Anglo-Celtic Connections

What does it take to hook the reader of a family history article? Is it the opening line, the opening paragraph, or the first page? What can we learn from others’ successes? 

Below are the opening paragraphs from the first-prize-winners in the last three BIFHSGO quinquennial writing competitions.

Who was Annabella Chatterton? by Carol Annett
“Who’s in these photos?” This question can uncover surprising stories about
ancestors if you ask the right person. That’s what happened when I posed
the question to my mother-in-law, Velma Annett, who preferred to be called
Vel. At least once a week, she would telephone my husband, Richard. If I
answered, Vel chatted with me briefly before asking, “Is he there?” which
was my cue to pass the phone to him.

The Travels and Trials of Adam Logan, Dairyman by Claire Callender
By the time she married in 1930 at the age of 24, my granny, Anna Logan, had lived in more than 24 places. Not neighbouring places in the same parish, or different streets in the same town, but places all over Britain from Caithness in the very north of Scotland to Essex in southeast England.

Adventures of a Library, by Adrienne Stevenson
How many of us can relate to our ancestors? Many of our values and desires differ from theirs—our world has changed greatly since their time. So, when something from the past strikes a chord, it’s worth pursuing. A common love of books led me to investigate the story of the celebrated library of Robert Addison, missionary to the Mohawks and minister at Niagara (now Niagara on-the-Lake) from 1792 to 1829 and my great-great-great-greatgrandfather. When I first studied the subject, in the late 1980s, hearings challenging the rightful ownership of these books went as far as the Supreme Court of Ontario, but the debate was far from resolved. Now that it has been settled,
the whole story can be told.

Based on those, ChatGPT produced the following.

Three Hints for Opening Paragraphs in Family History Writing

1. Start with a hook that invites curiosity — a question, contrast, or striking fact.

Each article opens with something that immediately makes the reader lean in:

• “Who’s in these photos?” — a simple question that signals a mystery.

• “By the time she married… she had lived in more than 24 places.” — a surprising statistic.

• “How many of us can relate to our ancestors?” — a reflective question about a universal experience.

Hint:
Use an intriguing question, unexpected number, contradiction, or vivid statement to make the reader want to know more about the ancestor.

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2. Connect the ancestor’s story to the present through a personal gateway.

Award-winning articles don’t start with names and dates — they begin with you, the researcher, and how you encountered the story:

• A phone call from a mother-in-law.

• A granny’s unusual life pattern.

• A shared love of books that bridges generations.

Hint:
Ground the story in a moment from your own research or family experience. This creates emotional entry points and shows why this ancestor matters today.

---

3. Establish the stakes or scope early — hint at the journey ahead.

Each opening paragraph telegraphs what kind of story is coming:

• A mystery behind unidentified photos.

• A life lived across an entire country.

• A library contested up to the Supreme Court.

Hint:
Signal the scale, tension, or theme early on — migration, hardship, mystery, conflict, accomplishment — so the reader knows this is more than a list of facts; it’s a narrative with a trajectory.

 

 

Miscellaneous items I found interesting this week.

An Irish town digs into its dark past at a former home for mothers and babies
A  Globe and Mail deep dive on the legacy of the St. Mary’s Mother and Baby Home, Tuam, Ireland, “run by the Catholic Church from the 1920s to 1990s, when Ireland was desperate to differentiate itself from its Protestant English colonizers.”

Grenville County Ontario Digital Newspaper Archive
35,000 scanned and OCR’d pages of newspapers, dating 1889 to 1965, from the Prescott area are now online, courtesy of a Grenville County Historical Society initiative. There are search and advanced search capabilities. Results are shown alongside a section of the original paper. Click through to see the full page with the search term highlighted. Achieved with the cooperation of OurDigitalWorld and a grant of $48,933 from Library and Archives Canada’s Documentary Heritage Communities Program. Well done.

Ireland Census 1926 digitisation project
How’s progress toward the release of the Irish Free State Census on 18 April 2026?

The Latest Bytown Pamphlet
#129 in the Historical Society of Ottawa pamphlet series explores challenges women have faced and the remarkable progress they have achieved over the past few decades. It’s based on the winning essay submitted by Amilia Matheson for the Society’s 2024 Colonel By Award in History.

