Tag Archives: Genealogy

Leeds & Grenville Branch Presentation – February 2023 – Rail History in Eastern Ontario

Join us on Monday, February 6th at 7:00 pm on Zoom for a presentation by Craig Stevenson on Rail History in Eastern Ontario and its relationship to local history and genealogy.  Craig will discuss a few areas where rail was most visible in local life through to about 1960: stations, agricultural and economic connections, impact on the geography of some communities, and where and how railways connect to social history.

Craig is a rail enthusiast who is involved with Friends of Grand Trunk Railway 1008, preserving a precious piece of railway history!  He teaches at Tagwi Secondary School in Avonmore, and has written a number of history articles pertaining to SD&G, as well as the St. Lawrence Seaway and local rail heritage.

To join us for this presentation, click this link to register:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUof-iuqT8rHN2ksY97rGzXOij3sx0fxBkG

Everyone is welcome!

Leeds & Grenville Branch Publications Now Available in Marketplace

Happy Holidays from your Leeds & Grenville Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.  We have some exciting news that we couldn’t wait to share!
 
After months of work digitizing, formatting and creating descriptions, Leeds & Grenville Branch is thrilled to announce that our publications are now for sale in digital format in Ontario Ancestors Marketplace.  Simply visit the OGS website, click on Marketplace, then Branch Publications, and Leeds & Grenville.  We are still working on uploading, so if a publication you wish to purchase isn’t listed, please let us know at [email protected]. 
 
Paper versions of most publications are still available to order from the Branch.  Contact us at the above address to enquire about availability and postage costs.
 
Thank you for supporting the Leeds & Grenville Branch as it works to preserve the genealogical history of the United Counties.

Leeds & Grenville OGS Branch Drop-in Gathering – January 2023

Join us virtually on Wednesday, January 11th at 7:00 pm for our next Branch Drop-In Session using Zoom. Start your genealogy New Year off right with a gathering to talk about family history research!

We hope to have members and other researchers in Leeds & Grenville Counties share their research strategies and discover what resources are available in our Branch Archives that might help in your research.

We welcome short stories about successful research (AHA moments always welcome), and discussions about the brick walls you are facing! Maybe someone else in the meeting will be able to offer fresh insight into the challenge.

We look forward to talking with members and researchers about their successes and challenges, or simply talking genealogy!

This discussion is open to everyone, but you will need to register in advance. To register, visit our website at leedsandgrenville.ogs.on.ca and follow the link, or click this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkf-mprjgiGd3piZQr9heqtrHpBmxoTlFb

We will send out instructions about how to participate with your confirmation email.

Leeds & Grenville Branch Presentation – December 2022 – The Thousand Islands History Museum

Join us on Monday, December 12th at 7:00 pm on Zoom for the inside scoop on one of our area’s charming local museums, the 1000 Islands History Museum in Gananoque.  Founded in 1995, the 1000 Islands History Museum is a family-friendly waterfront museum where you can experience ten thousand years of Canadian history in the Thousand Islands. From rum runners to river rats, explore the people, places, and heritage of Gananoque and the St Lawrence River through year-round interactive exhibits, lively community events, hands-on children’s activities, and a quality gift shop.

Collections Coordinator Zane Smith’s presentation will focus on the 1000 Islands History Museum’s mission and mandate to preserve and share the region’s diverse history. It will discuss how the Museum achieves this mission through collections management, conservation, research, exhibitions, community programs, and special events. The presentation will also highlight upcoming activities at the 1000 Islands History Museum and let everyone know how to get involved.

Everyone is welcome, but registration is required.  You can register here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlcOqrqzoiH9MdsgZK-hOIstC8tFC8qqC4

After registering, you will receive an email with a link to join the presentation.

Leeds & Grenville Branch Presentation – November 2022 – British North America Preserved: The 1813 Battle of Crysler’s Farm

Join the Leeds & Grenville Branch, Ontario Ancestors and the Colonel Edward Jessup Branch, United Empire Loyalists of Canada, on Monday, November 14th at 7:00 pm for an online presentation by Stuart Lyall Manson.  In the presentation, titled “British North America Preserved: The 1813 Battle of Crysler’s Farm,” Stuart will focus on the context, impact, and aftermath of that important battle on the history of Canada.  His PowerPoint slides associated with this presentation will be peppered with interesting images such as maps, documents, paintings, photographs and artifacts. Stuart will delve into aspects of the subject matter that are not well known to the general public.

