Genealogy à la carte

The Ontario Genealogical Society will host six virtual presentations this week. As usual, the presentations are free and open to the public.

The following are in Eastern Standard Time.

Tuesday, November 11, 7:00 p.m. – Lambton County Branch
Exploring Library and Archives Canada Online; Navigating the New Website by Ken McKinlay

Over the past few years, the website for Library and Archives Canada has undergone a number of changes. For some long-time users of the old site, this has caused moments of frustration. In this talk we take a look at the new site, touch upon using the new census search system, and explore other resources they have made available to us. Register to watch online.

Wednesday, November 12, 1:00 p.m. — Ireland SIG
An Overview of the Ulster Historical Society Website by Fintan Mullan

Ulster Historical Foundation has been helping people in North America trace their Irish and Ulster ancestors for 65 years, and is one of the most experienced, long established and highly reputable organizations in Ireland in the field of Irish family history. For more information on our services, visit www.ancestryireland.com. Register to watch online.

Wednesday, November 12, 7:00 p.m. — York Region Branch
Second World War: Researching the Canadians Who Served by Ken McKinlay

This presentation delves into the wealth of records available for researching those who served Canada during the Second World War. Register to watch online.

Thursday, November 13, 1:00 p.m. — British Home Children SIG
The Lost Children Project by Val Hart

The Lost Children Project was set up to capture the stories of the children who left Middlemore Homes in Birmingham and came to Canada as British Home Children. Author Val Hart will speak to us about the project and about her book associated with the project. Register to watch online.

Friday, November 14, 7:00 p.m. — Essex County and Kent County Branches
Essex-Kent Mennonite Historical Society: History & Resources by Jill Nicholson

Learn about the history of the Essex-Kent Mennonite Historical Association, a brief history of the Mennonites in Essex-Kent, and a review of the resources in the archives and the artifacts in the museum available to assist genealogists and historians. Register to watch online.

Saturday, November 15, 10:00 a.m. — Kingston Branch
The First World War Beyond the Western Front by Mike More

To many Canadians, The Great War, or First World War, was fought in the trenches of France. We know about Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, and Passchendaele. But this was truly a global war, and although few Canadians served on other fronts, there was a great deal of fighting outside of France and “soldiers of the King” were involved in all of them, along with many other nations. Register to watch online.

With a free Ancestry account, you can now have free access to Ancestry’s worldwide military records until November 12.

Thank you for remembering the veterans in your family.

On Saturday, November 8, the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa will host a free hybrid meeting during which four military-themed presentations will be delivered, starting at 9:00 a.m. Registrants may join in at any time.

9:00 – 10:00 am EST
Where are My Military Records? by Ken McKinlay
Have you ever discovered that one of your ancestors served in the Canadian or British military and wondered what to do next? This talk cuts through the confusion, guiding you to the essential collections and resources that can help you piece together the story of their service. We’ll explore where we might find a wide range of records, including attestation papers, service files, and medal cards. Discover how these documents can reveal not only your ancestor’s service to the Crown, but also vital personal details that bring their life story to light.

10:00 – 11:30 am EST — Military Moments
Finding Mount Ruppel: Remembering Uncle Bud by Carol Annett
Carol Annett’s uncle, Warrant Officer Iverson Frederick “Bud” Ruppel, RCAF, was killed in action on 30 January 1944 when his Lancaster bomber crashed in a forest outside Berlin. In 1962, a mountain in British Columbia was named in his honour. Carol will reveal the surprising way in which Bud’s family finally learned about Mount Ruppel almost twenty years after the mountain was named.

Walter Preston: a Life Cut Short by Susan Smart
Walter Preston was born in 1885 in Surrey, England. At the age of 25, he emigrated to Canada, settling in Toronto. In 1915, he enlisted in the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. Walter participated in what became known as the Battle of the St. Eloi Craters in April 1916, enduring intense bombardment and two gas attacks. Once a strong and capable boilermaker, Walter was declared “unfit for duty” and died about 18 months later in a Toronto convalescent hospital. In this talk, Susan Smart will examine Walter’s wartime experience and the use of gas as a weapon.

My Dad and his Uncle Arthur, the 6th Bishop of Montreal, two fine Grenadier Guards by Sally Doherty
Sally Doherty will talk about her dad, Lt.-Col. Thomas H. Carlisle (whom she knew for 12 years), and her great Uncle Arthur Carlisle whom she never met. A generation apart, both set aside their careers to serve in the World Wars — her Dad leaving his law practice in 1939 to join the Canadian Grenadier Guards and her Uncle Arthur leaving his parish in London, Ontario, to serve as a chaplain with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WWI.

Join in person at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St. at the corner of Elgin Street, in Ottawa, or register to watch the presentations online.

To mark Remembrance Day and honour those who served, Findmypast is offering free access to millions of military records from November 7 to 13.

Researchers with British and Irish roots can explore the largest collection of British Army records anywhere online, including regimental records, army lists, roll calls and the details of those who served with particular regiments, military nurses, volunteer soldiers and army deserters, as well as the British in India collection, covering nearly 350 years from 1656 right up to 1993.

