Ken McKinlay 🇨🇦

Okay, not really misled since I don't trust AI results without reading the sources used and using my brain. But not seeing those results helps prevent me from getting frustrated with the inaccuracies.

Just due to the inaccuracies from the Google AI results in their searches, I've started to add "-ai" (without quotes) to all my queries so I don't get accidentally misled.

On 19 October, Nathan Dylan Goodwin will present “Finding Henry” at 3:45 p.m. Nathan will explain the range of genealogical methodology approaches, archives and DNA testing used to discover the identity of an illegitimate child's biological father. More detail: bit.ly/3Vd7NMS
#genealogy

On 19 October Sarah Wise will present “The Undesirables (Mental Institutions)” at 9 a.m. Sarah will tell us how the British government put thousands of ordinary working-class people into “mental deficiency” institutions; and offer examples of those affected. More detail: bit.ly/3Vd7NMS
#genealogy

News about Canada's National Registration File of 1940 A few days ago I was reading the General census guide page on the Library and Archives Canada site looking for some information that used ...

Canada's National Registration File of 1940 microfilms have finally been sent to Library and Archives Canada. But they aren't in great shape, so it will likely be a while before they're digitized. I write about this #genealogy gem in my blog post at familytreeknots.blogspot.com/2025/08/news...

What was life really like for those admitted to the workhouse? At 12:30 on 18 October, Dr. Mark Carroll will try to answer this question with information from institutions in London, Essex and Sussex, and show sources available for this challenge. More detail: bit.ly/3Vd7NMS

#genealogy

This week's crème de la crème - August 23, 2025 - Genealogy à la carte Some of the bijoux I discovered this week. Blog postsCanadian Titles on FamilySearch Full-text Search by John Reid on Anglo-Celtic Connections. The “Lost” 1820 U.S. Census Records Have Been Found by D...

Happy Saturday!

Clipping of a page from Library and Archives Canada RG24-C-3, Volume number 15073, File number 1943 - Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment 1944 War Diaries where a PIAT Firing Competition stated that the target is "One slightly used second-hand PANTHER tank"

I love coming across curious items in archival collections that has nothing to do with my #genealogy research. In this case, the PIAT Firing Competition target was "One slightly used second-hand PANTHER tk [tank]." [LAC RG24-C-3, vol. 15073, File 1943 - H & PE 1944 War Diaries] #SWW #Canada #war

Check out the speakers and topics for BIFHSGO's virtual conference on 18 and 19 October! Registration opens on September 1. More detail on the conference website. www.bifhsgo.ca/2025-confere...

#genealogy

I love when I come across an interesting cause of death in my #genealogy research. In this case, John C. Wildman's primary cause of death was "bodily degeneration" with an immediate cause being "worn away". He was 80 years of age at the time of death and farmed for most of his life.

I'm looking forward to reading this book. Not only for the story but hopefully to find out the various sources you've used in gathering the details.

@octranspo.com, in case no one has reported it, the transit map in the shelter at stop 5245 (south side Carling near Kempster) is upsidedown.

If you find kin listed in a cemetery interment register, make sure to cross-reference the burial location in the plot/lair books. You might just find other relatives buried in that lot you didn't even know about. That's happen twice to me in the past 3 days. #genealogy

When we can't find #genealogy records in collections, and we "know" they should be there, start asking yourself "Why?" Was there an event that destroyed the documents, or could they have been misfiled? Sometimes we need to research the research to continue our family history journey.

For me, this is a game changer. Especially when I'm dealing with the lengthy list of films found in the Scottish civil registrations. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

Revisit - Library and Archives Canada RG 8, C Series How-To More than a decade ago, I wrote a blog post titled " Library and Archives Canada RG 8, C Series How-To ." Since then, the Library and Archiv...

If your British #military kin were in #Canada between 1757-1899, then the LAC RG 8, "C" series of records might be of interest. I write about accessing those records in "Revisit - Library and Archives Canada RG 8, C Series How-To" at familytreeknots.blogspot.com/2025/06/revi.... #genealogy

If you get a "403 access forbidden" message when visiting Library and Archives Canada website, it is a "not you, it's them" sort of problem. They replied "...are experiencing technical difficulties due to additional pressure on LAC’s servers that power Collection and Census search" #genealogy

I wonder if Library and Archives Canada is getting tired of my feedback. Over the past two weeks, as I've been reviewing the site for my upcoming Legacy Family Tree Webinars talk on the LAC website, I've submitted 5 items. It's nice that they generally respond within 2 business days. #genealogy

I can get to their quasi-static web pages but It seems like their treasury database system isn't working. I couldn't search or even browse the Treasury. Sigh.

I will often see them when Cloudflare or other DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) protection providers detect that a protected site is starting to get slammed with DDoS attacks. They add that human element question to determine if you are a machine or human in order to let you access the site.

If you aren't taking the time to attempt to find and read the source material, then you are often missing out on not just the correct dates of the events but also other important clues not abstracted by AI or humans.

I see similar issues with the banns in the records but the date of the publication of banns has been forced into the database as the date of marriage. That is why we can't rely on abstracts created by AI or humans. We need to always review the source material for ourselves and *THINK*. #genealogy

I think that can be one of the more difficult challenges in doing genealogy, family history, and military research – figuring out what records or even subsets of records have survived through the ages.