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November 29, 2006

Steve Morse GOLD FORM for Ellis Island searches

Steve Morse has created a new Ellis Island search form (called the gold form) that is capable of searching through the entire 25 million passengers in the Ellis Island Database for ships passenger lists. Gold form can also search on every transcribed field.

This obsoletes the blue form that could search on every field but only for the 1 million Jewish passengers. It also obsoletes the gray form that could search for all passengers but only on four fields (name, age, year of arrival, and town).

The gold form has several new features as well. It is able to search on travelling companions (a feature which the blue form had but the gray form never did). Researchers are able to specify which fields they would like to see displayed on the results page. They can also specify how they would like to have the results sorted.

The gold form is prominently displayed in the Ellis Island section of the Steve Morse website.

For more ships passenger lists to New York in other years (before Ellis Island) see New York Ships Lists

November 16, 2006

Steve Morse One Steps for Ancestry Immigration FREE for November

Ancestry is offering free access to their updated online ships passenger lists and immigration records collection until November 30, 2006. This includes their updated New York passenger lists database from 1820-1957.

Steve Morse has added a OneStep Search Engine for these New York Passenger Lists. This includes

1. Passenger Search

2. Ship Arrival Search (locates the ship arrival in the manifest rolls)

3. Direct access to manifest either by date or by roll and frame

October 22, 2006

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1922 online

The scanned images for Canada Passenger Lists for the ports & years indicated below, have gone online at Collections Canada

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1922


Passenger lists (RG 76) were the official immigration documents from 1865 to 1935. The lists contain information such as the name, age, country of origin, occupation and destination of each passenger. The lists are organized by port and date of arrival.

This database provides access to passenger lists for the ports of Québec (1865-1921), Halifax (1881-1912, to 1922 shortly), to Saint John (1900-1912), North Sydney (1906-1908), Vancouver (1905-1912) and Victoria (1905 to 1912), shortly.

Lists are not searchable by passenger name

October 14, 2006

Complete 1851 Canadian Census Index online soon

The FIRST complete index for the 1851 Census for all of Canada will be available for searching on October 24, 2006!

This database will enable genealogists to search the 1851 Census of Canada by name, in addition to searching by location, with superior searching and viewing capabilities.

This is the first time a comprehensive index has been made available, making it possible to track down ancestors who have been impossible to find until now without searching through reels of microfilm.

To read more and to find out how you can access this terrific database see AllCensusRecords.com

Updates will be posted as they become available and as the launch date comes closer.

September 30, 2006

Clues in an Ancestor's Military Photo

Question posted on Rootsweb.com mailing list September 26, 2006:

I have a picture of my father as a young man in WW1 uniform. He is sitting and another young man is standing. I have my father's "sign-up" papers from the Canadian Archives. Was it the custom to have photos of brothers taken at the same time. Would this type of picture been taken before they left for Europe or when they signed up and were in uniform.

My answer:

Traditionally it was very common for soldiers to have their photos taken in uniform before leaving for overseas (England). Usually a soldier was given leave to go home before being shipped overseas and that is often when these photos were taken.

If he had brothers, or a father or son who also enlisted, they would try to have a group photo taken. This was not always possible, as leaves for individual soldiers might not be in the same time period.

Many portrait studios such as Eatons, had template mats to enclose the photo. These mats were pre-printed had spaces to fill in the soldier's name, sometimes his unit plus other details.

These mats were often brightly coloured with the words "For King & Country" or "For Service in the Great War" (it varied). Ornate frames could be purchased which had the same wording. Sometimes there would be a Canadian Maple Leaf at the top which 'stuck up' beyond the edge of the frame

If there is no photographer mark on the photo (back or front) there are clues that might help you determine a date and place.

