British Newspaper Archive passes 47 million pages of content

The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) has passed the 47 million pages mark, with 47,112,194 pages accessible at the time of writing.

The most recent additions from the last 30 days are available at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/recently-added/30days. For Scotland and Ireland they include the following:

Scotland

Northern Scot and Moray & Nairn Express
1914-1915

Montrose Standard
1962

Arbroath Guide
1962

Huntly Express
1915

Port-Glasgow Express
1962

Arbroath Herald and Advertiser for the Montrose Burghs
1962

Northern Chronicle and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland
1915

Broughty Ferry Guide and Advertiser
1962

Dalkeith Advertiser
1962

Barrhead News
1915

Alloa Journal
1915

Banffshire Herald
1915

Banffshire Advertiser
1915

Leven Mail
1962

Highland News
1915

Orcadian
1915

Forres Elgin and Nairn Gazette, Northern Review and Advertiser
1915

Scottish Leader
1889

Evening Gazette (Aberdeen)
1884-1885

Ayr Observer
1875, 1879-1882, 1884-1885, 1888, 1891

Crieff Journal
1875-1877, 1879-1888, 1890

Bridge of Allan Reporter
1876, 1879, 1881-1887, 1889

Northern Advertiser (Aberdeen)
1858, 1879-1884, 1888-1890

Annandale Herald and Moffat News
1879-1885

Aberdeen People's Journal
1879, 1881, 1883

North British Advertiser & Ladies' Journal
1880, 1884, 1887

Glasgow Property Circular and West of Scotland Weekly Advertiser
1881-1882, 1884, 1889

Glasgow Weekly Mail
1881-1882, 1884

Saturday Inverness Advertiser
1880

Glasgow Weekly Herald
1882, 1886, 1890

Kelso Mail
1890

Galloway Gazette
1882, 1890

Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties' Advertiser
1890

Haddingtonshire Courier
1875-1877, 1882-1883, 1890

Galloway Advertiser and Wigtownshire Free Press.
1882, 1885

Dundee Weekly News
1883

Portobello Advertiser
1882

Dundee People's Journal
1883

Dunfermline Saturday Press
1876, 1879, 1881-1883, 1885-1886, 1889

Ayr Advertiser, or, West Country Journal
1884

Northman and Northern Counties Advertiser
1890


Ireland

Bray and South Dublin Herald
1876, 1878-1886, 1888-1889, 1891-1904, 1908-1909

Cavan Weekly News and General Advertiser
1889

Irish Emerald
1881-1888, 1890-1912

Cork Weekly News
1900

Ulster Echo
1880

Strabane Weekly News
1915

County Down Spectator and Ulster Standard
1915

Strabane Chronicle
1915

Fermanagh Times
1880

Bassett's Chronicle
1885

Cashel Gazette and Weekly Advertiser
1864

Belfast Weekly Telegraph
1894, 1929

Donegal Independent
1890

Belfast Weekly News
1881

Flag of Ireland
1872

Witness (Belfast)
1874-1880, 1883-1896

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.

Irish adoptees to gain right to see original birth certificates

Quite a big development in Ireland - the forthcoming Birth Information and Tracing Bill from the Republic's government, if it becomes law, will permit adopted children the right to see their original birth certificates and to learn the identity of their birth parents. 

Until now the law in Ireland has provided rights of privacy to mothers who have given up their children for adoption, in preference to the rights of those who have been adopted. If enabled, the new law, which builds on recent GDPR legislation from the EU, will also inform adoptees whether their birth mothers wish to establish contact with them. Details of fathers, if recorded on the birth certs, will also be passed on.

For more on the story read the Irish Times story at https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/adopted-people-will-be-given-right-to-see-their-original-birth-certificate-1.4774214.

(With thanks to Shauna Hicks via Facebook)

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.

Scottish Research Online course from Pharos start Feb 28th

The next 5 week long Scottish Research Online course from Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd (www.pharostutors.com), taught by yours truly, starts on February 28th 2022. The following is the course description:

Scottish Research Online (102)
Tutor: Chris Paton

Scotland was one of the first countries to digitise its major family history records collections for accessibility online, and continues to this day to use such resources to promote a worldwide interest in family history for those with Caledonian connections.

