Carnival of Genealogy #100 - Every family has one

 The Carnival of Genealogy has reached 100. The topic for each edition of the carnival challenges us (the blog writers) to think about our family stories and our genealogy. This is a reunion and everyone is invited who has participated in past COGs. This is my 40th posting for a Carnival of Genealogy. Thanks to Jasia for being the host and creator of the Carnival of Genealogy.

Every family has one. Since this is a reunion, I have chosen to highlight a photographer at family gatherings. On my mother's side of the family, it was her Aunt Margaret, who with her Brownie camera, took photographs at many family events. I have written about her in the past.

On my dad's side, not counting my dad, I would choose my cousin Wilfred (Wilf). He was called young Wilf to distinguish him from his uncle.

A bit of background on my cousin Wilfred.

Wilf was born in Owen Sound 1935. He was the first of six children born to his parents, Clarence Iles and Myrtle Taylor. Here is a four generation photo with his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Clarence Iles, William Iles, in front

George Iles and Wilf Iles

For 41 years, Wilf worked for Edwards of Canada. He was active with Y's men Clubs internationally. In 1968/69, he received the Elmer Crowe Award. He was a well read person and loved to go to author signings to get a signed copy of books by his favourite authors. He was a member of the Dickens Fellowship Club (Toronto Chapter). He also enjoyed travelling to other countries. Wilf never married but he was very good to his nieces and nephews and their children. Unfortunately, he died of cancer in 2009.
e care of them. I was fortunate to receive some of my Aunt Margaret's photos. I have special memories Wilf  Iles 1949

Wilf Iles in Israel - year unknown

If there was a family reunion or a special birthday party you could count on Wilf to be there and he would be busy taking photos. In later years, he also had a camcorder. I know he was good at sending copies of photos out to people but I hope that his many photos and albums went to someone who will take care of them. I was fortunate to receive some of my Aunt Margaret's photos.

I have special memories of Wilf. One is of when Wilf came to stay with my brother, sister and me for a week while my parents were away on a holiday. He was out almost every evening at meetings. We were old enough to be on our own most of the time so we only needed someone there overnight. He and I had some good chats over the phone in later years and we talked a bit about family history.

A couple of years ago, he and I went to the cemetery to find where our great-grandparents are buried. We had to go to the office first as we needed to be shown the location. There is no monument but foot markers saying mother and father. Wilf took photos of the location and later sent them to me.

I hope your family has a photographer who takes photos at special family events.


© 2010 Janet Iles

Monday Memories - Salt Lake City 2010 - Part 5

Today, I wrap up my commentary on my trip to Salt Lake City in August.

Sunday morning was beautiful. After breakfast and packing, I met up with two of the others to do some more exploring of Salt Lake City. We headed around the corner and took photos of a most interesting building - O C Tanner, a company that sales employee incentive products. The building's first function was that of the Salt Lake City Public Library in 1905. In 1965, the building became the Hansen Planetarium.  Recently, it has taken on its new role. To read more about this most interesting building, an article from the Deseret News is available online.

O C Tanner building

As we walked, I took photos of interesting buildings. It was a wonderful way to spend the last morning there.

a Sycamore Tree

The County/Town Hall

We walked back to have some lunch to get ready for our trip home. As each member of the group had come on their own or in small groups, people had been departing all morning. The four of us who had left Owen Sound together headed to the airport in the hotel shuttle together. We split into our two groups, wishing each other a good trip with a "See you in Toronto".

It had been a great trip. We are already talking about a return trip, most likely in 2012.
© 2010 Janet Iles

Monday Memories - Salt Lake City 2010 - Part 4

I have been busy lately so I didn't finish talking about the trip to Salt Lake City.  In my presentation last week, I used some of the material that I found while I was at the Library. It is hard to believe that almost three months have past since we were there.

Tuesday and Wednesday were full research days. Thursday was the only day that it rained and I had lunch in the Library lunch room. Because a group of us were going to take a tour of the city and the immediate surrounding areas that day, we wanted only to have a small break at noon as we were going to be leaving just after 3 so that we could be ready for the tour.