The presentation is open to everyone, but you will need to register. Click this link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvd-utrzwsH9RuQNdpsas5SA15qMDfBSXD

Stuart is a professional historian and co-owner of an Ottawa research company called Public History, which specializes in Indigenous issues.  He is also the author of the book series Sacred Ground: Loyalist Cemeteries of Eastern Ontario, the first volume of which was published in 2021, and the second volume is expected in 2023. Stuart also produces the historical newsletter The King’s Colour: A Broadside of Early Upper Canada, available on his website stuartmanson.wordpress.com.

Note:  There is a memorial service held to commemorate this battle at Crysler’s Farm National Historic Site on November 11th.  Stuart Lyall Manson will be the guest speaker in 2022.

Leeds & Grenville Branch Drop-in Gathering – October 2022

Join us virtually on Thanksgiving Monday, October 10th, at 7:00 pm for our first Branch Drop-In Session using Zoom.  What better time than following a family gathering to talk about your family history research?

We hope to have members and other researchers in Leeds & Grenville Counties share their research strategies and discover what resources are available in our Branch Archives that might help in your research.

We welcome short stories about successful research (AHA moments always welcome), and discussions about the brick walls you are facing!  Maybe someone else in the meeting will be able to offer fresh insight into the challenge.

We look forward to talking with members and researchers about their successes and challenges, or simply talking genealogy!

This discussion is open to everyone, but you will need to register in advance.  To register, visit our website and follow the link, or click this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvcu2hpjItHtPw7THckJqmnFvDdFRlHk0j.

We will send out instructions about how to participate with your confirmation email.

Updated Archives Hours

Following the departure of our summer student the Archives will only be available BY APPOINTMENT for researchers.  Beginning after Labour Day we will be back on a Monday-Friday schedule, with volunteers on duty by appointment.  However, the Museum building will be closed to visitors September 6-18 inclusive in order to make some necessary repairs.  We hope this will not inconvenience visitors.  To book an appointment beginning September 19th, please email us at [email protected] or call 1-855-697-6687 and leave a message. Please let us know your preferred dates, and keep in mind that our volunteers normally work in the afternoons from 1-4 pm.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – June 2022 Presentation – Life On the Rideau Lakes In the Early Years

Join us on Monday, June 13th at 7:00 pm when local favourite Sue Warren will send us off into summer with Life on the Lakes in the Early Years – what daily life was like in the first two decades after the Rideau Canal was built.

Watercolour of Jones Falls lockstation in 1838. Source: History of Jones Falls lockstation – Rideau Canal National Historic Site (pc.gc.ca)

Life around the Rideau lakes – a discussion of the Rideau Lakes area covering First Nations, European settlement, agriculture, architecture, religion, medicine – daily life in the first half of the 19th century!

Sue is a board member and past chair of the Chaffey’s Lock and Area Heritage Society, and a former Parks Canada historical interpreter.  After teaching for a number of years, Sue retired in 2016 as CEO of the Rideau Lakes Public Library system.  She is also an avid Facebook poster and genealogist!

Everyone is welcome, but registration is required.  You can register here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZModeyhqjsvGNE-zxmQIXwRkZAG4LZoM8gq.  After registering, you will receive an email with a link to join the presentation.

Leeds & Grenville Branch – May 2022 Presentation – Genealogy By Google

Join us on Monday, May 9th at 7:00 pm when well-known Canadian genealogist Dave Obee will introduce us to Genealogy by Google.

Dave Obee

Google is an invaluable tool for genealogists. It pays to know some tricks, including effective filtering and search strategies. Don’t forget Google Books, Google Maps, Google Images and the historic newspaper collection. You will quickly discover that a simple search simply scratches the surface of what is available to genealogists.

Everyone is welcome but registration is required.  To register for this presentation click https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwudOiupzsjE90l_Zf0AxWd1Qy8W4tCdmNX.  After registering, you will receive an email with a link to join the presentation.