MyHeritage gift memberships

From MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com):

Just in time for the holidays, we’re happy to announce the launch of the new MyHeritage gift membership! You can now give someone special the MyHeritage Complete plan, our best plan for family history research. To celebrate the launch, gift memberships are now available with a 50% introductory discount.

With many people spending more time at home and looking for meaningful activities to enjoy, the MyHeritage gift membership makes the perfect holiday gift and is sure to delight a dear family member or close friend.

The gift membership provides access to all features and all 12.7 billion historical records on MyHeritage.

Please share this wonderful news with your audience, and read more about the new gift membership in the blog post.

Order a gift membership in a few clicks, and your chosen recipient will receive an email explaining the super simple steps needed to redeem their gift.

You can choose to give either a 1-year or 6-month gift membership. Gift memberships are one-time and do not renew. At the end of the membership period, the recipient will retain access to their MyHeritage account and all family tree data. If they wish to continue enjoying the full benefits of a membership, it will be up to them to extend their plan (or you can decide to be kind to them and give them another gift membership – it’s up to you).

A gift membership on MyHeritage makes a great holiday or birthday gift. It’s the perfect way to introduce someone you care about to the enjoyable world of genealogy and help them discover their family history. 

For further information visit https://blog.myheritage.com/2020/11/introducing-the-myheritage-gift-membership/ -  there's also a short vid below, and at https://youtu.be/ggJLn7XYf24

(With thanks to Daniel Horowitz)

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.

Aberdeen and North East Scotland FHS expands local groups worldwide

The Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society (www.anesfhs.org.uk) now has Local Area Groups in London, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Ontario, on top of the previously established local groups in Aberdeen, Moray/Banff, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. 

According to society member Buzzy Garden, "the groups have been set up basically anywhere with sufficient ANESFHS members & willing person(s) to set up a more local Group and encourage communications/ meetings to suit. This was a boon to us when ANESFHS local groups started meetings by Zoom. 

"These have been highly successful, not just attracting more members from wider parts of Scotland, and Englandshire, but meeting antipodean & transatlantic members in our various Scottish local groups (& vice-versa)."

For further details on the new regional group events, please visit www.anesfhs.org.uk/meetings-events/events for the society's current programme.

NB: I'll be speaking to the society on February 13th 2021 about Sharing Your Family History Online - more details soon!

(With thanks to Buzzy)

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.

Forthcoming Sharing the Stories talk on Kilted Ancestors

From genealogist Clare Wilson:

Clare Wilson of Treehouse Genealogy & Christine Woodcock of Genealogy Tours of Scotland are again teaming up for a Facebook Live Event on Clare’s ‘Kilted Ancestors’ Facebook page.  

The ‘FREE’ Event will be taking place on Thursday 10th December at 7.30pm GMT

Kilted Ancestors is a Private Group where those with Scottish Ancestry can discuss where their families came from, share their family stories & ask questions about things they have always been curious about.  

Social History is a big part of Genealogy it is what brings our Ancestors to life…it is so important to keep these stories alive!

During this Event Christine Woodcock will provide a talk entitled ‘Sharing the Stories’
 
As the daughter and granddaughter of the family storytellers, saving and sharing our stories runs through Christine’s veins. In this presentation, she will show you some of the ways in which she has preserved the family stories so that they can be shared with others and preserved for future generations. This will include Family History Books, Family Newsletters & Scrapbooks.

To ensure you don’t miss out on this event join ‘Kilted Ancestors – Share Stories about your Scottish Ancestors’ Group on Facebook now so that you can watch the webinar live within the group on the night

Or follow this link:-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/KiltedAncestors

(With thanks to Clare)

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.

British Newspaper Archive will continue beyond 40 million pages target

The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) was established by the British Library and FindmyPast with the goal of digitising 40 million pages over ten years - you can read about the project's aims at www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/help/about. 

The project is almost at that target, sitting now at 39,857,086 pages. The question is, what happens next? So, I asked...!

