Lesley Anderson has worked for Ancestry.ca for over 14 years as their Canadian Spokesperson and has done numerous presentations for genealogy societies and conferences across Canada as well as TV and Radio appearances.
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 is Northminster United Church (676 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON L1G 4V7 (nw corner of Simcoe Street North and Rossland Road West).
Regretfully, we have to postpone all of our face to face meetings.
Please check out our Durham Region Branch Facebook Group and our Durham Region Branch blog, as well as this website for further updates, and also suggestions on what is online to keep you occupied during this era of social distancing.
Nancy Trimble, Chair
Search Tips – Researching Women on Ancestry
This session will provide strategies for searching for women in the Ancestry databases, including methods to uncover females using name variations and other search techniques. Famous or interesting women will be highlighted wherever possible using the new Ancestry databases from around the world, as well as the core record groups. The presentation will appeal to new and experienced researchers alike.
Lesley Anderson has worked for Ancestry.ca for over 14 years as their Canadian Spokesperson and has done numerous presentations for genealogy societies and conferences across Canada as well as TV and Radio appearances.
She has been involved in the personal research of her family tree for over 50 years specializing in Canadian, British and Irish records. Her passion for genealogy has branched out to DNA genetic genealogy, teaching classes, speaking at seminars and conferences, consulting and doing research for others. For years she was well known for her computer and genealogy classes offered through the Ottawa Catholic Board Continuing Ed and her “field trips” to various archives and libraries.
I Just Can't Get Enough of Eastern Europe
This is an intermediate level talk. You will find Eva’s beginner lecture from April 15th on the “Durham Region OGS” YouTube channel, in the Members Only Area.
The business portion of this meeting is publicly available, at: - https://youtu.be/fhtY_LO4QPc
Eva Kujawa was born in South Africa from German immigrant parents and has always been interested in her ancestors. She specializes in German, South African and Eastern European genealogy with 30 years of research and learning in genealogy. Currently, she is a member of Ontario Ancestors’ East European Special Interest Group and many other societies. Eva has given many presentations to great reviews.
While you may think you’ve hit a brick wall with your research, have you tried using cluster and collateral search strategies to look for an opening? Researching non-direct relations as well as those friends and neighbors in your ancestors’ network can pay off in ways you might not imagine.
Learn why researching those in-laws, “shirt-tail cousins” and others who may not be a direct-line ancestor as well as “friends, neighbors and associates” can help you break down your genealogy research brick walls.
Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community.
Thomas's Zoom presentation is available, on YouTube, in the Members Only Area. The business portion of the meeting, along with announcements, is here: https://youtu.be/Pmxb1TFCeRc
When tracing Ontario families we usually start with census records and civil registration. But these records are closed for most of the 20th century. So where do you start if your earliest known ancestor was born after 1921? Or maybe you've traced your ancestors, but now you want to find out what happened to their brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews? Don't despair, not all 20th Century records are closed. In fact, if you know where to look, you can learn a great deal about your recent ancestors and relatives. This lecture will walk you step-by-step through my research process, introducing you to the records and strategies you need to peek behind the "closed" curtains of 20th Century Ontario. Using these tips, you'll probably even learn something new about family members you thought you were done researching!
The Handouts (PDF): - Tracing 20th C Ontarians, May 2021 - handouts
Professional genealogist Janice Nickerson loves a good challenge – whether it's identifying elusive ancestors, tracking disappearing descendants or telling richer family stories. Her specialties include early Ontario research, criminal justice records, and fur trade history.
Her website is UpperCanadaGenealogy.com
This lecture is for beginners or people who have a brick wall in this area. In her presentation, Eva covered a historical overview of Eastern Europe, and how it morphed through divisions and border changes, from wars and battles into the countries that we have in today's world. She covered a majority of these countries and shared the impacts on the various cultures sharing the borders of this magnificent area. Eva also guided attendees through various research resources... how to plan research and address potential challenges and solutions for this type of genealogical research. She looked at topics like, "what is in a name", "naming traditions", "languages", the various handwriting styles, as well as the various types of records, and where they can be located. A list of websites and databases that hold a huge amount of information for this region were included in the three handouts.
