Ideas for post reunion activities are being solicited
Draft - open for suggestions
Sunday - Aug 8, 2010 - late afternoon
4:30 pm Meet at Brigus or Cupids
See museum or Hawthorne Cottage, Tunnel etc
Have dinner here at pre- arranged restaurant
Monday, - Aug 9, 2010 - St. John’s
9:00 am Need bus transport
meet at convenient spot where there is parking
Bus to Cape Spear
Then to Ferryland via Petty Harbour
Tour Colony of Avalon
Have lunch on site - pay your own
2:00 pm head for Bay Bulls
Take O’Brien’s 3 hr whale watching tour
Have dinner on site - could be lobster or other scoff - pay up front
Back in St. John’s by 9:00 pm - all of the above for less than $80
Tuesday - Aug 10, 2010 - am in St. John’s
9:00 am tour of General Protestant Cemetery and lunch at George Street Church if available or other
OTHER SITES in or near St John's - Signal Hill, Cabot Tower, Geo Site, NF Heritage Store - Joan Parson Woods Exhibit, Water St, War Memorial, walking trails, Quidi Vidi Village, Marine Drive, Bowering Park, - we can recommend
Check our our companion website
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Bemisters of Carbonear 2010 Family Reunion Pre-Reunion Activity
Pre Reunion Activity
Draft - open for suggestions
It is suggested that we provide opportunities for sight seeing with a Bemister flavour before and after the reunion - on a pay as you go basis. We could consider some sort of pre-registration so folks would have name tags and buttons for easy identification. Possibilities are given below. It is especially important for St. John’s committee members to give thought to the feasibility of these suggestions.
(These activities are for people who come as early as Wednesday Aug 4th and stay Wed and Thurs night in St; John’s; Woods family descendants in particular could be invited to stay at Everton House B & B on Kings Bridge Road and some activity can be based there) Group activity provides opportunity to give Bemister buttons and name tags for easy ID We wouldn’t do actual registration here.
1. Thursday morning; 9:00 am. Self guided walking tour of Old St. John’s (optional Bemister group walking tour) including Colonial Building (where Hon J B was an MHA), Cochrane St Church (where his family and Woods family attended; war memorial, site of old Methodist College where Bemisters attended and JB and HGBW were on the Board; Gower Street Church (where Rev. Charles Ladner and Rev. George Payne preached), The Rooms (archives, art gallery and public records of births, deaths etc are stored). Time permitting also the Basilica, the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,. LUNCH at The Rooms (with a view!) OR Ches’s Fish and Chips (ie folks can either go with the group or go on their own or with the group, and connect at Rooms at 10:30 if they want or at Ches’s or Rooms Restaurant at 1:00pm
2. Thursday am, alternative tour guided and transportation needed, to General Protestant Cemetery followed by Wesley United Church where Rev. Joe Joyce set up NF’s first radio station, VOWR, South side home of Capt Edward and Emma (Bemister) White, LUNCH at George St Church Would have to meet at convenient central place(s). Could include Signal Hill if we were using a bus, followed by run down Duckworth, Water St, Harbour Drive with possible stop at war memorial
3. Thursday pm, short tour of Colonial Building and proceed to Everton House for afternoon tea at 4:00 in H. G. B. Woods drawing room - with ghosts of the past! Especially of interest to descendants of Hon John Bemister. An alternative with large crowd might be a garden party instead.
4. Thursday evening, tour of General Protestant Cemetery, meet at East Gate on Old Topsail Road at 8:00 pm followed by drinks at St John’s pub (eg Ship Inn)
5. Suggest supper at some St John's restaurant - pay your own way - say Velma’s on Water St for excellent fish or The Battery for the view !!! OR the time of this could be later to allow for the view of the City at night - then go up Signal Hill when really dark. The cemetery tour could be dropped or scheduled earlier in this case.
6. NO organized activity Friday am; People expected to make their way to Carbonear at latest for 7:00 pm and as early as noon
Draft - open for suggestions
It is suggested that we provide opportunities for sight seeing with a Bemister flavour before and after the reunion - on a pay as you go basis. We could consider some sort of pre-registration so folks would have name tags and buttons for easy identification. Possibilities are given below. It is especially important for St. John’s committee members to give thought to the feasibility of these suggestions.
(These activities are for people who come as early as Wednesday Aug 4th and stay Wed and Thurs night in St; John’s; Woods family descendants in particular could be invited to stay at Everton House B & B on Kings Bridge Road and some activity can be based there) Group activity provides opportunity to give Bemister buttons and name tags for easy ID We wouldn’t do actual registration here.
