Happy "Middle Child Day"

Today is Middle Child Day - Aug 13
A day to salute the middle-born children whose youthful activities were limited due to their always being too young or too old. Today, they are just right! Created in 1986 by Elizabeth Walker. Annually, the second Saturday in August.

We all have them in our family tree somewhere, and we all know the "Middle Child Syndrome" that is talked about. How about YOU? Are you one or do you have one of your own or one in the family that pops to mind. I can tell you in my family say "Middle Child" and my daughter Miranda jumps to mind immediately. A strong willed child from before birth (that's a story in itself...LOL) and yet a loving caring young woman; who, if she is your friend you will be so happy to have.

Banff, Alberta - June 28/2019 - Father (John Goodwin) & Daughter (Miranda Goodwin)

Markstay/Warren, Ontario - Aug. 21/2005 -
Back L- William Goodwin (Father), Back R - John Goodwin (Son),
Front L-R - Victoria, Miranda & Liam (Grand-children)

Miranda was due on July 4th (my birthday) and started to show her uniqueness from with-in the womb. The 4th came and went with no appearance. The 5th came and went, also. The 6th came and her mother picked me up from work and said she was having contractions. We headed home where her mother was to meet us to watch our oldest child (Victoria). We could then head to the hospital. So We get home and the wife says she wants to take a shower before going; as she remembers how long she had to wait for one when Victoria was born. I told her we should leave now though as her contractions were about 5-6 minutes apart and the Dr. had said to head to the hospital at 10 minutes apart as the second child would come sooner then the first, usually. She said shower first and proceeded up the 5 stairs to the bathroom when half way up; her water broke. She turned around and said "Or we can leave now". We went to the hospital and around 10 pm we thought, 'she's not here yet; maybe she is going to wait to share her birthday with Grand-pa Bill (my father) on the 7th of July. One half hour later and Miranda was here. We said that she was stubborn and was determined to have her own birthday; no matter what we thought and or wanted. This nature showed itself from an early age. At around 4 yrs old, learning to tie her shoes and refusing help telling us "I do it my own self'; in that young slurred learning to speak for herself way.
As I said though she grew into a young woman who formed strong friendships. She proves to her friends continually her devotion to them and her support for them in many big and small ways. She is still stubborn and strong willed. You won't push her around in life; but you will be thankful she's in your corner.

So let's 'Remember When' the Middle Child (fill in the Blank) today and laugh out loud.

100 Years Old Today - Happy Birthday Grandpa!

     The date was April 28th, 1919 when Joseph Wilfrid Lafleur came into the world. Born to Eugene Wilfrid Lafleur and his wife Marie Louise (nee Trudel) in Caldwell, Nipissing County, Ontario, Canada. One of 12 children he would grow up to marry Desneige Margerite Ouellette on August 16th, 1943 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Warren, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada. They in turn would go on to have 7 children and settle in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. My Mother was one of those children and so I the grandson of Wilfrid and a keeper of the family genealogy want to 'Remember When' on this the occasion of his 100th Birthday. I also happen to have been named in part after him. My full name is John Francis Wilfrid Goodwin. Named after both my grandfathers, I get my second middle name from Grandpa Lafleur.
      My grandfather was a great man. He took care of his family to the best of his ability and always loved them. He especially loved his grand kids and always had time for them. When my parents first married, they lived with my grand parents until they could get a place of their own. My dad told me he would come home late from work and on a number of occasions found my grandfather up in the kitchen holding and feeding me, so my mother could sleep and heal from the birth.  The family was always over at our grandparents for meals and gatherings at least once a week. The house was always full of family and friends and I know that is at least in part why my house is always open to family and friends; because of the example that my grandparents set for us. Death took my grandfather on November 1, 1977 and my grandmother a year and a half later. They had retired back up north to the Nipissing county area a few years before then and so I didn't get to see them weekly as I had before. That coupled with my age meant I never really got to ask them the questions I wish I had the chance to ask now.  But I always 'Remember When' with fondness as I think of them and I am glad I have personal memories at all. My younger brother has none. So again I say "Happy Birthday grandpa, I wish you were here. Love ya."

Joseph Wilfrid Lafleur - 1943

August 16, 1943 - J. Wilfrid Lafleur marries Desneige Ouellette.

Summer 1949 - J. Wilfrid Lafleur & Daughter Noella (home in Windsor).

Summer 1948 - J. Wilfrid Lafleur holding daughter Noella (home in Windsor).

Summer 1964 J. Wilfrid Lafleur standing with brother Fernand behind their parents (seated) Eugene W. Lafleur & Marie Louise (nee Trudel). 

Christmas day 1968 - J. Wilfrid Lafleur with his wife Desneige and their 7 children at their home (818 Bruce Ave., Windsor).

