Your parents cared so much for you, their only child. They were so happy to take you on that visit to Scotland in 1898, being able to show you where they grew up.
I just received Katie Joe's file from the RBCM today in the mail. Katie was my great grandmother who was sent to Essondale back in July of 1923 and passed away on May 18, 1926. She was my grandfather Harry Joe's mother and was sent to New Westminster when my grandfather was still a teenager. She was sent there from a small First Nations community in the Yukon called Hutshi and not knowing but a few words of English. A picture was included in the file that I received and I have never had a happier day then to see it as it is probably the only picture of her around. Back in July 2013 I sent an email to someone (can't remember the name) at the RBCM in regards to where my Great Grandmother Katie was buried. I never did get a response but found out in the file where she was buried. I did further research on your website and to my horror found out she was buried at Woodlands and that it was made into a park in 1976. She is under cemetery block: 7 cemetery plot 39. After knowing for years about Grandma Katie and her time at Essondale as well as knowing she was down there somewhere it was heartbreaking finding out the fate of the graveyard. I used to live in the Fraser Valley for over 10 years and had I know then what I know now I would have made the trip to New West. I am heading to Vancouver at the end of the month and would like to know if you have a better map than just the coordinates provided on this website that I can have access to. Through our potlatch ceremonies, I was give Great Grandma Kitty (she was known as Kitty Joe not Katie up in the Yukon)name back in 1998. Her traditional name was Gakhaket and as far as I know I am the only one who carries that name. Please please let me know if you have a map so that I can make the long overdue trip to where she was buried. I don't think any one of our family has been to her grave since she passed away. My heart is heavy.
Hi Melanie, Thank you for your kind words and I would be more than happy to share my Grandfather's story in your journal. I have done a better edited version, and would be happy to send it to you. I thinks its important for us to know where we came from and our families history. It helps us figure out where we are going in life!
Do you have an email address? Or you can email me, ill at dccnet dot com
Hi Lisa,
In researching one of my great Uncles I came across Michael de Courcy's website and the story of Alfred. I found this to be very poignant and I share your passion for finding out what happened to our long lost family members.
I would like your permission to have Alfred's story re-printed in the Journal of the Victoria Genealogical Society (a non-profit group dedicated to family history and BC history). I'm sure our members will enjoy reading about your family and what you did to bring Alfred back into the folds. With the McNeill family connection to Victoria I know the local aspect will captivate many of our members.
Please visit our website, www.victoriags.org, to find out a bit more about us. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
My mother's uncle is Frank Millward, and we would love to be able to honor him with a new gravestone. He moved to Canada in the 1940's, leaving his siblings here in Washington State. His infrequent letters eventually stopped, and his sisters contacted the police. My mother was only six when he passed away, and she never met him. I requested and received his hospital file from Essondale several years ago, and my mom has always wanted to come up to pay her respects. We thank you for all your hard work and research, and cannot imagine the hours of dedication you have put into this. I would be happy to hear how we can go about ordering a headstone, and coming for a visit. I look forward to your e-mail, and would be happy to share more about what we know about his life.
I was certain as soon as I read the article on May 15, 2013 in The Record, that I would find my step-grandfather buried here. I just came onto your website tonight and typed in his name. Sure enough, here he is. My grandfather had passed away in 1909 and my grandmother remarried a few years later to William. He was killed during World War I. She married his brother, George and he ended up in Essondale in the late 1920's due to Paranoid Schizophrenia. He passed away, January 30, 1951 due to a coronary occlusion. I just pulled his death certificate off the BC Archives website and confirmed this information.
Thank you so very much for doing the work you have done, Michael de Courcy. I will go and look up the Woodlands Memorial Garden and I will mention it to my cousins. Warmest regards.
From the article in the Royal City Record newspaper:
Marie Montalbetti and de Courcy met at the cemetery in early May to map out the exact location of her grandmother's grave. They were able to find it using the GPS coordinates and a tape measure. Anyone who visits can find a small orange tie near the centre of the cemetery.
"When I went out to the site I felt really emotional because I thought 'my goodness, I've finally found her,'" Montalbetti said. "I think it's amazing what (Michael's) done."
