Scottish Sikh Heritage Trail

The Scottish Sikh Heritage Trail is an extension of the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail which was commenced in 2004, and commemorates the unique links between Scots and Sikhs that goes back to the 1700s. Examples of the links between the two nations include the highly respected Maharajah Duleep Singh who took up residence at the Grandtully estate in Perthshire, becoming known locally as the 'Black Prince of Perthshire; and Captain Thomas Rattray, who was chosen to raise a group of military police to control the lower provinces of Bengal, and for whom the 3rd Battalion Sikh Regiment was renamed the Rattray Sikhs, now part of today's modern Indian army.

For more on the story, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7644716.stm and http://www.asht.info/ .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Robert Burns goes to the loo...

Robert Burns was, and is, many things. To many Scots, the greatest poet the country has ever seen. To the less enlightened (like me), he's a great, iconic image on a shortbread tin. But I doubt the inspiration behind next year's Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebration ever thought he'd be the proud subject of a lavvy seat...!

At the Selkirk Arms, the reputed birthplace of the bard's Selkirk Grace, the owner has taken leave of his senses and immortalised the poet on all the toilet seats within his pub. Whilst some may see that as a fitting tribute, others will undoubtedly be up in arms.

For co-owner Douglas McDavid, the tribute is heartfelt: "We need to tell the world that Burns' memory is alive and well and here in Kirkcudbright." Indeed...

For more, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7641907.stm .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Forthcoming Scottish lectures and events in October

To have an event listed of Scottish genealogical or historical interest, please e-mail me at enquiry@scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk - all listings are free!


Exhibition - Imprentit: 500 Years of the Scottish printed word
National Library of Scotland
Friday 27 June to Sunday 12 October, at George IV Bridge Building, Edinburgh. Monday to Friday: 10.00-20.00. Saturday: 10.00-17.00Sunday: 14.00-17.00. Admission free. No need to book.
Web: www.nls.uk/events/printing-exhibition/index.html


Annual Coffee Morning
Largs and North Ayrshire Family History Society
Sat OCT 4 2008, at 10.00am in the Dunn Memorial Hall, Largs
Web: www.largsnafhs.org.uk/home.htm


Workshop
West Lothian Family History Society
Sat 4 OCT 2008 from 7.00pm to 9.00 pm, West Lothian Library Headquarters, Connolly House, Blackburn
E-mail: honsec@wlfhs.org.uk Web: www.wlfhs.org.uk


Talk by Elizabeth Carmichael, of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow
West Lothian Family History Society
Tue 7 OCT 2008, from 7.00 to 9.00pm, at Blackburn Community Centre
E-mail: honsec@wlfhs.org.uk Web: www.wlfhs.org.uk


Aberfoyle: Studies in Family & Local History using the Census, by Louis Stott
Central Scotland Family History Society
Wed 8 OCT 2008 at 7:30pm, in the Smith Museum and Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road, StirlingWeb: www.csfhs.org.uk


Annual General Meeting
Caithness Family History Society
Wed 8 OCT 2008 at Miller Academy, Thurso – time unknown
E-Mail: sandy.gunn@btinternet.com Web: www.caithnessfhs.org.uk


British & Irish Health Records from the 1800's, by Alastair Tough
Lanarkshire Family History Society
Thur 9 OCT 2008, from 7.00pm to 9.00pm, at the GLO Centre, Muir Street, Motherwell.
E-mail: info@lanarkshirefhs.org.uk or society@lanarkshirefhs.org.uk


Cessnock Castle, by J. McGill
East Ayrshire Family History Society
Thur 9 OCT 2008 at 7.30pm, in the Gateway Centre, Foregate Square, Kilmarnock
E-mail: enquiries@eastayrshirefhs.org.uk Web: www.eastayrshirefhs.org.uk


Sir Thomas Lipton by John Gallacher Largs and North Ayrshire Family History Society (Joint Meeting with Largs Historical Society)
Tue 14 OCT 2008 at 7.30pm, the Dunn Memorial Hall, Largs
Web: www.largsnafhs.org.uk/home.htm


Committee Meeting
West Lothian Family History Society
Tue 14 OCT 2008, at the Community Centre, Blackburn
E-mail: honsec@wlfhs.org.uk Web: www.wlfhs.org.uk


TBA
Lochaber And North Argyll Family History Group
Tue 14 OCT 2008 at 7:30pm, at the church hall of St Andrew’s Episcopal church, Fort William. Admission £1.50 for Members and £2.50 for non-Members
E-mail: landnafhg@fsmail.net
Web: www.lochaberandnorthargyllfamilyhistorygroup.org.uk


Fisher Lassies, by Mrs Sherrard & Cook
Fife Family History Society
Tue 14 OCT 2008 at 7.00pm, in the Methil Community Centre, Bowling Green Street, Methil
E-mail: webadmin@fifefhs.org Web: www.fifefhs.org


The People Who Built the Harbour of Dundee, by Bill Dow
Tay Valley Family History Society
Wed 15 OCT 2008 at 7.15 p.m, at the University of Abertay, Bell Street, Dundee
E-mail: tvfhs@tayvalleyfhs.org.uk Web: www.tayvalleyfhs.org.uk


Paisley Canal, by Tom Lawton
Renfrewshire Family History Society
Thur 16 OCT 2008 at 7.30pm, Paisley Museum
Web: www.renfrewshirefhs.co.uk


Maintaining your family tree using a Computer, by John Weston
Alloway & Southern Ayrshire Family History Society
Thur 16 OCT 2008 at 7.30pm for 7.45pm, Alloway Parish Church Halls, Auld Nick's View, Alloway, KA7 4RT
E-mail: secretary@asafhs.co.uk Web: www.asafhs.co.uk


Scottish Catholic Archives, by Andrew Nicoll
Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society
Sat 18 OCT 2008 at 2:30pm at the Unitarian Church, Aberdeen
E-mail: enquiries@anesfhs.org.uk Web: www.anesfhs.org.uk
Tel: 01224 646323


