I posted a comedy clip on YouTube featuring comedian Alexander Armstrong a couple of days ago, parodying Who Do You Think You Are?, a series which he is ironically about to appear on for real. It turns out, however, that that was an edited clip!
Here's the full sketch:
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Railway accident records at the National Archives
Rail accidents can be a nightmare ordeal - something my own family has direct experience of, with my father a survivor of the Ladbroke Grove train crash in 1999 (aka the Paddington Disaster), where he was the guard on the Great Western Train which was crashed into by a Thames Train, an incident which saw the death of 31 people.
If your ancestor was in a railway accident in earlier times, the National Archives at Kew may be able to help. The body's website has just announced that many railway accident records have now been catalogued by volunteers - for more, see http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/473.htm.
UPDATE: Ken Nisbet from SAFHS has contacted me to mention another useful site for accident reports, located at www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventlisting.php. (Thanks Ken!).
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
If your ancestor was in a railway accident in earlier times, the National Archives at Kew may be able to help. The body's website has just announced that many railway accident records have now been catalogued by volunteers - for more, see http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/473.htm.
UPDATE: Ken Nisbet from SAFHS has contacted me to mention another useful site for accident reports, located at www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventlisting.php. (Thanks Ken!).
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Monday, 12 July 2010
The Golfers painting recreated
In March I posted about a project being co-ordinated by the University of Strathclyde concerning Charles Lees' 1847 painting The Golfers.
As part of my postgraduate diploma studies at the University of Strathclyde in 2007-2008, I, along with seven of my fellow students, was asked to trace the 'senior' descendant (i.e., along the lines of primogeniture) of each of those depicted in the painting, as part of a project to try and recreate the image for Fife's year of culture. Despite having as much interest in golf as I have in the sex life of a wayward newt (!), it was nevertheless an interesting exercise in tracing descendants across a 160 year timespan.
I was asked to research six of those featured in the painting, being John Whyte Melville of Mount Melville, John Grant of Kilgraston, Hamilton Anstruther, Neil Ferguson Blair, William Davidson Playfair, and William Henry Drummond, the Master of Strathallan, and I was successfully able to establish who five of the modern day descendants were. The painting has now been recreated with some of those descendants, including, from my batch, John David Clotworthy Whyte-Melville Foster Skeffington, 14th Viscount Massereene and 7th Viscount Ferrard, Baron Oriel (as descendant of John Whyte Melville of Mount Melville) and Patricia Diane Arbuthnott (as descendant of John Grant of Kilgraston).
The university has now released the modern day version of the image at www.strathclydegenealogy.co.uk/golfers2010 with a key identifying those descendants who participated, along with the original 1847 version. The original painting and the new version is on display at the Open from today until Sunday 18th.
In addition to myself, the other seven genealogists responsible were:
Margaret Cunningham
Pauline Forsyth
Steven Johnstone
Elma Lindsay
Alasdair MacDonald
Maureen McIntyre
Audrey Wyper
The project was co-ordinated by Bruce Durie, course leader. According to Fife Council website, there is to be a book produced which will include our research - I must admit, I know absolutely nothing about this as I have not been kept appraised of developments by the university since our research was done, and I don't know therefore if this means a display book at the event or an actual publication you can buy - but if I get any more details, I will let you know.
UPDATE: the trees are online at the site also.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
As part of my postgraduate diploma studies at the University of Strathclyde in 2007-2008, I, along with seven of my fellow students, was asked to trace the 'senior' descendant (i.e., along the lines of primogeniture) of each of those depicted in the painting, as part of a project to try and recreate the image for Fife's year of culture. Despite having as much interest in golf as I have in the sex life of a wayward newt (!), it was nevertheless an interesting exercise in tracing descendants across a 160 year timespan.
I was asked to research six of those featured in the painting, being John Whyte Melville of Mount Melville, John Grant of Kilgraston, Hamilton Anstruther, Neil Ferguson Blair, William Davidson Playfair, and William Henry Drummond, the Master of Strathallan, and I was successfully able to establish who five of the modern day descendants were. The painting has now been recreated with some of those descendants, including, from my batch, John David Clotworthy Whyte-Melville Foster Skeffington, 14th Viscount Massereene and 7th Viscount Ferrard, Baron Oriel (as descendant of John Whyte Melville of Mount Melville) and Patricia Diane Arbuthnott (as descendant of John Grant of Kilgraston).
