Genealogy à la carte

If your ancestors lived in Upper Canada (Ontario), you will want to watch Janice Nickerson’s three webinars on Friday, June 12, hosted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars .

This free three-part series covers Crown Land Petitions, Heir & Devisee Commission Files, and Land Registry Office records. Each session uses case studies to demonstrate how these records solve genealogical mysteries.

Click on the links to register.

11:00 a.m. Eastern time
Land Records of Upper Canada 1 of 3: Crown Land Petitions

12:30 p.m. Eastern time
Land Records of Upper Canada 2 of 3: Heir & Devisee Commission Files

2:00 p.m. Eastern time
Land Records of Upper Canada 3 of 3: Land Registry Office Records

If unable to watch the live webinars, the recordings will likely be available in the webinar library for up to seven days afterward. Following that period, only members will be able to watch. Members can now watch 13 of Janice’s previous presentations in the webinar library.

Until June 22, a six-month Newspapers.com Publisher’s Extra subscription is $74.00 (US$54.90) plus tax, which is 25% off the regular price of $99.

To see the subscription price in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, scroll down to the bottom right-hand side of the above linked page.

If your dad used to let your borrow the keys to the family car, perhaps he’ll share his newspaper discoveries and subscription password with you.

Until Sunday, June 7, MyHeritage is offering free access to Swedish and Danish historical records in celebration of Swedish National Day and Danish Constitution Day.

The free access includes household examination books, church records, censuses, passenger lists, newspapers, and vital records that can help you trace ancestors across generations and uncover stories from Nordic communities and family life.

To celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month in the United States and the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, MyHeritage is offering free access to US immigration records from June 1 to 5.

This free access includes more than 50 immigration collections with more than 213 million records covering passenger lists, arrivals, and naturalization documents from major gateways, such as Ellis Island and Castle Garden.

In these records, researchers can discover the ship their ancestors traveled on or the records documenting their path to citizenship

The Ontario Genealogical Society and four of its branches kick off the month of June with five, free virtual presentations this week, including one that is hybrid. All are open to the public.

The following take place in Eastern time.

Monday, June 1, 7:00 p.m. — Leeds & Grenville Branch
The People Before Us by Dr. David Shanahan

David will be speaking about the original Indigenous settlement of Eastern Ontario up to around 1791. He will discuss the Saint Lawrence Iroquoian people who “disappeared” from history, the Algonquin people who controlled the region from the Ottawa Valley to the Saint Lawrence, the French and British impact, as well as the Loyalist refugees after 1783. Register to watch online.

Tuesday, June 2, 7:30 p.m. — Durham County Branch
The Home Children Scheme and Its Untold Stories by Dianne Cosway and Marg Graham

Between 1869 and the 1940s, over 100,000 children were sent from Britain to Canada through migration programs, often coming from vulnerable backgrounds. Many were placed in homes where they worked as farm labourers or domestic servants, frequently experiencing hardship and isolation. Despite these challenges, their resilience and contributions played a significant role in shaping Canada’s social and economic development, while their experiences highlight an important and often difficult chapter in the country’s history. Register to watch online.

Wednesday, June 3, 7:30 p.m. — Huron County Branch
British Home Children in Huron by Sinead Cox

Join Huron County Museum Curator of Engagement and Dialogue Sinead Cox for a presentation on the experiences of British migrant children placed in Huron County. Register to watch online. (Note that there is some confusion about the start time. The branch’s promotions and website indicate the presentation begins at 7:30 p.m., but the online registration form says 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 4, 7:00 p.m. — Ontario Genealogical Society
Scrolling through Norwegian Genealogy Resources Online by Eleanor Brinsko

We have a much simpler time crossing the Atlantic than many of our ancestors had, especially now with the internet in the comfort of our own homes.

In this lecture, we will explore how to use Norwegian genealogical databases, such as DigitalArkivet for government records, church database websites to find parishes and their histories, and social media to connect with family members and stay up-to-date with advancements in genealogical resources both in Norway and America. Register to watch online.

Saturday, June 6, 10:00 a.m. — London & Middlesex Branch
Using the Registry of Deeds in Dublin by David Elliott

The Registry of Deeds in Dublin is a major depository of Irish records which genealogists often overlook. It contains complete records from 1709 until the early twentieth century. This set of records consists not only of land sales and leases, but also mortgages, wills, marriage contracts, and indenture agreements. These records were housed in a different part of Dublin, so they were not impacted by the 1922 fire at the General Registry Office, which destroyed so many Irish records. There is a steep learning curve involved in using this collection, but David Elliott will demonstrate how to use them.

This is a hybrid meeting. Attend in person at the Church of Latter-Day Saints, 1139 Riverside Drive, London, or register to watch online.