IGene Awards for 2010 - Carnival of Genealogy

Once again, the excitement is mounting as readers find out what I consider to be best of my blogs for 2010 in several categories.

First - Best Biography and Best Documentary goes to [drum roll] Emily Pugh Iles - Carnival of Genealogy Tribute to Women and its sequel Emily Pugh Iles - Who were her parents?

I have spoken about Emily frequently during talks as her story and the research I have done can be used as examples for many topics. The tribute to her received many comments.

The Best Screen Play goes to [drum roll] May 31, 1985 - the day of the Barrie tornado. - the settings would be Barrie and Owen Sound. As per usual, I don't know who I would cast in the various roles but there is lots of drama in the story.

The Best Picture goes to [drum roll] a photo of my uncle Bill and his cousin Madeline. They are both about the same age.  It is a cute photo of the two of them, but what makes the photo special is that children of Madeline saw a photo of her that they had never seen before. Both live in Europe.

The Best Comedy goes to [drum roll] a photo called Who Caught all those Fish? Everyone is all dressed up but they are holding a string of fish.

Now those are my choices. Do you agree? All the best to all the other genealogy bloggers. I hope you had some postings that you choose to highlight.


© 2010 Janet Iles

My First Home - 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

My first home was above our corner grocery store. I lived there until the end of grade two. In the photo above is my sister holding me on her knee. It was taken during the winter of 1951. Straight behind us is the entrance to the apartment. Stairs led upstairs to where we lived.

 I remember a few things about the place. It was a one bedroom apartment. The bedroom was small. It eventually held the three children. A bunk bed and a single bed were in the room. Outside that room was a hallway area where there was a daybed. It was there my great aunt Margaret would sleep when she came to visit. My parents slept on a sofa bed. I can't remember where the bathroom was located. There was a fairly good sized kitchen.  - To my siblings - Have I remembered it correctly?

We also had an attic where we could go to play. It was also used as a storage area.
We had good neighbours and there were many children our age so we didn't lack for playmates. A special bonus was that my paternal grandparents lived across the street.

Below is what the building looks like today from a Google map street view. For a number of years, it was a doctor's office with apartments above. I don't know what is on the main floor but there are apartments in this building.


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There weren't traffic lights at the corner when we lived there. They were added in recent years.
© 2010 Janet Iles

Elizabeth Shown Mills Seminar - Registration now open for April 2 event in Toronto

I am very excited. Elizabeth Shown Mills is coming to Toronto, Ontario on April 2, 201! I had hoped to hear her speak in 2005 at the FGS conference in Salt Lake City but Hurricane Katrina happened. This is my chance to hear her without leaving Canada. It is going to be a full day with four presentations and a question and answer time. The price is very reasonable $45.00 Canadian for public admission and $20.00 Canadian for OCAPG members. The cost does not include lunch but does include refreshments.  Registration is now open. Space is limited so don't delay. I hope to see you there.

For my readers who don't know who Elizabeth Shown Mills is, here is some background information.

Advanced Genealogical Skills: A Seminar with Elizabeth Shown Mills

One of North America=s most honoured and influential genealogists is visiting Toronto on 2 April 2011. The Ontario Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Canadiana Department, North York Central Library [Toronto Public Library] proudly present a day-long seminar of advanced genealogical techniques and research methodology for experienced genealogists and committed family historians.

Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, has been a leader in genealogical education for a quarter century, pushing the cutting edge of research methodology, standards, and quality, having served as president of both the Board for Certification of Genealogists and The American Society of Genealogists, and as an officer or trustee of other major organizations. During her 16 years as editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Elizabeth made that journal into the leading forum for the teaching of research methods and principles. For even longer, her Advanced Methodology Track at the Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research has been a rite of passage for serious family historians.

Among Elizabeth=s countless publications are the award-winning Evidence_ Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian and Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians. They are considered Aabsolute essentials@ for both personal and professional genealogists. Her latest book, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, earned Library Journal=s Best Reference designation in 2007.

A popular lecturer much in demand, Elizabeth is a featured speaker at major North American genealogical conferences. She also appears at academic, library, and archives events, and in media interviews. Her remarkable 2004 historical novel, Isle of Canes, Aa gripping tale of cultural and racial conflict, economic triumph and ruin, and unyielding family pride told against the backdrop of colonial and antebellum Louisiana,@ involved years of archival research.