The university has now released the modern day version of the image at www.strathclydegenealogy.co.uk/golfers2010 with a key identifying those descendants who participated, along with the original 1847 version. The original painting and the new version is on display at the Open from today until Sunday 18th.
In addition to myself, the other seven genealogists responsible were:
Margaret Cunningham
Pauline Forsyth
Steven Johnstone
Elma Lindsay
Alasdair MacDonald
Maureen McIntyre
Audrey Wyper
The project was co-ordinated by Bruce Durie, course leader. According to Fife Council website, there is to be a book produced which will include our research - I must admit, I know absolutely nothing about this as I have not been kept appraised of developments by the university since our research was done, and I don't know therefore if this means a display book at the event or an actual publication you can buy - but if I get any more details, I will let you know.
UPDATE: the trees are online at the site also.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
FindmyPast subscription discount
I've just found this on the Facebook page of FindmyPast.co.uk:
To keep the momentum of your research going after our World Cup offer we're giving you 15% off any subscription to findmypast including 1911 census subs. Just go to findmypast.co.uk, click ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page, choose your subscription, enter FB15 in the promotional code box then click ‘apply’.
The offer is on until 30 July 2010- the code can’t be used in conjunction with any other offer or free trial.
FindmyPast.co.uk is going to place more Chelsea Pension records online later this month, and will soon be adding new improved birth certificate index database for England and Wales. A great site!
Incidentally - I should add that I thought the world cup final was terrible...!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
To keep the momentum of your research going after our World Cup offer we're giving you 15% off any subscription to findmypast including 1911 census subs. Just go to findmypast.co.uk, click ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page, choose your subscription, enter FB15 in the promotional code box then click ‘apply’.
The offer is on until 30 July 2010- the code can’t be used in conjunction with any other offer or free trial.
FindmyPast.co.uk is going to place more Chelsea Pension records online later this month, and will soon be adding new improved birth certificate index database for England and Wales. A great site!
Incidentally - I should add that I thought the world cup final was terrible...!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Maxwell Ancestry census database updated
I've blogged about it before on a few occasions, but the census database currently under construction by Graham and Emma Maxwell is an excellent example of what the professional genealogical community in Scotland can achieve. The database is free and links census entries from several Borders based counties to online maps in the National Library of Scotland, and where known, the couple have supplemented the available census information with additional confirmed information from other sources.
Emma has just blogged that entries for 1841 & 1861 Fala & Soutra have now been added. If you have not visited the site before, it's well worth a visit at www.maxwellancestry.com - spread the word!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Emma has just blogged that entries for 1841 & 1861 Fala & Soutra have now been added. If you have not visited the site before, it's well worth a visit at www.maxwellancestry.com - spread the word!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Perth: a Place in History conference
The ultimate conference for those with Perth roots is to be held on September 10th and 11th at Perth Concert Hall. Perth: a Place in History will feature twelve speakers discussing various aspects of the burgh's archaeology and history. £10 per day, or £15 for the two (booking essential).
For more information visit www.pkht.org.uk/Whats-On/News/Perth-A-Place-in-History-conference/.
Personally speaking, I'm gutted - I'll be in Newcastle for those two days, and Perth is my family's ancestral haunt! Doh...!
(Thanks to Perth and Kinross Council Archive for its Twitter post)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
For more information visit www.pkht.org.uk/Whats-On/News/Perth-A-Place-in-History-conference/.
Personally speaking, I'm gutted - I'll be in Newcastle for those two days, and Perth is my family's ancestral haunt! Doh...!
(Thanks to Perth and Kinross Council Archive for its Twitter post)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Early Scottish films placed online by Pathe
British Pathe has placed archive footage of events in Edinburgh and St Andrews on its website at www.britishpathe.com/workspace.php?id=6499, much of it pre WW1 in origin. The company is looking for help from the public in identifying individuals featured.
