Died May 17, 1900
age 2 days
More Coffin Plates (almost 400 now!) can be freely viewed at AncestorsAtRest.com
Updates about Olive Tree Genealogy website and other FREE genealogy records. Bringing you tutorials, genealogy book and app reviews, genealogy news, genealogy specials and more. Helping you find your family tree and ancestors.
June 23, 2008
Coffin Plate Genealogy Inscription
Coffin plates are decorative adornments attached to the coffin that contain free genealogical information like the name and death date of the deceased. Here is the inscription from a coffin plate I spotted in an antique store in Massachusetts
Henry F. Fisk
Died May 17, 1900
age 2 days
More Coffin Plates (almost 400 now!) can be freely viewed at AncestorsAtRest.com
Died May 17, 1900
age 2 days
More Coffin Plates (almost 400 now!) can be freely viewed at AncestorsAtRest.com
June 22, 2008
Genealogy Antique Treasure - Trial Eights Crew 1875
Found in an antique store - a framed photo with ids
L.M.B.C. TRIAL EIGHTS
Winning Crew
H J Lewis
2. H L Young
3. J H Lloyd
4. H St. J. Wilding
5. R P Stedman
6. R C Smith
STK/H T Kemp
COX/ C Pendlebury
December 1875
I did a little research and learned that LMBC is Lady Margaret Boat Club of St John's College. It seems to have something to do with Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs but perhaps a reader will know more than I do.
L.M.B.C. TRIAL EIGHTS
Winning Crew
H J Lewis
2. H L Young
3. J H Lloyd
4. H St. J. Wilding
5. R P Stedman
6. R C Smith
STK/H T Kemp
COX/ C Pendlebury
December 1875
I did a little research and learned that LMBC is Lady Margaret Boat Club of St John's College. It seems to have something to do with Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs but perhaps a reader will know more than I do.
June 21, 2008
American Shipmasters Association Examination New York
Here is another genealogy inscription spotted on a framed certificate in an antique shop in Massachusetts
American Shipmasters Association Examination New York
Benjamin A. Sheldon
March -- 1873
Nautical Science & Seamanship
Approved Shipmates
Signed
-- Taylor
Ambrose Snow
T. W. Ellison
Geo. W. Black
T. ----
Note: The American Shipmasters' Association was organized in 1861 to improve the American Mercantile Marine Service and the general skill and moral character of those in the seamen's profession. Licenses had previously been issued intermittently by the United States Steamboat Inspection Service, but no continuous effort had been made until John D. Hones formed the American Shipmasters'Association in 1861. The Association was made up of maritime insurers, shipbuilders, government officials and maritime experts.
The ASA began issuing certificates to qualified mates and masters of sailing vessels receiving the first application from Captain Isaiah Pratt in September 1861.
To receive a certificate, seamen had to meet rigorous requirements, including six years experience at sea and a high score on the nautical science and seaman ship
examinations administered by the ASA. Applicants also had to produce testimonials to their good character.
Each certificate was valid for one year and could be renewed annually. Seamen retained their ASA numbers for life and a number once used was never reissued.
The ASA continued its program of certification until 1900, by which time Federal law required that most shipmasters be licensed by the federal governmentof the United States. It then became known as the American Bureau of Shipping.
American Shipmasters Association Examination New York
Benjamin A. Sheldon
March -- 1873
Nautical Science & Seamanship
Approved Shipmates
Signed
-- Taylor
Ambrose Snow
T. W. Ellison
Geo. W. Black
T. ----
Note: The American Shipmasters' Association was organized in 1861 to improve the American Mercantile Marine Service and the general skill and moral character of those in the seamen's profession. Licenses had previously been issued intermittently by the United States Steamboat Inspection Service, but no continuous effort had been made until John D. Hones formed the American Shipmasters'Association in 1861. The Association was made up of maritime insurers, shipbuilders, government officials and maritime experts.
The ASA began issuing certificates to qualified mates and masters of sailing vessels receiving the first application from Captain Isaiah Pratt in September 1861.
To receive a certificate, seamen had to meet rigorous requirements, including six years experience at sea and a high score on the nautical science and seaman ship
examinations administered by the ASA. Applicants also had to produce testimonials to their good character.