The experience provided answers to questions that couldn't have been answered without de Courcy's help, she said.
"My project gives people the opportunity to reestablish a connection with the actual ground that their family are buried in," he said. "It's closure, in a way. It's a gap in their genealogy that they've kind of filled." The project is also about New Westminster, and showcasing an important part of its history. No matter how you feel about Woodlands, everyone in the city is linked to the site, de Courcy said.
From your website I discovered the block and plot numbers regarding my grandmother who died in the former Essondale institution. When I visit the site will it be fairly easy to track the plot?
Many thanks. I found this website very interesting and informative.
Greetings Ann, good to hear from family! Oh my gosh, didn't realize Maryanne passed away, I am so sorry! I spent time with her and Marylin on occasion and I knew she was ill but hadn't heard of her passing. My mom also passed four years ago and about a year before Marylin passed so I know it can be a difficult time. I will have to let my dad (richard Pickering) know.
You are descended from Anna (Hanna pickering) the youngest of the 12 siblings. She is still alive in Vernon in a full care fasciltiy as I understand. Our G Grandparents are Emily Mcneill and James Pickering. Emily's parents are Jane George (nee Mcneill) and Alfred Mcneill. Jane was native from head Lake or near Coleville (I am still finding out about her) and Alfred was Haida and American. Alfred was from Boston and very high up with the HBC. My grandfather is your uncle Alf in which your mom stayed with. I have heard many stories about your grandfather Vandam and am quite envious you got to spend time on Blue Nose!lol
please feel free to call me, your mom shared a few stories with me:)
I just came across this story. I am also related to you. My name is Ann my mother was raised in Vernon(Lumby). Her name is Maryanne Traviss her parents are Firman VanDamme and Anna(Hanna)
VanDamme. She moved to Burnaby and stayed with her Auntie Polly and Uncle Alf which are Marilyns parents in 1960 while she went to Nursing school. I grew up spending summers on Bluenose mtn with my Grandfather on his farm. My mother has recently passed away. Do you know which of the children I would be decended from?
Your parents cared so much for you, their only child. They were so happy to take you on that visit to Scotland in 1898, being able to show you where they grew up.
I just received Katie Joe's file from the RBCM today in the mail. Katie was my great grandmother who was sent to Essondale back in July of 1923 and passed away on May 18, 1926. She was my grandfather Harry Joe's mother and was sent to New Westminster when my grandfather was still a teenager. She was sent there from a small First Nations community in the Yukon called Hutshi and not knowing but a few words of English. A picture was included in the file that I received and I have never had a happier day then to see it as it is probably the only picture of her around. Back in July 2013 I sent an email to someone (can't remember the name) at the RBCM in regards to where my Great Grandmother Katie was buried. I never did get a response but found out in the file where she was buried. I did further research on your website and to my horror found out she was buried at Woodlands and that it was made into a park in 1976. She is under cemetery block: 7 cemetery plot 39. After knowing for years about Grandma Katie and her time at Essondale as well as knowing she was down there somewhere it was heartbreaking finding out the fate of the graveyard. I used to live in the Fraser Valley for over 10 years and had I know then what I know now I would have made the trip to New West. I am heading to Vancouver at the end of the month and would like to know if you have a better map than just the coordinates provided on this website that I can have access to. Through our potlatch ceremonies, I was give Great Grandma Kitty (she was known as Kitty Joe not Katie up in the Yukon)name back in 1998. Her traditional name was Gakhaket and as far as I know I am the only one who carries that name. Please please let me know if you have a map so that I can make the long overdue trip to where she was buried. I don't think any one of our family has been to her grave since she passed away. My heart is heavy.
Hi Melanie, Thank you for your kind words and I would be more than happy to share my Grandfather's story in your journal. I have done a better edited version, and would be happy to send it to you. I thinks its important for us to know where we came from and our families history. It helps us figure out where we are going in life!
Do you have an email address? Or you can email me, ill at dccnet dot com
Haw'aa
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
In researching one of my great Uncles I came across Michael de Courcy's website and the story of Alfred. I found this to be very poignant and I share your passion for finding out what happened to our long lost family members.
