BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS #3

Researching today is so different than 30 years ago. The online connections are great. Facebook has many genealogy groups that make connections with family groups fun and interesting. I now belong to 3 groups- Durham Region and Kawarthas which are my family lines and the Cassino Immigrant group which have my husband's lines. It is still important to provide information to the various societies' newsletters. Ontario Genealogical Society is always looking for new members. Check out all the branches where your loved ones may have lived. It is really a minimal cost to connect with these groups. To keep genealogy alive and well supporting those groups is as important as supporting a charity. Volunteers have for decades transcribed cemetery records, census, local newspaper that once printed seems like such an easy task but hours of  loved labour has gone into it. If from another province then join your provincial group and local branches. I also belong to the York Region group where I have no ancestors but have lived in the region most of my life. I feel an obligation to connect to it as well as write my history of how the region has changed. Since it is Canada's 150 many groups have asked for submissions of where were your ancestors in 1867. What were they doing? I am still considering what to write regarding our family lines. So there is no time like the present. If considering a family history journey why not start today!
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32 YEARS OF GENEALOGY-TIME FOR NEW STRATEGIES

Having attended the OGS-Ontario Genealogical Society- 2016 Conference in Toronto Ontario June 3-June 5, I came away with some renewed energy. Having followed the rules of organization, numbering system of charts and of course citing my sources, my work is quasi organized for the next round. The digital work is waiting. A good scanner to take many notes and documents from paper to computer files is on the horizon. One workshop told how important it is to put the family tree lines online to connect with others and to have a real place to store the data. The 3 place rule and 15 km rule- a way to let others have one's data so in case of some disaster or theft- well the information is secure. So family out there be prepared in the next year to be receiving some data in one form or another!! Yes I know who would really want to steal 15+ binders of our family history? Going from binders to digital sounds good but like other aspects of my life I will find a way to combine both. There is something about reading everything online that bothers me. It is still easier to pick up a book or in the genealogy world a binder and flip through the pages for the information. So some digital but reducing the paper clutter and downsizing the binder information is coming for me as well. It became clear from other family historians that many members of their families are not interested in all the information and may burn it all after their deaths!! Not sure if my children do feel the same! The good thing is knowing I have a plan and lots of organized information already. My yellow pedigree binder was well organized 20 years ago! The new databases online and my membership in Find My Past-based in Britain will help me add new tidbits to family lines. From many presenters lots of information about databases for varieties of information.  A way to enrich the stories of my family's ancestors. My need to write will be there as writing up various stories can create an opportunity to submit to the various branches where I am a member and send the articles to relevant family members. Gives some needed information for the various newsletters as well as the continued goal to organize more, write, put the information out there and yes share. Respecting the rules and the ethical ones of genealogy- no distinct information of anyone born after 1916- the 100 year rule of respecting the privacy of the living! Some modern descendants may say where I am- I will give you paper version but not put you on the Internet family tree sites- understand! The copyright rule of others that have done the work. Not taking all of some one's work without credit and claiming as one's own!The years of research and organization must always be honoured by all. Back to cite your sources, give credit always to the researcher and we are told to ask permission to use their data the way it was organized.   Due to my early childhood difficulties, part of the reason to keep information off the Internet has been respecting my own Mom. So it is time to get into the 21st century. For the record, I had my DNA done as now there is DNA Genealogy! It has actually been around for about a decade or more but I had the opportunity at the conference to get tested. When I get my results, that information can be shared here on my blog. So how to help me write more about the family may lead to a regular post feature- monthly or bimonthly here on my very own blog. There are many genealogists who have family blogs or write their genealogy on a blog but for me my blog- Reflective Thoughts by Barbara is more varied! I want to keep it that way. I love genealogy but also gardening, photography, my clinical work, featuring my postcard collection etc. However, my blog does give that forum to put some family stories like I did and shared my cousin Roy's information on our grandfather Ernie Ellis that fought at Vimy Ridge! It was a good post combing family, a historical event and honouring our service men and women. So still feeling a little exhausted as returning to work after a whole weekend which started Friday night has left me pondering and thinking. I look at the task ahead but when I think of 32 years ago when I started the genealogy journey it is not so overwhelming. I just wish spell check would check the dates I will need to input. Typos are my greatest fear!!

RESEARCH IS MORE THAN A QUICK INTERNET DEFINITION

Too often a topic will come into a conversation. Someone looks up a quick fix on a cell phone. Now that's all is needed. Actually be careful as it is always important to validate the information with the source where it was obtained. Family historians or amateur genealogists know this. One must connect oneself with the ancestor by valid links and sources. Who did the research? What documents were used? Always cite your sources. Even when I wanted the certificate for the World War One ancestor from the OGA- Ontario Genealogical Society- I had to submit documents proving the link from me to the person. Research can be found everywhere- live people, libraries, books, articles and even the Internet. For this researcher many historical links have pamphlets and documents from obscure sources. Those primary references are so vital to research. Not just the quotes from them. Recently for example found a book online- History of Upper Canada by Caniff written in the 1800s with vital first hand information of the time- over 300 pages so difficult to print but can be accessed as needed. Books or documents for historians with primary resources are ways to check and validate information. Taking the same event and trying to find as many quotes and information linked to it. Archives will give a list of the resources but one must actually go to the archives to view them. There is something about seeing an original source. Fortunately for us the Internet does bring a "library" to one's desktop or laptop. The census records for example are accessible and with a click the original writing can be viewed. Why is this important? Too often the writing has been misinterpreted so viewing it and judging for oneself, for example, whether it is an r or s helps with the research. Experience teaches that indexes can be faulty too. So go back to the original source. The same principles apply to scientific, medical, psychological, business, english or any other discipline. Read the references of any source first hand and make your own conclusions. Quick definitions can be useful sometimes but if it becomes a habit be prepared for someone in the crowd to correct you with the deeper meaning. If there is someone who knows a topic perhaps put down the cell phone and ask intelligent questions of a live person. I have a scientist in my family group so I would rather ask him about certain topics then just the quick fix! How about you? What do you use for research? Who would you ask? Someone with experience can be a invaluable resource!!

