The 2018 Workshop was a great success. See the Facebook Group for photos.
- Our 35th Anniversary - was celebrated (with CAKE) at the October General Meeting.
Conference 2013 Photos
and some 2013 tour photos by Bob Bell
Bob Bell's local history photo collection.
If you are a member of ANY branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, extra features are available online:- e.g.; back issues of eNewsleaf/Families, Pedigree Charts, OGS Database, online purchases (including memberships), our funeral cards...
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The Durham Region Branch, O.G.S. holds meetings at 7:30p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, in the Oshawa Library basement auditorium, 65 Bagot Street, just south of City Hall. Google Map Location
No meetings are held in July and August.
Visitors are always welcome. Come and bring a friend.
(Free Admission!)
Our historical and genealogical records are stored in our main Durham Region Branch Office.
Local Repositories
The Durham Members Only Area
Members Only: Here you can sign in with your email address and password. Links are also provided for recovering lost passwords as well as for creating your log-in for the first time, either by joining OGS or (for current members) by sending your email address to the OGS Membership Coordinator.
Durham Brochure
-updated
For King and Country
A project to transcribe the war memorials in Toronto schools by the Toronto Branch of the OGS
Our usual general meeting location has changed, from the Main Branch of the Oshawa Library, to the Bobby Orr Room of the Oshawa Civic Centre (99 Thornton Road South), and will change again in September to Northminster United Church (nw corner of Rossland and Simcoe).
Cheryl Levy (PLCGS)- Using Clues to build a Blended Family - Census records provide many clues to further our research. Each column contains valuable information. This is especially true when endeavouring to identify all of the members listed in a specific household on census night. Do all of the members actually belong to the same family? Are the recorded relationships accurate? Can we trust the surnames given for each person? Who are the additional people listed?
Using an interesting case study, we will learn to uncover the details needed for seeking additional documents to confirm their identities. Then follow the steps that were required to build these blended families by placing the household members in the correct family groups. By gleaning census clues, we begin to understand the story behind how they came to all be in the same households together on the census records.
[Cheryl is a graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, with a focus on genealogical research and education. She is a member of Quinte Branch, OGS, where she holds the executive position of Social Media Coordinator.]
The DNA SIG (DNA Special Interest Group) within our branch will continue meeting monthly, on the 3rd. Tuesdays, through the Summer months of July and August, at the Oshawa Family History Centre (LDS), at 7 p.m. (632 Thornton Rd N, Oshawa, Ontario).
We are currently on Summer Break for July and August... See you in September!!
The Branch Office at the airport is being moved to Northminster United Church in Oshawa. A serious flood, during the April ice storm, requires repairs to the church facilities. We do not expect a restoration of branch office hours until late August.
Introduction to the Archives of Ontario - Danielle Manning (Outreach Officer), gave us a "tour" of the Archives via Power Point. We learned that the archives has a lot to offer genealogists; she also explained how easy it is to access. https://youtu.be/Zn5vOhZZzSs
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Mini-Talk - Conference 2018 highlights, from members who attended.
Our meetings are often streamed on YouTube starting at 7:30. Our channel for streaming is http://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG- G9YARS8Sg/live .
Are You Really Finding It All When You Search? - Marian Press
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Mini-Talk - "Are Your Ancestors Wikipedia Worthy?" - was given by Anne Delong
An editted version of this meeting is at: https://youtu.be/lPWLtSsGRDg
Life on the farm: your ancestor’s place in Ontario agriculture - Jane MacNamara.
For an editted version of the March 6, 2018 general meeting: - https://youtu.be/YGTCqsjFPXU
Our usual general meeting location has changed, from the Main Branch of the Oshawa Library, to the Bobby Orr Room of the Oshawa Civic Centre (199 Thornton Road South).
Dave Clements spoke on the topic: "The Barber, The Bishop and Lucy" - Uncovering the story of the African Canadian Smith family of Bowmanville in mid 19th century.
Mini-Talk - Anne Delong - Gravestone sites - photos vs transcriptions
DNA Basics for Genealogists by Nancy Trimble, PLCGS
Overcoming Brick Walls - strategies and anecdotes for overcoming research dead-ends.
