Free access to RootsTech presentations until August 2026

From FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org):

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (7 April 2026) —RootsTech 2026, the world’s largest family history celebration, successfully held its 16th annual event and offered new content in 23 languages. Hosted by FamilySearch, the event drew millions of people in person and online from 235 countries and territories and all 50 states. It offered more than 500 classes, keynotes, an expo hall with more than 200 exhibitors, and the popular Relatives at RootsTech interactive discovery activity. This global experience had millions of participants who made new family connections and viewed millions of ancestral relationships online. Find and share this announcement in the FamilySearch Newsroom.

FamilySearch hosts RootsTech as part of its purpose to help individuals discover more about their heritage and make more family connections—past, present, and future. Although RootsTech 2026 has concluded, many of the sessions are now available on demand for free at RootsTech.org. Users can explore thousands of free online classes and create personalized watchlists of their interests to continue learning and discovering year-round. The RootsTech Online Expo Hall will be available until August 2026.

For further details, read the full press release at https://www.familysearch.org/en/newsroom/rootstech-2026-highlights.

The presentations themselves can be found at https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/library.

Chris

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing 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. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

The Ones Who Got Away - Pharos Tutors webinars series in July

From Pharos Tutors (www.pharostutors.com), news of a webinar programme happening this July:

The Ones Who Got Away: 13th - 17th July 2026

We will be exploring this theme in a number of ways, whether it be how to track down those hard to research ancestors and family members, different approaches to methodology, using technology in different ways or demonstration by example through case studies.
 
We are joined by current and past tutors and friends of Pharos to bring you a star studded programme of talks. The list of webinars is as follows:

Mon 13th July

    Dave Annal - Mind the Gaps!
    Debbie Kennett - How DNA uncovered a 100-year-old family secret
    Simon Fowler - My mother and history: a genealogical exploration

Tues 14th July

    Sophie Kay - Negative Space: How Genealogy Gaps Can Help Your Tree Flourish
    Joe Saunders - Social Network Analysis in Historical Research
    Phil Isherwood - Whatever Happened to Aunt Gonda? 

Wed 15th July

    Jonny Perl - Understanding What are the Odds? (WATO+) at DNA Painter
    Karen Cummings - FREE: Who are Pharos Tutors? Courses, Certificates and What to Expect 
    Nathan Dylan Goodwin - Finding Henry (pre-recorded, but with live Q&A)

Thurs 16th July

    Janet Few - Ancestors on the Margins: tracing misfortunate ancestors
    Gill Rossini - Researching LGBTQ Ancestors
    Dai Davies - Remembering Our Ancestors who Died by Suicide

Fri 17th July

    Andrew Redfern - AI as a Research Partner: Strengths, Limits and Sensible Use 
    Kelly Cornwell - Transported to Tasmania: Researching your Convict Ancestors
    Nick Barratt - When Harry Met Dotty

Each webinar will last approximately one hour. Each session will be recorded and made available for one month after the event, so do not worry if you cannot attend live on the day. Webinars are priced at £10 BUT sign up for the full week and save 20%, bringing the total cost down from £140 to only £112 (only £8 per session).

Full details of the programme can be found here: https://www.pharostutors.com/webinars

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing 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. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish GENES Webinar: Tracing the Irish in Scotland

My next monthly Scottish GENES Webinar will take place on Saturday 21 February 2026 at 7pm (UK time), and will be entitled Tracing the Irish in Scotland. 

Following the event, a recording of the presentation will be available for one week to registrants, and a handout will also be supplied.

The following is the talk's description:

The first census in Scotland, the Senchus Fer nAlban, documented the descendants of Irish Gaels in the west of Scotland, a people known to the Romans as the ‘Scotti’ from which ‘Scotland’ derives its name. The stories of both Scotland and Ireland have remained intertwined ever since. Whilst the 17th century Plantations of Ulster led to the settlement of thousands of Scotland in the north of Ireland, the incorporation of Ireland into the UK in 1801, and the subsequent Great Famine of the 1840s, led to an equally vast migration of Irish folk into Scotland in the 19th century, and beyond.

In this session, family historian Chris Paton will explore the Scottish records which can assist in not only documenting what became of the settlers who have arrived over the last two centuries, but which in many cases can also identify an original point of origin in Ireland from which they came. He will cover the vital records as created by the state and the various Scottish churches, the records of confirmation (probate), the administration of poor relief, the records of religious and political conflicts, and more, explaining how such records can help to shed light onto their ancestral stories. In addition he will also flag up some Irish resources that can provide clues to family circumstances in Scotland.

