Grand River Branch UELAC Annual Report for 2009 Sunday March 21,, 2010
President s Report At this time I would like to thank the membership for electing me as President of the Branch for 2009. I have found it an interesting year with so many things to be discussed and looked after as the months passed. It has been challenging at times too but with the help of the executive we have met them. There have been many things that have needed to be discussed at meetings both Executive and General Meetings. One item that took a lot of time for discussion was the new book Families of the Grand River Vol. II. Thanks are expressed to Sue Hines UE for the hours of work that she put into the preparation of the printing of the book as well as Marilyn Haslinger UE and Cathy Thompson UE for all the work that they did as members of the committee. It was a big endeavour and one that took a lot of time and energy to complete. Thanks ladies for all of your work. Another item that took much discussion was the setting up of meetings for 2010. The Executive asked for direction from the membership who agreed that it would be good to try holding meetings in March, April and May in one location and then the meetings in September, October and November in one location with the meetings in June, July and August being held in different locations. It was decided that the three meetings in the spring and the fall would be held at the Oakland Community Centre and then the June, July and August meetings would be held in other locations. It was decided that the Branch should try to hold a meeting closer to Owen Sound and so thanks to Jake Bates UE this has been arranged. The meeting in June will be in Woodstock and the meeting in August will be in a Kitchener to Cambridge area location. A committee comprised of Marilyn Branch UE, Ronald Fink UE and Ellen Tree UE met late in the year and prepared revisions to the By-Law and Constitution of the Branch. The revised document will be presented to the membership for them to accept it or reject it. A highlight of the year was the 35 th Anniversary Meeting with a catered dinner and the guest speaker was the Dominion President, Frederick Hayward UE. Former Presidents were recognized as well as others who have been long-time members. One of these was Eleanor Chapin who attended the first meeting of the Branch. Five members attended the Annual Conference in Napanee, ON in June 2009. They were Sue Hines UE, Irene MacCrimmond UE, Marilyn McMillan UE, David Morrison UE and Joanne Sullivan UE. Sue Hines UE and Ellen Tree UE have attended the Dominion Council Meetings in 2009. In closing I want to express appreciation to all of the members of the Executive for their patience with me as we worked through the business at each meeting. I certainly appreciate the work that each one of you did in your position. Without your help I would not have been able to do my work. Thanks each one. Plaques were placed in more cemeteries in 2009 where Loyalists were buried. A list is found in another report. Thanks to Cathy Thompson UE and Marilyn Haslinger UE for the work you did in getting these plaques erected in the different cemeteries as well as looking after getting plaques replaced where needed. Thanks are expressed to each one who helped in getting the plaques placed in the cemeteries.
At the time of writing I have just heard that Marilyn Haslinger UE, the Branch Treasurer, has passed away after being diagnosed with cancer recently. She will be greatly missed by the Branch as she was involved in so many facets of it. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time. In closing I want to thank each member for the support you have given me during the past year and I look forward to working with you in the coming year. Respectfully submitted, B. Ellen Tree UE Secretary s Report There were 9 Executive Meetings in 2009. All of the meetings were held at the home of Ellen Tree in Woodstock. Plans for upcoming meetings were made and much other business was accomplished. There were 9 General Meetings of the Branch and they were as follows: The March 15 meeting was held at the Eva Brook Donly Museum in Simcoe. This was the Annual Meeting and the new book, Loyalist Families of the Grand River Volume II, was launched. Attendance was 42. The April 19 meeting was held at the Eva Brook Donly Museum in Simcoe. There were 51 people in attendance to hear Howard Clark speak on When You and I Were Young, Maggie. The May 24 meeting was held at Trinity Anglican Church, Simcoe. 39 people enjoyed a presentation by Grand River member, David Morrison. David, a descendant of Joseph Brant, spoke about his life journey as a native adopted by non-native parents and finding his birth mother and his heritage. There were 41 people at the June 14 meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 121 in Cambridge (Galt). Warren Stauch spoke on Historic Mills along the Grand. The meeting on July 19 was held at Central Presbyterian Church in Cambridge (Galt) with 47 in attendance. Due to technical difficulties, it was not possible to view the DVD, Chiefs The World of Joseph Brant. However, Terrylynn Brant very ably stepped in and spoke about the above DVD in which she had appeared. The August 16 meeting was held at Central Presbyterian Church in Cambridge (Galt). 40 people enjoyed hearing Jean Rae Baxter speak on The Facts Behind the Fiction which relates to her book The Way Lies North. At the September 20 meeting, 53 members celebrated the 35 th Anniversary of Grand River Branch with a dinner at the Oakland Community Center, Oakland. Dominion President, Fred