Directory of Graveyards in the Dublin Area, and more
John Grenham has slowed posting on his Irish Roots blog, so I don’t scan it often. Fortunately, Gail Dever does and included his latest post in This week’s crème de la crème on her Genealogy à la carte blog. Explore — Gail and John both include more.

Thanks to the following individuals for their comments and tips: Ann Burns, Anonymous, Teresa, and Unknown.

 

New this week:

London Metropolitan Police Leavers
Years covered: 1889-1947
Records added: 55,122

These records, which are transcripts sourced from TNA, show my relative Edwin Digby joined the force on 17 January 1881, and left on 5 March 1906 when his last posting was with T Division as a Sub Divisional Inspector.

London Metropolitan Police Attestation

Years covered: 1829-1972
Records added: 20,657

Some of the same data as above, note the earlier start year.

London Metropolitan Police Certificate of Service

Years covered: 1889-1909
Records added: 1,154

Edwin Digby is missing from this transcript database. The facts are duplicates of those in the two previous databases.

Merchant Seamen’s Campaign Medal Records

Years covered: 1939-1945
Records added: 107,387

The transcript information included in this substantial update is: First name, Last name, Date and year of birth, Event year, Discharge number, and Honours, as well as the TNA Archive Reference.

Newspapers
This week the Athlone Times (1889-1902), Gwalia (1881 – 1898), Transport Worker (1911- 1912) and Walton Gazette and Harwich and Dovercourt Advertiser (1881 – 1899)  have joined the newspaper archive. There are other updates, including the Ulster Gazette (1844, 1850-1871, 1875-1896, 1908-1909).

 

Branch members are invited to attend the annual Christmas Social and Dessert Potluck on Saturday, 13 December, from noon to 2 pm at Room 226, City of Ottawa Archives, 100 Tallwood Drive, Ottawa.

Please bring your own lunch and a dessert to share. The branch will provide coffee, tea, milk, sugar, and other beverages.

This month’s gathering is a social event with no formal presentation and offers an opportunity to network with fellow genealogists. Please note that this is an in-person event only; there is no virtual attendance option.

 

The contents page for the Winter issue of Anglo-Celtic Roots, BIFHSGO’s quarterly chronicle, is:

A Valiant Man (Lynne Willoughby) ** He Wore Two Blue Coats: William Henry Northwood (John Reid) ** We Shall Remember Them: Acting Lance Corporal John Samuel Thomson (Nigel Lloyd/) ** TECH TALK Standalone Genealogy Applications (Paul Cripwell).

BIFHSGO publishes in greyscale, so the Two Blue Coats impact is rather lost.  While the online version could be in colour, the editorial decision was it would set too much of a precedent. Major editorial decisions are not to be taken lightly.

Here’s the first of those coats, with the blue in all its glory.

It’s from the London Visitors website, showing the Christ’s Hospital uniform, a rich, deep royal blue or Prussian blue hue. The image dates from around the time William Henry attended in 1850. Another image on the same website, from a later date, shows a navy-blue, almost-black coat.

There was a shift from organic to synthetic dyes around 1870, shortly after the invention of a blue coal-tar dye.

If you’re interested in the other blue coat, you’ll have to read the article in the Winter issue of Anglo-Celtic Roots, which should be available on the BIFHSGO website for members, if not now, very, very soon. Paper copies are in the mail for those who pay an additional fee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Canadian War Museum invites you to honour the life and legacy of Dr. Tim Cook, Chief Historian and Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum, author, and long-time contributor to Canada’s military heritage.
Together, we will reflect on Dr. Cook’s extraordinary contributions, share memories, and celebrate the profound impact he had on the understanding of Canada’s wartime history.

Friday, December 12
4 to 6 pm

https://www.warmuseum.ca/events/dr-tim-cook

 

 

An update for Scotland and Northern Ireland follows the update to the England and Wales, Death Index, 1989-2025 mentioned in Sunday Sundries.
The S&NI index now has 987,856 entries, compiled from funeral directors’ records and obituaries. A small number of records from Jersey and the Isle of Man are included.

This episode is the 2025 Year in Review. Hosts Steve Little and Mark Thompson examine which predictions hit the mark, and what they missed.

The most important advancements were based on reasoning models.

The advances are mainly generic, not specific to family history. Later parts of the episode make the connection to family history more direct.