To register for the event, please visit https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9aN1bbcrQYyt_jjTZ1dbiw - the registration fee is just £10 Stirling.

I hope to maybe see you there! 

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing 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. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

National Library of Scotland using georeferenced maps webinar

The National Library of Scotland will be holding a webinar on how to make best use of its georeferenced maps on Wednesday 11 February at  3pm-4.15pm (UK). The following is the blurb:

In this interactive workshop, we will show you tips and techniques to help you make best use of our georeferenced maps.

Georeferenced maps are those which have been aligned with the real-world, so they can be viewed as overlays on top of modern satellite imagery and mapping, or even in comparison to your own live location!

We now have over 600 georeferenced layers of mapping freely available on our website, along with tools to filter, measure, draw, compare and export them. Discover how to use these tools, as well as how you can easily bring these georeferenced maps into other web and desktop applications.

The workshop will last approximately one hour with a question-and-answer session after that. This workshop will not be recorded but it is repeated regularly.

If you enjoy georeferenced maps but are not sure you are making full use of them, this workshop is for you!

To register for the free workshop, please visit https://www.nls.uk/whats-on/georeferenced-maps/.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing 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. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

The Scottish GENES Webinars Christmas Party!

The Scottish GENES Webinars Christmas Party will be an extended webinar session on Saturday 27 December 2025, starting a little earlier at 6.00 p.m. (UK time), with TWO talks for the price of one, AND a festive General Q&A session after! 

Here's a bit more about the sessions:

1) "Irish Family History Resources Online"

Despite the popular belief that Irish family history research is virtually impossible, many records exist which can help with your ancestral pursuits. This presentation looks at the key repositories and records now available online, and will prove to you that if you have been put off with Irish research in the past, now is absolutely the time to take another look.

2) “Instantly Buckled for Life: Discover Scottish Marriage Records”

The law on marriage in Scotland has differed extensively in comparison to the rest of the United Kingdom, with many types of records available for research, whether those marriages were 'regular' or 'irregular'. Most irregular forms were abolished from 1940, with another finally removed from the Scottish statute in 2006; for all of these, a celebrant was not required. I will discuss the legal history of Scottish marriage, provide case studies to illustrate the various situations in which they were created, and dispel some myths along the way.

3) Festive Irish and Scottish Genealogy Q&A

Bring your mulled wine or beverage of choice, pull up a pew, and ask me questions concerning both presentations, or indeed anything to do with Scottish or Irish genealogy, and I will do my very best to help!

This whole event will cost just £10, with registration now available at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Muw8MUupRpuHYMfWx2mH1w

I hope that you can join me!

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing 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. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish GENES Webinar: The Godly Commonwealth - Discover Scottish Church Records

Hi folks, 

My next Scottish GENES Webinar takes place on Saturday 29th November 2025 at 7pm UK time:

The Godly Commonwealth - Discover Scottish Church Records 

From 1560 until the mid 19th century, the Kirk was Scotland’s shepherd, moral guardian and disciplinarian, its records today providing one of the key resources for genealogical research. But in trying to establish a Calvinist Godly Commonwealth on Earth it defied the Stuart monarchs for well over a century, and through its democratic and Presbyterian zeal constantly split into denominational factions over endless points of doctrine. In the immediate aftermath of its greatest crisis, the ‘Disruption’ in 1843, its ancient theological enemy, Roman Catholicism, was once again back in force in Scotland, as a consequence of the Irish Famine. By this point the dream of the Godly Commonwealth was finally over, with the state taking many of the Kirk's former functions, including poor relief, policing, and the registration of vital events. 

In this session family historian Chris Paton will provide a broad sweep of three hundred years of church history in Scotland, and discuss its impact for the family historian in locating relevant records for research.

Registration is £10, and can be carried out via https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_enWsWNSfSeOZgNZlEmep9g

I hope to maybe see you there!

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing 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 the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Forthcoming Georeferenced Maps Workshop from National Library of Scotland

The National Library of Scotland will be hosting a free online webinar on 8 October 2025, from 3.00-4.00pm UK time, entitled Using Our Georeferenced Maps. The following is its description:

In this interactive workshop, we will show you tips and techniques to help you make best use of our georeferenced maps.

