Saturday, 26 July 2025

A special plea to buyers of Pen and Sword family history books

A special plea to anyone who has recently bought any of my Pen and Sword family history books – and indeed ANY recent Pen and Sword family history books, by any author - from https://www.pen-and-sword.co.ukhttps://www.penandswordbooks.com, or other book selling platforms.

In the past, when a new title was published, the publisher would send out review copies to various interested individuals, and those reviews would then help to drive sales. Pen and Sword has seemingly now stopped doing this, and indeed when challenged about it recently, the response was "why don't you write an article about your book for us, and we'll plug it on social media" - which is not really the kind of support you want from your publisher after having already put together over 50,000 words on the topic! They can already promote it on social media without an article - and it's simply not the job of authors to write reviews of their own books.

To highlight the impact, after five months there is but one review on my latest book on the P&S website - and it isn't even the full review - with just one review also on Amazon. By contrast, my previous book had 11 reviews on the P&S website, and the one before that 29. “I didn't think the new one would be that bad Chris” I hear you say! But it's not just me that is being affected. To give another example, the latest edition of DNA: A Guide for Family Historians by Graham Holton, John Cleary, Michelle Leonard, Iain McDonald, and Alasdair MacDonald, published just a month after my book, has similarly only had one review featured (and just three on Amazon) - to put that into context, the previous edition of that same title, published Dec 2022, had THIRTY reviews on the P&S site. When a book on DNA is not even getting some reviews, the most popular subject in the genealogy world (and a bloody good book at that!), then it comes across that the publisher has seemingly decided to abandon its responsibilities on this front. 

So the plea is this! If you have recently published a review on any of my books, or have had one published, please do let me know (I can pass it on to P&S and insist they add it to the relevant page) - but also, if you have bought ANY Pen and Sword genealogy books recently, particularly any new releases, PLEASE, if possible, please let the authors know so they can do likewise. Please also do leave a review on Amazon, or whichever platform you purchased it from, if not from the P&S site. 

Reviews don't need to be an epic as long as the book, it can be as short as “It does what it says on the tin!” (or something more critical!), or just a star-based review (i.e. how many stars out of 5), but believe me when I say that every little helps, and that along with my fellow authors, I will love you all even more for doing so than I already do!!!

It has become harder in recent years for genealogy authors to make money from their publications, but at least in the past the publisher would try to support the work they were producing. I fear those days are fast disappearing, and we'll soon be entering an era where we will also be defending ourselves against AI droids replacing us all anyway (and probably trained on content that we have previously written) - so please do support genealogy authors, whilst they are still a thing, with a quick review.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy all our collective efforts. We're very proud of what we do, and we put a lot of love and work into what we do!

Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

TheGenealogist adds Scottish confirmation and English probate records

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

TheGenealogist has just added a substantial new release to its growing collection of historical records, making over 330,000 names available from a variety of wills and probate sources across England and Scotland. These valuable records are great for historians trying to push their tree back, with records spanning 500 years from the 14th century up to the 19th century. They provide a remarkable glimpse into the lives, legacies, and legal affairs of past generations.

Among the notable figures in this collection is George Buchanan (1506–1582), the Scottish historian, humanist scholar, and tutor to King James VI. His testament appears in the Commissariot Record of Edinburgh (1514–1600), offering researchers a direct connection to one of the great minds of the Scottish Renaissance.

Read more about George Buchanan’s fascinating life in our latest article, “The Scholar Who Tutored a King and Defied a Queen”: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/george-buchanan-8698/

The new collections now available to search on TheGenealogist include:

  • Archdeaconry of Cornwall Wills and Administrations 1569-1699
  • A Calendar of Wills, Gloucestershire 1541-1650
  • Calendars of Lincoln Wills 1320-1600 (covering Lincoln, Leicester, Rutland, Northampton, Huntingdon, Bedford, Buckingham, Hertford, and Oxford)
  • Wills and Administrations Preserved in the District Probate Court of Lewes 1541-1652 (covering East Sussex)
  • Dougal's Index Register to Next of Kin, Heirs at Law, and Cases of Unclaimed Money
  • Commissariot Record of Edinburgh, Register of Testaments, 1514-1600
  • Commissariot of Inverness, Hamilton & Campsie Testaments, 1630-1800

These records are fully searchable and form part of TheGenealogist’s ongoing effort to bring hard-to-access historical documents into the hands of family historians, academic researchers, and local history enthusiasts.

