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 !!
Check our our companion website
Showing posts with label St. John's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. John's. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Bemisters of Carbonear 2010 Family Reunion
William Willis Bemister (1789-1863)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)
- Maria Ann m. Richard K. Shepherd (9 Children)
- John G. m. Jane Taylor (5 children)
- Louisa -
- Willis m. Mary Elizabeth Bartlett (7 children)
- Mary m. Mark William Forward (8 children)
- William m. Dorcas Charlotte Bartlett (3 children)
- Frederick Thomas m. Emily Louisa Taylor (5 children)
- Reuben James m. Emily Jane Pike (3 children)
- Sarah Jane m. Stephen B. Pike (5 children)
- Thomas Grant -
- Mary Amelia 1m. Joseph Drover (1 child) 2m. James Forward
- Emma m. James Drover (6 children)
- Julianna m. Robert Joyce (9 children)
- John Ridout m. Mary Anne Cannon (10 children)
- Elizabeth Susannah m. William S. Parsons (2 children)
- Stella Jane -
- Caroline m. James Hutchings (1 child)
- Edward Fredric m. Elizabeth Clarke (5 children)
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Bemisters of Carbonear 2010 Family Reunion Post-Reunion Activity
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
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
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
Monday, May 14, 2007
Everton House - St. John's, Newfoundland
A really interesting site is that of Everton House, now a very fine B & B, which Hon John Bemister had built in 1891 and passed on to his daughter Hannah m. to H. J. B. Woods. HJB and Hannah had 7 daughters two of whom were grandmothers of members of our St. John’s organizing committee! Everton House graciously hosted a meeting of our committee last summer and we had a delicious afternoon tea with a Woods family group photo gazing down on us. This was a link with the past for sure, and we are proposing to have some activity here during the 2009 festivities. If you are going to NL sometime be sure to check it out.
http://www.evertonhouse.com/ (604) 929 5724 bemister_electric@vancity.com
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