Sentimental Saturday – A Mess Of Fish

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I’m posting photos from my collection of family photographs on Saturdays with a brief explanation of what I know about each picture.

Ah, the great outdoors! Summers at the lake. Just the sounds of nature to break the peaceful quiet.

The Wagner family enjoyed life at the cottage and in the summer, they liked to go fishing. This week’s Sentimental Saturday photo shows their prowess with rods, reels and hooks. A mess of fish were brought home to eat. But first, the obligatory pose with the catch.

All the kids, from left to right Ted, Mary Jane, Scott, and little Ellen yelling something (or complaining?) to father Carl on the far right.

The photo was likely taken by Ellen’s mother, Tess (Latimer) Wagner in the backyard of the family home. The photo is undated but was probably taken around 1954.

Carl Wagner (far right) with his children proudly show off their catch of fish

Carl Wagner (far right) with his children proudly show off their catch of fish

Visiting My Ancestral Homelands (Part 6) – Off To Dublin, Ireland

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On May 6th, we had to say so long to daughter Jenna and my ancestral homeland of Aberdeen. We were off to visit our ancestral homeland of Ireland.

My wife and I both have Irish roots. My Irish roots lay in the southern counties of Clare and Waterford. My wife’s Irish roots lay further north in County Fermanagh.

Although we did not have a chance to visit those places (maybe next time?), the real purpose of our too brief a visit in Dublin was to visit former neighbours, octogenarian (but going on 40) Aylish and her daughter Terri, now permanent residents in Aylish’s native Dublin.

After passing through the routine, yet still cumbersome, security check at the Aberdeen International Airport, we entered the duty-free shopping area. There, we were greeted by a woman at a counter offering free samples of six varieties of single malt Scotch. Try as many as you like, all free, she says.

I’m not much of a consumer of alcohol and rarely imbibe but, when I do, my preference is for single malt Scotch. Unlike her mother, my wife doesn’t like it at all (her loss in my opinion!). I took the counter lady at her word and tried a few of her samples. The wee drams were wonderful nectar and likely ensured that I had a relaxing flight over the Irish Sea.

My first impression of Ireland – it really is green! Although I’m not really certain that it is greener than anywhere else.

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An aerial view of the Irish countryside as our plane approached Dublin

Dublin is a magical city to visit. A tourist Mecca where we encountered visitors from literally all around the globe. And Dublin caters to all of their appetites for all things Irish.

Our hosts, Terri and Aylish, greeted us at our hotel and provided a magical, whirlwind two and a half days of Dublin sight-seeing, shopping, storytelling and Irish lore.

Ellen with friends Aylish and Terri enjoying a moment on one of the main shopping concourses in Dublin

Ellen with friends Aylish and Terri enjoying a moment on one of the main shopping concourses in Dublin

A highly recommended treat and trip highlight for us was an evening out at the Brazen Head, Ireland’s oldest pub, dating back to 1198. (For the reference of my children, should they ever someday read my blog, yes, that date is before I was born!).

The Brazen Head Pub, Dublin, Ireland (photo by Ian Hadden, 2015)

The Brazen Head Pub, Dublin, Ireland (photo by Ian Hadden, 2015)

An Evening of Food, Folklore and Fairies is an example of Irish entertainment and magic at it’s finest. Johnny Daly was our host and storyteller the night we attended the Brazen Head. A candlelit full Irish dinner mixed with live Irish music and storytelling of Irish history, especially the impact of the famine and diaspora times, Irish folklore and the still remaining beliefs in leprechauns and fairies.

If you have Irish ancestry, as I do, an evening such as this just might help explain a lot!

Sentimental Saturday – My Parent’s First Car

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I’m posting photos from my collection of family photographs on Saturdays with a brief explanation of what I know about each picture.

Okay, the car doesn’t seem to be central to the photo but it can be seen. This is a picture of yours truly standing in front of my parent’s first car, a 1957 or 1958 Dodge Royal Custom. The photo was taken near a cottage that my parent’s rented for a vacation week each year on Lake Couchiching, north of Toronto, Ontario.

HADDEN Ian in front of family car Jun 1959

Visiting My Ancestral Homelands (Part 5) – ‘Oot ‘N Aboot’ Aberdeen, Scotland

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This is the miscellany of my recent visit to Aberdeen, Scotland, the home of my Hadden ancestors.

1. Befriend Your Pilot (after all he or she will have your life in their hands)

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Ellen Hadden with Air Canada pilot extraordinaire Murray Garrison

2. If There Is A Street With Your Family Name A Photo Is Obligatory

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You can see the excitement on my face?

