History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving (FOUND with a GOOGLE search) In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north. The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay. At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours. After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving. During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie. Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day. Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed... "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

Hello Muriel: Thank you for putting me straight regarding the fact that Canada also has a Thanksgiving, and also that it is different from the USA. I had no idea. I learned something new today. My grandmother was Canadian, but came to the USA as a young girl, and never mentioned this to us. The reason I wrote back to you was I thought maybe you had copied and pasted some opening comments to your recent e-mail, as I have done so many times, not paying attention to dates. I was thinking I was being funny. I am so sorry, I was not trying to offend. I shall make it a point in learning what other special holidays in which Canada and the United States differ on. Sandy Williams

Someone may correct me,,,,,but, Passage was "traded" for work. There are quite a few lists out there that show when the home children and orphans arrived in Canada, they were taken in by farmers, reverends, grocers, tailors, and more. The young person would be given room and board in exchange for working for a number of years for their "parent". At the end of the agreement, there were clauses....such as He is to be given 10 dollars, a new suit. She was sometimes given $ and her bed and a new dress. Indentured servant means that they agreed to live with and work for someone,,,some treated kindly, others it turned out were treated like slave labour.. Some agreements allowed for schooling,,others no education at all. Some were "apprenticed" in the trade of the "parent" or holder of the agreement. Hope this helps. Gloria Peachland, B.C.

District of St. Francis Vital Records COLE, HELEN AUGUSTA (F) Manchester, New Hampshire 23-08-1867 / 24-08-1867 P: ASHLEY DODGE COLE M: ABBY C. BACHELDER Congregational CONJ: () Sherbrooke TEM: HORACE WILSON decedee a Manchester - inhumee a Sherbrooke ============================================

Many thanks for your comment -- but you are incorrect. I am a list administrator as well -- but only of Canadian lists, as different countries, for example, Canada and United States have different customs. As my mother was American, I KNOW the American Thanksgiving Day is in November and thoroughly enjoy the Thanksgiving Day parade -- our family also had an EXTRA Thanksgiving Day. As list administrator of a Canadian list, you should become accustomed to Canadian customs -- or give the list over to a Canadian. The Canadian Thanksgiving Day is always the second Monday in October, complete with all the turkey and other goodies enjoyed by Americans in November. Our parade is always the Ocktoberfest Parade, in which many American bands took part, and televised from Kitchener, Ontario. Should you ever desire to know other special holidays in which Canada and United States differ, I do not mind replying, e.g. we celebrate July 1 -- United States celebrates July 4. Muriel M. Davidson [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Brampton, Ontario, Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 11:07 AM Subject: Re: [QC-ETANGLO] Post 1901 Census - House Petitions In a message dated 10/12/2004 7:53:03 PM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 12:06 PM Subject: Post 1901 Census - House Petitions Greetings all. I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend and that you had your fill of turkey. I spend a part of the weekend collating Census Petitions to the House of Commons received to date. The totals as I write this are as follows: Muriel: Thanksgiving is in November and has not happened yet.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordon A. Watts" <[email protected]> To: "Canada Census Campaign" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 12:06 PM Subject: Post 1901 Census - House Petitions Greetings all. I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend and that you had your fill of turkey. I spend a part of the weekend collating Census Petitions to the House of Commons received to date. The totals as I write this are as follows: BC 904 AB 194 SK 159 MB 76 ON 744 QC 148 NB 2 NS 262 ======= Total 2489 Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Territories are conspicuous by their absence of signatures. I hope that this will soon be remedied. In addition to the above signatures for the House of Commons I have almost 300 signatures to send to Muriel for presentation in the Senate. Please keep the petitions coming. If we truly wish to see further Census records of Canada released we must continue to tell our Parliamentarians about those wishes. Two ways of doing this are by writing letters and emails, and by signing petitions. Letters and email are important but we have no way of determining the numbers sent. On the other hand, numbers of signatures on petitions give us something we can point to as an indication of support for access. Keep them coming. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-chair Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://www.globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f Permission to forward without notice is granted

Hi Bernie, Registered in Troy, Orleans County, Vermont marriages Book 1, page 55: Ann Geer of Stanstead, Quebec, and James Collins of Troy, VT were married 8 May 1863. This is a line item, 1863 at top of page, No. 5 in left margin of book. They were married by Jet Cleavland, Minister. Sorry, I do not know if Ann is related to Elijah GEER. They are not my family. Jan Jordan <<Are Elijah Geer and Cynthia Jewel interned in Jones Cemetery, Vale Perkins, Potton, QC? Bernie Bradner>>

Hi all, I have found my Great Grandfather living in 1891 in Savage's Mills, Quebec, Canada. Does anyone have any idea where this might be? Thanks, Rollei _________________________________________________________________ Searching for that dream home? Try http://ninemsn.realestate.com.au for all your property needs.

