MyHeritage has just released a collection of 731 million records extracted from historical French newspapers, thanks to their in-house AI technology.
Called France, Names & Stories in Newspapers collection, this is MyHeritage’s first “Names & Stories” collection in a language other than English. The source of these newspapers appears to be is France’s national library, the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
The records delve beyond names and dates. They capture relationships, occupations, addresses, and more, all linked to original newspaper pages.
In 2024, MyHeritage developed specialized AI technology to extract structured records from newspaper pages published on OldNews.com. MyHeritage started publishing these collections, initially for English newspapers only, in December 2024, and they included newspapers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
If you have a family tree on MyHeritage, you will soon begin receiving automatic Record Matches to articles in this collection that mention people in your tree. This will help you discover articles about your relatives without needing to search manually.
After more than 100 years, the Canadian military has identified a soldier killed in the First World War as Capt. William Webster Wilson.
Capt. Wilson, an accomplished soldier, left Lindsay, Ontario to fight in France before he was declared missing on October 9, 1916 following a fierce fight known as the Battle of the Ancre Heights – part of the larger Somme offensive.
The Defence department said his grave was identified by Canada’s Casualty Identification Review Board through the use of historical and archival research.
“Capt. Wilson gave his life to protect our great country and his identification is a reminder of the sacrifices that he and all Canadians who served have made — as well as their families,” said Defence Minister David McGuinty in a news release.
Capt. Wilson’s family has been notified about the news and a headstone rededication ceremony will soon take place at Adanac Military Cemetery, in Miraumont, France.
Capt. William Webster Wilson. “Memorial of the Great War, 1914-1918: A record of service”, Bank of Montreal, 1921. Courtesy of the Government of Canada.
William Wilson was born on November 29, 1890, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Hugh Cunningham and Mary Ann Lyell (née Webster) Wilson. William had a younger brother, Hugh. William joined the Royal Bank of Scotland at the age of 15, working at several branches in Edinburgh. He resigned in 1911, shortly after his mother’s death, immigrated to Canada and joined the Bank of Montreal. He initially worked in Toronto, before joining the branch in Lindsay, Ontario.
Before the First World War, William volunteered with local militia units in both Scotland and Canada. While in Lindsay, he was a captain with the 45th Victoria Regiment and joined the thousands of men who travelled to Valcartier, Quebec, to enlist following the outbreak of war. He enlisted on September 23, 1914, as an Honorary Captain and Paymaster with the 1st Canadian Divisional Signal Company.
After training in Quebec and England, he was taken on strength by his unit in France in April 1915. Originally attached to the 1st Divisional Headquarters, by 1916 he was attached to the Canadian Section of General Headquarters, 3rd Echelon of the British Expeditionary Force.
By the fall of 1916, gruelling fighting and heavy losses sustained during the Somme Offensive meant that trained men were desperately needed on the front lines. Probably due to his extensive militia experience and recent completion of a machine gun course, Capt. Wilson was attached to the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force.
On October 8, 1916, the Canadian Corps participated in the Battle of the Ancre Heights, as part of the broader Somme Offensive. The 16th Canadian Battalion was involved in an unsuccessful attempt to capture Regina Trench, and Capt. Wilson was reported missing the next day, on October 9.
It was not until June 24, 1919, that his brother Hugh received a second-hand account indicating that Capt. Wilson had been killed by a shell. At the time of his death, Capt. Wilson was 25 years old.
Researchers had not initially considered the grave could have belonged to Capt. Webster, since he was officially commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial as a member of the Canadian Signal Corps, rather than a member of the 16th Battalion, with whom he died.
Captain Wilson’s name is visible in the bottom right of the Lindsay Cenotaph in Lindsay, Ontario.
The Casualty Identification Program was established in 2007 and started to formally confirm unidentified graves six years ago. When their identity is successfully found, the headstone is replaced featuring their full identity with a small rededication ceremony.
Canadians with missing relatives due to 20th century war efforts can register with the program on this government website.
On Saturday, June 7, at 11:00 a.m. Mountain time, the Edmonton Branch of the Alberta Genealogical Society will host the free presentation, Irish Immigrants to Canada’s Prairies, delivered by Dr. Lucille H. Campey. It will be a hybrid presentation — in person and virtual.
