Month: September 2023

While I’m away, here’s a 1931 census challenge. Who is it?
Mainly raised by her grandparents from 21 months old after her mother died of tuberculosis.

As a child, she was lonely and had imaginary friends named Katie Maurice and Lucy Gray who lived in the “fairy room” behind the bookcase in the drawing room.

Following school she spent one unhappy year (1890) in Prince Albert with her father and her stepmother, Mary Ann McRae.

Get it now for bragging rights!

She trained as a teacher in Prince Edward Island, studied literature at Dalhousie University, then taught in PEI.

She published over 100 stories between 1897 and 1907.

Her best-known book was published in June 1908 and by November 1909 had gone through six printings.

Too easy now!

Following her marriage to Ewen Macdonald in 1911 the couple moved to Ontario.

During the First World War she was an intense supporter of the war effort.

She is found in the 1931 census in Esquesing Township.

Thanks to those who posted comments or sent hints this week.

In-person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall, or online, BIFHSGO meetings resume on Saturday 9 September after the summer break at 9 am with the first in a Back to Basics series.

The series, presented by Ken McKinlay, starts with the basics of England and Wales research.

At 10 am Paul Cripwell will present Loctions and Occupations: Using Census Analysis to Explore Family Dispersion. This is based on his research towards a one-name study of the Cripwell families and their dispersion  around England.

https://www.bifhsgo.ca/events

…. that the Ontario Genealogical Society/Ontario Ancestors virtual conference is 8 – 10 September. Find out everything you need to know (and maybe a bit more) at https://conference2023.ogs.on.ca/

Choose from selected free online events in the next five days. All times are ET except as noted. Assume registration in advance is required; check so you’re not disappointed. Are you looking for more options? Additional mainly US events are listed at https://conferencekeeper.org/virtual.

Tuesday 5 September

2 pm: Ottawa Virtual Genealogy Drop-In, from OGS Ottawa Branch. 
https://ottawa.ogs.on.ca/events/virtual-genealogy-drop-in-2-2023-09-05/

2:30 pm: Introduction to Genealogy Research, by Kate McKenzie for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9058252

10 pm: How to Catch a Criminal: Finding Records for Your Rogue Relatives Downunder, by Kristy Love for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/how-to-catch-a-criminal-finding-records-for-your-rogue-relatives-downunder/

Wednesday 6 September

2 pm: Understanding Predicted Relationships at the DNA Testing Sites, by Michelle Leonard for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/understanding-predicted-relationships-at-the-dna-testing-sites/

7 pm: Riding the Rails – A short history of train travel in Huron County & Beyond, by OGS Huron County Branch. 
https://huron.ogs.on.ca/events/huron-branch-riding-the-rails-a-short-history-of-train-travel-in-huron-county-beyond/

Thursday 7 September

6: 30 pm: Examining DNA for Unknown Parentage, by Steven Frank for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9058294

Friday 8 September

10:15 am: 3-2-1 data backup is great, but first you need to find all of your data, by Thomas MacEntee for Legacy Family Tree Webtember.  See the following presentations and the complete Webtember line-up at https://familytreewebinars.com/webtember/

7 pm: Finding Ontario Land Records on FamilySearch, by Jacqueline Kanyuck for OGS Kent Branch.
https://kent.ogs.on.ca/events/kent-branch-finding-ontario-land-records-on-familysearch/

Saturday 9 September

9 am: Back to Basics: England and Wales, by Ken McKinlay for BIFHSGO.
https://www.bifhsgo.ca/events
10 am: Locations and Occupations: Using Census Analysis to Explore Family Dispersion, by Paul Cripwell for BIFHSGO.
https://www.bifhsgo.ca/events

The BIFHSGO event is live at Knox Presbyterian Church and online. If you’re downtown you may be interested in the 1 pm in-person presentation Gord Atkinson “Ottawa’s Oldest Teenager”, by Gord Atkinson for the Ottawa Historical Society held at the Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch Auditorium

10 am: Why you should care where your Family Bible is, by Greg Hilton for OGS London & Middlesex branch.
https://londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca/events/london-and-middlesex-branch-why-you-should-care-where-your-family-bible-is/

Free U.S. and Canadian census records for Labour Day, until 5 September.

While I’m away, here’s a 1931 census challenge. Who is it?

He died following a plane crash in Newfoundland in 1941.

He enjoyed painting, including with A. Y. Jackson.

He was twice rejected by the army for poor eyesight,

He was awarded the Military Cross in 1919, for heroism

He failed his first year of university, failed to gain a place on the staff at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and had an unsuccessful medial practice in London, Ontario.

He shared the 1923 Nobel Prize for Medicine.

In 1931 he, his wife and son are found at 46 Bedford Road in Toronto.

A two-minute history of Punch and Judy

Thanks to those who posted comments or sent hints this week.

Starting today and each Friday in September, Legacy Family Tree Webinars offers free live webinars, five each Friday starting at 10:15 am ET.

If the times aren’t convenient, you can enjoy the recordings through September. See the complete list at https://familytreewebinars.com/webtember/