The kids are back in school and the summer holiday season is coming to an end. That means there is plenty to learn this week from Ontario Ancestors and its branches. There will be six virtual or hybrid presentations. All are open to the public and all but one are free.
Topics include Loyalists, newspaper research, natural disasters, weavers, an Ontario genealogy research toolbox, and even Walt Disney.
The following times are in Eastern time.
Monday, September 2, 7:00 p.m. — Leeds & Grenville Branch
How to Develop Online Newspaper Research Skills by Kenneth R. Marks
This webinar is intended to build newspaper research skills for genealogy and history researchers. Online newspaper research can be a frustrating endeavor for several reasons. The goal is for the audience to understand why it can be difficult, and to learn some skills that will drastically improve search results. The webinar will cover why to search old newspapers and the challenges in searching old newspapers online, provide several skills and techniques to successfully search newspapers online, and include a demonstration of these skills and techniques. Register to watch online.
Tuesday, September 3, 7:30 p.m. — Durham Region Branch
All Kinds of Loyalists by Kathryn Lake Hogan, U.E.
During the American Revolutionary War, approximately 35% of the population of the Thirteen Colonies was loyal to King George III of Great Britain. Was your ancestor one of them? How do you know if your ancestor was a Loyalist? In this presentation, learn what to look for in documents and records to determine if your ancestor meets the qualifications of being a Loyalist. Register to watch online.
Wednesday, September 4, 7:30 p.m. – Huron County Branch
Huron County Encounters with Natural Disasters by David Yates
Through fire, flood, wind and snow, David Yates examines five disasters that have shaped Huron County in the last 200 years. From the extermination of the passenger pigeon to the F-3 Tornado that swept through Goderich in 2011, he hopes to illuminate some of the more interesting stories from our county’s past. Register to watch online.
Thursday, September 5, 7:00 p.m. — Ontario Ancestors
A Genealogy Toolbox for Researching Ancestors in Ontario by Ken McKinlay
We are fortunate that there are many online resources available to those researching their ancestors who settled in Ontario. But for those starting off their Ontario family history research it can sometimes be overwhelming and we might miss some key records by not knowing what is available. In this talk we take a look at some of Ken’s favourite sites and resources that he uses when researching the various branches of his tree that came to Ontario. We will look at some well-known genealogy focused sites and also some lesser known resources that can help you in your research journey. Register to watch online. This webinar is free for society members and $10 for non-members.
Saturday, September 7, 10:00 a.m. — London & Middlesex Branch
I went to the weavers after some carpet; Weavers and Customers in Rural Ontario, 1859 to 1922 by Deborah Livingston-Lowe
This presentation will explore the relationship between weavers and customers in rural Ontario. To further expand our general understanding of the approximately 2000 weavers who worked in nineteenth century Ontario, Deborah will use the Ontario censuses and period textiles in museum collections. In particular, she will discuss three weavers from Middlesex County: John Campbell, Thomas and John Alder and their customers by examining their account books and material culture. The presentation will be illustrated with images of textiles, textile equipment and written sources. This study of weavers and their customers provides insight about the local economy, the persistence of preindustrial technology in a period of technological change and the relationship between production and consumption of handwoven cloth. Register to watch online.
Saturday, September 7, 2:00 p.m. — Simcoe County Branch
Pioneering Spirit: Walt Disney’s Connection to Four Pioneering Families of the Huron Tract by Mike Miles
Walt Disney became famous with his pioneering efforts in animation and entertainment. His ancestors were likewise possessed of this pioneering spirit revealed through an examination of his genealogy. Walt fondly remembered his grandmother Disney, who is Mike’s connection to the Disney family. She had come as a child with her family to Huron Tract from Ireland. Her Disney family, along with two other families, had originated from a small region of Ireland and from within the community of former plantation colonists. More than coincidence brought them together to settle a particular part of backwoods Ontario. Join us to hear Mike describe how the families came together in the mid 1800s and then went their separate ways.
This is a hybrid meeting. Attend in person at the Northwest Barrie United Church at 464 Ferndale Drive North or register to watch online.
