On The Book Shelf...

Recently I discovered this wondering book: “Counting Canada: A Genealogical Guide to the Canadian Census”. This 224-page book guides the reader through the various census in Canada, starting as early as the Acadian Census in the 1600s, through early regional census in the 1800s, to the first “National” census in 1851. The book then follows each of the National Census already released to the public… 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911. Then it continues on with census yet to be release… 1921, 1931, 1941, etc. With each census comes its own set of questions and this book does a great job offering insight into those questions. The author, Dave Obee, says that this book is meant to help researchers “make the most of the Canadian Census.” Mr. Obee is no fly-by-night genealogy specialist. He has been involved with genealogy in a professional manner for several decades. Currently Mr. Obee is teaching family history courses at Royal Roads University and can be found as a keynote speaker at many genealogy events across Canada. The book cost $30 and is available at some specialty book stores or from Mr. Obee’s own website at http://www.daveobee.com

Counting Canada: A Genealogical Guide to the Canadian Census

Dave Obee. 2012. ISBN 9780973514346

Newspaper Archives Online

I am sure that if you are reading this blog, you have spent more than a couple of hours scanning newspaper microfilm reels. You may be so details as to keep your own list of favorite newspaper microfilm reels, the dates they cover and where you can access them in a hurry! Up until the last decade, scanning old newspaper likely required spinning a reel or two at a library or archives.  Now a private Seattle-based company is providing access to hundreds of “small town” newspapers from across America. Small Town Papers (http://www.smalltownpapers.com) is leading the way to having many small, independent newspapers archived online. While the over 250 newspaper are from various parts of US (sorry no Canadian content yet), there is one particular newspaper section that may be of interest to those researching in New Brunswick, more specifically Charlotte County: “The Quoddy Times” which is still alive and well and still published in Eastport, Washington Co., Maine, can be found at http://qdy.stparchive.com/ There are a couple of great things about this website… it is free (ok, so you have a few nagging survey questions) and it is searchable. I must note however that their collection only represents a small portion of the Quoddy Times publication history as it only covers 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1975. Check it out!

On The Book Shelf...

I love finding genealogical treasures! While picking through books at a used book store in Saint John, I discovered a wonderful little book entitled “The Descendants of Charles Dyer Wilcox on Grand Manan Island - New Brunswick Canada”. The small 52-page book was written by the late Mr. Elmer N. Wilcox in 1980 and not only offers great genealogical data on the Wilcox, Card and Dyer families but also several photos of the Wilcox family that I am sure any Wilcox researcher would love. Plus the book offers additional insight on early community of Grand Manan Island. Back in the last century, many folks would privately publish books such as these and today these rare little gems can offer some unique data that we may not find in the archives or library. Books such as these usually use reference material such as family bibles and good old oral discussion with people long departed. It is a great find and will certain be a wonderful source data for those Grand Manan queries that I tend to stumble upon.

"The Descendants of Charles Dyer Wilcox on Grand Manan Island"

Elmer Wilcox, 1980

On The Book Shelf...

A friend recently reminded me of a book on short stories of Charlotte County that was published a few decades. The book, “Stories from the Fog’s Inn” was not on my library shelf and so I went off to search and after a month of poking around online and in the corners of local used book stores, I finally have a copy. Published by Charlotte County Community Ventures Inc. back in 1990, the book is a collection of short stories steep in local folklore. The majority of the book’s sources come from “storytellers” from many of the county’s schools. Despite being full of “stories that my grandfather told me”, this book does provide for an interesting read and sheds light on many local folklores include tales of ghost and place names. A few of my favorite stories include: “Lake Utopia Sea Monster”, “Milkmaid of Tunaville” and “The Legend of Deer Island”. Though not built on facts or historic research, this book is a must for anyone interested in the tales of Charlotte County.

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Stories from the Fog’s Inn

Charlotte County Community Futures Inc. 1990, Beacon Press. ISBN: 0-9694552-0-8