Appin Celebrities: Marian Pallister (also book signing)
Appin Historical Society
Sat 18 OCT 2008, at 2.30pm, Port Appin Hall
Web: www.appinhistoricalsociety.co.uk


Ancestral Breakthroughs
Anglo Scottish Family History Society
Sat 18 OCT 2008 at 2.00pm in the Society's library at Clayton House, Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AQ
E-mail: office@mlfhs.org.uk Web: www.mlfhs.org.uk


Scottish Interest Group Research Day
New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc.
Sat 18 OCT 2008, 10.00am to 4.00pm, at the Family Research Centre, 159 Queens Rd, Panmure. Bring your own lunch, tea & coffee are provided.
E-mail: nzsg-contact@genealogy.org.nz Web: www.genealogy.org.nz


John Murray Archive, by David McClay
The Scottish Genealogy Society
Mon 20 OCT 2008 at 7.30pm Augustine Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
E-mail: sales@scotsgenealogy.com Web: www.scotsgenealogy.com
Tel / Fax: 0131 220 3677


Scottish Emigration to Colonial America 1607 – 1785, by David Dobson
Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society
Mon 20 OCT 2008 at 7.30pm, Lecture Theatre No. 1 of the Boyd Orr Building, Glasgow University, University Avenue, Hillhead, Glasgow
Web: www.gwsfhs.org.uk


Who Do You Think You Are, by Hazel Johnston
Troon @ Ayrshire Family History Society
Tue Oct 21 2008 - Venue and time unknown
E-mail: info@troonayrshirefhs.org.uk Web: www.troonayrshirefhs.org.uk


Evening visit to New Register House
West Lothian Family History Society
Tue 21 OCT 2008
E-mail: honsec@wlfhs.org.uk Web: www.wlfhs.org.uk


The Angus Macleod Memorial Lecture – A’ Phairc: Sealladh Phearsanta / Park: a Personal Perspective, by Kristine Kennedy
The Islands Book Trust
Thur 23 OCT 2008, in Gravir, South Lochs, Lewis
www.theislandsbooktrust.com
Tel: John Randall on 01851 880365


Wade’s Road, Dunkeld-Dalnacardoch, by Colin Liddell
North Perthshire Family History Group
Thur 23 OCT 2008 at 7.30 pm in The Tryst Hall, behind the Church, off West Moulin Road, Pitlochry
Web: www.npfhg.org


Lord Crawford’s Armorial, by Alex Maxwell Findlater
The Heraldry Society of Scotland
Sat 25 OCT 2008 - presumed to be held at 25 Craigentinny Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 6QA. but do confirm with the society
E-mail: c.napier@napier.aol.com.uk or info@heraldry-scotland.co.ukWeb: www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk


Land Records as a research tool, by Gregory Lauder-Frost (and Society Meeting)
Borders Family History Society
Sun 26 OCT 2008 at 2.30 pm in the Corn Exchange & Ormiston Institute, Market Square, Melrose
Web: www.bordersfhs.org.uk


Talk by Margaret Kane, Burns Room Archivist
Renfrewshire Family History Society
Tue 28 OCT 2008 at 7.30pm, Waterfront Leisure Complex Conference Suite, Greenock
Web: www.renfrewshirefhs.co.uk


Rooted in Scotland: explaining ancestral connections, by Cameron Taylor
Highland Family History Society
Thur 30 OCT 2008 at 7.30pm, Netley Centre, Highland Hospice, Bishop’s Road, Inverness, IV3 5SB - admission is free for members, but there is a charge of £2 for non-members. Tea/coffee will be available at the end of each meeting, though a voluntary donation of £1 from members and non-members alike towards the cost of refreshments would be appreciated
E-mail: jdurham@highlandfhs.org.uk Web: www.highlandfhs.org.uk

Women on the platform – seminar on the role of women in the anti-slavery movement
National Library of Scotland
Fri 31 OCT 2008, 9.30am to 3.30pm, includes lunch.
To book a free place, or for more details, phone 0131 623 4675 or email events@nls.uk


Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life reopens

The Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, has reopened after two years, following a major £10.5 million refit.

Based at the site of a former iron works, there have been many new additions to the museum, including a Discovery Zone for childen and a new mezzanine level with a viewing platform that offers a view to both Coatbridge and the remains of the Summerlee Iron works.

For more information, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7636346.stm

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

ScotlandsPeople provides new tool for brick wall research

We all know what it is like - we've gone through all the census entries and BDM certificates we can find, but we can't make the leap beyond one particular ancestor. Frustration turns to panic, we try the internet with no success, we even consider stealing someone else's ancestors, and then, as we realise how that would make us the biggest genealogical loser of all, we let vent with the biggest outpouring of emotion since John Knox decided to once have a wee word to the masses in a kirk in Perth...

Yup, the ancestral brick wall is the genealogist's biggest fear and crisis rolled into one. It can force marriages apart, insane babblings (with some unsightly drooling), and complete loss of self-esteem. One solution is to hire Scotland's Greatest Story to try and help with your dilemma - but there is another...!

Scotland's most thoughtful genealogical service provider has created a new solution - ladies and gentlemen, introducing the ScotlandsPeople chocolate bar!!!




It's brilliant. It tastes really good. It won't in any way actually solve your brick wall problem - but it will make you not care for five minutes!!!

I had absolutely no idea that SP had it's own chocolate bar. I was up in Edinburgh with my wife and boys for Doors Open Day, and I wanted to show them where I do a lot of research. The boys got to draw their own coats of arms in the NAS Historic search room, I caught up with a couple of friends who work in the GROS, had my first look around the new Adam Dome inside the NAS, which has undergone an amazing restoration, and after a trip to the castle and a local weaving museum on the Royal Mile, we all traipsed back to the train. As we sat down, my wife placed the shiniest bar of chocolate I've seen in a while on the table before me. It didn't last long!

So when you are thinking about coming over for Homecoming Scotland next year, or if you are local and stuck on a genealogical problem, the ScotlandsPeople chocolate bar is an absolute must!!!

Brilliant!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Scots migration to Poland

The Inverness Courier has a story on the appointment of David Worthington, the recently appointed history lecturer with the Inverness-based University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute, in which he discusses the long links between Poland and Scotland.

