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)