First Clue

Determine whether or not the soldier is in a Canadian or British uniform. I realize you obtained his records from the Canadian archives but both Canadian and British uniforms were used by the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force). Men were usually issued a Canadian uniform when they enlisted, and they kept this for everything done in Canada. After they arrived in England the Canadian uniform would almost always be switched for a British one. (The reason for this switch was that the British uniforms were better quality and lasted longer)

Here are a few of the differences that might help you determine if the uniform is Canadian or British:

1. Canadian uniforms had 9 buttons on front (7 on the actual front and 1 on each front pocket) but the British one had fewer, and they were larger. There is an exception to this - if the soldier was in a Canadian Highland Regiment, his top sometimes just had 7 large buttons

2. Canadian uniforms had pointed cuffs, the British had straight (horizontal)

3. Canadian uniforms (except for the Highland ones) had stand-up collars, British uniforms did not

Read the rest of this article to learn how to identify an ancestor's military photo

September 24, 2006

Ancestors on Board - coming soon!

Coming Soon!

http://www.ancestorsonboard.com/

1837online.com, in association with The National Archives, is proud to present Ancestorsonboard, a new database featuring BT27 Outward Passenger Lists for long-distance voyages leaving the British Isles from 1890 to 1960.

With Ancestorsonboard, you can search for records of individuals or groups of people leaving for destinations including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and USA - featuring ports such as Boston, Philadelphia and New York.

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Search more ships passenger lists to North America on Olive Tree Genealogy

September 23, 2006

Exclusive FREE use of Ancestry Passenger List Databases!

Great news everyone!

I'm very excited to be able to offer exclusive free access to two of Ancestry.com's databases. This offer is only available to visitors of Olive Tree Genealogy, and is made possible through a co-operative effort of OliveTreeGenealogy.com and Ancestry.com

FREE Database Number One is the very popular New York Passenger Lists 1851-1891 & 1935-1938 including Castle Garden passenger lists

FREE Database Number Two is the Boston Massachusetts Passenger Lists, 1820 - 1943

For a limited time (until Oct. 4, 2006) but only through Olive Tree Genealogy, you can search these wonderful records as often as you like -- with no obligation to purchase anything - and no credit card is required.

All you need to do is use the special links provided to register as a guest on Ancestry.com. Registration is simply your name and email

No other information is needed to enjoy this full and free access to these 2 databases. Please note, this is *not* a free trial, no credit card is needed, and it's only available through the URL above.

Feel free to pass this message on to others who you think might enjoy this opportunity to find an ancestor or two

September 22, 2006

Lost Faces - New Photo Albums online

Hi Everyone

I've been very busy catching up after my trip to the Boston FGS conference. It was a great experience and I enjoyed attending some of the workshops and the Exhibitions by sellers.

One of the latest items I've added to my websites since returning home are: New additions to the collection of 1860s and 1870s Civil War Era photo albums on Lost Faces

ALBUM #51 Bauder Zoller Civil War Era Bauder Zoller Family Photo Album with CDVs [Cartes de Visites], tintypes circa 1860s.

Surnames: Walt, Walters, Bowen, Bowder, Zoller, Snyder, Bauder,Moyer, Fox, Smith, Lampman, Fake, Keller, Cary, Hornkey, Hess,WIles, Johnson, Johnston, Sneck, Miller

Locations: New York, Rochester, Little Falls, Fort Plain, Minden,Cobbleskill, Syracuse, Amsterdam

ALBUM #52 CLARK NOURSECivil War Era CLARK NOURSE Family Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites),tintypes circa 1860s.

Surnames: Nourse, Tarbell, Clark, Clarke, Chandler, Huntington,Thomas, Miller, Fisk, Fiske, Mermod, Rathbun, Rathburn, Davis,Gallup, Mahon, Wahl, Wate, WOod, Holly, Sposk, McNeal, Martin,Burwell, Milton, Ladd

Locations: St Louis Missouri, Washington DC, Providence Rhode Island, Switzerland, Ohio, Boston Massachusetts, Connecticut

ALBUM #53 Missouri
Civil War Era Photo Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites), circa 1860s.