Thousands of Scots have in the last couple of hundred years made their way to Poland, and in more recent years Polish migrants have established themsleves in the Highland capital. Worthington has studied the migration of Scots to the east, including the Leslie family from Aberdeen which ended up in the service of the Holy Roman Empire, and involved in the assassination of an imperial general who was suspected of treason.

For the full story, visit http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk:80/news/fullstory.php/aid/7414/Long_links_that_join_nations_in_harmony.html

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Rootschat

Another quick plug....!

The Rootschat forum at www.rootschat.com is a wonderful genealogy discussion forum for those doing Scottish research, with individual areas devoted to every single county of Scotland.

The site also has threads where you can practice your Gaelic (Irish and Scottish), as well as your Cornish and Welsh! Other areas deal with English, Welsh, Manx, Channel Islands and Irish history, there's an exhange and mart area for seller and advertisers, an area for those researching their travellers ancestors, and much, much more. It's very user friendly, and completely free to use. (My kind of site!)

Thoroughly recommended.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Covenanter books

A quick plug for two books from Isabelle McCall MacLean on the theme of the Covenanters.

Isabelle's latest book is The Oath and The Covenant, based on the life of John Whitelaw, the Monkland Martyr. Last year she also published The Scottish Covenanter Genealogical Index 1630-1712, an alphabeticised guide to thousands of Covenanters’ names, referencing books within which Covenanting stories are found in order to make research easier for family historians researching one of Scotland's most fascinating periods.

To find out more on the books, visit www.isabellemmaclean.com

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

BBC2 series Celebrations looking for contributors

Blast Films in London has been commissioned to produce a series of four one hour documentaries for a new series entitled "Celebrations". The series will follow a family reunion in each episode, and along the way try to identify what defines the notion of 'family', through a combination of both family history and family present.

Production of the series is already underway, but the team are still keen to hear from people who may be interested in taking part in a family reunion for the series.

For more information on the series, which will be broadcast on BBC2 next year, please call 0207 267 4260, or e-mail celebration@blastfilms.co.uk .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE 2009

The third WDYTYA? Live show is currently being prepared for its run between February 27th and March 1st 2009, at London's Olympia. So here's a sneak preview of what to expect...!

The show will be split into three main categories. First is the Society of Genealogists Family History Show, a platform for family history societies and specialist exhibitors to hold stalls and exhibitions of interest. Secondly, there is the Military History Pavilion, with three main areas comprising of military exhibitors, stands on medals and records and other information, and a new feature, a memorabilia checkpoint, a sort of Antiques Roadshow for military artefacts.

The third and largest area of the show is the Family History section, with many new features this time round. There will be TV Historians, celebrities from the show, various vendors selling family history products and vendors, and then various other activities classed under 'Features'. These include a new Culture and Heritage section (ancestral toruism, heritage travel theatre etc), a new Regional Pavilion dealing with subjects from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Internationally, a new DNA Lab, a new Photo Lab, and all the other usual events you would expect at WDYTYA, including the SoG's workshops, experts areas etc.

Sponsored by Ancestry, it's going to be an another impressive line-up. For more information, visit www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Falkirk Herald talks to Central Scotland FHS

The following article in the Falkirk Herald outlines the work of Central Scotland FHS. See http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news-features/Another-piece-of-the-jigsaw.4521131.jp

Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

New genealogy discussion forum

The Federation of Family History Societies has just announced the creation of a new discussion forum at http://www.ffhs.org.uk/forum/index.php. The forum, open both to members and non-members of English and Welsh family history societies, is an excellent way for people to learn more about the FFHS, including the latest news and updates on society projects, and also a great place to discuss genealogical queries with others who may be able to help out.

It looks slick, modern, and is free to access. Thoroughly recommended!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

History of Tartan

I was going to make a post about a group of worthies discussing how to control standards within the tartan manufacturing industry at a meeting in Perth today, but that's just unbelievably dull - so here's a history of tartan instead, which might contain a few surprises!

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A794405 .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Exclusive - Stonehenge is very old

It's official. Archaeologists have spent a lot of time and money radio carbon dating the Stonehenge circle in Wiltshire, and have discovered that it is very old. It's a huge relief to those who weren't sure, but the fact that the area has been dated to 2300BC (actually 2400BC to 2200BC) absolutely confirms, without any shadow of a doubt, that the big blocks are indeed awfully old.

It also comes as a huge relief for the BBC, which has taken the opportunity to spend yet another small fortune on yet another documentary about the big stone lumps, to be shown yet again as part of its Timewatch strand on September 27th. An insider from the BBC has been quoted, fictitiously, as saying that he or she "was mightily relieved, I can tell you! We didn't know whether we would get away with it again!".

On the BBC news website, the archaeologist in charge, Professor David Wainwright, who now thinks Stonehenge was an A&E ward (I kid ye not) due to the number of human remains found, was asked if the fact that an archer's body was discovered three miles away dating to roughly the same period was significant:

"Was the Amesbury Archer, as some have suggested, the person responsible for the building of Stonehenge? I think the answer to that is almost certainly 'no'. (Hooray for sanity!)

"But did he travel there to be healed? Did he limp, or was he carried, all the way from Switzerland to Wiltshire, because he had heard of the miraculous healing properties of Stonehenge? 'Yes, absolutely'. (Come again?!)

"Tim and I are quite convinced that people went to Stonehenge to get well. But Stonehenge probably had more than one purpose, so I have no problem with other people's interpretations."

In the archaeology trade, this is known as 'Stonehedging your bets'...

(I should add that I used to make archaeology TV programmes, and any time anything was found that an archaeologist did not understand, it undoubtedly had "ritual significance". But then the fact that I have a cup of tea every morning at 8.30 is a "ritual"! In my experience of working with them for three years, many archaeologists are perfectly equipped to run creative writing classes...)

Until the next big annual Stonehenge documentary...!

(The BBC story can be read at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7625145.stm)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Free access to Ancestry's military records in November

To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the end of World War One, the genealogical records giant Ancestry.co.uk will be providing FREE access to some of its records.