Christmas Day 1972 - J. Wilfrid Lafleur with some of his children & grand Children (me John in his arm) at his home (818 Bruce Ave., Windsor).

July 10, 1976 - J. Wilfrid Lafleur with grandchildren (left to right) John F.W. Goodwin, Branden R Goodwin & Sheri L. Lafleur. 

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 9)

   This is the last of this series (as far as I know, right now).  The trip up North was a great one. We had a good time and my brother and his family got to meet a group of other's from our family. Seeing and being on the property that was the land of our great grand parents was something else. He fell in love with it as much as I.  We went out in the bush and enjoyed seeing the old homestead of our great grand parents.  Later we spent the night out in the bush; my brother Branden, cousin in law Gabe and I. We talked about the visit Branden was to have with our father. He wasn't interested in appologies or in hearing excuses for his belief's. He mentioned that he was having the meeting in part because he thought I wanted it. That he was doing for me.  I tried to tell him, he didn't need to. I wanted this for the two of them. I knew that any possibility of a future relationship for them was up to them. I just wanted them to take the chance at it. I really don't get anything from it per say. I just didn't want them to miss the chance. A few days later we went to our father's house ahead of everyone else. We sat and talked for an hour or so and just talked casually. There was no mention of the past and what had happened back then, no excuses.  A week or so after I talked with my brother and he said the meeting really didn't do anything and it was all just as it was. I told him I didn't fully understand, as it seemed to go exactly as he had said he wanted it to. I have since been back up north to see my dad and check on him. He made no mention of the meeting and given his memory problems recently and how much he seems to feel things when he tries to remember. So I believe it will not go anywhere further.  As I said, this was their story, the outcome is thier's. I can't live their life's. They took the opportunity to speak and if it has not lead them to any kind of reconcilation then they have to live with this.
    I am also happy to report that my cousin in law has found the old well at the old homestead and is going to try to reopen it as a source of water in the bush. It was really good to be back out there and see the property.  I hope you have all been having a good time researching your own family history/stories. I continue to work on our's. No matter where the research takes you it is still your story. Don't be afraid of it. You are still who you are, no matter the new info we find. So always Remember When....
    Lastly I have been considering making this a video blog and put it on 'You Tube'. I will be looking at how to go about this, and ask my son to help me. No promises. If I do then I may redo these blog's as video blog's. If not and or until then I will continue to these blog's, when I can.

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 8)

    Well this adventure in DNA testing keep's moving along.  First of all my mother's brother Wilfrid (who died just a little time back) had children from a few different woman in his life. One I have gotten to know (Robbie H.), and another (Christine) who I only really know over Facebook. She is the spitting image of our grandmother (WIlfird & my mother Noella's mother).  Well I noticed that she had done the Ancestry DNA test and showed up on my matches. So I contacted her on the Ancestry site and let her know that I had ben doing the family history and would be willing to share anything she would like to know about. I left it at that and she responded a few months later that she was interested. I have let her know through Facebook that I intend to respond soon. I will probably do that this week.
    The other news is that my mother, my brother and I are going up north (Verner, Warren, Sturgeon Falls, North Bay area of Northern, Ontario) to visit with family up there. My brother doesn't really know the family up there well and has wanted to go up and meet and get to know some of them better. His children and and possibly his wife may be coming along too.  So while we are looking forward to this, I get a call from my father and he wants to know if I can ask my brother if it's alright to give our dad his number. Dad wants to call and talk to him, trying to reach out after all these years. Now that we have the hard evidence that he is my brother's father. So I talked to my brother and he said he was fine with this. He holds no ill feeling and is fine with talking to him. He has no expectation for the conversation and isn't looking for anything (even an appology of any kind). So I was over his place having this conversation and hung around for a while talking and visiting when my brother tells me he has changed his mind. He thinks this is a conversation that would be better/should be done, face to face. So I said we are going up north soon and dad is in the area. We can take a day trip over and see him. My brother agreed and so we will be going to visit him while up north. My brother has said he will bring the kids with him too, so they can meet our dad and his wife Ivy (their other grand parents).  I am somewhat floored at how this has come together. I am very pleased by it, and pray for the best to come of it. I know even if they start talking it will never be the relationship it should have been. My mother and I where seperated for about 10 years when my parents divorced and there has always been something missing from our relationship. Well where ever this goes; it can't go anywhere unless people step out and make an effort.
     Lastly, on Facebook we have a family site for Lafleur cousin's where we can talk and share. Some of the family keep asking about our relation to Guy Lafleur the NHL Hockey player. I have heard over the years that he is a distant cousin and so have others. They know I do the genealogy and asked if I knew. I said I hadn't come across anything as of yet; but that I really hadn't looked very hard. One of the cousins meesaged that his birthday was such and such and his parents name. I told them give me a few minutes adn with that info I would see what I could quickly find. I did a search and found a tree of another distant cousin that had Guy on it and showed that guy's GGG Grand Parents where my GGGG Grand Parents. We are his distant cousins. I am trying to get all the info into my tree and confirm the link. Right now it appears we are all 3-4th cousins and or 2nd cousins so many times removed. Once I have it all in I will be able to confirm it.
    For now continue to look back into your own family history and always REMEBER WHEN....