Common Words Chart (no longer linked) (English, German, Polish, Hungarian, Russian, and Latin)
Eastern Europe - An Introduction (no longer linked)
Links for Eastern Europe (no longer linked)
Eva Kujawa was born in South Africa from German immigrant parents and has always been interested in her ancestors. She specializes in German, South African and Eastern European genealogy with 30 years of research and learning in genealogy. Currently, she is a member of Ontario Ancestors’ East European Special Interest Group and many other societies. Eva has given many presentations to great reviews.
with Bob Dawes
“Portable Genealogy – You Can Take It With You…” is for genealogists who want to take their family history with them when they travel or visit research repositories.
This presentation covers many different ways to take your family history information on the road with you. It addresses both Windows and Mac/iOS options for converting files into tablet and smartphone formats. It also looks at using the cloud to synchronize your data or what you can do with just a USB drive.
It looks at synchronizing your file between computers using programs that support Android and iOS devices and third-party options to use with GEDCOM copies of your file. A two-page handout covers many utilities which can move files from desktops to handheld devices.
Bob Dawes has given permission to place a recording of his presentation in the Members Only Area.
A video of the business part of our April 6th. general meeting is here: - https://youtu.be/UlRfcSZ6WJs
Nick Post explained the benefits of using FamilySearch and using the Family History Guide. He took us through the next steps. -"What to do once signed on." And, Nick highlighted onthe areas in which you need to focus for your family history (and the time to search). His presentation, as a separate video (from the business portion of this general meeting) has been placed in the Members Only Area.
The Business Portion of our March 2nd, 2021 Meeting is here: https://youtu.be/yROqfRbx1rw
Nick is 70 years old and retired from the City of Oshawa. He has been doing Family History for forty-five years and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He is the co-ordinator of the FIVE Family History Centers in this part of Ontario. His interest lies in Ontario, United States, Ireland and of course Europe. Some of the names he is researching are Post, Kelly, Munro, Wease, Hubble, Lalonde, Jones and Gray. He is a member of Ontario Genealogical Society and associated with the Durham and Quinte Branches.
[NOTE: In case viewers may not recognize Nick with his Covid beard, we have included two photos.] :)
Register here for this Zoom session:- https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsdu2vqzoiHdf8Aa1UX9DJJ5ZuAdK4jqgy
WikiTree is a single global family tree. This means there is only one profile per person who ever lived. You and your cousins would bring together your research, and work your shared profiles together. How can this be? Collaboration. Got DNA? Got family Photos? What about colourful Family stories? WikiTree has incredible tools for working our limbs and for collaborating with cousins. We will look at how to add your limbs to our big ole shared tree as well as how to use WikiTree's plethora of tools to move your family research forward.
WikiTree is a single global family tree. This means there is only one profile per person who ever lived. You and your cousins would bring together your research, and work your shared profiles together. How can this be? Collaboration. Got DNA? Got family Photos? What about colourful Family stories? WikiTree has incredible tools for working our limbs and for collaborating with cousins. We will look at how to add your limbs to our big ole shared tree as well as how to use WikiTree's plethora of tools to move your family research forward.
Mags kindly consented to re-posting her presentation, as part of the February 2021 General Meeting - https://youtu.be/H96x0Ftpyo4
Trying to locate information on a female ancestor in early Upper Canadian records can be a daunting task for a genealogist, but there are many avenues to pursue that can help. This presentation will highlight many of those pathways, and also discuss the resources made increasingly available as the fight for women's rights proceeded.
For decades, our end-of-year highlight event has brought us together - in a real room - to enjoy personal family history stories, along with tasty seasonal treats, hot apple cider, and Andy Brown's cranberry contribution. Here is last year's description...
"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"
A change for this year's event requires physical separation; yet this is an opportunity to gather together - with the aid of modern technology.
Zoom is useful, but it has a drawback, in that holding items up to a web camera is often not clear enough for all participants.
