Chris Paton's Australian tour...!

I don't think I've put myself in a headline before! :)

It has been an unbelievably busy and exciting week here in the north of Ayrshire. Not only have I now finished the proofreading for my next book, Tracing Your Family History on the Internet (Pen and Sword, March 2011), I have also had a new book commissioned on the story of Britain's longest unsolved murder case (one of my ancestors was the victim), which I am very much looking forward to getting stuck into writing! Most importantly, on the domestic front, after a disappointing visit to Glasgow to let my boys see Doctor Who star Karen Gillan, where we were turned away (they ran out of wristbands), I've managed to secure signed autographs of the actress for both of my boys from a very sympathetic BBC...!

Then of course, there's the incey wincey wee matter of a decision to visit the other side of the world!!! I announced last week that thanks to Gould Genealogy and Unlock the Past, I am now going to be attending the Sydney History and Genealogy Expo in Australia towards the end of October, an event I am very much looking forward to, and at which I will be giving a series of Scottish based talks. The exciting news now is that I won't be confining myself just to Sydney! I will also be giving talks at the following venues and dates:

Perth
Monday 18th October, Perth Function Centre, Lathlain (6pm-10pm)

Melbourne
Wednesday 20th October, Veneto Club, Belleen (6pm-10pm)

Sydney
Friday 22nd - Saturday 23rd October, History and Genealogy Expo, Parramatta RSL

Brisbane
Monday 25th October, Broncos Leagues Club, Red Hill (6pm-10pm)

I'll give further information on the talks in due course, but a page has now been set up with further details and for taking bookings at www.unlockthepast.com.au/events/chris-paton-australia-scottish-roadshow.

More news soon!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton

GROS, NAS and Registers of Scotland to merge?

The Herald has a story that could be potentially game changing for many of us doing Scottish research - the GROS, the NAS and Registers of Scotland have been asked to consider the benefits of a merger. The new age of austerity, which will already see the likely closure of West Register House next year, looks like it has plenty of steam left in it yet...

The full story is at www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/records-bodies-could-be-merged-1.1053295

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)

Scottish adoption - recommended book

Whilst in the ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh earlier I had a quick browse in the bookshop and came across an excellent book which may help if you are adopted and wish to trace your biological parents, or if you have given a child up for adoption and wish to trace that child.

Entitled Relatively Clear: A Search for Adopted People in Scotland, the book has been produced by Edinburgh based after-adoption charity Birthlink (published 2009). It not only is useful for those wishing to trace family, but is also a useful book for genealogists who wish to know more about the law surrounding adoption, where to search for various record types etc - though I should add that in such cases I would always refer a client to an agency such as Birthlink, who are the professionals when it comes to dealing with some of the many emotional issues which may be presented along the way. The book also describes how Birthlink and other agencies can help with issues such as counselling and potential reunions.

Priced at £8.99, the book can be obtained at the ScotlandsPeople Centre, and also from Birthlink itself - see www.birthlink.org.uk.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)

National Family History Fair in Newcastle

Ooooh - it's that time again!

The National Family History Fair 2010
Saturday 11th September 2010
10.00.a.m - 4.00.p.m
Tyne Suite, Newcastle Central Premier Inn
Newbridge Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8BS
Admission Price: £3.00

This is a NEW location for The National Family History Fair

The Newcastle Central Premier Inn is in the heart of Newcastle city centre with excellent transport links, this hotel makes an ideal base from which to explore the local surrounds. Just a short walk from the historic Quayside, as well as great shopping, galleries, museums and theatres.

Find out who you are at the family history experience! Help and Advice from all the Experts!

Further information available at www.nationalfamilyhistoryfair.com.

I'll be there helping out - if you read the blog, pop over and say hi!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)

ScotlandsPeople website - official launch

Today saw the official launch of the new improved ScotlandsPeople website.

First - the quotes...!

Chris van der Kuyl, chief executive of service provider Brightsolid:
"ScotlandsPeople now has nearly 80 million records and will continue to add new exciting data sets to what is, without doubt, a world-leading website. Brightsolid is enormously proud of the fact that it has established a strong track record in publishing sites such as ScotlandsPeople, and has built a centre of excellence in this growing and popular genealogy market sector. We understand the community and we know how to innovate and develop online products for family history enthusiasts."



Jim Mather, Tourism Miniser, Scottish Government:
"Once again Scotland has proved that it can make available the key records for those who wish to trace their Scottish family history. It is estimated that over 50 million people across the world claim Scottish ancestry, with ancestral tourism estimated to contribute £64 million annually to Scotland's economy. Following the success of the year of Homecoming, the improved ScotlandsPeople will help connect people to their ancestors and cement links between Scots overseas and their home country - encouraging them to come and walk in the footsteps of their ancestors and boost revenues in the Scottish economy."



Duncan Macniven, Registrar General for Scotland:
"This is a great step forward in the ongoing improvement of the ScotlandsPeople website, which has over one million registered users. We are proud to have one of the most comprehensive sets of family history records. These changes will continue to make us one of the world leading websites for family history. This creates a platform for the launch of the 1911 census in April 2011."

OK - now for the event! I was very kindly invited to attend the official launch at New Register House in Edinburgh, and managed to catch some words with a few people there.