DON'T GIVE UP!!
If, during your research, you have come across a particularly frustrating dead-end,our local panel of experts can help. See the results, in this editted copy of the meeting's video stream, at: https://youtu.be/dY1N1jmdwyo
Show and Tell / Bring & Brag –
At this meeting we celebrated the season together, along with any genealogical breakthroughs, special stories, favourite websites, interesting documents or other artifacts brought to this gathering.
Members were invited share genealogy 'ah-ha's and edible holiday treats.
A slightly editted video of our December meeting is available on YouTube - https://youtu.be/dYJrDnV8qO4.
The Min-talk - Janice Carter brought us up to date on the branch's Places of Worship Project.
"Canada 150, An Oshawa Perspective" (Lisa Terech, left, of the Oshawa Museums): - This year celebrates an important milestone in the history of Canada, marking 150 years since the British North America Act of 1867 came into effect, resulting in the creation of Canada. Our confederation was many years in the making, and our own Oshawa residents played important roles in the development and growth of our country.
Lisa's talk is available in the branch members only area (on YouTube).
Stay connected with the Oshawa Museum:
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Tumblr Oshawa Museum Blog
Mini-Talk: - by Stephen Wood, about using the new indexes at the General Registry Office of the U.K.
Sher Leetooze (author and historian) Using Other Visuals: - Ilustrating Your Family History with Substitute Sources for Family Photos
"If your family is anything like mine, there are few photos of anyone beyond grandparents or great grandparents. How, then, do we illustrate a family history without them? In this presentation, Sher provided some suggestions to solve this dilemma, including the use of personal items that may have been handed down in the family, maps of the ancestral area, and many more ideas easily accessible to most people. Most of Sher's ideas have been used in her own family history book." A slightly editted video of this meeting is archived here: https://youtu.be/KHmUI_gjwhg (Apologies for the high volume level.)
Mini-talk: "Ancestry: Shaking Leaves" - is that all there is? - Nancy Trimble
Our meetings are often streamed on YouTube starting at 7:30. Our channel for streaming is http://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG- G9YARS8Sg/live .
Trina Astor-Stewart, Executive Director for Whitby Historical Society at Lynde House Museum in Whitby, spoke about the importance of Lynde House from an historical viewpoint and the genealogical relationships of the Lynde family in this area as representational of some early settlers to Southern Ontario. One of the most loved homes in Durham Region, Lynde House has been moved twice in order to preserve it and its story for future generations. Thousands of people lined the streets for each of its moves, most recently in 2015 from Cullen Gardens. The stories surrounding Lynde House during the war of 1812 provide a romantic portrayal of the times and now that it is being operated as a museum housing thousands of artifacts, the tales this house can tell grow daily. Come and discover more and find out why this house and the lives of those who lived here make an impact on us even today.
Mini-talk: Deborah Wilbur - "The Princess Mary 1914 Christmas Gift" to WWI soldiers, with family artifacts.
An editted copy of the streamed presentation/meeting is here: https://youtu.be/9vlg9y30kRU
Paul Jones - "I am not a Jones, but what am I?" Paul related his saga about researching two generations of 'father unknowns' and his true surname, involving 25 years of research, and including family oral history (often proven wrong), along with some usual and not so usual documents. Finally, a puzzling Y-DNA test, and an autosomal DNA test yielded solutions. Paul had agreed to archive his talk (for a limited time), in the branch's 'members only' area.
Mini-talk: Methods for backing up records, by Anne Delong, is also archived after Paul's talk, in the same (above) 'members only' YouTube link.
Our usual general meeting location is the Main Branch of the Oshawa Library (basement auditorium).
“Victory at Vimy” – Story of the birth of a nation What the world witnessed that Easter Monday morning – April 9, 1917 – was a near miracle of ingenuity, co-operation and courage among volunteers of the Canadian Corps. That day, 80,000 of them – fighting for the first time as a national army – swarmed up that strategic ridge in north-central France and in a matter of hours accomplished what no Allied army had, in nearly three years of blood-letting in Europe. They seized Vimy from an entrenched German army. Some say those young citizen soldiers also breathed life into a fledgling nation – Canada. In a talk/visual presentation, based on his book Victory At Vimy: Canada Comes of Age, April 9 – 12, 1917 Ted Barris reconstructs the blow-by-blow moments of that historic four-day operation, that some say changed the momentum of the war. It put Allied troops in control of the strategic Vimy heights for good. For the first time, it sent the most powerful army in Europe into full retreat. It also firmly established the four Canadian Infantry Divisions as the most effective fighting force on the Western Front.