So, if possible, when planning to show a web site, or document, or physical item, sending a link or image to President Nancy Trimble (for inclusion in her PowerPoint slides), would be extremely helpful. Her email is: - durhamchair@ogs.on.ca
And, here is theYouTube video recording of this meeting: - https://youtu.be/QhbvCGBkHbo
Join Durham Region Branch as we explore the Ontario Land Registry Website with Marian Bellamy. Marian is a local genealogist and will explain how to search on this website that is replacing the Ontario Land Registry Offices.
The Branch held the AGM and Elections, at this meeting.
The Zoom recording of this meeting is now on YouTube: - https://youtu.be/yk6HjfSoKS0
In addtion, here is Marian's printable form - an aid to Searching Ontario Land Records. APOLROD has created a highly useful pdf document, listing the final resting places for Ontario Land Records, should you need to locate surviving paper records.
Another item came up at the meeting; it was a link to instructions by Wesley Johnson on how to use the Land Records in FamilySearch.org: http://www.wwjohnston.net/famhist/canada-search-famsrch-ont-land.htm
OGS and Ministry officials will be hosting a webinar via Zoom on December 9th, 2020. This hour-long session is geared towards anyone interested in learning how to find and access documents through the ONLAND portal. Registration is mandatory at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkcOuqqz8qGdZ-j8SYJDI92iLxhAsOMVYk
Learn how to turn your scattered, disorganized files into a system that works for you. A few well thought out steps can help you control your clutter, keep consistent records, avoid duplication of effort and be able to communicate what you’ve accomplished in your research.
Lynn Palermo began her family history journey ten years ago, spurred on by the passing of her in-laws. It was then that she picked up the torch as the family genealogist. Lynn is now a freelance writer, genealogy educator, writing coach and family historian. Lynn manages 2 complementary websites: https://thearmchairgenealogist.com (highlighting her educational and research skills), and https://familyhistorywritingstudio.com (for sharing her storywriting magic)
This Zoom presentation will not be re-posted on our YouTube Channel.
The Journal, Art and Life of a Victorian Soldier in Canada" is the sub-title of Marc's book - about a British soldier, Henry Baines, sent to Canada to be one of the protectors of this 'almost' new nation, at a time of great strife in the United States... during an internal war with potentially dangerous consequences for our ancestors. Henry Baines' 1863 summer voyage, circumnavigating Lake Ontario in a sailboat, yielded many insights into those times and into significant shoreline communities in both countries, all gained from his drawings and journal writings.
A recording of Marc Seguin's (copyright) Zoom presentation has been uploaded to the Durham Region Branch's YouTube Channel [https://youtu.be/PDkP4RtCSwc]and on Vimeo [https://vimeo.com/456396974/01417da212].
You’ve had your autosomal DNA test done, but what are your next steps? This talk will focus on the tools available to you on Ancestry, Family Tree DNA, MyHeritage and DNA Painter. We will discuss Match Lists, centiMorgans (cM), chromosome browsers, and other useful tools. You will leave with enough information that you can easily implement some next steps in utilizing your DNA matches.
Come join the Durham Region Branch on Tues. Jun 2, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) in a virtual meeting. This is open to the public and you can invite friends to join as well.
The recorded video of this ZOOM meeting is available on our YouTube Channel: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG-G9YARS8Sg
Nancy's "DNA Tools Handout", as a PDF document, also contains a list of clickable resources.
[Last year's virtual2020.ogs.on.ca was a great success!]
Bob Dawes showed how to use many free and paid websites to make connections with your English ancestors. Bob Dawes has traveled throughout the UK doing his family history and is experienced in using their many genealogical research sources.
Bob is anexcellent speaker who has presented at several of the Ontario Ancestors Conferences in the past and also at many Durham Region Branch events.
A video of this May 5, 2020 meeting is on our YouTube Channel: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG-G9YARS8Sg
Bob’s handout is at http://tinyurl.com/EnglishConnections
Dr. Amy Barron (Clarington Museums) -
Jennifer Weymark, Archivist, Oshawa Museum
Letters from the Trenches: Oshawa’s WWI Soldiers
Will your ancestor be included in Jennifer's talk? Come and find out? Here is an editted version of the video stream (with some unavoidable audio static) - https://youtu.be/XByXRPS9hy0
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.
At this meeting our panel of experts will solve, or attemtp to solve, some of the most difficult research problems faced by members. However, it is best to send problems, in advance, to durham@ogs.on.ca.