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 7)

    Well after three test (two failed and one that finally worked out), my brothers DNA results are in. My brother and I share the same parents. The site matches my brother & father.  I attach a look at the 3 of us. You will notice that my brother actually has more of a match to our father then I do. The Irish is stronger in them than in I. My brother is interested in the facts and genetic history. He isn't interested in a relationship after all these years.   I called my father and gave him the news. I could tell it hit him hard. He realized all that he has lost, all the years, the son and the grand children he's missing. Will anything come of their mutual knowledge. Will they talk? Will they get together at all? That will be up to them. Only time will tell. Now we just wait for our mother to get her sample together and sent in.

 
   On another note. The last blog I talked about a visit to my mother's cousin in Warren, Ontario. She lives on the same property my Great Grand parents owned and lived on.  She sent me some pics and I did some repair work to a few of them.  I attach the one that means the most to me. It is of those Great Grand Parents with my mother and some of her siblings at that home in Warren.

Left - Israel Noel Ouellette, Center Rear - Israel's wife Aldea Gervais holding Wilfrid Lafleur, Center Left (tallest girl) - Fernande Lafleur, Right side middle - Noella Aldea Lafleur,  Front right - Florence Lafleur. Siblings with their grand parents. My mother Noella named for these grand parents. 

     As always look to the memories of old and always Remember When......

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 6)

   Well the continueing saga of DNA testing. My brother's third test is being processed. His wife sent hers in with his second test and it is processed and results are in. Next day I recieve word that his failed again; and the third test was on it's way. I also got our mother a test and activated it about the same time as my brothers third test. She has as of yet not done her part. Waiting on her to spit (maybe she hasn't because it's not lady like...LOL). I also found out that my cousin (my mother's brother's daughter) has done the test and it will be interesting to have that extra data to compare.
    So we wait some more to get the other mysteries solved about my father, brother and I. We will have the info for my brother's children since both he and his wife have been tested.
     On a further note, I went up north this summer to visit my father and a cousin of my mother's.  This cousin (Gisele) lives on the property that my great grand parents owned. I remember visiting it a number of times when I was a child. Her husband took me out 4 wheeling to view the property and see the evidence of an old homestead. It was amazing and I had never gotten to go back there when I was younger. I also grabbed a piece of bedrock to take home with me.  They told me how my great grand father first started dating great grand ma. It was the classic tale of church picnic. The girls would bring a picnic lunch and the boys would bid to buy the lunch as a fund raiser. The winning bid would get to eat the lunch with the girl who's lunch they bought. Great grand pa Noel told his best friend that he was going to buy great grand ma Aldea's picnic and marry her. His freind said that that wasn't going to happen, as he was going to buy it. As you can guess that didn't work out for him. Great grand pa won the bid and they did go on to marry and have a large family and many more decendents.  I can't wait to visit them again and 'Remember When...' together.

WIn a Christmas In July Genealogy prize package

Check it out to win...https://www.genealogybargains.com/giveaways/christmas-july-contest-win-2000-genealogy-bundle/?lucky=4306
 As always Remember When ....

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 5)

    My Father's DNA test has finally come in. After reviewing it, I feel it is pretty clear that he and my Aunt Orleen had different father's. Now Siblings can have a fairly wide variance in their DNA; however their differences are so different you would have to question it just on that. He is mostly Irish and she is Western European with Irish & Iberian. He has the Irish Munster as a genetic Community and she has the French Settlers of Montreal and Detroit. Again since siblings DNA can be different the bigger clue was the DNA matches at Ancestry. They don't have the same family name matches or cousin matches. He has Goodwin matches and she hasn't any.  Just everything about this looks like the long suspected seems to have been confirmed.

    The bigger surprise was the Goodwin matches on my dad's DNA. The DNA matches of the Goodwin's are from the Hamilton, Ontario area and then back to England. Where as according to my Father's Long Form Birth Certificate his father was from Illinois (living in Hamilton when he met my grand mother) and his family originally came from the New York area and then back to England. So did his father lie about his origins? I now have a new mystery and have to research this further. I may have the wrong Goodwin line on my tree.

