52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2019 -- Week #28: Reunions

Back in 2009, I wrote about the Iles family reunions. Check the link for some photos. We had our last one 24 years ago, in 1995 in Kolapore, Town of the Blue Mountains, Grey County, Ontario, Canada. My mother passed away the following January. The ones we had in the past were for the descendants of my great-grandfather George Iles.

Well it is about time we had another one. This time it is planned for the descendants of my grandparents, William George Iles and Lily Dudley. Except for an aunt by marriage, all the children and their spouses are deceased. I am now part of the senior generation (although certainly not the oldest). One of my cousins is turning 80 in August and his family decided why not have a reunion and extend it beyond his siblings and their descendants. When I was contacted, I said, let's do it.

We have had one planning meeting. My sister and I are helping them to get the word out. Thanks to Facebook and email, I am making connections with the descendants of a couple lines. Since the last reunion, some who attended as young children have children of their own.

In preparation, I as a genealogist want to include some family history. I have prepared a four generations couples hourglass chart. I based it on the 5 generation couples hourglass chart using Excel found in the Facebook Group "Genedocs Templates" files.  The chart shows my grandparents in the centre with their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. I added my grandparents photo. It would be from around the time they married. I also put at the bottom of the chart the name of each of their children who lived to adulthood and their spouses names.

Here is a screenshot of a portion of it.

I am having the chart enlarged and I will have it on display at the reunion in August. I will likely post photos of past reunions.

I am looking forward to seeing cousins who I haven't seen in years and to meet new ones for the first time. It will be potluck for the first course and of course birthday cake.

© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 21 Military

What did I learn from my grandfather's, William George Iles, military personnel record?

For many years, we in Canada have had only access to the Attestation papers for World War I soldiers. Last year, Library & Archives Canada completed the digitization of the personnel files and had posted to its website, links to the files as a grouping was completed.

My grandfather's military record confirmed for me that he left for overseas when my father was very young. Two months after my dad's birth, he arrived in Liverpool, England.

His record showed me what I expected to find in his record: when he was taken on strength; any transfers, when he had leave, etc.

What surprised me, is that the records included where his family lived. I was also surprised to find out the family moved more than once. The military needed this information to send any money to my grandmother or grandfather.

1916

1066 3rd Avenue East, Owen Sound

Attestation papers

10 August 1918	721 10th Street East, Owen Sound	Military record
1919	721, 10th Street East, Owen Sound	Demobilization
1919	1255 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound	Last military pay? 1919?

16 January 1928

295, 7th Avenue East, Owen Sound

Active militia

This has led me to add to this inventory of addresses. I checked information census records, city directories, and the birth registrations of the children that are now public. I can also check any old city telephone directories that are available at the local public library.

Now this is also has me thinking, should I not also check the military records for his siblings to find out where they lived? -- Harold Edward was killed in action on 8 August 1918 and his brother, Emmanuel who also served. Harold was still single and his address was the same as his father, George Iles when he signed up. Emmanuel was not married when he signed up, but he was not living at home. He was living in Berlin, Ontario (renamed Kitchener) but gave his father's address as his next of kin at 1529 9th Avenue East.

Clearly, you can learn more about the family through these personnel records.
2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2019: #4 I'd Like to Meet

In the past, I have written about some of my ancestors whom I would like to meet. In Guess Who is Coming to Dinner, I wrote about

1. My 4th great grandfather -- John Nicholas Stiver (born Johan Niclaus Stőber [Stoeber]) in what is now Germany around 1745. He came to Canada in 1794.
2. My great-great grandfather Thomas Love. Thomas came to Canada with his wife in the 1840s.
3. My great grandmother - Emily Iles nee Pugh. She came to Canada with her family in 1905.
4. My great grandfather - Josiah Dudley. Josiah lived all his life in England.

In last year's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, I wrote in Invite to Dinner about Hannah Johnston nee Hemingway.

