THE HILLMANS OF ELGIN COUNTY

The Tweedsmuir Histories

2011-12-03T09:03:00.000-05:00

Over the years the Elgin County Archives have been putting the Tweedsmuir Histories online.

The first women’s institute was organized in Aylmer in 1902. In the mid 1930’s Lady Tweedsmuir, the wife of the then Governor-General, encouraged the ladies of the Women’s Institutes to preserved the histories of their communities. By 1947 local branches throughout the province began compiling scrapbooks which became known as the “Tweedsmuir Histories”. These scrapbooks contained records, photos, and oral histories of their communities.

It is an outstanding resource for genealogists, and historians.

Veterans Day 2011

2011-11-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple of photos from my collection.

Graduation class for wireless operators in Guelph, Ontario 1943. John A. Hillman is bottom row 9th. from the left. By the end of 1943 he was in England with a Lancaster bomber crew.

Probably taken in 1944. This is a photo of Spitfire pilots of the 65th. Squadron. I am guessing but I think that my uncle Bruce Ivan Hillman took the photo. The 65th. was a R.A.F. squadron. Bruce was posted to the squadron December 28, 1943.

Four members of Dad's Lancaster crew. John A. Hillman is third from the left. Probably taken in early 1944 just before their plane went down in Germany.

Canada 150

2011-10-28T15:47:00.000-04:00

Canada 150 is a national campaign to encourage Canadians to collect their life stories, family and community histories. The idea is to collect, and document, these collections for the upcoming 150 anniversary of the founding of Canada in 2017. For further information go to the Canada 150 web page.

The Hillmans and the Mays

2011-08-29T14:22:00.000-04:00

Brothers from one family marrying sisters from another family is not an unknown event for this region of Southwestern Ontario, even in my lifetime. Finding primary documents that provide hard evidence from the Western District of Upper Canada (that is to say before 1851) is another story.

The Western District up to 1851(1) contained today’s counties of Essex, Kent, Lambton, and Huron. The two families originally were from the township of Zone (here we have some primary data, a lot of secondary references, and even more conjecture). Zone township was divided when the county system was organized in 1848. Part of the township was included in Kent County, and part in Lambton County. By 1851 the creation of county courthouses meant that there is a more complete collection of civil records available.

John Hillman was born 4 December, 1819 in Westbury, Wiltshire, England ,and James Hillman born 17 November, 1822 also in Wiltshire.(2) Both are the sons of George Hillman and Susanna Browne.(3) Both are clearly brothers.

The Mays are more of a challenge. Isabella May was born in Scotland 3 October, 1822, and Mary May was born also in Scotland sometime in 1827.(4) Their father was Daniel May - proving it is becoming an interesting challenge. James Hillman married Mary May in Zone Township, Western District, on 21 December, 1847.(5) Unfortunately, these records from the Western District contain only the bride and groom’s names. Not those of their parents. The transcript of their marriage found on microfilm states that they were married by banns in Zone Township. Being married by banns suggests that the families were members of the same church - I know I am out on a limb here; but as far as I know there was only one Baptist Church in Zone Township at this time. In the 1880 United States Census Daniel May is found living with James and Mary in Sanilac County, Michigan. (7)The guess, and it is a guess, is that he is living with his daughter and son-in-law.

In the 1861 Canada Census John and Isabella (6) are living in Aldborough Township, Elgin County, Canada West. Daniel Hillman is found in the Village of Rodney not that far from the farm settled by the Hillmans. There seems to be a link. The evidence is at best circumstantial. We need documentation probably from the Scottish Archives. If it is available.

________________________________________________________________________________

(1) The Ontario Archives has some microfilm available “Ontario Archives, The Marriage Registers of Upper Canada/Canada West - Western District, 1786-1856”; Ontario Archives “Western District fonds 1810-1931; As far as I can tell none of this is online. I am using 1851 as an arbitrary date. After this date it gets a little bit easier to find documentation.(2) Ancestry.com. “England & Wales Births and Baptisms“.

(3)marriage record for George Hillman and Susanna Browne, Ancestry.com, "England & Wales Marriages, 1538-1940".
(4) birth date for Isabella May found in her obituary, “The Rodney Mercury Sun” obituary October 4, 1906, and death certificate, Archives of Ontario, "Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1936 and Deaths Overseas". For Mary May I have to go with the date given in the 1880 United States Census.
(5) Ontario Archives, “The Marriage Registers of Upper Canada/Canada West - Western District, 1786-1856.”
(6) Their oldest son was named Daniel (it’s common in this area to name the oldest son after one of the grandfathers, or both if you are lucky - I am a case in point) ). His marriage certificate (8) puts his birth as 1840. It’s not necessarily accurate; however, it does suggest that John and Isabella were married some time before 1840- probably between 1837 and 1839. Also, Ancestry.com, “ 1861 Canada Census”.
(7) Ancestry.com, “1880 United States Federal Census.”
(8) Ontario Archives, “Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1857-1924.”

Book Review - Time Traveller’s Handbook

2011-05-09T12:04:00.000-04:00

Althea Douglas, “Time Traveller’s Handbook: A Guide to the Past”, Dundurn Press, 2011, ISBN 978-1-55488-784-2 (soft cover) $19.99

Althea Douglas’s new book is an excellent addition to the reference library of both genealogists, and historians. Althea maintains that family historians are essentially time travellers; but then again so are historians. Many of the references, and terminology, used a hundred years ago that we often turn up in documents are not relevant for us today. A handy book that can remind us (those of us past forty that is) what a quart, mile, or acre were is a useful reference.

The book deals with deciphering documents, family traditions, money and its value, trades, how people lived, and seafaring and military traditions. An appendix of important dates, notes that are chock full of references, deciphering Latin references, and a strong bibliography are for me very useful. As a boy I had British measures such as quarts, peck, mile, and inches pounded into me to the point I can not seem to shake them even now. Younger people should find these tables useful.

Unfortunately, I am now old enough to remember many of the life style references. When I was 6 and 7 my family lived on a small street in the village of Byron (now part of London), and I still remember the horse drawn Silverwood’s milk wagon. I do not remember the milkman ever sitting in the driver’s seat. The old horse probably knew the milk route better than the milkman. Right up until the end of the 1950’s my maternal grandmother kept her coal furnace. My paternal grandmother finally got electricity to the farm house when her sons returned from the war. With electricity, and a septic tank, my father bought her her first refrigerator. Much of the lifestyle we wonder about today was not that far in the past. Either that or I am getting old.

I highly recommend “Time Traveller’s Handbook” for any genealogist or historian’s reference library.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T15:37:00.000-04:00

Lena and William Wallace Hillman, 50th. Wedding Anniversary, 25 December, 1962
Personal Collection.

Go Figure !

2011-04-13T18:48:00.000-04:00

As usual I get distracted during a research session.

Bringing Up Father, "The London Free Press, September 23, 1918.

2nd. half of Bringing Up Father.

Some things just never seem to change.

Lovely Blog Award

2011-04-10T22:14:00.000-04:00

Thank you Cheryl for the lovely blog award. Cheryl at “Twice Upon a Time” e-mailed me to let me know that she had nominated this blog for the “Lovely Blog Award”.

The Rules for the award are as follows:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other genealogy blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

So here are some of the blogs that I read on a regular basis. I did not count them; but I suspect that there are more than fifteen. One has nothing to do with genealogy; however, sometimes after a frustrating day of research turning into no research I find it helps.

Amanda’s Athenaeum
Anglo-Celtic Connections
Brenda Dougall Merriman
Canadian Genealogy, or, ‘Jane’s Your Aunt”
Christopher Moore’s History News
Family Trees May Contain Nuts
For All My Relations
Forensic Genealogy
Canadian Genealogy
Genealogy’s Star
Genea-Musings
Great Canadian Beer Blog - Hey - I’m a Canadian, and beer is a food group ! It also helps with the research - maybe.
Ian Hadden’s Family History
Janet The Researcher
Olive Tree Genealogy Blog
The Educated Genealogist
This Intrepid Band
Twice Upon a Time

Tartan Day

2011-04-06T08:48:00.000-04:00

Today is Tartan Day in tribute to our Scots ancestry. Ah - but what kilt to wear? For me it can be a bit of a puzzle assuming that I want it to be authentic. Apparently you trace your clan through your father’s surname. That won’t fly. Not with an English name like Hillman. So it would seem that I need to go to my matrilineal line. Unfortunately the Steeles were from Glasgow originally - definitely lowlanders. That leaves my paternal grandmother. The Turners were from Clan Lamont. That’s stretching it a bit but maybe I will go with that tartan.

I never was one for following rules so I can be nationalistic, and go with the Maple Leaf tartan. Only if no one tries to make me sing the national anthem. Not with my voice. At least before I have had a couple of shots of scotch.

Or I could be regional in my splendour and go for the Ontario plaid.

One thing I can guarantee is that I will be wearing something under the kilt. April 6 or not it’s -6 C. out there today.

Ontario Genealogical Society’s 2011 Conference

2011-03-06T11:19:00.000-05:00

The Ontario Genealogical Society’s 2011 Golden Anniversary Conference will be held in Hamilton, Ontario May 13 - May 15. The link will take you to the programs that are being offered. It looks like a must conference. You do not need to be a member to attend. I’ll be there.

AWWWWWW

2011-02-18T23:05:00.000-05:00

A friend sent me photos of puppies. Should have made this one a wordless Wednesday.

I promise to use proper citation in all my reports. So help me dog.

John Hillman and the Rebellion of 1837

2011-02-09T23:37:00.000-05:00

Amazing what you can find if you keep on digging. It would appear that John Hillman (1819-1906) was in the militia.

West Kent Militia; 2nd. Kent Militia: St. Clair Volunteers Pay List, 1838.

This is taken from a transcription by the Lambton Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, 1989. The original is found in the British Archives.
The St. Clair Volunteers included men from Zone township. For John Hillman this is the right geographical area. In 1838 he was in Zone. An interesting footnote is that apparently he could not read or write. He made his mark !

Wordless Wednesday - John David Hillman & Family

2011-02-02T09:20:00.000-05:00

John David died in 1936 so this photo was taken before then. I still have to get the women in the back row straight; but I can identify some. From left to right bottom row - Lena Hillman (Peckham), William Wallace Hillman (My grandfather so I know I have that right), John David Hillman, Hannah Hillman (McKay), Henry Hillman. From left to right top row - second from left is Olive (Hillman) Dare, the man is Charles Bruce Hillman, next to him is his wife Hope Hillman (Lougheed).

Recent Keyword Searches

2011-01-13T12:17:00.000-05:00

As in my other blog “Veterans Of Southwestern Ontario” I looked at recent keywords that linked to my blog. Interesting. Most seem to be historical rather than genealogical searches. I suspect hat a good deal of the searches are for school essays. It is interesting also to look at what search terms link people to the blog.

1.where were the hillmans from

My paternal ancestors were from Westbury in Wiltshire, England. Now if you look at the maternal ancestors starting from me it gets far more varied. English (from all over hell’s half acre), Scots (from the highlands to the lowlands. Apparently being a Scot was good enough for my ancestors), Cornish, German (the Rhineland via Pennsylvania to Ontario), and Dutch (via New York State to Ontario). If you start from one of my sons then throw Ireland into the mix. Which goes to show that the male Hillman is not choosy.

2.elgin county great depression

A big topic here, and not a lot available online. It looks like a library search. One thing that I have noticed is that there is a difference in the effect of the depression upon the rural areas as opposed to the cities.

3. world war 2 in elgin county

In a word - prosperity. With the “Commonwealth Air Training” came jobs and investment. Farmers received good prices for their produce, and at the same time coped with a labour shortage. Young men and women joined the armed forces. Conscription divided the urban and rural voters. As with the Great Depression you will not find a lot online so its library time again !

4. fenian raid effects

Locally very little. Nationally a great deal. Young men flocked to their local militia units, and several units were sent to Windsor or Sarnia to guard the borders. In fact, a good time was had by all.

5. hillman family history prince Edward Island

As far as I can tell not this Hillman family.

6. london history of latin quarter

I assume here we are talking about the restaurant/ballroom. I do have previous blogs on the Latin Quarter. The building is gone now but the memories continue.

Happy 91st. Dad !

2011-01-10T20:24:00.000-05:00

Johm A. Hillman born January 10, 1920 in Rodney, Ontario. Happy Birthday !!!!

Christmas Memories Part 4 ( I think my counting is right?)

2010-12-21T13:44:00.000-05:00

Ah ! Christmas morning and its 5 am., but who’s watching the clock? Time to check out the loot! First drag Mom and Dad out of bed - not that they can sleep through the whisperings any way. First we had to have breakfast ( personally I think that this was mom’s punishment for getting her up so early). Then we grouped around the Christmas Tree while Dad, whose job it was, handed out the Christmas presents. The rest of the morning was spent playing with our gifts, and checking out who got the largest haul. In the early sixties I would be found curled up on the sofa reading my latest Hardy Boys’ adventure.

