Web site lists 1901 Census of Canada

You never know where or how you’ll make a connection that will expand your genealogical horizons.

Some 18 years ago, a recruiter for the Maine Air National Guard lined up my first plane ride ever on a KC-135E Stratotanker – a very nice way to be introduced to the mysteries of flight.

I still hear from Michael Gleason – these days most often about resources in Canadian genealogy.

Recently I found myself perusing Library and Archives Canada, a Web site at www.collectionscanada.ca

One of the many resources listed here is the Census of Canada 1901, based on information as of March 31, 1901.

The census is not indexed by name, but you can look online at images of pages for a particular town, at no cost. Since my Steeves family was in Saint John that year – a good-sized city in New Brunswick – I thought I’d start with the town where the family planted itself in the 18th century, Hillsborough.

You may find that you have to download some kind of browser to look at images – find a computer-savvy person to help if you need to.

The first page I checked for Hillsborough, which began with the 39th household, listed Lawrence Rice, wife Ida B., and children Greta, Henriette, James and Emma.

In addition, the household included a lodger, Albert J. Steeves, no doubt a distant cousin of mine. The census listed him as born Jan. 10, 1857, in New Brunswick. He was Canadian, of English origin (even though Steeves comes from the German name Stief), and a farm laborer.

I used the zoom to enlarge the print, and pan to scroll around the page. The process isn’t quick, but it’s faster than driving to Canada.

And, the Canadian government is due to release the 1911 census records to the public soon. Stay tuned by using the Web site above.

As you may know, you can look up someone on the 1881 censuses for Canada and Britain, or on the 1880 census for the United States, free, by entering a name in the Mormon Church database at www.familysearch.org. These records of printed information were transcribed from census microfilm, so keep in mind that the person doing the copying may have interpreted the handwriting differently than you would.

One special feature of the Mormon database is that you can easily survey the next household, or the previous household in the census record.

Those of you with German ancestry will be interested in the Old Broad Bay Family History Association, which will hold its annual meeting and reunion at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, in the basement of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 377 Manktown Road, Waldoboro. From Route 1, turn onto the road that goes to Medomak Valley High School.

The keynote speaker will be Sandy Stratton on the topic “Researching Waldoboro Ships and Seafaring Ancestors.”

Traditional fiddling will highlight the square, round and contra dance set for 7:30 that evening. The event is open to the public and will raise funds for the association.

On Sunday, Aug. 7, a Good Friday service will be held at 3 p.m. at the Old German Church in Waldoboro, conducted in English and German by the Rev. Michael Murphy.

If you plan to attend the reunion, the association would like to hear from you right away. Send $10 registration to OBBFHA, P.O. Box 1242, Waldoboro, ME 04572-1242.

Dues are $10 a year per address, sent to the above address. Indicate name, whether new or renewal, spouse, Broad Bay ancestors, address, telephone and e-mail.

The Web site is www.rootsweb.com/~meobbfha

It includes a list of German surnames for settler families.

The descendants of Gideon and Mary (Vining) Parkman will hold their 81st reunion at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at the American Legion Hall, corner of North and Elm streets, Newport.

Gideon and Mary arrived in Bloomfield (now Skowhegan) before 1790 from Abington, Mass. Their descendants lived in Skowhegan, Canaan, Palmyra, Clinton, Garland, Corinna and all points west.

Allied family names include Burrell, Gower, Pratt, Priest, McClure and Whitman.

The family historian will be available with the 1999 genealogy to help anyone with questions. There will be a potluck lunch, entertainment, auction and raffle. For information, contact Ardell J. Parkman Lynds, 685-3721, or dell@gwi.net.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or send e-mail, familyti@bangordailynews.net.