You may have noticed lately that I haven't been blogging as much as before. This is not because I have been ignoring the Reilly Cemetery-- far from it. I've been writing up my report. Day after day, map after map, page after ever loving page-- it's slowly coming together. I was such a dedicated student (insert halo here) that I even took my laptop and my materials to the cottage this weekend so I could keep working away. I've sent off two drafts to my respective and respected profs for their comment but being me, I don't wait, I keep on working away. The tome has grown, it could be used as a door stop or a speed bump in a busy parking lot.
Today I was working away, doing the detail stuff that drives everyone crazy like generating tables of contents and labelling figures. Fun wow. Oh yeah, and proof reading...I think I'm going blind and you can bet I will have missed some stuff because after a while you don't see the mistakes. Anyways, it was coming along swimmingly. Tables were generated, labels affixed, spell check and proof reading done, and I printed the sucker (in black and white to save ink). The printed copy turned out great.
But, (have I mentioned I'm a technodolt?) somehow I managed to make the whole file go *POOF* and blowed if I know where the hell it went. I looked, I screeched a little. I said a few naughty words. Then I grabbed my recently printed version, found the last version I had and redid two days work. The tables have been re done, the labels re affixed and the proof re reading can bloody well wait until I can see again (tomorrow). The file has been saved and will be sent off site and out of this particular blasted computer for safe keeping, and so I don't have to do THAT again.
Live and learn and curse a little every now and then. I mess up therefore I am. Does anyone know how to say that in Latin? It could be my new motto.
Monday 30 July 2012
Thursday 26 July 2012
Pictures by request
I was asked to post some pictures of the Reilly Cemetery as it was and as it is now. Frankly at first you could not see much of anything for the brambles and the trees. The pine tree limbs went pretty much down to the ground, the brambles grew up through them and it was bloody difficult to push through them to find much of anything. There was literally no view, it was just brambles. But if you look in these pics there are monument bases in them...
After the cleanup it was a lot easier but things were still pretty overgrown. Moss grows fat on a stationary Stone.
And here we have a lovely open space after the clearance days. What a difference! There was suddenly a view, and you could move without fighting a thousand thorns. This first pic is of north west corner and looking back just right of Rupert Union Cemetery. The strings and stakes were the grid I keep mentioning from which I measured everything.
Suddenly you could see the different plants growing here, in this case Solomon's Seal and day lilies.
This is a picture of the center section, facing south. There was nothing to see before the clearance. Now it's a view that I have often enjoyed on my break-- that blue in the front left is Reilly Lake. Very peaceful...and remarkably few bugs too!
This is the south west area oriented somewhat to the north. Lots of lumps and bumps and bedrocks and now that the trees have been trimmed you can walk about without getting a limb in the face. Well, most of the time.
So there you go, ask and ye shall receive.
Monday 23 July 2012
The times, they are a'changin'
When reading through the records one can easily start to think that they all look and sound alike. Born, died, place of residence, next of kin....insert needle on vinyl record screech here. Next of kin can be interesting sometimes.
Often you will see a person listed with his or her parents being the next of kin. Does this mean an infant? A child? A grown man or woman who has never married? There are records of people dying in their 30s, 40s, and considerably older than that with their parents as next of kin. Sometimes the record will say 'spinster' or 'an unmarried man' but usually there is no helpful adjective applied. Now where we lived for a number of years, also largely Irish though not necessarily protestant, the youngest child in a family might often stay behind to take care of the aging parents, and it was this child that would inherit the family farm (in appreciation of their care perhaps). Not always, but often this was the case. Seeing people in their 40s and 50s with their parents as next of kin made me wonder if this process was going on in the Gatineaus as well. I'm no historian, but it is an interesting thought, no?
In another, very different case, we have discrimination, full stop. A gentleman, well into his 60s when he died had his parents listed as was common, but the mother was not just listed as Jane Doe (maiden name) but Miss Jane Doe. Was this man a bastard? He does not appear to have been married and there is no occupation listed so the only truly important thing we learn about him from his burial record is that his parents weren't married. Maybe it was me, but I thought the tone of the record was judgmental, but how can one say that of the written word?
