17 March 2016
Ancestry adds to Yorkshire records
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
You can still register, until 18 March, at the early bird rate.
Winding Streets of London
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
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
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
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
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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
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.
Perth & District Historical Society March 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.

