Remembrance Day

This Remembrance Day...

I am honoring those from my family who served during the first and second world wars... While there are many others in my family who have served in the Canadian Forces, these are just a few of the photos I have found over the years doing my family tree. 

 Henry Thompson   -  Thomas Thompson Jr

 Flora Crerar (she was a nurse) -  Unknown Ramsay

 Henry Thompson (and Company)

John Francis Darlington  -  Unknown Brothers (Ramsay's I believe)

Wedding Wednesday

L to R:  Barbara (nee Torbole) Nicoletti, Maria Nicoletti, Isabella Nicoletti (bride), Kurt Schneider (groom), Assunta Nicoletti & Toni Zuglioni

Taken I believe in the 1930's in Germany

Back to Researching

A few months ago I packed away my genealogy research - life had gotten a little hectic and with so many brick walls in my way I decided to take a break.  Recently I unpacked those binders and papers from the dark recesses of my bookshelf and decided to tackle it once again!

What's New:

I decided to do some cleaning up on my tree - filling in blanks and citing sources etc.

Recently I helped a friend start her family tree - we took at trip to the Ontario Archives and were able to fill in a few blanks to get to her next generation.  We had a great time!

As you might have noticed I also did some re-vamping on my blog look.  New header and layout to freshen things up a bit.

Now that things have slowed down with work I will be back to my regular posting schedule.

Anyone have any exciting discoveries??

Saturday Surname - Grisdale

The Grisdale line of my family is somewhat daunting... it's HUGE!  And I've only scratched the surface of that family...

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Symond Grysdall was born 1606 in Dowthwaitehead, Matterdale, Cumberland, England, and died December 24, 1692 in Norman Crag, Hutton Roof, Cumberland, England.  He married (1) Jane Unknown.    He married (2) Agnes Moore February 03, 1661/62 in Hawkshead, Cumberland, or Lancashire,  England.  She was born 1611 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England


Children of Symond & Jane:
Thomas Grisdale was born September 1639 in Borrowscale, Matterdale, Cumberland, England, and died July 24, 1702 in Norman Crag, Hutton Roof, Cumberland, England. He married Dorothy Rakestreye April 25, 1664 in Greystoke, Cumberland, England, daughter of Henry Raikestray. She was born May 18, 1643 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England, and died July 23, 1696.


Children of Thomas Grisdale and Dorothy Rakestreye are:

a)  Anne Grisdale, born November 25, 1665 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England; Borranskell..
b)  Thomas Grisdale, born September 22, 1667 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England.
c)  Jane Grisdale, born December 16, 1669 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England. She married John Thompson June 21, 1688 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England.
d)  Margaret Grisdale, born January 18, 1670/71 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England; died October 28, 1673 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England.
e)  Solomon Grisdale, born March 18, 1673/74 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England. He married Mary Earl November 20, 1693 in Lamesley, Dur, England.
f)  Dorothy Grisdale, born November 25, 1677 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England; died Abt. January 26, 1778 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England.
g)  Jonathon Grisdale, born July 11, 1680.
h)  Charles Grisdale, born March 11, 1681/82 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England.
i)  Joseph Grisdale was born Bef. November 08, 1685 in Borrowscale, Matterdale, Cumberland, England, and died December 11, 1750 in Townhead, Matterdale, Cumberland, England. He married Jane Martin November 30, 1709 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England, daughter of George Martin and Agnes Shaw. She was born May 08, 1687 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England, and died December 05, 1769 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England.