I was walking back to the hotel with a couple of the others in our group, when I woman stopped me and asked, "Where are  your Iles from?" I replied, "Gloucestershire, England". She returned with "Mine are from Brimpsfield." What was my reply? "Mine are from Brimpsfield, too." We exchanged contact information. I commented that I thought we had corresponded by email after seeing postings on the Rootsweb Gloucestershire mailing list.

So how did she know I was an Iles? My business card is in a window on the bag I was caring.
We didn't have time for a longer chat but I will have to be in touch again before my next visit to Salt Lake City.

The tour out into the country side was very interesting and we were so lucky that the rain had stopped and the sun was shining brightly.

State Capitol building

Supper was at the Lion Pantry and the highlight of the evening was the choir practice of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Their music is so wonderful to listen to. Several of us walked back through the gardens to our hotel.

Temple and pools - playing with camera settings

Friday was also a full day of researching. By the time 5 o'clock came on Saturday, I was researched out. Not that there was not more that I could research but my brain was tired. The group got together for supper. Some went back to the Library but a few of us decided to walk around and see more of the area. A tour of the Beehive House was enjoyed by all of us.

Beehive House

© 2010 Janet Iles

Carnival of Genealogy - Religious Rites a long standing tradition in our family

The topic for the 99th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy will be: Religious Rites. 

The earliest marriage record I have is for the marriage of my great-great-great grandparents, Richard Iles and Patience Blandford at the Parish Church in Brimpsfield, Gloucestershire 21 October 1822. It was there that they brought their fourteen children for baptism.

James Iles, my great-great grandfather, married Louisa Belcher also at the Parish Church in Brimpsfield. on 10 July 1845. James was a shepherd. The church records show that his work must have taken the family to other small communities as the children are baptized in different parishes.

Baptismal Dates and Locations
Albert - 31 August 1845 - Withington, Gloucestershire, England
Isaac  - 23 May 1847 - Brimpsfield, Gloucestershire, England

Eliza Jane - 2 November 1856 - Lower Swell, Gloucestershire,  England
Susan - 2 November 1856 - Lower Swell, Gloucestershire,  England
Mary Jane - 2  November 1856 - Lower Swell, Gloucestershire,  England

Eliza Jane, Susan and Mary Jane are not triplets but for some reason, they were baptized on the same day.
Alice - 1 February 1857 - Lower Swell, Gloucestershire, England
George  (my great-grandfather) - 2 January 1859 - Guiting Lower, Gloucestershire, England

I do not have baptismal records for the younger children: Charlotte, Emmanuel and Timothy.

Researchers seek out Parish records to learn about the milestone events in our ancestors' lives, prior to civil registration, which began in mid-1837 in England. Although baptismal records do not necessarily give the date of birth or burial records the date of death, these church records do provide helpful information. I know that I am happy to see that my ancestors' received the blessing of the church for these special events. I have not searched for baptismal records after 1859 for the Iles family.

My parents brought each of us for our baptismal service to Knox United, Owen Sound, when we were babies. The parents and babies lined the front of the sanctuary. I have my baptismal certificate. For many years, it was rolled up but I have placed in an archival sleeve so that I can show it and preserve it. In the past, the newspaper recorded the names of those baptized.

Some of my relatives are/were members of the Salvation Army. They do not have infant baptism but have a dedication service. According to family information, my great-aunt, Rose Dudley who was born in 1889, was the first child to be dedicated in the newly built Salvation Army Hall in Small Heath, Birmingham, England. Some family members have been or are Salvation Army officers both in Canada and England. They would have had an ordination service after completion of their studies.


Before I had my confirmation ceremony, I attended classes Sunday afternoons at the church for about a month. In those days, you didn't take your first communion until after confirmation. Now, in our church, little ones participate in the communion service.

 I am happy that my family has a long standing tradition of participating in religious rites in whichever church they attended.

© 2010 Janet Iles