The first person I spoke to was Andrew Nicoll of the Scottish Catholic Archives, who has worked long and hard to ensure that the day would finally come when the country's entire Catholic parish register collection could be made accessible online. He described some of the ups and downs of the process, and kindly showed me some of the original registers which had been made available for the event, including the wonderful registers from St Andrew's in Glasgow, which have extraordinary detail, including the names of parishes and counties in Ireland where many initially hailed from. An interesting discussion we had concerned the Mormon church and its relationship with the Catholic church - I had been under the impression that their (lack of) accessibility to Catholic records was a complete black and white issue following the edict of the Vatican a few years back issue. In fact that is not completely the case, with Andrew citing an interesting project in the Toronto diocese, where the two churches have been co-operating to an extent.

I then found myself talking to Jim Mather, the Government's tourism minister. The conversation somehow steered towards discussion of the Scots and the Scotch-Irish (Ulster Scots), with the minister telling me of an exciting new television project that will happen next year from STV which will look at the heritage of the Scots who made their way to the States. Definitely one to keep an eye out for!

ScotlandsPeople's Raymond Evans and Deputy Registrar General Paul Parr gave a basic demonstration of the new site, and I then caught up with Alison Wallace of Brightsolid who talked me through some of the more advanced functions, as well as an update on what to expect over the next few months - not only with new record sets, but of course, the 1911 census, which will be launched 100 years to the day it was taken, on April 4th 2011. I also caught up with Ken Nisbet from SAFHS, Dee Williams of the ScotlandsPeople Centre, and for the first time met up with Bruce Gorie from the Court of the Lord Lyon (and thanked him for help with my last book!), and at long last, Duncan McNiven, who I've emailed and spoken to on several occasions in the past, but never actually met!

A great afternoon, a great team effort from the record holding organisations, beta testers and online staff, and a great new site for those with Scottish ancestry, now ready for the challenges of the next decade of the 21st century. If you've ever wondered why the rest of the United Kingdom looks on in envy at the set up here in Scotland, you'll find the answer at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk - Alba gu bragh!!!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)

Kaye Adams' radio show - genealogy feature

Tomorrow, Kaye Adams will be talking on her Monday morning Radio Scotland show about a recent academic study which showed how some people have bad experiences when doing family history. I was asked to take part and declined, but Nick Barrat will apparently be on as a guest, and also the woman who did this recent study.

It should be on between 9.30am and 10am for those who are interested.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)

Ancestry's Canada site offers limited free access to immigration records

Ancestry's Canadian cousin, Ancestry.ca, has announced that there will be free access to the site's international immigration records collections from September 2nd-6th, with Canadian collections and others from around the world included (273 different collections).

The full press releases is available at Eastman's blog and at the Anglo-Celtic Connections blog.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)

Discover my Past Scotland 23 now on sale

This month's Discover my Past Scotland (issue 23, September 2010) is now on sale. So what's included? Och, I'm so glad you asked, any excuse for a good blether - here goes!

Gateways to the world - Scotland's maritime links
Scottish freemasons - From poets to presidents
Blogs for the family historian
Valentines of Dundee Our pictorial heritage
Trace your blacksmith ancestors
Spotlight on - Kintyre
Expert Q&A
Family history newsround, library and events

Just £2.50, a price to bring a tear of happiness to the eye, and available from www.discovermypast.co.uk/scotland.php. Enjoy!

PS: Don't forget DMPS is now on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Discover-my-Past/141819532496781 !

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)

Irish Roots issue 75 now on sale

The latest edition of Irish Roots magazine (issue 75, 3rd qtr 2010), Ireland's number one genealogy magazine, is now on sale at www.irishrootsmedia.com. The magazine can be purchased in both printed form or downloaded in an e-zine format.

This month's articles include: Researching Pre 1865 Sources For Irish Ancestry, Become Your Own Family History Photo Detective, Enya Recalls A Special Day That Would Change Her Life Forever, North Strand Bombing - Oral History at Dublin City Library and Archive, Research Facilities Available at the Cork Family History Centre, When Undertaking Irish Ancestral Research In Australia - Remember to..., A Problem Shared with Paul Gorry, Study for a Diploma in Family History Research at Independent College, Dublin, Back To Our Past Show, the Irish 1901 and 1911 Census Now Online, Finding Irish Ancestors In The American Civil War, Eccentric Ireland - Co. Longford and from yours truly, Using The UK 1939 National Register For Irish Research, which provides a detailed guide on the different methods you need to use to order entries from the registers in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The magazine cost just four Euros fifty - don't delay, forget the hay, buy today, become waylaid!! (Damn, that so nearly worked!)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)

Scottish Roman Catholic records now online

The new ScotlandsPeople website is now online at ww1.scotlandspeople.gov.uk - note the change of address, though the original will redirect you to the new site. There are some new features, but crucially, the rest of the Roman Catholic records have been uploaded to the site. The following is the description as given on the site:

Catholic Parish Registers

Catholic Parish Registers comprise records of

births and baptisms
marriages; confirmations
deaths and burials
communicants
sick calls
status animarum
converts
first confessions
seat rents

The records cover all Scottish parishes in existence by 1855 – before the introduction of civil registration; the records of the main Catholic cemeteries in Edinburgh and Glasgow and the records of the RC Bishopric of the Forces, which records all sacramental events for British service men and women serving in the armed forces worldwide.

Under the provisions of Church Law, all faithful are to have sacramental information recorded in the registers of the parish. Record format and content varied over time, with the responsibility for the information gathered being placed with the parish priest - since there was no standard format prescribed, record keeping varied enormously from parish to parish and also from year to year.

As a result, the information may be sparse, unreliable and difficult to read. Approximately 700 registers have survived, the earliest dating from 1703, but most records only begin in the 30 years following the relaxation of legislation against Catholics in the 1790s. To find out more about the types of CPR records, select one from the right menu.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research
http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)