    The more I learn, the more I don't know. I just learned that my cousin on my mothers side has done the Ancestry DNA test. I just found her on there tonight. My brother still has to send in his new test and I ordered a test for his wife and for our Mother (the Lafleur side will be coming in clearer soon too). I leave in three days to go to Northern Ontario (specifically Sturgeon Falls/Verner/Warren area of Nipissing County). My Father is retired and living up that way and my mothers family is from there. I will be visiting her sister (my aunt) and a cousin of hers that I have been in touch with on Facebook. I am also doing research in the local Genealogical sections of the Libraries up there. I plan on interviewing my dad and hopefully my aunt at least on video; to add to my family record. It will be interesting to sit around and Remember When...with them. Until the next update.

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 4)

   Well now the high's and the low's of the DNA journey.  My oldest daughter (and her husband) ordered DNA test from '23 and Me' and her results were the next ones to come available. I set up a free account and she included me to share her information.  So I looked at it and I was pretty sure that my father and his siter (my aunt) had different father's.  If they had the same father then they would have a similar genetic make-up and I would have gotten that and passed it down. My Daughter had less then 1% African genetics like my Aunt; however hers was from the Western Sub-Saharan area and my aunts was from South Africa. So that was number one and I know it is from a very small part; so looking at the rest we find the Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal) that my aunt had a 21% genetic make-up and my daughter only a 1.4%. Again if my father had a similar make-up and passed down half to me and me half to my daughter then I would expect her to have more. My Daughter's mother's side is basically the same as our side in that they are 99% European. Just a different mix. But even there you would think there would be a chance of getting a higher mix from that side. So just these two and the rest said I was pretty sure about the results for when My father's test finaly gets processed.  
    Then my test came in and am more sure. I have the same less then 1% genetics from the Western area of Africa as my daughter and no South African such as my aunt does. My make up is only 1% Western Europe and my aunts is 35%; I would expect mine to be higher based on hers (if they share the same father). We of course will know better when my father's test is processed. 
     Now the final part of the saga so far is that I got an e-mail from Ancestry and they had a problem with my brother's test. They could not process a viable sample for testing. So they sent out a new test. I just recieved it today, activated it and dropped it off at his place for him to try again. I have to say I am not completely happy with this. I mean I understand things happen; however when I activated it, it said it would take the usual 6-8 weeks to process and maybe more with the back log. I have already waited more then 8 weeks for the results, then waited 2 weeks for the new test to get here. Now when it gets there it doesn't even get some kind of priority processing (moved to the front with the next batch going in)? A little customer friendly service would be nice. I was hoping to have the answers before I see my father in July. So we could discuss everything in person. Well we'll see. Maybe the standard e-mail goes out; but they do move it up. We'll find out soon enough. 
     So below is a chart I made to compare the results so far. Continue 'Remebering When' and I'll continue the story as it develops.

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 3)

    Alright now. My test is being processed and I just await the results now. Both my father's & my brother's test have arrived now at the lab and are in line awaiting to be processed.  My Aunt's test is done; and she set me up as an administrator so I can view and research her results; and also so I can add to her tree. Which will make it easier to compare her results to mine and others we find.

    So here is what you need to know first off. My father and his siblings (my aunt & uncle) are believed to have different father's. My Grand-mother lived her life for herself and the fun she could have. It has been known and spoken of since I can remember that they have different fathers. My father is most likely the son of John F Goodwin and my uncle may have also been. However it is believed his father is a truck driver my Grandmother is known to have been with around the time he was concieved. My aunt is believed to be the child of an Italian corner store/butcher shop down the street from their home at the time.  My uncle was dying of cancer in the summer of 1992 and wanted to go to his grave with them all finally getting the truth from their mother and laying it all out and then putting it behind them; so he could die having this resolved. We were all to get together for my birthday and talk to her. She always insisted they had the same father and wouldn't talk about anything beyond that.  Early that day she got all worked up that my aunt was in town a day early and we had gotten together the night before with out her (we did to go over how to handle the talk with her, so it was agreeed it would be straight forward without harshness or judgement...we just want to get to the truth). So she got worked up, as I said and sent to the hospital complaining of pain in her chest. Later at work I got a call from a friend of her's saying she went to the hospital but no one their would tell her how she was. I called and they said they were trying to get a hold of my dad, I identified myself and told them I could get a hold of him; but how was she? They informed me she had died. Yes she died that day, hours before we could meet and get the answers. She took the secrets to the grave with her. That is until now. DNA testing is now affordable and can be done by anyone. We will finally get to the bottom of this family mystery.

      Now for my aunts test, we expect to find that she has some Irish/Scottish heritage; so England, Wales and the like along with some french from her mother's side. Her father as I said we expect to see a large portion of Italian and or a mix of that region of Europe.