I'm sure there is plenty for them to get on with - great news!

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.

FindmyPast expands WW1 armed forces medical records collection

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has expanded its British Armed Forces, First World War Soldiers' Medical Records collection (https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/british-armed-forces-first-world-war-soldiers-medical-records), as sourced from the National Archives at Kew (collection MH106). 

Although it does not specifically state what is actually new to the database, the full list of medical facilities now featured is as follows:

2nd General Hospital
4th Stationary Hospital
14th Field Ambulance
18th General Hospital
19th General Hospital
28th General Hospital
31st Ambulance Train
51st Field Ambulance
66th Field Ambulance
139th Field Ambulance
149th Field Ambulance
Catterick Military Hospital
County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury
Craiglockhart Hospital
HM Hospital Ship Assaye
No 3 Casualty Clearing Station
No 11 Casualty Clearing Station
No 31 Casualty Clearing Station
No 34 Casualty Clearing Station
No 34 Combined Clearing Hospital
No 39 Casualty Clearing Station
No 39 Casualty Clearing Hospital
No 82 Casualty Clearing Station
Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital at Millbank 

FindmyPast also has the following helpful information about the collection:

This collection comprises The National Archives’ series, MH106, War Office: First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen. Only a sample of the medical records was retained. These records are a representative selection of the full collection of medical records created during the war. Due to data protection, Findmypast has only published records where the admission year is dated back 100 years. For this reason, more records will be released in the coming years. The records include admissions and discharge records from hospitals, field ambulances, and casualty clearing stations. You will also find records from Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital before the First World War, dating from 1910...

The medical records were collected by the Medical Research Committee and then given over to the British Museum during the First World War, 1914 to 1918. The records were used for statistical research. In 1931, Thomas John Mitchell and G M Smith published History of the Great War, based on official documents. Medical services: Casualties and medical statistics of the Great War from the data gathered from these medical records.

For other releases this week, including various Yorkshire records in England, visit www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/unique-wartime-records

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 December 2020 issue on sale

The latest issue of Family Tree magazine (December 2020) comes with the free Family History Handbook 2021, with tips and listings for a variety of family history techniques and resources.

In the magazine itself, I have an article on the changing nature of my identity as it has been affected by family history discoveries over the last 20 years. Family history can solve identity issues, but can easily cause new ones, whilst the very way in which we carry out our research also has the potential to skew our sense of who we are; we are the sum of ALL of our parts, and not just those lines we consciously or unconsciously target!

Simon Wills also takes a look at convict transportation records to Australia, Melanie Winterbotham traces her English ancestry back to Tudor times, Jayne Shrimpton offers 10 photo-dating tips, there is a look at the Legacy of British Slavery Database project, Paul Chiddicks examines weird and wonderful genealogy finds, and there is plenty more!

At £5.99, the magazine will be fining its way now to local shops and newsagents, and can also be purchased via www.family-tree.co.uk. 

And Santa is on the cover - as everyone knows, he's Irish!

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.

Updated coronavirus Self-Employed Income Support Scheme grant details

As you may be aware, the Westminster Government has again revised the provision for the next Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, having previously gone from 80% of 3 months average monthly trading profits, and then to 70%, for the first two payments, but then proposing for the next tranche to pay just 20%, before going back up to 40% (see http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2020/10/uk-government-to-increase-self-employed.html). Well now the next payment will once again be paid at 80% of 3 months average monthly trading profits. Heres the blurb from HMRC:

The UK Government recognises the continued impact that coronavirus (COVID-19) has had on the self-employed and has taken action to provide support.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension provides critical support to the self-employed in the form of 2 further grants, each available for 3 month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.

1. Who can claim

To be eligible for the grant extension self-employed individuals, including members of partnerships, must:

• have been previously eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme first and second grant (although they do not have to have claimed the previous grants)
• declare that they intend to continue to trade and either:
• are currently actively trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus
• were previously trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus

2. What the grant extension covers

The extension will last for 6 months, from November 2020 to April 2021. Grants will be paid in 2 lump sum instalments each covering a 3 month period.