Ancestry's announcement:

At this time of remembrance, we want to help everyone find out about the sacrifices made by their World War One ancestors. That´s why, for the entire month of November, we are waiving our usual charges for searching and viewing of our World War One Service and Pensions records and the World War One Medal Index Cards collection.

To access the collections, and to find out more, visit the following links:

World War One Medal Index Cards (1914-22)

British Army WW1 Service Records (1914-20)

British Army WW1 Pension Records (1914-20)


Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

National Archives of Scotland Doors Open Day

Saturday September 27th 2008 sees the National Archives of Scotland throw open its doors to the general public for free from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Having recently undergone a major facelift (ie conservation and renovation!) in preparation for the new ScotlandsPeople Centre, which will be mainly housed in the building, this is a thoroughly recommended day trip!

The NAS website gives more detail on the day:

On Doors Open Day, come and visit the newly-refurbished General Register House, home to the National Archives of Scotland. Robert Adam’s neo-classical masterpiece, begun in 1774, has been given a makeover to accommodate the major part of the new ScotlandsPeople Centre for Scottish family history.

The centrepiece is the restored rotunda or dome (1789), which Adam modelled on the Pantheon in Rome. In the dome you can admire the rare statue of George III (1794), which has been cleaned and conserved. Register House also boasts another rotunda, originally for storing records. A third rotunda can be seen next door in New Register House (Robert Matheson, 1861), which houses the General Register Office for Scotland, the Court of the Lord Lyon, and part of the family history centre. New Register House will also be open.

Activities in General Register House will include:

Learning about the resources of the ScotlandsPeople Centre ‘Records Roadshow’ – bring along any documents if you want some expert advice from our archivists.

Display of rare printed items and the original ‘licence to print’ to mark the 500th anniversary of printing in Scotland

Education activities for children

Conservation display – how books are made

Please note that contrary to our entry in the official Doors Open Day brochure, we are not able to offer refreshments or free parking! We apologise in advance for any disappointment.

(Many thanks to Alison Springs of the Glasgow LDS Family History Centre)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk

Scotland's Greatest Story

Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Edinburgh's first car registration number plate auctioned

Edinburgh's first ever car registration number plate, created in 1903, has fetched almost £400,000 at auction - and is destined to appear on an old red Skoda in the English Midlands! For more on the story, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7626467.stm .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

New adoption research organisation needs your help

A new organisation is asking for those who have tried to research their adopted ancestors to get in touch to share their experiences. The Descendants of Deceased Adopted Persons group hopes to address the issue of just how restrictive such research can be.

For more information, visit http://www.adoptionsearchreunion.co.uk/search/dapcampaign

(With thanks to the Your Family Tree magazine blog)

Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Weavers of Perth website updated

I have just updated my Handloom Weavers of Perth website at www.PerthWeavers.bravehost.com to now include entries from the rental books of King James VI Hospital from the 16th and 17th centuries, and entries from the hospital's chartularies in the 18th and 19th centuries. The King James VI Hospital was endowed in 1569, its remit to provide for the "poor and indigent members of Jesus Christ" within the burgh. To do this, it became the feudal superior of all the lands held by the many monasteries in and around Perth prior to the reformation some nine years earlier. In listing the names, I have only listed those recorded as 'weavers', 'websters' or 'brabonars', though there are undoubtedly many other weavers listed in the book without their occupation listed alongside their name.

Scotland's Greatest Story now provides three genealogical research aids, free of charge. These are:

The Ruhleben Story - WW1 British civilian POWs interned in Germany

The Handloom Weavers of Perth - records of the weavers from the 16th to the 19th centuries

The Largs War Memorial - the names and stories of all those soldiers from Largs in North Ayrshire who died in the two world wars.

Happy hunting!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Irish Family History Foundation interview

Since its creation, I had a problem with the Irish Family History Foundation website (http://www.irish-roots.ie/), which hosts over 13 million records for Irish births, marriages and deaths from across the island, with some records going back to the 1590s. I believed the site charged too much, but more importantly, did not offer enough search fields to narrow down a particular ancestral enquiry, meaning that you could spend a heck of a lot of money looking for the right record, and on occasion even pay twice to see the same record. However, at long last the IFHF has moved to address this, and has added several new search fields, and removed all duplicate records, making it a much more customer friendly website. As such, I'm now declaring a truce, because at long last, this is a more focussed site that can actually help people without bankrupting them, and I have written to them this week to congratulate them on providing the sorely needed improvements.

American genealogical commentator Dick Eastmann recently caught up with Feargal O'Donnell, the vice chairman of the organsation in an interview for Roots Television. The interview revealed some of the challenges faced by the IFHF - records written in Gaelic and Latin amongst them - and it is worth having a look if you have Irish ancestry. Amongst some of his promises are the forthcoming releases for Donegal and Derry, and some advice on how to use the site.

The interview (13 mins long) can be seen at http://rootstelevision.com/players/player_conferences.php?bctid=1792947734.

Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Ancestry hosts Canadian immigration records

Updated:

Ancestry has launched the Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 collection on both its Canadian and British domains. One in three Canadians descended from immigrants listed in this collection which records those who arrived from the United States by ship and overland, and from the rest of the world, including Britain (including detail on 150,000 foster children re-settled as part of Britain’s Child Emigration Scheme). The collection is fully indexed and searchable online for the first time, with details records for all the major Canadian ports.

Here's the abridged Canadian press release:

In a world first, Ancestry.ca, Canada’s leading family history website, today launched online the Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, which contains more than 7.2 million names, including 5.6 million of those who travelled from around the world to start a new life in Canada.

The collection is fully indexed by name, month, year, ship and port of origin and arrival of more than 4,000 ships, and includes original images for more than 310,000 pages of historical records. It is the first time that these records have been indexed and made available online.

The Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, the originals of which are held by the Library and Archives Canada (LAC), are the official records of the arrival of the majority of people accepted as immigrants in Canada during this key immigration period.