Mini-talk: Two of our members bring mementos and memories of the Vimy Memorial opening in 1936.
Our meetings are often streamed on YouTube starting at 7:30. Our channel for streaming is http://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG- G9YARS8Sg/live . A slightly editted version of this meeting is archived here: https://youtu.be/T31S9Lfizuk
James Thomson - Using Maps in Genealogy - Maps, both print maps and digital maps,are an essential tool for family history research. James discussed theuse of such maps, and where to find them. James provided handouts to those in attendance, now posted in the members only area.
Archived here, the January 3, 2017 meeting. [https://youtu.be/LGKSe5ocSSg]
Overcoming Brick Walls - strategies and anecdotes for overcoming research dead-ends - Mini-talk: Anne Delong - Backing up your files: - strategies.
If, during your research, you have come across a particularly frustrating dead-end, it would be most helpful if you send a brief description to our experts, well before the January 3rd meeting (at least by December 30), so they can prepare a concise response.
Archived here, the December 6, 2016 meeting. [https://youtu.be/uZYu-sZyMdQ]
Show and Tell / Bring & Brag –
At this meeting we celebrated the season together, along with any genealogical breakthroughs, special stories, favourite websites, interesting documents or other artifacts brought to this gathering.
Members were invited share genealogy 'ah-ha's and edible holiday treats.
Archived here, the December 6, 2016 meeting. [https://youtu.be/uZYu-sZyMdQ]
Tip-Palooza! - An Extravagant Celebration of Ideas & Tips
Seven members of the audience stepped up to present tips. This was our Palooza Tips and Elections meeting, with a variety of contributions: - Scotland tips, DNA tips, Old photo tip, UK Map tip, Ahnentafel tip, Frustrating surnames tip.
Our meetings are generally streamed on YouTube starting at 7:30. Our channel for streaming is http://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG- G9YARS8Sg/live . Arhived here- November 8th General Meeting
Carolyn Heald & Roger Shier (IP-SIG) - The Irish Palatines of Ontario
The 2009 revised edition of Carolyn's book, previewable here, contains many Paletine surnames, including those who settled in Durham townships. Roger Shier has included many useful resources here. Both have toured our local area during research outings.
Our September speaker, Christine Ferguson, (Oshawa Family History Center Director of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) reintroduced our members to the services available both online and at their facility, along with some major innovations. A complete printed resource package was offered to attendees.
The 6th of September General Meeting has been archived here: https://youtu.be/5eZCcmVhyvw
See a newspaper review of the Pine Grove Cemetery book - here. Paul will conduct a free 'walk and talk' through the cemetery on July 3, 2016, from 2-5 p.m.
The Pine Grove Cemetery's own history page will introduce you to the area. http://pinegrovecemetery.ca/40/History.html
Our meetings are generally streamed on YouTube, starting at 7:30 p.m. (https://youtu.be/TF7fIAZUhWQ).
Our meetings are generally streamed on YouTube, starting at 7:30 p.m. (https://youtu.be/TF7fIAZUhWQ). The presentation is archived and editted here.
Are you drowning in a sea of papers, documents, old photographs and other research materials? Don't miss this organizational power lecture by Lisa Alzo! Learn how to organize your documents and photos for quick retrieval, use strategies to stay on track, and tame your paper and electronic monsters.
Two sets of handouts, and a project template, will be available to attendees in electronic formats.
[Now downloadable in the Members Only Area]
Our meetings are generally streamed on YouTube, starting at 7:30 p.m. (https://youtu.be/TF7fIAZUhWQ). For this meeting we will stream just the business and announcements portion.
Laura McEwen, Oshawa Public Library staff member, presented at our meeting on Feb. 2, describing holdings relevant to genealogical researchers. lmcewan@oshawalibrary.on.ca http://www.oshawalibrary.on.ca/pathfinderpdf/LocalHistoryCollection.pdf
A slightly edited video of the February 2, 2016 General Meeting is now online.