The third grant will cover a 3 month period from 1 November 2020 until 31 January 2021. The Government will provide a taxable grant calculated at 80% of 3 months average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment and capped at £7,500 in total. This is an increase from the previously announced amount of 55%.

The Government are providing the same level of support for the self-employed as is being provided for employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which has also been extended until March 2021.

The Government has already announced that there will be a fourth grant covering February 2021 to April 2021. The Government will set out further details, including the level, of the fourth grant in due course.

The grants are taxable income and also subject to National Insurance contributions.

3. How to claim

The online service for the next grant will be available from 30 November 2020. HMRC will provide full details about claiming and applications in guidance on GOV.UK in due course.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension)

Note the next application date - November 30th 2020.

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.

Further release of Ireland's Military Service Pensions Committee claims

From Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie), the latest release of Military Service Pension Collection records, with over 2 million pages of content now scanned as part of the project:

November 2020 Release

The November 2020 release is the 9th release from the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection.
The files relate to claims lodged by 1,170 individuals, or by their dependants, and contain new information on the War of Independence and the Civil War.
This release brings the number of individuals whose files are now available online to over 10,720 entries (representing over 32,000 files).
Taking into account all the MSPC file series (whether available online or in the Military Archives), over 100,000 files have been processed individually by the Project team to date.
The files released include:
 - 139 successful service pensions awarded under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924 (National Army applicants/Pro-Treaty).
 - 604 files of claimants applying under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934
 - 554 applications under Army Pensions Acts (from 1923 onwards), including wounds and Special Allowances linked to disability pensions. 

A full list of those named in this release can be found at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/MSPC/2020/Release_names.pdf

(Source: http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection-1916-1923/release-history/november-2020-release)

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.

Canada and USA records additions to FamilySearch this week

There has been a fair amount of new material added for both Canada and the USA on FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org). The following are some of the larger collections:

Canada

Alberta, Catholic Church Parish Registers, 1865-1916
692 entries, New indexed records collection

Canada, New Brunswick, County Register of Births, 1801-1920
10,620 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

Manitoba Church Records, 1800-1959
324 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

New Brunswick, County Registers of Births, ca. 1812-1919
51,575 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001
8,221 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

Nova Scotia, Church and Civil Records, 1727-1884
870 entries, New indexed records collection

Ontario, Church and Civil Records, 1801-1948
27,423 entries, New indexed records collection

Ontario, Immigration Records, 1862-1897
8,888 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection


USA

Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915
2,604,818 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

Massachusetts, Boston Tax Records, 1822-1918
136,625 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

Minnesota, Death Records and Certificates 1900-1955
509,782 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

New Jersey, County Naturalization Records, 1749-1986
126,786 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

New York, Church and Civil Deaths, 1824-1962
211,446 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

Rhode Island Town Births Index, 1639-1932
175,350 entries, New indexed records collection

Rhode Island Town Deaths Index, 1639-1932
224,281 entries, New indexed records collection

Rhode Island, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records 1630-1945
479,979 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

Rhode Island, Vital records, 1846-1898, 1901-1953
394,904 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

United States City and Business Directories, ca. 1749 - ca. 1990
3,776,892 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975
3,426,678 entries, Added indexed records to an existing collection

For a full listing of this week's additions, and for the relevant links, visit https://media.familysearch.org/new-free-historical-records-on-familysearch-week-of-9-november-2020/

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.

Renfrewshire Family History Society update

Renfrewshire Family History Society (http://renfrewshirefhs.co.uk) has provided a members update at the weekend on how it tends to proceed for the foreseeable future during the coronavirus situation:

Due to the issues surrounding Coronavirus we are changing the way we interact with our members. We intend to communicate with members where possible using Zoom.

The committee have organised our postponed AGM (Usually held in May) on the 7th Dec 2020.

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.