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2008-2009 Branch
News
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Ancestors in Your
Attic
By Bob Dawes, photographs
by Georgette Green
The
wet weather helped chase genealogists out of their gardens and into the
Quinte Branch annual "Ancestors in Your Attic"
meeting on June 20th. The meeting started with a presentation
by Helen Coffey about how she published her family history "From
Tipperary to Tyendinaga, The
Story of John Coffey and Mary Burke and their
Descendants".
She used Microsoft Word for the text and Paintbrush for the images
without using any advanced features and so created the table of
contents and index from scratch. Maps were traced and re-drawn by
hand to avoid copyright issues and to simplify their content. Charts
were also built from scratch using only some basic shapes available
in Word to indicate family groups. Overall, she showed the audience
that you don't need specialty software to publish a family history,
just the desire to "get it done." Helen graciously donated
a copy of her family history to the branch library and
also supplied us with a digital copy of the index for the Names
Index database finding
aid.
Ancestors
in your Attic followed with an expert panel of Rod Green, Marilyn
Harry, Stacy Goddard and Barbara Dawes responding to written
questions submitted by the audience. The discussion ranged from how
to find where ancestors in the UK had emigrated from to what early
Ontario records are available in the 1800-1830 timeframe. Rod Green
still had his laptop hooked up to the projector from the previous
presentation and was able to demonstrate web sites that were
suggested as helpful. Judging by the audience participation in
the discussion it was another successful "Ancestors in your
Attic" meeting.
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Bob Dawes thanks Helen Coffey for donating a copy of her family
history "From Tipperary to Tyendinaga" to the Quinte
Branch.
The expert panel including Rod Green, Marilyn
Harry, Stacy Goddard and Barbara Dawes responded to questions
submitted by genealogists in the audience.
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Quinte Branch at
the 225th Anniversary of the Loyalist Landing
Photographs
by Georgette Green
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On
June 13th, 2009 The Bay of Quinte Branch of the United
Empire Loyalists Association of Canada (UELAC) marked the
225th Anniversary of the Landing of the United Empire
Loyalists at Adolphustown, Ontario and the eventual
establishment of the Province of Ontario. It was held on the
site of the United Empire Loyalist Heritage Centre and Park
where the Loyalists landed on 16 June 1784. The day featured
a large encampment of various military re-enactment units as
well as a flotilla of seven bateaux, civilian re-enactors,
artisans and settlers with their supplies on display. There
were performances by the Loyalist Fife and Drum Corps and a
wreath laying ceremony later in the afternoon at the UEL
monument and Cemetery in the Park. |
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Finding
Ancestors in Newspapers
By Bob Dawes, photograph
by Georgette Green
May 16, 2009--OGS President, Don Hinchley, told the Quinte Branch members, gathered in the Quinte West Council Chambers, how to use newspapers to research their ancestors. He concentrated on the print publications of the 19th and 20th centuries and explained how genealogists need to read between the lines. Many of the older, community based newspapers provided elaborate social news surrounding family visits, weddings and deaths which can provide a wealth of new leads in your family history research. Quite often they would provide the married names of grown daughters in an obituary or the number or identify that a parent was deceased in the wedding notice. It is important to look for the same events in different papers as they would provide differing amounts of detail and not always correct which is another red flag for genealogists. If you are unsure of what papers cover your area of interest check out the Inventory or Ontario Newspapers by J. Brian Gilchrest at your local library. A good online site to check for papers is at the
University of Waterloo. Microfilm copies of most papers are available through inter-library loan from the Archives of Ontario or Library and Archives Canada and you can check their websites to see what has been filmed.
Finally, Don reviewed the digital age papers which are on-line and include the digitized copies of some older papers. He recommended using
Wikipedia to check out the history of various papers to to see their print runs and name changes. The
Google News Archive is a good place to search older papers including what was held by
Paper of Record. Most of the large national papers are available online through pay-per-view but most public libraries have access and some offer home access to their members. To keep on top of new information check
out
Google Alerts which will advise you if a name you're researching becomes listed.
Don is Past Chair of Durham Region Branch OGS. He is a
retired schoolteacher and is a genealogy �buff.� He
was Vice President and is now President of the Ontario
Genealogical Society.
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Quinte Branch Chair Richard Hughes introduces OGS President Don
Hinchley.
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Quinte Branch Members
receive Ontario
Volunteer Service Awards
By Vernalynn Heale On
May 12, 2009 three members received Ontario
Volunteer Service Awards, from the Ontario Ministry of
Citizenship and Immigration in recognition of each of their 5 year
commitment to volunteerism with the Quinte Branch.