[Now that the meeting is over, here is the link to an editted version: - https://youtu.be/JQffEVGlcDM]
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. An editted version of the Christmas Meeting video stream is here: - https://youtu.be/Pzk3bfHqldA It includes both meeting announcements and members' "show and tells".
Our meetings are often streamed on YouTube starting at 7:30. Our channel for streaming is http://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG- G9YARS8Sg/live . Should the stream fail during the broadcast, try refreshing the browser or closing the connection and reconnecting. In any case, an editted version of the meeting will be posted here, on the same channel, about one week after the meeting.
Two YouTube videos are available from this meeting: -
1. The business portion of the meeting, which includes the election and announcements: - https://youtu.be/yiHLgLMdY-0
2. Ted Barris, speaking about his latest book: - https://youtu.be/YK6rCtgdgl4
Thriftbooks offers up 12 of Ted's books on the site's first page: https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/ted-barris/413168.
Once again, member Robert T Bell has shared his Flickr Album photos of this meeting: - https://www.flickr.com/photos/roberttbell/albums/72157711759686087
Whether they were of the immigrant generation, thus born elsewhere, or the family had been here forever, finding people in the 1900s is hard work. This discussion will present some ideas to use to find them. Ruth Burkholder has successfully educated family historians for many years. She is well known for her ability to explain both simple and complex research activities in an easy to understand way. Most of all, Ruth has a knack of keeping the fun in it while providing proper methods and advice that comply with accepted genealogical research and recording practices.
The Mini-talk and business portions of our meeting, along with a 'teaser' for Ruth's talk, are now on YouTube: - https://youtu.be/5SU6byHMCHA
Member, Bob Bell, has shared his Flickr photo of this meeting: - https://www.flickr.com/photos/roberttbell/sets/72157711241021711/
Our meetings are often streamed on YouTube starting at 7:30. Our channel for streaming is http://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG- G9YARS8Sg/live .
Attendees to the September 3rd Meeting (7:30 p.m., at Northminster United Church, in Oshawa), were encouraged to bring along a URL, or several URLs, of favourite genealogical websites. Here is a link to abbreviated video coverage of the September Meeting: - https://youtu.be/Mhwhwhbxt9U. Member, Bob Bell, shared his photos and slide images, hosted on Flickr.
Our usual general meeting location has changed, to Northminster United Church (676 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, ON L1G 4V7 (nw corner of Simcoe Street North and Rossland Road West).
Bob Dawes - The Family History Reno Project (the easy do-over)
Why should a genealogist perform research again, on subjects already covered? Genealogy has changed considerably in the recent decade. Bob Dawes will show how doing so helped to improve his results, just as surely as it will do the same for you. Bob's handout: - Bobs Bytes The Easy Do-Over Click for Bob's presentation on YouTube: - https://youtu.be/xSMzlukLHNU Some of President Nancy Trimble's slides are shown at the end of the video, with announcements of upcoming dates and events. (The video recording had quit too soon for her all of her follow-up comments to appear here.)
Our meetings are often streamed on YouTube starting at 7:30. Our channel for streaming is http://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG- G9YARS8Sg/live .
The DNA SIG (DNA Special Interest Group) within our branch continues meeting monthly, on the 3rd. Wednesday of each month. Next mtg. - June 19th, in our new office at Northminster United Church.
Sandra McNamara -Two Topics: Researching Through Face Book and the Tricks and Trades of a Genealogy Sleuth
Research experiences - On The Road Again.
Sher Leetooze has been researching her family for just over 40 years, but still has a long way to go. In the process of doing research, Sher has gone right to the source in Great Britain and found some GREAT stuff! Some of these things she will share with you on April 2nd.
Our meetings are often streamed on YouTube starting at 7:30. Our channel for streaming is http://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG- G9YARS8Sg/live .
