I’m in the process of reviewing, updating, and ‘closing’ research on various branches of my ancestral lines. I gathered a vast amount of research over the years and need to consolidate, paper, electronic and other information. This is the first post identifying the research I am finalizing and I am inviting readers to contact me if this family is of interest to you. My philosophy is that there is a point where I can say...

From Scotland to Upper Canada The following commentary was collected from 1815 settlers by the Rev. William Bell and recorded in his diaries. The original diary, comprised of fifteen volumes, is now held in the Douglas Library at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. At the age of sixty-six William Bell sat down and wrote a digest of his diaries, condensing them to two small volumes of about 180 pages each. Several sites provide a copy...

Alice Whyte Ferrier (1888-1974) Alice Whyte Ferrier Miller 1968 on her 80th birthday I have just polished a silver-plated casserole stand and cover, preparing it for the next phase of its journey. It is time to pass it on. Granny, an accomplished needlewoman, often vied for the top exhibitor status at the local fairs and the casserole, won at the Perth Fair one year, was one of her prize possessions. As a child, I remember it frequently...

Research notes Where did the Poole family settle in Wexford? On June 30 1922, during the Irish Civil War, the Public Records Office of Ireland, located at the historic Four Courts in Dublin, was severely damaged by fire resulting in the loss of a huge number of records. The 1881 and 1891 census were pulped during the First World War, probably because of the paper shortage. These are just a couple of the reasons why tracking Irish ancestry has...

Choosing the most likely of the three options for my first in-depth look at history I needed to learn more about the Palatine Pooles. I discovered a website that focused on the Hartrick family, another family from this group. The name caught my interest because John Hartrick married Susanna Poole in Ossory in 1807.John George and George Hartrick were among the families who settled in Old Ross. Lester J. Hartrick, a Chicago descendant has...

My Great Grandmother was Alice Charlotte Margaret Poole who married John Ferrier 24 Mar 1886. Until recently I’d not thought much about this family connection but a phone call, out of the blue, from an acquaintance of long ago, age 91, started me thinking about it. I can go back to my2G grandfather and 3G grandfather, and identify their family members without too much trouble, but there the trail starts to get muddy. My interest is in the story...