Representing Richard Hughes, Chair, and Tina Gemmell, Webmaster, was
Vernalyn Heale, Membership, who accepted their awards from
Leona Dombrowsky M.P.P. for Prince Edward-Hastings riding.
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Vernalyn Heale accepting the awards from Leona Dombrowksy
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Quinte
Branch Librarian Mugged
By Richard Hughes May
5, 2009--Branch librarian Marilyn Harry received a
candy-filled coffee mug from Mark Philbin of radio station
Classic Hits 95.5 in Belleville and Amy Taylor of Investor's
Group. This was a program of Volunteer
and Information Quinte to recognize and honour
volunteers in this area. |
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Looking at the Loyalists on Their 225th
Anniversary
By Bob Dawes, photograph
by Georgette Green
April 18, 2009--Extra chairs had to be brought in
to accommodate the crowd of more than 60 who came to hear Peter W.
Johnson UE explain the significance of the 225th anniversary of the
United Empire Loyalists in the Bay of Quinte region. Peter took the
audience through the course of events that created the
loyalists--from the beginning of the American Revolution to the
final settlement of their sons and daughters in area townships. He
recounted the surnames of many area families that are related to the
original loyalists causing many in attendance to start scribbling in
their notebooks. Peter explained that the weekend of June 13th will
be devoted to the celebration with many events and re-enactments at
the Loyalist Park in Adolphustown.
Quinte
Branch also presented Peter with the first copy of the new Stockdale
Cemetery Annotated Transcript on CD-ROM. Peter was instrumental in
creating the annotations to go with the memorial inscriptions as
well as contributing many photos and copies of funeral cards for the
publication. For more information about this exciting product from
Quinte Branch Digital Media please see the Books & CDs
page.
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Peter W. Johnson UE, Past President of the United Empire
Loyalists Association, wearing the uniform that would have been worn
in the early part of the American Revolution by a musketman
(private) in the New Jersey Volunteers.
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Quinte Family History Researchers Receive Valuable Tool
New CD Provides Comprehensive Information on Stockdale Cemetery and Early Murray Township Residents.
2 April 2009:
Stockdale Cemetery, in Murray Township, has been completely transcribed � a document of 366 pages on
CD-ROM, including over 1400 entries with extensive family information, relationships, maiden names, cemetery history and maps. The CD is illustrated with pictures of early settlers, buildings, etc., from the collection of Mr. Peter W.
Johnson, UE.
Creating family trees has become a very popular hobby for Quinte area residents and a key tool is to be found in the area cemeteries. Stockdale Cemetery has long been the final resting place for residents of Murray Township. Now, through a collaborative effort of the
Quinte Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society and Mr. Peter Johnson,
UE, local genealogist and former president of the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, a comprehensive new document has been created.
The Stockdale Cemetery CD, a total of 366 pages, is indexed by name and is fully searchable. It is available from the Quinte Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society for $20.00.
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Irish Exodus from County Wicklow
and
Re-Settlement in
Hastings
County
By Bob Dawes, photographs
by Bob Dawes
The Quinte West Public Library meeting room
was packed on a sunny but cold March 21st to hear speaker, Jim
Kennelly, talk about the migration from County Wicklow, Ireland to
Hastings County during the potato famine. He explained how the
tenancy system worked within Irish agricultural society from the
landowner down through a series of head tenants and sub-tenants to
the poor farmers at the bottom. These people subsisted primarily on
potatoes and when the blight hit in the mid 1840's they were
devastated and over one million died. The Coolattin Estate was owned
by the Fitzwilliam family who were very benevolent towards their
tenants and assisted many in emigrating to Ontario. Further
information can be obtained through the book "Surplus
People" by Jim Rees or from www.bytown.net/wicklowemigrants.htm
Also
recognized at the meeting were, Laura Bush, a life time member of
Quinte Branch, who turned 90 on St. Patrick's Day and, Char Cooke,
who with her husband Roy have audited the branch financial
statements for many years.
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Jim Kennelly with Quinte Branch Chairman Richard Hughes.
Happy Birthday Laura!
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Freemasonry
and the United Empire Loyalists in Upper Canada
By Bob Dawes, photographs
by Bob Dawes and Rodney Green
February 21,
2009--Quinte genealogists and a spattering of local freemasons, including local former MP Harry Danford, assembled in the Quinte West council chambers to hear Robert Collins McBride UE: a retired teacher, Loyalist Gazette editor and Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Peterborough Masons, speak about the beginnings of freemasonry in North America and Upper Canada. Bob began with a review of freemasonry in the United Kingdom and how lodges were transported to the North American colonies by the pioneers and soldiers. As communities in the new world developed so did the practice of freemasonry and its basic
tenets of brotherly love, relief and truth. The American Revolution was the first American civil war and it was a trying time for masons of different loyalties. All of the big names in the revolution such as George Washington, King George III, Joseph Brant, Sir John Johnson etc., were all freemasons and found unique ways to maintain their vows while fighting their neighbours. Bob recounted many stories of situations where lives were saved by fellow masons after viewing a distress sign and either rescuing the individual or arranging an escape. He finished his presentation with a review of the organization of Masonic lodges in Ontario and where their various records are kept.