Here’s the episode outline:
03:30 Agents, Agents, Everywhere: Deep Research and Agentic Browsers
09:49 Cost of AI Drops Like a Rock: DeepSeek Disrupts the Market
12:26 OpenAI Dethroned: Gemini and Anthropic Rise
18:46 Local Language Models
23:54 AI Invades Social Media
28:24 AI-Enhanced Writing: From Grammar Checking to Ghost Writers
32:30 Family Tree Diagrams: Possible But Not Practical
36:03 Handwriting Recognition: Reasoning Improves Results
38:01 Reasoning Models: 2025’s Most Important Advancement
41:31 Text in Images: A Solved Problem
45:05 Image Restoration: Breakthroughs and Responsibilities
51:02 Vibe Coding: Speaking Software Into Being

https://blubrry.com/3738800/150551263/ep38-2025-year-in-review-a-look-back-at-our-2025-ai-predictions-the-reasoning-revolution/

Library and Archives Canada posted a report on the third year of its 2022–2025 Accessibility Plan. Here are three initiatives that showed tangible progress for clients:

1. Improved Access to Information Requests
LAC revamped its access to information and privacy (ATIP) content, focusing on plain language, and added a step-by-step online assistant to help clients navigate the request process. This addresses a complex process and makes it easier for clients with diverse needs.

2. Redesigned First World War Personnel Records Database
LAC launched a new search tool for one of its most popular databases (First World War Personnel Records). The redesigned version uses the Canada.ca template and includes plain-language instructions, making this popular resource more accessible to all clients.

3. Enhanced Public Event Accessibility
The Programs and Events team improved accessibility in public programming at events such as the Open House at the Preservation Centre by providing wheelchair-accessible pathways, adaptable seating, clear bilingual signage and more.

Read about the other steps taken in the full report at https://www.canada.ca/en/library-archives/corporate/about-us/strategies-initiatives/accessibility-plan/progress-reports/2025.html

Do you consider these three significant? Did I miss something that should have been in the top three from a client perspective?

Choose from these selected free online events. All times are Eastern Time, unless otherwise noted. Registration may be required in advance—please check the links to avoid disappointment. For many more events, mainly in the U.S., visit https://conferencekeeper.org/virtual/

Tuesday 9 December
2 pm: New and Upcoming Features at MyHeritage, by Itay Sobol for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/new-and-upcoming-features-at-myheritage/

2 pm: Ottawa Virtual Genealogy Drop-In, for OGS Ottawa Branch.
https://ottawa.ogs.on.ca/events/virtual-genealogy-drop-in-2-2025-12-09/

2:30 pm: Finding My Way: Researching Your Ancestor in the City, by Jessica Fontana for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15069311

Wednesday 10 December

6 am: Free Weekly Research Advice, from the Genealogical Society of Ireland
https://familyhistory.ie/event/zoom-drop-in-session-39/

8 pm: Scattered Leaves: Reconnecting family branches with DNA, by Fiona Brooker for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/scattered-leaves-reconnecting-family-branches-with-dna/

Thursday 11 December
6:30 pm: Researching Your Swedish Ancestry, by Cynthia Grostick for Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15069332

Friday 12 December
2 pm: The Business of Enslavers: Acquiring Human Inventory, by LaDonna Garner for Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/the-business-of-enslavers-acquiring-human-inventory/

Saturday 13 December
9 am:  Holiday Social
10 am: Great Moments, with Dianne Brydon, Gloria Tubman and Jennette Logan.
All for the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa.
http://www.bifhsgo.ca/events

A few days ago marked the anniversary of the devastating Halifax Explosion in December 1917. Shortly after the disaster, Prime Minister Robert Borden, who represented a Halifax constituency, travelled to the city to survey the damage. At the time, he had been campaigning in Prince Edward Island during the fiercely contested “conscription” election that ultimately returned his Unionist government to power on 19 December.

A Tip for Family History Research

While reviewing Borden’s transcribed diary, I noticed something interesting: like many diarists of his era, he often mentioned the weather — on approximately 40% of the days in 1917. For anyone tracing their family history, consider exploring the diaries of people who lived near your ancestors. These records often include references to significant weather events that affected the area.