I'd like to meet my paternal great grandfather, George Iles. He died when my dad was 20 years old. I don't ever recall asking my dad about his grandfather. My dad would have known him as they both lived in Owen Sound, Ontario. While I have written about Emily Pugh, his first wife, there is still so much more I want to know about his life especially before and after his marriage to her. 

George was the seventh known child of James Iles and Louisa Belcher. He was born 7 December 1858, in West Field, Guiting Power, Gloucestershire. He was baptized 2 January 1859 in the Parish church. 

His father was a shepherd and the family moved to where James could find work. George married Emily Pugh 15 October 1881 in Stow-on-the Wold. George worked as a bone and rag man, hawker and and later a grocery carter, so his family also moved many times. 

Throughout George's married life, he held different jobs. This resulted in the family moving for him to get work. The children's birth registrations in England and English census records lead me to that conclusion. George worked as a bone and rag man, hawker and and later a grocery carter.

Questions about his life in England 
What were your parents like? Tell me about your siblings? What was it like to move often both as a child and as an adult? Tell me about your time as a bone and rag man and a hawker. Did you work for someone else?

Why did you move to Birmingham?

The Decision to Emigrate
What made you decide to leave England and go to Canada? When did you leave? What ship did you sail on? Did you have help with your passage? 

Arrival in Canada
Where did you arrive? Did you go directly to Grey County? Why did you go there? Did you travel with anyone else? 

Time in Grey County and Owen Sound
According to the records I have found, you moved regularly. In 1913 you were living in Owen Sound when your wife Emily died but in 1921 you were out in Sydenham Township. Were you living at Starvation Corners? When did you move back to Owen Sound?

 Tell me about your children. Where did you meet Mary, your second wife?

So many questions that I would ask him. So many questions, I wish I had asked my dad and his older siblings. 
© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2019: Week 3 - Unusual Names

At different times in history and in different cultures, some first names are more popular. What we may today feel are unusual names weren't consider so when a child was given the name. What will people think of the names children are given today in the future?

Two names that I have chosen to look at are from my Hemingway family line.

The first is Zillah Baker. She was the daughter of Seneca Baker and Esther Ann Milliken. Zillah was born in Whitchurch Township, York County, Ontario, 11 July 1888. Zillah married Harry Gilbert 11 June 1924. Her name was spelled Zella in the marriage registration. 

Zillah was the name of the wife of Lamach (Genesis 4:19).

The second one is Zeluka Barnes. She was the daughter of Jacob Barnes and Anna Holder. Her birth registration appears to be spelled Zoluka. In the 1891 census, her name is spelled Zeluka. She was born 29 September 1879 in Victoria County, Ontario.



© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2019: Week 1 - Firsts

Until I started researching my family history, I had no idea that any of my ancestors came to Canada before 1900. My grandparents, William Iles and Emily Lillian "Lil" Iles, nee Dudley, came to Canada in 1905. I didn't even know the year when I first started but I did know that they were both born in England, as was their first child, my aunt May. I knew my great-grandparents, George Iles and wife Emily Iles, nee Pugh, also came to Canada. It turns out that they didn't come together. The children came with their mother also in 1905. The passenger record shows that they knew that they were coming to Owen Sound. George came earlier but I have yet to find a passenger record for him.

Further research led to discovering when others came from England or Scotland. But who were the first of my ancestors to come to Canada? 

In 1993, I learned that my Stöber [Stoeber], later going by Stiver, arrived as part of a group in 1794 under the leadership of William Berczy. They settled in Markham Township, York County, Ontario. It was because of what I learned in the book, Markham, 1794-1900, I was able to make the connection.  The discovery of the group, the Markham Berczy Settlers Association, allowed me to learn more about their story. These ancestors had not come from either England or Scotland. They had left in 1792 what would become Germany.

Until you start to study your family history, you may not know who were your first ancestors to arrive in the country where you reside. 

© 2019 Janet Iles