Online Libraries Catalogue
By Ruby M. Cusack
When we arrived home from school, Mum was sitting at the kitchen table, browsing the new Simpson catalogue that had come in the mail.
I asked her, “What are you looking for?”
She replied, “I won’t know until I see it.”
Going to visit the Library reminds me of looking through the catalogue. Sometimes I don’t know what book I want until I see the title.
The Saint John Free Public Library has made it easy to find the reference books 929.2 that have been collected on family histories. When you reach the top of the stairs at the Information Centre you walk straight back. On your right, against the wall are shelves of many books holding information on the lives of ancestors and relatives of thousands of New Brunswick people, such as the Baldwins of Charlotte County, the Bowser family, Millidge ancestors, the descendants of James and Margaret Elliot, the Gibsons, John Holmes of Beaver Harbour, the MacDonalds of the Washademoak Lake and many other families.
By the way, you can now sit in front of the computer and search for the titles of the books on family histories that are available in the libraries of New Brunswick. Pay a visit to http://vision.gnb.ca/ and do a Numeric Search for 929.2 and like turning the pages of the catalogue the book titles will appear. Once you find a title that interests you, click on “item” and the name of the library that has this book in their collection will show. If the book title has an R in front of the call number that means it is in the Reference Department, RA lets you know the book is in the Archival or Special Collections and no letter tells you the book is in the Circulating Department and can be borrowed
Family histories are not the only book titles in the New Brunswick Public libraries online catalogue as it provides access to almost two million items distributed throughout the libraries and bookmobiles of the province. The library catalogue contains a brief description of books, cassettes, CDs, videos and other material found in the New Brunswick libraries. The location and availability of these material is also indicated in the catalogue.
You have several choices in doing your search. It can be by book title, author, ISBN number, call number, key words or the holdings of a particular library.
Knowing a particular book is at a library and having its call number can be a real time saver. Furthermore searching the New Brunswick Libraries Catalogue may make you aware of books that you did not know existed.
The New Brunswick Public Libraries Catalogue website at http://vision.gnb.ca/ closes at midnight.
* *
Query 954
DeMerchant: We are searching for connections on the surname DeMerchant.
The name is a English translation of the German surname Kauffman/Coffman and
has only been in existence since 1805. We are currently looking for information
on John Coffman / DeMerchant's whereabouts prior to 1777 when he
was a soldier in the Loyalist Prince of Wales American Volunteers. The possibility
exists of ties in Pennslyvania or perhaps a displaced "Hessian" soldier.
Also searching for his wife’s Mary’s maiden name. According to pension records
for Widows of Revolutionary War Soldiers in 1840, Mary and John DeMerchant
were married in Fredericton in 1792. No records to date have been found to
support this. For a more complete history or ties to the surname DeMerchant,
please visit www.DeMerchant.com or e-mail
Norm DeMerchant at normdem@yahoo.com.
-Norm DeMerchant,1807 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada,
E3B 8P4
Query 955
Sweet - Lachye - McLeod: Charles Sweet (37), widower, married Mary
Ann McLeod (24) at St. Martins, New Brunswick on July 2, 1896. Charles was
born in Saint John and was the son of Jarvis Sweet and Elizabeth Lachye. Mary
Ann was born at Little Beech and was the daughter of David and Sarah
McLeod. They had at least two children - Ida Bell 1901-1905, and an
unnamed son (1897-?). They lived in St. Martins until at least 1901. Mary
Ann died in January of 1920 while living at 127 Duke St., Saint John. Charles
moved to Nauwigewauk by 1930. I am seeking any information on this family.
-Bob Sweet, 35 Country Lane, Island View, New Brunswick, Canada
E3E 1A2. E-mail to bobsweet@nbnet.nb.ca.
Query 956
Dykeman -Hatfield: The Loyalist Garret Dykeman, was born in1741 and
died in1813. He was married to Eunice Hatfield, who was born in1746 and died
in1808. They had four sons Jacob (Statira Camp), Gilbert (Dorcas Manzer),
Moses (Eunice Currie) and Joseph (Hannah Flagor). Two girls Eunice (William
Colwell) and Rebecca (Richard Currey/Currie). Garret settled in Queens County,
New Brunswick. During the last eight years I have been trying to gather all
the descendants (male and female lines) of Garret Dykeman under one cover.
If you can help please contact Brian Ballard, 66 Rivershore Dr., Saint John,
New Brunswick, Canada, E2K 4T5. Telephone (506) 658 0249 or e-mail bballard@nbnet.nb.ca.
Additional queries
have been posted at http://www.rubycusack.com/Queries-2.html