Genealogy Requests: Gordon, Shields

Thank you for contacting us with your Gordon and Shields Family request. We are still learning how to do the blog thing! For the Shields family, go to Ourroots.ca – Canadian local histories online – and under authors find Cyrus Thomas. He wrote a book published in 1896: History of the Counties of Argenteuil, Quebec & Prescott, Ontario. You will find a photo of Col. John Shields, first mayor of Vankleek Hill (1897) on page 584.  He was the son of Andrew Shields of Cavan, Ireland.  Again, page 584.  There are several Gordon family members mentioned in the book – two located in Plantagenet which is halfway between Vankleek Hill and Ottawa. At ourroots.ca you can do a word search through the book to pull out all the references.  Hope this helps. Just let us know.

Museum & Technology Project Update

We are edging closer to announcing the launch date for the Musée Vankleek Hill Museum web site! Ben Martin of Digital Influence is now putting together the French version.  Our goal is to provide our in-house research and essays online in bilingual format as often as possible. Text that is submitted to us in either English, or French will be posted in the same way. Original historical documents that are posted will be presented as is.

For our Vankleek Hill Heritage blog, you are welcome to submit queries and comments in either English, or French. Conversations will be free-flowing and develop in their own bilingual patterns.  We want everyone engaged!

Hello local history & genealogy buffs!

The October 2nd 2010 Family & Local History Day at the Vankleek Hill Museum was just  great. Walking tours, a cemetery tour, the Gaelic lessons, the genealogy sessions – all of them were well attended. Then there were the family search drop-ins who came with hope and left with photocopies, answers, and even newly discovered relatives in tow! Visitors came from all over Eastern Ontario and West Québec, and they enjoyed themselves.

This blog is a place to ask genealogy questions; to chat about ongoing local history research puzzles, and perhaps to find answers.  Our knowledge is framed by Vankleek Hill, part of Champlain Township in Eastern Ontario. Our neighbours are Glengarry County to the south, and Argenteuil County in  West Québec to the north.