Children of Joseph Grisdale and Jane Martin are:

a)  Ann Grisdale, born March 19, 1710/11 in Matterdale, Cul, Eng;; died March 19, 1710/11 in Matterdale, Cul, Eng;.
b)  Benjamin Grisdale, born January 24, 1713/14 in Matterdale, Cul, Eng;; died August 05, 1779 in Matterdale, Cul, Eng;. He married Ann Brown January 20, 1737/38 in Greystoke, Cumb. Eng.; born 1717 in Watermillock, Cumberland, England.
c)  John Grisdale, born Bef. February 25, 1715/16 in Crookwath, Matterdale, Cul, Eng; died May 02, 1791 in Matterdale, Cul, Eng;.
d)  Solomon Grisdale, born April 24, 1718 in Douthwaite, Matterdale, Cumb. Eng; died June 05, 1778.
e)  Joseph Grisdale, born Bef. March 30, 1721 in Matterdale, Cul, Eng;; died 1722.
f)  Esther Grisdale, born March 03, 1721/22 in Matterdale, Cul, Eng;.
g)  Joseph Grisdale was born May 15, 1729 in Townhead, Matterdale, Cumberland, England, and died January 16, 1806 in Greenhead, Watermillock, Cumb. Eng.. He married Ann Temple May 30, 1757 in Matterdale, Cumberland, England. She was born 1736 in Blencow,England., and died May 1811 in Greenhead, Cumberland, England.


Children of Joseph Grisdale and Ann Temple are:
a)  John Grisdale, born June 09, 1758.
b)  Jane Grisdale, born January 02, 1760.
c)  Benjamin Grisdale, born 1764 in Townhead, Matterdale, Cumberland, England; died July 28, 1848 in Whitehaven, Cunberland, England.
d)  Timothy Grisdale, born November 26, 1769 in Townhead, Matterdale, Cumberland, England.
e)  Joseph Grisdale, born March 30, 1771 in Townhead, Matterdale, Cumberland, England; died June 06, 1800 in Greenhead, Watermillock, CUL. Eng..
f)  Thomas Grisdale, born March 18, 1772 in Townhead, Matterdale, Cumberland, England.
g)  Robert Grisdale, born Bef. February 23, 1775 in Watermillock, Cumb. Eng.; died May 23, 1840 in Bolton Lan, England
h)  George Grisdale was born October 25, 1761 in Dockray, Matterdale, Cumberland, England, and died March 1842 in Hudson, Canada East.  St.James Church.  He married Hanna Moreland December 26, 1784 in Brougham, Penrith, Cumberland, England, daughter of Thomas Moreland.  She was born Bef. December 26, 1761 in Brougham, Cumberland, England., and died February 1833 in Hudson, Quebec, Canada

Children of George Grisdale and Hanna Moreland are:


a)  Ann Grisdale, born Abt. 1785 in Brougham, Westmoreland, England; died May 13, 1864 in Hudson, Que..
b)  John Grisdale was born August 24, 1788 in Brougham, Westmorland, England, and died August 03, 1866 in Cote St. Charles, Quebec, Canada.  He married Elizabeth Halton December 03, 1809 in Watermillock, Cumberland, England, daughter of Timothy Halton and Ann Slee.  She was born April 27, 1788 in Watermillock, Cumb. Eng., and died June 04, 1865

Children of John Grisdale and Elizabeth Halton are:


a)  Joseph Albert Grisdale, born May 1810 in Watermillock, Cumberland, England; died June 08, 1900 in Cote St Charles,Vaudreuil Co. Quebec.
b)  Benjamin H Grisdale, born September 15, 1816 in Watermillock, Cumberland, England; died January 09, 1893 in New York, NY, USA.
c)  Elizabeth Grisdale, born June 13, 1824 in Vaudreuil, Quebec, Canada..
d)  Hannah Grisdale, born June 25, 1827 in Vaudreuil, Lower Canada; died May 13, 1880 in Hudson, Vaudreuil, Quebec. She married James Ewart; born 1830.

e)  John Grisdale was born 1813 in Watermillock, Cumberland, England..  He married Lydia Mary Jones November 02, 1842 in St. James Anglican Church, Hudson, Quebec, Canada.  She was born 1826 in Quebec, Canada, and died December 18, John married Lydia Mary Jones 2 Nov 1842 St James Anglican Church, Hudson, Quebec.