Then there's the case of the little boy, just 8 months old, we'll call him Jimmy Doe. He was the son of Miss Jane Doe and an unnamed father. The burial record took up the whole page, in fairly cramped handwriting and chronicled how the mother had the baby at X Home for Wayward Girls and then came to work for Mrs X Y as a housemaid and that the child had died and was buried next to the house but the mother was going to come back to retrieve the child's body at a later date... so I'm thinking to myself here but in that judgmental world, where having a bastard child was the ruin of a girl, would she have come back? I'm laying odds she didn't. What was interesting about this record was the level of detail the minister added that was not directly relevant to the poor child. It's like the child got lost in the story, but his bastardy did not.
In this way at least we are a kinder, gentler society today, in my honest opinion.
Often you will see a person listed with his or her parents being the next of kin. Does this mean an infant? A child? A grown man or woman who has never married? There are records of people dying in their 30s, 40s, and considerably older than that with their parents as next of kin. Sometimes the record will say 'spinster' or 'an unmarried man' but usually there is no helpful adjective applied. Now where we lived for a number of years, also largely Irish though not necessarily protestant, the youngest child in a family might often stay behind to take care of the aging parents, and it was this child that would inherit the family farm (in appreciation of their care perhaps). Not always, but often this was the case. Seeing people in their 40s and 50s with their parents as next of kin made me wonder if this process was going on in the Gatineaus as well. I'm no historian, but it is an interesting thought, no?
In another, very different case, we have discrimination, full stop. A gentleman, well into his 60s when he died had his parents listed as was common, but the mother was not just listed as Jane Doe (maiden name) but Miss Jane Doe. Was this man a bastard? He does not appear to have been married and there is no occupation listed so the only truly important thing we learn about him from his burial record is that his parents weren't married. Maybe it was me, but I thought the tone of the record was judgmental, but how can one say that of the written word?
Then there's the case of the little boy, just 8 months old, we'll call him Jimmy Doe. He was the son of Miss Jane Doe and an unnamed father. The burial record took up the whole page, in fairly cramped handwriting and chronicled how the mother had the baby at X Home for Wayward Girls and then came to work for Mrs X Y as a housemaid and that the child had died and was buried next to the house but the mother was going to come back to retrieve the child's body at a later date... so I'm thinking to myself here but in that judgmental world, where having a bastard child was the ruin of a girl, would she have come back? I'm laying odds she didn't. What was interesting about this record was the level of detail the minister added that was not directly relevant to the poor child. It's like the child got lost in the story, but his bastardy did not.
In this way at least we are a kinder, gentler society today, in my honest opinion.
Sunday 22 July 2012
Tales from the Crypt
Well, ok, not quite. I picked the title to get your attention. I was asked at the end of the guided tour if I would continue the blog after my project is done...I guess that depends if I still have things I want to say!
In order to NOT bore to tears all those who came out to the tour I will now entertain you with a selection of tales gleaned from the records...
In 1876 Martha Henderson Somerville died and was buried at Reilly Cemetery. It appears that she and her husband, James, did not have children for after he died she was alone in this part of the country. In her later years she was taken in and cared for by Mr and Mrs Samuel Gibson. She died at age 88 or thereabouts as best as they could make it out. She has no fancy monument, perhaps because she did not have children to buy one for her. Perhaps one of those standing stones is for her. The nice thing is, compared to today at least, is that she was cared for in a family home and not in a nursing home...neighbours took care of neighbours back then. Maybe they still do in some places.
As for Mrs Samuel Gibson...in the records there are three Mrs Samuel Gibsons.. so I'm assuming that there's more than one Mr Samuel Gibson, probably at least two and maybe even three. I count three Mrs Samuel Chilcotts, two of which were Ellens. Two Eliza McGees married Reilly/Riley men. One could get a headache, seriously, sorting them out. Dates are the best clue of course, and ages where they are given (not always by a long shot).
Tomorrow...scandal!!!!
In order to NOT bore to tears all those who came out to the tour I will now entertain you with a selection of tales gleaned from the records...
In 1876 Martha Henderson Somerville died and was buried at Reilly Cemetery. It appears that she and her husband, James, did not have children for after he died she was alone in this part of the country. In her later years she was taken in and cared for by Mr and Mrs Samuel Gibson. She died at age 88 or thereabouts as best as they could make it out. She has no fancy monument, perhaps because she did not have children to buy one for her. Perhaps one of those standing stones is for her. The nice thing is, compared to today at least, is that she was cared for in a family home and not in a nursing home...neighbours took care of neighbours back then. Maybe they still do in some places.