Georeferenced maps are those which have been aligned with the real-world, so they can be viewed as overlays on top of modern satellite imagery and mapping, or even in comparison to your own live location!

We now have over 600 georeferenced layers of mapping freely available on our website, along with tools to filter, measure, draw, compare and export them. Discover how to use these tools, as well as how you can easily bring these georeferenced maps into other web and desktop applications.

The workshop will last approximately one hour and includes a question-and-answer session at the end. This workshop will not be recorded but it is repeated regularly.

If you enjoy georeferenced maps but are not sure you are making full use of them, this workshop is for you!

To register visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-our-georeferenced-maps-tickets-1606563166679?aff=web

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing 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.

Scottish GENES Webinar - Using DNA for Family History Research: A Beginner's Guide

As I have an extensive library of genealogy talks, I've decided to create a series of monthly Scottish GENES webinars at an affordable rate, which I hope you might be interested to attend! Along the way I will also offer brand new talks, and won't just confine myself to Scottish and Irish themed topics, as there is a lot to discuss in the big, wide genealogy world. The first of these sessions is detailed below, I hope you can come along!

Using DNA for Family History Research: A Beginner's Guide 
Saturday 20th September 2025 at 7.00pm UK time. Webinar fee: UK £10.
 

 

In this session, I will provide a jargon-free introduction for beginners on how DNA can be used for family history research to break down brick wall problems. As well as offering a brief overview of the history of DNA, and an introduction to how various DNA tests are used in certain situations, I will also highlight three case studies from my own ancestral research where DNA has offered answers to problems which the paper trail alone could not resolve. 

 

So if DNA as a topic has previously terrified you, seemed too complex, or you didn't know that there was more you could with your results beyond checking your ethnicity (!), this session will give you a sense of why so many people today are turning to it as a research tool, and some of the ways that it can help to resolve those irritating brick wall issues! 

 

(For those unable to attend on the night, a video recording will be made available of the session which will be viewable for one week after it takes place). After the session there will be an opportunity for Q&As.

 

I hope that you can join me on this first session, which I hope will be the first of many more if there is enough support! 

 

To register for the talk, please visit https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6zmDVN02S16qflkpYCAFTg#/registration - and I hope to maybe see you there!

 

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing 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.

History Scotland webinar: Genealogy Without Borders

A we thing I am doing for History Scotland magazine (www.historyscotland.com) next week on Wednesday 21st September:

Join us live on Zoom on 21 September as Chris Paton examines how a person’s whole family story may not be exclusively confined to the country within which he or she was raised.

As family historians, we can be tempted to try to tell the stories of our ancestors solely from the resources in the areas where they once lived, overlooking an important part of our ancestral stories which is the plight of those family members who left our shores.

As part of a wider worldwide diaspora, Chris will show how these emigrants can often provide further clues to the family stories back home, often with records that may plug the missing gaps for research with family members back home.

We’d love to welcome you to this fascinating 45-minute talk, with 30 minutes for audience questions after the presentation.

EVENT DETAILS

Chris Paton will present a live c.45-minute Zoom talk at 6.30pm (UK time) on 21 September, followed by 30 minutes of questions from the audience. The webinar will be recorded and made available to ticket-holders for 7 days after the broadcast.

Chris Paton is a genealogist and writer based in Ayrshire, Scotland, where he runs the Scotland’s Greatest Story research service at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk. As well as contributing to many of the UK’s best-known family history magazines, he also writes for his own Scottish GENES news blog at www.scottishgenes.blogspot.com, and regularly gives talks to family history societies across the UK and worldwide. 

I hope to see you there! To sign up, visit https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7116626272352/WN_WopJnwLsS6e5dEAe4Is1yA

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - 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. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Understanding Copyright webinar series from the Scottish Council on Archives

The Scottish Council on Archives has a series of webinars by Dr. Ellie Pridgeon hosted on the theme of Understanding Copyright.  From the SCA website at https://www.scottisharchives.org.uk/latest/news/understanding-copyright-webinar-series/:

Issues surrounding copyright law and related rights are of relevance to archivists and the cultural heritage sector worldwide. With an increased shift to online engagement, it is more important than ever for anyone who collects, preserves, and shares material-both in person and online-to have at least a basic understanding of how to address copyright issues and manage related risks.