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Larry McQuoid thanks Bob McBride for his presentation.
Local freemasons gathered to hear Bob McBride speak.
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300th
Anniversary of the Irish Palatines in Quinte
By Bob Dawes, photographs
by Georgette Green
January 17,
2009--Eighty-Two
excited genealogists filled the Quinte West council chamber to hear
Don Dulmage explain the exodus of the Palatines from Germany to the
Bay of Quinte. In 1709, these protestant Germans were being
persecuted by the Roman Catholic majority and moved to England at
the invitation of a sympathetic Queen Anne. They settled in
London but were unwelcome so moved on to Rathkeale, Co. Limerick,
Ireland to help beef up the protestant population there. A
equal number also went directly to American colonies in New York and
South Carolina. In 1760, there was a second wave of emigration to
North America when the Irish landlords drastically increased their
rents. These colonists sided with the loyalists during the American
Revolution and were eventually relocated to Canada where they
settled around the Bay of Quinte. Don also explained the complicated
surname changes that occurred first through Ireland and then North
America and recounted his own journey to the land of his ancestors
in the Rheinland Pfalz area of Germany. He also explained how
difficult it is to find any sign of their presence in New York state
where their Loyalist history has been expunged. A good website for a
quick history lesson is A Short History of the Irish Palatines by
Tom Upshaw at www.teskey.org/palhist.html.
Don Dulmage is the Canadian author of
"Return to Deutschland" which documents the journey of his discovery of his family's history (through a set of extraordinary circumstances) from Prince Edward County back to Germany where he was reunited with his root family after 292 years.
"Return
to Deutschland" is available from Essence
Publishing in Belleville.
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82 excited genealogists filled the council chamber to hear Don
Dulmage (below)
Don Dulmage is thanked by Rod Green (left) and Richard Hughes
(right).
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How Mary Thomas
Tells the Story of Canada's History
By Bob Dawes, photographs
by Georgette Green
November 2008--Chair Dick
Hughes kicked off the Annual General Meeting at 12:30 to get the
business part over before the program. He presented his Annual
Report to the Membership followed by Bob Dawes who presented the
nominating committee's slate of executive officers for 2009.
They are Chair - Dick Hughes; Vice Chair - Shirley Heard; Treasurer
- Richard Jones; Secretary - Georgette Green who were voted into
office by the Quinte Branch members attending. Following
adjournment of the AGM, Mary Thomas, CJBQ radio reporter and author,
took to the podium to talk about her three books. She
explained how she did her research on each of the books and how much
it was like genealogy in tracking down the facts as well as her
extensive use of archives and public libraries during their
development also much like genealogy. She did short readings
from each to emphasize the different types of research she got
involved in and that just whetted the audiences appetite so that she
sold out the supply she brought to the meeting. Her books are
"Behind Enemy Lines," the story of a WWII tail gunner who
spent six months on the run through Belgium and France before
escaping to Switzerland. "David's War" which chronicles an
artillery battery from Gananoque who fought in WWI and "Turning
Point" which brings to life the 1837 Rebellion from the point
of view of Anna Jameson an English author and feminist.
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Bob Dawes thanks Mary Thomas for her presentation at the Quinte
Branch AGM on 15 Nov 2008 which was enjoyed by a full house.
"Behind Enemy Lines",
"David's War" and "Turning Point" by Mary Thomas
are available from Essence
Publishing in Belleville.
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"Damned
Rascal"
Captain John Walden Meyers
By Bob Dawes, photographs
by Bob Dawes
October 2008--Almost one
hundred people filled the Quinte West council chamber to watch
"Damned Rascal" and listen to producer Doug Knutson, of
Windswept Productions, explain how he had researched and
produced his documentary on the life of Captain John Walden Meyers.
Often described as the founder of Belleville, Captain Meyers was a
Loyalist, industrialist, entrepreneur, soldier, spy and eater of
small children. The legend of his espionage exploits during
the Revolutionary War earned him the last title which frontier
mothers would use to scare their children into submission. Although
he is only half finished the documentary, the audience was
mesmerized with what has been done so far. Over twenty descendants
of Captain Meyers were in attendance coming from as far away as
Woodstock and a group photo captured their interest in their
ancestor. More
in the news at SNAP
Quinte
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Doug Knutson of Windswept Productions is thanked for his
presentation by Past Chair Carole Foshay.
