Come and join us for the 3^rd Garfat Reunion

 

This reunion just may be our biggest and best yet! We aren’t getting older, we are getting better…. and our family is getting larger and larger. We started this genealogy adventure in 1999 with about 150 names. We have now exceeded 1000!!!!  Our tree has been published with Rootsweb and Broaderbund, also with Ancestry.com and the Family History Library. Information discovered in the past year will amaze you and almost monthly, another member will pop up having read our web site. We dig everything out of the closet, no secrets here.

 

The 2003 reunion will be held in Bad Axe Michigan

August 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd 2003

 

 

(For a more detailed map and/or routing directions, go to Mapquest.com )

 

 

 

 

Get ready for a Garfat History Lesson

 

We have traced our family history back to the early 1700’s. We know our ancestors came from England and the first Garfats settled in the Oshawa/Whitby area of Ontario Canada around the 1830’s. We have tried to select locations for the reunions based on Family History, thus the first get together was in Oshawa and the second in London Ontario, both having special meaning regarding the family movements. At each location tours were arranged to sites with special significances. This reunion will be along the same lines. For 2003, Bad Axe was selected as this was the first location the Garfats migrated to in the United States

 

Let’s move back a bit to the mid 1800’s.

 

William James Garfat and Anne Kilpatrick had 6 children, Barbara Anne, John Wesley, William James Jr., Margaret, Emily and Emma Isobel. John Wesley (b:1852) married Nancy Soper in Clark Township, Durham Ontario (March 4^th 1873). They were both 21 years of age. Three of their 11 children were born in Ontario, William James (1/5/1874), Maggie (1/1/1875), and George (9/10/1877). With their 3 young children they moved to Bad Axe wgere they purchased 40 acres on MacMillian Road at the corner of Popple. Eight more children were born in this house, Ethan (1879), Anna (1881), Francis (1882), Lottie (1885), Maude (1886), Mertie (1887), Leonard and Barbara (1893). We know that Maggie, George and Mertie died at a very young age.

 

We are sure that some of you are starting to remember hearing at least one of these names, as at least one of them will most likely be one of your great, great, great Grandfather, Grandmother, Aunt or Uncle. This branch of the Garfats is so far the largest branch and many descendents are still living in and around the Bad Axe area.

 

Even if you have had the pleasure of attending one or both of the previous reunions, we are sure everyone will have a wonderful and memorable time exploring the Michigan area, rich in Garfat history. We will have a full schedule to entertain every Garfat, young and old. Please come and join us. Below you will find a registration form. The cost is $25 dollars….please note that the Canadian dollar will be accepted at par. (We have some funds available in the family account to defray the costs to the Canadian members).

 

Our host Hotel will be:

The Franklin Inn

1060 E. Huron Ave.,

Bad Axe Michigan 48413

989-269-9951

 

48 new deluxe motel rooms, some with hot tubs

 

                                                              

 

At the present time, we have 10 rooms book for the weekend. We can add more if needed. Single rooms are $55.00, 2 double beds are $65.00 (taxes not included).The hotel has a workout room and a game room for the kiddies.

 

Your registration fee covers the cost of use of the Banquet room and to also help with the costs of other operating expenses. With your registration, you will receive a Garfat tote bag, Garfat pin, Bad Axe tourist information kit, local maps and a door prize ticket. Hopefully we may be able to include local discount coupons.

 

Saturday the Franklin Inn will host evening dinner.  Dinner will be buffet style. Your choice will be roast sirloin beef and roast pork loin. Also included Salad bar, tea, coffee, milk, rolls and of course desert

                                        

 

There is also an excellent restaurant as well as bar facilities

 

                                 

 

 

The nearest airport to Bad Axe is: MBS International at Freeland Michigan located 60 miles from Bad Axe.

 

 

Other Hotels in Bad Axe area:

 

 

 

GARFAT REUNION REGISTRATION SHEET (2003)

 

If you are planning to attend the 3^rd Garfat Family Reunion the weekend of August 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd , 2003, please print and foreword the following form and mail it with your registration check or money order to:

 

Susan Holland

7950 Camp Town Road,

Spotsylvania, VA 22553

USA

 

Please note: USA members may pay by cheque or money order. Canadian members may pay by Canadian money order.

 

Please print

 

Name: __________________________________________________

 

Address:_________________________________________________

 

City:_______________________ State/Prov:_________ Zip/Postal Code: _____________ Phone:­­­________________

 

E-Mail Address: _______________________

 

Please list names of Family members attending                                                            Age

______________________________________________________                                _____

 

______________________________________________________                                _____

 

______________________________________________________                                _____

 

­_____________________________________________________                                _____

 

______________________________________________________                                _____

 

______________________________________________________                                _____

 

 

Registration Fees:  

                                                                                        

Family $25.00       Single $20.00                                                                                     $_______

 

Saturday Evening Dinner:        Adult                   $14.00 X _____                                   $_______

 

                                                Children (6-12)      $ 6.00 X _____                                    $_______

                                                (5 and under free)

 

 

Reunion T-Shirts         

Garfat T-shirts will be red for the 2003 reunion. Very good quality!  Beefy-T’s again.           

 

T-Shirts                $13.00ea X ____                                            $_______

                       

                                                (please indicate sizes required)

 

                                    Adult

                                    Small _____      Medium _____       Large _____   Xlarge _____

 

                                    1XLrg _____      2Xlarge _____        3XLrg _____

                                               

                                    Children

                                    Small (6-8)_____   Medium (10-12) _____   Large (14-16) _____  

 

Garfat Coffee Mugs

Garfat Mugs are white ceramic with the Garfat family logo.

 

                                    Mugs at $6.00 each X _____                                                       $_______

 

 

TOTAL remitted:                                                                                                          $ _______