An estimated 11.6 million Canadians or 37 per cent of its current population have ancestors included in this collection , which also includes records for many vacationers and travellers, business people, crew members and historical figures such as foreign leaders, scientists and celebrities.

The collection includes passenger lists from all the major ports of arrival including Halifax, Saint John, North Sydney, Quebec City, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria and even east coast ports in the US where many arrived before proceeding directly to Canada overland.

The main immigrant nationalities arriving in Canada during this period of rapid growth were British, Irish, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Chinese and Polish (the majority of French immigrants, the second largest Canadian immigrant population, arrived prior to 1865).
Passengers from mainland Europe usually sailed to Great Britain where they boarded trans-Atlantic ships at ports such as Liverpool, London and Glasgow. Immigrants from Europe destined for western Canada landed at ports on the east coast, then continued their journey by train. Ships arriving on the west coast carried passengers from Asia, Australia and Honolulu.

Contained in the collection are records for a number of ships which tragically never made it to their final Canadian destinations, including that of RMS The Empress of Ireland, a passenger ship which was rammed in dense fog on the St Lawrence River near Quebec on the 29th of May 1914 and sank in just 14 minutes. 1,012 passengers and crew drowned - a larger loss of life than when RMS Titanic sank.

Individual records include information such as the passenger’s first and last name, estimated birth year, year of arrival, port of arrival and departure, ship name, occupation, final destination in Canada and other family members listed with their relationship indicated.

Digitizing and indexing the collection took approximately 83,000 man hours, or the equivalent of a person working 24 hours a day, seven days a week for almost 10 years.

The Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 will be available to Canada and World Deluxe members and through a 14-day free trial and can be viewed at www.ancestry.ca/CAPassengerLists .

The collection for us Brits can be viewed at www.ancestry.co.uk/CAPassengerLists.

Good hunting!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

National Archives launches Digital Microfilm online

The National Archives (Kew) has released digitised images of entire indexes from their catalogue, which can be downloaded through their Documents Online service for free. The idea is that these will eventually replace the need to access microfilms containing the images, but there is a snag - you're going to need broadband, and a lot of memory on your hard drive!

From the site:

Digital Microfilm is a project piloting a new way to deliver records online. The National Archives has a large collection of microfilmed records, and by making these available online we hope to increase their accessibility. This will ultimately allow the microfilm readers used at The National Archives, Kew to be retired.

We have digitised four records series of military and naval records. If the project is successful, we intend to add a wide variety of record series covering many different areas of interest. Many of the records are indexes and we hope that these will be helpful in locating other relevant records.

The new way of delivery is by using very large pdfs, each of which contains a whole piece, which could be up to 800 pages long. This means that Digital Microfilm is only available to online users with a broadband connection, and to users in the Reading Rooms at The National Archives.

These records have not been indexed, and so you will need to scroll through the pdfs, much as you would when using a microfilm. However, we would be more than happy for users to transcribe any of the Digital Microfilm content, and post it on Your Archives, The National Archives' online community of records users.

These documents are free of charge to download.


The record indexes are seriously large documents, up to 400MB in size (a CD will hold 700MB), and those that have been digitised are as follows:

ADM 142 Navy Board, Navy Pay Office and Admiralty, Accountant General's Department: Registers of Seamen's Wills 1786-1909

ADM 175 Records of service of the Coastguard 1816-1947

WO 144 War Office: Inter-Allied Armistice Commission: War Diary, and Despatches of Chief of British Delegation 1918-1920

WO 338 War Office: Officers' Services, Index to Long Number Papers, 1870-1922


The TNA website at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/digital-microfilm.asp gives further information on how these classes break down further into different folios.

It will be interesting to see how this idea plays out as a venture. If successful, further releases are likely.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Scottish Indentured Servants TV programme

Just had an interesting conversation with a television producer in England about a production she is working on concerning Scottish indentured servants who made their way to Barbados, and their legacy. It's a fascinating story about the how they got there, how they were ostracised by both white slave owners and the slaves themselves following the emancipation of slavery, and is currently in production with some funding from BBC Scotland and TG4, the Irish Gaelic channel.

Not sure when it will air just yet, but will let you know more as and when I get it!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Foillseachaidh BBC Alba Dihaoine

Toiseachaidh BBC Alba air an telebhisean Dihaoine 19mh Sultain, a' foillseachadh aig naoir uairean san fheasgar air Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat, Freesat bho Sky, agus air an t-eadar-lion aig www.bbc.co.uk/alba. Bidh ceol, spors, naidheachd, cartunean, creideamh, aimsir, ealtainnan, agus moran programman eile ann (agus eachdraidh am-measg, tha mi 'n dochas!). Craoladhaidh an seirbeis ur gach la (an-deidh a' chiad la) eadar 4.00f agus 12.00m gach la.

BBC Alba, the new BBC Gaelic channel, commences broadcasting from this Friday at 9.00pm on Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat, Freesat from Sky, and on the internet at www.bbc.co.uk/alba. There'll be music, sport, news, cartoons, religion, weather, arts and many other programmes on the channel (and hopefully some history!), which will broadcast each day between 4.00pm and 12.00 midnight each day, after the launch.

The channel's boss is Margaret Mary Murray, who gave me my first job when I moved to Scotland in 1997, so it's in very safe hands! The way BBC Scotland's English language programming is going these days, BBC Alba might be the only place to find some decent Scottish based documentaries - but for those with no Gaelic, it will all be subtitled.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Prepare for the WAR!

The National Archives has just launched a new website designed to teach kids at the English key Stage 3 and 4 History level about the Second Word War, using a series of animated maps to show the progress made, with an accompanying narration. I have no idea what the equivalent Scottish teaching level is (my son is only in Primary 4 and I'm from Ulster!), but it doesn't matter - if your kids are studying World War 2, this site is quite simply brilliant and well worth getting them to visit, and you might want to have a sneaky look yourself!

It works like a sophisticated Dad's Army title sequence, is compressed to the core basics of events, but intelligently so. And if you fancy a break, you can leave it at the Home page, get a coffee, and make sure everyone sees the spinning green globe circling away on your screen - it's strangely addictive to just sit and look at! lol

This is an excellent resource, located at www.learningcurve.gov.uk/worldwar2/default.htm . Here's hoping World War One follows suit...