Children of John Grisdale and Lydia Jones are:

a)  Elizabeth Grisdale.
b)  Nancy Grisdale, born September 04, 1844 in Vandreil, Quebec, Canada.
c)  Rosanna Grisdale, born December 13, 1847 in Vandreuil, Quebec, Canada.
d)  Edith Grisdale, born July 14, 1851 in Vandreuil, Quebec, Canada.
e)  Alwin Grisdale, born 1855.
f)  Alfred Grisdale was born April 03, 1846 in Cote St. Charles, Quebec, Canada, and died February 14, 1931 in Bruce Mills, Ontario, Canada.  He married Louisa Gendron 1871, daughter of Pierre Gendron and Eugere Laramee.  She was born June 02, 1847 in Canada, and died 1939 in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada.
 

Children of Alfred Grisdale and Louisa Gendron are:

a)  Mary Grisdale
b)  Lisa Grisdale.
c)  Margaret (Maggie) Grisdale.
d)  Leon Grisdale, born June 25, 1866.
e)  William Alfred Grisdale, born February 20, 1879 in Pinery Point, Port Severn, (Muskoka side) Ontario, Canada; died February 14, 1976 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
f)  Albert Grisdale, born November 25, 1880 in Ontario, Canada.
g)  John Grisdale, born September 24, 1883 in Ontario, Can.
h)  Edith Grisdale, born August 01, 1885 in Ontario, Canada.
i)  Lilly Grisdale, born December 31, 1887 in Ontario, Canada.
j)  George Grisdale, born October 13, 1889 in Ontario, Canada; died October 1967 in Howell, Livingston.
k)  Teresa Grisdale, born January 03, 1892 in Ontario, Canada.

l)  James Grisdale was born January 27, 1872 in Port Severn, Ontario, Canada, and died May 26, 1958 in Penatanguishene, Ontario, Canada.  He married Marie Oxane Lefaivre May 20, 1895 in St Ann's Church, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada.  She was born March 08, 1879 in Penatanguishene, Ontario, Canada, and died August 10, 1952 in Penatanguishene, Ontario, Canada.

Children of James Grisdale and Marie Oxane Lefaivre are:

a)  Peter Grisdale, born October 16, 1898.
b)  Joseph Grisdale, born May 31, 1905 in Victoria Harbour, Ontario, Canada.; died November 28, 1990 in Penatanguishene, Ontario, Canada.
c)  Katheleen Grisdale, born 1908.
d)  Adeline Grisdale, born May 09, 1913.
e)  Willard Grisdale, born 1916.
f)  Beatrice Grisdale, born July 16, 1919.
g) Alfred James Grisdale was born April 02, 1896, and died January 26, 1964.  He married Marie Margaret Marchildon September 25, 1917, daughter of Thomas Marchildon and Marie Vallee.  She was born October 21, 1897, and died December 16, 1986.

Children of Alfred Grisdale and Marie Marchildon are:


a)  Living Grisdale, born June 25, 1918. She married Unknown Dione.
b)  Living Grisdale, born February 06, 1920. He married Alma Marie Longrie August 13, 1945 in North Bay, Ont. Can.; born December 08, 1924.
c)  Living Grisdale, born January 08, 1922; died September 04, 1999.
d)  Living Grisdale, born May 24, 1924; died October 07, 1999. She married Living Arnold.

e)  Helen Agnes Grisdale, born 1926; died April 08, 1968. She married James Thompson.

f)  Living Grisdale, born March 22, 1928. She married Living Cascanette September 10, 1948; born May 21, 1910; died April 1970.
g)  Living Grisdale.
h)  Living Grisdale.
i)  Living Grisdale.
j)  Living Grisdale.
k)  Living Grisdale.

Guest Post - Researching your Northern Irish Roots

Today we have a quest post from my friend Suzanne who lives in Northern Ireland.  We started chatting a little over two years ago through RootsChat and found out we had a lot in common!  Outside of Family History we are both avid readers and knitters. 
She's helped me tremedously with my Irish Ancestors!  Just before Christmas I asked Suzanne if she would be interested in writing up a guest post about Researching in Northern Ireland..