GENEALOGY-A 30 YEAR VENTURE

Shortly after a nephew was born in 1984, I started doing my family history. 15 binders and four shelves full of books and publications, it has been an adventure. With many databases now online, the jaunts to sit at microfische machines in the library are no longer necessary. Our Canadiana room at the local library still has many obscure books and over sized atlases that need to be scrutinized periodically. One researcher recently in  a newsletter suggested to start at the beginning with one's research and fill in all the gaps and to have sources to be cited. So my one line- Ellis had that cleansing. Removed all the extra names that do not belong to us. Now it is 1/2 the size. Found some information on a great-grandfather that filled in some gaps of where he lived. Always had the basic information. As TV shows  and the one with celebrities that have made genealogy more popular, I always smile when a librarian goes to a shelf and takes a book turning to a page to show the celebrity the information. It probably took her two weeks and several researchers to find that note. Genealogy is not like the ad- type in a name and your history will appear. It is actually like detective work. One layer at a time proving that the person belongs to your family not just because the name is the same but because the link is proven. Like today many ancestors used popular names. Our Ellis lines has one generation with a William and Elizabeth which in the region in England in the 1800s there are many with that name and same surname! So the searching is tedious as one must figure out which William and which Elizabeth belong to us! Another family member from Ottawa has helped with it. I did keep all the extra notes as I will put them in large envelopes to keep for a time, in case someone submits a surname search to a newsletter and I could help like others have helped me.  So the venture continues but with the computer and new databases and a good home printer that has several new cartridges of black ink on standby, this family history amateur will tackle another binder and family line. The huge task is to go digital, although I often worry about all that information in a "cloud". The honourable thing to do is not to share dates of current living relatives- you know identity theft and all!! Family historians figured that one out a long time ago. There was always courtesy to ask people if it was okay to share information. Slowly I am cleansing areas of my house in the event that the downsizing planned in a year or two will occur. Besides, the effort to share family information with members has started with the writing of one article on our grandfather who fought in World War One. I decided most family members do not want all the information- just the highlights and the links and perhaps their own family chart without all the cousin lines. The interesting stories and trends will give lots of food for thought. So the work continues- slowly and methodically. Family historians are patient people. It may be years before a link is made but with a new detail of an ancestor, whole new links occur. I just hope when I no longer can do it, someone else will pick up the torch!

THE CANADIAN MUSKOKA CHAIR

While visiting a friend's cottage recently, I had the luxury of sitting in this comfortable chair.

Known as the Muskoka chair, I decided to do a little research. Apparently a Canadian Thomas Lee while vacationing in New York in 1903 wanted a summer chair for his family. Designed the chair and asked a local carpenter to make some for him to take back to his summer home in the Muskoka area in Ontario. The carpenter Harry Bunnel patented and sold the chairs for 20 years but they were called the Adirondack chairs since it was the region in New York.
Muskoka chairs are made in many locations in Canada from some of our finest woods. Not only are they used at many rural settings- farms and cottages but are in backyards. They can be painted any colour to match a personal preference or decor.

They are a nice addition to any deck. The best thing is friends can sit and chat together, read the newspaper or even enjoy the view. There is something grounding about being in the chair. Does it remind us of our lazy summer childhoods in rural Ontario? Do you have Muskoka chairs where you live? Did you know the name does come from the municipality of Muskoka in Ontario? Some people may call it the Adirondack chair since they were made in New York as well. According to my little research even jumped across the ocean to Europe where some knockoffs are made. I like to think the chair is another item to add to our long list of Canadian icons. What do you think? Childhoood memories? Canadian icon? Or it's just a chair!

GENEALOGY-LOVE OF FAMILY

One of my passions for many years has been the research and pursuit of my own family history, otherwise known as genealogy. With the computer age, researching has become
a more enjoyable process. Instead of sitting in front of a microfiche machine at the library to review census tracts for hours and maybe finding one significant piece of information, for example, one can search many names on the automated services and make connections. Cousin lines become less cumbersome to complete. There are still errors like spelling mistakes in the documents as hand writing from original documents can be difficult to decipher. Relevant texts can be found in the appropriate library by online catalogues so there are not wasted trips trying to find books. What has not changed is the connecting the dots, really the detective work, by methodically going through each generation. Friends are made with others searching the same names. "I share with you and you share with me is the genealogical code." Always give credit where credit is due. Sometimes I can find myself lost in a different time when I am busy researching, writing, trying to figure out another possible way of finding some information on that great-great-great-great grandmother.
Our interests can shape us, offer stress release- even be therapeutic and sometimes provide an opportunity for a second job. Genealogy will be one of my recurring theme here.
What are your interests? Do you have a passion for something that brings satisfaction to you?
Do you blend your interests together?