In the afternoon we would be bundled up and hustled over to Grampa and Grandma’s. By the late fifties my grandparents had sold their farm, and relocated to London to be near Aunt Verna who was wheelchair bound. For my family this was a short trip while the rest of the clan drove down from Chatham. Looking back I suspect that the daughters-in-law did not have much of a choice. December 25 was also Grampa’s birthday, and my grandparent’s anniversary. Grandma was the boss.

The grandchildren did not object. There were thirteen of us, and on the whole we got along very well. The oldest kept the youngest entertained. I remember that grandma (ever the farm woman) put on a feast that probably could have fed a 30 man threshing crew with food left over. What I and my siblings remember the most is the hot fresh home made bread. I have tried over the years but never quite duplicated it.

We came home in the evening a very tired bunch.

We were not a church going family. That became, for me, an activity later in life. For us it was the dinners at our grandparents with the entire family of parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Christmas Memories - Part 3 (I’m pretty sure it is !)

2010-12-19T18:41:00.000-05:00

What did we want for Christmas in the late 1950’s ? In a ten year olds’ mind a religious holiday be damned this was about the toys ! Of course, it also was about anything else you could haul in. By the 1960’s I was far more interested in girls, dinner, and girls. Pretty much in that order.

This is not an exhaustive list. At this stage I can not remember everything. I did not pay much attention to what my sisters’ got, although I can remember two or three things. I can not remember at all what Mom and Dad got for each other. I do remember that my sisters’ felt it was a huge joke to buy Dad a pair of the wildest boxers that they could find usually two or three sizes too big for him. I wonder what he did with them ? He must have had a half a dozen pair.

The most popular toy that my brother and I played with throughout the fifties was an electric train - Canadian Pacific, of course.

A hit for the whole family was a hockey game. I doubt that any Canadian household at that time did not have one. I was usually the Toronto Maple Leafs, and my brother the Montreal Canadians - sibling rivalry.

Archives of Ontario

Slinky was a must have.

Archives of Ontario

I had a set of Roy Rogers pistols in the early fifties - I would have preferred the Cisco Kid.

Board games were popular. As a family we would sit down and play. Activities that are missing in today’s world. As I remember, my sisters were a heck of a lot more ruthless than either myself or my brother.

As for my sisters, I do remember their first Barbie doll. Probably because they were so hell bent on getting one.

One of my sisters, and I forget now which one, had Mr. Potato Head.

Finally there was the Hula Hoop. Even tried it myself once. I was not very good at it.

Had I known that she was a Hula Hooper I would have practiced.

By 1960 interests changed, and I was into the Hardy Boys. That was what would be found under the tree for several years after. I wonder what ever happened to that collection?

Christmas Memories - Part 2 (I think ?)

2010-12-17T15:42:00.000-05:00

It’s the late 1950’s, school is out and it's a week before Christmas. It’s present shopping time ! As far as I can remember I usually had twenty dollars to spend on five gifts (Yes, I am a product of the middle class !). Mom would take me, my brother, and two sisters into downtown London to shop, and see the sights.

London has changed since then. Very few of the stops that we made then are in business today. Downtown was where you went as the shopping malls did not then exist until the 1960’s. It was a vibrant place to be.

First stop Kingsmill’s Department Store (the only department store left in downtown) - the “quiet store”. This was the store where children were seen but not heard. Mother went here for her linens. The elevator to the second floor was operated by what I viewed through the eyes of a 10 year old as an old man (about the age I am now I would think). Money for purchases were fed into a tube which went whizzing through pipes to the offices on the second floor. Fascinating. I could spend hours watching those suckers go.

Kingsmills 1950's. The Regional Room, London Public Library.

Bribery for being good (and quiet) was a visit to Kresge’s a couple to stores to the east of Kingsmill's for a glass of honeydew. As far as I know, the only time in the year a greedy little boy could get it.

The Christmas display in the Simpson's Department Store windows was a must see. The Eaton’s display came later in the 1960’s, but we viewed Simpson’s as much superior. So far I have been unable to get a photo of the Simpson’s Christmas window; however, The Ontario Archives have some of Eaton’s.

Eaton's Christmas window display, 1961. The Archives of Ontario.

The store where I did my Christmas shopping was Woolworth’s (F.W. Woolworth’s), a five and dime store that fit right into my budget. It was located right next to Simpson's.

Lastly, off to Young Canada (This is also where the Easter bunny was to be found. The fact that the Easter Bunny was in fact a very pretty young woman probably explains why Dad took us there.) to meet Santa with our lists in hand, and greedy little minds working at warp speed.

Memories Of Christmas

2010-12-05T13:48:00.000-05:00

Under the Christmas tree there would always be Christmas colouring books. Probably not the thing for today’s children. But we had fun. You can get this complete 1950’s era colouring book from the Ontario Archives.

Santa Claus - A Local Look

2010-12-01T16:56:00.000-05:00

I thought to start off the Christmas season by looking at that icon for children everywhere - Santa Claus.

How was he portrayed in the local newspapers in times past? What does this say about our ancestors ? (That I will leave up to you) .
Needless to say, I have not gone through every December edition of the local papers; however, one does get the idea that businesses very quickly caught on to the use of the Santa image to sell sell sell.

I am not going to go into a history of the evolution of the Santa Claus as we know him today. But an image that we would recognize came about a lot earlier that I thought. One of the first artists to portray Santa Claus much as we know him was American cartoonist Charles Nast in “Harpers Weekly”, December 29, 1866.

Harper's Weekly, 1881

You can see how Santa evolves in the local papers. Surprisingly, the images are not numerous, and are almost all advertisements.

The London Advertiser, 1892. Caption reads "Something For The Children: Just Look !"

The London Advertiser, December 1901

I always thought that a lump of coal in your stocking meant that you were a BAD BOY. I guess in 1901 you did not look a gift horse in the mouth. Why only one lump when you can get a ton! Boy that must have been some stocking !

The London Advertiser, December 1914

The first Christmas of the First World War, and the only instance where I found that the image of Santa Claus was used to make a statement rather than to sell something. As attitudes harden that will change.

The London Free Press, December 1931

Interesting advertisement during the time of the Great Depression. In spite of rough times they are still selling. You can see where the power centers in the family were even in the 1930's.

The London Free Press employee publication, December 1953

Yes it is moi. That year I had to be on crutches for nine to ten months - oh well - I did get to meet Santa ! I got a swell (50's jargon) gift. It also says something about editorial policy. The crippled boy gets front page.

Now it's 2010 and I have both the belly and the grey beard. It's also GOOD TO BE SANTA !

This is not me - worst luck !

Cure Alls in 1901

2010-11-30T12:12:00.000-05:00

I think that I have mentioned that I am easily distracted while researching - actually when I am doing anything at all. While researching Boer War veterans I couldn't helped by being distracted by cure all ads in the papers of the time. All of these ads come from "The London Advertiser", December 1901. Put these in a genealogical context !

Castoria was a herbal soda pop - seed of this and seed of that in carbonated water. What popped into my head was Castor Oil ! My experience was that the crying usually occured after a dose.

I can see that corset pain must have been a scourge for women in 1901. Not only that but Omega Oil apparently cured back pain, arthritic pain, headache pain (probably due to the corset), and nervous anxiety (also due to the corset, I bet.). What more did you need ladies ?

In case the Omega Oil didn't work for dyspepsia just snap your fingers people, and try Royal Baking Powder. Baking powder for dyspepsia ?- who knew !

Now for my personal favourite.

An electric belt can do that? What about in a thunderstorm? I wish I knew about this sucker when I was in my 20's. Talk about looking good on the beach. Gee and all that sweating in the gym that I did. No kicking sand in this guy's face!

The Modern Generation

2010-11-28T22:45:00.000-05:00

Here's one way to portray a generation of Hillmans.

The father: William Bruce 1948-present.

The heir: John Andrew 1982-present.

The spare: Anthony Bruce 1987-present.

Artwork by John Andrew Hillman.

Elgin County Book Launch

2010-11-01T17:21:00.000-04:00

On Saturday October 30th. Jeff Booth’s book “Dreams of Food and Freedom” was launched at the Elgin County Military Museum in St. Thomas, Ontario. The book launch was well attended by surviving veterans, and their families. My brother and I took dad along although I am not sure that he had entirely clued in to what the event was all about. Nevertheless He did recognize some of the items in the displays, and had some interesting comments about them. A few of the other veterans also started to reminisce.
Two of the veterans represented the other side. I approved whole hardly. It was interesting to hear from them about their experiences in a Canadian prisoner of war camp.

Jeff Booth holding book with the veterans who could make it.

The book covers most of the wars in which Elgin County boys participated - The War of 1812, the American Civil War, the South African War, World War 0ne, and World War Two. An excellent addition to the library for a genealogist researching families in Elgin County.
I bought one! The book is available from the Elgin County Military Museum.

Bits and Pieces

2010-10-15T20:51:00.001-04:00

Canadian Naturalization Data Base
Library and Archives Canada has released a new data base “Canadian Naturalization 1915-1951”. This is a data base with a list of those who applied for Canadian citizenship. The reference numbers can be used to request copies of the original naturalization records.

Elgin County P.O.W.’s

Jeff Booth’s new book “Dreams of Food and Freedom” will be launched at the Elgin County Military Museum in St.Thomas on October 30th. from 2pm. to 4pm. The book is a look at the men from Elgin County who were P.O.W.s in both World Wars. Hopefully around seven surviving veterans (including my father) will attend.

Library and Archives Canada - New Data Base

2010-09-28T15:25:00.000-04:00

On September 23 Library and Archives Canada launched it’s new data base “Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865)". The data base contains more than 77,000 references to petitions for grants or leases of land by individuals who lived in Upper Canada (Ontario after 1867) from 1863 to 1865. This data base will give you a reference to the microfilm that contains the petition.

For example, a search for Hillman results in six names of which George Hillman(great great great grandfather), and John Hillman (great great grandfather) are listed.

Name: HILLMAN, George
Place: Zone
Year: 1848
Volume: 245
Bundle: H 4
Petition: 127
Microfilm: C-2100
Reference: RG 1 L 3

What remains now is getting my hands on that microfilm.

A Blue Eyed Family

2010-09-23T11:46:00.000-04:00

You should know Cary Brothers' song “Blue Eyes”. If not shame on you.
“Cause Blue Eyes
You are all that I need
Cause Blue Eyes
You’re the sweet to my mean”
I have no idea what sweet to my mean means? I’m not with it. Must be a generation gap.

Occasionally I surf through scientific web sites not necessarily understanding what I am reading. I did tend to duck science and math at school as fast as it was thrown at me. Mind you not as fast as I ducked philosophy, and sociology definitely would send me fleeing for the nearest exit.

However, an article in the “Science Daily” web site hit my weird bone. Apparently blue eyed people have a common ancestor who lived sometime during the Neolithic. Mother Nature had thrown up a genetic mutation that had created a switch which turned off the ability to produce brown eyes. ALL RIGHT! We are mutants - what’s my special power? - can I join the X-Men?

I grew up in a blue-eyed clan. My parents, my grandparents, my children all have blue eyes. Sooo - should I come across a Hillman with brown eyes I’ll just cross them off as possible ancestors. Eh!

Saturday Night Genealogical Fun- Your Genealogical T.V. Show

2010-09-04T20:03:00.000-04:00

Randy Seaver’s September 3rd. “Saturday Night Genealogical Fun” asks for a timeline and ideas for a genealogical based T.V. show. Be funny or crazy. Well since I am either one or the other we can certainly do that.

For sometime now I have been thinking that some of the episodes in the lives of my ancestors could fit well as a novel (fiction of course). Perhaps it would work in a movie or T.V. show? I am thinking more along the lines of Monty Python.

My great grandfather was in the local militia during the Fenian Raids(1866-1870). His militia unit guarded the town of Sarnia against those nefarious Fenians. Needless to say not a shot was fired. The young men volunteered to protect Queen and country. They supplied their own equipment - muskets, fowling pieces, pitch forks. They rode whatever horse that their father would let them have - broken down plowing horses generally - generally Belgium mixes. Did I mention that this is a cavalry unit. They will be trained by an English officer on loan from the barracks in London. I was thinking that John Cleese would fit this role very well.

