Miscellaneous Gems

If you are researching your Celtic roots in the British Isles two websites may interest you. One is a blog called Anglo-Celtic Connections by genealogist John Reid at https://www.anglocelticconnections.ca/. The author is a working genealogist who provides pointers to database updates and new tools at the major genealogy research sites, announcements about webinars taking place in Ontario (mainly), the United States, and sometimes in Europe (the British Isles), among others.

One “gem” found in Mr. Reid’s blog today is a reference to the Irish Family History Centre (IFHC), Dublin. The IFHC hosts a variety of free and paid services. You will find blogs, podcasts, an informative magazine (https://www.irishfamilyhistorycentre.com/product/irish-lives-remembered-issue-61/), and a portal to research services. The current magazine has at least two articles of interest to me: 1) “Gaels Who Sail: The Irish in the Caribbean, Pacific and Antarctic” and 2) “Unlocking Secrets with DNA: My Unexpected Result.” The first article adds to my general knowledge of the Age of Sail during which many of my Grant cousins and extended family sailed from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as sailors, mariners, and master mariners. The second article speaks to my own happy DNA surprise, mentioned in my book’s last chapter (seek and you will find).

Why mention an Irish genealogy website? My mother Mary Frances Grant (1930 – 2022), was born Mary Frances Bennett, the daughter of William Bennett (1884 – 1966) of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Alice Ramsay (1897 – 1981), of Clementsport, Nova Scotia. My 2nd great-grandfather was Arthur John Bennett, born about 1798 in Davidstown, County Wexford, and died in August 1872 at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Arthur Bennett was a carpenter who emigrated to Halifax sometime after his marriage in 1825 to Mary Kelly (died 1875 in Halifax). Arthur and Mary arrived in Halifax when the city was undergoing a period of growth. The call must have gone out to carpenters and other tradesmen, some of whom came from Ireland to ply their skills in Nova Scotia. Thus my interest in the IFHC.

If you have found my web address you will not need to use the attached link to access my book (unless you prefer to purchase it through Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.) The Bookmad Magazine website will introduce you to other books in various fiction and non-fiction categories. It is worth reviewing from time to time.