Hayward, was the guest speaker. The October18 meeting was held at Smokey Hollow Estates, Brantford. 63 people were present to hear Bob Blakely and Cheryl MacDonald who gave a presentation on The War of 1812. The November 15 meeting was held at the Oakland Community Centre, Oakland. 54 people were in attendance. John Davis spoke on Early Loyalist Settlers in the vicinity of the Mohawk Village on the Grand River. This year s successful activities were enjoyed by the members. Respectfully submitted Marilyn McMillan, Secretary. Corresponding Secretary The following messages were sent throughout the year: Sympathy 9 Special Birthday 7 Get Well/Thinking of You 2 Special Anniversary 2 Other 2 Respectfully submitted C William Terry, UE Corresponding Secretary 3 March 3, 2010 Treasurer's Report There will be no treasurer's report for this annual meeting, as will be explained by the president. 2009 Genealogist Report As the branch genealogist for the Grand River Branch it was my pleasure to present or sent certificates to the following 16 people in 2009 Karen Link Kenesky Marilyn Aileen McDonald Paul Gregory Sharpe Paul E. Grey Stephen Gordon Powell Makalya Ellen Powell Hendrick Windecker Charles Pettit Henry Sharp John Wintermute
Brittany Diane Powell Della Lynn Lee Bronwyn Lee Bryson James Lee Jack Hall Nixon Mary Lou Nixon Ellis Ryan Ellis Erica Ellis Haley Alexis Mc Carey Philip Crysler During the year I have endeavoured to help several others who have been in touch with me about their family UEL connections. I have met with them at the Eva Brook Donly Museum or through email I have given them help. I attended the regular executive meetings and the regular meetings and have arranged the books at the Spruce Row Museum. These books are duplicates or ones that were given to our branch that by being housed at the SRM give researches two places to search for their UEL past. The other is EBD museum where most of the research and sources are kept. During 2009, the Cemetery Project was continued with placement of our signs at 5 cemeteries and am still waiting for the permission on the 6 th. The following are the new signs for 09: Esterville (in Elgin County Bayham Township) Bayview Cemetery At Port Rowan Clear Creek Port Royal Hillcrest Dennis Dowling Lucas Dedrick Daniel Millard Elias Foster, Sarah Fick Frederick Fick & Elizabeth Lorrance Johnson Port Dover is the one I have been waiting on but it will be placed for Wyannat Williams. We also replaced one at Neal Memorial Church and at the Quaker cemetery in Norwich. This year we had the help of Jim Pond who was a great hole digger and Marilyn Haslinger and Don and myself to supervise the digger. I also helped to look at the final stages of getting Book 11 and its corrections ready to send out to all. Mailing is still a big cost to the branch as the costs continue to rise as do the things needed to keep things in order, but it is just the cost of doing business. The archives and what is in it is part of my area as well. I have weeded through some of the paper that was given to me, but I still have a way to go to get it to what is to be saved and what is a repeat or not necessary to save. This report respectfully submitted for 2009 Loyally, Cathy Thompson U
Education and Outreach 1) Newsletter Again this year we sent out newsletters to all the members, either by email or regular post or in some cases having members pick them up at the May and November meetings. As well as sending them to members a copy has been sent via email to the President, Fred Hayward who then forwards it to the various branches across Canada. A copy is also sent to Archives Canada twice a year. We have attempted to have extra copies on hand for new members. Angela Files has been a tremendous assistance with the newsletters, providing articles on varied topics for both the spring and fall editions. Members are always invited to submit an article for use. The newsletter is always looking for ideas and suggestions and is still open to announcing family reunions, if they are brought to our attention before the end of April each year. Genealogy Fairs and other venues: The branch set up displays at the following locations: a) September 12 and 13, 2009 Backus Heritage Conservation Area 1812 reenactment. b) Norfolklore Sept 20, 2009 Simcoe, Ontario c) November 28 & 29, 2009 Author's Book Fair Lighthouse theatre in Port Dover. School and Community Presentations: Marilyn Branch presented "Martha": o May 25, 2009 to the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario, Burlington Branch o October 14, 2009 the "Women's PROBUS Club of Brampton". Sue Hines presented the Loyalist Experience: o Elgin OGS May 27, 2009 o Forest Park School St. Thomas, Ontario May 30, 2009 If you are aware of genealogy/history fairs in your area you are asked to please let us know as we would like to get out to as many areas as possible. Respectively submitted, Sue Hines UE Travelling Library 2009 The following books are the ones taken to the monthly meetings and are available for people to use who are doing research or looking for more information regarding family histories. There are also copies of Sarah s Diary and CD s of the Loyalist Families of the Grand River Branch Vol. I that are for sale.
1. The Loyalists of New Brunswick 2. The Loyalists of Ontario 3. Early Ontario Settlers ( a Source Book) 4. The Valley of the Six Nations 5. The Loyalists of Massachusetts 6. Loyalists in Nova Scotia 7. The old United Empire Loyalists List 8. Rolls of the Provincial (Loyalist) Corps, Canadian Command American Revolutionary Period 9. Loyalist Lists 10. An island Refuge 11. The New Loyalist Index 12. Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia 13. Loyalist and Pioneer Families of West Lincoln 1783-1833 14. Records of the Department of Indian Affairs at Library and Archives Canada 15. Loyalist Families of the Grand River Branch Volume I 16. Loyalist Families of the Grand River Branch Volume II 17. The Loyalists in North Carolina During the Revolution 18. Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War 19. Loyalist Lineages of Canada 1783-1983 20. Butler s Rangers 21. Pioneer Sketches of Long Point Settlement 22. Ontario People 1796-1803 23. Loyalist Lineages of Canada Volume II Part I 24. Loyalist Lineages of Canada Volume II Part II 25. CD Loyalist Families of the Grand River Branch - Volume I 33 26. Sarah s Diary 50 copies plus 300 that were purchased in 2009. Respectfully submitted, Jerry Tree UE