Stirling library holds genealogy sessions

Phil Martin (left) and John Docherty at their research area at the Stirling library to help visitors explore family and local history. Photo by Rachel Stark, QNet News

By Rachel Stark

STIRLING – Every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. the Stirling-Rawdon Public Library holds genealogy sessions for people to research their family history.

Phil Martin and John Docherty have been volunteering at the library to help people explore their family history ever since they became interested in their own 12 years ago.

“I think I became interested about 30 seconds after my mother died,” Martin said during this week’s session at the library.

Docherty said a family death is a typical reason a person starts wanting to learn more about their history.

“Once someone in a family dies, that’s automatically three generations of memories and history lost. People don’t realize the importance of learning about their family history until it’s too late,” he said.

Once a person starts learning more about their background, it can often become an addictive hobby, he said.

Visitors are welcomed to search through the genealogy resources such as local family records, maps and old newspapers.

Old newspapers are stored at the library for public reference. Photo by Rachel Stark, QNet News

Docherty and Martin help those not from the local area who want to learn about their family by using genealogy research sites. Ancestry.ca is the site they mostly use.

“If someone doesn’t want to pay for using research sites, or doesn’t know where to begin looking, they can come here and we will download a free program for them and teach them how to do it themselves,” said Martin.

Throughout the years of researching, Docherty and Martin have uncovered various interesting facts for visitors about their families.

“We discovered one woman’s ancestors were hanged years ago in Nova Scotia, and many other people discover family members in the past served in the war and died,” said Docherty.

The two agree that finding previously unknown facts about families is what keeps them passionate about the research they do.

“I guess that’s what we try to do – put a little bit of flesh on the bones,” said Docherty.

The Local History-Genealogy Department of the library is available to browse during regular library hours.