Monday, 31 December 2007
Who Do You Think You Are magazine - reader complaint
The latest issue of WDYTYA magazine has received an angry complaint from a Scottish based reader that it has next to no coverage of Scottish events, and is completely anglocentric, which the reader believes to be outrageous, it being a British Broadcasting Corporation magazine. The magazine has held its hands up and apologised, and hopes the next issue featuring David Tennent will in some ways address the imbalance so far.
Ancestry kills off Online Family Tree
Created in 1999, Ancestry's Online Family Tree has now been deemed obsolete, and as such will be discontinued after March 2008, in favour of their Ancestry Member Tree system, allowing users three months to migrate their existing trees from the old system to the new. For the full announcement, visit http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2007/12/19/online-family-tree-announcement/
Chris
Chris
Friday, 28 December 2007
Scottish Roman Catholic records
Whilst all Scottish Roman Catholic births, marriages and deaths are recorded in the statutory registers from 1855, and therefore available online through Scotland's People, events prior to this are currently unavailable online. Photocopies of parish registers pre-1855 are stored at the National Archives of Scotland, but if you have Catholic ancestry you may not be aware that the Scottish Catholic Archives holds an absolute wealth of material that may be of use to you genealogically. The following links outline the collections held at the SCA, including the parish registers that they hold:
http://www.catholic-heritage.net/sca/sumcat.pdf (Collections - requires Adobe Acrobat or Reader)
http://www.catholic-heritage.net/sca/genealogy-pr.htm (Parish registers)
The Scottish Catholic Archives are based at Columba House, 16 Drummond Place, Edinburgh EH3 6PL. They will carry out research for a fee, but are happy for private researchers to use their facilities.
Personally, one of the greatest uses I have found for the parish registers is in working out when people arrived in Scotland to flee the famine in Ireland during the 1840s, and to find additional members of the family, often named as witnesses at weddings and baptisms. In conjunction with the poor law returns (where they survive) held at places such as the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, a great deal can be worked out about where families came from in Ireland, which anyone who has found the birthplace of an ancestor in a census listed simply as "Ireland" can appreciate!
Chris
http://www.catholic-heritage.net/sca/sumcat.pdf (Collections - requires Adobe Acrobat or Reader)
http://www.catholic-heritage.net/sca/genealogy-pr.htm (Parish registers)
The Scottish Catholic Archives are based at Columba House, 16 Drummond Place, Edinburgh EH3 6PL. They will carry out research for a fee, but are happy for private researchers to use their facilities.
Personally, one of the greatest uses I have found for the parish registers is in working out when people arrived in Scotland to flee the famine in Ireland during the 1840s, and to find additional members of the family, often named as witnesses at weddings and baptisms. In conjunction with the poor law returns (where they survive) held at places such as the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, a great deal can be worked out about where families came from in Ireland, which anyone who has found the birthplace of an ancestor in a census listed simply as "Ireland" can appreciate!
Chris
Forthcoming lectures in Scotland for January 2008
8 JAN 2008 - Lanarkshire FHS meeting, GLO Centre, Muir Street, Motherwell, from 7pm until 9pm approx. info@lanarkshirefhs.org.uk or society@lanarkshirefhs.org.uk
8 JAN 2008 - Largs and North Ayrshire FHS: Covenanters, by Bill Niven, Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs, at 7:30 pm. webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk
8 JAN 2008 - The Heraldry Society of Scotland: The Law of Arms and Heraldic Practice in the New Russia, by Michael Yurievich Medvedev, The Collins Suite, University of Strathclyde, Richmond Street, Glasgow (NB: This is a joint meeting with the University of Strathclyde Genealogy Lecture series) Entry fee: £3 payable at the door. elaine.richman@strath.ac.uk Tel: 0141 548 4147
9 JAN 2008 - Caithness FHS, by Allan Lennon, at Miller Academy, Thurso, though topic not yet known! caithnessfhs@gmail.com
9 JAN 2008 (7.30pm) - Central Scotland FHS: Scottish Freemasonry and Family History, by David W. Brown, Smith Museum and Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road, Stirling. http://www.csfhs.org.uk/contact.htm
10 JAN 2008 - East Ayrshire FHS: The Wandering Scot, by Jim Grant, Gateway Centre, Foregate Square, Kilmarnock at 7.30pm. http://www.eastayrshirefhs.org.uk/15 JAN 2008 - Troon @ Ayrshire FHS: Invisible Women in Scottish Blind Asylums, byDr Hazel MacFarlane. http://www.troonayrshirefhs.org.uk
16 JAN 2008 - Tay Valley FHS: Dundee Asylums, by Rod McKinnon, University of Abertay, Bell Street, Dundee, at 7.15 p.m. http://www.tayvalleyfhs.org.uk/site/page.php?page=22
17 JAN 2008 - Renfrewshire FHS: Quarriers Homes, by Josie Bell, Paisley Museum, 7.30pm. http://www.renfrewshirefhs.co.uk
17 JAN 2008 - Alloway & Southern Ayrshire FHS: How Railways Changed Scotland, by Robin Nelson, Alloway Parish Church Halls, Auld Nick's View, Alloway, KA7 4RT - http://www.asafhs.co.uk/index.php
19 JAN 2008 - Aberdeen & N.E. Scotland FHS beginners workshop, Queen Street Church Hall,79 Queen Street, Aberdeen tel: 01224 646323.