Surnames: Wilmont, Joyce, Tennant, Downey, Wood, Fowler, Fairchild,Larsen, McGuire, Durkett, Pluckett, Faby, Katy, Watson, Steeler

Locations: St Louis Missouri

ALBUM #54 Missouri 2 (Riverboat captain William Blake included)

Civil War Era Missouri Family Photo Albumwith CDVs (Cartes de Visites), circa 1860s.

Surnames: Orr, Blake, Felterner, Van Court

Locations: St Louis, Missouri

Album #55 COLE - CHANDLER in Massachusetts (Civil War Soldier
included)

Civil War Era COLE - CHANDLER in Massachusetts Family Photo Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites), tintypes circa 1860s.

Surnames: Prince, Cole, Swift, Jones, Taylor, Morton, Chandler,Chase, Griffith, Bradford, Rogers, Berry, Cobb, Rickard, Fuller,Cowell, Sherman, Shaw, Waterman, Barrows, Vaughan, Leach, Randall,Colby

Locations: Taunton Massachusetts, Boston, Bridgewater, Plymouth, New York, Middleboro, Fall River, Providence Rhode Island, Brockton

There are some gorgeous photos in these albums, and I am offering a quality reproduction service so as to allow all descendants to have copies of their ancestors photos. The tintypes are one-of-a-kind as that was the nature of a tintype - it substituted an iron plate for glass and is one of a kind. No copies could be made from a tintype.

Enjoy and feel free to pass any part of this message on to others.

Lorine

September 18, 2006

New Ancestor Letters online

Ancestor Letters on Past Voices: Letters Home

These letters are so wonderful to read -- they speak of illness in the family, deaths, births, crops, weather,family and friends. I uploaded Canadian and American
letters, but still have dozens to put online. I welcome submissions, just go to the submission form OR send
directly to me in email at olivetreegenealogy@gmail.com All letters remain the property of the individual submitter.

Here's what's new:

Letter to James A. McChesney, Esq., Port Ontario, New York,from A. C. Dickinson, Smith Town, July 13, 1844; postmarked Peterboro, U. C., July 22, 1844, and Kingston, U. C., July 24, 1844

Letter from Albert Bertram Mudge during WW1 to his mother in Guelph Ontario, 1915

Letter to William Robertson McGillivray in Ontatio, Canada from his brother James McGillivray in Egilsay, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 1857

Search the index to all Canadian letters

Letter to Alvah Bush, Albany New York, from her sister, M.M. Bush, Cooperstown, New York 1843

Letter to Mrs. S. C. Hoskins, Sheffield, Massachusetts, from her daughter Helen, Hampton, Virginia 1849

Letter to Mr. John H. and Anna Northrop, Hebron, Washington County, New York, from Lydia Wells, Lisbon 1829

Letter to Jacob Sharpless, care of Dr. Parrish, Philadelphia Pennsylvania from Blakey Sharpless, Weston

Letter from John McCoy, Captain of the Augusta Co. Militia during the Revolutionary War from Staunton, Augusta Co.Virginia to Thomas Jefferson, 1781 (yes, THE Thomas
Jefferson!)

Letter to unidentified person from Simeon Baldwin, New Haven, [Connecticut], January 4, 1808

Letter to Mrs. Mary Bradford and sister Sarah Jane, Northumberland,Pennsylvania, from Louisa, York Pennsylvania, 1839

Letter to Miss Charlotte H. Ladd, Boston Massachusetts, from her mother, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1830

Letter to Miss Mary C. Cook, Great Falls, New Hampshire,from Fanny, Concord, New Hampshire, 1847

Mr. S. Newton Dexter, Whitesborough, New York, from Miss Mary Dexter, Providence, Rhode Island, 1823

Letter to Mr. Franklin Hoskins, Sheffield, Berkshire County,Massachusetts, from Wm. Gleason, Jr., Moresville, New York 1840

Letter to Mr. Samuel V. King, China Grove, Georgetown, South Carolina, from M. L. Wilkins, Springfield, 1842

Search the index to all USA letters

Enjoy and feel free to pass any part of this message on to others.