In one scene our heroes will practice charge a hill that supposedly The Fenians could be occupying. Think “Charge of the Light Brigade”, although with Belgium crosses perhaps it should be a “Charge of the Heavy Brigade”. Any one who knows anything about these horses knows that a run for them is probably a leisurely stroll for a thoroughbred. Since the average weight of men at that time was around 140 lbs. (60 in the unit), picture 8,400 lbs. of Upper Canadian manhood on 60 tons of horse. Meanwhile, there is time for the British officer to set up a table and chairs for a spot of tea, and cucumber sandwiches, while he watches the action (courtesy of the local farm ladies). I'll work on the love interest later.

Call this action adventure “The Wardsville Raiders”. or “What Did You Do During The Fenian Raids Daddy?”.

This Week's Favorites

2010-08-29T16:51:00.000-04:00

The film collection of the Canadian National Exhibition has been made possible on Youtube through funding by the EMC Heritage Trust. The C.N.E. or simply the Ex was founded in 1879 in Toronto and bills itself as the fifth largest fair in North America. This is more nostalgia than genealogy; but I love it!

They are at it again, it seems, in La La Land. Now they are feeding booze to cattle apparently to improve the texture of the meat. If true it would seem that my days of sweating over a hot stove trying to make a red wine sauce are over.

John D. Reid reports that Glen Wright’s book “Canadians At War, 1914 - 1919: A Research Guide to War Service Records” is published an will be available at Library and Archives Canada. Not of much interest I think with the general public - but I am getting a copy.

I highly recommend Colleen Fitzpatrick’s “Forensic Genealogy”. I even get some of the quiz’s correct! Imagine that.

James Tanner has an excellent article on rules for buying a new computer for genealogy. Mind you I have never been good at following the rules so I will probably be breaking them.

Thomas MacEntee’s new book “Approaching The Lectern: How To Become A Genealogy Speaker” is now available in print. Having heard many Genealogists, and Historians, speak at conferences I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to them. However, as for myself, I prefer to wing it.

Wordless Wednesday - Three Brothers Go To War

2010-08-25T14:57:00.000-04:00

William Donald Hillman 1914-1986

John Arnold Hillman 1920

Bruce Ivan Hillman 1921-1945

Sunday's Blog Roundup August 15 -21

2010-08-22T19:23:00.000-04:00

I have noticed that most of the “best of” very rarely mention Canadian Blogs or Bloggers. So Here we go in trying to put together a list of Canadian Blogs for the week.

“Searching Middle Names” in “Anglo-Celtic Connections” by John D. Reid. I have logged before about how I wish my own ancestors made use of more middle names. It sure would have made genealogical life easier for me. I am impressed with John’s blog overall.

Brenda Dougall Merriman in her blog called of course “Brenda Dougall Merriman” has been posting highlights of her interesting trip through Scotland. Ah - the Eld Country as they say in Dunwich Township.

Lorine McGuiness Shultz in her blog “Olive Tree Genealogy Blog” has been posting an ongoing series entitled “Sharing Memories”.

Diane Rogers in her blog ‘CanadaGenealogy, Or Jane’s Your Aunt” keeps us well informed as to what is happening in La La Land (for non-Canadians that is British Columbia).

Speaking of La La Land I try to keep track of the humour (Canadian spelling - live with it) of it all with “Family Trees May Contain Nuts”. Personally I think the bear at the picnic table is as guilty as they come.He is probably the Godfather of the Black Bear Clan.

“Looking4Ancestors”. Oh well looks like the summer holiday bug hit here!

On that note if you are suffering from insomnia or have nothing else to do there is always my other blog “Veterans Of Southwestern Ontario”.

Randy Seaver over at “Genea-Musings” hosts a “Best of The Genea-Blogs” which is well worth looking into. At the end he writes. “Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 660 genealogy bloggers using Bloglines, but I still miss quite a few it seems“. He is so darn polite that I wonder if he has any Canadian ancestors in his family tree?.

Let me say here that I do not suffer from insomnia, I have never suffered from insomnia. There is no way I am going through 660 blogs. Ever!

Library And Archives Canada - Microform Digitalization

2010-08-11T19:12:00.000-04:00

The data base at Library and Archives Canada is huge. In my other bog Veterans Of Southwest Ontario I try to deal with the data bases relating to the military. On this blog I will deal specifically with the data bases relating to genealogy.

Recently Library and Archives Canada has been releasing a data base of documents in microfilm and microfiche format. The data bases of interest to the genealogist are:

1.Form 30: Border Entry Records, 1919-1924. There are 96 microfilm reels in this collection. The first reel contains 5,165 pages so overall you will need the patience of Job to get through all of them. Also none of these records seem to be searchable.

sample page, Library and Archives Canada

2. School Files Series, 1879-1953. These on first glance appear to be records from the Department of Indian Affairs. They contain information on the reservation schools throughout Canada. The first reel of 317 contains 2,136 pages.

sample page from Library and Archives Canada

3. Ocean Arrivals, 1919-1924. Pages of immigration papers. The first reel of 310 contains 3,723 pages. Note that in these years they had no problem asking if there was any insanity in the family! I wonder if those who did not speak English realized what they were being asked?


sample page, Library and Archives Canada

4. Sir John Thompson Fonts. These will be of more interest to historians as Sir John Thompson was a former Prime Minister of Canada in the 1890’s.

August Genealogy News

2010-08-05T11:09:00.000-04:00

Thomas MacEntee has just released his “A Genealogy Blog Primer: Everything You Wanted To Know About Genealogy Blogs But Were Afraid To Ask”. It is in PDF format and well worth a read.

Family Search Record now has parish records for the County of Cornwall online. This is of value for me as my mother’s maternal grandparent’s the Thomas’s were from Cornwall.

The Elgin County Branch of The Ontario Genealogical Society has a new site online which has been very much improved over the previous one.

Another Saturday Night Genealogical Fun

2010-07-17T22:33:00.000-04:00

Randy Seaver has an interesting challenge for “Saturday Night Genealogical Fun”. Chose an article that I am proud of, copy it, and paste it to “I Write Like:.

I took my article “Canada’s Copyright Law - Or Lets All Tip Toe Through The Mine Field”, and its seems I write like William Shakespeare. Well son of a gun. It's writing plays no one understands for me now. Eat your heart out Randy! Eh.

I write like
William Shakespeare

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Elgin County News

2010-07-13T09:58:00.000-04:00

The Elgin County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society have added some vital statistics information to their web site.

New Profile Picture

2010-07-10T00:07:00.000-04:00

I changed the profile picture. Thought maybe the graduation photo of June, 1974 added an aura of Yep I really did get those degrees!

What I do? Meme and Why

2010-07-09T23:33:00.000-04:00

Meme and Why. Sounds a bit like that old shtick about the Philosophy professor asking the question on an exam - Why? The enterprising young know it all writes Why Not? For his A+.

It looks like Thomas MacEntee’s idea of sharing knowledge and expertise in the genealogical blogging community is catching on. So far I have read three bloggers ,whom I respect, ( James Tanner, Dear Myrtle, and Randy Seaver) outlining what equipment they use to maintain their genealogical databases, and businesses.

I used to think that I was older than two of them (we won’t name which two); however, it looks like in techi-ness I am older and far more of a Ludite (look that up in your Funk&Wagnalls) than all of them. I should be utterly ashamed to put in my two cents worth. Nope - shame is one thing that I lost years ago.

Mind you the above genealogists are professionals (and packed for bear) - I merely an historian, and scribe.

* Hardware: I have two computers. One is an I.B.M. Thinkpad circa 2000. I acquired it in 2004 for $800. I see now that I can buy a much more powerful used Lenova Thinkpad for $280. Who knew?
Having learned my lesson my second computer is an I.B.M. knock off of questionable origin. Cost $80. I think that I am winning? CIV 2 works great on it.
* External storage: Nope. Use flash drives. Love them. So far not lost any. Knock on wood.
* Online storage: non
* Backup: Disks. I should organize them some day.
* Firewall: AVG
* Virus protection: AVG
* Spyware: AVG
* File cleaner: It needs cleaning?
* Printer: Not yet but I am looking. A used one of course.
* Phone: Land line.
* Mobile media: That’s something my 20 something sons are - mobile.
* Music player: What ever it is it seems to work.
* Car audio: What car?
* eBook Reader: non
* Browser: Explorer and Firefox. Explorer crashes, and Firefox losses its plugs - maybe its my 2000 vintage computer?
* Blog: 2 blogs which are both blogspot
* RSS: not yet. I’m not exciting enough
* FTP: need to look that one up?
* Text editor: Microsoft Works
* Graphics: I have Paint I think I played with it in 2005. It’s around somewhere.
* Screen capture: Another one I have to look up!
* Social media: Facebook
* Social bookmarking: none. I don’t even know what that is? Or care.
* Social profile: none. I might lose all my Facebook friends, and I am building an impressive Zoo.
* URL shortener: Really! Why?
* Office suite: Microsoft Works
* E-mail: 3 actually of which I use one, and get interesting promises on the other two.
* Calendar: Carry it in my bag.
* Accounting: Quicken
* PDF generator: Primo PDF
* Genealogy database: Legacy 7.4
* Genealogy tools: pens, paper, files, file cards. A Ludite to the end.
* Other tech stuff: I just acquired a Kodak something or other digital camera. Used of course. Run to the Kodak outlet every two or three days to find out what the buttons are for.

Well there you are. Am I ready or what?

Canada Day 2010 in London, Ontario

2010-07-01T18:35:00.000-04:00

Canada Day 2010 and the parties are on!

The Main Street Party on Dundas Street in the downtown.

World War One re-enactors based in the R.C.R. Military Museum run through their paces in front of Eldon House the oldest home in London.

The Canadian military are prominent this year with displays of equipment, personnel, and history in Harris Park.

Battle of the Longwoods re-enactment society brought a British flavour to Canada Day.

The Ontario Archives

2010-06-08T16:14:00.000-04:00

I have blogged in the past about Library and Archives Canada’s holdings. Maybe its about time to discuss what is available in the Ontario Archives. Birth, marriage, death, divorce, and land records are a provincial responsibility. As well, there are some records available in the Provincial Archives if you are looking for immigrants.

The best place to start is to click on the link “Start Your Research”. Scrolling down you will find guides in PDF or HTML formats that can help you find the information that you are looking for. If we access the HTML for “Sources Of Family History” we get the following example:

10. Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship Records
10.1: Ontario Government immigration records
10.2: Federal Immigration Branch records
10.3: Naturalization and citizenship records

The link “Ontario Government immigration records” shows us what is available on microfilm. This will allow you to find what series of microfilms you might need for your research. You can either go to the Archives or access the microfilm (if you are in Ontario) through Library loan. I know that some of the microfiche, and microfilm records, are available in the London Room at the London Public Library in my home town.

For those like me with an interest in the military the Ontario Archives also have a collection on The War of 1812 up to The Great War.

London and Middlesex Genealogy Society-June Meeting

2010-06-01T22:54:00.000-04:00

Finally, I was able to attend a meeting of the London & Middlesex Genealogy Society Tuesday evening. Speaker for the meeting was Mr. Al Neely, librarian at the Westmount branch of the London Public Library. His topic was “Google for Genealogists”. This was a very entertaining and informative talk on using Google for genealogical research. My list showed 30 different aspects of Google that one could use from search, advanced search, book search, alerts, google books, news & news archives, cache for old web pages, etc. I think that I will look into Google a bit more, and try some of these uses for my own research.

News from Library and Archives Canada

2010-05-31T09:53:00.000-04:00

Library and Archives Canada seem to be doing more digitalizing. A quote from their “what’s new”:

“Numerous documents belonging to the Library and Archives Canada collection have been copied to microfiche and microfilm. Some items from this collection are being digitized for access over the Internet. These digitized microforms are available on the Browse by Title page. Please note that this is not a database, therefore the images are not searchable by keyword.

Once you have selected the specific microform series you wish to access, you will be presented with links to the digitized images for that set of records. This online access to microforms attempts to duplicate the experience of going to a reading room. Use these links as you would an actual reel or fiche of microform. Each digitized reel or fiche is presented in sequence from beginning to end.”

I belong to a generation that can live with microfiche or microfilm reproductions. Bravo!!!

Genealogy Challenge #19

2010-05-10T10:32:00.000-04:00

The Genea Bloggers’ “52 Weeks To Better Genealogy Challenge #19” is to examine genealogy and military records that are available at the US National Archives. For non-U.S. folks (that’s me!) we can examine the military records at our own National Archives. The Canadian Archives! - Yikes now that’s a challenge- Eh!

The National Archives is based in Ottawa. Its taken me several years to get comfortable with a web site built by government bureaucrats . John D. Reid in his blog “Anglo-Celtic Connections” has been following the ongoing tale of what the Archives does and does not do. Mostly not do!

There are several data bases that are useful and free.

“Faces of War” is an online collection of photographs of the men and women who served in the Second World War.

