Guest Genealogist - Brenda Dougall Merriman

Ask Olive Tree Genealogy a Question is very pleased to announce that tomorrow's question will be answered by our first Guest Genealogist on this blog - Brenda Dougall Merriman. Brenda has generously given of her time to respond to a question on Ontario Land Records. I am honoured to have Brenda's expertise for this question and I hope I might persuade her to take on a few more challenging questions in the future!

Since 1979 Brenda has been certified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (Washington DC) and later served six years as a BCG trustee. In 1996 she founded the group that became the Ontario Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists (OCAPG). After years of client research, speaking engagements and working with the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, Brenda now concentrates on writing, some continued work with the Jackman Foundation-sponsored Petworth Emigration project/website and volunteering with OCAPG.

Brenda has written the following excellent genealogy books.

United Empire Loyalists: A Guide to Researching Loyalist Ancestors in Upper Canada (Campbellville, ON: Global Heritage Press, 2006).

Winner of the 2008 NGS Award for Excellence: Genealogical Methods and Sources, this book published by Global Heritage Press is a long-needed guide to the records and context for researching Loyalist ancestors in the province that became Ontario. It not only assists the beginner, but also those who encounter stumbling blocks as they assemble applications to the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada. Merriman explains what a Loyalist is, then goes on to discuss the background and the contemporary sources it produced. A chapter of case studies provides examples of methodology and problem-solving. This is an essential guide for everyone researching Loyalist heritage. Global Heritage Press publishes both a hard cover and a coil bound edition.

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2008 Award of Excellence: Genealogical Methods and Sources is

"Presented to an individual or nonprofit organization for a specific, significant single contribution in the form of a book, an article, or a series of articles published during the past three years that discusses genealogical methods and sources and serves to foster scholarship and/or otherwise advances or promotes excellence in genealogy."

The 2008 NGS awards were announced at their annual banquet on Friday 15 May 2009. Read more about this prestigious award at Brenda's Blog

Brenda is also the author of Genealogy in Ontario: Searching the Records, 4th ed. (2008) and About Genealogical Standards of Evidence, 3rd ed. (2008) both published by the Ontario Genealogical Society.

Thank you Brenda for giving your time to respond to tomorrow's question!

Searching an Elusive Ancestor in Ontario after 1929

Adrian asked

I seem to be stuck in a loop where I can't find out anything about my ancestor James Henry Kirk - such as when he died - until I have prrof that he's dead! As his elder brother made 88 (in 1979) it is possible that he hasn't been dead for twenty years, but as no-one seems to remember him much after the mid-1950s he could have died at any time in about a thirty year period.He lived in the Windsor Ontario area and is first found there in 1929. Can you help?

Olive Tree Answer: Hi Adrian, I edited your original email question but I can see that you have done some really in-depth research on your ancestor. Since Canadian records are hard to access after 1920 or so, due to privacy laws, and 1911 is the last available census, you will have to be quite creative in your search methods.

Here are some ideas for you.

1. Phone books. Great way to find folks. When their name disappears from the phone book they likely moved or died. If you find a widow in the next year's phone book you have your answer re death.

2. City directories. Same as phone books.

3. Abstract Indexes to Deeds. Did he own a house? Own land? If yes, get the Abstract Indexes to Deeds for that piece of property. Find out when he sold it -- with luck it will be shown as a transfer on his death and that gives you a death date.

4. Current Newspapers! Write to the Windsor paper - to the editor. Explain your plight (You are in England), and who you are looking for (briefly) Ask him to run your "looking for anyone who remembers xxx last heard of in Windsor in 19xx..." Give a very brief rundown of dates and names, and plead your case eloquently.

4. Newspapers of the time. Get hold of some 1929 and 1930s papers from Windsor, and start reading. Are any indexed? Check out Windsor and what they have

5. Tax records. He must have paid taxes. Are there any available in Windsor area?

6. Cemetery records. Did he die in Windsor? If yes, write to every funeral home and ask if they have burial records for him.

7. National Registration File of 1940. This is a great census substitute and I just talked about it yesterday, so please read What is the National Registration File of 1940

8. Start a search for his death records Death Registrations after 1934 are held by the Office of the Registrar General. You can order a 5 year search of the records for your man.

Contact:

Office of the Registrar General
189 Red River Road
P.O. Box 4600
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Canada P7B 6L8

Tel: 416-325-8305
1-800-461-2156 (toll-free in Ontario)

What is the National Registration File of 1940

Jason asked

"I've heard something about a National Registration in Canada in 1940. Would my ancestors be listed and how do I get hold of the info?"

Olive Tree Answer: Great question Jason! The National Registration File of 1940 is a good census substitute.

This was the registration of all people 16 years of age or olde, from 1940 to 1946. There is a great deal of information on this Registration.