Hi Is their anyone with access to the Sherbrooke Record from last week and is willing to scan me a copy of a write up? Thanks Tim Mace

Would anyone please do a lookup for Baker and Bronson surnames in these areas. Thank you in Advance. Gloria

Does anyone have these books and is willing to do lookups? Brenda Wilson Birch has a second book out titled, St. Armand Twp. Cemeteries, Missisquoi County Quebec. This book lists the information from headstones in the ten township cemeteries. Each cemetery is indexed separately, with the names in alphabetical order, along with the dates, (birth and death), ages & spouses or parents when stated. She also found and included additional information from the Missisquoi microfilm reels, older cemetery lists and Neil Broadhurst's Marriages in the District of Bedford 1804 - 1879 for stones that were no longer standing or that did not exist. This book does have more information and some corrected and or more complete dates than those in the Missisquoi Graveyard Tour booklets. Ms. Birch suggests, "should any errors be found I welcome corrections." This book is very straight forward, simple to use and easy to read and includes the following cemeteries: 1) Pigeon Hill Cem. 2) Hasting Cem. 3) Saint Philippe Cath. Cem. - Philipsburg 4) Luke Cem. 5) Philipsburg Prot. Cem (very early settlers, some U.E.L.'s) 6) Vincent Cem. 7) Notre-Dame Du Lourdes Cath. Cem. - St. Armand 8) Russell a.k.a. Hancock Hill Cem. 9) Krans Cem. 10) Sornberger Cem. There are 96 spiral boundpages, allowing the book to remain flat when open. The book sells for $25. plus $5 shipping. For those who wish to order a copy contact Brenda Wilson Birch at: [email protected] or Brenda Wilson Birch, Frelighsburg, QC. Her first book, Frelighsburg Twp. Cemeteries is also available and is of the same format. <mailto:[email protected]>

The PLUMLEY, HITCHCOCK, REED, CHILSON families of Massawippi and Hatley are all interrelated through marriages. -- Appleton Plumley was born 1783 in Bristol, Addison County, Vermont. Local records have him in 1815 in Hatley, Que. He married LOIS HITCHCOCK before 1823 in Hatley, Que. when the first child was born. I have not found their marriage record. I have much more on Appleton ancestors since a book has been published about his line. They came from Mass. via New Hampshire. -- Lois Hitchcock was daughter of Paul and Hannah (PEASE) per marriage and vital records. Paul, born 22 Nov. 1772 in Reading, Windsor County, VT, is a contemporary of Samuel REED, born 1771 in VT and died 1839 in Compton, Quebec -- Samuel REED married Prussia HITCHCOCK in Vermont. According to the history books, Samuel and Paul both came to the Massawippi/Hatley area and established homes in 1798. --- MY LINE is the CHILSON who married Appleton's daughter Hannah. HORACE CHILSON is brother of OTIS CHILSON (CHILLSON). Otis married PRUSSIA REED, born 12 Oct. 1803 in Quebec. They were married in 1821 in Hatley, Quebec. Otis and Horace Chilson are sons of Daniel CHILSON and Mary (PEASE)of West Enosburg, Vermont. >> So, now uncross your eyeballs :)Actually, it all makes sense if Prussia Reed(wife of Otis Chilson) is daughter of Prussia (Hitchcock) and Samuel Reed. Then Prussia Hitchcock is sister of Paul Hitchcock. And Paul Hitchcock married Hannah Pease the sister/cousin of Mary Pease- Daniel Chilson's wife. GOOD LORD!!! I had better luck mapping out genetics in the fruit-fly experiments in Biology. The facts above are true, the connections are an educated guess. Anyone who finds bits of info on the above families would be a God send for helping solve this riddle of families. I really believe the answers are in land records in this area, but I haven't been able to find any as of yet. I'm beginning to think a week visit to Quebec may be my only hope to figure this all out. Unfortunately, my research so far has almost all the descendants leaving the area by the 1900's. Any ideas, let me know, Colin Brooks