1. Thursday morning; 9:00 am. Self guided walking tour of Old St. John’s (optional Bemister group walking tour) including Colonial Building (where Hon J B was an MHA), Cochrane St Church (where his family and Woods family attended; war memorial, site of old Methodist College where Bemisters attended and JB and HGBW were on the Board; Gower Street Church (where Rev. Charles Ladner and Rev. George Payne preached), The Rooms (archives, art gallery and public records of births, deaths etc are stored). Time permitting also the Basilica, the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,. LUNCH at The Rooms (with a view!) OR Ches’s Fish and Chips (ie folks can either go with the group or go on their own or with the group, and connect at Rooms at 10:30 if they want or at Ches’s or Rooms Restaurant at 1:00pm
2. Thursday am, alternative tour guided and transportation needed, to General Protestant Cemetery followed by Wesley United Church where Rev. Joe Joyce set up NF’s first radio station, VOWR, South side home of Capt Edward and Emma (Bemister) White, LUNCH at George St Church Would have to meet at convenient central place(s). Could include Signal Hill if we were using a bus, followed by run down Duckworth, Water St, Harbour Drive with possible stop at war memorial
3. Thursday pm, short tour of Colonial Building and proceed to Everton House for afternoon tea at 4:00 in H. G. B. Woods drawing room - with ghosts of the past! Especially of interest to descendants of Hon John Bemister. An alternative with large crowd might be a garden party instead.
4. Thursday evening, tour of General Protestant Cemetery, meet at East Gate on Old Topsail Road at 8:00 pm followed by drinks at St John’s pub (eg Ship Inn)
5. Suggest supper at some St John's restaurant - pay your own way - say Velma’s on Water St for excellent fish or The Battery for the view !!! OR the time of this could be later to allow for the view of the City at night - then go up Signal Hill when really dark. The cemetery tour could be dropped or scheduled earlier in this case.
6. NO organized activity Friday am; People expected to make their way to Carbonear at latest for 7:00 pm and as early as noon
2010 Bemister Family Reunion - Carbonear, Newfoundland
2010 Bemister Family Reunion - Carbonear, Newfoundland
Draft - open for suggestions
Game Plan - First Draft -
Schedule of events for the Carbonear Reunion.
Our objectives are:
∙ to celebrate the history and heritage of the Bemister family rooted in Carbonear and Freshwater, Newfoundland expressed through the lives of the ancestor as reflected in stories, artifacts, grave stones and historical documentation
∙ to provide an enjoyable and informative occasion to meet family members from far and wide
∙ to expand our knowledge of family genealogy and to disseminate this to our participating family members; to engage family members of all ages in building the family tree
∙ to show off some of Newfoundland’s historic sites, communities, local culture, and beauty spots with particular attention to the ancestral connections to same
∙ to enhance our knowledge of the West Country connection to Carbonear and the Bemister connection to it; to develop an appreciation of why the Bemisters came to Carbonear 200 years ago and why over time so many of them left
∙ to have one hell of a good time
Tentative Program of Activities
Most activities are scheduled for the Royal Canadian Legion
Friday, Aug 6, 2010
11:00 am Meeting of organizing committee
12:00 noon Lunch for organizing committee
1:00 pm Registration begins and continues through the day, sale of T-shirts etc
NL tourist info available, info on Carbonear
2:00 pm Activities;
∙ Roots, Trunks and Branches; how to read the family tree,
exchange of genealogical information
∙ Local bus tour; Carbonear, Harbour Grace, Freshwater
∙ Short bus tour to Brigus/Cupids
∙ Boat ride to Carbonear Island
∙ Walking tour of Carbonear; or self guided tour
∙ Youth program (?)
5:00 pm Free time
7:00 pm Reception
Meet and Greet
to Grand Opening
Greetings by public officials (Mayor, MHA, MP etc)
12:00 pm Newfoundland Time - Kitchen Party
Saturday, Aug 7, 2010
7:00 am Traditional Newfoundland Breakfast Buffet
8:00 pm Registration
8:30 pm Long bus tours
A. to North Shore
B: to Brigus and Cupids
Box lunches provided
9:00 am Activities
∙ Boat ride to Carbonear Island
∙ Workshop; The Bemisters and the Carbonear Fishery
(could include panel of knowledgeable people - eg Alan Perry who could be invited as our guest - and be guest speaker!!!
∙ Walking tour of Carbonear
12:00 noon Lunch
2:00 pm Activities
∙ Story time: who were the Bemisters? Show and tell, the Bemister’s Travelling Museum on display
∙ Bus tour of Carbonear, Harbour Grace and Freshwater
including Bemister’s Hill, Sheila’s grave, museum etc
∙ Boat ride to Carbonear Island
∙ Youth program
5:00 pm Free time
7:00 pm Dinner and Social Evening
Group Photo (?)
Traditional Newfoundland dinner - banquet style
Choice of seafood or turkey
Toasts
Stories
Guest Speaker (who?)
1:00 am DJ ?