Statistics Canada holds these records and for a fee they will search on your behalf. See the explanation with a link to an online order form

Questions asked on the form sent to households were:

Name
address
age
date of birth
conjugal status
dependents
country of birth (persons registered and parents only)
nationality
racial origin
languages
education
general health
class of occupation
occupation or craft
employment status
work experience by type
mechanical or other abilities
latent skills
wartime circumstances
previous military service

Finding an English Birth Record in Bishop's Transcripts or other Records

Vesta asked

My ancestor Frederick George Rumble Olley was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England abt 1829. I found him on the 1841 census, 12 yrs old living with his parents Edward Olley and Sarah Rumble who were married in Mar 1830 in Norwich. A copy of his parent's marriage certificate reveals that neither of them were married before. He worked for the railroad for 55 years which I had checked for personnel records for possible birth information to no avail.. There is no copy of his birth record in the Norfolk parish records. He died Mar 19, 1912 age 83, claiming he was a native of Norwich (according to his obit). He was married twice and both marriage certificates just have his father's name on it, no mother's name. As he gets older, the names "George Rumble" are added on official documents eg. censuses, marriage and death certificates. My question is there any way I can find an birthdate for this fellow?

Hello Vesta, An intriguing puzzle! I am curious about your comment that ....There is no copy of his birth record in the Norfolk parish records... It sounds from that statement that you have checked every single set of church records for the entire county of Norfolk. If that is the case, you may wish to check the Parish Chest records.

A quick look at the FamilySearch catalogue shows over 2 dozen sets of records from the Parish Chests. Have you also checked the Bishop's Transcripts?

If you have not checked every single set of church records for all of Norfolk, then I suggest you look at parishes which are near Norwich. It may be that your Frederick was born in another parish and baptised there, but moved as an infant to Norwich. If that were the case he would probably always say that he was born in Norwich.

As for his obit, don't forget that it was probably written by a family member after his death and not by him beforehand. So they would only write what they think is correct. And family members can be very wrong! My husband's grandfather's obit, written by his daughter, gave the incorrect husband for her sister! Just something for you to think about....

Finding a Death at Sea

Terry asked

We are looking for an Uncle who apparently died at sea. He came from the Village of Nahorinka, County of Buchach in Austria on his way to Alberta, Canada. His name was Mihailo or MacHako Martyniuk or Martymek or something similar. He was travelling with his Mother Maria and younger sister Barbara or Varvara Martyniuk. The spelling varies. He was born in 1907 we think, but it could be as late 1910. We believe the family arrived in Canada around 1913 or 1914. The father Hryhory or Harry was already in Canada. Can you help us. I have search and as you can tell I come up with variess spelling and discrepancies in years. Our living family member states that he was born in 1907 by the name of Mihailo Martyniuk and died at sea before the family landed in Canada in 1914. Any help would be appreciated.

Hello Terry, I did take a quick peek in the 1916 census for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba which is online on Ancestry.com. I needed to know the dates of birth for your Mihailo's sibling and parents. Because you can't always trust family memories, you can use the 1916 census as a guide to immigration dates. Barbara was born ca 1909 in Austria, and her next youngest Anna was born ca 1914 in Canada. So you know that between 1909-1914 (give or take a year on either side), the mother and her children came to Canada. Yes, she gives 1912 as her immigration year, but that is often mis-remembered.

Your next step would be to find the family on a ships' passenger list. The names of all passengers were recorded at the port of departure so if Mihail travelled with them, he will be on the list. If he died at sea, his name will be recorded on the passenger manifest - either with a notation beside his name on the list, or on the last page of the full manifest.

As you have learned, the names can be recorded in a dizzying variety of ways! First there is the phonetic representation. Then you have the aspect of human error when the lists were indexed! So you must be very creative and use wildcards if you are searching online. Ancestry.com has Canadian passenger lists if you think they came in to a Canadian port. They also have ships to New York and other popular ports in USA and there is a chance the family took that route to get to their final destination. So you have a bit of a search ahead of you!

Remember too that on Ancestry.com you can search using only ages and years of immigration, you do not need to put in any names. You can also search by first names only, there are many options. My advice: don't be too restrictive in your searches.

Answering Question about Photos of People on Postcards from England

Diane asked:

I have a picture that was taken in England I am guessing around the late 1890's or early 1900's. We have been told it is of my husband's great grandmother. On the back of the picture it has postcard written on it. I am wondering if they made postcards out of personal photos to send to family on other countries.

Hi Diane. How wonderful that you have this photo! Yes, it was quite common for photos to be imprinted as a postcard in England during that time period. I have several postcards with photos of my English great grandmothers and my great grandpa's brother, which they sent to their grandchildren in Canada.

How to Create a Family History Book

Joan asked

I am at a point where I now feel I have enough to publish my family's history. I am only looking to have something made up that I can give to family members, nothing fancy. I was thinking of a scrapbooking software program that would allow me to design interesting pages, something I don't think the family history software programs allow as well (or do they?) I prefer a software program rather than an online service. Could you recommend a program that would me to digitally create a nice family history book?

Hi Joan. Congratulations! What a great feeling to be at the point where you are ready to compile and publish a nice family history book. I actually use a software program that allows me to create a scrapbook type book. I love it and have created several.

I can insert graphics or text quickly and easily. I can resize and crop or edit photos right in the program rather than ahead of time. I can stack the photos, partially covering one with another to give it that scrapbook type look and feel. I can change fonts on text, put borders around it and so on. You can see a sample page from a book I created with this program at From England to Arkell: The story of two pioneer settlers, Lewis & Thomas King who left Suffolk England for the Wilds of Upper Canada in 1831

The bad news on this is that the program I use (Microsoft Picture It! Publishing Gold 2001) is very old and I don't know if there is a newer version! I will have to leave that to you to find out. Perhaps readers of this blog will have their own favourites. I'd like to update mine and look forward to hearing reader recommendations.