Nice one TNA...!

Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Free public access to the Times online archive to end this week

Public access to the Times Online news archive, which makes available all past issues from 1785 to 1985, was launched in May at the Who Do You Think You Are Live event in London through a new website. Prior to this, it had been available through an academic version by subscription only.

Located at http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/archive/, the site had initially been offered for free to the public for a limited period. That period unfortunately ends on Thursday September 18th, so if you have not yet signed up, or have mountains of articles to look up, now's the time!

From Friday, the site will implement a pay-to-access structure, starting at £4.95 for a day pass, £14.95 for a monthly pass, or £74.95 for an annual membership.

By online newspaper archive standards, that is the cheapest I have come across yet, so still good value for money.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Royal National Mod commemorative walk

The Royal National Mod (Am Mod Nàiseanta Rìoghail), the week long showcase for Scottish Gaelic poetry, song and music, was first established in Oban in 1892. To celebrate this year's event starting in Falkirk on October 10th, twelve walkers are making their way along one of the old cattle droving routes between Fortwilliam and Falkirk. For more info see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7608143.stm and also www.the-mod.co.uk/english/frames.htm

Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Sunset from Largs

You go away for two days, and look at what you miss! The sunset a couple of nights ago in my adopted town of Largs - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_enl_1221402520/html/1.stm

Alba gu bragh!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

The National Family History Fair at Gateshead - report

Well I'm back from Gateshead, and the National Family History Fair, and I am aching all over, but haven't had so much fun in ages. The event is run by Bob Blatchford, who produces the annual Family and Local History Handbook, and I went down to help him and his team, including his wife Liz and son Charlie, as well as Maurice, Sue, David, Martin and others. We spent Friday setting up inside the stadium, had a great meal that evening, and then got well and truly stuck in for a great day from early on Saturday morning.

Find my Past helping the genealogical masses

Sue Taylor on the enquiry desk

The hall was packed with some of the great and the good, including S&N Genealogy Supplies, FindmyPast, Ancestry, Your Family Tree, ABM Publishing, Family History Monthly, Family History Partnership, and others, and unlike WDYTYA Live, there was also some serious Scottish presence, including the Aberdeen and NE Scotland FHS, Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS, the Scottish Association of Family History Societies, the Scottish Genealogy Society, Scotland's People and the University of Strathclyde.

Sue Barbour, Sheila Edgar and yours truly - we've
just passed our Strathclyde postgraduate courses!

The Ancestry.co.uk stall

The show was sponsored by S&N Genealogy Supplies, and the company's MD Nigel Bayley gave two talks, with other speakers also including Ian Hartas, Amanda Bevan, Sarah Paterson, William Roulston, Doreen Hopwood and Kevin Connelly.

Ken Nisbet on the Scottish Genealogy Society stand

As well as catching up with many people I had spoken to at WDYTYA Live, I also spoke to some of the smaller vendors. There's an interesting new website on mining being launched soon, for the north east of England, but which will have some limited overlap with the Borders region of Scotland. Called NEEMARC (North East of England Mining Archive and Resource Centre), and produced by the University of Sutherland, the website is currently under construction at http://www.neemarc.com/ , but may well be a useful parallel for the Scottish Mining Villages website at http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/ , so worth keeping an eye on, particularly if you have connections to mining in the north of England. The Family History Partnership are another name to watch out for, publishing new and interesting family history books like demons possesed, with over eighty titles already since their creation last year!

Holding the fort for ABM Publishing's Family
Tree Magazine - editor Helen Tovey

At one point I also spoke to a vendor who sold old postcards, and was shocked to learn that much or her collection had recently been stolen by a rival vendor who had attempted to flog the lot on eBay. Fortunately the buyer had alerted the police and the thief was caught, the goods returned, and the thief is now being prosecuted. But it surprised me to think that there is a criminal underworld in the world of postcards! Fortunately the good guys won the day here...!

Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS - I don't know what the tartan is!

I also managed to meet some new faces - Annabel who has just taken over publicity at Ancestry, Sue Barbour who is working on a theatre archive project with the British Library, the North East War Memorials Trust team, the UKBMD team, many new faces from the SoG and others.

Editor Russell James on the Your Family Tree stand

"I swear this thing also sells coffee...!"
The Scotland's People stall.

Bargains galore at the National Family History Fair

A huge thanks to Bob and the team for allowing me to help out, it was a lot of fun, and I'm already signed up for next year! See ye there!

Chris

http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk/

Scotland's Greatest Story

Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Strathclyde postgraduate students can now relax...!

Congrats to all those at Strathclyde who passed their Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas in Genealogical Studies! The exam board met on Friday, and a few of the students including myself were at the Gateshead Family History Fair yesterday, and received notification that we had passed. Those not there will get notification in the next few days.

And to all my fellow PgDips, see you in the real world soon! :)

Chris

Chris Paton BA (Hons), HND, PgDip Genealogical Studies!
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

The Handloom Weavers of Perth website

For some time I have been researching the history of the handloom weavers in the main Perthshire town of Perth. In addition to transcribing many records of the weavers which have been made available on CD though Scotland's Greatest Story, I have now also created a new website entitled The Handloom Weavers of Perth.

The site contains some of the conclusions from a study that I did on the trade from 1770 to 1844 for my postgraduate certificate in genealogical studies last year, as well as some free records. These include the names of weavers in the 1841 census for Perth, weavers in the 1843-44 trade directory for the town, a list of weavers paying seat rentals in 1749 and a list of weavers from 1715, compiled to find out how many arms the Weavers Incorporation could lay its hands on during the first Jacobite threat.

The website is available at www.perthweavers.bravehost.com and will be extended further next year, once I get a chance to continue it!

Hopefully it might be of use to some of those with Perth ancestry!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Angus Council to digitise burial records

Angus Council is currently digitising the county’s burial records, which exist mainly from the 1850’s onwards, although some go back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Since some of these records are old and fragile, Angus Council has decided that, where possible, they should all be digitised and made available on-line. The information from the burial records will complement that provided by the Registrars through the statutory death records. A timescale for the project is not yet known, though work is already underway.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Still here...!

