Greetings All. Just a short note to advise that the Post 1901 Census Project website has been updated with the inclusion of a Scoreboard and Correspondence Logs for all Senators of Canada, similar to that for MPs. For the past while we have had some difficulties in timely updating of the website. It is hoped that we have managed to resolve those problems and updates should be more frequent. With your help this website will be a continuous work in progress. The URL for the site follows my signature. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted.
Hi, I am new to this list. Does anyone have an Emma WATTS who married a John PYM? They married in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England on June 8, 1861. That is where their son Frederick John PYM was born in 1862. On the marriage cert. Emma WATTS' father's name is David WATTS who was a tailor. I have found on the surname index for Gloucester (that someone has sent me) an Emma WATTS christened July 21, 1833 in Westbury on Severen to David and Elizabeth WATTS! If you see a connection, or know of someone that may have a connection, please contact me. Thanks in advance, Carrie Hawkins, Ontario, CANADA
Jalil! Jalil! I found it! Had to do a little cleaning hrrrm FINDING A PLACE CALLED HOME A Guide to African-American Genealogy and Historical Identity Revised and expanded by Dee Parmer Woodtor, Ph.D., Random House, NY. Introduction by Velma Maia Thomas, Author of Lest We Forget. Chapter 1: Regaining Our Collective Memory, Reclaiming A Lost Family Tradition. Hope this helps you and other African-Americans. Because genealogy is so tedious and time-consuming and patience consuming, it is a labor of love, and very satisfying even if the search doesnt end as successfully as we expect. Getting to know the people of this countrys past is a wonderful experience. Best regards, Betty Green Polombo Searching Zellner Watts Hodge Holmes Capehart Edge Hawkins May Woodall Bryant Green and more -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 10:15 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Free African American WATKINS - 1741 TO PRESENT - In a message dated 7/4/01 8:35:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Jalil, I am white and my great grandmother was a Watts. Since there are variations in the name spellings, it wouldn't hurt to look under these other names also. There are many African Americans named Watts. I wonder why his name was Watkins when he was in the inventory of John Coppedge. He may have been rented out to Coppedge. I have a book that helps African Americans research their histories. Good luck and Best regards, Betty P Hi Betty. Thanks for responding. I have considered several reasons why the Watkins children were listed in the Coppedge inventory. Since these children are so young, I think that perhaps the mother may have been a slave of a Watkins and was either sold, traded, or given to the Coppedge family for some reason. I am searching for a Watkins-Coppedge connection. The records show that they were emancipated by Coppedge before the senior Coppedge died. What is the name of the book that you have that helps African Americans trace their roots? Jalil
Greetings All. I copy here FYI a series of communications (or attempted communications) with Justice Minister Anne McLellan relating to our efforts to regain public access to Historic Census Records. It would appear that Ms. McLellan shares the same lack of interest to our concerns as do Industry Minister Brian Tobin and Heritage Minister Sheila Copps. Neither of them respond either. My apologies for the length of this posting. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordon A. Watts" <[email protected]> To: "Anne MCLELLAN - MP" <[email protected]> Cc: "Jason KENNEY - MP" <[email protected]>; "Sheila COPPS - MP" <[email protected]>; "Lorna MILNE - SEN" <[email protected]>; "Murray Calder - MP" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 1:14 PM Subject: Lack of response to communications sent in April 2001 Ms. McLellan: I copy below attempts to contact you, in your capacity of Minister of Justice and Attorney General, through email via the address contained on the Justice Canada website, and the responses thereto, from the Website Administrator. I find these responses to be totally inadequate in that they do nothing to assure me that they have actually been directed to your attention. Words are cheap, and these ones apparently mean nothing -- simple mouthings attempting to convince me that my communications have been noted. Further, your lack of response to my concerns and specific questions asked demonstrates to me, and to the many people I represent, just how little you are concerned regarding the common people of Canada -- the ones that voted for you to represent them in Parliament, and the ones who look to you for "Justice". Attempts to contact your office by telephone have been futile. The local office of Justice Canada refuses to forward my call to your office in Ottawa. Local offices of other Federal Government departments will do this, but not Justice Canada. Other Federal Government departments have toll-free numbers to use, but not Justice Canada. Finally calling at my own expense to find what has happened to my correspondences to you, I am transferred from pillar to post before eventually getting someone's voice mail box in which I left a message requesting a call back. More than a week later I am still waiting. In sending you the two email copied below, at the same time I sent identical communications via fax at the number shown on the Justice Canada website, and by Canada Post. I have received neither response, nor acknowledgement to either the fax or letter. I will be sending this message by fax and Canada Post as well. The appearance is that you, or your office, have deliberately made it next to impossible to contact you by any normal means. This is totally unacceptable. You have a responsibility to the people of Canada. They deserve to have their concerns noted and responded to. They deserve to receive more than a one line response from a website administrator. I respectfully request an immediate, and personal, response to the questions and concerns voiced in the communications below. Thank you. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee 1455 Delia Drive Port Coquitlam, BC Tel (604) 942-6889 Fax (604) 942-6843 http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Web Administrator" <[email protected]> To: "'Gordon A. Watts'" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 11:38 AM Subject: RE: Lack of response to communications sent in April 2001 Hello, This confirms receipt of your e-mail. Rest assured that your message will be forwarded to the Minister of Justice. Regards, Web Administrator Justice Canada -----Original Message----- From: Gordon A. Watts [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 2001 Jun 29 4:15 PM To: ; Anne MCLELLAN - MP Cc: Hon. Brian TOBIN; Jason KENNEY - MP; Sheila COPPS - MP; Lorna MILNE - SEN Subject: Lack of response to communications sent in April 2001 1455 Delia Drive Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2V9 Hon. Anne McLellan, P.C., M.P. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada 284 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8 Dear Ms. McLellan On 9 and 10 April 2001 I sent to you, by email, fax, and Canada Post, correspondence relating to the current review of the Access to Information Act, and my concerns regarding an announcement made 15 December 2000 by Industry Minister Brian Tobin that this review would include "...further broad based consultation with all Canadians..." re: public access to Historic Census Records. In this correspondence I expressed a number of concerns, and asked for specific responses to those concerns. I further requested information that I hoped to obtain informally, but if necessary was prepared to request through ATI. On 24 April 2001, two weeks later, I received an acknowledgement of receipt of my email, stating that I would "...receive a written response from the Minister of Justice." I have attached to this correspondence copies of this acknowledgement of receipt of my email, and my original message to you. To date, now more than two months since sending my correspondences, I have received neither the promised "written response from the Minister of Justice", nor even the courtesy of an acknowledgement of receipt of either my fax or the letter sent by Canada Post. The concerns expressed in my April correspondence, and the information requested of you have also been requested of Industry Minister Brian Tobin. Mr. Tobin has also neglected to either acknowledge my correspondence, or to respond to it. The office of Heritage Minister Sheila Copps has advised me that any correspondence from me will be filed (garbage?) without response. A suspicious person might conclude that there is a conspiracy of silence regarding the "...broad based consultations with all Canadians..." re: public access to Historic Census Records, that do not appear to taking place as announced. I respectfully request an immediate response to the concerns expressed and information requested in my previous correspondence. Sincerely, Gordon A. Watts Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee CC Hon. Brian Tobin; Hon. Sheila Copps; Hon. Lorna Milne, Senator; Murray Calder; MP, Jason Kenney, MP ======================= From: "Web Administrator" < [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > To: "'Gordon A. WATTS'" < [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 6:07 AM Subject: RE: ATI Act Review Task Force and public consultation re: public access to Historic Census Records Good morning, This is to confirm receipt of your message and to assure you that you will receive a written response from the Minister of Justice. Best regards, Web Administrator Justice Canada -----Original Message----- From: Gordon A. WATTS [ mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> ] Sent: 2001 Apr 10 3:00 AM Cc: Lorna MILNE - SEN; Jason KENNEY - MP; Murray CALDER - MP; Hon. Brian TOBIN Subject: ATI Act Review Task Force and public consultation re: public access to Historic Census Records 1455 Delia Drive Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2V9 9 April 2001 Hon. Anne McLellan, P.C., M.P. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada 284 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8 Dear Ms. McLellan On 15 December 2000, in conjunction with the long delayed release of the Report of the Expert Panel on Access of Historic Census Records, Industry Minister Brian Tobin submitted a News Release in which he rejected the recommendations made in this Report. The News Release, a copy of which is attached hereto, was dealing with public access to Historic Census Records. Mr. Tobin stated, in relation to this: (emphasis mine) "....further broad based consultation with all Canadians is needed. This consultation will take place as part of the already announced administrative and legislative review of the Access to Information and the Privacy Acts." On 26 March 2001, I participated in a roundtable discussion conducted by the Access to Information Act Review Task Force. Of the seventeen participants in these discussions, four were primarily concerned with public access to Historic Census Records, 92 years after collection, as allowed for in the Privacy Act and its Regulations. We felt that Section 24, and