FamilyTreeDNA Sale

Sales on DNA tests come along frequently — the exception being when you really want one to resolve a long-standing issue. That’s the way of the world.

If that’s your situation now you’re in luck. FamilyTreeDNA has summer sale prices on all its products. Check them out at www.familytreedna.com/

This Week’s Online Genealogy Events

Choose from free online events in the next five days. All times are ET except as noted. Those in red are Canadian, bolded if local to Ottawa. Assume registration in advance is required; check so you’re not disappointed.

Tuesday 3 August, 2 pm: Virtual Genealogy Drop-In, from Ottawa Branch of OGS and The Ottawa Public Library. https://ottawa.ogs.on.ca/events/.

Tuesday 3 August, 2:30 pm: New York State Censuses: You Won’t Believe What’s Hiding In There! by Jeanette Sheliga for Allen Country Public Library Genealogy Center. https://acpl.libnet.info/event/5421040

Tuesday 3 August. 10 pm: Burying the Body in England by Helen V. Smith for Legacy Family Tree Webinars. https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar_details.php?webinar_id=1604

Wednesday 4 August 2021,  7:30 pm: Surprising stories with the writing of the book “The Lobb Family”, by Alison Lobb for Huron County Branch OGS. https://huron.ogs.on.ca/events/aug-4-huron-co-branch-webinar/

Thursday 5 August, 6:30 pm: Testing Your Relatives’ DNA: What You Can Learn. by Sara Allen by Allen Country Public Library Genealogy Center. https://acpl.libnet.info/event/5421917

Thursday 5 August  7:00 pm: Google Maps for Migration, Brick Walls and Organizing a Trip to Your Ancestor’s Home, by Lianne Kruger for OGS.
https://ogs.on.ca/zoom-meetings/august-webinar-lianne-kruger/

Friday 6 August, 2 pm: Freedmen’s Bureau Labor Contracts, by Bernice Bennett for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar_details.php?webinar_id=1678

Saturday 7 August, 2 pm: Simcoe County Branch – My Ancestors in the Hudson’s Bay Fur Trade, by Janice Nickerson for Simcoe County Branch OGS
https://simcoe.ogs.on.ca/events/simcoe-county-branch-my-ancestors-in-the-hudsons-bay-fur-trade-with-janice-nickerson/

Coming


19 – 26 September 2021: BIFHSGO Conference. Irish Lines and Female Finds: Exploring Irish records, female ancestors and genetic genealogy. www.bifhsgo2021.ca/.

 

Huge New French Collection Coming to MyHeritage

MyHeritage announces the acquisition of a controlling interest in French genealogy company Filae.

Following the acquisition, Filae’s exclusive historical record collections comprising more than one billion records will be made accessible to MyHeritage users.

The answer to the trivia question about the size of the MyHeritage database will soon need updating!

Read the details in the press release.

 

Military Monday: BCATP and Climate Change

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan saw more than  131,000 Second World War Canadian and Allied aircrew trained at nearly 200 establishments located in almost 150 communities across Canada. There’s a list of locations by province here.

In the Ottawa area locals are aware of flight facilities at Uplands, Rockcliffe and Carp that were used and are still operational airports. There were also relief landing fields including Edwards, Ontario – Relief for No. 2 SFTS Ottawa (Uplands) at 45° 18′ 12″ N  075° 28′ 00″ W.

Turning to Google Maps to find out what’s there now?

The level ground is ideal for a solar farm. According to this article, the 60,000 solar panels installed on 100-acres in 2012 have a maximum capacity of 10 MWAC, enough to power about 3,000 homes.

Up close the array is impressive — and environmentally friendly. Monarch butterflies were outside the boundary fence when I visited.

A 2017 study for the City of Ottawa identified three other solar farms in the area: Arnprior (20 MWAC ), Burritts Rapids (7 MWAC), and Greely (10 MWAC). It suggested 0.5% of the area of Ottawa, the equivalent to 23 eighteen-hole golf courses, could be allotted with the ability to host 580 MWAC of generation.

The challenge of climate change is as big as that of the World Wars and may well require as significant a change in society.

Southern Warwickshire FHS Transcriptions

This totally web-based Society’s primary aim is to contribute to the family history community by providing indices for register entries of both Church of England and NonConformist places of worship in Warwickshire, with the emphasis on the Southern part of the County.  Detailed biographical information for service personnel who are commemorated on local War Memorials within the County is also being added.

In July the Society added a further 8,200 Church of England burial index records.
Henley in Arden 1695-1786
Over Whitacre 1741-1919
Studley 1747-1902
Castle Bromich 1699-1916
This brings the total for C of E to 438,800 and 13,142 Non-conformist burials.

Also added in July, 24,837 Church of England and 1,372 Roman Catholic Baptism index records.
Henley in Arden 1669-1762 C of E
Southam 1540-1754 C of E
Southam 1916-2006 C of E
Dunchurch 1748-1916 C of E
Aston Brook 1905-1913 C of E
Austrey 1737-1754 C of E
Castle Bromich 1747-1916 C of E
Foleshill (St. Paul) 1841-1916 C of E
Marston Green 1911-1916 C of E
Tanworth 1840-1916 RC
This brings the total baptism records for C of E to 783,787 and 39,500 Non-conformist baptisms.

http://www.swfhs.org.uk/

Internet Genealogy Magazine: August/Sept 2021

Here’s the table of contents from the August/September issue, available on 9 August. Looks like another good one!

Archives and YouTube Channels – Have you surfed these?
Diane L. Richard has searched out a fascinating free collection of state archive videos for your research enjoyment

“Sorting Out Smiths and Keeping Up with the Joneses”
David A. Norris looks at ways to overcome the hurdles of researching ancestors with the same name

Stranger Than Fiction: Bathing Machines
Sue Lisk suggests some websites to consult to learn about these strange contraptions your ancestors might have used

English Electoral Registers
Ed Storey looks at how this resource can help in locating ancestors from smaller towns and hamlets

Divining for the Dead
Exploring a method of locating unmarked burials by Robbie Gorr

Beneath the Surface: Mining Ancestors
Sue Lisk looks at websites to help you understand the lives of your ancestors who worked the mines

Digging for Gold in Victoria
Jennifer McNeice looks at websites for discovering your Australian goldminer ancestors

AI, Genealogy and You: A Perfect Match?
Tony Bandy looks at the integration of artificial intelligence into our family histories

The Negro Travelers’ Green Book
Diane L. Richard examines an essential 20th-century travel book for those of color

Deep Nostalgia
Lisa A. Alzo reviews a new innovation from MyHeritage to animate your family photos

NetNotes
Internet Genealogy looks at websites and related news that are sure to be of interest

Back Page: If My Memory Serves Me Correctly…
Dave Obee says we would all do right by recording our thoughts for future reference

Sunday Sundries

Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.

Some tombstones appear photoshopped, one I recognize from Montreal.

Spain wants to fine Franco apologists – the latest example of using laws to address uncomfortable history

How To Read Books Online For Free: 5 Best Websites
Plus books free through your public library.

The Jessica Simulation: Love and loss in the age of A.I.

New Zealand BMDs.
This week MyHeritage added Indexes for Births (1840-1901) with 2,037,711 records, Marriage & Divorce (1840-1901) with 271,768 records and Deaths (1840-2021) with 2,430,610 records.

Ancestry updated the UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 collection.

During August, Ancestry will add 823,498 records with 52,063 images for Cardiff, Wales, Workhouse Registers, 1850-1919.

Thanks to this week’s contributors: Ann Gillin Lefever, Anonymous, Gloria Tubman, Judith H., Teresa, Unknown, Vicky Smith.