“Soldiers of The First World War” is a data base containing the attestation papers of over 800,000 Canadians who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. This data base duplicates what is on Ancestry. You can access this by either surname (hopefully its not Smith), or if you know it, a service number. Regardless you will need that number to pursue your research any further. If you are lucky your ancestor’s battalion is also listed. Don’t get too excited as many of the battalions were broken up in England as reinforcements for the front.

“The Canadian Virtual War Memorial” contains information on the Canadians who are buried overseas. Canadians from the First and Second World Wars are included.

“War Diaries of the First World War” is a data base containing the battalion diaries. Now this data base is heavy going. If you know which battalion that your ancestor served in (that is the trick) then these diaries can give you a feeling for their lives on the Western Front. But do not expect to find your man unless you are prepared to spend hours going through the diaries. Even so, lots of luck.

The Canadian National Film Board although not part of the National Archives, but nevertheless a government agency, has “Images of a Forgotten War” of photographs of the Western Front.

So you want to find information on your relative? The first place to start is with “Soldiers of the First World War” either by using the government data base or Ancestry. If it is the government data base use the search option and enter Surname and Christian names or the regimental number if you know it. The results will give you the information that the individual answered on the form. Do not believe everything you read. Keep track of the regimental number as you will need it.

If the individual died in Europe you can search The Virtual War Memorial by using the regimental number.

If it is one thing that the military is it is a bureaucracy - it produces a ton of paper work!. Service files are not online. For the First War these service files can come in several forms.

There is the Record of Service which can show you the name of the ship that the serviceman arrived on in England or France, the battalion he was sent to, as well as promotions, transfers, injuries, etc.

If a casualty there is the Casualty Form.

If you are lucky pay sheets ( $1.50 a day). But not what they spent it on - that is another story.

There could be as many as 30 to 60 documents in a file. To order the file use the order form from Library and Archives Canada. The cost is $.40 per copy plus taxes if applicable, and could take as much as 4 weeks to arrive. If sent by Canada Post tack on another week. Be aware that not all of the records are available as there was some damage to some of them in the past.

On a personal note I ordered the service records of both my father and his younger brother who were in the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War. Ordering these records are a little bit different as some of the servicemen are still alive. If not you need to provide proof of death or in my father’s case I was able to get him to sign for permission to access his files. Use the same order form as above. What I received 4 weeks later were two tomes. My father’s files (largely I think because he was a Prisoner of War for a year and a half) generated an amazing amount of paperwork. What I have is an incredible record of his service from 1940 to 1945. In an aside, I also found out that he was engaged while in England. Boy did I query him on that one!

The above images are all from Library and Archives Canada

Canada’s Copyright Law- Or Lets All Tip Toe Through The Mine Field

2010-05-05T15:34:00.000-04:00

Monday last was the chat session for my Pro Gen group. One of the discussions centered around how copyright affected genealogists. As the lone Canadian in the group I could see that there were some subtle differences in the Canadian Copyright Act and the U.S. one. Also, that people can get pretty worked up about it.

The Canadian Copyright Act is available online through the Canadian Ministry of Justice. As well there are two blogs one by David Canton, and one by Michael Geist that deal with the Act, and the changes that are coming. Both are legal beagles so you had better have your lawyer-speak up and running.

In Canada the Copyright Law does not protect ideas but how those ideas are expressed. For genealogists that would be for anything that is written - articles, books, or blogs. So for the genealogist, and I might add the historian, what can I print and what can I not print. How do I cover my ass?

For published material Section 6 provides that works are protected for 50 years after the death of the author. Section 12 provides that government documents (Federal, Provincial, Municipal) are protected for 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the document was created. So the 1916 Western Canada Census has become available; but something other than copyright is holding up the 1921 Census.

Section 10 states that photos taken by an individual are copyright according to section 6 of above. If the photo was taken by a corporation ( ie. newspaper) then the photo is copyright for 50 years from the date in which the photo was taken. The choice of who gains the copyright comes down to who it is that owns the camera or digital camera.

As I read these sections of the Copyright Act most historians would be in violation of the Act. However, the loophole is “fair dealing”. Fair Dealing in Canada as opposed to “Fair Use” in the U.S. apparently is not as flexible in its use. Common to the Commonwealth countries fair dealing as I understand it has its basis in common law. This would seem to be the loop hole through which historians work. Section 29 states that “Fair Dealing for the purpose of research or private study does not infringe copyright”. (here I should have a footnote so have a peak at the act above). Section 29.1 goes on to state that you must give the source (footnote), and the author ( all that goes into a footnote, author, title, year published, page reference).

If you are writing for research or educational purposes you are within the copyright rules; however, if you are being paid then you have to be really careful of you know what! The Canadian judiciary seems to frown upon “the motive of gain”.

Canadian bloggers be aware of the upcoming changes in the Copyright Act they may well change everything.

Do These Look Familiar ?

2010-04-27T00:18:00.000-04:00

One hundred years has gone by but there remains products that are as popular today as they were for our ancestors. It's fun to look at what some of these products looked like years ago. Chances are that if you mentioned them to your great grandfather he would know what you were talking about.

The first is Canada Dry ginger ale- the champagne of ginger ales! Pharmacist and chemist John J. McLaughlin (yes it was his family that sold their car business to General Motors) opened a small plant in Toronto, Ontario in 1890 to manufacture soda water, which he sold to drugstores as a mixer for fruit juices and flavoured extracts. In 1923 the company was sold and a corporation, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc. was formed.

In 1845, industrialist Peter Cooper obtained a patent for powered gelatin. Fourty years later a New York based couple Pearle & Ann Wait added flavouring to the powder and in 1897 Jell-O was born.

Wilkinson Sword in 1804 were makers of bayonets. Better blade making techniques led to the making of swords, and that led in 1890 to the making of straight razors. In 1894 the first safety razor is introduced. The rest as they say is history.

Gum chewing apparently has been around since the ancient Greeks. When North America was been settled people found that the natives were chewing a resin found in spruce trees. In the nineteenth century paraffin wax was substituted for pine resin. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, of all people, introduced Thomas Adams, Sr. to chicle which is derived from the Sapota or Saodilla trees. The first patent for chewing gum was awarded in 1869. In 1893 Juicy Fruit and Wrigley’s Spearmint gums were introduced. Dentyne and Chiclets were introduced in 1899. As early as 1888 vending machines for chewing gum appeared at subway stations in Manhattan.

Some things as they say never changes.

An excellent source for looking at popular products of the past is The Digital Deli.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

2010-04-17T21:42:00.000-04:00

Randy Seaver’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun asks you to create a family timeline on the family tree software that you use and post it to your blog. I use Legacy 7.4. Creating a timeline is easy enough using Legacy; but posting an image to blogger is beyond my poor computer skills. So I took the easy way out and created a PDF file and uploaded to Google Docs, and then linked it to this blog post.

Treasure Chest Thursday

2010-04-16T11:12:00.000-04:00

Today is Treasure Chest Thursday at Geneabloggers. Sometime around 1926 Grandfather decided to immigrate to Florida. Why? No one knows for sure. The family stayed for two years until the farm just outside of Dutton became available. It did give father a lot of stories about swimming with snakes and alligators that he enjoyed telling us over and over and over.

Actually Grandpa was born on the 25th. December; but who's counting!

Spammers At It Again

2010-04-08T19:23:00.000-04:00

James Tanner in his blog “Genealogy’s Star” notes that spammers have high jacked the genealogy social forum “Genealogy Wise”. Apparently they have also hacked into the Facebook aps "Farmville".

Bored With Genealogy

2010-04-08T19:13:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Chris Dunham’s blog “The Genealogue” for putting me on to a ridiculous rant in the “Times” on genealogists and librarians by Sathnam Sanghera . Rather typical I thought, although I have met some of these views from professional historians. Mind you the historians would disagree with him over his views of libraries and librarians.

Sanghera’s view of genealogists :

“But I can’t think of a single revelation produced by a single genealogist that hasn’t made me think: meh.”

Or

“Though perhaps a better way of putting it is that genealogy is the academic equivalent of endlessly googling yourself.”

Or on libraries:

“-when it comes down to it, anything, up to and including financial destitution, is better than spending too much time in a library.”

I imagine that the last is a good excuse for not bothering with facts when writing. Research is hard work. Ignorance is bliss.

Metagenealogy

2010-03-29T09:44:00.000-04:00

James Tanner in his blog Genealogy's Star has written an interesting (for me) blog post where he is trying to come up with a definition of genealogy that moves genealogy from its present unstructured state to a more focused and practical discipline. Such a debate I feel is due. Mind you historians have been arguing a definition of history for centuries now, and usually end up agreeing to disagree.

I consider myself a historian and researcher first, and a beginning genealogist second. As such I come at a definition from different angles than James.

James states that “Neither is genealogy genealogy without history and neither is history history without genealogy.” There we agree. He also states: ”the study of the basic underlying structure of all societies no matter at what scale.” Here I am inclined to nitpick a bit. Are we talking about the Gaelic speaking highland Scottish society where families were fluid but the clan structure constant? Is the clan then the family? Perhaps it is and can be called an extended family. I would suspect though than the concept of the extended family in this context would drive genealogists wild as many people would not easily fit on a family tree. The only group I am aware of so far with the concept of a “kissing cousin”. I have two “kissing cousins” myself who are considered family but not blood relations. Wait until genealogists 30 to 50 years down the road try and fit them into my family tree!

I tend to view the great events of history as influencing the family, and not the other way around. Also, a definition of family over history is fluid. It changes over time as social, economic, political, and geographic influences come to bear.

Genealogy should not be simply collecting names. These are people. They can tell you something about their times.

Genealogists and historians use much the same sources. True, but they view those sources from different perspectives.

From where I sit genealogists do seem to be moving towards making genealogy a discipline. The starting point has begun with professionalizing the discipline through education. What I am waiting for now is the first great thinker to produce a book that weaves genealogy and history together.

Ancestry.com Update

2010-03-25T22:46:00.000-04:00

Ancestry.com has updated their birth (1869-1909), marriage (1801-1926), and death (1869-1934) records for Ontario which are available for World Deluxe Members. I tend to use the Library Edition for my own research. So far I have found little of use for my own family trees. Especially for marriages. I suspect that what needs to be done here is to find the records (if they still exist) for the traveling ministers (mostly Baptist and Methodist) from before the 1840s in Upper Canada..

For those with Deluxe memberships it might well be worthwhile checking it out.

Ancestry.com has also re-indexed the 1790, 1800, and 1810 US Censuses.

Revising Educational Textbooks

2010-03-21T11:18:00.000-04:00

An ongoing debate about the state of education has (although in a lesser extent in Canada) been heating up in the U.S. This article from the Toronto Star outlines changes the right in Texas want to make in history textbooks that students in their educational system must adhere to.

Generally I have read with interest about the trends in education. In the past I have remained silent but unhappy about how we in Ontario teach history to our children. To my mind little is cast in iron. Researching history is a chancy affair. We have to cut through decades of propaganda, and in many cases faulty research. We also have to beware of judging our ancestors through 21st. Century biases. One thing that bothers me is that our leaders today seem to have little or no appreciation for our past.

I have been always been in favour of open debate. But it looks like human nature will win out at least for the moment.

Copyright

2010-03-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

James Tanner in his blog Genealogy’s Star has an interesting discussion of the rules of copyright as they exist in the U.S. Copyright laws are of particular interest to genealogists and historians. Especially as they would relate to the Internet.

In Canada copyright law follows the American example to an extent. For example, an author has immediate copyright protection for his work as soon as it is published, during his lifetime, and 50 years after his death. Copyright also extends to the Internet. For a fuller explanation see Canadian Copyright Act- An Overview.

2010 Year Of The British Home Child

2010-03-10T17:32:00.000-05:00

2010 has been designated as Year of the British Home Child in Canada.

From 1869 to 1939 various workhouses, sheltering homes, orphanages and child care organizations in Great Britain emigrated over 100,000 orphaned, abandoned, pauper children ages 1 to 18 to Canada today known as the British Home Children.

Canada Post is issuing a stamp to commemorate the British Home Children this October.

It is estimated that 12%, over 4 million of the Canadian population, are a descendant of a Home Child.

Ontario Genealogy Society Conference 2010

2010-02-18T17:08:00.000-05:00

View Larger Map

The Ontario Genealogical Society’s Conference 2010 will be held May 14 to May 16 in Toronto. For more information on the Conference to http://torontofamilyhistory.org/2010/

For those who not know Toronto I have included a map of the location. Don’t you just love google maps?

The Genealogist as a Historian

2010-02-17T10:15:00.000-05:00

I went through school when the “Great Events, Great Men” theory of history was central to the curriculum. By the time I entered Graduate School the fight was on between those who viewed the “Social” trends as the most important aspect vs. the old guard.