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist, said:

"These records span centuries of history, from the 1300s through to the early modern era. Whether you're uncovering humble tradespeople or historical figures like George Buchanan, this collection can help you push your tree back before the time of parish records."

Available now to all Standard and Diamond subscribers, these wills and probate collections are part of TheGenealogist’s commitment to preserving and sharing the stories of the past through original records, expertly indexed and easily searchable online.

(With thanks to Paul Bayley at TheGenealogist)

Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Friday, 25 July 2025

My Cert HE in Gaelic with Immersion from Glasgow University - and future plans

It's official - I have a Certificate in Higher Education, with Distinction, in Gaelic with Immersion from the University of Glasgow!


During the pandemic I set myself a five year plan to retrieve the Gaelic I had previously learned thirty years ago whilst living in Bristol a student, and to push myself further towards fluency. The culmination of this formal learning was to study a one year Cert HE course - the equivalent of the first year of a degree course - in Gaelic with Immersion at the University of Glasgow, culminating in three weeks immersion with the Gaelic speaking community on South Uist. I can now hold quite fluid conversations in Gaelic, and consider myself to be at a level of functional fluency, but I continue to study every day, because even after 54 years with English, I'm still learning there also!

So what will I do with the language? Scotland's oldest language, here long before the arrival of Scots and English, from at least the 5th century AD, is in trouble, with native speaker numbers declining, but at the same time, the recent census has shown us that that decline can be turned around. Right now I am involved as a committee member with the East Ayrshire Gaelic Forum in Kilmarnock, and will be stepping up on a few other fronts in the next few months. Last weekend I organised an event at Dean Castle Country Park where many learners came with their families to practice the language, which was great fun, whilst last night I was at An Lòchran in Glasgow, participating in a singing workshop with my friend Eilidh Cormack from the Gaelic band Sian.



I am also now seriously giving consideration to doing a teacher training course at Strathclyde University next year, with a view to becoming a teacher in Gaelic speaking schools in Scotland, where I think I might be able to do some positive work to help the next generation of speakers. I have quite a bit ahead of me before making a decision on that front, but it is the direction I am working towards, with some firm decisions to be made next spring. 

Whatever the future brings, I am looking forward to it - but don't worry, this blog will continue, as will my current genealogy efforts on many fronts!

Thig crìoch air an t-saoghal, ach mairidh gaol is ceòl!

Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

2031 Scottish Census consultation

From the National Records of Scotland (www.nrscotland.gov.uk)

National Records of Scotland (NRS) has recommended a mandatory questionnaire-based census for Scotland in 2031. 

This recommendation has been made to Scottish Ministers on behalf of the Registrar General for Scotland and has been accepted in principle with further detailed plans to follow.  

Census data is vital for gathering a vast range of information about Scotland’s people which local and central government, the NHS and a range of other service providers and data users need. The 2022 census generated over a billion statistics including education, transport, religion, migration, and national identity.

Alison Byrne, NRS Chief Executive, said: "No other survey provides the richness and range of information that the census does, enabling governments and other public bodies to plan the services we all rely on, and telling the story of Scotland's people for generations to come.

“We look forward to hearing from data users across Scotland in the coming months. Their responses will help us to understand the best way to meet their needs as we plan for a 2031 census.”

The recommendation is for the census to be held at the same time as censuses in the rest of the UK. As with previous censuses NRS will work closely with other UK statistical bodies on the design and build of the census. 

For further details, including how to participate in the census consultation (open until Autumn 2025), please visit https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/about/scotlands-census-2031/.

Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

National Library of Scotland maps department guide to website changes

The National Library of Scotland maps department has published a page detailing the recent design changes to its part of the revamped NLS website, which can be read at https://maps.nls.uk/website/

Most of the changes are cosmetic, but it is a useful overview, and worth a quick read!

Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Ballynahinch, Galway, estate records added to Ancestry

Ancestry has added the following Irish collection:

Galway, Ireland, Ballynahinch Estate Records, 1905-1940 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/63199/ 

Source: Galway, Ireland, Ballynahinch Estate Records, 1905-1940 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2025. 

About Galway, Ireland, Ballynahinch Estate Records, 1905-1940 

This collection contains records from the Ballynahinch Estate in Galway, Ireland. The collection has tenant records from 1905 to 1940 and visitor records from 1905 to 1970. Entries in the registers are handwritten and may be difficult to read. 