3. See The Sites

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Ellen and Ian Hadden at Dunnotar Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

4. Sneak In A Little Genealogy When No One Is Looking

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The Kirk of St. Nicholas and Cemetery, Aberdeen, Scotland

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The gravestone of Alexander Sturm, merchant in Aberdeen, died 20th November 1844 (located in the Kirk of St. Nicholas cemetery)

5. Don’t Forget Why You Are There!

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Ian, Jenna and Ellen Hadden at Piccolo Restaurant, Aberdeen, Scotland

Visiting My Ancestral Homelands (Part 4) – An Ancestral Home in Aberdeen, Scotland

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There are various records that provide me with the addresses that some of my ancestors lived at in Aberdeen. Although my recent visit to Aberdeen was not aimed at genealogical pursuits, I did take the opportunity to visit one of those addresses that was conveniently located as it turned out, not far from our hotel.

This rather plain-looking house at 57 Bon Accord Street is where Janet ‘Jessie’ (Jamieson) Hadden lived and died.

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James Hadden was my 4X great-grandfather, the son of a crofter named William Hadden and Agnes (or Ann) Robb. James was born around 1807 in Fetteresso, Kincardine, Scotland. On May 25, 1833 (182 years ago yesterday), James married Mary Smart in Inverurie, Aberdeen, Scotland. Sadly, Mary died just seven years later in 1840, leaving James to care for their three young children.

So James married again. His second wife was a widow named Janet Jamieson who was usually referred to by the name Jessie. Jessie had two young children to care for from her first marriage to a man named John McKnight.

James Hadden died in March 1871 of bronchitis and was buried in a family plot he had purchased in St. Peter’s Cemetery on King Street in Aberdeen.

Rather than move in with one of her by then adult children following her husband’s death, it seems Jessie chose to live on her own. Census records tell us that 1891 she lived alone in a flat at 41 Bon Accord Street in Aberdeen, sustained by an annuity.

On March 7, 1896, at the age of 76, Jessie suddenly fainted and passed away. This event occurred according to her death registration at her home located at 57 Bon Accord Street, Aberdeen.

There is a deep, touching joy in the recognition that you are walking in the footsteps of your ancestors. A connection suddenly made tangible. And, so it was for me, as I walked the same street as Jessie and, as I took a moment to physically touch the house that she lived in.

Of course, I think that somber moment was lost on the delivery man who was watching me with my head slightly bowed and hand on Jessie’s house. I suspect he was thinking that it was too early in the day for someone to be inebriated!

Sentimental Saturday – First Summer

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I’m posting photos from my collection of family photographs on Saturdays with a brief explanation of what I know about each picture.

Ah, the summer of 1955. We were rockin’ around the clock to Bill Haley and His Comets, laughs were gained from “I Love Lucy” on new televisions and the Ed Sullivan Show was becoming a Sunday night viewing staple. Yours truly just got to go along for the ride, below with my father (who is celebrating a birthday today) in front of my maternal grandparent’s home on Pickering Street in Toronto, Ontario. I don’t know who took the photograph as my father was the one usually behind the camera but given that the photo is a bit blurry, I’m guessing it was mother who was standing in as photographer.

HADDEN Ian and Dad 1955

 

Visiting My Ancestral Homelands (Part 3) – The Lang Stane

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The Lang Stane (stone in English) is a sight you will miss if you are not told about it.

I found no mention of the stone in any of the tour books or pamphlets I read. There is a lot of information available about distilleries, castles and historic buildings but not a word about the wee piece of Scottish history known as the Lang Stane.

I was lucky enough to have had my cousin Pamela Gaull mention the stone during a visit over coffee one day during my recent trip to Aberdeen, Scotland.

When I told Pamela that we were staying at the Bauhaus Hotel (an absolutely fabulous hotel and highly recommended) on Langstane Place in Aberdeen, Pamela asked if I had seen the Lang Stane. Seen it? I had never heard of it!

With a little bit of surfing on Google, I was able to determine that this ancient stone was located somewhere at a corner of a crossroad with the short street the hotel was on. One morning during a walk in the seemingly ever persistent light rain, I found it. But be assured that if I wasn’t looking for the Lang Stane, I would not have noticed it.

Tucked neatly into a tiny alcove of a building at the north-west corner of Langstane Place and Dee Street rests the Lang Stane.

ABERDEEN Scotland - the Lang Stane on Langstane Place

The Lang Stane. Photo by Ian Hadden, May 4, 2015

There is not much known about the stone other than it is made of granite, appropriate enough given it’s location in the ‘Granite City.’ It appears to have been a boundary marker at some point given it’s pointed or “keel shaped” base and, may have been part of a stone circle which could possibly date it back to about 3000 B.C. Whatever it’s past, the Lang Stane is a part of Aberdeen and Scottish history, sadly an ancient relic ignored by most passersby.

Collaboration in Genealogy – An Example Of Doing It Right

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While I was travelling through Scotland and Ireland, I received an email from Ancestry.com notifying me that another Ancestry member with the user name kforsman72 had sent me a message.

I will often receive these types of emails that are typically from people asking for more information about someone in my online public Ancestry tree. This message was different.

