Bemister Reunion 2010 - Planning Committee

Planning for the Bemister Reunion 2010 is coming along well. Recently committee chair, Cameron Hopkins of Prince George, BC announced the membership of the planning committee. They include individuals from across the continent:

• Leslie Forward -- Carbonear, NL
• Bert Parsons -- Carbonear, NL
• Joe Noel -- Carbonear, NL
• Sandra Rowe -- St. John’s, NL
• Mildred Tucker -- St. John’s, NL
• Elaine Butt -- Mount Pearl, NL
• Gerald Hopkins -- Paradise, NL
• Nancy Hickman -- St. John’s, NL
• Kel Marshall -- St. John’s, NL
• Suzanne Fitzpatrick -- St. John’s, NL
• Arch & Christine Curtis -- Hodges Cove, NL
• Ian Scott -- Charlottetown, PE
• Lillian Salmon -- Toronto, ON
• Mary Moloney -- Markham, ON
• Eileen Wilson -- Uxebridge, ON
• Jim & Karen Carruthers -- Brampton, ON
• Ken Bemister -- Vancouver, BC
• Caroline Bedford -- Fraser Lake, BC
• Cameron Hopkins -- Prince George, BC

As the event is being planned to ensure that all participants have a chance to explore Newfoundland, learn more about the history of the Bemisters of Carbonear family, and have a chance to get to know family members from other areas, it is important to get feedback from those considering attending. Please feel free to contact any member of the committee with your ideas. Volunteers are also welcome !!

Here is the address bemister2010@gmail.com

Bemisters on Facebook

Thanks to the efforts of Steve Bemister --there is now a Bemister descendants group on Facebook.
Called Bemister's Reunite, it is a great way of staying in touch with relatives.

Check it out Bemister's Reunite !!

2010 Bemister Family Reunion

Now just 8 months away - the 2010 Bemister Family Reunion looks like it will be the largest gathering yet. It is being held, August 6th to 8th, 2010, at the Royal Canadian Legion in Carbonear, Newfoundland & Labrador.

The event will be in celebration of the 263rd birthday of John Bemister of Lambsgreen Farm, Corfe Mullen, Dorset, England - the founder, along with his wife Mary Willis of the Bemisters of Carbonear family. The reunion will also be an opportunity to:

• Meet distant cousins from all over North America and UK
• Explore Bemister genealogy and family history
• Experience traditional Newfoundland hospitality
• Enjoy guided bus tours of Carbonear and nearby communities
• Take guided tour of cemetery to commune with ancestors
• Savour wonderful grand Newfoundland Feast and Kitchen Party
• Marvel at Bemister travelling museum
• Participate in Bemister Music Festival and Choir
• Share Church Service at traditional home of Bemisters
• Tour historic and archeological sites and provincial archives; and enjoy
whale watching, as well as cultural and social events with Bemister
cousins before and after the main celebration if you choose this option

Correspondence, interest forms, genealogical information, and cheques should be mailed to:

Bemisters of Carbonear,
Suite 185, 38 Pearson Street,
St. John’s, NL A1A 3R1

If cheques are not involved you could reach us by e-mail at: bemister2010@gmail.com

Please contact us as well for more information or to make suggestions,
and don’t forget to follow this blog for more up to the minute information: bemister.blogspot.com

2010 Bemister Family Reunion

To be held August 6th to 8th, 2010

at The Royal Canadian Legion

Carbonear, Newfoundland, Canada

In celebration of the 263rd Birthday of John Bemister of Corfe Mullen!

• Meet distant cousins from all over North America and UK
• Explore Bemister genealogy and family history
• Experience traditional Newfoundland hospitality
• Enjoy guided bus tours of Carbonear and nearby communities
• Take guided tour of cemetery to commune with ancestors
• Savour wonderful grand Newfoundland Feast and Kitchen Party
• Marvel at Bemister travelling museum
• Participate in Bemister Music Festival and Choir
• Share Church Service at traditional home of Bemisters
• Tour historic and archeological sites and provincial archives; and enjoy
whale watching, cultural and social events with Bemister cousins both
before and after the main celebration if you choose this option

Bemister Reunion in Newfoundland

In exactly one year from this week, family will gather in Carbonear as the Bemisters of Carbonear hold a reunion in the community that connects all descendants of the two pioneer brothers (William Willis Bemister and his younger brother Edward) who moved there in the early 1800's.