Regardless of what assumptions on history are the flavour of the year I believe that a good genealogist has a working knowledge of the history of their country and region. To quote James Tanner in his blog “Genealogy”s Star”

http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/

“I find that the missing link in most, in fact almost all, genealogical research is a total lack of awareness of relationships and context“.

A simple lineage line like the one I have done below can help. I have listed my male lineage next to some of the important historical events for Ontario.

1800                                               George Hillman

War of 1812
                                                         John Hillman

                                                        John David Hillman
Fenian Raids
Confederation 1867
                                                       William Wallace Hillman
Northwest Rebellion 1885
Boer War 1899-1902

Great War 1914-1918
                                                        John Arnold Hillman
Great Depression

World War 2
                                                       William Bruce Hillman

Korean War

How can this help? For one thing it can help you understand your ancestors. George and John Hillman were Englishmen who settled in Ontario. Why Ontario? One thing that the War of 1812 decided was that the English Colonies in North American remained British. One will never know but it might explain why I am not Australian. John David Hillman was a Canadian of English descent. Two it can point you to where your research might be successful. For example, William Wallace Hillman lived at a time where the Northwest Rebellion highlighted events in Western Canada. Members of Ontario’s militia went out west. Some stayed. Some came home and then returned. Looking for missing ancestors during this period? Go west young man. John Arnold Hillman (my father) was raised listening to stories of trench warfare. So in 1940 he joined the Air Force.

I can go on but hopefully I have made a point.

Genea-Bloggers Winter Games 2010 Heritage Flag

2010-02-15T20:12:00.000-05:00

This flag, which also appears to the right, represents the various heritages that have over the years contributed to our family. The Hillman's are English/Scottish, in my case also Cornish, with a strong American (Pennsylvania Mennonite) presence. And of course I am Canadian.

Google Maps

2010-02-15T10:24:00.000-05:00

I am of two minds on the value of Google Maps. Perhaps for those who are geographically challenged it is indeed a good way to get an idea of where your ancestors came from.

The Hillmans were originally from the town of Westbury (or near to as they were, as far as I can tell, farmers), Wiltshire, England. My great great grandfather John Hillman purchased 150 acres next to the hamlet of Clathan, Aldborough Township, County of Elgin, Upper Canada (from 1867 Ontario).

My preference is to actually go to the areas where my ancestors lived. Clathan I know. Today, if you blink you will miss it. One hundred and fifty years ago it was a prosperous little hamlet. In the future I plan to visit Westbury to get a feel for the area. I suspect that Westbury and Clathan are nothing alike.

View Clathan, Elgin County, Upper Canada in a larger map

View Westbury, Wiltshire, England in a larger map

Winter 2010 GeneaBlogger Games

2010-02-15T08:40:00.000-05:00

Winter 2010 GeneaBlogger Games

Participating in GeneaBloggers is an excellent way to practice and hone your writing and research skills. Winter 2010 GeneaBloggers games challenges have forced me to think about tidying up. I tend to view organizing my files in the same way as vacuuming or doing the dishes. Usually I go for a lie down until the urge to do goes away.

http://www.geneabloggers.com/competition-categories-winter-2010-gb-games/

Challenge 2: Back Up Your Data

Task B, C, D- plan, secure hard copy, backup digitally
Actually I have been doing this for the last several months. Rather than a DVD I prefer using a flash drive. Each flash drive is colour coded for photos, raw data such as birth & death Certificates, and of course my Legacy files. Photos are in a fire proof file. Those of my photos that relate directly to my family’s military service will be going to the Elgin County Military Museum in a month or so.

Task E- storage of data
I still rely on paper(showing my age here). All paper documents are stored digitally. Mind you I must admit that I tend to turn to my files for information before I use the flash drives. Thirty years of habit I suppose.

Task A- planning

I find that that evolves over time. I tended to depend on my files with which I am most comfortable. With flash drives; however, I can better secure my photo collection. Not to mention that relatives can send me photos online without mailing me the photo itself. Great savings of time.
Regardless of security against fire or water damage some of the photos are deteriating with time. That made me think about donating them to museums with better facilities.

I Am Canadian

2010-02-12T09:22:00.000-05:00

The Olympics are almost on us so for a little bit of fun:

Ten giveaways that show you are Canadian.

1. You find -40C a little chilly.
2. You end every sentence with “Eh!”. Or better yet “Eh!” is the sentence.
3. You know that Toronto (pronounced “Trawna” ) is not a province.
4. You dismiss all beers under 6% as for the elderly or Americans eh!
5.You know that a mickey and a 2-4 means that the party starts now!
6. You know four seasons - Winter, Mosquito, Summer, What! Winter Again! Eh!
7. If there is a social problem you turn to your government to fix it- not to stay out of it.
8. Sexy is tube socks and a flannel nighty with at least 12 buttons down the front.
9. In Ontario our Civil War (The Rebellion of 1836) was basically a bar fight that lasted little more than an hour. The only one to be hanged was an American mercenary who slept in, missed the fight, and then showed up just in time to get caught.
10. We elect Prime Ministers for very logical reasons. English speaking- French speaking- English speaking- French speaking. The only time we changed was when we elected a Prime Minister who couldn’t speak either English or French. Made for a confusing election though. Eh!

Treasure Chest Thursday

2010-02-04T08:51:00.000-05:00

Today is Genea-Bloggers Treasure Chest Thursday. My father John Arnold Hillman's birthday was January 10. on that day he turned 90, and still going strong. The photo is his baptismal record. Maybe as the family was Baptist grandpa & grandma waited until dad was 6. Or they did not go to a church near where they lived. The family lived outside of Caledonia from 1912 to 1928 when grandpa decided to move to Florida until he bought his farm outside of Dutton around 1930. Grandma's home church was Duff Presbyterian Church, Largie, Dunwich Township. I suspect Grandma was behind Grandpa's change from Baptist to Presbyterian.
Note that Dad was baptised in Aldborough probably at the Baptist Church in Clathan. Presbyterianism must have come later.

Winter Sports-Carnival of Canadian Genealogy

2010-02-02T10:04:00.000-05:00

Does your family participate in winter sports up here in the great white north? For the Hillman’s the answer seems to be yes - any or all. But hockey was king.

The earliest winter photo that I have is of my Dad’s family . The little one in the photo is my uncle Bruce who I would guess is about two That would date the photo to somewhere around 1924. That means that the little party is somewhere around Caledonia where grandpa was farming at that time.

By the time that the family moved to the farm in Dunwich Township, Elgin County, somewhere around 1930, hockey was the all consuming interest. Dad still remembers his neighbor Norm Hodder shoveling snow off the pond on the back of his farm so the local boys had a place to play (true pond hockey). Norm Hodder also built a wooden shed to change in. I remember Norm . He also played through the 1930’s, and for a time during and after the war refereed games.

The boys were good at it. Especially my father John Arnold and his younger brother Bruce Ivan. They were members of the Dutton Thistles hockey team from 1938 to the point that both joined the R.C.A.F and went overseas in 1943.. The Dutton team was a strong one. They played in the Ontario Rural Hockey League, and dominated their own division for 13 years. Twice they played in the Ontario finals. It is interesting to note that at that time the hockey season lasted from January to March.

Even after the war hockey was big in our family. Grandma was a life long fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and I do not remember her ever missing a televised game.

Photos from my personal collection. The team shown is the Dutton High School Hockey team of 1938. The goalie is my uncle Bruce Ivan Hillman. Dad says that he hated that position. On the Dutton Thistles he was a winger.

Library And Archives Canada

2010-01-26T15:17:00.000-05:00

Library and Archives Canada is one of if not the most important source for historians and genealogists. Having said that how then do we access information. Well there’s the rub. A huge amount of the material in the possession of the Archives is in microfiche and microfilm form not online.

The easiest would be to go to Ottawa and do the research there. Of course. not all of us can afford the expense and time to do this. Also, hours of operation have changed and one needs to keep track of the Archives accessibility. John D. Reid in his blog “Anglo-Celtic Connections” does a good job of keeping us informed of the goings on at the Archives.
http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com

Some of the collections are online http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html , and you need time and the patience of Job to go through them. The Data bases are extensive and the following is a short list:

Aboriginal Peoples
Art and Photography
Biography and People
Censuses
Databases
Ethno-Cultural Groups
Exploration and Settlement
Literature
Military and Peacekeeping: (For our purposes these include Soldiers of the South African and First World War. A good deal of this information is on Ancestry; however, I would not recommend you running out and getting a subscription for information that is free here. One thing Ancestry is useful for is for information on Canadians who for one reason or another served with British Forces. A first cousin of my grandfather and an uncle of mine both fall into this category. You could say that the Brits swiped them. The cousin from the Canadian Corps and my uncle from the R.C.A.F.)
Music and Performing Arts
National Identity
Newspapers: (The Canada Gazette)
Other Topics: (Theses and Dissertations, Shipwrecks, Transportation, Printing and Publishing)
Philately and Postal History
Politics and Government: (Not something you will find me jumping to read)
Sports
Vital Statistics: (Mostly genealogical)

OK so how to access. There are regional offices maintained in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Halifax. That doesn’t help me here in London. Probably the best alternative is to through your library. There is an inter-library loan service available. Check first as there might be some of the records that you want already available in your Library’s Regional or Genealogy Center. If not, you need the microfilm reel number, and then request the item through your Library. Mind you for those of you in a university town problem somewhat solved. The University of Western Ontario in my hometown has a pretty good collection of the microfilms from Library and Archives Canada. Hooray for the History Department.

Good Hunting.

10 Top Conundrums For Genealogists - Or Dare I Say - Historical Researchers

2010-01-14T07:59:00.000-05:00

1. The elderly person you needed to interview passed away recently.
2. Photograph everything. The next time you drive by it will be demolished.
3. The grave marker you most want to photograph will be illegible.
4. Never ask a genealogist “tell me about your family?”
5. Even if your research is 99% right genealogists will notice the 1%.
6. They will line up to tell you about it.
7. The one fact that you really really wanted will magically appear after you have posted your research on your blog.
8. Print that information quickly before it disappears into cyberspace.
9. The Archives will have a fabulous collection that can’t be opened yet due to privacy reasons.
10. The death certificate of your great great grandfather is not yet available because 50 years is not dead enough.

Abner B. Hillman

2010-01-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

There has always been a strong link between Southwestern Ontario and the State of Michigan. During the American Civil War many from Southwestern Ontario fought largely in the Union Army. There was reported to exist a Confederate recruiting office in London, Ontario(then Canada West), and a number of deserters from both armies lived in the London area. The J.J. Tallman Collection at the University of Western Ontario has a list of known members of the London branch of the Grand Army of the Republic from October 1891 to December 1911.

What caught my interest is the name Abner B. Hillman. Is he in anyway connected to my ancestors? Abner Hillman appears in the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Census’s. He puts his birth as 1836 in Canada. Since both census’s find him in Napoleon, Michigan I will make a wild stab and say that he was born somewhere in Southwestern Ontario. Unfortunately Ancestry does not give me any birth information prior to the 1850’s, and that is sporadic. No proof of any relationship there. Also, with my family I have found certain favourite Christian names , ie. John, George, William. The name Abner does not appear in my family tree. Not conclusive proof but a hint perhaps.

Abner Hillman is found at age 14 on a farm with the Hanley family in Napoleon, Michigan probably as a farm labourer. In the 1860 Census he is still in Napoleon with the Smith family as a farm labourer. I will need to look into both those families to see if there is a connection.

Abner B. Hillman enlisted as a Private on 17 August 1861 with the 7th Michigan Infantry, and drowned while on march on 19th August, 1862. He is buried in the Cyprus Hills National Cemetery, New York State.

Elgin County Archives

2010-01-13T10:46:00.002-05:00

The Elgin County Archives launched “Elgin’s Great War: Sources on the First World War from the holdings of the Elgin County Archives” last March. This digitization project was made possible by a grant from the Canadian Culture Online Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Council of Archives.

More than 3000 photographs, documents and objects relating to Elgin County’s contribution to Canada’s efforts in the First World War are now searchable online. They can be found at http://www.elgin.ca/

For genealogists there is more here than simply information of interest to historians of the Great War. There is also an extensive exhibit documenting the history of Alma College in St. Thomas. Chances are very good that if your family came from St. Thomas someone of your female ancestors attended this school.

Photo : 91st Battalion Company D from the Elgin County Archives : “Elgin’s Great War: Sources on the First World War from holdings of the Elgin County Archives:.

What’s Your Genealogical Superpower?