Copyright issues can be notoriously complex and nuanced. The Scottish Council on Archives is delighted to be working with Dr Ellie Pridgeon who will be delivering a series of webinars to help demystify the topic. The series will feature practical examples and case studies to help those who manage archive collections to approach copyright quandaries with greater confidence and clarity.

The first lecture, providing a general introduction to copyright and archives, is presented below, and can also be found via the SCA link above, or more directly on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKH94_miaLI:

Comment: The video is well worth watching from the perspective of a humble genealogist, in that there is much that we need to be aware of in terms of what we can use and what we cannot with regards to materials in our family history research.

The subjects of copyright, terms and conditions, digital legacy etc are featured within my book Sharing Your Family History Online, should you wish to learn more about such issues within our family history research. The book is available from Pen and Sword Family History at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Sharing-Your-Family-History-Online-Paperback/p/18718.

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - 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. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Zotero: A Versatile Research Tool for Genealogists webinar

From the Guild of One-Name Studies:

The recording of yesterday evening's Guild of One-Name Studies Technology Tools webinar, on Zotero, is already on the Guild website, at https://one-name.org/events/technology-tools2/.  Also available is a handout full of explanatory screenshots.

The webinar, Zotero: A Versatile Research Tool for Genealogists, given by Patti Lee Hobbs, instanced ways of using Zotero, which is open-source software noted for its easy ability to capture source information to use in citations whether from websites, books, or electronic files.

The recording will be indefinitely available on the Guild website to Guild members, but to non-Guild members only until 11 December.  You are welcome to forward this post to other lists or groups, or within your societies.  

(With thanks to Wendy Archer)

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - 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. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

ISBGFH Military Virtual Institute

From the International Society of British Genealogy and Family History (www.isbgfh.com):

ISBGFH Military Virtual Institute

If your ancestor served in the British Army, you are going to want to join us for the Military Virtual Institute November 23 & 24, 2021. The course instructor is British Army expert, Paul Nixon. Anyone who has attended a webinar or presentation by Paul can attest to the depth of information and the quality of Paul's teaching style. Paul is incredibly knowledgeable and has a forensic knowledge of regimental numbers.

While Paul works for Findmypast, he does not limit the resources he shares for finding out more about your British Army ancestor to that website. He shares the information that is going to help you move your research forward including other databases.

Paul will share his knowledge about identifying your ancestor's regiment through photographs, or through medals that you may have in your possession and that you would like to know more about.

Paul will also be presenting on researching your British Naval and Air Force ancestors as well.

Join us for two information packed days of learning about the British Military. Access to the recordings is open for 30 days following the live presentations so that you can revisit again and again to get the most out of Paul's knowledge. For more detailed information and to register, visit: https://www.isbgfh.com/Military-Research-Virtual-Institute 

COMMENT: A reminder that recordings of presentations from the recent ISBGFH British Institute, including my 10 x Irish track presentations, and those from the presenters on the Scottish, English and Welsh tracks, are available to purchase until November 30th. For further details, please see http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2021/10/isbgfh-irish-track-recordings-available.html

Also, thanks to the well over 120 folk who attended my ISBGFH presentation yesterday on Scottish Church and State Records! My book Tracing Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records, which ties in with the topic, is available in print and ebook formats from Pen and Sword at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848.

(With thanks to Christine Woodcock)

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - 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. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Family Tree magazine webinar - Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis

As part of the UK based Family Tree magazine's Scottish Family History Month, I'll be giving a Zoom based presentation on February 24th 2021 at 7pm entitled Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis. Here's a description:

Down and Out in Scotland: Researching ancestral crisis

Expert genealogist Chris Paton explains how the struggles that our ancestors faced have often produced a rich source of records.

In this one-hour talk, Chris will talk us through the various records, explaining how to access and use these to dig deep into the life and times of your Scottish ancestors.

The talk will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.

All attendees will also receive a FREE 'Trace Your Scottish Ancestors: Your Get-Started Guide' downloadable PDF, (download link provided following the webinar).

The webinar will also be recorded and attendees will receive a link to the recording afterwards, which will be valid for 7 days. 

Attendance is priced at £10 - to register, please visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/1416062209010/WN_uuckJFuJRQG59QWePjeyyQ  

I hope to see you there!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

W.I.S.E. Family History Society Scottish Seminar on March 5th-6th

The Wales-Ireland-Scotland-England (WISE) Family History Society, based in Denver, Colorado, is hosting a Scottish themed family history seminar, with yours truly giving four talks at the main event on March 6th, and two free talks a day before on March 5th as a warm up!

