilty, innocent, plaintiffs and witnesses with names indexed but little information to place anyone with a common name in a family context. Given the name and date try newspapers as a additional source. A couple of samples I checked had quite legible handwriting - one I'd class as calligraphy.

West Yorkshire, Roman Catholic Oath Records, 1714-1787, 1829 with just 15,385 items, For the earlier period these are lists and certificates of Roman Catholics failing to take the oaths of abjuration, allegiance and supremacy which were a part of an act passed by parliament in 1715. Mostly contains names and location. The latter period, 1829, is a register of Roman Catholic Priests gathered as a result of the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act by Parliament.

Yorkshire, England, Probate Records, 1521-1858 has 30,335 items from the Peculiar of Knaresborough and the Archdeaconry of Richmond. Some of the early records are extremely difficult to decipher, some are indexes only while the later ones can be quite comprehensive including family names, relationships and inventories.

OGS conference 2016

OGS conference 2016 in Toronto looks to be the best ever (to date). You'll be sorry if you miss it. Check out the list of speakers at www.ogs.on.ca/conference/speakers/ and the program details at www.ogs.on.ca/conference/ and see if you agree.

You can still register, until 18 March, at the early bird rate.

Winding Streets of London

I'm looking forward to spending a few days in London following WDYTYA? Live in Birmingham.  Trouble is a few days isn't nearly enough TIME to do everything I want to, and now this map came to attention via a post on The Mapping London blog.

Kingston Branch OGS March Meeting

"Researching Your Irish Family History From This Side of the Pond" is the topic for the Kingston Branch OGS meeting this Saturday, 19 March.
The presenter is Ruth Blair, APG member and PLCGS graduate, who blogs as The Passionate Genealogist .
Even if noy attending the meeting you may be interested in Ruth's recent blog post on The Importance of Genealogy Societies in an Age of Digital Technology.
The meeting is at the Kingston Seniors Centre, 56 Francis St., at 10 a.m.  Visitors welcome.  Further details at www.ogs.on.ca/kingston.
Thanks to Margaret MacDermaid for the tip.

Quinte Branch OGS March meeting

Next Saturday, 19 March, 2016  at 1 pm - the Quinte Branch of Ontario Genealogical Society will show a webinar presentation by Ugo Perego, PhD covering the basics of DNA research and how genealogists can use their results to enhance their family trees.

The venue, as usual is the Trenton Main Branch of the Quinte West Library, 7 Creswell Drive, Trenton, ON, K8V 6X5

16 March 2016

CEF Service Files Digitization by LAC: March Update

As of 15 March 2016,  266,634 (254,296 last month) of 640,000 files are available online via Library and Archives Canada's Soldiers of the First World War: 1914–1918 database.
The latest box digitized is #4442 (#4224 ) and the surname Holland (Hebert).
At the last month rate of digitization the project would be completed in 30 months, by September 2018.

Ottawa Branch OGS meetings: Saturday 19 March

Another full day is scheduled for Ottawa Branch of OGS at the Ottawa City Archives, 100 Tallwood

At 10 am the Scottish interest group will meeting in Room 226 and include a silent austion of Scottish and Irish books.
At 10:30 am the Back to Basics session has John Patton on "Genealogical Resources of Eastern Ontario" in Room 115.
At 1:30 pm, following announcements and a social period, Tad Findley will speak on "A Unique Approach to Publishing Family Research" by Tad Findley. She will describe how one couple decided to present 32 lines of family genealogy to their families. Included will be the types of considerations that genealogists will face when deciding on how to present their years of research. There are many approaches that one might take - it is important to select the one which suits both the type of research carried out and who will be on the receiving end of whatever is published!
At approximately 3:15 pm the Computer SIG will continue a discussion of genealogy software, and other topics arising.
All afternoon sessions are in Room 115.

HSO March Meeting: Electrical Power Generation at the Chaudière Falls

For March the Historical Society of Ottawa meeting welcomes Franz Kropp on the topic Electrical Power Generation at the Chaudière Falls.