Sunday, Aug 8, 2010
9:00 am Boat tour to Carbonear Island
11:00 am Bethany United Church Service
12:00 pm Lunch at the Church (pay as you go)
2:00 pm Activities
∙ Cemetery Tour
∙ Boat tour of Carbonear Island
∙ Boat tour Dildo Island Archeological Site
Cog jigging if possible
4:00 pm Formal end of reunion
Draft - open for suggestions
Game Plan - First Draft -
Schedule of events for the Carbonear Reunion.
Our objectives are:
∙ to celebrate the history and heritage of the Bemister family rooted in Carbonear and Freshwater, Newfoundland expressed through the lives of the ancestor as reflected in stories, artifacts, grave stones and historical documentation
∙ to provide an enjoyable and informative occasion to meet family members from far and wide
∙ to expand our knowledge of family genealogy and to disseminate this to our participating family members; to engage family members of all ages in building the family tree
∙ to show off some of Newfoundland’s historic sites, communities, local culture, and beauty spots with particular attention to the ancestral connections to same
∙ to enhance our knowledge of the West Country connection to Carbonear and the Bemister connection to it; to develop an appreciation of why the Bemisters came to Carbonear 200 years ago and why over time so many of them left
∙ to have one hell of a good time
Tentative Program of Activities
Most activities are scheduled for the Royal Canadian Legion
Friday, Aug 6, 2010
11:00 am Meeting of organizing committee
12:00 noon Lunch for organizing committee
1:00 pm Registration begins and continues through the day, sale of T-shirts etc
NL tourist info available, info on Carbonear
2:00 pm Activities;
∙ Roots, Trunks and Branches; how to read the family tree,
exchange of genealogical information
∙ Local bus tour; Carbonear, Harbour Grace, Freshwater
∙ Short bus tour to Brigus/Cupids
∙ Boat ride to Carbonear Island
∙ Walking tour of Carbonear; or self guided tour
∙ Youth program (?)
5:00 pm Free time
7:00 pm Reception
Meet and Greet
to Grand Opening
Greetings by public officials (Mayor, MHA, MP etc)
12:00 pm Newfoundland Time - Kitchen Party
Saturday, Aug 7, 2010
7:00 am Traditional Newfoundland Breakfast Buffet
8:00 pm Registration
8:30 pm Long bus tours
A. to North Shore
B: to Brigus and Cupids
Box lunches provided
9:00 am Activities
∙ Boat ride to Carbonear Island
∙ Workshop; The Bemisters and the Carbonear Fishery
(could include panel of knowledgeable people - eg Alan Perry who could be invited as our guest - and be guest speaker!!!
∙ Walking tour of Carbonear
12:00 noon Lunch
2:00 pm Activities
∙ Story time: who were the Bemisters? Show and tell, the Bemister’s Travelling Museum on display
∙ Bus tour of Carbonear, Harbour Grace and Freshwater
including Bemister’s Hill, Sheila’s grave, museum etc
∙ Boat ride to Carbonear Island
∙ Youth program
5:00 pm Free time
7:00 pm Dinner and Social Evening
Group Photo (?)
Traditional Newfoundland dinner - banquet style
Choice of seafood or turkey
Toasts
Stories
Guest Speaker (who?)
1:00 am DJ ?
Sunday, Aug 8, 2010
9:00 am Boat tour to Carbonear Island
11:00 am Bethany United Church Service
12:00 pm Lunch at the Church (pay as you go)
2:00 pm Activities
∙ Cemetery Tour
∙ Boat tour of Carbonear Island
∙ Boat tour Dildo Island Archeological Site
Cog jigging if possible
4:00 pm Formal end of reunion
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wimborne Minster, Dorset
The Parish Church of Wimborne Minster, Dorset has a enduring significance for the Bemister Family of Carbonear.It was on the 30th of May 1785, in the Minster - as it is locally known - that John Bemister married Mary Willis. John had been baptised there on the 13th of November, 1747.
It would be two of the three sons that John & Mary raised at nearby Lambsgreen Farm - a location that is now a popular pub and eatery surrounded by farmland - that would eventually establish the family in Newfoundland as young lads. The first to accept an apprenticeship in the Newfoundland with a merchant was William Willis Bemister, when he was 14. His younger brother Edward Smith Bemister joined him and both became established in their own firm in Carbonear eventually.
The descendants of the Bemisters of Carbonear are all related to one of these two men.
Wimborne Minster has served as a place of workship for centuries, in fact the history predating the current Norman structure dates to its foundation by Cuthburga, sister of Ine, King of the West Saxons in 718.
In 871 Alfred the Great buried his older brother King Ethelred I of England, in the minster.
An historical overview is now available of one of the early stages of the Minster when it operated as the Collegiate Church of Wimborne Minster.
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