Each certificate was valid for one year and could be renewed annually. Seamen retained their ASA numbers for life and a number once used was never reissued.
The ASA continued its program of certification until 1900, by which time Federal law required that most shipmasters be licensed by the federal governmentof the United States. It then became known as the American Bureau of Shipping.
June 20, 2008
Finding ancestors on Ships to Canada Before 1865
In 1844 18,330 immigrants arrived at the port of Montreal - and that's just ONE port, so imagine how many arrived at all Canadian ports in total.
Before 1865, it wasn't mandatory that passenger lists of ships arriving in Canada be kept. So you may find a few stray lists, or shipping company records - such as the JJ Cooke Shipping Records online at http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/jjcooke.shtml
These are sailings from Londonderry to Philadelphia, Quebec, St. John,New Brunswick, and Louisiana from 1847-71, or shipping agent reports like the Hawke Papers, Records of assisted passage, and so on.
There are other records that can substitute for a passenger list. For example, TheShipsList.com is extracting newspaper reports of arrivals and also listing names of passengers who took steamboats once they landed. In many cases you can consider yourself lucky if you find an ancestor on one of these lists!
There is also the Return of Emigrants Landed at the Port of Kingston Ontario, Canada 1861-1882 which gives the final destination of the individuals, their date of arrival at Kingston and more. It is found at
http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/kingston1861oct-1862may.shtml These may have your ancestor's name travelling inland once he or she arrived in Canada.
Here is an example of the variety of records that fill in the gaps of pre 1865 Canadian passenger lists ---
Nancy Boggs, 39, Sarah Boggs 17 and Eliza Boggs 14 were listed, along with several others, in a letter that A. C. Buchanan, Chief Agent in the Quebec Immigration Office sent on 19 June 1846.
He prefaces the list of names with "the undermentioned person have been sent out by the Londonderry Union and I have paid them here a sum equal to 10/Stg. each. They are well recommended and the entire of them young and old are well conducted and may be safely employed as servants."
There is more, but this is just an example to show that if you happened to be looking for Nancy or someone else in that letter, you'd be very lucky to find this much!
So, hoping I haven't discouraged anyone - here's two URLs for Ships arriving in Canada
http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/canada/
http://www.theships.list.com/
Before 1865, it wasn't mandatory that passenger lists of ships arriving in Canada be kept. So you may find a few stray lists, or shipping company records - such as the JJ Cooke Shipping Records online at http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/jjcooke.shtml
These are sailings from Londonderry to Philadelphia, Quebec, St. John,New Brunswick, and Louisiana from 1847-71, or shipping agent reports like the Hawke Papers, Records of assisted passage, and so on.
There are other records that can substitute for a passenger list. For example, TheShipsList.com is extracting newspaper reports of arrivals and also listing names of passengers who took steamboats once they landed. In many cases you can consider yourself lucky if you find an ancestor on one of these lists!
There is also the Return of Emigrants Landed at the Port of Kingston Ontario, Canada 1861-1882 which gives the final destination of the individuals, their date of arrival at Kingston and more. It is found at
http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/kingston1861oct-1862may.shtml These may have your ancestor's name travelling inland once he or she arrived in Canada.
Here is an example of the variety of records that fill in the gaps of pre 1865 Canadian passenger lists ---
Nancy Boggs, 39, Sarah Boggs 17 and Eliza Boggs 14 were listed, along with several others, in a letter that A. C. Buchanan, Chief Agent in the Quebec Immigration Office sent on 19 June 1846.
He prefaces the list of names with "the undermentioned person have been sent out by the Londonderry Union and I have paid them here a sum equal to 10/Stg. each. They are well recommended and the entire of them young and old are well conducted and may be safely employed as servants."
There is more, but this is just an example to show that if you happened to be looking for Nancy or someone else in that letter, you'd be very lucky to find this much!
