When you look at FamilySearch’s Prince Edward Island Land Records page, the resource at the top of the list is Prince Edward Island land record database on The Island Register website, created by Dave Hunter.
Sadly, after many years of making a major contribution to Prince Edward Island family history research, Mr. Hunter passed away Monday.
He left quite a legacy to those researching their ancestors who lived in PEI.
For many genealogists, Mr. Hunter’s website, The Island Register, is one of their top resources for researching their family history. The site contains almost 1,200 lineages and 4,500 documents.
On the Prince Edward Island Genealogy Facebook group, many wrote yesterday about how Mr. Hunter has helped them with their research.
Family historian Victor Taylor wrote, “His contribution to Island Genealogy will not go unrecognized. He single handedly built a treasure trove of information of which I was only too glad to contribute my Taylor line.”
“His contribution to PEI genealogy goes unmatched,” wrote Sandra Regan McDevitt.
Other comments included “He helped literally thousands of people connect with their Island roots through the Island Register” and “He will be remembered for his consistent commitment and dedication to preserving PEI family histories.”
In 2013, Mr. Hunter received the 2013 Selkirk Award after a unanimous vote of approval by the general membership of the Belfast Historical Society.
The award is named for the 5th Earl of Selkirk, Thomas Douglas, who brought 800 immigrants from Skye, Scotland to Belfast Cove in southeastern PEI more than 200 years ago. It is given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions of Belfast heritage, and for excellence in projects undertaken on the history of the Belfast district.
Mr. Hunter was raised in Brockville, Ontario, according to an article in The Guardian newspaper about the Selkirk award, but his Island roots took him many times to PEI before he moved there permanently in 1978.
Mr. Hunter told The Guardian that he saw his website as work that needed to be done.
In 2000, Mr. Hunter produced a weekly Island Register newsletter which, like his website, was always free of charge.
According to his Facebook page, Mr. Hunter retired from Canada Post in 2012 and was the curator of The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island. He was also a co-administrator of the Prince Edward Island Family Photos Facebook group.