Irish immigration to Canada spanned centuries, with different waves driven by poverty, famine, and the search for better opportunities. While many settled in Eastern Canada, some ventured westward with the expansion of the railways and the promise of land. In the Prairie provinces, including Alberta, Irish immigrants played a vital role in early settlement and development. They established communities, contributed to agriculture, and influenced the cultural landscape. Place names across Alberta reflect this heritage, marking the lasting impact of Irish pioneers on the province’s history. Come hear about Dr. Campey’s research in this area and what insights she can provide!
Ontario Ancestors and four of its branches will host five virtual presentations this week, including two hybrid meetings. All are free and open to the public.
The following times are in Eastern time.
Monday, June 2, 7:00 p.m. — Leeds & Grenville Branch 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.
Tuesday, June 3, 7:00 p.m. — Lambton County Branch New 2024 Family Tree Maker by Mark Olson
Mark Olson will show how to use the new 2024 Family Tree Maker and the many things it can do. Users of all skill levels are encouraged to attend. Register to watch online.
Tuesday, June 3, 7:30 p.m. — Durham Region Branch Untold Oshawa by Jennifer Weymark
Jennifer Weymark’s book, Untold Oshawa: An Expanded History, was published in 2024 by the Oshawa Museum and Archives and the Oshawa Historical Society for Oshawa’s centennial year. Untold Oshawa expands on the commonly accepted narrative of Oshawa’s history, to develop an awareness of local history that includes more points of view, and to examine wider aspects of the community’s past.
Chapters include explorations of Oshawa’s Black history, Jewish history, women in politics, displaced persons who settled in Oshawa, Indigenous history, and labour history. It is a book that celebrates Oshawa’s culture and diversity, and highlights the myriad of stories that have played a role in forming our city, but that have been underrepresented in the history books thus far.
This is a hybrid presentation. Attend in person in the 3rd Floor Boardroom, Northminster United Church, 676 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, or register to watch online. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the in-person meeting.
Thursday, June 5, 7:00 p.m. — Ontario Ancestors Finding Your Family in the Grippe of the Spanish Lady by Michelle Spencer
As many as 50 million people worldwide died during the Influenza pandemic that came in waves that lasted almost three years from mid-1918 through the summer of 1920, leaving few families untouched.
This presentation will place the pandemic in context both locally in Ontario, as well as worldwide of when, why, and where it occurred and provide tips on locating under-utilized sources. This session combines historic context and non-traditional records to help genealogists to discover how your family’s history is intertwined with one of the deadliest diseases ever known. Register to watch online.
Saturday, June 7, 10:00 a.m. — Middlesex Branch Tracking the Tolpuddle Martyrs by Mark Richardson
Transported in 1834 to penal colonies, six farm labourers from Tolpuddle, Dorset, England, became the focal point of a public outcry. Following their pardon and return home, these ‘martyrs’ of the trade union movement left England for Upper Canada, many settling near London. Several are buried in Siloam Cemetery. However, what do we know of their new life in Canada? Are there living descendants of the Tolpuddle Martyrs? These and other fascinating questions will be explored.
This is a hybrid meeting. Attend in person at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1139 Riverside Drive, London, or register to watch online.
For more gems like these throughout the week, join the Genealogy à la carte Facebook group. When you submit your request to join, you will be asked to answer two quick questions about your family history research.
As of late yesterday, more than a dozen seats remained for the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society and the Okanagan Regional Library’s virtual presentation, Wills & Probate Papers: an Underused Resource, delivered by Claire Smith-Burns, today, May 27, at 6:30 p.m. Pacific time.
Wills are one of Claire’s favourite records in genealogical research. She will share some basic information about wills, administrations, inventories and probate, including terminology and interpreting common phraseology. Also, she will explain how to access wills, with examples from Canada, US and the UK. Register to watch online.
As activities start slowing down for the summer, there are only two virtual presentations at Ontario Ancestors this week, but both are open to the public and free.
The following times are in Eastern time.
Monday, May 26, 7:30 p.m. — Toronto Branch Finding the father of Regina Diamond Pearl Hole by Paul Jones
Paul Jones will take us through the most complex yet successful hunt for a single ancestor in his genealogical journey. He estimates the search for his cousin’s unknown maternal grandfather – her ancestor, not his – has taken more than 500 hours.
It’s a cutting-edge DNA story, but 98%+ of the time was spent doing traditional research. As with most complex cases, there were unexpected twists, poignant tales, and lots to learn. And there were frustrations – red herrings and blind alleys, Paul’s own failings (by his admission), inadequate tools and unavailable records. Join us for an informative and entertaining case study. There will be great stories, the latest tools in action, and Paul expects, the occasional cheerful rant. Register to watch online.
Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 p.m. — Wellington County Branch Transcribing, Translating and Summarizing Documents Using AI by Thomas MacEntee
Learn how to harness the power of artificial intelligence to assist in translating, transcribing, and summarizing a variety of genealogy records. A handwritten baptismal record from the 1800s? No problem. A faded newspaper obituary? No problem. We’ll cover the best AI platforms as well as how to craft a solid prompt to get you the results you need. Register to watch online.
Congratulations to the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa!
The National Genealogical Society yesterday, during the second day of its family history conference in Louisville, Kentucky, presented the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa with an Award of Merit to recognize exceptional contributions to the field of genealogy over a period of five or more years.
The citation reads:
“The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) is recognized for its outstanding work to connect, educate, share, and inspire people in the pursuit of genealogy. It supports researchers in Canada and beyond with effective research methods and practices focused on the British Isles. Its broad scope of programming includes in-person meetings, online education, publications, indexes to special populations of those of British Isles descent, and access to presentations of international speakers. The BIFHSGO continues to provide its members valuable content, a vibrant community of fellow researchers, and access to high-quality resources.”
On its Facebook page, BIFHSGO wrote, “We can’t think of a better way to wrap up our 30th anniversary year!”
For more gems like these throughout the week, join the Genealogy à la carte Facebook group. When you submit your request to join, you will be asked to answer two quick questions about your family history research..
Due to the long weekend, we’re looking at fewer virtual presentations at Ontario Ancestors, but there is still plenty to watch — and learn. The presentations are free and open to all who register.
The following times are in Eastern time.
Tuesday, May 20, 2:00 p.m. — Sudbury District Branch End of the paper trail using DNA & Patience! By Barb Roy
A case study on finding that elusive ancestor when all you can find in documents is that he came from somewhere! In this case, it was somewhere in England. Learn how to use that massive number of matches to build the family tree. This is a hybrid presentation. Attend in person at ParkSide Older Adult Centre, 140 Durham Street, or register to watch online.
Tuesday, May 20, 7:00 p.m. — Nipissing Branch A Beginners Guide to Searching Online Ontario Land Records by Ken McKinlay
Until fairly recently, researching land records in Ontario was a bit of a challenge since many key resources were not available online. That has changed in the last few years. This session will introduce you to some of the online tools for discovering where your ancestors lived in Ontario and how to access the government records related to their land. This talk doesn’t go into exhaustive detail. Instead, it offers an overview, highlighting the most helpful parts of Ken’s three-part Finding on the Ground series of talks, to help you get started or build on the research you have already begun. Register to watch online.
Wednesday, May 21, 7:00 p.m. — Thunder Bay Branch AI & Genealogy: Possibilities and Pitfalls by Marian Press
We are all struggling to learn what AI is and how it works and what it has to offer us for our family history research. This presentation aims to provide an introduction to the rapidly evolving world of AI and genealogy and to show how to take advantage of what is available.
The emphasis will be on the fact that AI cannot (and should not) do your genealogy for you, but on how it can assist in tasks such as document transcription, summarization, and analysis, translation of documents, and help with image fixing and creation. There will also be discussion of the ways in which AI is already maximizing the search capabilities of both general and genealogy databases and the fact that we are already making use of AI whether we are aware of it or not. The many caveats concerning the use of AI will also be considered, especially the issues of inaccuracies in the information generated. We welcome Marian Press from the Toronto Branch, who will walk us through this practical and informative session. Register to watch online.
Thursday, May 22, 7:00 p.m. — Ottawa Branch Discover the Ottawa Branch OGS Library
Discover the Ottawa Branch OGS Library, which is turning 55 years old this year, but is showing no signs of slowing down! The library has an amazing range and depth of resources, covering Canada and beyond, with three areas of particular focus: Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, the British Isles, and British Colonial America. Learn about the resources in our collection and about the tools that library volunteers have developed so you can find what you are looking for in our catalog to help you to prepare for a visit and get the most out of our collection. Register to watch online.
Saturday, May 24, 1:00 p.m. — Wellington County Branch Researching Family History through Newspapers
Newspapers are a treasure trove of information for family historians. While obituaries are commonly sought after for details about a death, newspapers can reveal much more, including court notices, probate announcements, social columns, coroner’s inquests, missing persons reports, church news, community events, and more.
In this workshop, participants will discover the importance of newspapers in genealogical research, how to identify relevant newspapers, and where to access them online and offline. Practical tips and valuable resources will be shared to help make your newspaper research more effective and rewarding. Register to watch online.