Schedule II of the ATI Act were major impediments to this access. This due to the fact that Section 17 of the Statistics Act is named in Schedule II, thus apparently removing any discretion in allowing control of Census records to be given over to the National Archivist for subsequent release for public access. After considerable discussion, the feeling was unanimous among the participants that public access should be allowed to Historic Census Records, 92 years after collection, as per the Privacy Act and its Regulations. All of this, however, seems to have been for naught. Following the roundtable discussions, we had the opportunity to speak with three members of the ATIA Review Task Force who were in attendance as observers. Those members of the Task Force advised us: * Not to expect much to be said about public access to Historic Census Records in the Final Report of the ATI Act Review Task Force. * A review of, and recommendations regarding, public access to Historic Census Records did not form a part of the mandate of the ATI Act Review Task Force. * Members of the ATI Act Review Task Force had never been advised that a review of, and subsequent recommendations relating to, public access of Historic Census Records should be considered by them. * A review of the Privacy Act was not, and has never been, a part of the mandate of the ATI Act Review Task Force. In considering the above, one might reach the following conclusions: * There is a great lack of communications between the Minister of Industry and yourself as Minister of Justice, and/or between yourself and the members of the ATIA Review Task Force. Or * Someone is not telling the whole truth regarding "broad based consultation with all Canadians" relating to public access of Historic Census Records. It is obvious that such consultation is not, as Mr. Tobin indicated, being done in conjunction with the ATIA Review Task Force. * This consultation is unlikely to take place in any similar exercise relating to the Privacy Act. The only known reference to any review of the Privacy Act was found in a speech you made to the Canadian Bar Association 21 August 2000, where you indicated you had asked "my officials to begin a comprehensive review of the Privacy Act." I would appreciate your personal comments regarding the above. In relation to the above I would seek to obtain any and all documentation, including email, letters, memoranda, notes about conversations, or other, between yourself as Minister of Justice, Justice Canada and the ATIA Review Task Force, and Brian Tobin as Minister of Industry, Dr. Ivan Fellegi, Chief Statistician of Canada, and Statistics Canada, relating to any review of public access to Historic Census Records and the various legislation pertaining thereto. I will, if necessary, request this information through ATI. If possible, however, I would prefer to obtain it informally. I look forward to a response from you at your earliest possible convenience. Thank you. Sincerely, Gordon A. Watts Co-chair, Canada Census Committee CC Hon. Brian Tobin Hon. Lorna Milne Murray Calder, MP Jason Kenney, MP
Greetings All. I hope that you had a great Canada Day and that all survived with nothing more serious than a sunburn. With school out and summer vacations imminent opportunities for gathering signatures on Census petitions will be numerous. Family gatherings, reunions, camping trips, vacation trips, etc. are all great places to get people to sign. To date, since the federal election last fall, we have gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures on petitions for each of the House of Commons, and the Senate. With Parliament recessed until 19 September we have a couple of months in which to greatly increase these numbers. While in our previous petition blitz British Columbia led the parade for numbers of signatures gathered, this time Alberta has greatly outshone all other provinces. This was accomplished because both the Alberta Genealogical Society and the Alberta Family History Society mailed copies of the petitions to each of their members with a request to gather signatures and return them before a goal date set by each organization. While this entailed a small cost to the societies, even that cost was minimized by including the petitions, which had been printed double sided, with the mailing of their normal newsletters. Both groups gathered in excess of 2,500 signatures on each of the House of Commons and Senate Petitions. Imagine the numbers of signatures we could present when Parliament resumes in the fall if every genealogical and historical society, in every province, followed the example of the AGS and AFHS. MP Murray Calder and Senator Lorna Milne would need dollies to wheel the petitions into the House of Commons and the Senate. One of the major problems in our campaign to regain public access to Historic Census Records has been that the vast majority of Canadians are not aware that Census records after 1901 have been closed by Statistics Canada. Most give little or no thought to Census, except when required to complete the forms every five years, and are unaware of the great importance placed on Census by genealogists and historians. Aside from gathering signatures on petitions, each of us must make an effort to inform our friends, neighbours, relatives, and local media regarding the situation, and what is being done to remedy it. We must continue to write our MPs, and now our Senators, seeking their support for public access to Historic Census Records. Occasionally we receive questions about a deadline for receiving petitions. There is NO DEADLINE. We will continue to collect signatures and send them in until such time as we have achieved our goal. Recently, because of things beyond my control, there has been difficulty in having the Post 1901 Census Project website updated. While many files have been updated they have not yet been loaded on the server. I do not have direct access to the server and must rely on someone else to load the files. I hope that these problems will soon be resolved. New additions to the web pages will be a Scoreboard and Correspondence Logs for Senators, similar to those for Members of Parliament, and a letter sized poster (downloadable in PDF format) for use in gathering petition signatures. My wish for each of you is for a safe and happy summer, and may your vacations be everything you want them to be. May it also be productive for gathering petition signatures and for informing others about the importance of regaining public access to Post 1901 Census Records. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm
Sherman Maurice WATTS, killed at Pearl Harbor on the USS Arizona. From Rio Oso area in CA. Buried in Sutter Co., CA. Anyone know his ancestry? Any descendants out there? I am a SHERMAN researcher, and am interested in honoring this man. Please email me at [email protected]
Greetings All. It is with great pleasure that I advise that the ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN ARCHIVISTS has joined our effort to regain public access to Historic Census Records. I copy below, for your information, most of an email message sent to the membership of the ACA, containing two resolutions made at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Canadian Archivists in Winnipeg, June 8 2001. It was sent by Bryan Corbett, President of the ACA. We welcome the participation of the ACA. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted. ================================ The attached resolutions were discussed and passed unanimously at the annual meeting of the Association of Canadian Archivists on June 8 in Winnipeg. The Census resolution is being sent to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Leaders of the Opposition, the Minister of Industry, the National Archivist of Canada, the Information Commissioner of Canada, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and the Chief Statistician of Canada. The Access Resolution is being sent to the Access to Information Review Task Force, the Minister of Justice, The National Archivist of Canada, John Bryden, Member of Parliament, the Information Commissioner of Canada and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. As President of the Association of Canadian Archivists I would ask you to write to or call these individuals and Offices to support these resolutions ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN ARCHIVISTS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - 8 JUNE 2001 Motion of Membership on Release of Historical Census Moved by: Terry Cook Seconded by: Tom Nesmith Carried by: UNANIMOUS vote of approval In that the historical censuses of Canada are essential records that allow individual Canadians to situate themselves and their families within the fabric of Canada and serve as a foundational historical record for research in many disciplines necessary to understand aspects of our nation, its peoples, and its identities not available through any other documentary source; In that the Government of Canada after much public lobbying by many interest groups established an Expert Panel of well-respected Canadians representing all aspects of the census-release issue to investigate and resolve this matter thoroughly; In that the Expert Panel issued its report over six months ago recommending release of the historical censuses according to the terms of the Regulations of the Privacy Act of Canada that balances release of government information and protection of personal information while it is still sensitive, a position that this Association formally supports; In that the Expert Panel found that after researching the relevant records that there never was an alleged promise of confidentiality to Canadians regarding the census, and that by contrast depositing the census in the National Archives was explicitly an accepted part of early census policy; and In that national censuses of 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901 have been released for many years now to hundreds of thousands of users via microfilmed copies in numerous Canadian archives, as have all Newfoundland censuses before 1949, and that there has never been a single privacy complaint lodged against the release, widespread use, or publication of any of this historical census data; Be it resolved, that the Association of Canadian Archivists * strongly urges the Government of Canada to implement immediately the findings of the Expert Panel without change, and especially without the unnecessary additional delays of awaiting possible reviews of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act; * strongly urges the Government of Canada to release immediately to the custody and control of the National Archives of Canada the Western Census of 1906 and the National Census of 1911 so they may be released 92 years after creation as legislation directs, and directs Statistics Canada to arrange for the subsequent transfer of all subsequent census data to the National Archives for the years 1921-1991, and to protect electronic versions according to National Archives' instructions for the years 1996 and onward; and * instructs its President to convey this motion to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Leaders of all Parliamentary Parties, the Minister of Industry, the National Archivist of Canada, the Information Commissioner of Canada, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and the Chief Statistician of Canada. ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN ARCHIVISTS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - 8 JUNE 2001 Motion of Membership on Access to Information Review Task Force Moved by: Terry Cook Seconded by: Tom Nesmith Carried by: UNANIMOUS vote of approval In that the Government of Canada has created an Access to Information Review Task Force (P.O. Box 1178, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5R2) to review the clauses and operation of the federal Access to Information Act; In that archivists as information professionals have vital interests in Access to Information either directly at the federal level or through federal legislation often being mirrored in other jurisdictions; In that archivists have long experience in administering access to information/freedom of information legislation across Canada, and in dealing with researchers using that legislation to access archival holdings covered by such legislation; Be it resolved, that the Association of Canadian Archivists * supports the Government of Canada in its review of the Access to Information Act; * urges the Task Force to use the expertise of archivists in its deliberations through direct contact with appointees of the Association's President * urges the Task Force to maintain the historical and just balance between citizen's rights, on the one hand, to access government information for many research purposes and to hold government accountable through reliable records as the basis of democracy, and, on the other hand, to prevent the early disclosure of sensitive personal information that constitutes an invasion of privacy; * urges the Task Force to recognize the clear linkage between any realistic implementation of the right of access and the effective management of the information of Government in all recording media (including especially electronic records), grounded by control of authorization of all records destruction by the National Archivist of Canada; * urges the Task Force to strengthen the authority (and resources) of the Information Commissioner and National Archivist in promoting better records management, including expanded punitive powers and penalties for non-compliance with record-keeping directives; * urges the Task Force to expand the scope of the Act, so that the schedule of departments and agencies subject to the Act is made identical with those of the Privacy Act and the National Archives of Canada Act with which they are related; * urges very strongly the Task Force to introduce a passage of time clause, requiring that all government records should be released by their creating department or by the National Archives twenty-five (25) years after their creation. A passage of time clause exists in Privacy Act regulations and in the more effective access-lease rules before 1983. If there are rare exceptions to this blanket release date, save only for sensitive personal information that has longer passage-of-time release dates already, these should be justified for continued closure only on a case-by-case basis made before the Information Commissioner, who would rule on their validity, subject to appeal to the courts. This places the burden rightly on government to demonstrate why records should remain closed rather than on citizens to request (at their time and expense) that they be opened; * urges the Task Force to consider, in light of recent impasses on this release of historical censuses, inserting an explicit census release clause in a revised Act; and * instructs its President to convey this motion to the Chair of the Access to Information Review Task Force, the Minister of Justice, the National Archivist of Canada, the Information Commissioner of Canada, and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Bryan Corbett University Archivist University of Alberta Archives University of Alberta Book and Record Depository (BARD) 100, 8170 50th Street Edmonton, Alberta CANADA T6B 2E2 Tel: (780) 466-6123 Fax: (780) 466-5210 E-Mail: [email protected] The University of Alberta Home Page is located at http://www.ualberta.ca/archives/ The home page of the Association of Canadian Archivists is located at: http://aca.archives.ca The home page of the Archives Society of Alberta is located at: http://www.glenbow.org/asa/home.htm
Greetings All My thanks to Doug Porteous on the Can-Saskatchewan mail list for posting the URL for the following article of the 20 June Globe and Mail. Thanks also to Garth Ulrich, our Canada Census Committee member in Saskatchewan for forwarding it to me. The URL for the original article is: http://www.globeandmail.com/gam/Commentary/20010620/COCENSUS.html Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward this message without notice is granted. ======================================== Don't muzzle our past Wilfrid Laurier never intended to keep the 1906 census secret, says historian BILL WAISER BILL WAISER Wednesday, June 20, 2001 In 2005, Saskatchewan and Alberta will celebrate their centennial as provinces. All kinds of special events are being planned for the occasion. But, as things now stand, one important historical player -- the 1906 special Western census -- will not be there. At the beginning of the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of immigrants helped fuel what became known as the "Laurier Boom." Most newcomers were attracted by the promise of the "last best West" and took up homesteads in record numbers. Prairie cities became some of the world's fastest growing urban centres: Saskatoon, for example, mushroomed from 113 people in 1901 to more than 12,000 a decade later. Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier took pride that one of Confederation's last great tasks -- settlement of the Western interior -- was finally being realized. He recognized that a new agricultural society was in the making, one with a distinctive, continental European component, and wanted to capture this change. He ordered a special Western census for June, 1906 -- held in the three Prairie provinces only. It was an unprecedented exercise. Census-taking was normally held every 10 years -- the last one in 1901. But Western Canada's growth was so phenomenal that Laurier decided to take a kind of statistical snapshot of the region's population and agriculture for posterity. This census material is now almost a century old. According to federal legislation (the Privacy, Access to Information, and National Archives acts), it should have been made available for public consultation in 1998. Ian Wilson, the Chief Archivist, has asked Statistics Canada to transfer the 1906 census to the custody and control of the Archives. This request has not been honoured and the law has not been respected. Those opposed to releasing the 1906 census contend that prime minister Laurier made a pledge that the information would remain confidential forever. But none of these opponents -- or anyone else for that matter -- has been able to produce any evidence of the so-called Laurier promise. What we do know is that the 1906 census did have a confidentiality provision "to keep inviolate the secrecy of the information" that was specifically aimed at census enumerators, not the general public generations later. The Laurier government wanted to assure Westerners that census information would not be passed along to tax collectors or military conscription personnel, and instructed its census workers to emphasize this point. But the 1906 census instructions also state, "The Census is intended to be a permanent record, and its schedules will be stored in the Archives of the Dominion." Releasing the 1906 census data would not break a promise to Canadians; it would keep one. The continuing failure to transfer these records to the National Archives breaks faith with the original intentions of the Laurier government and violates the current access and privacy laws of Canada. Maybe it's time for three of the Liberal leadership hopefuls -- John Manley, Brian Tobin and Sheila Copps -- to show some leadership on this important issue. In November, 1999, then industry minister Manley appointed an expert panel to investigate how historical census material should be handled. The panel concluded that there was no impediment to transferring the 1906 census to the National Archives -- a position supported by a legal opinion from the Department of Justice. Mr. Tobin, the new industry minister, has had several months to study and act on the report. Researchers from his province of Newfoundland currently enjoy access to its 1945 census. One wonders why Western Canadians are being denied the same privilege, especially given the purpose of the 1906 census. Ms. Copps, meanwhile, has been promoting Canadian heritage at every opportunity, but has been uncharacteristically silent on the census question. Surely, her department should be championing the fundamental importance of this material for a more complete understanding of Canada's past. Then there's Jean Chrétien, who likes to compare himself to Laurier and seems to be looking for a legacy. What better way to honour one of our most successful prime ministers than to provide access to the census that gave credence to the term, "Canada's Century"? It's time to release the 1906 special Western census for public consultation. The Saskatchewan and Alberta centennials are just four years away. Researchers need time to examine the material to learn more about the Laurier era in general, and the histories of Western families in particular. There are half a million individual stories waiting to be told. Now that's a celebration. Bill Waiser lives in Saskatoon. He is a board member of Canada's National History Society.
Hello, again, Here's another WATTS from the American Expedition a William WATTS http://www.genealogy-quest.com/collections/jamaica.html American Expedition Names of Officers and Soldiers engaged in the American Expedition, who during the Years 1656, 1657 and 1658 applied for Arrears of Pay, or on whose account such applications were made by their Widows or Representatives. Many of the persons alluded to in the applications of Widows or Representatives are stated to have lost their Lives in the Expedition to America or in Jamaica. Wm. Webb, soldier, deceased 25 Dec 1656
Dear WATTS researchers, Just wanted to pass on this information that I found on Genealogy Quest in case it connects to the WATTS lineage related to the LOTT and JOYNER lines or to some others that are researching WATTS as well. Sincerely, Bellinda Myrick - Barnett [email protected] American Expedition Names of Officers and Soldiers engaged in the American Expedition, who during the Years 1656, 1657 and 1658 applied for Arrears of Pay, or on whose account such applications were made by their Widows or Representatives. Many of the persons alluded to in the applications of Widows or Representatives are stated to have lost their Lives in the Expedition to America or in Jamaica. Ensign Geo. Watts, deceased 25 Dec 1656 http://www.genealogy-quest.com/collections/jamaica.html
I guess it would be helpful to post the web site for the newsletter. It is www.wattsline.org/gen
All, I have been on vacation so there was no June newsletter (as announced in the May Newsletter). There will be a new issue posted in the first week of July. I will send out an email when I get it posted. If you are not on the mailing list just send me a personal e-mail. Because I have been very busy this past month we have not posted any more back issues but hopefully I can get caught up on e-mails and such and start working to get more of the back issues of the Watts' On-Line Newsletter posted. Lori
