What's New - December 22, 2011
It's Been a Busy 2011. If I have not responded to your email - try again!
My new situation in Brighton has developed very well. I am getting involved with community activities such as the Library Board and working towards an Archive. Also, I am a member of the Brighton Arts Council and have been able to set up my booth and display my boards at numerous events in the past year. In addition, there have been several speaking engagements where I could expound on my genealogy or local history. Lot's of fun! Unfortunately, with all that other stuff going on, I have had less time to spend of genealogy. And my InBox reflects that. I hope to work at cleaning up back email over the next months - but it's a slow process. Please, if you sent me email a while ago and I did not respond, send it again! Thanks for your patience.
Topics of Recent Genealogy Research
Stephens
A local contact asked about the Stephens family in Seymour Township, out around Burnbrae and English Line. I had some of them in the data due to connections already there but had no idea how extensive this name would be in that area. There are a lot more Stephens records in there now. This was great because it allowed me to make many connections to well-known names in the area. Feel free to add to the info if you like. /p>
Beatty
A local contact asked my about a particular Beatty family that settled in Hope Township. There are several families by this name and various spellings in the area (in Cobourg, Haldimand) but I was interest in this one in Hope Twp. You can see there is more detail. Feel free to add to it if you can.
Winter
There have been several spells of work on this name due to connections with other early settler families around Haldimand Township. Co-incidentally, I had two separate contacts re this family around the same time and it spurred me to look more closely. There are some more connections but much to be done. I'd really like to get the land records at the Cobourg Archives for this family - when time allows. Please help with this if you can.
Ames Reunion in Manitoba
One of the most enjoyable events I participated in during the last year was an Ames family reunion in Manitoba. These Ames folks are descendants of Joseph Ames, one son of the early settler Ames family that came to Mount Olivet in 1850 from Waupoos Island in Prince Edward County. Joseph moved to the Riding Mountain area northwest of Winnipeg just before 1900 and the two groups lost touch with each other. As a result of my early research I visited with them in 2005 but this time I caught wind of a renunion they were planning on Labour Day weekend. I took my information and did a gab session in the back room of a local Legion Hall with a couple dozen people milling about. Several of the ladies sat down and wrote names and dates in the trees to fill in my information. It was altogether a great experience. Thanks all, for a good time!