As for Mrs Samuel Gibson...in the records there are three Mrs Samuel Gibsons.. so I'm assuming that there's more than one Mr Samuel Gibson, probably at least two and maybe even three. I count three Mrs Samuel Chilcotts, two of which were Ellens. Two Eliza McGees married Reilly/Riley men. One could get a headache, seriously, sorting them out. Dates are the best clue of course, and ages where they are given (not always by a long shot).
Tomorrow...scandal!!!!
Monday 16 July 2012
I survived my first ever guided tour!
Saturday's guided tour went ok, I think. I didn't do a head count but there were between 10 and 20 people who turned out despite the heat and I was thrilled to see there was such interest in the Reilly Cemetery. I do hope I didn't bore anyone silly! A lot of very good questions got asked, I hope I was able to give coherent answers and that everyone learned at least one new thing about the place.
The tour took over an hour (lots of people had questions) and so a few people had to head off before we were done and so I didn't get a chance to let them know that there is gathering interest in having an annual clean up day/meet with other descendents. It was a LOT of work clearing the cemetery out and it would be a lot easier to keep it cleaned up than to start all over again in 10+ years time. Many hands make light work and the more we can get to turn out the better. If you are interested in such an event and would like to be kept informed please send an email to me at reillycemeteryproject@gmail.com and I will add you to the list!
The tour took over an hour (lots of people had questions) and so a few people had to head off before we were done and so I didn't get a chance to let them know that there is gathering interest in having an annual clean up day/meet with other descendents. It was a LOT of work clearing the cemetery out and it would be a lot easier to keep it cleaned up than to start all over again in 10+ years time. Many hands make light work and the more we can get to turn out the better. If you are interested in such an event and would like to be kept informed please send an email to me at reillycemeteryproject@gmail.com and I will add you to the list!
Friday 13 July 2012
Photographs??? PLEASE!!!
I was hoping that someone who might be coming to the tour tomorrow, or someone who reads this blog (crickets sound...) might have some pictures of the Reilly Cemetery as it was before it was consolidated. Even better would be pics of individual stones with some sort of clue as to where it lay. I had one reader send me such a pic and it was very useful indeed. I was hoping that with this group of people coming that there might be more out there. I've seen the usual ones in the books. Does anyone have a picture of the old school house or of the old church? They would be very helpful too!
A reminder that I'd like to start the tour at the side gate that is behind the barn.. See you tomorrow!
A reminder that I'd like to start the tour at the side gate that is behind the barn.. See you tomorrow!
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Details, details, the devil is in the details
Yes, I've been working with those pesky records again. Well actually today started off with trying to formalise my thoughts for the tour this weekend-- I ended up with WAAAY too much stuff-- it would have been like a Death by PowerPoint presentation so folks, I'm not going to do that to you. Instead I turned those notes into five pages (OK 8 pages) of new stuff for my research paper. Thus I am inflicting the boring stuff on my professors and not on you. You're welcome. I figure I might live longer that way-- can't you see the headlines?
Anthropologist Lynched by Enraged Tour Participants!
Windbag Gets Her Wind Knocked Out!
Boredom Kills Tourists, Tour Guide (film at 11).
So the numbers and the evidence is piling up. There are a LOT of people buried at Reilly Cemetery if I'm halfway right. Yes, a lot of the names are familiar but there are a lot of names that seem to have come and gone, and there are some truly tragic stories in those records. Take the Lambert family-- three generations and their name effectively wiped out in the area along with 9 family members and 1 servant. These get mentioned in various places, well the family does, but the servant, no. His name was James Gundy and he was 17. They lived in the Township of Masham but their place of burial is NOT specified (guess which denomination was doing the records?) Me, I'd be burying them where the house was but chances are they are at RC. No proof so they are on the likely but not definite list. (Edit 12 July 2012-- I went back and counted the dead in this particular record, 9 people died in the fire, 8 were Lamberts, previously I had accepted the counts of others and written 9 Lamberts. Note to self, always check the original document, sigh.)
Yes, I am working on more lists for your reading pleasure, but they are going to have to wait to be posted until I have submitted my report and hopefully, gained the approval of my much esteemed and greatly loved professors (grin). Yes, they read this blog.
Yet another reminder that there will be parking behind the barn just west of the cemetery, stay right. There are no facilities there so be prepared. It's also deer fly season, don't say I didn't warn you. Sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended as things are still pretty rough in places.
Anthropologist Lynched by Enraged Tour Participants!
Windbag Gets Her Wind Knocked Out!
Boredom Kills Tourists, Tour Guide (film at 11).