My mystery Luther Watts told his children they Black Dutch. I have him born in MO/TX 1850. His parents born VA/GA. Then one Census his father was born in MO. I think now that Luther was born MO not his father. I think they were living in MO near the Chisholm Trail in 1866. The Chisholm Trial did run into Missouri near Springfield MO. during this time. For in 1866 Luther left home and became a cowboy. He later stop in 1885 when he married his wife Virginia Munkres Wigington in Cooke Co. TX. But they were living in Thackerville, OK Does anyone know this man? His nickname/Middle name was Texas. I think is middle was something else and his nickname from cowboy days was Texas. Janet ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 10:32 PM Subject: [WATTS-L] Pee Dee Watts cont. > My Watts called them selves Black Irish, the Watts children were all dark > complected with curly hair. A civil war military record discibes his twin > brother Allen Watts as dark complected. It is very possible my oldest Watts > relative Moses b. abt 1800 in NC married an Indian or his mother was > possibly Indian. The 1st record I have of Moses is the 1830 Montgomery NC > census living in the Pee Dee River area. Family lore gives the family coming > from South Carolina on the Santee river. The great Pee Dee river was like a > high way and settlers were able to travel up and down the river easily. > Looking at the birth place of the children (born both SC and NC) of Thomas > Watts who also lived on the Pee Dee on the 1830 Montgomery Co cenus it is > evident that the people traveled up and down the river quite often. > > Back to the Pee Dee, on Oct. 27,1732, the ship Happy Return disembarked 85 > passengers from Belfast Ireland. Many settlers also left Ireland when they > were required to pay tithes to the Church of England. The Huguenots settled > on the south side of the Santee river and there were many intermarriages > between them and the Irish.The 1st record I have of a Watts in the Pee Dee is > Francis Watts 1753, he is the grandson of Francis Watts, do not have his date > of when he came to the Pee Dee. > If I am not wrong Anson Co NC was also in the Pee Dee river area at one time > and we have Malachi Watts, and Barsheba Watts who married William Gulledge, > William Watts There is a nothe of a William Watts death 1774, John Watts > grandson post bond. There is also mention of Malachi Watts as Constable in > room of William Gulledge, 1775. There were alos a Malachi, Andrew Andrew, > Andrew Jr, David, Peter, Elleck( could this be Enech), Henry and Garret,. > signed a pettition 1770. 1789. > So there were a lot of Watts in this area early on. My Watts ended up in > Giles Co TN by 1870 , another Watts that was also on the 1850 census ended up > in Alabamba along with other Watts. It would be interesting to know how many > of these Watts arew accounted for today. I know my family is in thare > somewhere, just don't know where. > Barbara Watts > >
Last thing I remember was that an email was going to be sent out when it was put on the web site. but I have received nothing lately. In fact the list has been quite quiet. regards Barbara Old Basing, U>K> ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 10:29 PM Subject: [WATTS-L] watts news letter > Does anyone know if the Watts nrews letter is no longer being sent out. Sure > miss it, I hav;t recd a copy in 2 months? > > Also would like to join forces with other researchers who are researching the > Watts who were in the Pee Dee river area. > The Pee Dee Basin covers nearly a third of South Carolinaand extends up into > North Carolina. ^This discription covers more area than today is considered > the Pee Dee area, but fite the area opened to the colonial goverment in 1700. > A map compiled in 1730 stateas that there were not more than 5 families north > of the Santee. The population was numbered in 1738 as 2600 total, including > 400 Anglicians, 800 "disenters of all types and 1400 "heathens and infidels" > This was stated by th Rev John Fordyces. > Will send more info later, baby just woke up. > Barbara > >
I remember what you remember, there was to be an Email. I checked the site and the last one posted is May 1, 2001. http://www.wattsline.org/gen/watts/framenewsletter.htm Regards, Dick Watts ( [email protected] ) http://communities.msn.com/MyGenealogySite/homepage alternate http://www.geocities.com/rlwattss/more/signature.html Stoneham Historical Society, Webmaster Stoneham, Middlesex, MA, USGenWeb Town Coordinator St. George, Knox, ME, USGenWeb Town Coordinator ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara Watts" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 7:13 PM Subject: Re: [WATTS-L] watts news letter > Last thing I remember was that an email was going to be sent out when it was > put on the web site. but I have received nothing lately. In fact the list > has been quite quiet. > > regards > Barbara > Old Basing, U>K> >
