Have you ever?

Have you ever looked at a workshop title or description and said to yourself, "I wouldn't be interested in that topic because I don't have ancestors in that place"? Did you sign up anyways and take a chance? or Did you stay at home thinking I won't spend the money as I won't learn anything worthwhile? 

On Saturday, the Bruce Grey Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society held its annual Fall Event in Durham, Ontario. They have been doing this for quite a few years now in October or as it was the case this year, in September. They bring to our area excellent speakers, often from Salt Lake City.

This year, Evva Benson, AG from the Family History Library returned to speak. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend last year, as I had a conflict on that day. Last year's topic was English genealogical research. I was sorry that I missed it because I heard how knowledgeable she was and that she gave excellent presentations. My paternal ancestors were from England and I know I would have learned alot.

This year's topic was primarily Irish research with one presentation on Scottish Research on the Internet. Should I go? I have no Irish ancestry, although I do have a first cousin now living in Ireland. If someone wants someone to help them with their Irish research, I quickly refer them to someone who is specializing in that area. I have much on my to do list. Should I stay home and tackle those tasks?

My decision -- I should go. Why?

1 . The food is always good. The Durham Anglican women cater and the meal is always delicious - ham and scalloped potatoes, vegetables, some jellied salads and rolls and homemade pie. [I wasn't disappointed.]
2. I want to see my friends. [I did. There are some that I only see once a year at this event, but it is great way to spend a day with your special friends.]
3. You always learn at least one new thing or you are reminded about something you had forgotten that might help you in your current research.
4. I likely would not have tackled anything on my to do list.

Kathleen Labudie-Szakall welcomed everyone first.

Evva Benson's first topic - was "Tracing the Origins of Famine and Post-Famine Irish Immigrants".
What did I learn that interested me?

1. That generally that pre-famine emigrations were Presbyterians from Northern Ireland and post-famine emigrations were Catholic from Southern Ireland.

2. research strategies that can be transferred to all research (this was a reinforcement of much I already knew).

   - "leave no stone unturned" when trying to learn information especially the place of origin in the "old country" - take a list of places you should research and do it for the key members of the family, siblings, etc. then do it for all relations in the area and then their associates to find missing information. She provided a flow chart that was specific to Irish research but one could be developed for other places of origin.

 - She told about some specific resources that help with surname distribution in Ireland that can be helpful if the name is uncommon and you know father's name and mother's maiden name if they were born in Ireland. If many of the neighbours were of the same ethnic origin, could they have come from the same place? Test out this with the surname distribution resources.  [Note to self: what resources are available for other countries? - Germany - my Stiver (Stoeber) ancestors came with a group under the leadership of William Berczy. Has anyone done a study of all these names using the techniques that she suggested but applying it to Germany.]

After a break, she talked about "Tracing the Scots-Irish Immigrants" and "Irish Records Overview"

Before lunch there was a short annual meeting. The same executive were voted in and all the board members were introduced. Thank you to all of them for all their hard work.

During the lunch break, people visited the vendors' tables. The Grey County Historical Society table was looked after by our past-president.

I had the opportunity to make contact with a person, whose ancestor had written about Owen Sound, in the early 1920s. He wrote his observations of early life in Owen Sound and area as he remembered it. His information is so very interesting. I would like to see his work published. I would like to include, in appendices, follow up research on his writings. [Yes, I know I have other projects that I need to finish first, but making this contact is important. Thanks Betty W.]

Following the door prizes, we settled down again to learn more. This time the presentation was about "Ireland Internet - Separating the Gold from the Blarney".

After a short break, we heard about "Scottish Internet". I haven't done much Scottish research on the Internet.

 - During this talk, Evva Benson mentioned that 70-80% of the OPR (Old Parochial Registers) - pre 1855 Church of Scotland records are on Family Search. A more complete database can be found on the disks at the Family History Centres and at the Family History Library. They are all on  Scotland's People. It is important to remember that these are only Church of Scotland records and that if the family was a member of one of the break away groups they would not be included. This was new information for me.

At the end of the day, there were a few minutes remaining and our speaker gave us a couple more tidbits.

At Familysearch go to Library then Education - then Family History Library Series Online.
There you will find some free online classes. Check it out. They would appreciate your feedback.

The last site was quite exciting for those of us who do English Research - interactive maps She suggested being patient while the maps load. I will have to take some time to check out the features of this site.

So, am I glad I went? Yes! Look at all I learned from the day.

Thank you, Evva Benson! Thank you Bruce-Grey Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society!

Have you ever? - Have you had a similar experience? Make a comment or write about it on your blog.
© 2009 Janet Iles

Knox Church organ - a Military memorial

As some of my readers know, I have been researching the men affiliated with Knox Owen Sound who died in the Great War. The research started when several of us were given the task of having the church organ and the two plaques designated in the  Ministry of National Defence - Directorate of History and Heritage - Inventory of Military Memorials.