The message I received stated “I just wanted to let you know that I came across the graves of the Kletzings in Section 5 of Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago. The graves include Josiah, Kate, Arba, Clarence, Florence Amy, and Kathryn Gall. I’ve created memorials and uploaded photos of the graves to Find-A-Grave, in case you are interested in viewing them.”

Once I was home from my trip, I went to the Find-A-Grave site where I searched for and found the Kletzing memorials reference in the Ancestry message.

KLETZING Josiah gravestone from findagrave

Grave site of Josiah and Kate Kletzing, Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois (Photo by Kate Forsman, 2015. Used with permission)

The memorial pages provide the information found provide information from and a photo of the grave of my wife Ellen’s first cousin, three times removed Catherine ‘Kate’ (Nusbickel) Kletzing, her husband Josiah Kletzing and some of their children.

Kate Kletzing was the daughter of Frederick Nusbickel and Elizabeth Wagner, an older sister of my wife’s 2X great grandfather Rev. Jacob Wagner. Kate was born 1 March 1855 in Rose, Wayne County, New York and according to U.S. census records she married Josiah Kletzing around 1880. Josiah and Kate had five known children, three of whom are documented on the gravestone. Kathryn Gall, who is listed on the gravestone, was Josiah Kletzing’s second wife whom he married in 1915.

I now know kforsman72 to be Kate Forsman and from what I can determine Kate does not have the Kletzing family in her family tree. No, Kate took a photo of the Kletzing grave and set-up the Find-A-Grave memorial pages to help out other genealogists and researchers. That’s a good thing.

But Kate took it a step further, checking on Ancestry to see who might have this Kletzing family in their tree. She found me and through that initial message, she helped me add some valuable evidence to my research database.

Well done, Kate. I believe the genealogy community is made of great folks who love to help others and Kate has demonstrated why I hold that belief.

Visiting My Ancestral Homelands (Part 2) – It’s About Family When I Visit Aberdeen

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One of the great benefits of visiting my Scottish ancestral homeland was knowing that I had family there I had never met.

When I began researching my family’s history, it struck me that when my ancestors left Scotland, a country they clearly had  a strong love for, they left not just their homes but they family behind. Family they would likely never see again.

Eventually as technology developed over the past fifty years, the ability to communicate at long distances became more accessible and contact began to be restored with the family members who had remained in Scotland. This contact first began with my paternal grandmother’s family, the Little’s and Galbraith’s of Greenock, Scotland.

Eventually through genealogy research and the use of social media, I was able to virtually connect with my paternal grandfather’s family in Aberdeen, Scotland. Although we had never met face-to-face, I was able to reach out to these family members who freely and willingly provided assistance to my daughter when she was moving to Aberdeen to study.

The sense of family transcended the mere records that told us we shared a common ancestor. They helped look for accommodation and opened their home to my daughter to share a family Christmas dinner.

Our common ancestors were John Gaull (1860-1942) and his wife Harriet McKenzie (1858-1925), my 2X great-grandparents, who lived in Monymusk, Scotland, to the west of Aberdeen City.

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Gaull Family Reunion (from left to right – Renee Thomson, Ian Hadden, Rudy Thomson, Jenna Hadden, John Gaull Thomson and his wife Elizabeth (Anderson) Thomson, Fiona Thomson, Roy Thomson and his wife Romy (Bennink) Thomson) Photo by Ellen Hadden

Roy Thomson and his sister Fiona are my third cousins. Their father John Gaull Thomson is my second cousin, once removed. We enjoyed a fabulous meal together at Roy and Romy’s home near Maryculter, Scotland and a visit that was cut far too short by my concerns about driving back to Aberdeen from a country home in the dark while navigating on what I considered to be the ‘wrong’ side of the road!

My wife and I also had a chance to meet up with my second cousin, once removed Pamela Gaull and share family stories and personal updates over coffee at a downtown Aberdeen hotel. Pamela and I had initially connected online and then met when she visited Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As always, Pamela was welcoming, gracious and engaging.

HADDEN Ian with Pamela Gaull May 2015

With cousin Pamela Gaull in Aberdeen, Scotland (Photo by Ellen Hadden)

Fortunately for me, the effort in researching my own family history has provided me with a rich bounty of those I am pleased to call my family!

Sentimental Saturday – Camping

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I’m posting photos from my collection of family photographs on Saturdays with a brief explanation of what I know about each picture.

Growing up, we were not a family of campers. I don’t know if my parents simply enjoyed cottage life, or maybe even better a hotel room, over the ‘roughing it’ style of camping.

In the late 1960’s, we decided to give camping a try. We didn’t venture too far from our home, choosing a provincial park close to home for a few days of communing with nature. Toasting marshmallows over an open campfire appears to be something we quickly developed skills with.

Below, my mother Anne (O’Neill) Hadden, yours truly, and my sister Lou-Anne enjoy a camping treat, circa 1968.

HADDEN Ian with Mom and Lou-Anne camping abt 1968