So, hoping I haven't discouraged anyone - here's two URLs for Ships arriving in Canada
http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/canada/
http://www.theships.list.com/
June 19, 2008
Silverplated Victorian Coffee Tankard with Genealogy
Yet another Genealogy related item I found in an antique store (this one I bought to add to my collection of Victorian Coffee Tankards) had this engraved faintly under the spout:
Presented to
A. M. Hilborn
By the
Blair Scholars
16 April 1887
The tankard was made in Toronto (Ontario Canada). I did a little checking and although I could not find A. M. Hilborn easily, Blair was a town in what is now Cambridge Ontario (Waterloo County) and Hilborn was a common name there.
As well, I think this may have been presented to a teacher by her students in a Blair School, but that's only a guess. I don't think an ornate coffee tankard would have been given to a man. I hope A. M. Hilborn's descendants see this and contact me to fill me in on details of his or her life.
A. M. Hilborn
By the
Blair Scholars
16 April 1887
The tankard was made in Toronto (Ontario Canada). I did a little checking and although I could not find A. M. Hilborn easily, Blair was a town in what is now Cambridge Ontario (Waterloo County) and Hilborn was a common name there.
As well, I think this may have been presented to a teacher by her students in a Blair School, but that's only a guess. I don't think an ornate coffee tankard would have been given to a man. I hope A. M. Hilborn's descendants see this and contact me to fill me in on details of his or her life.
June 18, 2008
Obenauer-Keifer Marriage Certificate
Here is another genealogy find in an antique store - a framed marriage certificate from Buffalo New York
Adam Obenauer from Meitelheim? Bavaria married Barbara Keifer (Heifer?) of Buffalo in Buffalo New York on 19 February 1884
Witnesses: Jacob Keizel & George Greiner.
Married by the Pastor of the German Evangelical St. Stephen's Church
Adam Obenauer from Meitelheim? Bavaria married Barbara Keifer (Heifer?) of Buffalo in Buffalo New York on 19 February 1884
Witnesses: Jacob Keizel & George Greiner.
Married by the Pastor of the German Evangelical St. Stephen's Church
June 17, 2008
Antiques and Genealogy Treasures
One thing I've noticed, being an avid antique hunter and collector, is that quite often you will see antiques with a genealogy interest. I always carry a small memo pad and pen in my purse and recently I began jotting down the genealogy notations or inscriptions on antique items.
The more obvious antiques are framed marriage certificates or baptism records, as well as identified photographs or photo albums. Postcards have names and addresses as well as the sender's names. But there are more obscure genealogy items just waiting to be found -- a silver inscribed baby's cup, an engraved trophy, soldier's framed photos or records of service, etc
On a weekend trip I found a 10 inch high silver plated trophy cup engraved
Interstate Association Trophy
Buffalo Audubon Club
May 31, 1915
First prize won by George N. Fish
Perhaps one of George's descendants will read this post and reunite with the item or at the very least, learn about George's interests.
The more obvious antiques are framed marriage certificates or baptism records, as well as identified photographs or photo albums. Postcards have names and addresses as well as the sender's names. But there are more obscure genealogy items just waiting to be found -- a silver inscribed baby's cup, an engraved trophy, soldier's framed photos or records of service, etc
On a weekend trip I found a 10 inch high silver plated trophy cup engraved
Buffalo Audubon Club
May 31, 1915
First prize won by George N. Fish
Perhaps one of George's descendants will read this post and reunite with the item or at the very least, learn about George's interests.
June 16, 2008
Keeping a Journal for History & Genealogy
I wonder how many of us read those old Pioneer Memories and think "Boy I wish my ancestor had kept his (or her) memories in a journal!"
I've often thought that. I've often wished my ancestor were mentioned in a Pioneer or Settler's Memory book.... then one day I realized that all the years I'd spent wishing I could have put to better use. Why not write my own "Pioneer Memories"?
I know, I'm not a pioneer. But I have lived in the same small town for 35 years. I could start keeping track of friends and neighbours and relatives, documenting events and other happenings. I don't mean spy on them! Basically I started a journal with a two-fold purpose
I started with my memories of arriving in the town I now live in, the people I met, jobs I held, who I worked with, socialized with and so on. I talked about changes in the town since I first arrived - such as new subdivisions where once there was forest. I drew little maps showing who lived where. I made a decision early on to not put in any gossip or unsubstantiated stories unless they were humourous and of a positive nature.
As I began writing, more ideas began to unfold. I copied out obituaries, births and marriage notices from our local newspaper. I wrote about my friends' parents or backgrounds - things like "Linda F.'s father was Harold and he arrived from England sometime around WW2" "Louise M has 2 sisters named Margaret and Ethel" Essentially I simply wrote about the people I had met and everything I could remember about them.
My journal was a leather bound old-fashioned journal with hand made paper which I purchased from Iona Handcrafted Books. For me it made writing in it much more fun and something I looked forward to at the end of each day. I felt like Leonardo Da Vinci keeping his notebooks for posterity! But you could use any kind of journal that suits you
As Journal #1 began to fill, my husband suggested I start another one for the town I grew up in. In that one I would write about my memories of childhood friends, their parents and so on. Since Journal #1 had begun to take on a historical as well as genealogical slant, I thought this was a good idea and Journal #2 was born.
I filled 100 pages which was Journal #1 in 6 months. I'm going to talk about Journal #2 and what I've done to ensure the journals are cared for in my next post.
I've often thought that. I've often wished my ancestor were mentioned in a Pioneer or Settler's Memory book.... then one day I realized that all the years I'd spent wishing I could have put to better use. Why not write my own "Pioneer Memories"?
I know, I'm not a pioneer. But I have lived in the same small town for 35 years. I could start keeping track of friends and neighbours and relatives, documenting events and other happenings. I don't mean spy on them! Basically I started a journal with a two-fold purpose
I started with my memories of arriving in the town I now live in, the people I met, jobs I held, who I worked with, socialized with and so on. I talked about changes in the town since I first arrived - such as new subdivisions where once there was forest. I drew little maps showing who lived where. I made a decision early on to not put in any gossip or unsubstantiated stories unless they were humourous and of a positive nature.
As I began writing, more ideas began to unfold. I copied out obituaries, births and marriage notices from our local newspaper. I wrote about my friends' parents or backgrounds - things like "Linda F.'s father was Harold and he arrived from England sometime around WW2" "Louise M has 2 sisters named Margaret and Ethel" Essentially I simply wrote about the people I had met and everything I could remember about them.
My journal was a leather bound old-fashioned journal with hand made paper which I purchased from Iona Handcrafted Books. For me it made writing in it much more fun and something I looked forward to at the end of each day. I felt like Leonardo Da Vinci keeping his notebooks for posterity! But you could use any kind of journal that suits youAs Journal #1 began to fill, my husband suggested I start another one for the town I grew up in. In that one I would write about my memories of childhood friends, their parents and so on. Since Journal #1 had begun to take on a historical as well as genealogical slant, I thought this was a good idea and Journal #2 was born.
I filled 100 pages which was Journal #1 in 6 months. I'm going to talk about Journal #2 and what I've done to ensure the journals are cared for in my next post.
June 12, 2008
Arabic Transliterator
Arabic Transliterator
New Features on the One-Step website
The One-Step site already had transliterators between
Hebrew and English, between Cyrillic and English, and between
Greek and English. Recently a transliterator for Arabic has been
added.
This appears in the Foreign Language section of the One-
Step site.
New Features on the One-Step website
The One-Step site already had transliterators between
Hebrew and English, between Cyrillic and English, and between
Greek and English. Recently a transliterator for Arabic has been
added.
This appears in the Foreign Language section of the One-
Step site.
Everton’s Genealogical Helper Adds New Online Edition!
New Online Edition of Everton’s Genealogical Helper will debut July 1! Subscribe today for only $10.00!
LOGAN, Utah, June 12, 2008. Genealogy Online, Inc., publisher of Everton’s Genealogical Helper, today, announced the publication of the Genealogical Helper in an Online Edition. The Online Edition is an identical copy of the 176-page paper edition – complete with hotlinks to the hundreds of website addresses found therein.
Launch Date – The new Online Edition will launch on July 1 – simultaneous with the home delivery and newsstand date of the paper edition of the July-August issue.
Free Access – Subscribers to the traditional Genealogical Helper will have 100% FREE online access to the magazine – with no extra fees whatsoever. See http://www.everton.com for sign-up information.
Online Edition subscriptions – Everton’s Genealogical Helper, Online Edition, will sell for just $12.00 per year! That is only $2 per issue! And it’s only $10.00 for subscriptions made before July 1 at http://www.everton.com or phone 1-800-443-6325.
Net Family History – An important feature of Everton’s Genealogical Helper is the magazine within a magazine entitled Net Family History. New information specific to using the Internet for genealogy is always found in this portion of the bimonthly publication. Extensive website reviews are always located here, as well as articles dealing with Internet-related activities.
Why an online edition? – Every issue of Everton’s Genealogical Helper now contains hundreds of website addresses. The Internet is where some of the most exciting genealogical resource advances are taking place, so it’s required that information about these resources be disseminated to the Helper’s thousands of readers in every issue. Everton’s Genealogical Helper, Online Edition, will allow readers to go from their paper edition to the hotlinked Online Edition and access any of the websites with just a keystroke or two – no more typing in those lengthy website addresses! The Online Edition offers more than just the links found in the magazine – it is the entire magazine itself!
Format & hosting – Everton’s Genealogical Helper, Online Edition, will be in pdf format, readable by anyone, with any computer running an Adobe Acrobat Reader (Available at Adobe.com as a FREE download.) The Online Edition will be hosted by FamilyLink.com, Inc.
Why subscribe to the Genealogical Helper? – Subscribe to have access to the Helper’s how-to & historical articles, Net Family History (see above), genealogical sharing, extensive book and CD-ROM reviews & announcements, queries, the most complete event calendar available anywhere, and hundreds of ads detailing new products and services. In addition to these day-to-day features, you will also have access to the NEW updated, hotlinked Directory of Genealogical and Historical Societies – to be published in the Sept/Oct and Nov-Dec issues! Edited by Leland K. Meitzler, the Helper is guaranteed to help you extend your lines and fill in those blanks in your family tree.
WHAT A DEAL! – Your cost for a full subscription (the paper magazine & online access both) is less than 3 cents per page – delivered to your home, and now accessible online. Subscribe to the Online Edition alone for just over a penny a page! Subscribe by July 1 and it’s less than a penny per page!
Subscribe NOW at: http://www.everton.com or phone 1-800-443-6325.
*************
About Genealogy Online, Inc.
Genealogy Online, dba Everton Publishers, is the publisher of Everton’s Genealogical Helper, now in its 62nd year of helping genealogists find their ancestors. Genealogy Online, Inc. also publishes the Handybook for Genealogists, 11th edition, a top-selling guidebook for family historians. Their website is found at: http://www.everton.com. Also see: http://www.GenealogyBlog.com.
June 11, 2008
French Revolutionary Calendar Converter and Muslim Calendar Converter
French Revolutionary Calendar Converter and Muslim Calendar Converter
New Features on the One-Step website
The One-Step site has had a Jewish Calendar Converter for
some time. Now two more calendar converters were added to
the One-Step site -- one for the French Revolutionary
Calendar and the other for the Muslim Calendar. The French
Revolutionary calendar is unique in that it takes
decimalization to the extreme, and the Muslim calendar is
purely lunar with no synchronization to the seasons.
These appear in the Calendar section of the One-Step site.
New Features on the One-Step website
The One-Step site has had a Jewish Calendar Converter for
some time. Now two more calendar converters were added to
the One-Step site -- one for the French Revolutionary
Calendar and the other for the Muslim Calendar. The French
Revolutionary calendar is unique in that it takes
decimalization to the extreme, and the Muslim calendar is
purely lunar with no synchronization to the seasons.
These appear in the Calendar section of the One-Step site.
June 10, 2008
Searching Reference Books
New Features on the One-Step website
There are several reference books containing Jewish
surnames in various countries. Most of these books have been
written by Alexander Beider and one by Lars Menk. A new One-Step
form has been developed for searching for names in these
books.
This new form appears in the Holocaust and Eastern Europe section of the One-Step site.
There are several reference books containing Jewish
surnames in various countries. Most of these books have been
written by Alexander Beider and one by Lars Menk. A new One-Step
form has been developed for searching for names in these
books.