For more on the story visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/edinburghandeastscotland/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8805000/8805049.stm
For more on the story visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/edinburghandeastscotland/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8805000/8805049.stm
BANK FOR LADIES ONLY
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Ancestry.co.uk's new TV advert
Here's the latest slick presentation from those kindly genealogical elves at Ancestry.co.uk...
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Americans wanted on Isle of Skye!
I just had a phone call from a well known BBC One programme made from London. "Oh hello, I'm making this aquatic programme with my three comedian presenters, and we're coming to Scotland. I'm just wondering, do you know of any Americans living on the Isle of Skye who might be researching their ancestry?"
Now pardon my cynicism here, I don't for one minute want to suggest that the script has already been written...! I had to gently bite my lip, and politely say "I'm very sorry, but I'm not currently aware of any Americans living on the Isle of Skye currently researching their ancestry"!!!
It's only after I hung up that I twigged that I had heard this rumour about a guy called Donald running around looking for a pair of cacs. I think he was local lad though?!! :)
Honestly...
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Now pardon my cynicism here, I don't for one minute want to suggest that the script has already been written...! I had to gently bite my lip, and politely say "I'm very sorry, but I'm not currently aware of any Americans living on the Isle of Skye currently researching their ancestry"!!!
It's only after I hung up that I twigged that I had heard this rumour about a guy called Donald running around looking for a pair of cacs. I think he was local lad though?!! :)
Honestly...
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Sunday, 11 July 2010
National Family History Fair 2010
An early warning for the next big genealogy event!
The National Family History Fair 2010 is taking place on Saturday September 11th 2010 from 10.00am-4.30pm, but, for the first time, will be held in Newcastle rather than Gateshead.
The new venue: Tyne Suite, Newcastle Central Premier Inn, Newbridge Street,Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8BS
Vendors present will include:
Ancestry.co.uk
Anguline Research Archives
Beamish Museum Ltd
The National Family History Fair 2010 is taking place on Saturday September 11th 2010 from 10.00am-4.30pm, but, for the first time, will be held in Newcastle rather than Gateshead.
The new venue: Tyne Suite, Newcastle Central Premier Inn, Newbridge Street,Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8BS
Vendors present will include:
Ancestry.co.uk
Anguline Research Archives
Beamish Museum Ltd
Brian Elliott Books
British Association for Local History
British Steel Archive Project
CAB Search
Census Detectives
Chris E Makepeace
Cumbria Family History Society
Families on Film
Family & Local History Handbook
Family History Monthly
British Steel Archive Project
CAB Search
Census Detectives
Chris E Makepeace
Cumbria Family History Society
Families on Film
Family & Local History Handbook
Family History Monthly
Find My Past
Gareth Burgess Postcards
Genealogy Printers
General Register Office
George Nairn Postcards
Herbert Chapman
House of Names
Imperial War Museum
JiGrah Resources
My History
National Archives
Northumberland & Durham FHS
Northumberland Collections Service
One Stop Genealogy
Probate Service
Scottish Association of Family History Societies
S & N Genealogy
Society of Genealogists
The Census Detectives
The Family & Local History Handbook
The National Archives
ukbmd.org.uk
Yorkshireancestors.com
Talks will include
12.00.p.m. to 1.00.p.m.
Genealogy Printers
General Register Office
George Nairn Postcards
Herbert Chapman
House of Names
Imperial War Museum
JiGrah Resources
My History
National Archives
Northumberland & Durham FHS
Northumberland Collections Service
One Stop Genealogy
Probate Service
Scottish Association of Family History Societies
S & N Genealogy
Society of Genealogists
The Census Detectives
The Family & Local History Handbook
The National Archives
ukbmd.org.uk
Yorkshireancestors.com
Talks will include
12.00.p.m. to 1.00.p.m.
How to Start Researching Your Family History with findmypast.co.uk
(Amy Sell of Find My Past)
1.15.p.m. to 2.15.p.m.
1.15.p.m. to 2.15.p.m.
Getting the Most Out of The National Archives Website
(Audrey Collins of The National Archives)
2.30.p.m. to 3.30.p.m.
2.30.p.m. to 3.30.p.m.
Putting the Meat on The Bones
(Jeanne Bunting of Census Detectives)
Full details at www.nationalfamilyhistoryfair.com.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
Full details at www.nationalfamilyhistoryfair.com.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
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