Just to reassure readers of a nervous disposition - the big bang experiment at the CERN facility on the Swiss/French border does not appear to have resulted in the destruction of life, the universe and everything as we know it, though the possibility remains that we now live in some beardy weirdy parallel dimension.

However, it looks like your family history efforts have not been undertaken in vain, so if you keep plugging away at it, I promise to keep bringing you all the latest genealogical news...!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

The Family History Event announces its prices

The Family History Event, scheduled to happen at London's Barbican Centre (Exhibition Hall 2) on Sunday May 3rd 2009, has just released a statement outlining its admission charges for the event, for visitors, family history societies and vendors.

These are:

Family History Societies - 1st Table free, £60.00 thereafter
Small Commercial (non VAT registered) - £90.00 per table
Large Commercial (VAT registered) - £165.00 per table
Entrance Fee per person (includes lectures) - £8.00
Entrance Fee per person - (Coach Party only rate, includes lectures) - £7.00

For more information visit www.theFHevent.info or e-mail mail@theFHevent.info

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Google to create online newspaper archive

Google has announced plans to create an online newspaper archive as an extension to its Google News service. With over 100 partners in the project, including the Washington Post, the New York Times and the 244 year old Quebec newspaper, the Chronicle-Telegraph, the internet giant plans to create an archive along the same lines as its highly successful Google Books project, using technology previously developed for that service.

For more information on the story, please visit the Guardian story at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/09/googlethemedia.digitalmedia?gusrc=rss&feed=media

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Scots language debate

From the National Library of Scotland:

Does Scots matter and why? Should Scots be revived? Does it matter if people only use a few words of Scots in English conversation or should we try to develop a range of registers and enhanced capacities? Guests at this panel event include Rab Wilson, Gillian Munro, Professor John Corbett, Professor James McGonigal and David Purves. Chaired by Michael Hance. With special guest Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture. Organised in partnership with the Scots Language Centre.

Tuesday 23 September, 19.00, NLS, Causewayside Building, 33 Salisbury Place, Edinburgh

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Crozier DNA project

Calling all Croziers!

The CROZIER Y-DNA Project is now up and running with FamilyTreeDNA at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Crozier

The project has three main aims: discover the origins of the surname, identify the geographical location of the various branches of the family and help individuals overcome their genealogical brick wall by linking up with their genetic cousins. The project is open to males who carry the Crozier/Crosier surname (and variant spellings). If you are female you will require to find a brother, father or uncle to supply a sample.

This month is a particularly good time to join as there is a discount sale on Y-chromosome DNA tests at FamilyTreeDNA available until the 30th of September. The Project recommends taking the 37 marker test as this narrows matches and gives a better calculation to the most recent common ancestor. It is possible to join the Project from this link
https://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.aspx?code=X67891&special=True&projecttype=S

For more information, please contact Alasdair MacDonald by e-mail at [afmac @ blueyonder.co.uk]

To learn more on how Y-DNA analysis can help in your family tree research, please read my article at the Talking Scot forum entitled A Beginner's Guide to Genetic Genealogy.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Caledonia of Arbroath crew remembered

The crew of a Scottish brig, who died when their ship was wrecked off Cornwall in 1842, has been commemorated in a service in the Cornish village of Morwenstow. The Caledonia of Arbroath had been travelling from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Gloucester when she was smashed off the rocks beneath the village, with the loss of seven, possibly eight, members of her crew, with only one survivor. The ship's figurehead, which had previously marked the graves of the sailors lost in the tragedy, has also been repaired.

For more on the story, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7601153.stm .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Rathlin Island website

If you have never been to Rathlin Island, and are planning on a trip to Northern Ireland, it is well worth a visit. A short journey by ferry from Ballycastle in County Antrim takes you to the island, known as 'Rachreann' in Gaelic and often referred to as the lowest of the Hebrides, where about a hundred people still live to this day. One of my earliest memories as a child is in watching a sunset one night looking out to sea towards Rathlin from Corrymeela. I spent many years hoping to travel there, and finally achieved my goal over ten years ago with my wife, my mother and I ending up on the island for a day trip. I'm definitely about due for a return trip!

One of those rare genealogical gems that we all like to come across once in a while is to be found at a website devoted to those with ancestors from Rathlin. Produced by Andy Keogh, it can be found at www.rathlin-island.info, and contains many trees, research resources and stories of those from the island.

If you come from Rathlin, you've earned my envy!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Tayside family history festival

The BBC is promoting the Angus and Dundee Roots festival at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7596589.stm.

Unfortunately the festival clashes with the National Family History Fair at Gateshead, which is the second biggest fair in Britain, meaning I won't be able to attend, but it looks to have some interesting events. Best of luck to all those involved, and for more info, visit its site at www.tayroots.com/ExploringYourRoots/Festival.asp

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Clearances statue unveiled in Canada

A new statue depicting a family being forced to leave Scotland during the Clearances is being unveiled this weekend in Winnipeg by Scottish Environment Minister Mike Russell . The statue is the twin of a similar piece The Exiles, unveiled by Alex Salmond last summer in Helmsdale in Sutherland. To see the statue and to find out more, visit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7600155.stm.

Also unveiled this weekend is a statue on Edinburgh's Royal Mile of James Braidwood, the founder of the modern fire service, which was created in 1824. For more on that story, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7597689.stm

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Esther gets 6.2 million viewers

The Esther Rantzen episode of Who Do You Think You Are received 6.2 million vewers on Wednesday, but I wonder how many viewers actually enjoyed it? I personally found it to be the single worst episode of the entire five series, worse even than the Nigella Lawson episode - it was poorly edited with terrible pace, poorly directed with what came across as buckets full of insincerity, and was disgraceful in how it portrayed the so-called research techniques employed. (For the record, you don't need to visit a police museum to read old editions of the Times, it is online, and featuring a Holocaust sequence when the family had left Poland some eighty years before was, and I am now being at my most polite, questionable.)