Then delve deeper to understand what life was really like for those who experienced war within Findmypast’s collection of historical newspapers. You might find an image of your fallen ancestor within Findmypast’s brand new ‘Faces of the Fallen’ collection, extracted from the pages of British and Irish newspapers, or a story of heroism in your local community.

If you have American roots, search for relatives who fought in the American Revolutionary War within 16 dedicated record sets. You can also explore more modern conflicts, such as enlistments, casualties and POWs in World War II and Vietnam.

Plus, Findmypast has created a helpful set of resources and features to help you get further with your military research, faster. Use powerful research tools like Collections to clip and file your favourite newspaper articles, and Workspaces to collate your research on individual ancestors in one place and preserve the stories that matter most. Within the family tree builder, you’ll discover helpful information giving you the context around your ancestor’s military service, including details of regiments and battles. You can also uncover expert tips, guides, and a video tutorial on the Remembrance hub.

Join Findmypast’s Pals campaign
Findmypast has launched an ongoing campaign to build the first and only definitive record collection dedicated to the Pals — groups of brothers, friends, and workmates who enlisted, fought, and often fell together in the First World War.

Find a Pal, delve deeper, and share your findings at www.findmypast.co.uk/pals.

It’s going to be another good week at the Ontario Genealogical Society with seven free virtual presentations, including one that you can also attend in person. The presentations are open to members and non-members.

The following are in Eastern Standard Time.

Monday, November 3, 7:00 p.m. — Leeds & Grenville Branch
The Untold Stories on Cenotaphs by Blake Seward

Starting with a name on your town’s cenotaph and working through evidence files to produce a detailed summary of a soldier or nursing sister, Blake Seward will take you on an interesting historical journey through the Great War and Second World War. Join Blake as he shares some of the hidden stories collected from over 25 years of working with First and Second World War service personnel files, war diaries, and circumstances of death cards held at Library and Archives Canada as a part of the Lest We Forget project. The recipient of numerous awards for education programming, Blake will discuss the importance of getting students to develop the skills to work as a historian when conducting similar research, the challenges of working with documents that are one hundred years old, and the connections that exist with contemporary issues. Register to watch online.

Tuesday, November 4, 7:30 p.m. — Durham Region Branch
Ancestral Mapping Using Google Earth Pro by David Joiner

This online workshop will demonstrate how family history details can be mapped using Google Earth Pro for desktop (GEPro). GEPro is a free downloadable application with many useful features for genealogy and digital mapping. Participants will learn how to add informative placemarks and lines on a map, use polygons to highlight regions of interest, run automated tours of mapped points, include image overlays to give context to family history, access historical imagery to link family stories with land surface changes over time, and share and store mapped details. Case studies will include the presenter’s paternal ancestry from Aberdeenshire and his maternal ancestry from Ireland. GEPro should be installed on the participant’s personal device in advance if interested in trying its features during the workshop. Register to watch online.

Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 p.m. — Huron County Branch
The Early Settlement of Bayfield by Julia Armstron

Learn the stories of  some of the early families. Find out how the Canada Company and the land agents associated with selling lots operated. Learn about some of Bayfield’s Main Street’s historic buildings/inns and who owned them. Register to watch online.

Thursday, November 6, 1:00 p.m. — Scottish SIG
Petitions of the Calendonian Asylum by Lorna Kinnaird

Register to watch online.

Thursday, November 6, 7:00 p.m. — Irish Palatine SIG
Surname Social: SHIER by Roger Shier

If the name Shier is part of your Irish Palatine family tree, you’ll want to join our second IP-SIG Surname Social. Members descended from or interested in Shiers will have an opportunity to share whatever information they wish about their Shier research. The social will last a maximum of 90 minutes. IP-SIG member and former Chair, Roger Shier, will be present to answer questions and demonstrate his website The Shiers, An Irish Palatine Family. Register to attend online.

Thursday, November 6, 7:00 p.m. — Ontario Ancestors
Invaded! The Fenian Raids and the Canadian Response by Kathryn Lake Hogan

Between 1866 and 1871, Irish-American veterans invaded Canada, attempting to pressure Britain to withdraw from Ireland. Gain an understanding of the historical context, significant battles, and the lasting impact on Canadian military and national identity. Determine your ancestor’s role in these events and where to find the records. Register to watch online.

Saturday, November 8, 10:30 a.m. — Simcoe County Branch
The Dieppe Raid:  Honouring the Soldiers by Telling their Stories by Jayne Turvey

The Dieppe Raid was the darkest day of the Second World War for Canada. Over 900 Canadians died in the matter of hours and nearly 2,000 were taken prisoner of war. However, these soldiers are not just numbers. Each has a story that needs to be told. Please join us as Jayne tells us about some of these stories.

This is a hybrid meeting. Attend in person at the Barrie & District Association Realtors facility, 676 Veterans Drive, Barrie, or register to watch online. (Note that the branch’s website and promotions say the presentation begins at 10:30 a.m., but the online registration indicates it begins at 11:00 a.m. It likely begins at 10:30 a.m.)

From today, October 30, until Sunday, November 2, MyHeritage’s more than 1.5 billion death records are free to access.

Happy Halloween!