Mini-talk - Stephen Wood, with a Brick Wall Update, concerning identifying a relative via the US 1850 census, even though she was born in Canada. A slightly editted version of the April 2019 meeting is available on YouTube: - https://youtu.be/NrFfmnNwx2k
Bob was unable to speak, as the 401 became impassable that day. He has re-scheduled for the June meeting. Nancy pinch-hitted with a report about her recent, week-long visit, to ROOTS TECH, followed by Anne's "Organizing a Family Reunion". Here is a slightly editted recording of the March meeting: - https://youtu.be/KhKbsO_HB_w
Bob Dawes: - The Family History Reno Project (the easy do-over) If you've ever wanted to clean up your family history file, this is the easy way to approach it. Normally, a Do Over involves re-entering all of your family information from scratch while this approach allows you to continue using your file for research while cleaning it up. It also allows you to take advantage of everything you've learned over the years as well as new resources and tools. [Click on the image for Bob's handout summary.]
Our Feb Meeting featured Jennifer Weymark from the Oshawa Museum. She took us on a virtual tour of the museum, with emphasis on records of interest to genealogists. Here is a slightly editted video of the meeting [https://youtu.be/of6aJJ1mN88 ], which also includes the business portion of the meeting, and a mini-talk, by Stephen Wood - "Using Signatures in Old Documents", to zero in on ancestors.
Durham Region Branch will be starting 2019 off in our newly renovated office and library! We’re not totally unpacked yet, but on Tuesday January 8th at 7:30 pm, for the very first time, we will be holding our meeting in our new location on the 3rd floor of Northminster United Church, Oshawa!
Our topic will be “Busting Down Brick Walls” through the brainstorming and crowd sourcing of our members.
An editted video of the January 08, 2019 meeting, with a tour of our new office, is at: https://youtu.be/n9HMgaylTlI .
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.
The slightly editted video for our December meeting is available here [https://youtu.be/TCN6lpC0hw8].
Bryan Davies -- A Boy From Botwood [archived here: - https://youtu.be/KA-nlThRBD4]
Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid against Nazi Germany - Ted Barris.
Based on personal accounts, flight logs, squadron war diaries, maps, and photographs of the Canadians involved, Dam Busters recounts the dramatic story of these young Commonwealth bomber crews tasked with the high-risk operation against an enemy prepared to defend the Fatherland to the death.
It was a night that changed the Second World War. The secret raid against the hydro-electric dams of Germany’s Ruhr River took years to plan, involved an untried bomb, and included the best aircrews Allied Bomber Command could muster – many of them Canadian. The raid marked the first time the Allies tactically took the war inside Nazi Germany. It was a mission that became legendary.
Dam Busters: Part 1 of 2 - Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid against Nazi Germany - Ted Barris.
Dam Busters Part 2 of 2 - Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid against Nazi Germany - Ted Barris.
A video of the business portion of the September 04 2018 General Meeting is here: - https://youtu.be/vB5RSSiFQ2Y
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?
For decades, our end-of-year highlight event has brought us together - in a real room - to enjoy personal family history stories, along with tasty seasonal treats, hot apple cider, and Andy Brown's cranberry contribution. Here is last year's description...
"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"
A change for this year's event requires physical separation; yet this is an opportunity to gather together - with the aid of modern technology.
Zoom is useful, but it has a drawback, in that holding items up to a web camera is often not clear enough for all participants.
So, if possible, when planning to show a web site, or document, or physical item, sending a link or image to President Nancy Trimble (for inclusion in her PowerPoint slides), would be extremely helpful. Her email is: - durhamchair@ogs.on.ca
And, here is theYouTube video recording of this meeting: - https://youtu.be/QhbvCGBkHbo
Join Durham Region Branch as we explore the Ontario Land Registry Website with Marian Bellamy. Marian is a local genealogist and will explain how to search on this website that is replacing the Ontario Land Registry Offices.
The Branch held the AGM and Elections, at this meeting.
The Zoom recording of this meeting is now on YouTube: - https://youtu.be/yk6HjfSoKS0
In addtion, here is Marian's printable form - an aid to Searching Ontario Land Records. APOLROD has created a highly useful pdf document, listing the final resting places for Ontario Land Records, should you need to locate surviving paper records.