A DNA SIG (DNA Special Interest Group) , within our branch, had a first meeting on January 20, 2016, at the Branch Office (Oshawa Airport - south entrance). All furture meetings will be on the 3rd Wedesday of each month.
Breaking Down Brick Walls –
Searching for family history becomes frustrating if you can't locate an essential record, or the records may be from another country (in another language), or a person's maiden name may elude you. Our moderators (and the audience at large) will provide advice, relate personal anecdotes, and point attendees in the right direction to resolve such dilemmas.
Streaming of this month's meeting was successful. Here is a slightly editted version of January General Meeting - https://youtu.be/mjnkJlnH9K4
Show and Tell / Bring & Brag –
At this meeting we celebrated the season together, along with any genealogical breakthroughs, special stories, favourite websites, interesting documents or other artifacts brought to this gathering.
Members were invited share genealogy 'ah-ha's and edible holiday treats.
Our usual general meeting location is the Main Branch of the Oshawa Library (basement auditorium). This meeting will include our annual round of voting for - Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary.
Bob Bell and Glenn McKnight – War & Refugees, in Canada, over the Ages, 1812- 1918. YouTube Stream - starts at 7:30 p.m.EST [Streaming failed for this presentation due to technical difficulties.]
In this photo, having commandeered the 2013 tour bus; they are bound for adventure in various Durham locations.
Jim Bowen - "She was What??" - Early 19th Century Travelling Female Preachers - Dedication, Heroics, Scandal and Tragedy
The Bible Christian Connexion and their Early Female Itinerant Preachers -YouTube Stream Recorded.
Solve Genealogical Problems by Creating a Timeline (recorded webinar)
Timelines are very useful ways of visualizing data. Timelines give you an order of and context for events, or to show what kinds of events were happening around your ancestors. Using Excel spreadsheets (to record and calculate), this webinar will show how to solve different types of genealogical problems by using timelines. Beth Foulk maintains a website, Genealogy Decoded .
A slightly editted version of Beth's talk is at: https://youtu.be/XFH1y95jAXk
The September General Meeting porceedings are at: https://youtu.be/SneipxY-uZs
The streaming link for this event has been archived, or view the main talk, without the follow-up Q&A or Swabbing Session, on YouTube.
Dr. Maurice Gleeson - Supercharging Your Genealogy with DNA - DNA testing is really easy to do, costs about $125 Canadian dollars, and is helping family history researchers break through Brick Walls that they never thought would come down. The technology behind DNA testing has been given a real boost by the Adoption Community who have developed tools and methodologies to facilitate the use of DNA to reconnect adoptees with their birth families. These same technologies have proven to be of real benefit to ordinary everyday genealogists too. Maurice will explain how DNA testing (and autosomal DNA in particular) can help you connect with genetic cousins and solve your own family mysteries. He will also explain how to focus the attack on your Brick Walls by testing several targeted family members. He will illustrate his talk with real life examples, including an adoption success story from his own family.
Brief Biography
Dr Maurice Gleeson is a psychiatrist, pharmaceutical physician, some time actor, and genetic genealogy convert. He runs several DNA projects at FamilyTreeDNA, has several blogs, and has a YouTube channel devoted to videos on genetic genealogy with the aim of making the subject understandable and accessible to the widest audience possible. He was born and grew up in Dublin, is based in London (UK), and lectures on genetic genealogy worldwide.
Interview Video http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference/interview-with-conference-speaker-dr-maurice-gleeson/
Jane Macnamara - Inheritance Interrupted: WW1 reflected in Ontario Estate files The sudden deaths of so many young Canadian sons (and daughters) changed the normal patterns of inheritance. However, the accompanying records are extremly useful for genealogy. http://wherethestorytakesme.ca/inheritance-interrupted/
Jane has placed the notes from her presentation at the above location on her website. Click the link.