This new form appears in the Holocaust and Eastern Europe section of the One-Step site.
June 9, 2008
Phonetic Name Matching
New Features on the One-Step website
Steve Morse, together with Alexander Beider, has developed
a method of phonetic name matching that has advantages over
soundex name matching. Soundex matching considers the way
the name is spelled whereas phonetic matching considers the
way the name is pronounced. The pronunciation is language
specific, and a determination of the language is made from
the spelling of the name. As a consequence, a soundex
search will result an a large number of false hits that the
researcher needs to examine whereas a phonetic search will
give relatively few false hits.
The phonetic name matching has been or is about to be
included on several existing One-Step search forms. These
include the gold form for searching for passengers in the
Ellis Island database (coming soon) as well as the One-Step
Dachau Concentration Camp search form. In addition, the
two new search forms described below (Searching Naturalization
Records and Searching Reference Books) also include
phonetic name matching.
Steve Morse, together with Alexander Beider, has developed
a method of phonetic name matching that has advantages over
soundex name matching. Soundex matching considers the way
the name is spelled whereas phonetic matching considers the
way the name is pronounced. The pronunciation is language
specific, and a determination of the language is made from
the spelling of the name. As a consequence, a soundex
search will result an a large number of false hits that the
researcher needs to examine whereas a phonetic search will
give relatively few false hits.
The phonetic name matching has been or is about to be
included on several existing One-Step search forms. These
include the gold form for searching for passengers in the
Ellis Island database (coming soon) as well as the One-Step
Dachau Concentration Camp search form. In addition, the
two new search forms described below (Searching Naturalization
Records and Searching Reference Books) also include
phonetic name matching.
June 8, 2008
New Orleans Ship Records
New Features on the One-Step website
A commercial website, ancestry.com, has the ship records
for the major US ports These include the Ports of New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Galveston, and San
Francisco. The One-Step website already had a trio of
search forms for each of those ports -- one to simplify the
searching for passengers, the second to provide for direct
access to the manifest microfilms if you know the roll and
frame number, and the third to determine the roll and frame
number for any ship arrival. Now the One-Step site has
added such tools for the Port of New Orleans as well.
These new forms appear in the Other Ports section of the
One-Step site.
Also see New Orleans ships passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com Don't miss the JJ Cooke Shipping Lists arriving in New Orleans 1847-1871
A commercial website, ancestry.com, has the ship records
for the major US ports These include the Ports of New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Galveston, and San
Francisco. The One-Step website already had a trio of
search forms for each of those ports -- one to simplify the
searching for passengers, the second to provide for direct
access to the manifest microfilms if you know the roll and
frame number, and the third to determine the roll and frame
number for any ship arrival. Now the One-Step site has
added such tools for the Port of New Orleans as well.
These new forms appear in the Other Ports section of the
One-Step site.
Also see New Orleans ships passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com Don't miss the JJ Cooke Shipping Lists arriving in New Orleans 1847-1871
June 7, 2008
Searching Naturalization Records in One Step
New Features on the One-Step website
A commercial website, footnote.com, has collections of
Naturalization Records for several states. There are
currently about 2 million records in this collection.
However the search facility for finding people in these
collections is very limited in its abilities. A new
One-Step form has been developed to provide flexible
searches through these records.
This new form appears in the Vital Records section of the
One-Step site.
More naturalization records can be freely searched at NaturalizationRecords.com
A commercial website, footnote.com, has collections of
Naturalization Records for several states. There are
currently about 2 million records in this collection.
However the search facility for finding people in these
collections is very limited in its abilities. A new
One-Step form has been developed to provide flexible
searches through these records.
This new form appears in the Vital Records section of the
One-Step site.
More naturalization records can be freely searched at NaturalizationRecords.com
May 26, 2008
Using Lists of Loyalists to Find Loyalist Ancestors
No one list of Loyalists can be considered "the" List. There is no simple definitive and accurate list. You must consult them all, from the Old UEL list to Reid's book The Loyalists in Ontario: The Sons & Daughters of the American Loyalists to all the variant lists made.
Reid's book on Loyalists was never intended to be the Bible of Loyalist families. Reid simply organized index cards into what he thought were family groups. *Many*
if not most families are incomplete. Some individuals are incorrectly placed.