       Her Breakdown was as follows.... top to bottom -
                Africa <1% from Southeastern Bantu (primarily South Africa, Kenya, Nambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda). This is a low confidence area.
                Europe  99% from - Europe West 35%  (Primarily Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein).
                                               - Ireland 25% (Primarily Ireland, Wales, Scotland).
                                               - Iberian Peninsula 21% (Primarily Spain, Portugal).
                                               - Great Britain 11% (Primarily England, Scotland, Wales).
                                      These following European ones are Low Confidence
                                               - Finland/Northwest Russia 3% (Primarily Finland, Russia (Northwest)).
                                               - Italy/Greece 3% (Primarily Italy, Greece)
                                               - European Jewish <1% (Primarily Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Israel)
                                               - Scandinavia 0% (Primarily Sweden, Norway, Denmark)

 Then there is a section of Genetic Communities and her heritage is showing, French Settlers of Montreal & Metro Detroit (which includes surrounding areas including Windsor, Ontario, Cananda), which is where our family is.

    So biggest surprise is that she shows only 3% Italian in the low confidence area. So the Italian shop owner wasn't her father or people assumed he was italian and he was maybe Western European (German) or Iberian (Spanish) maybe. The English and French make sense from what we know although 35% Western Europe???  I would also have expected that if she had the same father that maybe a genentic community in Illinois or New York leading back to England as that is were Goodwin came from. So we really need mine and then my fathers to compare to her and see if and how much of a difference.

     The other thing is the matches to cousins (First, second, third, fourth and beyond). When we look at the possible cousin matches and the names on the trees of the ones that have trees; we find names that I have not found in my research of our family as of yet. So again I would asume 'Yes" they have different fathers. I see names like Renaud x5, Leclair, Meloche x5, Pettitclair, Moisan, Brooker x3, Dufour x3....there are many more that show up multiple times, however this gives you an idea.

   So we will have to check into these for her. These may very well be one of the names of her father. More will come of all of this.

    Now I want to note here. As I have been looking at this I have noted that a lot of people have been getting this test done. Presumably to find out where they come from. However most don't have a full membership on Ancestry and have not filled in a tree of anysort or they do but only like 3-15 people. Finding your matches with others is going to be hard if you have no one to match to. The other part of this is that they do have a large tree on line; but have locked it as private. This goes further into the whole genealogical community in which you find people that have their tree locked private and or won't share info with other potential distant family members. I don't personnaly understand FAMILY research which we lock and don't share. We are all trying to find out about our history and make connections. Why the secrets? Just my thought on this. I am open to sharing and meeting new family.

     Until the next test comes available to compare, let's all Remember When...and share together.

                                         

Image of Ancestry DNA kit.

April 9, 1917 - VIMY RIDGE - Canadian's Show Their Grit

    ONE HUNDRED YEARS ago today, Canadian soldiers jumped into the battle for Vimy Ridge. Other's had tried and failed; but the Canadian's won the day. It cost them dearly; but from that point on they were counted on for getting the job done. I had a number of relatives / ancestors that were in the Canadian Expeditionary Force's of WWI. I haven't found any proof yet that any fought at Vimy. Never the less they served their country and our allies at a time of great need. Follow the events of today with the ceremonies and Remeberances of the day. I know two students that are over in France for the festivities today. Pray it makes an impression on them and others so we don't continue these kinds of acts into the future. The 100th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Follow the battle: http://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/live-blog/vimy-ridge - So today let's Remember When and never forget.

Doing research at the Windsor, Ontario, Public Library

     Well we all know that not everything is available on line; despite what some may believe. When doing research on the family you often need to go to the cities, towns, counties or even countries they came from. Once there you have to visit the local records office, genealogy society/group or in our case Library.  My local main library is the monthly meeting place for the local chapter of the Ontario Genealogical Society (The Essex County Branch). While I am interested in joining this group there are some personal issues that have kept me from doing so. I won't go into those here. However the library has a large collection of local Geneologies donated by people over the years. They have the local newspapers on Micro Film, local grave yard info., maps, a large collection of yearbooks from most of the schools (including ones that no langer exist), the city Directories and local history books. One of the coolest things is that most of this is located on the second floor inside a Local Research room. It is a seperate glassed in room with tables & chairs for the researcher, a Micro Film viewer, and there is a desk with a Librarian on staff at all times. They are there to assist you if you are looking for anything and or to direct you to the best source available. They also can also go and get you books or documents that they have in their holdings that may not be readily available on the shelves. Some of these are in ill repair and so more delicate and they don't leave them on the shelf there fore. However if you inquire and they have it they can bring it in and you can use it. Then they will take it back to the hoding area. You also cannot put things back on teh shelves for yourself. They insist that you leave it on the table when you are finished with it. They will re-shelf it after they record the use of that specific book or document. To show that the room and resources are being used.  The room was built about 2-3 years ago. Up until then everything was just up on teh second floor more or less together and a lot of the things where in the holdings area and hard to get your hands on. Now a lot of it is available on the shelves and only a little is still locked away. I go in about once every 3-4 months and have ment to blog about this a few times. However I kept forgetting to take photos to go with the blog. Yesterday, I finally remembered to do so. If you are interested in researching your family and are in the Windsor area; I would encourage you to use this resource. If you aren't; but can make the trip it is worth while. The other thing is that if you have a quick question about someone from the area; lets say you know that your grandfather lived here in 1956 or so and have his full name you can call and speak with that librarian that is on duty and they will look in the local city directories for that year and or the ones around it to see if he his listed and where he lived. The directory will also tell if he is living with a wife and where he worked. All just a phone call away.  So if you need help to Remember When, then check out the Library.