2010-01-10T15:51:00.000-05:00

Dean Richardson in his blog “ Genlighten Blog - Genealogy Documented “ asked the question “ what’s your genealogical superpower?”. Randy Seaver included this question on “Genea-Musings” Saturday as a challenge to all bloggers.

I like challenges especially if they are fun and not taken too too seriously. In that view I will follow in Sheri Fenley’s footsteps in her blog “The Educated Genealogist”.

Superpowers? Well not really. I am a rather good researcher: but, that is not saying too much; after all, I did spend eight years toiling at university to get my Masters. I did learn a thing or two about the how-to’s and how-not-to’s in research.

Rather than superpowers would the good fairies please come and organize my notes and files?

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-04T07:25:00.000-05:00

Well, another decade gone! Where did they all go?

I see that many of the bloggers that I keep track of are posting New Year Resolutions. I am not big on that preferring to go with the flow. However, towards the end of last year I did start two projects. One was to get on the waiting list for a Pro Gen Study Group. It looks like I am in for a group that starts February 1st.
I wonder if I am the only Canadian in that group? We shall see. Secondly, I have started researching the veterans of World War One who came from Southwestern Ontario. I have started a new blog Veterans Of Southwestern Ontario http://swveterans.blogspot.com/ in which I will post results of my research as I get it done. Ultimately I will see if I can get it published. Remember though that I am a Gemini and I will get distracted by anything interesting that pops up!

Also, many bloggers are listing their favourite blogs of 2009. I am not a big blog reader. My criteria for reading blogs are:
1. Canadian content(that narrows things down a lot)
2. Technical content. I am interested in the blogs that take some time to go through computer issues in genealogy
3. Whatever catches my interest(Gemini again).

As a result my favorites(those I read daily) are:

Anglo-Celtic Connections http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com/ mainly because this blog meets all requirements.
Canadian Genealogy-or Jane’s Your Aunt http://canadagenealogy.blogspot.com/ . This one is different.
Olive Tree Genealogy Blog http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/ . This one is full of useful information.
CanadaGenWeb’s Blog http://canadagenweb.blogspot.com/ . Useful to keep an eye out for what’s happening across the country.
Genea-Musings http://www.geneamusings.com/ . Randy Seaver includes a great deal about the technical side of genealogy.
The Educated Genealogist http://sherifenley.blogspot.com/ . A genealogist who does not take herself seriously. Its refreshing.
The Genealogue http://www.genealogue.com/ . A well written irreverent blog. I love it!
ELegal http://canton.elegal.ca/ . David Canton is a business lawyer based in London, Ontario. His articles on the web are very good. Bloggers do need to keep track of what the legal beagles are up to.

I periodically scan others but no where near what some others read in the day. I simply do not have the attention span thank you very much. Eh!

Christmas Memories

2009-12-04T18:19:00.000-05:00

Genea-Bloggers has what I think is a very good idea leading up to Christmas. A Christmas Advent outlining your memories of Christmas pasts. I will get us started with childhood memories of my own (even though these are going to definitely date me).

My father worked for the London Free Press, and in the 50’s the company was family owned. Walter J.Blackburn took a particular interest in his employees (the old if you work for me you are family attitude). One of the highlights of the year was the employee’s family Christmas party. Of course, for us children the fact that the presents were good ones might have coloured our attitude. It was a big event throughout the 50’s largely because there were so many of us. Sometimes I think that the attitude at that time was that if you did not have a minimum of 4 children you were not really trying.

There was candy, popcorn, ice cream, hotdogs, the company’s cartoonist “Merle Tingly” drew cartoons of each child.; and of course Santa appeared and gave each child a gift.

The company’s employee news sheet took pictures of the event, and the picture of me (yes there I am at age 5) appeared in the Christmas 1953 edition probably because at that time I was on crutches ( a picture of the child on crutches naturally got front page).

Library and Archives Canada Pathfinder Projects

2009-12-02T09:42:00.001-05:00

John D. Reid in his blog "Anglo-Canadian Connections" Noted today that Library and Archives Canada(LAC) have placed online four pathfinder projects “ that seek through practical projects, to validate the four guiding principles and the key roles of the Documentary Heritage Management Framework developed by Library and Archives Canada (LAC) during summer and fall 2009."

They are:
Canada's Military Documentary Heritage: Challenges and Opportunities
Long-Term Loans: A Client-Focused Collaborative Approach
Rethinking the Stewardship of Newspapers in a Digital Age
Exposing Union Catalogue Metadata Via Third Parties

I looked through the paper on Military Hertitage as that is where I have an interest. Frankly I am not encouraged by what I see. There is little or nothing there that relates to the online researcher or for that matter anyone from outside of the Ottawa area. I wonder if what they are proposing is to download their responsibilities onto others- local museums, libraries, etc.

The paper promises consultation; but given past experience with LAC I wouldn’t hold my breath on this one.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/modernization/012004-2051-e.html

Canadian County Altas Project

2009-11-25T10:16:00.001-05:00

If your ancestor was a farmer and you want to find out where he lived the Canadian County Atlas project is a resource that can’t be beaten. It has been around on line since 1999, and has been updated and approved.
http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/

There is a section that explains the what and why of the county atlas’s. In total 40 counties are covered by these atlas’s which were published between 1874 and 1881.

My own ancestor John Hillman can be found. In the search option I put in his name, in Elgin County, township of Aldborough. The search record looks like this:

Full record for Hillman, John
Last Name Hillman
First Name John
Post Office Clachan
Township Aldborough
County Elgin
Atlas Date 1877

Concession and Lot Lot size
II, 2 125

Hit locate on map and you get the result as shown above. A larger map of Aldborough appears to the right of the screen showing the farm’s location relative to the township , and to the left the farm itself(as shown above). A handy site indeed!

Esau Hillman(1831-1906)

2009-11-24T10:27:00.001-05:00

From “Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex Ontario" 1906(1996)

Esau Hillman was only a year old when brought by his parents to Canada, and he passed his boyhood in Zone township, County of Kent. His opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited, as the schools in those early days were “few and far between”, in fact, all the helps which the boy of to-day meets at every turn were totally lacking. It was hard to obtain even the barest necessities of life. Things that the pioneers could not provide with the meager resources at their command were conveyed by water from Detroit or Windsor to Stoney Point, and thence carried on horseback or on the men’s shoulders through the woods. Deer, wolves, wild turkeys, and other game abounded. Civilization made slow progress at first, for the settlers during the first few years.

He remained at home until twenty-three years old, when he bought 100 acres in Mersea township, County of Essex, erected a log house thereon, and commenced farming on his own account. In 1860 he sold out and removed to his present home in the township of Tilbury West, where he purchased another 100-acre tract on Lot 8, Concession 8, and began all over again, erecting a log house and taking up the work of clearing.

Mr. Hillman was married in Mosa township, Dec. 4, 1853, to Nancy Bright, who was born in Hamilton, Ont., and who has roved a most devoted and efficient helpmate. They became parents of thirteen children, George Allen died when fifteen years old, Laura Ann married Conrad Simons, of Rochester township, County of Essex. Hannah Jane is the widow of Jesse Ford , of Comber. Nancy married John Coatby, of Comber. Fannie is the wife of Henry Jury, of Detroit. Phebe married Edward Jury, and resides in Michigan. Esau, a farmer, married Almina Thorne. Edward, who cultivates the homestead place, married Sophia May, daughter of John May, and they have one child, Maude Pearl. Bertha is the widow of Ransom Thorne. William is a farmer in the township of Tilbury West. Three died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hillman are members of the Methodist Church. In political faith he is a Conservative, but has never cared for public position.

James Hillman 1800-1860

2009-11-23T14:57:00.001-05:00

From “Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, Ontario (1906)(1996).(I know it's 19th Century technology; but there is a great deal that you can find out by digging through books.)

James Hillman was a brick maker by occupation. He married in his native land(Westbury. Wiltshire) Mary Smith, and they had a family of four children when they left their native home for the New World in 1831. After a seven weeks’ ocean voyage on a sailing vessel the family landed at Quebec, coming thence to Ontario and locating in the wilderness, the father drawing a 100-acre tract of bush land, a Talbot grant, in Zone township, County of Kent. A log house was erected, and Mr. Hillman set about clearing the place. He was quite successful in his work, and made considerable improvement during his residence thereon. Selling out, he removed his family to the County of Essex, and again began the life of a pioneer, locating on a bush farm of 100 acres in the 8th Concession, township of Tilbury West. He built a log house, and commenced the work of clearing and improving, which he continued until his death, for he passed the remainder of his life on this place. Mr. Hillman passed away at the age of sixty years, his wife, who survived him, reaching the age of sixty-eight; she also died on the old farm. They are buried in St. George’s cemetery. Both were members of the Methodist Church, and lived most Christian lives. In politics James Hillman was a stanch Conservative, and he was a volunteer in the Rebellion of 1837-38, being one of the British soldiers stationed at Sandwich. Mr. and Mrs. Hillman were the parents of seven children, the first four born in England, viz. Mary, who died young; Elizabeth, who died young; John; Esau; Samuel, deceased; Nathaniel, a farmer residing in the township of Tilbury West; and Mary Ann who married William Brown, and resides in Alberta, Northwest Territory.

Stars Of The Towns

2009-11-16T16:16:00.002-05:00

Well worth watching are a series of DVD’s entitled Stars of the Towns-Scenes from around Southwestern Ontario. They are available at the J.J. Talman Regional Collection at the University of Western Ontario or at the Regional Room in the London Public Library.

Rev. Leroy(Roy) Massecar(1918-1986) was a camera buff who went around to some of the small towns in Southwestern Ontario between 1946 and 1949 capturing people on film. He then would return to the town and screen the film in the town hall or community center. The “Stars” of the film would be invited to attend the evening event where copies of the films were sold.

I screened the Dutton film at the public library and was delighted at what I saw. There is no sound and the film is black and white. It really captured post war Dutton of January 1949. Mind you some of the enjoyment for me was that I am of that age(we won’t say what that is!) that I recognized some of the people.
I can certainly say that as far as the buildings are concerned Dutton has not changed all that much. Interestingly, I did not see the McIntyre in the film. Go figure!

To check which towns or villages are included in the series go to http://www.londonpubliclibrary.ca/ , and search ‘Stars of the Towns’ under “series title”.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-11T08:39:00.008-05:00

65th. Spitfire Squadron(1944 or 45); Lancaster crew of the 426th. Squadron(1944 or 45)

Lt. Col. Daniel Hillman

2009-11-09T14:48:00.001-05:00

Daniel Hillman was born to William James Hillman and Margaret Patterson on November 6, 1877 in Aldborough Township, Elgin County, Ontario. He was a civil engineer who spent most of the years before 1915 working for the railroads in Northern Ontario.

In 1914 the French were responsible for all railway construction in Belgium and France. By 1915 the French realized that they needed help. In the spring of 1915 Canada responded to the call from Britain for a Corps of skilled railway construction workers. The Corps of Canadian Railway Troops would lay 1880km(1169 miles) of broad gauge rail and 2275km. (1414 miles) of light track. They played important roles in the battles of Vimy , Passchendaele, Amiens, and the 100 Days battles.

Daniel Hillman joined in January, 1915. I have always found attestation papers interesting for more than just dates. Daniel’s attestation papers show him to be 5’4” tall with grey eyes, and dark brown hair. He was commissioned a Lieutenant and left for England in June, 1915. Before the battle of the Somme he was lent out to the Royal Engineers. He was made a Lt. Col. In 1918. After the Armistice he was involved in work to salvage railway equipment from the Western Front. He returned to Canada in July 1919.

Veterans Week (Nov 5th to Nov 11th

2009-11-06T22:07:00.000-05:00

It’s Veterans Week and I will try to keep to this theme this week. The National Archives have a virtual exhibit online at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/faces-of-war/index-e.html called Faces of War. It is well worth the visit, and you would be surprised at the information that is there.

Surname Saturday-Cannom

2009-10-31T09:59:00.001-04:00

The Cannom’s only lightly touch my family tree. My grandmother’s sister Maude Maria Beatrice Thomas(2 July 1886-unknown) married John Earnest Cannom(22 February 1882-13 February 1919) in London, Ontario 28 July 1908. They had three children William Anderson(17 May 1910-1970), Nora(2 December 1912-1970), and Ida May(17 September 1917-unknown).

The Cannom’s were from London Township, Middlesex County, Ontario. John Earnest’s grandfather John Cannom(1816-17 September 18870 immigrated from England to London Township sometime before 1871.
John Cannom married Ann Smith(1826 in Ireland-unknown) at an unknown date. Their son Obadiah was born 16 May 1846 in England and died 13 August 1927 in London, Ontario. He married Isabella Anderson(unknown birth and death dates) 18 October 1871 in Huron County, Ontario. They had four children John Earnest, Ida May(1876-unknown) Drusilla Ruth(16 March 1893-unknown), and Wilhelmina Ethel(16 October 1897-unknown).