Free Websites: where to find them and how to use them. Stacey Goddard has post a descriptive list here, and on our Facebook Group.
http://www.englandsimmigrants.com/ and https://www.gengophers.com/ and http://www.stevemorse.org/ and http://www.alivingpast.ca/ and http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/lovell/ and http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/online_parish_clerk and http://www.goodreads.com/ and https://www.kirkusreviews.com/ and https://books.google.com/ and http://www.lovell.ca/en/directories.html and http://image.durham.ca/yourDurhamMap/ and http://www.ourroots.ca/ Sites with tricky navigation will be demonstrated live.
Ruth Burkholder is our speaker for this meeting. Her topic is "The Hudson's Bay Company" just a chain of stores? Hudson Bay Company records are some of the earliest documents recording native peoples and overseas immigrants, particularly those from Scotland. There is much history in this company which has been in continuous operation for over 344 years. Started by two Frenchmen in 1670 under an English Royal Charter, it is now owned by an American Equity firm....truly a multinational history of a multifacted entity. http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_furtrade/fp_furtrade3.html [Handout for Ruth's presentation]
Sher Leetooze - WW1 Nurses of Durham County and Oshawa Sher Leetooze names 36 WWI Nursing Sisters who hailed from Old Durham County. Through her research Sher has discovered fascinating accounts of the difficult working conditions nurses found themselves having to deal with near battlefields, and the resultant hair raising experiences foisted upon some nurses while performing their duties. Sher will likely bring copies of her book to the meeting. An althernate source is - Global Genealogy
Mini-talk: Graham Family - This is a Brick Wall Follow-up created by Stephen Wood and presented by Nancy Trimble.
Breaking Down Brick Walls
Searching for family history becomes frustrating if you can't locate an essential record, or the records may be from another country (in another language), or a person's maiden name may elude you. Our moderators (and the audience at large) will provide advice, relate personal anecdotes, and point attendees in the right direction to resolve such dilemmas.
Mini-talk: Nancy Trimble - Genealogical Education - opportunities
Celebrating the Holiday Season and Genealogy!
Show & Tell / Bring & Brag
At this meeting we celebrated the season together, along with any genealogical breakthroughs, special stories, favourite websites, interesting documents or other artifacts brought to this gathering.
Members were invited share genealogy 'ah-ha's.Webinar - The Write Stuff: Using Nonfiction Writing Techniques to Write a Better Family History
Members brought festive snacks to share.
An extended break ensured an opportunity to chat and enjoy the seasonal treats - coffee, tea and cider provided.
Ruth Burkholder - Researching Hudson Bay Company Records Extensive hand written records are stored in both government and company archives. They are some of the earliest documents recording native peoples and overseas immigrants, particularly those from Scotland. Hudson Bay Company ...is it just a chain of stores? NO ... there is much history in this company which has been in continuous operation for over 344 years. Started by 2 Frenchmen in 1670 under an English Royal Charter, it is owned by an American Equity firm ... truly a multinational history of a multifacted entity. There are some interesting stories and interesting records to be found regarding this Canadian iconic retailer.
Ruth was unable to present; she will reschedule for March in the New Year.
Glen McKnight and Bob Bell gave an impromptu presentation about WWI: Oshawa Connections and Bernardo Children - Photos
Jane MacNamara - Inheritance in Ontario: Estate Files and Beyond - Jane reviewed material in her book - Inheritance in Ontario: Wills and Other Records for Family Historians. In her own words: "Ontario researchers looking for records of inheritance usually stop once they've found the estate file. True, it is the richest single source, but the court register, minutes, and other documents that track the estate's progress through the court can add valuable family history clues and help tell the whole story. The presentation will review how to find an estate file and how it can lead to other sources both inside and outside the court system." Also, learn about Jane and what she's been up to lately, from her blog Where the Story Takes Me.
Guylaine Petrin: Women, Marriage and Property: the case of Elizabeth Sanders - who was a daughter of Loyalists and pioneer of Thornhill. Her house still stands on Yonge St., one of the oldest in York County. Her first husband died in the War of 1812; the second turned out to be a fraud. What was she to do in this situation, in a much different time than women of today? Find out at the meeting. (The original 1803 home is now much larger, and operating under the name Cricklewood.)
The above link leads to a compilation of monthly meetings of the Duraham Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society for the years 2008 and 2009. Scroll below for a summary of our 2010 meetings.