The view at the door to the second floor research section of the Windsor, Ontario, Public Library, Main Branch.

Local School Year Books.

Local donated Family Histories.

The CIty Directories (this is where I am focused at the moment, copying the info. on my family).

This is the stack of City Directories I left on the table after my 4 hour visit.

The Local History section. 

Micro Film of the Newspapers (The Windsor Star & it's predecessor (Locally)) & the Toronto Globe & Mail.

Census, Death, Cemetary, Land Grant Micro Films.

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 2)

   Just a small update. I have contacted my father and let him know that I have an Ancestry DNA kit coming to me for him; and as of today I sent it to him in the mail this afternoon. He will have it by Tues. or Wed. at the latest. He is interested in finding out the answers related to his relationship to his sister (whom I have also sent a kit to - she already recieved it and sent it back for processing weeks ago). I also told him I have one for my brother and he said that was good. He didn't have much more to say about it yet. We will have to await the results; before we get the real reaction. I gave my brother his last week end. I don't know if he sent in yet; I assume he did. He was interested in the information that this will open up for me and the family and how to make links from it. I explained it a liitle to him and told him to check out the You Tube videos on it. Something else of interest to add to the whole story is that while talking to my oldest daughter about this; she revealed that she and her husband had ordered and sent in their own kits with another of the Genealogy web sites. So we will be able to compare the info from both sites and make links possibly with others who are only on one or the other web site. Very interested to get to the next step in this process. Until then; Remember When.

Ancestry DNA helping fill in the missing pieces (Part 1)

   Well my kids got me the Ancestry DNA kit this past Christmas. Being the family genealogist and having an Ancestry membership they thought it would be a good gift. They were of course, right. Now don't ask me why it took so long; however I just filled my saliva test tube and sent it in about a week or so ago. Yesterday I received an e-mail that they had received it at there testing center and that it had been placed in the line-up to be tested. It will be between 8 and 9 weeks to see the results. As long as it took me to send in my sample; it took almost no time at all to decide to test other family members. My brother and I had already talked about both doing this test; and just haven't gotten around to it. Price being a small factor. We were waiting to see a sale on the kit. My father has always insisted that my brother can't be his biological son. My mother insist he is. So we figure we can lay all questions aside and let the DNA speak for itself. Also if you read my previous blog about my father's mother (my Grand-mother); then you know there is a similar question about my father and his siblings. So I ordered this past week a kit for my brother and one for my father and his sister. Unfortunately my Uncle died back in 1992 (as you would also know from that previous blog) and so I can't test him; Also his daughter was killed a few years later, so I can't test her either. I called my Aunt in Minnesota and she was exited by the idea and of finding out the answers after all these years. My brother is waiting for it. I'm not sure how excited or nervous he is. It has been a question hanging over him for years. I talked to my father a year or two ago about doing this and what it would mean if we find out that he is his son. I know it would hurt him inside to realize what he has missed out on. Family is very important to him. He is I think a little apprehensive about the test from that point of view. However I think he is very interested to learn about his sister and their actual parentage.
    So I have the Ancestry membership and I own all these test. they were purchased by me and I get to administer them through my account for the family. I am excited to see the matches that we may be able to make as well as the answers to the questions we have. Now we just wait for them to arrive, activate them, send them in and get the results. Check out the video if you want to know more about this test  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4kLUoam8ik  I will keep you updated as we complete more steps. As always Remember When and share those memories with others.

International Women's Day 2017 ...Remember When Grandma Dennie..