The meeting is earlier than normal due to Easter, on 18 March, at 1pm. As usual, the location is the Routhier Community Centre, 172 Gigues Ave, Ottawa. Further information at http://hsottawa.ncf.ca. Everyone welcome.

15 March 2016

If you need them, buy GENI credits now

In his BIFHSGO presentation on Saturday John McConkey advised attendees that the price of credits for searching and purchasing certificate images for Northern Irish ancestors using the GRONI system is increasing.
I'd forgotten - I'm only 30% Irish (according to AncestryDNA) and don't often research there.
Chris Paton to the rescue on his British GENES blog with the same news that can save you a bit if you act fast. Check out the North of Ireland Family History Society's Facebook post at https://www.facebook.com/notes/north-of-ireland-family-history-society/groni-fee-changes-confirmed/1053396834719070 for information on that and more news.

Heraldry -- not in Gaelic Irish culture -- except on coasters

John Grenham recounts the story behind Irish Heraldic Bling.

The Influence of Loyalists on Upper Canada

The following is posted by request.
=============
Spring Social - Sir Guy Carleton Branch, United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada - Saturday April 23, 2016

Best Western Hotel, 1274 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario
Speaker: F. Murray Barkley
Topic: "The Influence of Loyalists on Upper Canada".

Cash Bar after 11:00 a.m.; Lunch at 12:15; Banquet Room

Meal includes:

Garden Salad with buns and butter
Entree, your choice of:
- Roast beef au jus with potatoes and vegetables
- Chicken breast with white wine sauce with potatoes and vegetables
- Poached salmon with dill sauce and rice.
Dessert, Strawberry parfait with coffee or tea

The price is $30 per person. Please specify your choice of entree. Send your cheque to Bob Adair, 34 Briardale Crescent, Nepean ON, K2E 1C2
Phone number is 613-274-3331.

14 March 2016

Putting a Face on the Great War

In the Late Spring session of Carleton University's Learning in Retirement program City of Ottawa researcher, Dorothy J. Smith. will explore the western front of World War I as experienced by Ottawa-based soldiers.

Find out more in this video



 Register at carleton.ca/linr/registration/.

Ancestry updates Bristol, England, Select Church of England Parish Registers, 1720-1933

With 1,987,950 baptism, marriage and burial index records this collection sourced from FamilySearch is a must search for those with interests in the Bristol area.

Celebrating 10 years

When I started this blog on 14 March 2006 it wasn't in my mind I'd still be writing it 10 years later.

Over that time I've blogged from the places on this Google My Map.
Getting feedback about how something I've written has been useful is a source of personal satisfaction.
I hope to be able to add more pins to the map, starting with Birmingham, and Who Do You Think You Are? Live next month.

Heritage Ottawa Lecture: Bletchley Park's Outpost in Sandy Hill

Wednesday, March 16, 2016
19:00 to 20:00
During World War ll, an Examination Unit was installed in a Victorian mansion in Sandy Hill to carry out top secret code breaking activities. This lecture will examine how the Unit came to be set up, who was involved, what it accomplished, and its post war legacy.

SPEAKER(S):
Diana Pepall, Historian and Librarian

 The Lecture is free and there is no need to pre-register.

 ADDRESS:
Auditorium, Ottawa Public Library
120 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON K1P 5M2
Canada

13 March 2016

BIFHSGO conference 2016 program

At Saturday's BIFHSGO meeting members had a first look at the program of BIFHSGO conference 2016 and the opportunity to select which of two presentations in each session they would be most likely to attend in order to assign rooms.