I remember Aunt Maude(her photo is in an earlier blog post) quite well. She lived in a little house on East Street in London just six or seven blocks away from my grandmother. My grandmother and her sisters used to get together to play Scrabble, and fight over the spelling of words. Looking back I think none of them were that interested in the game. They enjoyed the verbal battles much more.

Musicians in the Family

2009-10-28T08:24:00.001-04:00

As far as I know only recently has musical talent reared its ugly head in my family. I remember with some trepidation the attempts by my mother to get me to play the piano. In grade nine I attempted to learn the euphonium. No go. It held no interest for me when measured with the joys of hockey, baseball, and wrestling.

My ex-wife’s family was naturally a different kettle of fish. She was and is a professional musician. When we were married she played percussion for our local London Symphony orchestra. My two sons, as a result, inherited some musical talent. Andrew plays the violin and percussion. Anthony plays the cello and guitar. Both boys at one time or other have played for London’s Youth orchestra.

Mother played the piano; but as far as I know no one else in my family line have showed any musical talent. Interesting considering the number of Gaelic Scots that appear in my past. Oh well, I expect that the farmers in my line viewed a field of corn as a symphony in itself.

Photo:Anthony and his guitar

Black Sheep Sunday

2009-10-25T11:05:00.002-04:00

Black sheep in the Hillman family line? I wish. I have looked long and hard for just such a person. So far all I have been able to find are hard working Baptists and Presbyterians. If another researcher has been able to find a black sheep in the Hillman tree I would very much like to find out who that person is.

The closest I can come up with is John James McLellan (29 April 1855-April 1910). He immigrated from Scotland in 1872, and was the second husband of my great grandmother Maria Gartrell Rickard Thomas(she is mentioned in a previous blog post).

He died apparently of ‘ an overindulgence of alcohol’. Not an uncommon problem in nineteenth century Ontario. During this period there was a growing Temperance movement which eventually led to Prohibition during the Drury Premiership(1919-1923).

The Wiltshire Crowd

2009-10-06T17:06:00.002-04:00

Very many thanks to Cora Hillman in sending me information that helps me to round out the various lines of Hillman’s that immigrated to Upper Canada at around 1831(still an approximate date as the are no records to date of when they landed. This date is taken from the Canadian Census returns from various members of the family. But even these are not consistent.).

It all starts with George Hillman and Elizabeth Harman who were from around Westbury, Wiltshire, England. They had two sons George(born 1798 in Westbury-died sometime before 1855 in Middlesex County, Upper Canada) who married Susana Browne 24 December, 1818 in Westbury, Wiltshire England. They had eight children John(born 4December, 1819-died 3 October 1906), James(1 December, 1821-died 17 March 1900), William(born 3 November 1824-died 10 August 1888), Elizabeth(born 1829-died 1884), Reuben(born 20 October 1828-died August 1899), W. Nathaniel(born 6 January 1844 -died 1935), and Mary Ann(born 1844-died?).
George Hillman and Elizabeth Harman’s second son James(born 1800?-died before 1859) married Mary Smith on 29 January 1824 in Westbury, Wiltshire, England. They had eight children. John(born 21 May 1827-died March 1888), Esau(born 31 January 1831- died ?), William( born 1834-died?), George(born 1836-died?), Laura Ann(born 1841-died?), Samuel(born 1843-died?), Matthew(born 1845-?).

From these two immigrant families the Hillman’s spread throughout South-Western Ontario, Northern Michigan, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

I wish though that they used a wider variety of Christian names! It would have made it easier.

London & Middlesex Genealogy Society

2009-09-19T08:24:00.002-04:00

The London and Middlesex branch of the Ontario Genealogy Society will meet next on Tuesday, 06 Oct 2009 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Westmount Ferraro branch of the London Public Library on 3200 Wonderland Rd. S. Topics include youth and genealogy.

My Favourite Blogs

2009-09-14T10:50:00.000-04:00

I am not a big blog reader probably because I prefer blogs that provide useful information that I can use. There are not a lot out there that relate to my research in South-Western Ontario. There are exceptions( aren’t there always!). I do like blogs that look at genealogy in a light hearted way.

These are my favourite ones to date:

Anglo-Celtic Connections http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com/
A very well written blog that keeps you up to date on what’s going on in Ottawa, and in the British Isles.

Canadian Genealogy or ‘Jane’s Your Aunt’ http://canadagenealogy.blogspot.com/
A blog based in British Columbia with information on what the Canadian Genealogy Carnival is up to.

Canada Gen Web’s Blog http://canadagenweb.blogspot.com/
One should also keep an eye as to what is happening with Gen Web.

Genealogy Canada http://www.genealogycanada.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth Lapointe covers Ottawa through to the Maritimes.

Genea Musings http://www.geneamusings.com/
Randy Seaver’s blog I like for the technical discussions of Genealogy programs.

Then there are my exceptions. These two blogs are great for lightening up the mood and make you see that there is humour in what we are doing.

The Educated Genealogist http://sherifenley.blogspot.com/
The Genealogue http://www.genealogue.com/

Two Hundred Years Ago

2009-09-01T19:53:00.000-04:00

Well now this is a challenge. One hundred years ago my ancestors were well established in Ontario. Where were they two hundred years ago. It is hard sometimes to describe Upper Canada as it was two hundred years ago. It was a British colony and utterly dependant on Britain. The majority of the people in Upper Canada were what we call United Empire Loyalists. Population was centered around the Niagara and Kingston. London did not exist. The Talbot Settlement along Lake Erie was just getting going. The process of settling the province was getting underway. The War of 1812 was yet to come.

One branch the Shoemaker’s(from my paternal great grandmother) were already in Pennsylvania. What would be my great great great great great great grandfather Jacob Shoemaker was born sometime around 1676(thank you for the Latter Day Saints research) in Switzerland, and died sometime around 1751 in Pennsylvania. From there it runs Jacob Shoemaker(b.1708 in Germany-d.?), Jacob Shoemaker(b.1754 in Pennsylvania-d.1847 in Waterloo County, Ontario), George Tyson Shoemaker(b.1778 in Pennsylvania-d. 1884 in Waterloo County, Ontario), Jacob D. Shoemaker(b.1799 in Pennsylvania-d. 1902 in Waterloo County, Ontario). Martha Shoemaker(b.1831 in Waterloo County, Ontario-d.1914 in Kent County, Ontario), and my great grandmother Hannah McKay(b.1860-d.1947). The Shoemaker’s were part of a migration of Mennonites to Waterloo County in the 1820’s and 1830’s. One thing that the Hillmans and the Shoemakers had in common was that when they found a Christian name that they liked they ran with it through the generations!

The Hillman’s were still somewhere around the village of Westbury, Wiltshire. George Hillman and Susanna Brown were married in Wiltshire(England and Wales Marriages, 1536-1940. Why did they immigrate? They were farmers, and after the Napoleonic Wars things got tough. The tough times resulted in the Swing Riots of 1830. Perhaps they could see what was happening. The Hillmans immigrated to Canada sometime before 1830, probably around 1828-1829. A connection? Maybe so.

The Turners were from the Highlands. Enough said. I often remark that for the highlanders it could often be a choice between starvation, the British Army, the hangman’s noose, or immigration.

The exception seems to be the Thomas’s who were Cornish. From what I can find out they seem to be villagers not farmers. But then again they did not arrive until the 1890’s.

Two hundred years ago the common thread between all of the families seems to be farming. They were pioneers.

One Hundred Years Ago

2009-08-29T20:12:00.002-04:00

One hundred years is a long time and when you think about it the changes have been nothing short of amazing. I often hear people criticize the decisions and the actions of people in the past often by using the moral values of today. Yet our ancestors were the ones who built this country. I find that pursuing genealogical research is also a look into our own history. Perhaps also with a better understanding of how they thought.

London, Ontario, is situated roughly half way between Detroit and Toronto. John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant-Governor of the new province of Upper Canada(which became Ontario) held back the land that would become central London as a possible capital of the new province. As a result, London is a fairly new city. It was not until 1826 that the site for a city was confirmed and the city laid out. It became incorporated in 1855. London was central to both branches of my family. My mother’s branch settled around and in London. My father’s family were on land about 40 miles to the west. By 1909 London had a population of somewhere between 50-55,000 people. Today it has a population of 457,000.

Three items held the interest of Londoners in September of 1909. Dr. Frederick Cook’s conquest of the North Pole, a fire that burned down two livery stables and a good part of a city block, and whether or not to increase the 10 cent fare on the Street Railway Company’s route to a favourite weekend picnic spot (Springbank Park) 3 or 4 miles away (The London Free Press, September 1&2, 1909). Sadly the railway no longer exists. It was sacrificed to the automobile after the Second World War, although I remember the tracks when I was a boy.

None of my grandparents were married in 1909. My maternal grandparents lived and worked in London. They were married in 1918. My great grandfather was a shoemaker in the village of Thorndale just north of London. The other great grandfather had died in 1892.

My paternal grandparents also had yet to marry. My grandfather was a farm labourer both in Ontario and during the threshing season in Manitoba. He was saving for a farm of his own. My grandmother was living with her parents in Detroit, Michigan. Her father was a blacksmith who work for the railroads. My other great grandparents farmed the land that my great great grandfather had pioneered in 1859 in Aldborough Township, Elgin County. My grandfather’s mother’s father was a Mennonite preacher in Elgin County. Bit unusual in a township full of hard shell Baptists- Eh!! Not movers and shakers but solid second and third generation working people.

The photos are from the London Free Press September 1&2, 1909. London has never been to this day the Paris of South-western Ontario fashion wise, and I am not so sure that that is not such a bad thing.

The Peckhams

2009-08-19T16:11:00.001-04:00

My grandparents William Wallace Hillman(25 May 1881-25 Feb. 1966) and Corlena Peckham(1 April 1888-17 August 1983) were married on 25 December 1912. The Peckhams were an interesting family to research. Grandma’s father Orten(or Orton) Peckham was born in 1855 in Wellandport, Upper Canada and he married Margaret Turner(22 Feb. 1844-7 Jan. 1923) on 25 Oct. 1883 in Dunwich Township, Elgin County.

Orten’s(or Orton‘s) father was George Peckham(1831?-unknown) and his mother Corlinda Cribben(1836 Auburn, New York-13 Feb. 1872). Corlinda Peckham died in childbirth. Their children were:

Orten 1855-1935
Harriet 1858-?
Chauncey 1860-?
George 1862-?
Augusta 1865-?
Sarah 1868-?
Hiram 1872-?

For me Augusta seems to be a very interesting character. She immigrated to the United States in 1895, and as far as I can tell lived in Detroit. So far she seems to have been married three times, and managed to outlive each husband. I’m still digging for more information.

Canadian Copyright Laws

2009-07-28T11:09:00.000-04:00

The Canadian Government has begun hearings on changing the copyright laws in this country. It is of great interest to those genealogists who are thinking of writing their research into book form. For example, Douglas Fevens found that his “Fevens- A Family History” was digitized by Google books without his permission. He writes in a letter to the editor to the University of Wisconsin:

“I wrote a book in 2004. It was not created to become a bestseller; only 200 were printed. But it was my book, about my family. I say "was" because the University of Wisconsin, in a commercial venture with Google Inc., has digitized it and now holds virtual copies, which I consider digital printing plates, and an infringement of my copyright.”
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/letters/454959

David Canton a business lawyer and trade-mark agent writes in his blog E-Legal:
“The Federal government has just launched public consultations intended to lead to a new copyright reform bill. The last few attempts to revise copyright law have not become law - but have been highly controversial. This is an important topic that affects things we do every day. “
http://canton.elegal.ca/
How the new copyright bill evolves is of great importance to the genealogical community in Canada. Michael Geist writes in his blog “ In a nutshell, the government is asking Canadians to describe why copyright matters, how to ensure that reforms remain relevant, and what reforms would best foster innovation, creativity, and competition“. http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/4173/125/

Speak out on copyright changes by following Michael Geist’s new blog “Speak Out On Copyright” http://www.speakoutoncopyright.ca/ or join Fair Copyright for Canada Facebook Group.

It matters.

Latin Quarter 1945

2009-07-19T11:10:00.004-04:00

Apparently, my mother's visit to New York was a little more riske that I thought. Not only did she visit two Broadway plays(reported in earlier blogs). There was also a visit to the Latin Quarter. Amazing what you can find when you go through your parents stuff that you never imagined existed.
The Latin Quarter is a magic name even for me. In the 1960's(when I was old enough to appreciate it) there was a Latin Quarter in London, Ontario. With waitress's dressed in bunny costumes, music by Johnny Down's orchestra, it was one of the romantic spots to take a serious date. The other was the Stork Club in Pt. Stanley.