So the numbers and the evidence is piling up. There are a LOT of people buried at Reilly Cemetery if I'm halfway right. Yes, a lot of the names are familiar but there are a lot of names that seem to have come and gone, and there are some truly tragic stories in those records. Take the Lambert family-- three generations and their name effectively wiped out in the area along with 9 family members and 1 servant. These get mentioned in various places, well the family does, but the servant, no. His name was James Gundy and he was 17. They lived in the Township of Masham but their place of burial is NOT specified (guess which denomination was doing the records?) Me, I'd be burying them where the house was but chances are they are at RC. No proof so they are on the likely but not definite list. (Edit 12 July 2012-- I went back and counted the dead in this particular record, 9 people died in the fire, 8 were Lamberts, previously I had accepted the counts of others and written 9 Lamberts. Note to self, always check the original document, sigh.)
Yes, I am working on more lists for your reading pleasure, but they are going to have to wait to be posted until I have submitted my report and hopefully, gained the approval of my much esteemed and greatly loved professors (grin). Yes, they read this blog.
Yet another reminder that there will be parking behind the barn just west of the cemetery, stay right. There are no facilities there so be prepared. It's also deer fly season, don't say I didn't warn you. Sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended as things are still pretty rough in places.
Monday 9 July 2012
Here's something I think really needs to be done...
ALL the church records need to be transcribed. Right now they are available for viewing at GVHS on microfilm and in negative form (or from the BANQ at a buck a page). This is not at all easy to get at, nor is it particularly easy on the eyes. It would be a tremendous thing to have all the records moved to a more accessible format. I only did the Methodist and Presbyterian burial records, 400 of 'em in all. There's about 3 times that number of births and marriages that really should be transcribed. I worked out a process for doing the transcriptions and will be happy to discuss it with whoever takes it on. This is a big job, it's hard on the eyes, it's time consuming and it would be such a valuable tool because people call GVHS regularly trying to find these records! Oh and there's the records for the Anglican church too...forgot about them...didn't need them for my practicum...but those records need done too!
Is there any funding out there for doing stuff like this?
Back from vacation
Hey there! Sorry if it appeared that I had dropped off the face of the planet-- I hadn't really, I was just holed up at the lake during our yearly summer week off-- and a good thing too in that heat! But I'm back now and working away on the information I've gathered. For now I'm working on writing up the bulk of my report and after the tour on Saturday I'll get on to the mapping data. One thing at a time..
Speaking of Saturday, just a reminder that the ground is uneven and there are still lots of brambles about so be prepared! I wouldn't be surprised to see some deer flies too; they have been loving the heat a little too much. The landowner said he would be cutting his field so there will be parking available-- the driveway is just west of the barn, stay right. I would like to start at the original gate which is in the field behind the barn on the west side of the cemetery.
Another note-- I have concentrated my studies on the site itself and the records associated with it-- I'm not at this point collecting genealogies though there is a fellow in Wakefield who is -- I don't want to step on any toes and this project is big enough as it is! I can point you to him if you drop me an email. Anthropology is my field, along with Heritage Resources Management, so I am approaching the site from a concern for conservation, and with a focus on how the site fit into the community (who is buried there, why that particular spot, how they commemorated the dead, and so on). I'm basically trying to learn everything I can about the site itself, while it's still 'easy', and I'm hoping to promote an ongoing interest in caring for it. When something comes up that is outside of my area, I'll try to point you at someone who can help.
Speaking of Saturday, just a reminder that the ground is uneven and there are still lots of brambles about so be prepared! I wouldn't be surprised to see some deer flies too; they have been loving the heat a little too much. The landowner said he would be cutting his field so there will be parking available-- the driveway is just west of the barn, stay right. I would like to start at the original gate which is in the field behind the barn on the west side of the cemetery.
Another note-- I have concentrated my studies on the site itself and the records associated with it-- I'm not at this point collecting genealogies though there is a fellow in Wakefield who is -- I don't want to step on any toes and this project is big enough as it is! I can point you to him if you drop me an email. Anthropology is my field, along with Heritage Resources Management, so I am approaching the site from a concern for conservation, and with a focus on how the site fit into the community (who is buried there, why that particular spot, how they commemorated the dead, and so on). I'm basically trying to learn everything I can about the site itself, while it's still 'easy', and I'm hoping to promote an ongoing interest in caring for it. When something comes up that is outside of my area, I'll try to point you at someone who can help.
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