August 5, 2006

Lost Faces - Photo Albums from Civil War Era

Welcome to a new corner of Olive Tree Genealogy. LOST FACES is my collection of Family Photo Albums. One of my hobbies is going to antique auctions, stores, flea markets and garage sales. Whenever I spot one of those old Photo Albums from the 1800s with family pictures, I have to buy it! I can't bear the thought that the album and photos will be lost or destroyed. Even though they aren't my ancestors, and they can be very expensive, I can't walk away without it.

Lost Faces is my way of saving these genealogy treasures and preserving historical documents. I am gradually listing all the albums I have saved, along with the list of photos and other documents (I have albums that contain funeral cards, memorial cards, obituaries, Christmas cards, and hand-written genealogies) and any research I've done on the family.

Visit LOST FACES - Photo Albums

There are 50 albums online now, most are from 1860-1880 time period.

July 5, 2006

1901 & 1906 Canada Census One Step Search Engines

Steve Morse has added the 1901 and 1906 Canadian census to his One Step Search Engines Steve's One Step Search Engines now search 1901, 1906 and 1911 Canadian census.

Visit AllCensusRecords.com for more census records and links

May 21, 2006

1851 Canadian Census Online!

Library & Archives Canada has just released the 1851 Canadian census. It's searchable by location only. I have also put up a Census Comparison chart for the various Canadian census records found online.


There is also a USA Census comparison chart

May 17, 2006

Census Browser 1790-1930 USA

Steve Morse has just added a Census Browser for 1790-1930 USA Census to the Census Section of his website at http://www.stevemorse.org/

It shows you what is on the microfilm for any given year and roll number. And if you have an ancestry subscription, it lets you view the contents
of any census roll given its roll number and year.

February 8, 2006

One-Step Search Engines for UK Census 1851-1901

Steve Morse hs just created a one-step form for the UK census for all years from 1851 to 1901. It's in the "Canadian and British Census" section of his Steve Morse website.

Steve's one-Steps are a better way to search online databases, and you won't want to miss this new one.

February 3, 2006

Searching the 1901 Canadian Census in One Step

Steve Morse has done it again! This time he's created a One-Step Search engine for the 1901 Canadian Census.

Go to Steve's website and scroll down the page until you see 1901 Census: Searching the 1901 Canadian Census in One Step

For more census records for the USA and Canada, visit AllCensusRecords.com

January 23, 2006

One Step Search Engine for 1911 Canada Census

Steve Morse has created another of his wonderful ONE STEP search engines -- this time it's for the 1911 Canadian census online at Ancestry.com

Steve's search engine searches many fields, not just the surname. As well the district field is a dropdown list that is populated when you select the province. So there is no need for a separate district name and district number field as Ancestry has.

Also there is no chance of mistyping or misspelling the district name when it comes for a dropdown list.

You may want to try this new tool from Steve!

January 7, 2006

Moving Here, Staying Here Canadian immigration project coming online soon!

Library & Archives Canada have a work in progress presently named "Moving Here, Staying Here". The first part of the Moving Here project is scheduled to launch soon. It is a virtual exhibit about immigration to Canada from a government documents perspective, but LAC is adding some databases, too.

The one probably of most interest is the digitization of passenger lists, 1865 to 1922. It will have a searchable searchable database by date, ship and port (but not by passenger name) , with a link to the nominal database of Canadian Passenger Lists for all ports from 1900 - 1924 that the Nanaimo Family History Society is creating.

LAC also will have a nominal database and digitized images for the Montreal Emigrant Society passage book, 1832, the Ward Chipman papers (Loyalist lists), Upper Canada
Naturalization registers and one of the Chinese immigration registers.

LAC also plans a major revision and/or addition to the Home Children database.