Reid's book is a wonderful resource, and a great starting point for your Loyalist research, but you should verify independently that a child he places in a family group does belong there (by looking up ALL petitions for that family), and never never assume that because an individual isn't in the family group he/she doesn't exist or isn't a Loyalist.
After 1796 the Executive Council kept a list of Loyalists based on District Rolls. This became the Executive Council UE List and contains about 3,500 names. It is not considered a complete list, but it is considered more accurate than the Crown Lands (Old UEL) list.
The Crown Lands Dept. created a second list, based on other records. This became the Old UEL List and contains approximately 6,000 names, but not all qualified.
When searching Loyalists you also need to consult pay lists, muster rolls, and the land records. For a good reference to what is available, see Brenda Dougall Merriman's book "Genealogy in Ontario: Searching the Records" Look under the chapter on Loyalists.
Check out this list of Loyalist Books & Resources which will help you find your Loyalist ancestor
Reid's book on Loyalists was never intended to be the Bible of Loyalist families. Reid simply organized index cards into what he thought were family groups. *Many*
if not most families are incomplete. Some individuals are incorrectly placed.
Reid's book is a wonderful resource, and a great starting point for your Loyalist research, but you should verify independently that a child he places in a family group does belong there (by looking up ALL petitions for that family), and never never assume that because an individual isn't in the family group he/she doesn't exist or isn't a Loyalist.
After 1796 the Executive Council kept a list of Loyalists based on District Rolls. This became the Executive Council UE List and contains about 3,500 names. It is not considered a complete list, but it is considered more accurate than the Crown Lands (Old UEL) list.
The Crown Lands Dept. created a second list, based on other records. This became the Old UEL List and contains approximately 6,000 names, but not all qualified.
When searching Loyalists you also need to consult pay lists, muster rolls, and the land records. For a good reference to what is available, see Brenda Dougall Merriman's book "Genealogy in Ontario: Searching the Records" Look under the chapter on Loyalists.
Check out this list of Loyalist Books & Resources which will help you find your Loyalist ancestor
May 25, 2008
FInding a Loyalist (Tory) Ancestor in Land Petitions
A Loyalist is any person who is loyal to their allegiance (especially in times of revolt). During the American Revolution in what was to become the United States of America, a Loyalist (also called UEL - United Empire Loyalist) was anyone who remained loyal to the King of England. They were called Tories in their own country but Loyalists elsewhere. Most fled to Canada and helped settle that country, particularly Ontario and Nova Scotia
For free Loyalist data online refer to the Loyalist Genealogy on Olive Tree Genealogy website
Loyalists could petition for, and were granted land as follows:
> 100 acres for head of family plus 50 acres per family member
> 50 acres for single men
> 300 - 1000 acres for army officers
> 200 acres for an NCO plus 200 for wives, if they applied
> 100 acres for a private soldier plus 50 acres for each family member
The Petitions of Loyalists for land, which are found in the Upper Canada Land Petitions on microfilm are not uniform. You may find one small petition, giving just enough facts to persuade the Crown to give that person a free grant as a Loyalist. You may find page after page of affidavits,testimonies, and so on, all documentation to prove the petitioner's claim. For example in my own Loyalist research,one of my Loyalist ancestors' files has an affidavit from a well known judge of the Niagara area, testifying to his Loyalty during the 'troubles' - this document providing his former place of residence in the United States.
Another Loyalist file included a document signed by his commanding officer in Butler's Rangers (providing his unit),describing the petitioner's hardships including being imprisoned 3 times in Albany NY. A second document gave great detail about the petitioner's wife (including the number of children) and her hardships in NY, including a description of the night the "rebels" (Patriots) came to her home in the northern part of NY and burned it to the ground. Thisdocument went on to describe her ordeal as she and her children attempted to make their way north to "Canada".
Don't overlook these petitions as a wonderful source of detail as well as genealogical material. Until you find them you have no way of knowing how much or
how little information may be contained in the file.