Here are the details:

REGISTRATION IS OPEN !!

WISE Scottish Research Seminar
Featuring Chris Paton
March 5th and 6th on Zoom  

March 5 times TBC. March 6 from 9am-3pm Mountain Standard Time (GMT 4pm-10pm)

Friday, March 5th will have two FREE presentations by Chris on basic Scottish research topics.

*************

Saturday, March 6th will be a day-long event with these more advanced topics:

• The Godly Commonwealth - Discover Scottish Church Records
• Instantly Buckled for Life - Scottish Marriage Records
• Down and Out in Scotland - Researching Ancestral Crisis
• Understanding Scottish Inheritance

 
Materials fee for March 6th is $40.00

Register online or by mail with this link:

https://wise-fhs.org/event/scottish-research-seminar/

For information on Chris Paton, visit his website: www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk

Just to add, the two talks scheduled for March 5th are Discover Your Scottish Ancestors and Discover Scottish Land Records - both of which will launch nicely into the Saturday's programme!

I hope to see you there! 

Chris

Pre-order my next book, Sharing Your Family History Online, at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Guild of One-Name Studies finding the diaspora in newspapers webinar

I have been asked to give the following a plug by the Guild of One-Name Studies (https://one-name.org) - no probs!

DISCOVER DETAILS OF YOUR ANCESTORS AS THEY MOVED ACROSS THE WORLD
News from Home:  finding the diaspora in newspapers

Keeping in touch with family and friends if you moved to a foreign posting or emigrated was not at the touch of a button as it is now, so our ancestors used the newspapers to let people know what was happening in their lives. They used the births, marriages and deaths notices, and their movements abroad can be traced through shipping lists and announcements of promotions in both the army and civil service.  Newspapers can also reveal what made them leave home and how they adapted to life in a new land.

Join Aoife O'Connor from Findmypast as she explores what you can find out about your ancestors who worked abroad or emigrated to a new land.

The second seminar in our 'Ancestors in Print' series takes place at 8pm (UK time) on Wednesday 3 February. Register now to watch the free seminar or the recording, which will be available to non-members for a couple of weeks. Click on this link to register:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1649633991244433423

(With thanks to Wendy Archer)

Chris

Pre-order my next book, Sharing Your Family History Online, at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Family Tree launches Scottish family history month

The UK's Family Tree magazine has launched its Scottish Family History Month with an article entitled Ten reasons you can't find your Scottish ancestors by genealogist Kirsty Wilkinson, available to read at www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/ten-reasons-you-cant-find-your-scottish-ancestors.  

As part of its programme this month, Family Tree will be hosting four webinars, one per week, with yours truly contributing. The following are the webinars:

Exploring Scottish Family History Records, by Michelle Leonard
3 Feb, 7pm

How to use Sheriff Court records for Scottish family history, by Emma Maxwell
10 Feb, 7pm

Solve Your Scottish Genealogy Problems, by Kirsty Wilkinson
17 Feb, 7pm

Down and out in Scotland: researching ancestry crisis, by Chris Paton
24 Feb, 6.30pm

Each session costs £10 to attend, and you can find further details about them, and how to book, at www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/webinars/.

Keep an eye on Family Tree's website at www.family-tree.co.uk throughout the month!

Chris

Pre-order my next book, Sharing Your Family History Online, at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Family Tree's Scottish Family History Month webinars

Family Tree magazine (www.family-tree.co.uk) has designated February as Scottish Family History Month, with various themed events on its website, including how-to guides, videos, and top tips on tracing your Scottish ancestors.

In addition, there will be a series of four webinars throughout the month to help you get the best with your Scottish research, one of which I am delighted to be giving. Each talk is an hour long, and will be followed by a 30 minute Q&A session. 

Here is the programme:

Exploring Scottish family history records
3 February 7pm

Expert genealogist Michelle Leonard takes us through the key records that can help you explore the lives and times of your Scottish ancestors.

How to use sheriff court records for Scottish family history
10 February 7pm

Join expert genealogist Emma Maxwell for a one-hour talk on how to use Sheriff Court records to discover your Scottish ancestors. Criminal records, marriage contracts and wills are just a few of the treasures that can be found within the Sheriff Court records. Emma will explain what the records are, how to use them in your research, and what is available both online and offline.