Another item that came up at the meeting was a link to instructions by Wesley Johnson on how to use the Land Records in FamilySearch.org: http://www.wwjohnston.net/famhist/canada-search-famsrch-ont-land.htm
OGS and Ministry officials will be hosting a webinar via Zoom on December 9th, 2020. This hour-long session is geared towards anyone interested in learning how to find and access documents through the ONLAND portal. Registration is mandatory at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkcOuqqz8qGdZ-j8SYJDI92iLxhAsOMVYk
Learn how to turn your scattered, disorganized files into a system that works for you. A few well thought out steps can help you control your clutter, keep consistent records, avoid duplication of effort and be able to communicate what you’ve accomplished in your research.
Lynn Palermo began her family history journey ten years ago, spurred on by the passing of her in-laws. It was then that she picked up the torch as the family genealogist. Lynn is now a freelance writer, genealogy educator, writing coach and family historian. Lynn manages 2 complementary websites: https://thearmchairgenealogist.com (highlighting her educational and research skills), and https://familyhistorywritingstudio.com (for sharing her storywriting magic)
This Zoom presentation will not be re-posted on our YouTube Channel.
The Journal, Art and Life of a Victorian Soldier in Canada" is the sub-title of Marc's book - about a British soldier, Henry Baines, sent to Canada to be one of the protectors of this 'almost' new nation, at a time of great strife in the United States... during an internal war with potentially dangerous consequences for our ancestors. Henry Baines' 1863 summer voyage, circumnavigating Lake Ontario in a sailboat, yielded many insights into those times and into significant shoreline communities in both countries, all gained from his drawings and journal writings.
A recording of Marc Seguin's (copyright) Zoom presentation has been uploaded to the Durham Region Branch's YouTube Channel [https://youtu.be/PDkP4RtCSwc]and on Vimeo [https://vimeo.com/456396974/01417da212].
You’ve had your autosomal DNA test done, but what are your next steps? This talk will focus on the tools available to you on Ancestry, Family Tree DNA, MyHeritage and DNA Painter. We will discuss Match Lists, centiMorgans (cM), chromosome browsers, and other useful tools. You will leave with enough information that you can easily implement some next steps in utilizing your DNA matches.
Come join the Durham Region Branch on Tues. Jun 2, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) in a virtual meeting. This is open to the public and you can invite friends to join as well.
The recorded video of this ZOOM meeting is available on our YouTube Channel: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiHiKL0pfzXzG-G9YARS8Sg
Nancy's "DNA Tools Handout", as a PDF document, also contains a list of clickable resources.
Durham Region Branch will be starting 2019 off in our newly renovated office and library! We’re not totally unpacked yet, but on Tuesday January 8th at 7:30 pm, for the very first time, we will be holding our meeting in our new location on the 3rd floor of Northminster United Church, Oshawa!
Our topic will be “Busting Down Brick Walls” through the brainstorming and crowd sourcing of our members.
An editted video of the January 08, 2019 meeting, with a tour of our new office, is at: https://youtu.be/n9HMgaylTlI .
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.
The slightly editted video for our December meeting is available here [https://youtu.be/TCN6lpC0hw8].
Bryan Davies -- A Boy From Botwood [archived here: - https://youtu.be/KA-nlThRBD4]Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid against Nazi Germany - Ted Barris.
Based on personal accounts, flight logs, squadron war diaries, maps, and photographs of the Canadians involved, Dam Busters recounts the dramatic story of these young Commonwealth bomber crews tasked with the high-risk operation against an enemy prepared to defend the Fatherland to the death.
It was a night that changed the Second World War. The secret raid against the hydro-electric dams of Germany’s Ruhr River took years to plan, involved an untried bomb, and included the best aircrews Allied Bomber Command could muster – many of them Canadian. The raid marked the first time the Allies tactically took the war inside Nazi Germany. It was a mission that became legendary.
Dam Busters: Part 1 of 2 - Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid against Nazi Germany - Ted Barris.
Dam Busters Part 2 of 2 - Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid against Nazi Germany - Ted Barris.
A video of the business portion of the September 04 2018 General Meeting is here: - https://youtu.be/vB5RSSiFQ2Y
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?
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
----------------------------
Mini-Talk - Conference 2018 highlights, from members who attended.
Are You Really Finding It All When You Search? - Marian Press
----------------------------
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:
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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.