Ancestry In Ontario Libraries

2009-07-15T09:03:00.000-04:00

From the Ontario Ministry of Culture press release:
“We have completed negotiations for a two year license for Micromedia ProQuest’s Ancestry Library Edition. Ancestry is a genealogy research tool with data from census, military records, court, land, probate, vital and church records, passenger lists, etc. It covers Canada, the US, UK, and some European countries. The license covers Authorized Users of public libraries (i.e., library cardholders, walk-in patrons while they are on-site and library staff) through any workstation in any library branch. The product is not licensed for remote access“.
All public libraries that submitted a participation agreement by an April due date should have been up and running by May 1st. Others will be added on a month to month basis. Its free(even though our taxes pay for it).
I tried it out at my local public library yesterday. Some of the search features a little different than the previous subscription. Other than that it’s the same old same old: however, I haven’t found a suitable alternative to ancestry that doesn’t involve wading through dusty moldy records. It is a two year agreement so use it or lose it people!

Newspapers In The London Area

2009-07-13T12:04:00.001-04:00

For genealogists one of the primary sources for research is the local newspaper. Increasingly many of the major dailies are finding themselves online. Lots of luck for the newspapers of Middlesex and Elgin Counties. How are you with 20th century technology?
For Elgin County the Elgin County Library has microfilms of the St. Thomas times Journal, the Dutton Advance, and the West Lorne Mercury Sun.
For Middlesex County the London Public Library has microfilms of the London Free Press, the London Advertiser, and other smaller papers that were published in Middlesex County. The best and most complete microfilm collection is to be found at the University of Western Ontario. They just about have everything; however, be prepared to write notes as they will not copy any pages for you. For some reason the West Lorne and Rodney papers were put in the regional room separate from the other microfilms, and has gone missing. Darn they will steal anything nowadays!!

Steele’s and Thomas’s

2009-07-12T13:00:00.005-04:00

My mother’s side of the family is an interesting one. Matthew Steele(1805-?) and Mary Ann Fletcher immigrated from Scotland to a farm in West Nissouri Township Middlesex County. Their farm was near the village of Thorndale just north and east of London, Ontario. They had five children Donald(b.1845 London-d. 10 December 1914 in Middlesex County), Archibald(b.1847-d. 28 July 1907), Andrew(b.1848-d.?), Laura(b.1841-d.?), John(b.1856-d.?). Donald Steele(my great grandfather married Mary Jane Coleman(b.20 June 1848 Middlesex County-d. 20 October 1933 Middlesex County). They were married 18 May 1881 in Middlesex County. Their marriage certificate shows Donald Steele as a shoemaker in Thorndale. They had two children William Fletcher(b. 15 May 1885 in Thorndale-d. June 1935 in London), Ethel Pearl(b. 1892 in Thorndale-d. ?). William Fletcher Steele married Hilda May Thomas 31 December 1918 in London. They had two children Audrey June(b. 15 May 1921-d.1989 in London), Cameron Fletcher(b. 8 July 1924 in London- d. sometime before 1999 in Hamilton, Ontario).
My grandmother’s family were from Cornwall. Her father Edward John Thomas(b. 1858 Cornwall-d. 13 February 1892 London), and mother Maria Gartrell Rickard(b. 19 September 1862 Callington, Cornwall-d. 2 June 1914 London, Ontario) immigrated to West Nissouri sometime around 1890 as they can be found in the 1891 Canada Census. There is some indication from their son’s census returns of 1911that they came via Boston. They had four children Arthur Edward(b. 17 October 1884- d.6 March 1919 of the influenza outbreak in London, Ontario), Maude Maria Beatrice(b. 2 July 1886 Cornwall- d. ?), Raleigh Ewart Cornelius(1889 Falmoth, Cornwall, England- d. ?). and Hilda May(my grandmother)(b. 29 April 1892 London, Ontario- d. 1970 London, Ontario).

The photo is of Hilda May and Maude Maria Beatrice 1918.

Canadian Headstones Photo Project

2009-07-06T10:34:00.001-04:00

A new attempt to put digital photos of tombstones online is the Canadian Headstones Photo Project.

The mission (as stated on the webpage) of this project is to capture digital images of headstones of our ancestors. As decades pass -- many stones are becoming harder, if not impossible, to read the inscriptions they originally contained.

By archiving the images, we can help save these important records and also assist researchers using this valuable resource.
This Headstone Photo Project is a privately sponsored, non-profit, educational site. Success of the Project depends completely upon the activities of many volunteers and other individuals who contribute photographs to the archive.
I looked at the Ontario section and there is nothing there yet. But it will come.
The project can be found at www.canadianheadstones.com

Canada's 142nd Birthday

2009-07-01T17:04:00.002-04:00

It's only been celebrated as Canada Day since 1983; but it remains a day for barbecues and beer. Here in southern Ontario it is cold and rainy but the parties are still on.
Although Canada only came into existence in 1867 many of our immigrants such as the Hillman's came to Upper Canada(as it was then known) well before Canada became a nation. Looking back at your family history can be one of the most satisfying educational trips into our country's past.

Ontario Archives have moved

2009-06-18T08:43:00.001-04:00

The Ontario government has partnered with York University to create a new home for the Archives of Ontario. A new and modern facility for the Archives was opened yesterday on the main York University campus, at 4700 Keele Street, in Toronto.
The Ontario Archives collections have:
over 1.7 million photographs
more than 200,000 architectural plans
approximately 40,000 maps
over 40,000 audio, video and film recordings
And almost 2,500 historical and contemporary works of art in the Government of Ontario Art Collection administered by the Archives.
For those of us who do not live in Toronto York University is far more accessible than was downtown Toronto. Also the Ontario Archives has been developing a strong online presence, http://www.archives.gov.on.ca , a must see web site for genealogists.

Famous Hillman's

2009-06-10T14:17:00.002-04:00

Many eagerly research their family tree hoping to find a famous person. Personally, I tend to follow the line- " we are looking at who to point the finger at!" After years of looking I have found tailors, stone masons, store clerks, one drain inspector, one railroad engineer, and dozens of farmers. No entertainers, no movie stars, no princes or kings, no N.H.L. players(although if I could find the link to Larry Hillman I would be in the money). Equally, I haven't found a hanging or jail sentence yet either. It seems that I belong to a family that has been basically salt of the earth. Not so bad after all.

Dutton Hockey

2009-05-31T08:48:00.004-04:00

When going through my father's things I came across two cloth badges that says it all about the state of the hockey teams in Dutton in the late thirties and early fourties.
The high school badge would have been Bruce Ivan Hillman's. Both Bruce and John A.(my father) played for the Dutton Thistles of the Ontario Rural Hockey League from 1938 to 1942.

Steeles & Thomas's

2009-05-20T10:04:00.003-04:00

My father John Arnold Hillman married Audrey June Steele 28 June, 1947 in London, Ontario.My mother's family were a mixture of Scottish and Cornish with a dash of English thrown in.
My grandmother Hilda May Thomas(1892-1970) represented the Cornish element while the Scottish and the touch of English was my grandfather William Fletcher Steele(1885-1935).
Edward John Thomas(1858-1892) and Maria Gartrell Rickard Thomas(1862-1914) immigrated to Canada sometime in 1890 or early in 1891. They were from Callington, Cornwall. Their other children Arthur Edward(1884-1919), Maude Maria Beatrice(1886-?), and Raleigh Ewart Cornelius(1889-?) were all born in Callington. Hilda May was born in London, Ontario. Edward John was a market gardener near the village of Thorndale, Nissouri North township just north and east of London, Ontario.
The Steeles were in the Thorndale area somewhat earlier than the Thomas's. Matthew Steele(1805-?)and Mary Anne Fletcher(1815-before 1881) immigrated somewhat before 1845 from Scotland. Their children were Donald(1845-1914), Archibald(1847-1907), Andrew(1848-?), Laura(1851), John(1856-?). All were born in Canada. Donald Steele(my great grandfather married Mary Jane Coleman(1848-1933)(the touch of English). William Fletcher Steele(1885-1935) married Hilda May Thomas 31 December 1918 in London, Ontario.

To the right in the photo is Audrey June Steele in either 1943 or 44. She joined the Canadian Army as a nurse in 1942.

Clathan, Elgin County, Ontario

2009-01-13T14:34:00.004-05:00

Clathan has been mentioned several times before. It was here that John Hillman and Isabella(May) Hillman eventually settled in 1859 from Mosa Township.
Clathan is located at the junction of the counties of Elgin, Middlesex, and Kent. Apparently its name comes from the Gaelic meaning a strong or rocky place. Some of the original families to settle around Clathan were Gibbs, McKillops, Scotts, and Campbells.
The first school was built in 1852, and then moved in 1891 between the 2nd. And 3rd. Concessions amongst a grove of oak trees thus the name “Oak Grove school”. It was a bustling little community up to the 2nd. World War with two general stores, a post office(1858-1914), a wagon maker and blacksmith, a machine shop and pump factory, and the Clathan Community Hall(built 1914). The Aldborough Plains Baptist Church was built in 1872, and then moved (and renovated) to Clathan in 1948.

A Pioneering History : Elgin County 1896,1971.
Aldborough: The Township with a Past, Harley Lashbrook.
Map: The Canadian Atlas Digital Project: McGill University 2001.

Happy 89th. Jack

2009-01-10T20:21:00.002-05:00

John Arnold Hillman turned 89 today. Happy Birthday Dad.

William James Hillman 1848-1922

2009-01-06T10:17:00.003-05:00

William James Hillman was born 25June, 1948 to John Hillman and Isabella May in Euphemia Township. He died on 12 June, 1922 in Mosa Township. He married Margaret Patterson on the 24th May, 1870.
Their children were:
John Henry Hillman(20 Dec. 1870-1962). He married Annie Rogers 8 Jan. 1900 in Manitoba.
Bella May Hillman(2 June 1873-27 Oct. 1879).
Duncan P. Hillman(26 Mar. 1875-?). I am still researching Duncan Hillman. I suspect that he settled in Manitoba sometime before 1900.
Daniel Hillman (11 June 1877-1975). I have mentioned Daniel earlier. He served overseas in World War1 as a railroad engineer. He married Bertha Jean Smith on 9 Aug. 1920.
Nancy Hillman(30 Sept. 1879-?).
Annie Hillman(1880-?). She married Joseph D. Randall on 2 Aug. 1899.
Mary Belle Hillman(15 June 1881-?).
Margaret Martha Hillman(19 Oct. 1885-?). she married Percy Gosnell 14 June 1905.
William Angus Hillman(16 Feb. 1889-?). He married Grace Ruth Sillette 21 April 1914.

Nathaniel Hillman 1840-1935

2008-12-26T10:22:00.002-05:00

W. Nathaniel Hillman was born 6 January 1840 to George Hillman and Susanna Browne in Euphemia Township. He died in 1935 in Middlesex County. He married Margaret Sinclair 9 February 1869 in Middlesex County. Margaret Sinclair died on 29 September 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
Their children were:
1.Elizabeth(Lizzy) Hillman 1870-?
2.George S. Hillman in Mosa Township, Middlesex County 1872-?
3.James Hillman in Alvinston, Brooke Township, Lambton County 1875-?
4.Lena S. Hillman 13March 1885-?
5.Susan Helena Hillman in Lambton County 13March 1886-?
6.Charles B. Hillman 7March 1889-?
7.Thomas Francis Hillman in Aldborough Township, Elgin County 10June 1909-?

My Rant for now

2008-11-14T10:38:00.001-05:00

Well here I go with a rant on several topics. Being a Canadian usually I have little to say and stew inside instead.
The first is a mistake made by Ancestry.ca in an advertisement for Remembrance Day. They mistakenly put a German soldier rather than a Canadian one in the ad. They apologized for the mistake and mistakes can happen.
While organizing my father’s service medals I found that he was (I thought) missing one. Apparently not. It appears that the European campaign medal is only issued for six months active service. A year and four months spent on your butt in a POW camp does not count. Apparently in the British and American cases it does. It would appear that Veteran Affairs has a double standard. One on hand there is a considerable effort in remembering the sacrifices of the veterans, and on the other Veteran Affairs nit picks over the issue of medals that these vets deserve.
Lastly, Library and Archives Canada entered into an agreement with Ancestry.ca to digitalize the Quebec City immigration records, Canadian immigration lists from 1865 to 1935, and other records held by Archives Canada. All of these records were to appear on the free LAC website. Where are they?
I understand that it is a non cash agreement; however, there should be more clarification as to what the agreement involves.