Write On!

              25 grandparents from Thursday, December 26, 1889 at 10:30 am, in the Nottingham Register Office. This marriage caused a rift in the family, possibly due to it being conducted outside the church, or did they just run away together without their parents' permission, or was he Roman Catholic and she Protestant? This is one of the, as yet, unsolved mysteries in my family. I am sure there are similar mysteries in your family! There is a plethora of interesting and informative genealogy websites to visit when you are researching. Roots Web is a site where you can subscribe to newsletters and post messages on message boards. There are links to worldwide resources and there are lists of Canadian sites. Many Alberta historical and family history societies have websites including those in Burtonsville, Cold Lake, Fort MacMurray, Grande Prairie, Mayerthorpe, Peace River and the Alberta Family Histories Society. Our Roots contains local Canadian histories from across Canada. The Canadian Genealogy Centre develops databases on many aspects of the Canadian population. It contains information on censuses, immigration, home children and soldiers. Cyndi Howell's List has the most comprehensive list of resources available for any genealogical research including Canadian resources. I am seeking my great grandfather who, family legend purports, was killed in the Boer War of 1899 to 1902. From this site I now have several leads to follow. I hope to find out where and when he died, where he is buried and in which regiment he was serving. Some family members will require more time and effort than others. My great grandfather is proving to be of those members. If you feel that you would benefit from some education in genealogy, there are local courses and there are also online courses. The National Genealogical Society of the U.S.A. hosts online courses. You do not have to be a member to participate in these courses, but there is a fee. Whether you are young or old, new to genealogy or rekindling an old hobby, there is so much to discover in the Internet world of genealogy. You will be amazed at how quickly your family tree grows and how much encouragement you receive from your family. You may find that a distant cousin has already researched your family tree and you just have to find it. You will make new friends and, most fun of all, you are certain to discover new relatives. I encourage you in this, Alberta's centenary, to look into your family's history.