THE GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH LIBRARY (item) COMPTON CENTER DIRECTORY 1858. Page 113. A Village in the Township and County of Compton and District of St. Francis. The country around exhibits scenery of the most beautiful description, and it presents evidences of great agricultural prosperity. The village is about a mile from Compton Railway station, whence it is distant from Portland 182 miles, and from Montreal 110 miles. There is a weekly stage to Eaton Corner, 18 miles, fare 75c., and one daily through East and West Hatley to Stanstead, 20 miles, fare $1. Daily mail. Population about 250. ALLEN, REV. A. A., B.A., church of England. BAKER, JOEL, saw mill. BROWN, AARON, grist mill and blacksmiths shop. BYRON, ANTIPAS M., carriagemaker. CAMPBELL, N., tailor. DALY, REV. J., Roman catholic. DOAK, JAMES, commissioner of small causes. FARLY, MARK, collector and bailiff. FLING, WILLIAM, commissioner of small causes. FRENCH, THOMAS, station master. GILSON, JACOB, J.P., farmer GLINES, MOSES, M.D. HAMEL, EZRA, carpenter HIGH SCHOOL, C. H. HACKETT, secretary-treasurer KELLAM, A. O., trader. KENDRICK, A. W., postmaster. KENDRICK & SHURTLIFF, general storekeepers. LOUGEE, JOSEPH, J.P., farmer MAY, R. S., clerk of Commissioners court, and school commissioner. McCLARY, JOHN, JR., cattle dealer. McCULLOCH, JOHN, tailor. MERRILL, AMOS S., proprietor of Compton hotel a stage house. MILES, IRA, blacksmith. MONTOAR, J., shoemaker. PADDON, JOHN B., farmer POMROY, COL. BENJAMIN, J.P., township mayor. POMROY, SELAH J., township secretary-treasurer. RENAUD, CHARLES, tanner. RICE, CHARLES G., storekeeper. RUGG, R., botanic physician. SELLEY, REV. JOHN B., M.D., Wesleyan. SMITH, JOSEPH, J.P., farmer STIMSON & DOAK, storekeepers, and boot and shoe manufacturers. STIMSON & RANDALL, storekeepers, and boot and shoe manufacturers. TODD, SILAS, harnessmaker. ==========

Interested in APPLETON PLUMLEY because he bought the land previously owned by my 4 great grandfather SIMEON COLE. Wonder about location of land? Massawippi? <<HUBBARD, B.F. 1) SIMEON COLE is listed on page 50 regarding a small clearing he made, and APPLETON PLUMLEY had built a saw mill, in what later became the village of Massawippi. 2) page 76, where it is said that APPLETON PLUMLEY purchased the betterments of SIMEON COLE and built a saw-mill and sold out to DANIEL BACON who built a grist-mill next to saw-mill. ======================================================= Page 258. APPLETON PLUMLEY, b. in Bristol, VT., in 1783 - m. LOIS HITCHCOCK, b. June 28, 1804. They settled in Hatley in 1815. He d. Jan. 30, 1859. CHILDREN: ALDEN, b. May 5, 1823 - m. JULIA A. McCONNELL. HANNAH, b. Oct. 1, 1824 - m. H. CHILSON. APPLETON, b. Aug. 8, 1832 - m. ELIZA A. HITCHCOCK. HORATIO, b.Sept. 16, 1835 - m. SARAH J. LEET. ANNA, b. June 16, 1837 - m. SAMUEL VORNEY. HOMER, b. June 30, 1839. EMMA J., b. Nov. 16, 1841 - m. LYMAN DUSLIN. BENJAMIN, b. March 16, 1844 - m. MATILDA SIAS. HORACE, b. Sept. 9, 1846 - m. MARTHA CURTIS. DARWIN, b. Sept. 16, 1849. APPLETON also on pages 50,76 and 257 50. see above listing re: SIMEON COLE 76. see above listing re: SIMEON COLE. 257 - FAMILY OF PAUL HITCHCOCK.

