I was very interested to read Dave Allston's 80 years of history at the Carleton Tavern (Kitchissippi Times). The Moran family that he references is none other than my own: The Morans immediately converted the house back into a grocery store. Thomas Moran and his family resided upstairs, while a series of shopkeepers operated the … Continue reading Carleton Tavern history
"Al [Lunney] has this advice for budding genealogists. DO IT NOW, before you lose the members of the older generation who know the family lore." -- Al and Jeri Lunney and the Lunney Genealogy, The Millstone (11 September 2013)
During the 1930s Alex and Annie operated a small grocery shop in their home on Armstrong St. In the depths of the depression my father, who was a railroader, got very little work and we were often short of cash. At those times our credit was good and we could always get the essentials at … Continue reading Occupation: Married Woman (Canada Voters Lists, 1935-1980)
Newspaper obituaries often supply loads of genealogically useful information, along with interesting forename and surname spellings. Here, for example, is the obituary for my paternal great-grandfather Alexander Michael Moran (1871-1939). A fairly standard obituary, which informs readers of the death of A.M. Moran, and supplies practical information about the arrangements for his funeral and burial. … Continue reading Death of Alexander Michael Moran
Yesterday morning I spoke with Robin Averill of The Gaelic Hour. Great chat, and some Ottawa Valley music too. Podcast is here, and also below:
You know you're a census geek when you find yourself reading the "Nominal Return(s) of Deaths" from the Canadian census returns. The "Nominal Return of the Deaths within the last twelve months" (1871 Census of Canada, Ontario, Carleton County, Township of March) for the Township of March records twenty deaths in the township for the … Continue reading Scarlet fever deaths in March Township, 1870-1871
O.J. [Oliver John] Abbott, Home Child, singing "The Barley Grain For Me" with Pete Seeger, at the Newport Folk Festival, 1959-60: How/why did this English orphan from Paddington, London know so many of the old Irish tunes? Because when he was sent to Canada, as an 8- or 9-year old boy, he was placed with … Continue reading The Barley Grain For Me (O.J. Abbott and Pete Seeger)
If you read genealogy 'how-to' books, 'researching your family history' guidebooks, advice for oral historians, and so on and so forth, you've no doubt already come across this very obvious, but very important, piece of advice. But the advice (or admonition) is so important, I believe (and I speak from bitter, regretful experience), that I … Continue reading Research Tip of the Day (Oral History Interviews)