At the seminar, Elizabeth will speak about professional techniques for dissecting and solving research problems, simplifying source citations, and finding female ancestors. Heralded by her peers as Athe genealogist who had the most impact in the post-Roots era,@ she offers a unique opportunity for sharpening your skills.

Advanced Genealogical Skills: A Seminar with Elizabeth Shown Mills

Date:   Saturday, 2 April 2011

Place:  Auditorium, 2nd Floor of the North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St., Toronto

Time:  The program begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

            Doors open at 8:30 a.m.

Cost:   $45 public admission; $20 OCAPG members

Registration: Online at http://ocapg.org beginning 15 January 2011

(secure online credit card registration or payment by cheque/check.)

© 2010 Janet Iles

Sgt. James Watt Killed in Action 28 August 1918

James Watt is one of the soldiers that I am researching as part of my 2011 goals to create a memorial book. I started last week at Z researching and writing about Louis Zeiggel.

This week, my focus is James Watt. I do not know as much about James Watt as I do about the other soldiers. There are discrepancies in information between the 1911 census and his attestation papers when he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the 147th Battalion.  The 1911 census gives a date of birth of December 1884 in Ontario; whereas his attestation paper gives 24 May 1886 at Belfast, Antrim, Ireland. The information that he gave when he joined was most likely correct. In 1911, James was living in the household of Robert and Ellen Cameron as a lodger. We do not know who supplied the information. The digital images of his attestation papers are not available on the Library and Archives Canada website in the First World War - Canadian Expeditionary Soldiers database. Ancestry.ca has only the first page, so we are missing his physical description, medical status and religion.

James signed up 29 November 1915 in Owen Sound. He had been part of the 31st Militia Regiment for five years. He was married. James had married Annie Dales of Alliston in Owen Sound on 25 November 1914. According to his marriage registration, James Watt's parents were James Watt and Elizabeth McCready. Both Annie and James are listed as Methodists. Methodist minister, Rev. J. Wallace Stewart conducted the marriage ceremony.

His obituary in the 15 September 1918 The Owen Sound Sun provides some more information. When he went overseas to England, his rank was Sgt. Major but reverted to Sergeant when he went to France. James had been a foreman with the North American Bent Chair Company factory in Owen Sound. He had also been a sailor for a short time. He had come from Alliston, so he likely met Annie there.

James and Annie had one child who was born after James went overseas so he never saw the baby. James' mother was widowed and lived in Belfast, Ireland. Four brothers and one sister, a nurse, were serving in France when James was killed 28 August 1918. According to the War Graves Commission website Vis-En-Artois and Haucourt were taken by the Canadian Corps on 27 August 1918.

The Commonwealth War Graves Registry shows that he was initially buried in Boiry Notre Dame British Cemetery, 7 1/4 miles South east of Arras. His body was later moved to the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, 8 miles south east of Arras, France to grave P5, RJ, grave 1 in 1920.

Why was James Watt named as part of Knox Presbyterian Church memorial as he gives his religion as Methodist at the time of marriage? I am wondering if attended the Presbyterian Church with his landlords as he is and his landlords are shown as Presbyterian on the 1911 census. It looks like the Robert and Ellen who were witnesses at his wedding had been his landlords.

The project is described here and also back in 2008 it was part of my goal to research the men from then Knox Presbyterian Church Owen Sound who died in the First World War. An organ was dedicated in their memory in 1919. None of these individuals are related to me. I did have a great uncle who died in the First World War but he was a member of the Salvation Army.

© 2010 Janet Iles

Surprise Finds

 Today, when I was at the library, I was searching for a newspaper article for a client project in the Canadian Echo, I stumbled upon two articles pertaining to one of the soldiers in my project. It told how he was accidentally injured during a training lecture. That will make the telling of his story more interesting.

This afternoon, I went to the Grey County Archives to check a book for the same client. I didn't find much in the book for him but I found information on some of my own families as I checked the book page by page (not indexed.).

You  never know what you are going to find when you are researching. You might not find what you are looking for, but there may be a surprise or two.

© 2010 Janet Iles