The Steering Committee have been working on plans which are well underway, and will be distributed within weeks.

We will also post updated plans on this Bemister Blog so stay tuned for more news.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in Carbonear in August 2010.

Sincerely
Cameron Hopkins

Welcome To Cameron Hopkins

Anyone involved with Bemister of Carbonear research and events will know Cameron Hopkins as he has been a driving force behind the organizing of family events across North America, and the UK over the last decade.

I had the opportunity to attend the first major event organized in Toronto in 1998 - which was totally by accident as I was in town on business and had decided to stay over for the weekend and visit with my sister and her family. We all ended up going to the reunion - and that followed with attending the 1999 reunion in Carbonear, Newfoundland and the trip to Corfe Mullen, in Dorset, UK in 2004.

Thanks to Cameron's efforts plans are well underway for 2010 in Carbonear once again (see below) -- but we need your ideas and input.

I was honoured to have Cameron recently join the Bemister Blog as contributing editor.

Welcome Aboard Cameron !!

Bemisters of Carbonear - New Email Contact Point

With mobility these days, web based email has become increasingly helpful.

As well, easy to remember addresses come in handy - thus a new address is now in place to assist with reunion planning for the Bemisters of Carbonear Family Reunion 2010. And what more appropriate address than bemister2010@gmail.com, as a point of contact. All mail sent to the address will go directly to Cameron Hopkins, the chair of the organizing committee.

Hope everyone is making their plans for 2010.

Cheers
Ian

Bemisters of Carbonear 2010 Family Reunion

William Willis Bemister (1789-1863)

Planning is well underway for the Bemisters of Carbonear 2010 Family Reunion, to ensure that it will be a grand opportunity to discover family roots and meet family members from across the North American continent. Bemisters of Carbonear because of a pair of brothers by the name of Bemister who headed out from Corfe Mullen in Dorset, England. Like many Newfoundlanders since - opportunities took them to many other locations but as the family became established and prospered in Carbonear area first it remains an ancestral home for all descendants.

Beginning with genealogical research in the 1990's, a few family members established new connections with relatives they didn't know. Once people had a chance to meet fellow descendants they began organizing reunions in Toronto, Newfoundland and Vancouver and quickly realized the value of holding larger events in ancestral home lands, as well as local events across the country. Local reunions and the major gatherings have become important events for family members with organizing committees working several years in advance. In 1999 an international reunion was held in Carbonear, Newfoundland and in 2004 the family returned to Corfe Mullen, England, for a reunion there. In all of these reunions local travel has been arranged so that sites of family significance can be visited.

The first member of the Bemister family arrived in Carbonear from Corfe Mullen Parish, Dorset. William Willis Bemister (1789-1863) was fourteen years old, and arrived as an apprentice clerk for a local export firm. His younger brother Edward joined him in 1812, and they eventually went into business on their own as they became young men.

The major family lines were established by the 18 children of these two brothers and their wives.
William Willis Bemister (1789-1863) m. Ann Howell (1789-1851)

1. Maria Ann m. Richard K. Shepherd (9 Children)
2. John G. m. Jane Taylor (5 children)
3. Louisa -
4. Willis m. Mary Elizabeth Bartlett (7 children)
5. Mary m. Mark William Forward (8 children)
6. William m. Dorcas Charlotte Bartlett (3 children)
7. Frederick Thomas m. Emily Louisa Taylor (5 children)
8. Reuben James m. Emily Jane Pike (3 children)
9. Sarah Jane m. Stephen B. Pike (5 children)

Edward Smith Bemister (1796-1878) m. Susannah Grant (1803-1859)

1. Thomas Grant -
2. Mary Amelia 1m. Joseph Drover (1 child) 2m. James Forward
3. Emma m. James Drover (6 children)
4. Julianna m. Robert Joyce (9 children)
5. John Ridout m. Mary Anne Cannon (10 children)
6. Elizabeth Susannah m. William S. Parsons (2 children)
7. Stella Jane -
8. Caroline m. James Hutchings (1 child)
9. Edward Fredric m. Elizabeth Clarke (5 children)