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Conference 2014
I've Got My DNA Results But What Do I Do Next?
Debbie Kennett
Debbie led us through the process of understanding our results, dealing with our matches, using third-party tools, and getting help. In the first part of the workshop we looked at Y-DNA and mtDNA results. How do you decide which matches are worth pursuing? What do you do if you have too many matches—or none? Which projects should you join? In the second half, she looked at what to do with your autosomal DNA test results. What do those ethnicity results really mean? What is chromosome mapping? What resources are available to help you? Note that this workshop will focus specifically on results obtained from testing with Family Tree DNA and 23andMe.
British Military Records to 1919
Paul Milner
Different records are created for officers and enlisted men in the British Army. Paul used case studies to trace the involvement of officers and enlisted men in various theatres around the world, during several periods, including the War of 1812. The numbers increased dramatically with WWI, as over 5.5 million served in the Army. Paul used case studies to show original records and new indexes, and to highlight what is and is not online for tracing the British soldier up to 1919.
Research Your English and Welsh Ancestors
Lesley Anderson and Ken McKinlay
Are you looking to get your English and Welsh family history research off on the right foot, or catch up on newly available resources? Lesley and Ken will introduce the key sources you can use to get started and go further in your family history research. Using case studies they will focus on historical records available online through such sites as Ancestry, findmypast and FamilySearch, while not overlooking offline resources. There will be plenty of tips for successful searching!
English Gazetteers: Their History and Practical Use in Genealogy
Paul Jones
We researchers of English descent can turn to many gazetteers, including several published during our ancestors’ lifetimes, but few of us have stopped to ask whether they are all equally appropriate to our needs. In this lecture, Paul first briefly traced the history of gazetteers in England, with a focus on developments helpful to genealogists. Next he identified those most likely to be encountered by Ontario-based family historians, how they can be readily accessed, and their comparative scope, comprehensiveness, accuracy and originality. Thirdly, he described and assessed other more modern geographical finding aids for England, both print and online. Finally, he gave practical examples of how gazetteers and other geographical finding aids can help you identify and describe places and determine the civil, parliamentary or ecclesiastical hierarchies associated with the records for those places.
Running a Successful Surname DNA Project
Debbie Kennett
A Y-chromosome DNA project can provide unique insights into a surname that cannot be found by researching the paper records alone. It can be used to investigate a surname’s origins and variants. It can also provide additional verification for family trees, further clues for research, and assistance in demolishing brick walls. Debbie looked at how to run a successful DNA project and offered tips on marketing and advertizing. The interpretation of the results can be challenging. How many markers should you test? How do you determine whether a match is valid? How do you interpret matches with other surnames? What is SNP testing and should you be using it? What is comprehensive Y-
Monthly meetings
8 February 2014
Gaelic Naming Customs
Robert Burns McDonald
A third of Canadians' ancestors hailed from Ireland and Scotland where they were part of a Gaelic-speaking civilisation that extended throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. This Gaelic heritage is reflected in names which start with Mac, Mc, O’, Mul or Kil. At this Before BIFHSGO presentation, Bob McDonald discussed Gaelic naming customs and their relation to the Gaelic language, the oldest literary language in Northern Europe and once widely spoken in Canada.