    SO since it is International Women's Day, I thought I would talk about my Grand-mother. Elva Irene Dennie was her name and she was born in Dundas, Ontario, Canada on August 27, 1923. The Daughter of William George Dennie (who I have spoken of many times in previous blogs) and Gladys Irene Forwell. She was the oldest of their children. Now my Grand-mother lived a life that was dedicated to her own enjoyment. She was married many times and it is assumed that my father and his siblings have different father's. Or at least my father and his brother have a different father then their sister. We never got to hear the truth of this from her however; because the day we as a family were going to sit down with her and finally have it out; that is get to the truth of it. She died. My birthday 1992. My uncle Vince was dying of cancer and had only a month or two left. My aunt had come in from the states to see him and for us to get together and have this conversation with her before Vince died. He wanted to go to his grave having all the past issues and questions taken care of. So even in the end she took the secrets with her. However all this being said, I know that she loved me and her children. She may not have been able to be the best mother in life; but she did love us and I know she held a special place in her heart for me. In her earlier years she was a part of history, such as it were. She joined the Military during WWII as a Leading Aircraft Woman and served for about one year. I recently ordered and received a DVD from The National Film Board of Canada entitled Wings on Her Shoulders which is a short documentary about this group of woman that served. They did jobs to free men up for the combat roles and played a vital part in the war effort.  You can view the video here  https://www.nfb.ca/film/wings_on_her_shoulder/  I also have a document she kept that was with her important papers when she died. It is her statement of service.  It shows her time of service and states she received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and War Medal 1939-45. She was honorably discharged Nov. 23, 1943 in Toronto, she served in Hamilton, Ontario.  I also have photo copies of a section of the book A History of Women in the Canadian Military about the Aircraft Women of WWII.  All in all I Remember When I sat with my Grand-mother and I will always be proud to know that she served our country.

Statement of Service for Elva Irene Dennie (from the collection of John Goodwin)

Above cover and section of the book 'A History of Women in the Canadian Military' featuring the Aircraft Women of WWII.

Picture of the Volunteer Service Medal 1939-1945. While she never had these in her possession when she died, I found this on line.

    I almost forgot; she told me how she and her friends from the service use to hang out at this cafe in Hamilton called the 'Air Way' and how after someone was discharged they would all go their to say good-bye and good-luck. So I have a picture of her in front of that cafe ( I think it was scheduled to close and so she wanted a picture in front of it; if I remember correctly). Anyway I post that picture and I have a copy of the menu from when she was discharged. I guess part of the ritual of saying good-bye was that all your fellow service people would sign a copy of the menu and send you off with it. She kept hers and I found it in with her box of pictures and things after she died. I don't have it copied; but will dig it out and try to update that into this blog later.

My Grand-mother outside the 'Air Way' Cafe in Hamilton May of 1955. (Part of the collection of John Goodwin)

So updated past blogs and other work on the Family Genealogy

    So the first thing you have to know is that it has been a while. I know I don't blog consistently; however that is part of life with a family, job, home and church.  I have been working on my genealogy and organizing my records and finding new records and family members. 
    Now the most important piece of news is an update to My Great Grandfather William George Dennie. In the past due to family lore it was believed that he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in WWI at the age of 16. That his mother signed paper work saying he was born in 1899 when he had been born in 1901. Because of that lore I found a George Dennie (his father married to a Sarah Walker - living with her father  in the 1901 census and showing William as 2 months old). The Attestation papers showed his mother as Mary Dennie and I believed this was her using her Catholic Baptized name of Mary.  This fit the facts and I went with it. Now however after finding the marriage cert of William George to Gladys Forwell and other records; I have found that his mother was Maria Chappell and so went back to the records and found the correct George Dennie with Maria (his wife) and William born in 1899. SO I have expunged the records of the Walker lineage and have corrected it with the Chappell lineage. I have also corrected / noted the mistakes in the past blogs. If you check them out they have their titles updated to say ( *Updated Dec 12, 2016* ) and the incorrect info is now highlighted in yellow and a note about the correct info  is added to the blog as well as some records to one of the blogs.  I feel we all have mistakes that can creep into our work; but if we are diligent and true to the work we will update and correct these as we go. I felt it was best to leave the mistakes with the notes to preserve the growing work of my genealogy and the blog. Others may have chosen to update and correct the blogs as if the new work was the only way it had been. I decided to go this way. Right or wrong, I like the transparency of it. Besides in this case the mistake also came out of an oral piece of family lore handed down through the generations and shows that with out the records to prove them, they are still suspect. The family didn't lie, the story I am sure just evolved as is natural. My Great Great Grandmother probably didn't approve of her son joining the Military and going over to fight and maybe die in the first World War. 
     Some other things I have found since last I blogged. Williams father in Law, My Great Great Grandfather William Forwell also served in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in WWI and had apparently served previous to that with the British Navy ( he was originally from Scotland). I have his Attestation paper (The full record isn't available on line at the Canadian Archives as of yet, I keep checking).  Along with them William Forwells other son in law and brother in law to William Dennie served. His name was Frederick Howlett and I have his Attestation papers and more importantly his whole WWI record (it was available on line and I have down loaded and printed it).  I also have a picture of Fred in his uniform, home in Hamilton Dundas area. 

William Forwell's Attestation Paper for WWI Canadian Expeditionary Force

Frederick Howlett's Attestation Paper for WWI Canadian Expeditionary Force

Frederick Howlett in uniform (right) with unknown man

    Now Remembrance Day may have just passed recently however I still am honored to know that my family and extended family has served our country; and next Remembrance Day I will 'Remember When...' proudly and so can the rest of the family.