Borden’s 1917 Weather Diary

Here’s a month-by-month summary of the weather in Borden’s diary in 1917, with the most significant weather events recorded. It was produced with the aid of NotebookLM. Note how the percent drops in October and November during the election campaign.

January (approx. 35% of entries)
• Temperature of 20 below zero: On January 12, Borden recorded this extreme low temperature in Ottawa.
• “Fairylike” Snowstorm: On January 13, he described a beautiful snowstorm where the flakes looked like “flowers from heaven”.
• Easterly Storm: A storm was noted in the evening of January 21.
February (approx. 46% of entries)
• 24 Below Zero: Before leaving for England, Borden recorded this temperature on February 11.
• Heavy Blizzard and Intense Cold: While travelling to Halifax on February 13, the train was delayed six hours due to these severe conditions.
• Fog and Penetrating Cold: Upon arrival in Liverpool on February 21, the weather was wet and cold with heavy fog.
March (approx. 16% of entries)
• Snow in London: On March 5, Borden noted the ground was covered with snow.
• “Canadian Weather”: On March 8, he described the snow and conditions in England as being very much like Canadian weather.
• Three Inches of Snow: On March 31, a significant snowfall occurred in London, making the streets very sloppy.
April (approx. 30% of entries)
• Snow and Dense Fog: The month began with unpleasant cold, snow, and dense fog on April 1.
• Wretched Weather: On April 6, he noted snow and the “worst known” weather for 40 years.
• Blizzard at Camp: On April 9, Borden inspected the 6th Brigade at Witley Camp during a blizzard.
May (approx. 45% of entries)
• Fog and Sunshine: On May 11, while at sea, he noted a strange combination of fog and bright sunshine.
• Snow on the Coast: On May 13, while returning to Canada, he grieved to see the coastline covered with snow.
• Heavy Windcloud: On May 13, a dark, heavy windcloud on the starboard quarter was observed as the ship approached Quebec.
June (approx. 57% of entries)
• Dreary Rain: On June 10, a wet, unpleasant day left the ground cold and sodden.
• 79 Degrees: On June 13, a very warm day was recorded with the thermometer reaching 79 at 8 P.M..
• Glorious Day: June 24 was described as a glorious day with roses in abundant bud.
July (approx. 61% of entries)
• Heavy Thunderstorm: On July 15, a heavy rain and thunderstorm beat down the roses in his garden.
• 91 Degrees in Shade: On July 23, Borden recorded this intense heat.
• Very Hot and Humid: On July 24, the weather was described as very hot and humid.
August (approx. 29% of entries)
• Most Glorious Summer Day: August 5 was noted for its phenomenal vine growth and beautiful weather.
• Variable Weather: On August 19, the weather was variable with sharp showers.
• Much Cooler: By August 26, the weather had turned much cooler.
September (approx. 53% of entries)
• Freezing Point: On September 6, the temperature dropped nearly to the freezing point.
• 80 Degrees: On September 16, a glorious early autumn day saw temperatures reach 80 degrees.
• Keen North Wind: On September 22, the temperature was 44 degrees with a keen wind while Borden was bathing in the lake.
October (approx. 10% of entries)
• Lovely Soft Air: October 14 was a fine day with lovely air.
• Wet and Cold: The weather turned wet and cold on October 29.
• Bright Frosty Morning: On October 31, the morning was described as bright and frosty.
November (approx. 7% of entries)
• Very Rainy: On November 16, he stayed on his train car in Sydney due to very rainy conditions.
• Very Heavy Storm: On November 17, a storm in Kentville forced the cancellation of a meeting in Berwick.
December (approx. 42% of entries)
• Fierce Blizzard: On December 7, passing through the area devastated by the Halifax explosion, a blizzard was raging.
• Unusually Heavy Snow: On December 12, Ottawa experienced an unusually heavy fall of snow
• 20 Below Zero: On December 30, the thermometer dropped to 20 below zero in Hot Springs.

In reading these, remember that AI can make mistakes, and locations may be confused. Borden knew where he was, but a reader today can he uncertain as some place names occur in multiple locations. Was it Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the last entry? No, the lowest temperature ever recorded there is -11°F.  He could have meant 20 degrees below freezing, 12°F. Or was it another Hot Springs? There’s a Warm (Hot) Springs in Virginia where -20°F is the record low temperature.