For more info on these petitions and how to obtain them on microfilm, see How to Find your Loyalist Ancestor
For free Loyalist data online refer to the Loyalist Genealogy on Olive Tree Genealogy website
Loyalists could petition for, and were granted land as follows:
> 100 acres for head of family plus 50 acres per family member
> 50 acres for single men
> 300 - 1000 acres for army officers
> 200 acres for an NCO plus 200 for wives, if they applied
> 100 acres for a private soldier plus 50 acres for each family member
The Petitions of Loyalists for land, which are found in the Upper Canada Land Petitions on microfilm are not uniform. You may find one small petition, giving just enough facts to persuade the Crown to give that person a free grant as a Loyalist. You may find page after page of affidavits,testimonies, and so on, all documentation to prove the petitioner's claim. For example in my own Loyalist research,one of my Loyalist ancestors' files has an affidavit from a well known judge of the Niagara area, testifying to his Loyalty during the 'troubles' - this document providing his former place of residence in the United States.
Another Loyalist file included a document signed by his commanding officer in Butler's Rangers (providing his unit),describing the petitioner's hardships including being imprisoned 3 times in Albany NY. A second document gave great detail about the petitioner's wife (including the number of children) and her hardships in NY, including a description of the night the "rebels" (Patriots) came to her home in the northern part of NY and burned it to the ground. Thisdocument went on to describe her ordeal as she and her children attempted to make their way north to "Canada".
Don't overlook these petitions as a wonderful source of detail as well as genealogical material. Until you find them you have no way of knowing how much or
how little information may be contained in the file.
For more info on these petitions and how to obtain them on microfilm, see How to Find your Loyalist Ancestor
May 24, 2008
Getting Copies of the 1871 Ontario Census
Canada Census records for 1871 are available to the public. They give information on all household members - name, age,gender, country of birth, religion, ethnic origin,
occupation, marital status and education.
There are 9 returns for the 1871 census but there are 3 that are of the most help genealogically:
* Schedule 1: Return of the Living
* Schedule 2: Return of the Dead
* Schedule 4: Agricultural Return
Census records are available on microfilm from the Archives of Ontario, National Archives of Canada, on ILL (InterLibraryLoan) through a local library, or from your
local FHC (Family History Center).
You can search the 1871 census index to heads of household for Ontario
If you find a name of interest, you can order a copy of the census page from the National Archives. Requests for copies must include complete references
For help and a link to the 1871 Census order form
occupation, marital status and education.
There are 9 returns for the 1871 census but there are 3 that are of the most help genealogically:
* Schedule 1: Return of the Living
* Schedule 2: Return of the Dead
* Schedule 4: Agricultural Return
Census records are available on microfilm from the Archives of Ontario, National Archives of Canada, on ILL (InterLibraryLoan) through a local library, or from your
local FHC (Family History Center).
You can search the 1871 census index to heads of household for Ontario
If you find a name of interest, you can order a copy of the census page from the National Archives. Requests for copies must include complete references
For help and a link to the 1871 Census order form
May 23, 2008
Free Public Access on Ancestry.com
To commemorate the NARA-Ancestry.com agreement on the eve of Memorial Day, Ancestry.com is making its entire U.S. Military Collection -- the largest online collection of American military records -- available for free to the public.
From May 20 through May 31, people can log on to Ancestry.com to view more than 100 million names and 700 titles and databases of military records, the majority of which come from NARA, from all 50 U.S. states.
.. more Military records
From May 20 through May 31, people can log on to Ancestry.com to view more than 100 million names and 700 titles and databases of military records, the majority of which come from NARA, from all 50 U.S. states.
.. more Military records
May 18, 2008
Newspaper Extracts from The Canadian Champion, Milton, Halton County Ontario
OliveTreeGenealogy.com added the following Ontario
Newspaper Extracts from The Canadian Champion, Milton
Halton County Ontario. Links found at
http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/free0408.shtml
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths July 1869
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths February 1872
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths April 1887
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths February 1892
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths May 1899
Newspaper Extracts from The Canadian Champion, Milton
Halton County Ontario. Links found at
http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/free0408.shtml
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths July 1869
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths February 1872
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths April 1887
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths February 1892
Extracts of Births, Marriages, Deaths May 1899
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