http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/
21 JAN 2008 - Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society: Scotlands People an update, by Dee Williams. 7.30pm, Boyd Orr building University Ave Glasgow. Non members welcome. www.gwsfhs.org.uk
22 JAN 2008 - Highland FHS: The Folk of Old Kilmore: Photos and Family Histories from Glenurquhart, by Duncan Macdonald & Graeme Mackenzie, Netley Centre, Highland Hospice, Bishop’s Road, Inverness, IV3 5SB at 7.30pm. Voluntary fee of £1 for tea. http://www.highlandfhs.org.uk/HFHSContacts.asp
22 JAN 2008 - Largs and North Ayrshire FHS: Research Workshop (non members welcome), Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs, at 7:30 pm webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk
8 JAN 2008 - Largs and North Ayrshire FHS: Covenanters, by Bill Niven, Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs, at 7:30 pm. webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk
8 JAN 2008 - The Heraldry Society of Scotland: The Law of Arms and Heraldic Practice in the New Russia, by Michael Yurievich Medvedev, The Collins Suite, University of Strathclyde, Richmond Street, Glasgow (NB: This is a joint meeting with the University of Strathclyde Genealogy Lecture series) Entry fee: £3 payable at the door. elaine.richman@strath.ac.uk Tel: 0141 548 4147
9 JAN 2008 - Caithness FHS, by Allan Lennon, at Miller Academy, Thurso, though topic not yet known! caithnessfhs@gmail.com
9 JAN 2008 (7.30pm) - Central Scotland FHS: Scottish Freemasonry and Family History, by David W. Brown, Smith Museum and Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road, Stirling. http://www.csfhs.org.uk/contact.htm
10 JAN 2008 - East Ayrshire FHS: The Wandering Scot, by Jim Grant, Gateway Centre, Foregate Square, Kilmarnock at 7.30pm. http://www.eastayrshirefhs.org.uk/15 JAN 2008 - Troon @ Ayrshire FHS: Invisible Women in Scottish Blind Asylums, byDr Hazel MacFarlane. http://www.troonayrshirefhs.org.uk
16 JAN 2008 - Tay Valley FHS: Dundee Asylums, by Rod McKinnon, University of Abertay, Bell Street, Dundee, at 7.15 p.m. http://www.tayvalleyfhs.org.uk/site/page.php?page=22
17 JAN 2008 - Renfrewshire FHS: Quarriers Homes, by Josie Bell, Paisley Museum, 7.30pm. http://www.renfrewshirefhs.co.uk
17 JAN 2008 - Alloway & Southern Ayrshire FHS: How Railways Changed Scotland, by Robin Nelson, Alloway Parish Church Halls, Auld Nick's View, Alloway, KA7 4RT - http://www.asafhs.co.uk/index.php
19 JAN 2008 - Aberdeen & N.E. Scotland FHS beginners workshop, Queen Street Church Hall,79 Queen Street, Aberdeen tel: 01224 646323.
http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/
21 JAN 2008 - Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society: Scotlands People an update, by Dee Williams. 7.30pm, Boyd Orr building University Ave Glasgow. Non members welcome. www.gwsfhs.org.uk
22 JAN 2008 - Highland FHS: The Folk of Old Kilmore: Photos and Family Histories from Glenurquhart, by Duncan Macdonald & Graeme Mackenzie, Netley Centre, Highland Hospice, Bishop’s Road, Inverness, IV3 5SB at 7.30pm. Voluntary fee of £1 for tea. http://www.highlandfhs.org.uk/HFHSContacts.asp
22 JAN 2008 - Largs and North Ayrshire FHS: Research Workshop (non members welcome), Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs, at 7:30 pm webmaster@largsnafhs.org.uk
Ancestry updates
This week Ancestry.co.uk has two new additions to their site. The first allows you to add video entries, up to 12 minutes in length, to your online tree. The second is a marriage index for Radnorshire (Wales) from 1813 - 1835, transcribed from both the parish registers and bishop's transcripts for the county. Original images are not shown. For more information visit http://www.ancestry.co.uk/home/new.aspx .
