Upcoming Webinar - Digging Your Canadian Roots

Join me Tuesday afternoon, February 28, 2012 for my webinar:
Digging Your Canadian Roots

• Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2012
• Time: 2:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Pacific
• Presenter: Kathryn Lake Hogan, owner of LOOKING4ANCESTORS
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Price: Free 
• Experience Level: Beginner

About the Webinar

Discover how to research your Canadian ancestors. Learn techniques and tips for researching Canadian records, as well as the best websites for Canadian family history. 

What You'll Learn

• A Brief History of Canada
• Where to Start
• Census Records
• Birth, Marriage and Death Registrations
• Land Records
• Military Records
• Provincial Resources

Who Should Attend

• Anyone who has Canadian ancestors
• Anyone who has ancestors that spent time in Canada
• Volunteers and librarians who want to help patrons learn about Canadian family history

Copyright by Kathryn Lake Hogan, 2012.

UCLP Images are Online

Did you know that the Upper Canada Land Petition (1763-1865) images are available online?
I discovered this news from the Library and Archives Canada website.
Are you exited? I am!
But wait, there is a catch. These images are not linked to the Upper Canada Land Petition Index. Although this does require a bit of work to find the image, it is worth it. No more having to wait weeks and weeks for microfilm to arrive through inter-library loan at the library.


Here is how to find your ancestor's petition in the indexes and the images.


First go the Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865) Index, and perform a search for you ancestor.

Once you have the results, click on your ancestor's name.

This will take you to the detailed page for your ancestor.

From this result make note of the microfilm number, the bundle number and the petition number.


Second, go to the Microform Digitization database of the Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865). Click on the "Next" button to navigate through the film numbers to find the one you found in the index. From the results I found for my ancestor, Albert Ryckman, the film number was C-2741.

Click on the film number. This takes you to the digitized images of the land petitions. You will have to manually search through the pages of the digitized images of the microfilm to find your ancestor's individual land petition. Use the small arrow key to navigate your way through the images, or you can enter a page number in the search box. Once you know which petition number is at the beginning of the film you can "guesstimate" where your ancestor's petition may be, and use the page numbers to find it.


It took me less than five minutes to find my ancestor, Albert Ryckman's petition:

The quality of the image is excellent. No more hard to read photocopies. 
I hope you have success in finding your ancestor's Upper Canada Land Petition.

Copyright by Kathryn Lake Hogan, 2012.

Why Should You Hire a Professional Genealogist?

Sometimes in our family history research we reach a point where we can't go any further. This is often referred to as a brick wall. How family historians deal with their brick walls varies. Some choose to set it aside. Others keep working at it on their own. Some choose to hire a professional genealogist.


Why should you hire a professional genealogist?


1) Not everything can be found on the Internet.
No doubt there is a lot of information that can be found about your ancestors on the Internet. However, if you have reached the point where you can't find anything else, or you know there is information about your ancestor in a specific location you aren't able to access yourself, then it may be time to hire a professional. Hiring a professional genealogist in a certain location will ultimately save you time and money. Genealogists specializing in certain geographic areas, and/or specific ethnic groups know the in's and out's of researching that particular area or group.


2) Education and Experience.
It has been my experience with discussing and networking with other professional genealogists, that professional genealogists take their education seriously. Whether that education is in the form of formal family history courses, or attending conferences, most professional genealogists I know are continually learning. What you gain from hiring a professional genealogist is that knowledge.


3) Professional standards.
When hiring a professional genealogist ask about credentials and standards. If the genealogist is a Certified Genealogist, then he or she has had their work reviewed by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG). Many genealogists are members of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). They agree to uphold themselves to the standards of professional conduct set by the BCG or the APG. Not all professional genealogists are certified, however, this doesn't mean they don't do quality work.


4) Research Rates.
Would you pay your plumber or mechanic $15.00 per hour?
Why do you expect to pay a professional genealogist the same? The rate a professional genealogist charges depends on a number of things such as experience, education, certification, and location.
Are you looking for someone to research your family history, or someone just to do a look-up for you? The reality is hiring a professional genealogist isn't cheap. The rate researchers charge varies from place to place. In a large city such as Toronto, you can expect to pay $50.00 per hour. In smaller cities, you can expect to pay $25.00 - $35.00 per hour. Don't be afraid to ask what you are getting for the research fee.
Hiring a professional genealogist is a lot like buying other things in life; you get what you pay for. If someone offers to do your whole family history for $20.00, I would question the quality and reliability of that genealogist.


