Hilly Grove Cemetery Photos Online

A new database has been added to AncestorsAtRest.com for Manitoulin District  Ontario Canada. It consists of approximately 36 photos of gravestones. I only had a half hour to walk this cemetery so that is all I could capture. However I will be returning in the spring and will continue to add photos of the tombstones as I can.

For now, please take a look to see if an ancestor's grave is in Hilly Grove Cemetery, Assiginack Township, Manitoulin Island Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

Why is Great-Grandpa's Death Registration Missing?

How many times have you looked for a Vital Registration of a Birth, Marriage or Death in Ontario and come up empty? Lorine of Olive Tree Genealogy tells us why this happens! Anyone searching for Ontario ancestors needs to read this.

Read more: Why You Can't Find Great-Grandpa's Death Registration

52 Ancestors: Great-Grandmother Myrtle Massey Had a Difficult Life and an Early Death

The Sandercock Family in 1916

I don't remember my Great Grandmother as she died many years before my birth. She was born Myrtle Louisa Sandercock on October 29th 1895 in Middlesex County Ontario. She was the only girl in a family of seven children born to Samuel and Ann Sandercock.

At some point before her marriage to my Great Grandfather John Massey in 1913 the family had moved to St. Marys Ontario. I do not know how John and Myrtle met each other but John's father Thomas worked for the J.D. Moore company who just happened to own the building right next to the hotel that Myrtle worked in so that may have something to do with it.

Myrtle with a tray at the hotel in about 1910 - 1913

At her marriage Myrtle was just 18 years old but her life was not going to be easy over the next few years. Myrtle and John had their first child in May of 1914 and over the next 16 years she would have a total of 9 children. But 1914 would also bring the start of the Great War - a war that would see her two oldest brothers killed and her father sent home due to ill health.  Myrtle was particularly close to her brother James who was killed in 1918. I still have a letter James sent to his sister in 1918 that she kept until her death.

Of course there were the usual struggles for Myrtle and John as well. Money was in short supply as it was for many. John always worked but with 9 kids what he made did not go far. I remember my Grandfather telling me how when he was older and had his first job his mom would resort to taking coins from his stash that he kept in a cup in his room. He shared this room with his 8 brothers. He never said anything to her about it as he knew she needed it.

So the Great War of 1914 - 1918 saw the death of her two oldest brothers. The 1920s were a struggle for her, being pregnant and nursing young children most of the time. The 1930s brought the great depression and then to top it all off 1939 saw the start of another war. A war poor Myrtle had to see her own sons take part in. I am sure she could not help think about her own brothers who died in the first war as she watched her own sons go off to the second. 

John and Myrtle about 1942

Myrtle died at the young age of 49 in 1944. My grandmother told me that "Myrtle was doing the washing in the morning. She told her husband Jack that she was not feeling well and went to lie down and never woke up. It was a brain aneurysm"

Her Funeral card reads:

"Entered into rest suddenly at her late residence, Water St. South, St. Marys on Monday October 2, 1944, Myrtle L. Sandercock, beloved wife of John Massey in her 49th year. The funeral: Resting at the above address where funeral service will be held Thursday October 5 at 2p.m. Interment in St. Marys Cemetery"

St. Marys Journal-Argus, October 5, 1944, p.4 - Obituary - Mrs. John Massey

Stricken suddenly on Monday morning in the midst of her daily work, Mrs. John Massey, formerly Myrtle Sandercock, died in her 49th year at her home on Water St. South.  She had been in apparent good health and on Sunday had gone on a walk and on Monday she started her washing as usual.  Around 8:30 she was unable to continue and died about two hours later.
Born near Prospect Hill, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sandercock who reside in the West Ward, she had lived in Lucan before coming to St. Marys as a little girl.  Here she attended both Public School and Collegiate Institute, and 30 years ago married John Massey who is employed at Maxwell Ltd.  She was a member of St. James Anglican Church and had been among the first members of St. Marys Home and School Association.  She was a faithful worker for Red Cross objectives.Mrs. Massey was the devoted mother of nine children, four sons being in the Services: Charles, in the Army at Debert, N.S.; Pte. Bill  Massey in France; Pte. Cecil Massey in England; John with the R.C.A.F. at Jarvis; and Kenneth at home;  Mrs. C.J. Langford(Marjorie) and Mrs. G.E. McKinnon(Helen), both of St. Marys; and Dorothy and Evelyn at home.She also leaves four brothers: Jack, in the U.S. Army; Harry, overseas; Wilbert of St. Marys and Frank of Detroit; besides four grandchildren: Tommy and Jimmie(twins) of St. Marys and Billy and  Jimmie of Kingston.The funeral service is being conducted this afternoon at her late residence by Rev. M.H. Farr of St. Paulís Anglican Church, Stratford, with interment in St. Marys Cemetery.

Carrie Christina Hoch Coffin Plate

Carrie Hoch Coffin Plate

Carrie Christina Hoch

Died Nov 26th 1900

Aged 18 Years 6 Mos

To see more Coffin Plates try AncestorsAtRest.com 

I had a look in the Ontario Canada Death Records and I found a Carrie Hoch born in 1882 in Fullarton Ontario and died on Nov 26 1900 in Perth County Ontario. More research is needed but I betting this is our Carrie.

