Crafting Accurate Historical Scenes

Saturday Morning Author Series co-sponsored by the Canadian Authors Association, Niagara Branch and St. Catharines Public Library, how to effectively research your written work in order to create strong and authentic historic scenes. I am going to put you to work during this workshop. Identify and focus on the right research avenues for your work to make your story palpable and engaging for your readers. Two scenes from currently published works that 'got it wrong' are dissected and one that 'got it right'. You will be surprised how your work will rise above the dross with just a little extra effort in your historical research.PDF Crafting Accurate Historical Scenes

Mechanics of Finding Family with DNA

98% of your matches are related to you. The other 2% are possibly false matches or would be so remote in time that it would be impossible to prove those matches with documentary evidence. About 86% of the 98% are going to be in the 4th to distant-cousin range, leaving about 12% of your matches in the 2nd to 3rd cousin range. A very small percentage will be considered ‘close’ relationships, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, 1st cousins. However, don’t put too much stock in the relationship estimates between you and your matches as you'll see two examples that put those match estimates into a real-world perspective.PDF DNA in Finding Family

Understanding DNA-A Beginner's Crash Course

This workshop will feel more akin to a Uni biology course. However, if you ever wish to make sense of what your DNA results are attempting to tell you, you really do need to take some time to gain an understanding from where those DNA results come. The groundwork you do here will propel you further ahead when it comes to locating match relationships amongst your results.PDF Understanding DNA

Getting the most out of Records

As you evaluate the information you find in genealogical records, you must always measure the content of those records in terms of how well and in what historical context the facts were recorded. As every reader interprets text in records differently, you must also be certain that you are looking at the records and their content from an objective standpoint devoid of current day prejudices. There are paradigms that can help us determine how to get the most out of the records you have found and still likely need to find. It begins with knowing what information you need, to properly interpreting the records, to responding to the consequences or implications of the record content. Not finding answers, ask a different question then look again at your records.PDF Records Presentation

East Kent Families Database

Just released Version 4.0 now contains over 460,000 unique entries transcribed from primary genealogical sources with the inclusion of all events found in over 40 parish church registers.  More about it...

Research Tip

1710 - Records of Apprentices.  From the year 1710, whenever a boy was apprenticed to a trade a stamp duty had to be paid, and these records of the binding of apprentices survive to provide the name of the apprentice, that of his father or widowed mother, and his master, as well as his parents' abode.

Free Database: Battle of Britain Roll of Honour

2353 young men from Great Britain and 574 from overseas, pilots and other aircrew, who are officially recognised as having taken part in the Battle of Britain, the battle fought over Britain between the 10th July and 31st October 1940.  Find it here...

"Thanks ever so much for the most interesting and informative letter! Boy, that was quick! I can't believe you translated those documents that fast!! Your explanation of the rule of gavelkind inheritance and how property was divided was valuable information. Thanks a million for your help and advice!" L. Eastes, Florida, U.S.A.

"Most impressed with presentation. Reviewed it fully twice and +++ some parts. You did a great job and I know that Paddy was very pleased with your work." P. and B. Galvin, Ontario, Canada

"I've been working diligently with the Research Plan that you prepared for me. It's absolutely amazing! I am now finding the answers to all of my ancestry questions. I can't believe that for years I was getting nowhere and now, with your plan, I've almost completed my research on my father's branch of the family." S. Atkinson, Niagara Falls, Ontario