5) Know Your Limits.
Ask yourself how much time and money do you have to do the research yourself. You might be able to turn a vacation into a research trip, but then again, you might not. Do you have the time to learn how to do the research in that particular state, province or country? Do you know what you're looking for and where to find it? This where hiring a professional genealogist might save you time, money and frustration.


5) Have a Budget.
Plan a family history budget. Knowing how much you can spend on your family history project will help you determine whether or not you can afford to hire a professional genealogist. Most professional genealogists are willing to work within your budget. They will let you know what amount of research can be done within those financial limits.


6) Ask Questions.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask about education, experience, qualifications. Ask how much research can be done within your budget. Ask.


For more information about hiring a professional genealogist, I suggest you visit the APG website.

Pair of Shoes by Kathryn Hogan, Windsor, ON, 2012.

Remember, hiring a professional genealogist should be like buying a new pair of shoes. If they don't feel comfortable, then it's probably not a good fit.


Copyright by Kathryn Lake Hogan, 2012.

Announcing Free Canadian Family History Webinars

"Canadian Treasures", photo by Kathryn Lake Hogan, Windsor, Ontario, 2012.

Need help researching your ancestors from Canada?

Free webinars to help you with your Canadian family history research have now been scheduled. Please join me on the following dates for these topics:

Digging Your Canadian Roots
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
11:00 am PT
12:00 pm MT
1:00 pm CT
2:00 pm ET
Register here

Making the Most of the Canadian Census Records
Thursday, March 22, 2012
11:00 am PT
12:00 pm MT
1:00 pm CT
2:00 pm ET
Register here

Canadian Ports of Entry: Ship Passenger Lists, Immigration Records and Border Crossing Records
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
11:00 am PT
12:00 pm MT
1:00 pm CT
2:00 pm ET
Register here

Fighting for the King: Researching Your American Revolutionary Loyalist Ancestor
Thursday, May 24, 2012
11:00 am PT
12:00 pm MT
1:00 pm CT
2:00 pm ET
Register here

Mapping Your Ancestors' Footsteps
Thursday, June 21, 2012
11:00 am PT
12:00 pm MT
1:00 pm CT
2:00 pm ET
Register here


Copyright by Kathryn Lake Hogan, 2012.

Martin Sheen's Curiosity

This past Monday, NBC Universal held a press and media conference call with Martin Sheen. LOOKING4ANCESTORS was fortunate to be invited to attend this conference call. The first episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, Season 3, which aired February 3rd, featured Mr. Sheen.

During the course of the WDYTYA television episode it was easy to see Mr. Sheen's passion for his family's history. This was also apparent in the conference call interview. Mr. Sheen shared with us his first "wow moment". It was the reason why his mother, Mary Ann Phelan came to America. Mary Ann had been sent away for her own protection because of her brother, Michael Phelan's involvement in the Irish Civil War. She was meant to go back to Ireland when the fighting stopped, but never did. "And so it was a very, very satisfying moment for me to know that she too was involved", commented Mr. Sheen.


Through the research process, the discovery of the connection between Don Diego Francisco Suarez, and the young woman Don Diego had prosecuted for a moral crime in the 1700's was "the biggest surprise and the most intriguing part of the journey", said Mr. Sheen. Turns out Don Diego was Mr. Sheen's 4th great-grandfather, and the young woman was also Mr. Sheen's ancestor. Descendants of both Don Diego and the young woman married, and this couple was Mr. Sheen's great-grandparents!


When asked what is the number one reason someone should look into their family history, Mr Sheen replied "Well gosh it would be hard to place one reason at the top. If I had to and that would be all I would be given I would say just natural born curiosity should inspire one to look from whence we came in order to better prepare for where we are going.
So I would say that the measure of curiosity that one naturally feels is the best instinct to go with, embrace and get set for an amazing journey."

Well said Mr. Sheen.

Copyright by Kathryn Lake Hogan, 2012.