Over twenty descendants of Captain Meyers were in attendance.
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Quinte
Genealogy Centre Appointed Depository for Papers of Mr. Hugh P.
O�Neil, M.P.P. for Quinte 1975-1995 and Cabinet Minister
On
Tuesday morning, September 23, 2008, the Quinte Branch of the Ontario
Genealogical Society celebrated with the Community at Quinte West City
Hall. Mr. Hugh P. O�Neil, Member of the Provincial Legislature for
Quinte, 1975-1995, deposited his collection of papers, representing 20
years of legislative memories in the Quinte Genealogy Centre,
operated by Quinte Branch OGS. These valuable papers will be available
for reference by the public, academics, historians, journalists and
writers in the years to come.
Members and guests were warmly
welcomed by Quinte Branch Chairman Richard Hughes, who then turned the
program over to QB Director Bob Dawes who introduced the special guest
speakers: Mayor John Williams; Library Board Chairman Craig
Desjardins; and Mrs. Dorothy James of the Trent Port Historical who
joined friends and family of Mr. O�Neil and members and guests of
Quinte Branch for this special event. Unveiling of the collection by
Mr. Hugh O�Neil and Mr. Richard Hughes followed. A plaque
commemorating the event was placed with the collection by Mr. Richard
Hughes.
Mr. O'Neil stated �The Quinte
Genealogy Centre is home to a significant collection of historical
records relating to the families of the Quinte area. It encourages
research into this history by individuals across North America and
beyond. In these circumstances, I felt that this would be the most
appropriate location for the records of my 20 years serving the people
of the Quinte area. I am very pleased that the records of my time
representing Quinte will be available to everyone for many years to
come."
Refreshments were served by
Quinte Branch and a social time followed.
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Janet Kellough
presents "Is it History or is it Fiction?"
By Bob Dawes, photographs
by Bob Dawes
Those attending
the Quinte Branch meeting on Saturday, September 20th were
entertained by Janet Kellough, a local author and story teller. She
explained that her mission in life was to write historical fiction
with a back-bone of actual events and people or the back story as
she phrased it. This gets the story across in an interesting and
entertaining way for the reader and encourages them to research the
facts for themselves. Janet did two readings from her books and had
the audience mesmerized as they were swept away to a teenage summer
on the shores of Lake Ontario in the 1920's and the investigation of
a serial murderer in the 1830's. The latter book is still a work in
process and we will have to wait for it to be published to find out
how it ends.
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Edward Cullin thanks Janet Kellough for her entertaining
presentation.
Read more about Janet Kellough, novelist, storyteller, playwright
and performer at www.janetkellough.com
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Hastings
County Cemeteries Transcribed by Quinte Branch Volunteers
By Rod Green, photographs
by Georgette Green
Over the summer much
has been accomplished by the Cemetery Committee due to the time and
efforts of many volunteers. Several cemeteries in Hastings County
have been updated. Groups of volunteers have made visits to
transcribe Moira Cemetery and Luke�s Cemetery in Huntingdon Twp.
and Thomasburg Cemetery in Hungerford Twp. Volunteers are always
welcome, either individually or in groups, to adopt a cemetery or
cemeteries.
On
September 8, 2008 Quinte Branch volunteers transcribed Thomasburg
Cemetery
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Bell Grant
Expands Microfilm Collection
By Richard
Hughes, photograph by Georgette
Green
The
Bell
Employees Giving Program has granted $2,000 to the Quinte Branch
of the OGS which will be used to expand the Research Library�s
microfilm collection. Thanks to the volunteer hours given by retired
Bell employees Rod Green, Cemetery Coordinator and Researcher, and
Harriet Richards, Branch Photographer, along with the large number
of volunteer hours given by other members, the Bell program has
allowed this grant. The Branch currently has an extensive microfilm
collection of Ontario census and birth, marriage and death
registrations. The new grant will be used to expand the scope of the
census records and add further registrations. Here
Bell retiree Rod Green presents the cheque to Treasurer Ted
Cullin and Chairman Richard Hughes.
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Ontario
Volunteer Service Awards
Presented to Quinte Branch Members
By Carole
Foshay
At
a special presentation ceremony in Belleville on Monday June 23, the
following Quinte Branch members were presented with Ontario
Volunteer Service Awards from Prince-Edward Hastings MPP
Leona Dombrowsky: Carole Foshay, 5 years; Roberta Cullin, 10 years;
and Rodney Green, 25 years. Marilyn Harry and Noreen Smith who will
receive awards for 20 and 25 years respectively were unable to
attend. They will receive their awards at a Branch meeting in the
fall. Read all about it in the Belleville
Intelligencer
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