Friday morning seminars, 9 September
DNA and Genealogy: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask
Dr Maurice Gleeson
or
Keeping the Past for the Present and Future: Preservation techniques for the home archive
Kyla Ubbink

Friday afternoon seminars, 9 September
Researching Your Irish Family History from the Comfort of your Home
Dr Maurice Gleeson
or
Organizing Your Genealogy and Writing Your Family History
Ruth Blair

Saturday morning 10 September: Session 1
Opening plenary
Advances in Irish Research (developments over the past 5 years)
Kyle Betit

Saturday morning 10 September: Session 2
Peter Robinson Irish Immigrants to the Newcastle District in 1825
Dennis Carter-Edwards
or
Connecting with Cousins through Autosomal DNA
Dr Maurice Gleeson

Saturday afternoon 10 September: Session 3
Irish Land Records
Kyle Betit
or
Women on Ancestry
Lesley Anderson

Saturday afternoon 10 September: Session 4
The Sash Our Irish Ancestors Wore: The Orange Order
Gloria Tubman
or
Making Connections: Adventures in Genetic Genealogy
John D Reid, Rick Moody, Leanne Cooper

Sunday morning 11 September: Session 5
Using Canadian/US Records for Your Irish Research
Kyle Betit
or
The British Army and Royal Navy in Canada, 1758-1871
Glenn Wright

Sunday morning 11 September: Session 6
Atlantic Canada's Irish Immigrants - A Fish and Timber Story
Dr Lucille Campey
or
My Grandfather was Adopted: Using DNA to Find the family of adoptees and Iilegitimate family Members
Dr Maurice Gleeson

Sunday afternoon 11 September: Session 7
Irish Sources you may never have considered
Kyle Betit
or
What about the "Coffin" Ships? The Sailing Vessels which carried our Irish Ancestors to Canada
Dr Lucille Campey

Sunday afternoon 11 September: Session 8
Closing plenary
Using DNA to identify soldiers of the Western Front
Dr Maurice Gleeson







Perth & District Historical Society March Meeting

"Lumber Barons, Rascally Politicians & Canada’s Railway King: The Ottawa Valley in the Railway Age" is the topic for the March 17 meeting.

Perth native son and ex-pat, Brian Gilhuly, will speak on the fascinating story of the Ottawa Valley railroads, including the Perth branch of the Brockville to Ottawa (B&O) line, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2014 - an appropriate subject for the third presentation of the Society's 200th Anniversary series.

The meeting is at Perth's Royal Canadian Legion, home of the Hall of Remembrance,
26 Beckwith Street E., Perth, at 7:30pm (Toonie donation).

Further information at http://www.perthhs.org/

12 March 2016

AncestryDNA 10% off





Just in time for my BIFHSGO presentation Ten Tips for Genetic Genealogy on Saturday AncestryDNA has reduced the price of their DNA test until 17 March, St. Patrick's Day. The regular price in Canadian dollars is $149, $99US,  so be sure you're getting the reduction when you order online.
The ad says "KISS ME I'M 24% IRISH".  Would you believe I'm 30% Irish according to AncestryDNA!


Devon and Manchester additions at Findmypast

This week's Englsih additions at FMP are:

Plymouth and West Devon Land Tax and Valuation Records, 1897-1949
249,467 land records transcribed for first name (usually initials), last name, year, role (occupier, owner or owner/occupier) and place (most often Plymouth and communities west of Dartmoor). Linked images give address, type of property and valuation. You should be able to pinpoint the location to at least the road and to evaluate the nature of the neighbourhood.

Devon, Tavistock Borough Court Luxton Manuscripts, 1839-1896
5,021 records comprising transcript indexes and original images for a variety of borough court records. The records can be searched for name, year, event type and parish. "The detail found in each record can vary depending on the type of event as the collection consists of a wide variety of documents including warrants, summonses, depositions, convictions and case reports as well as lunacy and bastardy records."

Lancashire, Manchester Cremation Records, 1818-2001
17,377 transcribed obituaries and narratives from newspapers and Manchester Crematorium memorial plaques from the second oldest crematorium in the UK. Crematorium registers were destroyed by bombing in 1940. The Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society created this substitute.

11 March 2016

The Canadian Museum of History asks: What does Canada look like to you?

Can you help?

"The Canadian Museum of History is currently building its most ambitious exhibition to date: the Canadian History Hall. One of the features of the new Hall will be its gateway: a dynamic entranceway filled with illustrations representing Canada. As we are choosing the images, we want to hear from you. What does Canada look like to you?

For more detailed information and an opportunity to make suggestions click here.