Chris
Chris
New file releases from the National Archives (Kew)
The National Archives has just released new files from 1977, including files on an unauthorised SAS incursion into the Irish Republic (PREM 16/1339), the Lib/Lab pact (PREM 16/1399), the Windscale and Grunwick disputes (PREM 16/1409 and PREM 16/1491), and more. For more info, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/releases/2007/december/default.htm.
Chris
Chris
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Strathclyde University Genealogy Lecture Series 2008
Organised by the Centre for Lifelong Learning, the University of Strathclyde will be holding the following monthly public lectures at 6.30pm on the following Tuesday evenings:
8 JAN 2008 - The Law of Arms and Heraldic Practice in the New Russia, by Michael Y. Medvedev, Heraldic Council to the President of the Russian Federation.
5 FEB 2008 - German-Jewish Ancestry, by Jeanette Rosenberg; Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain.
4 MAR 2008 - Architectural History and Genealogy by Professor John Hume, Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
6 MAY 2008 - Gravestone Symbolism, by John G. Harrison, historian, Stirling
3 JUN 2008 - The Confusing herladry of St Margaret, by Dr Bruce Durie, University of Strathclyde
1 JUL 2008 - The Slave Trade and its Implications for Genealogy, by Dr Eric J. Graham, author and historian
The cost of entry is £3, and the venue is the ground floor (level 2), Graham Hills Building, 40 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1QE. Contact 0141 548 5778 for more details or visit http://www.cll.strath.ac.uk.
See you there!
Chris
8 JAN 2008 - The Law of Arms and Heraldic Practice in the New Russia, by Michael Y. Medvedev, Heraldic Council to the President of the Russian Federation.
5 FEB 2008 - German-Jewish Ancestry, by Jeanette Rosenberg; Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain.
4 MAR 2008 - Architectural History and Genealogy by Professor John Hume, Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
6 MAY 2008 - Gravestone Symbolism, by John G. Harrison, historian, Stirling
3 JUN 2008 - The Confusing herladry of St Margaret, by Dr Bruce Durie, University of Strathclyde
1 JUL 2008 - The Slave Trade and its Implications for Genealogy, by Dr Eric J. Graham, author and historian
The cost of entry is £3, and the venue is the ground floor (level 2), Graham Hills Building, 40 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1QE. Contact 0141 548 5778 for more details or visit http://www.cll.strath.ac.uk.
See you there!
Chris
Ancestry.co.uk update
Ancestry has now finished digitising the records at Perth's A.K.Bell Library and has begun to digitise Fife records in Cupar. Already online are the newspaper index cards to both Perth and Fife. A great deal of material at Perth was digitised, including valuation rolls, directories, 1767 and 1773 censuses, and much, much more. Once these have been indexed at their centre in Beijing, these will be released over the next year. The Fife offerings will then follow suit.
Other recent offerings from Ancestry have included their new "DNA Ancestry" service, for which I have written an article for Your Family Tree issue 59 (with a big thumbs up!), and the 'burnt records' series of World War 1 army pensions. Currently surnames from A-C have been uploaded, along with all of the 'unburnt' records. The Medal Index Cards for WW1, which they have been digitising in Salisbury, were completed at the beginning of December, and are now being indexed for the site, so expect these soon.
Chris
Other recent offerings from Ancestry have included their new "DNA Ancestry" service, for which I have written an article for Your Family Tree issue 59 (with a big thumbs up!), and the 'burnt records' series of World War 1 army pensions. Currently surnames from A-C have been uploaded, along with all of the 'unburnt' records. The Medal Index Cards for WW1, which they have been digitising in Salisbury, were completed at the beginning of December, and are now being indexed for the site, so expect these soon.
Chris
Tuesday, 25 December 2007
Scotland's People updated early
Scotland's People will be releasing their next update earlier than usual, on Dec 31st, though in an e-mail newsletter listed the wrong years now available to view, all of which were out by a year! The correct years are 1907 for births, 1932 for marriages (which was a very problematic project for them due to the quality of the original returns), and deaths for 1957. They have also now added a second forename search field for census searches, making it considerably easier to identify a correct family. For full details visit http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?1263 . The modern indexes are still not available, but are imminent.
It will be interesting to see if Scotland's People maintain the same pricing structure once the Scotland's People centre opens in late spring. £6 to see five records online as opposed to £10 unlimited access to view everything for a day at the GROS (including monumental inscriptions, register of the Court of the Lord Lyon, sasines, and much more) seems slightly imbalanced!
Chris
It will be interesting to see if Scotland's People maintain the same pricing structure once the Scotland's People centre opens in late spring. £6 to see five records online as opposed to £10 unlimited access to view everything for a day at the GROS (including monumental inscriptions, register of the Court of the Lord Lyon, sasines, and much more) seems slightly imbalanced!
Chris
Monday, 24 December 2007
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