I would like your permission to have Alfred's story re-printed in the Journal of the Victoria Genealogical Society (a non-profit group dedicated to family history and BC history). I'm sure our members will enjoy reading about your family and what you did to bring Alfred back into the folds. With the McNeill family connection to Victoria I know the local aspect will captivate many of our members.
Please visit our website, www.victoriags.org, to find out a bit more about us. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
My mother's uncle is Frank Millward, and we would love to be able to honor him with a new gravestone. He moved to Canada in the 1940's, leaving his siblings here in Washington State. His infrequent letters eventually stopped, and his sisters contacted the police. My mother was only six when he passed away, and she never met him. I requested and received his hospital file from Essondale several years ago, and my mom has always wanted to come up to pay her respects. We thank you for all your hard work and research, and cannot imagine the hours of dedication you have put into this. I would be happy to hear how we can go about ordering a headstone, and coming for a visit. I look forward to your e-mail, and would be happy to share more about what we know about his life.
I was certain as soon as I read the article on May 15, 2013 in The Record, that I would find my step-grandfather buried here. I just came onto your website tonight and typed in his name. Sure enough, here he is. My grandfather had passed away in 1909 and my grandmother remarried a few years later to William. He was killed during World War I. She married his brother, George and he ended up in Essondale in the late 1920's due to Paranoid Schizophrenia. He passed away, January 30, 1951 due to a coronary occlusion. I just pulled his death certificate off the BC Archives website and confirmed this information.
Thank you so very much for doing the work you have done, Michael de Courcy. I will go and look up the Woodlands Memorial Garden and I will mention it to my cousins. Warmest regards.
From the article in the Royal City Record newspaper:
Marie Montalbetti and de Courcy met at the cemetery in early May to map out the exact location of her grandmother's grave. They were able to find it using the GPS coordinates and a tape measure. Anyone who visits can find a small orange tie near the centre of the cemetery.
"When I went out to the site I felt really emotional because I thought 'my goodness, I've finally found her,'" Montalbetti said. "I think it's amazing what (Michael's) done."
The experience provided answers to questions that couldn't have been answered without de Courcy's help, she said.
"My project gives people the opportunity to reestablish a connection with the actual ground that their family are buried in," he said. "It's closure, in a way. It's a gap in their genealogy that they've kind of filled." The project is also about New Westminster, and showcasing an important part of its history. No matter how you feel about Woodlands, everyone in the city is linked to the site, de Courcy said.
See the full article, http://bit.ly/181JzGw
From your website I discovered the block and plot numbers regarding my grandmother who died in the former Essondale institution. When I visit the site will it be fairly easy to track the plot?
Many thanks. I found this website very interesting and informative.
Greetings Ann, good to hear from family! Oh my gosh, didn't realize Maryanne passed away, I am so sorry! I spent time with her and Marylin on occasion and I knew she was ill but hadn't heard of her passing. My mom also passed four years ago and about a year before Marylin passed so I know it can be a difficult time. I will have to let my dad (richard Pickering) know.
You are descended from Anna (Hanna pickering) the youngest of the 12 siblings. She is still alive in Vernon in a full care fasciltiy as I understand. Our G Grandparents are Emily Mcneill and James Pickering. Emily's parents are Jane George (nee Mcneill) and Alfred Mcneill. Jane was native from head Lake or near Coleville (I am still finding out about her) and Alfred was Haida and American. Alfred was from Boston and very high up with the HBC. My grandfather is your uncle Alf in which your mom stayed with. I have heard many stories about your grandfather Vandam and am quite envious you got to spend time on Blue Nose!lol
please feel free to call me, your mom shared a few stories with me:)
Lisa
I just came across this story. I am also related to you. My name is Ann my mother was raised in Vernon(Lumby). Her name is Maryanne Traviss her parents are Firman VanDamme and Anna(Hanna)
VanDamme. She moved to Burnaby and stayed with her Auntie Polly and Uncle Alf which are Marilyns parents in 1960 while she went to Nursing school. I grew up spending summers on Bluenose mtn with my Grandfather on his farm. My mother has recently passed away. Do you know which of the children I would be decended from?
Ann
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