My Watts called them selves Black Irish, the Watts children were all dark complected with curly hair. A civil war military record discibes his twin brother Allen Watts as dark complected. It is very possible my oldest Watts relative Moses b. abt 1800 in NC married an Indian or his mother was possibly Indian. The 1st record I have of Moses is the 1830 Montgomery NC census living in the Pee Dee River area. Family lore gives the family coming from South Carolina on the Santee river. The great Pee Dee river was like a high way and settlers were able to travel up and down the river easily. Looking at the birth place of the children (born both SC and NC) of Thomas Watts who also lived on the Pee Dee on the 1830 Montgomery Co cenus it is evident that the people traveled up and down the river quite often. Back to the Pee Dee, on Oct. 27,1732, the ship Happy Return disembarked 85 passengers from Belfast Ireland. Many settlers also left Ireland when they were required to pay tithes to the Church of England. The Huguenots settled on the south side of the Santee river and there were many intermarriages between them and the Irish.The 1st record I have of a Watts in the Pee Dee is Francis Watts 1753, he is the grandson of Francis Watts, do not have his date of when he came to the Pee Dee. If I am not wrong Anson Co NC was also in the Pee Dee river area at one time and we have Malachi Watts, and Barsheba Watts who married William Gulledge, William Watts There is a nothe of a William Watts death 1774, John Watts grandson post bond. There is also mention of Malachi Watts as Constable in room of William Gulledge, 1775. There were alos a Malachi, Andrew Andrew, Andrew Jr, David, Peter, Elleck( could this be Enech), Henry and Garret,. signed a pettition 1770. 1789. So there were a lot of Watts in this area early on. My Watts ended up in Giles Co TN by 1870 , another Watts that was also on the 1850 census ended up in Alabamba along with other Watts. It would be interesting to know how many of these Watts arew accounted for today. I know my family is in thare somewhere, just don't know where. Barbara Watts
Does anyone know if the Watts nrews letter is no longer being sent out. Sure miss it, I hav;t recd a copy in 2 months? Also would like to join forces with other researchers who are researching the Watts who were in the Pee Dee river area. The Pee Dee Basin covers nearly a third of South Carolinaand extends up into North Carolina. ^This discription covers more area than today is considered the Pee Dee area, but fite the area opened to the colonial goverment in 1700. A map compiled in 1730 stateas that there were not more than 5 families north of the Santee. The population was numbered in 1738 as 2600 total, including 400 Anglicians, 800 "disenters of all types and 1400 "heathens and infidels" This was stated by th Rev John Fordyces. Will send more info later, baby just woke up. Barbara
----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 9:01 PM Subject: WATTS-D Digest V01 #31
Greetings All. FYI. The following extracts from Hansard show the latest petitions to be presented by Senator Lorna Milne in the Senate, and MP Murray Calder in the House of Commons. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts [email protected] Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en francais http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm Permission to forward without notice is granted. =================== Tuesday, May 8, 2001 Access to Census Information -- Presentation of Petitions Hon. Lorna Milne: Honourable senators, I have the honour today to present 1,394 signatures from Canadians in the provinces of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia who are researching their ancestry, as well as signatures from 116 people from the United States and 17 from Great Britain who are researching their Canadian roots. A total of 1,527 people are petitioning the following: Your petitioners call upon Parliament to take whatever steps necessary to retroactively amend Confidentiality-Privacy clauses of Statistics Acts since 1906, to allow release to the Public after a reasonable period of time, of Post 1901 Census reports starting with the 1906 Census. So far I have now presented petitions with 9,734 signatures to the Thirty-seventh Parliament. The numbers are climbing. I have presented petitions with over 6,000 signatures to the Thirty-sixth Parliament, all calling for immediate action on this very important matter of Canadian history. ========================= Thursday, May 17, 2001 PETITIONS -- CENSUS RECORDS Mr. Murray Calder (Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise to present another petition to the House calling for the release of historic census records to the public. The petition is signed by more than 5,500 Canadians. Combined with the signatures of the previous petitions that I have presented on this subject in this session of parliament, the total number is now over 9,000. The petition points out that an estimated 7.5 million Canadians are engaged in the pursuit of their family history and that census records are a valuable tool for such research. The records have been used in historical research, for tracing genetic diseases and in settling wills and estates. The petitioners are calling upon parliament to take whatever steps are necessary to retroactively amend confidentiality clauses of the Statistics Act since 1906 to allow the release to the public, after a reasonable period of time, the post 1901 census records.
Hi Martha, Is this CD an index for all states? I guess I'm not familiar with what this is all about, but I am interested. I am looking for Watts in Newark, NJ and this would be a great help. Thanks for any information you can give. Alice ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martha Barker" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 6:35 PM Subject: [WATTS-L] LDS 1880 census index > I just talked to the Distribution center at Salt Lake. They are out of > the 1880 Census index CD. They have 50,000 coming in August 1st. If you > ordered it and have not received it you may want to call them. If you > placed the order over the internet your card was not charged, and the order > canceled once they ran out. > > If you receive this on more than one list from me sorry. > > Martha >