When We Both Got to Heaven tells the story of James Atkey (1805-68), who, with his wife Jane and their seven children came from the Isle of Wight to Canada in 1854. In 1855, they went to Colpoy's Bay, near Owen Sound on the shores of Lake Huron, where he taught school to the Ojibwa children. The book also tells of the surrender by the Ojibwa of the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula, using detailed accounts from the Public Record Office.

After thirteen years of research which has taken me to the archives of the Methodist Church in London, the United Church in Toronto and the British Library, in addition to the national archives of both Britain and Canada, I have written a 164 page illustrated booklet entitled When We Both Got to Heaven which tells the story of James and the first nations people for whom he laboured. You will read how James overcame persecution and even stoning in the Isle of Wight and learned to survive in the wilds of Canada in a place where he didn't know the language. You will hear why he and his family were held hostage for six hours when they first arrived in Colpoy's Bay. Were the people savage, as he had been taught to believe? Or did this have something to do with the manner in which their land was being surrendered? You will read of James' father Isaac's meeting with John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and of their cousin the Dairyman's Daughter, whose life story sold over two million copies in its day. You will also learn about Kahkewaquonaby, the Indian missionary whose work was to shape much of James' later life.

About When We Both Got to Heaven, Dr. Donald Smith, Professor of History at the University of Calgary and author of Sacred Feathers - the Rev. Peter Jones (Kahkewaquonaby) and the Mississauga Indians, wrote "I was always confused by the nature of the Congregationalist missionary outreach to the Indians on the Bruce Peninsula -- your booklet has clarified a great deal." Destinations and Discoveries magazine wrote: "Great period flavour... tinged with touches of humour... A compelling read." When We Both Got to Heaven is published by Natural Heritage Books, price $21.95. It can be ordered through selected bookstores, or by contacting Natural Heritage Books