A real pity, as this series so far has had some absolute crackers. The eye was definitely taken off the ball with this one. Hopefully the series will return to form next week.

For Wednesday's ratings war, see http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/04/tvratings.television

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Doors Open Day in Ayrshire

This Sunday 7th September is Doors Open Day here in Ayrshire. If you fancy a day out, and fancy doing a bit of history, there are 72 venues throwing open their doors waiting to see ye!

For more information on what is available to see around the county, visit http://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/opendays/area_programmes.aspx?resPP=All&areaID=5

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Deceased seamen from Shetland and Orkney

One of the best wee gems in online Irish genealogy is the Eddie's News Extracts website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~econnolly/, for which the unsung genealogical hero Eddie Connolly has spent many hours trawling through Irish newspapers and other sources to find extracts of births, marriages and deaths. I've used the site on many occasions, but only tonight did I realise that there are also some Scottish based records there also, namely an index to the Register of Deceased Seamen as held at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. Transcribed by Andy Boyd, the database concerns the deaths of Scottish seamen from Shetland from 1911 to 1925 and Orkney from 1911 to 1924, as well as from Northern Ireland.

To access these databases, visit http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~econnolly/register.html and look at the bottom of the list.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

National Library of Scotland to visit Ayr

The National Library of Scotland roadshow will be at the Carnegie Library, Ayr, from September 10th - 12th, providing Ayrshire residents an opportunity to find what the NLS can do for them. There will be collections on show, questions answered about their services, and worskhops and talks. On the Friday evening there is a special screening of films of old Ayrshire from the NLS moving image collection.

For more information, go to www.nls.uk/news/ayr-roadshow.html

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

National Family History Fair 2008

The National Family History Fair at Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday 13th September 2008 (from 10.00am to 4.30pm) is the second largest genealogy event in the UK, after Who Do You Think You Are? Live, with plenty to see and do. As well as stalls from some of Britain's leading genealogy suppliers, there are two seminar rooms running talks, with guest speakers including Amanda Bevan from the National Archives (Kew), Sarah Paterson from the Imperial War Museum, and Ian Hartas from ukbmd.org.uk.

From a Scots point of view, there will a presence from the Aberdeen and North East Scotland FHS, Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS, Scotland's People, SAFHS, the Scottish Genealogy Society and the University of Strathclyde, amongst others, but also many of the big players whose records equally affect Scotland, such as several of the mainstream genealogy magazines, the Imperial War Museum, Parish Chest, the National Archives (Kew), the War Memorials Trust, and others.

I'll also be there, helping out, so if you are a reader of this blog, do say hi! For more information on the event, visit www.nationalfamilyhistoryfair.com/exhibitors.htm .

Admission is £3.50, though accompanied children under the age of 15 will get in for free.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Meath records now online

Birth, marriage and death records from the Meath Heritage Centre, covering the parishes and districts of County Meath, are now online, bringing the total number of Irish Family History Federation records online at nearly 13.5 million.

The records are initially available at http://meath.brsgenealogy.com and will be added to the all-Ireland central search website shortly at http://ifhf.brsgenealogy.com.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Shields Gazette story on Ruhleben

The Shields Gazette in the north east of England has a story today on my Ruhleben website at http://ruhleben.tripod.com . Ruhleben was a First World War POW camp two miles from Berlin which interned over five and a half thousand British civilians. Previously a race course, it became a virtual British colony at the heart of enemy territory for four years, housing some remarkable people. So far I have traced the names of close to 2000 of the prisoners, and the search continues, so please do get in touch if you have a connection!

To view the story, visit http://www.shieldsgazette.com/cookson/Rallying-round-our-prisoners-of.4453719.jp

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

RAF Leuchars to Celebrate 90 Years of the Royal Air Force

On Saturday 13th September, the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Air Force will be commemorated at an air show at RAF Leuchars. There will be historic aircraft on display, including a WW1 SE5a Scout bi-plane once flown by 111 (Fighter) Squadron based at Leuchars, which has a top speed of 138mph. In addition will be the RAF's latest Typhoon fighter jet, capable of 1480mph, and over 100 other aircraft, including representatives from other nations.

One of the highlights will be the fly-past of the WW2 Lancaster bomber accompanied by a Battle of Britain Spitfire and Hurricane, and other historic aircraft will include the Gloster Meteor, De Havilland Vampire and Hawker Hunter. All profits will go to the RAF Benevolent Fund.

(With thanks to the Rampant Scotland newsletter.)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Lockheed Martin UK awarded 2011 census contract for England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Lockheed Martin has been awarded the British census contract for the UK in 2011, with the exception of Scotland. The following is the press release from Lockheed Martin UK:

LONDON, UK, August 28, 2008 - Today, Lockheed Martin UK and its industry team were selected by the Office for National Statistics to support the 2011 Census for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The approximately £150M contract award comes after an extensive competition which required the Lockheed Martin UK-led team to demonstrate its ability to provide secure and accurate data capture and processing support services.

"We are proud to again support the Office for National Statistics in conducting its census," said Ian Stopps, chief executive of Lockheed Martin UK. "Together, with our industry team, we are committed to delivering a system that enables the government to efficiently and effectively perform the 2011 Census while ensuring that all information remains secure and confidential"

Lockheed Martin, who successfully provided the data capture elements of the 2001 UK Census, as well as previous censuses for Canada and the United States, has created a consortium of UK-based companies with proven experience. Team members are Broadcasting Support Services (bss), Cable & Wireless, Logica (UK) Ltd, Oracle Corporation UK, Polestar Group, Royal Mail, Steria Ltd, and UK Data Capture Ltd.

Working with the ONS and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) authorities, the team will design, install and support an innovative system using state-of-the-art character recognition and colour processing for paper census forms. The system will, for the first time, allow for census questionnaires to be completed via the Internet in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Lockheed Martin UK, a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, is a leader in systems integration working on major programmes spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors. Lockheed Martin UK works with more than 100 business partners and employs over 1,700 people at a dozen sites across the UK.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving