When conversation lags one of the topics I raise is asking about places people have lived or travelled to. Picking up on the idea, occasionally, let’s examine some of the sites with Commonwealth War Graves Commission burials.

The most easterly CWGC burials in Canada are at longitude 52.69934W, in St John’s Anglican Cemetery, St. John’s City East. Tucked between a soccer stadium and penitentiary, south of Quidi Vidi Lake, it contains 42 burials from both wars.

For the 14 FWW burials, the median age is 21. Most were with the (Royal) Newfoundland Regiment. Two were with the Royal Navy, two with the Royal Navy Reserve. Extensive research of these and others who Died in Service is documented in a recebtly compiled commemorative database featuring some 1,800 individual wartime biographies of those from Newfoundland and Labrador, or who died there, during the First World War.

The 28 SWW burials have a median age of 33. Twelve were from the merchant navy and five the Royal Navy.  Four were assigned to a secret shore establishment, H.M.C.S. Avalon, that “facilitated the safe and timely arrival of the Atlantic convoys.”

Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.

A medieval cold and flu remedy

10 Websites For The History Of Ordinary People

Early estate maps of Dumfries-shire, 1760s-1820s added to NLS maps.

Ancestry updated England & Wales, Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1918 (90,710 records) and UK and Commonwealth, Law Examination Records, 1836-1947 (537,286 records.)

Gmail’s AI-powered spam detection is its biggest security upgrade in years

Today in Ottawa History: The YMCA —YWCA

Want more? Try Atlas Obscura

Do you use Peter Calver’s LostCousins website and read his newsletter?  The latest has the following announcement.

“Until midnight on New Year’s Eve the LostCousins site will be completely free, allowing you the opportunity to connect with as many new cousins as you can – and unlike some other sites you won’t be asked to provide bank or credit card details. Because this offer coincides with the start of my Annual Competition (see below) the ancestors and cousins you add to your My Ancestors page will also count as entries – it’s a really great opportunity!”

That newsletter includes an item comparing AncetryDNA matches to the number you might expect. The article is Lies, damned lies, and statistics!

This week, FMP adds Roman Catholic baptisms, marriages, burials and confirmation records for the Diocese of Northampton. That’s over 13,000 new records.

Baptisms from 1775 to 1913 are augmented with transcripts and original record images, often in Latin. There are now a total of 9,090 records in the set for parishes in Bedfordshire, Buckingham, and Northamptonshire.

Also added this week are 1,288 marriage, 1,547 burial, and 2,737 confirmation records for the Diocese of Northampton.

BTW, Did you know that Northamptonshire has more adjoining counties than any other.

You may be able to find previously elusive records with this week’s improved transcripts that identify names previously missed out — over 19,000 records within the existing over 3 million entry Irish Roman Catholic Parish Marriage collection.

 

I had one of my best family history days of the year recently when I received information about boys in my tree who attended Christ’s Hospital, the charitable school with records from the 16th century. The earliest was my two-times-great-grandfather, who attended from 1849 to 1855, and the latest my uncle, there from 1923 to 1929. In between was a first cousin three times removed who, when he left the school, moved to Saskatchewan.

Among earlier records are those of Edward Roberts, who surveyed the northwest coast with George Vancouver in the late 18th century. Other boys joined the Hudson’s Bay Company,

The original records are at the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA), which I went to in September to research, Access was on microfilm. The information this week came directly from the Museum of Christ’s Hospital. The museum team can access these records, and often more, and is pleased to answer enquiries, especially those relating to family history. Records available often include copies of birth and parent’s marriage certificates, which were included with petitions for entry.

While there is no charge for this service, donations are invited for detailed reports. I considered how long and at what expense in travel and time it would have taken me to research at the LMA, then donated. There are data protection rules which restrict information being given about recent “Old Blues.” Contact chmuseum@christs-hospital.org.uk with any request.

 

 

Or is it?

On Saturday, from 9: 00 am — 10:00 am: BIFHSGO members are invited to join others for the annual Christmas social.

from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, the renowned Great Moments in Genealogy session will see four speakers sharing highlights from their family history research.

Veronica Scrimger – Purleigh’s Brick Walls: Discovering the Brotherhood Colony in Purleigh, Essex
Beth Adams – A Bible Hunt, with another stone house at the end!
Nancy Higgins – It Could Have Been a Movie: Charles Roper & His Fiddle
Carol Annett – A Connection to Scotland in Italy.

Check the Events page of the BIGHSGO website, HERE for further information. Attend the meeting in person at Knox Presbyterian Church or register HERE to attend online.

At 12:00 noonthe Ottawa Branch OGS  will hold the annual Christmas Social and Dessert Potluck at the City Archives building, 100 Tallwood. Bring your lunch and a dessert to share with others. Coffee and tea, milk, sugar, etc will be provided. This will be Live Only, no Zoom, no lecture.

As mentioned at the Public Library Board meeting last Tuesday, on this occasion the Branch will be presenting an OGS award of recognition to the Ottawa Public Library.

 

 

 

If you’re a 23andMe client you have likely received an email informing you of changes to the terms of service. Here’s what I received on Tuesday.

On November 30, 2023, we launched updates to our Terms of Service.

Important updates were made to the Dispute Resolution and Arbitration section to include procedures that will encourage a prompt resolution of any disputes and to streamline arbitration proceedings where multiple similar claims are filed. These updates will go into effect for customers 30 days from the date this email is received.

We encourage you to read the new terms in full. Please notify us within 30 days of receiving this email if you do not agree to the terms, in which case you will remain subject to the current Terms of Service. If you do not notify us within 30 days, you will be deemed to have agreed to the new terms.

If you have any questions, please contact us at customercare@23andme.com.

A 30 November notice from 23andMe reads

THESE TERMS OF SERVICE CONTAIN A MANDATORY ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES PROVISION THAT REQUIRES THE USE OF ARBITRATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RATHER THAN JURY TRIALS OR CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. VIEW THESE TERMS HERE.

What’s the motivation behind the move to “encourage a prompt resolution of any disputes and to streamline arbitration proceedings?”

This article from TechCrunch likely reveals what’s behind it.

23andMe confirms hackers stole ancestry data on 6.9 million users

Is 23andMe asking you, by default, to agree to the terms that deprive you of rights you already have without giving anything back of equal value? I’m hoping someone with legal credentials, that’s not me, will give an opinion. Please let me know or leave a comment and I’ll include in a future blog post. 

 

 

This notice is posted at https://www.adarchives.org/

Due to unprecedented flooding the Archives is CLOSED until further notice. Absolutely no archival material was damaged.

No further information was posted. As always, check before committing to a visit.

 

 

 

For those of us with London ancestry, there’s a present under the tree — this just-released Christmas issue of Why Who Do You Think You Are? magazine.

London ancestors, Our complete guide to tracing your family history in the capital includes obscure resources like the recently digitised and catalogued photographic collections at the website BoroughPhotos (boroughphotos.org/harrow).  There’s news of serveral physical archives on the move as well as a directory of contacts for all the local archives and family history societies in London.

Also in the issue:

12 Christmas projects. 12 fun ways to build your family tree over the Christmas period.

Christmas quiz. Try out these family history brainteasers.

Reader story Mary Jones’ seven-year-old relative was arrested for stealing coal.

The history of Christmas dinner, What did our ancestors eat at a festive feast?

Old newspapers. How to use newspapers in family history research.

In Ottawa, and likely anywhere else in Canada with online public library cardholder access to PressReader, read all the issue for free – what a Christmas present!

Here’s a listing of some interesting-looking online presentations coming soon from The National Archives (UK). Most are of genealogical interest. Reserve fast as the most popular fill up quickly. Unless you’re an early bird and don’t mind a 5:30 am ET start, or in Australia welcoming some in the evening hours, most are timed well for North America.

Secrets of The National Archives: Censuses
Friday 12 January 2024, 14:00 (GMT)

Family History: Using First World War Army Records (presented by Will Butler)
Saturday 13 January 2024, 10:30 (GMT)

Family History: Using Civilian Internee Records (presented by Roger Kershaw)
Saturday 20 January 2024, 10:30 (GMT)

The Forgers: The Story of the Holocaust’s Most Audacious Rescue Operation
Wednesday 24 January 2024, 19:30 (GMT)

Poverty, Language and the New Poor Law in Wales, 1834–1871 (presented by Paul Carter)
Friday 26 January 2024, 14:00 (GMT)

Family History: Using Prisoner of War Records (presented by Roger Kershaw)
Saturday 27 January 2024, 10:30 (GMT)

Family History: Using Second World War Army Records (presented by Will Butler)
Saturday (34 January) 3 February 2024, 10:30 (GMT)

See the complete list and book tickets via Eventbrite at https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/visit-us/whats-on/online-events/

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.