Going to Miss Family Tree Maker? How about...Legacy!

   Well I know it has been a while since I posted. I have been busy with life in general. Graduation of my youngest, moving into my first home (on my own anyway), work being busier (more responsibilities) but I have been working here and there on my Genealogy. I have been helping my aunt as she is trying to find out about her families past. Now I have purchased software for Christmas for my sister-in-law. She has been interested in working on her genealogy for some time and since I pulled her name for 'Secret Santa', it was a logical choice.

    I am logging in to voice my opinion on the choice's out there for Genealogy programs in light of the announcement of 'Family Tree Maker' coming to an end soon. I have since the beginning of my genealogy research been using 'Legacy' and have never had reason to be sorry for that choice. The basic program is free and the full version is very reasonable (right now it is on sale for Christmas, making it even more so). Take a look at this article for even more info. http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2015/12/09/check-out-the-alternatives/
 
     Down load the free version of Legacy and check out their web site http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/Index.asp . They also have many training videos on the software and genealogy itself. There is a large users group, and more. Ultimately you have to be happy with your choice so investigate. I know Legacy help's me and my family to 'Remember When...' all the time.

Wedding Wednesday A Love Story Born in Nipissing, Ontario

   The Year is 1899 and it is Christmas Day. In Dunnet & Ratter Township of Nipissing, Ontario, Canada.  The Ouellette's; Joseph and his wife Rosanna (nee Archambault) are celebrating not only Christmas this year but the arrival of their latest child, a son. Israel Noel is welcomed into the world on this very day. I'm sure the community was there with congratulations and best wishes.  Some of those wishing the family the best would have been their neighbors, Adolphe Gervais and his wife Marguerite (nee Cousineau).  Now a year later plus 2 days the tables would be reversed. The Gervais welcome their daughter Aldea into the world on December 27, 1900.

The Baptismal records for St. John the Baptist Church in Verner, Ontario 1895 - 1911. Entry 16 is Israel Noel Ouellette, 25th Dec. 1899 (parents listed) in Warren, Ontario. Baptized 11th of February by Father Langlois with Adelard & Clara Chevette  as God Parents.  

The Schedule A Birth Index of the District of Nipissing from 1899. Line 3 is Ouellette Israel Noel (M - male) Dec. 25, 1899. Father Ouellette Joseph and mother, Archambault Rose.

The 1901 - 1967 Record of Baptism for the St. Thomas Parish of Warren, Ontario.  Entry 6 reads Aldea Gervais, December 27, 1900. Parents are listed and living in Warren. there is a card inserted in the page which covers the date of baptism; however Father G.A Picotte officiated.

Page 12 of the 1901 Ontario Census of Dunnet & Ratter Township,  Nipissing County. The last family on the page is headed  by Adolph Gervais (line 44) age 43 with his wife Marguerite age 35 then Daughter Dora age 14, sons Moses age 13 & Adelor age 11, then daughter Louisa age 8 and son Eugene age 6. 

Page 13 of the 1901 Ontario Census of Dunnet & Ratter Township,  Nipissing County. The Gervais family continues at the top of this next page with  daughters Lavina age 2 and Aldea 3 months. However this page held more for me when first researching on line 15 is Joseph Ouellette age 41 with wife Rosalia age 31, daughter Rose age 11, Sons Alfred age 9 and Arthur age 7 then daughter Anna age 5 and Israel  3/12. 

    

    Well the census taker must have mis-understood the age of the baby. He is listed in the church record as being born and baptized in 1899 and 1900. I have to believe that those records are accurate. A family with a newborn being held by the Minister and baptized over a guy at the door taking the info and transcribing it to paper.  They probably told him the baby was born Dec 25th of last year and he took it literally as the last calendar yr. Can't blame him, but a mistake never the less. Anyway the point is, here are two young people about the same age, living near by and they grow up to marry; and so we have ....

Particulars of Marriage registration number 0197477. Married on August 9th of 1922 in Warren, Ontario. 

       The marriage produced many children including my grand mother Desneige. Hence my mother Noella and then myself. I have already blogged about them before but their lives were simple but fruitful and they lived and celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1972. They even went all out and renewed their vows at the same church in Warren. Wish I was old enough to have gone and remembered it. It looks like they had fun. 

Israel & Aldea Ouellette leaving for the church to renew their vows. Back porch of their Warren home. 

Renewing their vows.

The party after. Cake on table in shape of a 5 and 0.

Back at the Ouellette home. Israel Noel with his grand daughter (and namesake) Noella and her husband William Goodwin (my parents).

This last picture is a year or two before the anniversary. It is of me with my great grand parents and their dog at their place in Warren. I was about 5 or 6 here.

    

       I will never forget any of my grand parents or great grand parents. Some of details may fade as I was young then; however they were special people and I will always fondly "Remember When...."

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