Solve your Scottish genealogy problems
17 February 7pm

Join expert genealogist Kirsty Wilkinson for a one-hour talk on the different ways you can approach a brick wall in your family tree. Kirsty will explore problem solving using various Scottish records.

Down and out in Scotland: Researching ancestral crisis
24 February 7pm

Expert genealogist Chris Paton explains how the struggles that our ancestors faced have often produced a rich source of records. In this one-hour talk, Chris will talk us through the various records, explaining how to access and use these to dig deep into the life and times of your Scottish ancestors.

I hope you can join us throughout the month - as always, it promises to be great craic! 

To register for the talks please visit the magazin's website at https://www.family-tree.co.uk/news/scottish-family-history-month-february-2021/.

Chris

Pre-order my next book, Sharing Your Family History Online, at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

FamilySearch catalogue webinar

FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) is hosting a free webinar on Monday, January 4th 2021 at 10am Mountain Standard Time (5pm UK time) entitled Using the FamilySearch Catalog.

To register for the event visit https://churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/webinar/register/5016028542867/WN_lE65Zgw1QYCaiSraNKdCaA.

Chris

Pre-order my next book, Sharing Your Family History Online, at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Finding Your Scottish Ancestors in Canada webinar

From Lanarkshire Family History Society (www.lanarkshirefhs.org.uk):

Finding Your Scottish Ancestors in Canada
a webinar by - Christine Woodcock, in conjunction with Lanarkshire Family History Society

Taking place online via Zoom on Thursday 29th October at 7.30pm GMT (Note this Webinar is free for all to join)

Thousands of Scots left their homeland and emigrated to Canada, many seeking a better life. Scots began coming to Canada in the mid 1600s, first as entrepreneurs – men on the make, and then as a means to an end – ways to enjoy a better life and to have the opportunity to own their own land. Others were sent to Canada in hopes of them having a better life than the one they left behind.

In this presentation, we will cover: -

•    Merchants to Newfoundland.
•    HBC.
•    Highland Scots to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
•    Selkirk Settlers.
•    Huron Tract.
•    CN/Northwest Settlements.
•    British Home Children.
•    Farm Boys.
•    Domestic Servants.
 

Christine Woodcock is a genealogy educator who enjoys sharing knowledge and opportunities with others to assist them in their quest to find their Scottish ancestors. 

This includes organizing research tours for the Scots diaspora to research in the repositories in Scotland. When not organizing genealogy research tours to Scotland, Christine lectures on Scottish genealogy, hosts webinars, authors blogs and articles.

She is the webinar coordinator for the ISBGFH (International Society for British Genealogy and Family History) and has begun organizing their Virtual Institute.

Christine is the editor for British Connections, a quarterly newsletter for the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History.

She will be assisted by Clare Wilson of Treehouse Genealogy who will share information on Lanarkshire Family History Societies Research Centre and how you can benefit from being a member.

Clare Wilson often assists Lanarkshire Family History Society and her Business Treehouse Genealogy is based in North Lanarkshire.   

She is the Creator of ‘Kilted Ancestors’, a Group where members can share stories about their Scottish Ancestry and the New Monkland (Airdrie) Back in Time Group.  
She also teaches Family History to various Community Groups across Central Scotland.

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5E0IJyvSSzm8HrQB3dtXfw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the webinar.   If you don’t already have Zoom installed on your Computer or device you may be prompted to do so, if this is the case remember to sign in a bit earlier to allow extra time for the install.     The webinar should start automatically if it doesn’t please follow the instructions within the email. 

(With thanks to Clare Wilson)

Chris

My next 5 week Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers course starts November 2nd - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is now out, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Celtic Connections Virtual Conference now open

So that's the Celtic Connections Virtual Conference (http://celtic-connections.org) now under way, an event co-hosted by The Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI) & The Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA)!

It's really unfortunate that the live event in Illinois had to be cancelled because of the current worldwide pandemic, but I'm happy to still be able to share the talks I would have given in this alternative online conference event, with all talks available from July 31 - September 30, 2020. The following are my talks, available as part of the event:

• Discover Scottish Church Records
• Scottish Research Resources Before 1800
• Using PRONI for Northern Irish Research

As part of the event I'll also be participating in a live chat session with fellow genie Paul Milner on Saturday, August 8th at 11 am CDT (5pm UK time).

Registration is still open http://celtic-connections.org/index.html, and there are plenty of other speakers participating, with some great talks - enjoy!!!

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course starts August 31st - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is now out, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.