Using this collection 

Records in this collection may include the following information: 
  • Name 
  • Alias 
  • Travel date 
  • Place of residence 
These records may help you discover more about your ancestor’s life including where they lived and places they travelled. Some record images include specific addresses. If the record includes a place of residence, you have a place to start looking for other civil or church documents related to your ancestor.

Further details on the records available via the link.


Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page

Ulster Historical Foundation launches A Sense of Place toolkit

From the Ulster Historical Foundation (https://ulsterhistoricalfoundation.com): 

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new section on our website: A Sense of Place, now available at ulsterhistoricalfoundation.com/sense-of-place/home

This dedicated reference area has been created especially for family historians and researchers interested in discovering more about the localities where their ancestors once lived. 

A Sense of Place offers a growing collection of tools and materials, including: 
  • Fully searchable indexes of the Ordnance Survey Memoirs, a valuable source for 19th-century Irish life and landscape 
  • Digitised volumes of the Place Names of Northern Ireland series, available in full for browsing and reference 
  • Additional guidance and resources to help place your family story in its historical and geographical context 
(With thanks to the Foundation via email) 


Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Friday, 18 July 2025

New look National Library of Scotland website

The National Library of Scotland website at www.nls.uk has had a makeover, and is often the case with such revamps these days, this may take some getting used to. The developers have clearly decided that the PC is dead, opting for a tablet friendly interface, which means, you guessed it, more scrolling to get to the content you wish to find. The text for topic headlines has also been magnified massively, just in case you miss it. 

Locating digitised resources takes a few steps - go to Collections on the home page, then click on Collections on the page returned, then scroll down to Digital Gallery. One of the menu options here is Family history, which takes you to several content collections previously available (and seemingly the pages for these have not been redeveloped). 

The mapping platform has mercifully just had a cosmetic change, and can still be found at https://maps.nls.uk.

Explore the site for yourselves at www.nls.uk.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Sunday, 13 July 2025

Grim excavation due to start on Monday in Tuam

An excavation is due to start on Monday at St Mary's, the Bon Secours mother and baby home in Tuam, Galway, where it is believed some 796 infant children may have been secretly buried in an old septic tank. 

For the background to the shocking story visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpwqnwrkd1go?fbclid=IwY2xjawLgY11leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHj5xSybsXSgLGHATbCS_w5mXypHF1alDRD2Y6qfQ-EicIQO5gDy8vBysjv0y_aem_NFWjZq0E6trj8EOljzSfqA.

* My latest book, Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland, covers mother and baby homes, as well as other institutions where many young unmarried mothers were required to give birth to their children before giving them up for adoption. Details on where to buy the book are available below.


Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

TheGenealogist Releases International Bomber Command Centre death records

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

TheGenealogist Releases 67,000 Death Records from the International Bomber Command Centre

TheGenealogist is proud to announce the release of the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC): Losses Database on its website. This significant collection honours the men and women who served and died while supporting Bomber Command operations.

The IBCC Losses Database includes detailed records of over 67,000 Bomber Command casualties, capturing personal details, aircraft information, missions, and circumstances of death. This fully searchable resource allows family historians, researchers, and aviation enthusiasts to access an unparalleled level of detail about those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom.

The records link on to the IBCC database, compiled from over 6.2 Million pieces of data, giving an incredible amount of information for each individual, often including a photo.

● 67,140 Records

● Covers 1936 to 1968

● Gives over 100,000 names of Parents, Spouses, Siblings and Children

● SmartSearch links to our AIR 27 Operations Record Books (ORBs), which can provide details of the fateful mission where the crew member lost their life

Among the notable entries in the database is Percy Charles Pickard, the legendary RAF officer known for leading the daring Amiens prison raid in 1944. His inclusion in the records offers a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifice that marked the RAF’s wartime efforts. You can read his remarkable story here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/target-for-tonight-8696/

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist, said:

"This is a moving record collection that sheds light on those who served in one of the most dangerous roles of the Second World War. We’re making this release free to everyone as a tribute to the Bomber Command staff and crew who paid the ultimate price."

The IBCC Losses Database is now available for free for all registered users. Sign up for your free account at https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/account/signup/

(With thanks to TheGenealogist)


Chris  

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast AncestorsTracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.