"History of Lancaster, New Hampshire" written and edited by Rev. A. N. Somers, published and issued by order of the town through James W. Weeks, Henry O. Kent, Chester B. Jordan, Its Committee. 1898 THE RUMFORD PRESS, Concord, N.H. 1899 -- The Thompson Manufacturing Company -- "In October, 1892, a consolidation was made with CHARLES W. SLEEPER, of Island Pond, VT., formerly of Coaticook, P.Q. By this arrangement the Thompson Manufacturing Company became the manufactures of a machine, the invention of MR. SLEEPER, for the automatic construction of tin cans for meats and fruits. This is the only machine of the kind that takes sheet tin and cuts and makes a completed can automatically. The new company have found in MR. SLEEPER such a genius as the old one had in Alexander Thompson." Pg. 390-391 -- The Odd Fellows -- "The following officers were elected and installed for the term beginning July 1, 1896: .......C. W. SLEEPER....." (Pg. 496) My thanks to: REGINA ELLIOTT for this look-up! Note: CHARLES WRIGHT SLEEPER was the oldest son of WRIGHT SLEEPER and PHILINDA COLE of Coaticook.

In a message dated 10/7/2004 8:54:27 PM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: I think they may have this at the state genealogy library downtown - I'll check. Yours, Dora Smith Dear DORA SMITH, Someone on Worcester list had the information I was seeking. (see below) MY THANKS to everyone who e-mailed me with information or suggestions. I have now e-mailed the Mayflower Society of Massachusetts to see if I can get my cousin's line of descent from GOV. BRADFORD. THANK YOU FOR E-MAILING. Jacqueline Sleeper Russell MAYFLOWER DESCENDANT information: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendents Page 138 PROCEEDING FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY Members Elected 13 May 1918 No 1540 Miss Doris Ernestine Sleeper Boston, MA, tenth from William Bradford =============================

Found this in a search today - Doris E. Sleeper was found in our data volume The Complete Mayflower Descendant, Vols. 1-46 & Other Sources which is part of the Genealogy Library subscription. ================ Wonder if someone who has this subscription might do a lookup for me. I wish to know if this is DORIS ERNESTINE SLEEPER b. April 26, 1891 Brighton, (Island Pond) Essex County, Vermont. The daughter of CHARLES WRIGHT SLEEPER and ALICE E. LYMAN. I just had a note today from an aunt who found a card from DORIS to my grandmother ETHEL MAY SLEEPER (RUSSELL) many years ago telling her they were MAYFLOWER descendants through GOV. WM. BRADFORD. I have found nothing in my reseach so far - and wonder if it is her if the Mayflower line comes down through her maternal line. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for this lookup. Jacqueline Sleeper Russell

'LEADVILLE CEMETERY This cemetery nestles in the woods close to the Vermont border. Tombstones date back to the mid 1800s. A small lead mine existed here near Lake Memphremagog. Colonel Franklin Hitchcock (1840-1914) of the E. 7_?_ N.Y. Infantry reposes here along with a remarkable number of stillborn children who died between 1844 and 1873.' "POTTON CEMETERY ROUTE, A tribute to our ancestors," published by Potton Heritage Association, Inc. Note: Potton, Quebec, borders North Troy, Vermont. Transcribed by Jan Jordan

"JONES CEMETERY, Vale Perkins, Potton Twp., Brome County, QC, near Lake Memphremagog. G. JONES [1818-1886], _ PERKINS, son Samuel [1763-1845] founder of Vale Perkins , Levina EDSON [1765-1855. Other families buried there: JONES, GEER, HAND and LEVOY. A number of infants were buried there from 1851-1871." Reference is 'POTTON CEMETERY ROUTE, A tribute to our ancestors', published by Potton Heritage Association, Inc. Note: Potton, Quebec, borders North Troy, Vermont. Transcribed by Jan Jordan

I searched all my names during the week of my memberships and did some lookups, however today my subscription ended. This is a growing library and I will be checking back often to see if there is more on my EASTERN TOWNSHIP people listed on this site. I was very happy with my FINDS in the week I had this subscription and recommend it to others. Feel free to do FREE look-ups without a subscription (as I will do) the only drawback is you have to search all of Canada not specific locations. Hard to do with a common name. Jacqueline Sleeper Russell