Tag Archives: Hill family

Hill Family Reunion 2014

The History of Me, , , , ,
Charles Hill, Ada Woolgar, Family Reunion, 1950
The Hill clan in 1950 celebrating Charles and Ada Hill’s 50th Wedding anniversary.

Calling all Descendants of Charles Hill and Ada Woolgar! 

It’s that time again for the Hill family to get together in Rockwood, Ontario for the annual Hill Family Reunion. Here are the details:

Who: Descendants of Charles Hill and Ada Woolgar and their families
What:  Potluck lunch followed by games for the kids, prizes, laughter and shared memories
Where: Rockmosa Community Centre in Rockwood, Ontario (see map below)
When: Sunday August 18, 2014, Noon – 7pm
Why: To meet and greet with family members from near and far, reminisce and learn a little about your family history

Charles Hill and Ada Woolgar
Charles Hill and Ada Woolgar

Charles and Ada were married September 1, 1900 in Pyrford, Surrey, England before having children and moving to Canada. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, a large party was organized by their children as a potluck with activities for the kids and cake for the loving couple and everyone in attendance. They had such a good time, they decided to do it again the next year, and the next, and the next. It has been successfully running for the past 64 years as their children, grand children, great-grand children and great-great-grand children have kept up the tradition.

Children and adults alike can participate in games such as ball throw, running races and my personal favourite, Kick the Shoe. Guessing games are also popular with family members guessing how many items are in a jar, ultimately winning the contents within. This often includes sweet treats and can be hotly debated.

If there is one thing the Hill clan does well, it is cook and bake. Families are asked to bring food for the potluck and cold drinks for your family. Tea, Coffee and Cutlery are all provided. Donations will be accepted in order to host future family functions and people are asked to provide gifts for the prize table which are raffled off.

This year, I will continue my tradition of searching for family information and plan to have some items on display. Everyone is interested in finding out where they came from and there is no better way than a going to a family reunion to find out.

Hope to see you there!

Ada Hill and the Swimming Hole

The History of Me, , , , ,
Ada Elizabeth Woolgar, Ontario, Canada, Family History
My great-grandmother Ada (Woolgar) Hill taking a break at the pond

With the heat of summer, I am reminded of some black and white pictures I found of my great grandmother Ada Elizabeth (Woolgar) Hill.

On what must have been an incredibly hot summer’s day, Ada took off from the housework and went to the swimming hole near her home in Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. All the stories I have heard about her, she was an incredibly hard working woman. She was always busy doing something around the house.

With 13 children, you can imagine how good it would feel to take a break from the chores, dip your toes in the water and just relax. Stop sweeping the endless amounts of dirt. Take a break from preparing mountains of food, doing laundry, tending gardens and just relax.

Ada Elizabeth Woolgar Hill, Family History
Ada (Woolgar) Hill and some of her children relaxing at the pond

The pictures are not that clear but the feeling is. Peace and happiness. Oh Ada. How much I wish I had known you. All of the stories I have heard about you came from people who didn’t know you as a young mother. Those that only got to know you later in life.

Ada who was born in England but became the matriarch of the Hill family in Canada, your records in your bible have helped me better track our family history. You helped set me on my way and have helped me grow our family tree.

And now over 50 years after your death in 1962, I look at these pictures and I think of you and smile.

If you would like to learn more about my great-grandmother Ada Elizabeth (Woolgar) Hill, read this blog post from April 2014.