We received our designation several years ago, but the information had not been posted to the Ministry's site. I decided today to look again, as I am preparing for the concert this Sunday evening at 7 p.m. at the church. I will be MC and I want to say a few words about the organ and the men, in whose memory, the organ is dedicated.

I am very pleased to say that the church organ is now included in the Inventory. You may be interested in looking at this site for other memorials found across Canada.
© 2009 Janet Iles

Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Ahnentafel Roulette

Genea-Musings: Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Ahnentafel Roulette

Randy's away but we still get to do Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.

We are to take the age that your father would be if living and that would 93 as he was born in 1916.
Divided by 4 that makes 23.25 and rounded to the nearest number would be 23.

#23 on my Ahnentafel Chart is Hannah James. She is my great-great grandmother.

3 facts
1. She married John Mucklow on 11 September 1843 in Alcester, Warwickshire, England. (English civil registration)
2. Her father was George James. I do not know her mother's name.
3.I have found 11 children for her and John. (census and baptismal records)


Thanks Randy, I haven't talked about Hannah Mucklow (nee James) before.

addition
I remembered that I actually have a photo of her that I had received several years from the husband of my second cousin in England.

© 2009 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - Ships in Owen Sound harbour

 

Ships and boats in the Owen Sound harbour during the Salmon Spectacular

  

Algosteel in the harbour

 Ojibway in the harbour

photos taken 5 September 2009 by Janet Iles

© 2009 Janet Iles

Home Sweet Home - home of my great grandparents Love

Home Sweet Home ---

I never knew my great grandparents, James Love and Elizabeth Fields (Robinson) Love but I have been in what was their home on Manitoulin Island. The farm is in Carnarvon Township (now part of the Township of Central Manitoulin).

The Love brothers owned property at Lots 12, 13, 14, and 15 of Concession 4 and Lots 14 and 15 of Concession 3 and Lot 15 of Concession 2. The house, I believe, would have been on Concession 3. [Thanks to knowing the coordinates of the Mindemoya Cemetery, which is on the same road on Lot 16, Concession 3. 

Situated across the lane from the home in which my mother lived, it was the home of my uncle Ross and his family, in my childhood years.

 

This photo is likely from 1902 - 1908 era. 

Notice the roughness of the lane. When I was a child we entered by the side door. 

To see a family photo in front of the house, go to my article on the Love Family ca 1902

I don't know if I realized at the time, when I would be there for meals, that it had been my great-grandparents home. I don't think I felt any special connection to the past. It was just a great place to visit my aunt and uncle and of course, all my cousins.

My recollection of the place is that we entered into a large family farm kitchen. Also on the main floor was the parlour with a player piano. I wonder if my recollections are correct? I know that my mother used to spend a lot of time in the house visiting with her grandmother and aunt Margaret, when she was a young girl.

This has been written for the Canadian Carnival of Genealogy

photo from the collection of Margaret Love, in the possession of the author.
© 2009 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - John Thomas Love, my grandfather

 Photograph from the family album. 1943, Carnarvaon Township, Manitoulin Island, Ontario.

© 2009 Janet Iles

Visiting an Ancestral Place - Inspirational Writing

Most of us who are genealogists wish to have the opportunity to visit places where our ancestors once walked. We want to see the places where they might have gone to church or to school or where they worked and to see the rivers and hills that were in the area.  Perhaps, we can understand a little more about their lives, if we get the opportunity to make this journey. Perhaps, we will get a sense of their presence in these locations.

 Later this week, I will be posting a photo of the home of my maternal great-grandparents, but today's posting is not about my journey to an ancestral place.

Thanks to a friend, I was recently introduced to the wonderful writing of Kim Bullock who writes on a blog called What Women Write. There you can read the writing of six women.

In a recent article, Kim describes her visit to East Aurora, New York where she visited the Roycroft Inn. Here is a short excerpt describing her reaction

As I retraced my great-grandmother’s path up the stairs from the reception room to the Morris Room, I felt a chill against the back of my neck. Once inside the room, images and voices from the past flashed through my mind with such speed and force, I had to grip a table to keep from falling over.

Kim is currently working on a book about the life of her great-grandfather, Carl Ahrens, an Ontario born artist and author. She has decided to write a novel, The Oak Lovers, based on his most interesting life.  In this blog posting, she describes her explanation why she decided not to do a biography but a fictional work. Another blog article, I found most interesting was Finding Inspiration in Landscape.Take the time too to read the comments to her blog articles. To read more about Carl Ahrens, check out her website.

Kim's writing style draws you in to the story. You can picture the scenes she is describing. Perhaps, she will be an inspiration to others to put their research to paper.