Without further ado...

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At the age of 29, a long term health condition forced me to “slow down” and take life at a much easier pace than I had previously done before. Family History was not an obvious hobby to take up at my age, as in the past I had quietly chuckled at those who were genealogy enthusiasts, secretly thinking it was a bit dull and boring and “only for old folks and Americans”. My mother had begged me for years to look into her tree, but I simply was too busy with a hectic social life and work and just wasn’t really interested.

Until one day, five years ago I was browsing the net. I came across a website containing birth death and marriage transcriptions for my county. I suddenly thought about my mum’s eternal request and her mother’s name popped into my head. Now, I thought, I bet there’s no way on earth she’ll be found here…… so I typed in the name and….. I got the shock of my life when her name appeared in the results. It was the only result, so I knew it was her. In a trice I had bought the record and I’ll never ever forget that thrill of excitement I felt when I read the information! That was me- hooked on the spot and still hooked five years later!

From there, things progressed quite quickly. As most genealogists are aware, a tree with Irish ancestors is not easy to research! Our precious records were mostly burned in a fire in Dublin in 1922- including most census information. The first complete surviving census was taken in 1901. 1911 also survives today in its entirety. Aside from that, the most valuable resources are Birth Death and Marriage records, The Griffiths Valuation, Street Directories, and Wills and of course parish records, where they exist.


Civil registration of Non-Catholic marriages began in 1845, whereas all births, deaths and marriages were required to be registered from 1864 onwards. Of course, it was several years before this law was properly observed by all. So, whilst it is a great place to starts looking for that elusive Irish ancestor, sadly not all such events were registered with the authorities. For example, the deaths of my great great great grandparents Arthur and Maria Magee do not appear to be registered, even though I am certain they died after 1864.


The most useful resource to anyone researching in Northern Ireland, is the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.  The website contains various resources such as The Ulster Covenant, which is a list of names of those who signed Carson’s petition against Home Rule in 1912. It also has a wealth of information contained in searchable Street Directories, as well as the newly launched digitised images of wills in the Wills Calendar section.  Note that the actual PRONI building (which holds the microfiche copies of old Parish Registers) is currently closed as it has relocated to the prestigious and more accessible location of the new Titanic Quarter in Belfast.

The Griffiths Valuation was the first full scale valuation of property in Ireland, carried out by Richard Griffiths and published between 1847 and 1864. It is one of the most important pre-civil registration resources as it lists the names of every head of household. It can be found here: Griffith's Valuation 


In the five years of researching my family tree on both my mother’s and father’s side, I feel like I have been on a journey round the world with them! On my mother’s side they originated from lowland Scotland, then to County Tyrone and then, in the 1860’s they came to Belfast to find work in the rapidly expanding city. The women mainly worked in the mills and factories whilst the men worked in foundries or laboured at the shipyards.


On my father’s side, his grandfather’s entire family immigrated to Australia, leaving him behind. That was one of the most exciting discoveries, tracing their family from deepest darkest County Fermanagh all the way to Yan Yean, Victoria, Australia! In both families there have been joys and tragedies, scandals and secrets. The most wonderful part of researching your family tree is that it will never be finished, and there is always another elusive ancestor out there just waiting to be found.

Thank you so much Suzanne!

Funeral Card Friday - Elizabeth Thompson Ramsay

Elizabeth (Thompson) Ramsay
born 1 May 1865 in Connor, Antrim, Northern Ireland
daughter of Thomas Thompson and Nancy Agnes Andrew

Sister of: Ann, John, Thomas, Sarah Jane, James, James, Adam and Henry

Wife of John Ramsay

Wordless Wednesday - Candid Moments

Top Row: L to R

Jim Thompson & Andy Thompson

Andy Jr & John Ramsay

Andy Thompson Sr & Isabella (Crerar) Thompson

Bottom Row:  L to R

Andy Thompson Jr & Harry Ramsay

Andy Jr & Cousin