Cemetery Walk Scotch Cemetery, Manilla, Brock Twp, Durham Co Ontario

Olive Tree Genealogy has uploaded a Cemetery Walk for the Scotch Cemetery, Manilla, Brock Township, Durham (formerly Ontario) County

It's uploaded on Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel. It is only a partial viewing of the cemetery as there are many more gravestones in it.

Pioneer graves found at school site

Almost a dozen 180-year-old graves, including those of three children, have been discovered during an archeological excavation at the site of a former elementary school in Amherstburg Ontario.

Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/life/Pioneer+graves+found+school+site/5209311/story.html#ixzz1UdnCwe9v

Jennie M Sprague

I found this interesting memorial photo in an antique shop in Cambridge Ontario. It is for Jennie M Sprague 1857 ~ 1895. I have not found out who she was yet but I will keep hunting.

Tombstone Tuesday John Bell 1825~1904

Well its Tombstone Tuesday again and I thought I would post the tombstone of John Bell. John is buried in Batteau Hill Cemetery near Duntroon in Simcoe County Ontario. He is buried with his wife Mary and his son Malcom and daughter Catharine. It is interesting that Catharine and Malcom never married.

You can see the rest of Batteau Hill Cemetery at
Ancestors At Rest

Tombstone Tuesday

For this weeks Tombstone Tuesday I have decided to feature the tombstone of Margaret Hogg. Poor Margaret died at the young age of 36 in 1884. I dont know any thing about Margaret but in my mind I see her as a sweet pretty young woman who died way too young. I can not even begin to emagen the pain her husband Samuel must of felt at her passing.

Gone but not forgotten
IN
MEMORY OF
MARGARET
Beloved Wife Of
SAMUEL HOGG
DIED
Dec 18. 1884
AGED
36 YEARS

Margaret is burried in
ALLENFORD CEMETERY IN ALLENFORD, BRUCE COUNTY, ONTARIO

Battle of Stoney Creek Graves

Hamilton Ontario councillors are looking to the federal government to cover the cost of drafting a plan to excavate suspected soldiers’ remains near Smith’s Knoll on King Street.

Read More

St.Andrews Presbyterian Cemetery, Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Ontario

I now have a list of names to go with the photos of St.Andrews Presbyterian Cemetery, Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Ontario.

St.Andrews Presbyterian Cemetery

St.Johns Anglican Cemetery, Waverley, Simcoe County, Ontario

I have added a index to the photos of St.Johns Anglican Cemetery, Waverley, Simcoe County, Ontario. It makes browsing the photos much easier.
St.Johns Anglican Cemetery

If you are interested in other Simcoe County Ontario Cemetery records try Simcoe County Ontario

St.Andrews Presbyterian Cemetery, Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Ontario

I have started to add some photos of graves in St.Andrews Presbyterian Cemetery, Hillsdale, Simcoe County, Ontario. St.Andrews Presbyterian Cemetery

Cool Site For Ontario Photos

Hi All

I just found a cool site for photographs. It is called Images Ontario and it is just great. I have all ready found some of my ancestors and am just getting started. I don't know how long the site has been online but I think its great.


Images Ontario

Pioneers Of St. Marys, Perth County Ontario 1840~1860

I have created a new group on Facebook called Pioneers Of St. Marys, Perth County Ontario 1840~1860. And I would like to invite anyone with an interest in St. Marys to join me. This group is for anyone who can trace their lines back to early St. Marys. Or for anyone who has an interest in the history of this historic little town. I have used the years 1840 to 1860 as a guideline but feel free to post about any 19th Century St.Marys subject.

I have many early St. Marys lines and thought it would be fun to have a place to talk to others with ancestors in St.Marys.

Pioneers Of St. Marys, Perth County Ontario 1840~1860.

Woodlawn Cemetery Guelph Ontario

Adding some photos I took in Woodlawn Cemetery Guelph Ontario. Woodlawn Cemetery

Interment records of St. Joseph's Cemetery, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario

I have added some Interment records for St. Joseph's Cemetery, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario.
St.Joseph's Cemetery

Simcoe County Ontario Pages

I am working on my Simcoe County Ontario pages on AncestorsAtRest.com today. AncestorsAtRest.com Simcoe County

St Ann's Cemetery in Penetanguishene Simcoe County Ontario

I was in Penetanguishene the other day and had some time on my hands so I took some photos of graves in St Ann's Cemetery. I already had a handful of graves from St Ann's online but this new batch gives me about 150. I now have about 75% of the old pre 1900 graves. St Ann's cemetery is still in use but I do not have many photos of the more recent burials.

I am still geting the new grave photos on line and it will most likely take me the rest of the day to finish.

You can see what I have online so far at St Ann's cemetery

Hats Off To You Girls

The 10th Edition of Smile For The Camera is Costume so with that in mind I thought this photo might be appropriate. The photo is of the sisters of my Great Great Grandmother, Harriet Purdue. The girls were all milliners, that is to say they made hats for a living. They also were accomplished seamstresses and made their own clothing. The photo was taken in St.Marys Ontario around 1895~1900.