© 2009 Janet Iles

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - my three favourite blogs

Randy Seaver challenged us as part of Saturday Night Genealogy to post our three favourite blogs. Family Tree Magazine has requested nominations for the sites we read the most. It is hard to say that one is better than another. I learn something from each one. I read a variety of different blogs. I like to read the Canadian genealogy blogs, but I am not limited to reading only those. I enjoy the ones that share the family stories. Here are the three that I have nominated so far.

Brenda at Brenda Dougall Merriman has been researching for many years and her posts talk about her ongoing research.  I enjoy her writing style. From time to time, she will write about camels or share family stories.

George at George Geder blog is a great storyteller. I also enjoy reading about his African-American roots. His stories are well illustrated with photos from his collection. George does a great job of restoring damaged photographs.

Diane at CanadaGenealogy or "Jane's your aunt"  provides news on genealogy in Canada on her blog. She shares her family treasures and participates in the various Carnivals telling her family's story.


© 2009 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - Memory Garden Retreats

 

  

 

  

 

Memory Garden Retreats, Owen Sound 

photos August 4, 2009 by Janet Iles

© 2009 Janet Iles

End of an Era - CKNX TV station went off the air

Yesterday, marked the end of an era. Now, I must admit honestly that I have not been watching CKNX TV much in the last ten years or so. CKNX was based in Wingham, Ontario and it was one of the earliest television stations in Southwestern Ontario. It came on the air on 18 November 1955. I don't know how soon after that we got our first television set.

For many years, CKNX was the only television station that we received in this area. We got to know the various television personalities: Murray Gaunt (agri-news), John Strong (news) and Crawford Douglas (sports) and Ross Hamilton (weather) to name a few.

We watched the local shows such as Circle 8 Ranch (country and western music) with Al Cherney, Tommy Hunter,  and Cora Robertson.  We also liked the music of Earl and Martha (I believe that was her name) Heywood. Sunday afternoon before Walt Disney, we'd watch Singtime. In later years, it was not on as frequently. Here is what is included in The Churches of Grey Presbytery of the United Church of Canada : Historical Highlights that I wrote in 2007.

Singtime

Several Churches mentioned Singtime in their activities. Singtime was a United Church programme, sponsored by the Presbyteries of Huron, Bruce and Grey, aired on CKNX-TV in Wingham, Ontario. The programme began in the mid-1950s. The planning committee shared in the planning of content, hosting and interviewing. Many recall watching Singtime late Sunday afternoon but in 1979, according to the Grey Presbytery newsletter Koinonia: The life and work of the United Church in Grey, the programme aired on the second Saturday of the month at 6:30 p.m. with a repetition on the following Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.

One programme in 1979 featured Shallow Lake United Church. Rev. Larry Marshall hosted Singtime on Saturday, March 10, 1979, with the theme, “Step into the Sunshine” and featured “The Sunshine Signers,” children from the Shallow Lake and Hepworth United Churches. Other singers included the Cheer sisters, Margaret Williams and Rev. Marshall. This was a programme for “The Year of the Child.”

The station became affiliated with CFPL in London and the news came out of London. Since 1992 there has only been seven on staff at the Wingham station.

It is sad to see the end of this era of local television. Barrie and Kitchener provide some coverage of Grey and Bruce news and weather.

To read more about CKNX, check this virtual museum entry.

Wikipedia is already updated to list the station as defunct.

© 2009 Janet Iles

Family Reunions - Iles style

Fourteen years have passed since the last Iles family reunion. The last was in the summer of 1995. My sister and I attended with our  mother. It was held in Kolapore at what was at that time the home of my 1st cousin once removed, Mark Royall.

 

Kolapore, Church of the Nazarene.

You may notice that this is the Church of the Nazarene as well. The original church building has been converted to be the manse and a new church building added to the rear. 

It was a beautiful day and most of the afternoon was spent outdoors.

  

Janet, Marion [mom] and Nancy 1995

Originally, the family reunions were called for the descendants of George Iles. With time, the older generations have passed away and the younger generations are more geographically widespread apart. I also think it needs a group who want to organize an event. Now it seems that the only time some of the family gets together is at funerals, an occasional wedding or a special birthday.

Venues of other family reunions were Park Head, Oliphant, Sauble Beach and Owen Sound. Activities included games, visiting and eating. Sometimes the meals were catered so that no one in the family would have to spend time in the kitchen.

 

July 30, 1995 at Kolapore, Grey County, Ontario

The highlight of those gatherings was for me, besides seeing everyone, was enjoying the music of the Iles family band that played for many of the reunions over the years. Sometimes, the family members who played mostly brass instruments, played for those who had gathered but on several occasions, they gave concerts for the public. They did a good job, as most only played together, during the quick rehearsal and concert each year.

This article was written for the 79th Carnival of Genealogy hosted by Jane at CanadaGenealogy or "Jane's Your Aunt" blog

© 2009 Janet Iles