This course, originally created by genealogist Sherry Irvine, and now taught and regularly updated by Scottish based genealogist Chris Paton, describes the major sites and record types that you will encounter in your research, and how to analyse the results. Most importantly it will inspire you to actively pursue your interest in Scottish genealogy and take it to the next level.

Lesson Headings:

• Understanding Scotlands People, FindmyPast, Family Search, Ancestry, and FreeCen
• Essential Maps and Gazetteers
• Civil Registration and Census Research
• Searching in Church of Scotland Registers
• Scottish Wills and Inventories
• Bonus lesson - Take It From Here

Note: it is recommended but not required that students in this course sign up for the basic search option, 30 units/seven days, at ScotlandsPeople (cost is £7.50 for 30 credits)

Each lesson includes exercises and activities; a minimum of 1 one-hour chat - See How the Courses Work.

STUDENTS SAID: "I particularly liked the fact that the course didn't just focus on the well-known BMD resources available, but on a much wider range of websites, including many which give extremely useful background information on the geography and history of the localities where our ancestors lived."

"a very knowledgeable Instructor"

Relevant Countries: Scotland

Course Length: 5 Weeks
Start Date: 28 February 2022
Cost: £58

For a wee video introduction to the course, see below or visit https://youtu.be/ssdYLlGtoHw

I'll hopefully see you there! 

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.

SAFHS Conference 2022 - 'Hard Times'

From the Scottish Association of Family History Societies (www.safhs.org.uk):

‘Hard Times’: Annual Conference Saturday 9th April 2022

Last year, due to the covid 19 pandemic the SAFHS Executive took the decision not to cancel the annual conference (2021) again, but to take it online. This was made possible thanks to Scottish Indexes www.scottishindexes.com who very kindly helped us in offering the use of their online platform. With their experience and assistance, Emma and Graham Maxwell were able to provide an online SAFHS conference for the very first time shown via a Zoom link and through our Facebook Group Live.

Each presenter pre-recorded their talk and there was time allocated after each one to allow the presenter time to answer questions live time after each one. Members of the SAFHS Executive, Emma and Graham were also on hand during these live Q&A slots.

The conference was very well received, and the viewing figures were in the thousands. Each presentation was available on YouTube for a week afterwards to allow those who were unable to join in on the day catch up later.

This year’s conference ‘Hard Work’ will also go online using the same platform and with the help of Scottish Indexes. We have already started planning this event and we are pleased to announce the following speakers:

Irene O’Brien, Glasgow City Archives
Myko Clelland, Find My Past
Fiona Musk, NHS Grampian Archive
Emma Maxwell, Scottish Indexes
Jill Williams, Irish Genealogy
Ken Nisbet, Scottish Genealogy Society and SAFHS

The talks will incorporate records of the poor, crimes, migration and immigration, Kirk Session and records from the asylums and institutions as to the effects poverty and ‘hard times’ had on people’s health.

Our Patron, Lord Lyon King of Arms who officially ‘opened’ SAFHS 2021 with a positively rousing opening speech in April has kindly agreed to officiate next year.

We will be updating the website and keeping you all informed through Facebook (we have a page and a group) and on twitter. To register for a Zoom link follow the link.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4816346514768/WN_m3nVdz_kSNCTrhX4EXfVQg

Alison Murray, SAFHS 

(With thanks to Alison)

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.

RootsIreland adds further Monaghan records

From the Irish Family History Foundation (www.rootsireland.ie)

We are delighted to announce the addition of 5,861 Monaghan records to the Roots Ireland database. These are Church of Ireland (CI), Presbyterian (PR) and Roman Catholic (RC) baptism, marriage and burial records, as well as a list of CI parishioners in Monaghan in 1802. The full list and details are below. For an up to date list of sources for Monaghan and to search these records, go to monaghan.rootsireland.ie and login or subscribe as required.

Baptisms:

Errigal (Shanco) (CI, 1877-1961): 145 records
First Ballybay, Derryvally & Cahans (PR, 1799-1831): 1924 records
Monaghan (First) (PR, 1860-1915): 1068 records
Stonebridge (PR, 1821-1916): 1043 records

Marriages:

Ballymackney (Killanny) (CI, 1853-1955): 36 records
Derryvally (PR, 1846-1918): 178 records
Muckno (Castleblayney) (CI, 1811-1845): 1036 records
Muckno (St Mary's Oram) (RC, 1901-1918): 42 records
Stonebridge (PR, 1821-45): 284 records

Burials:

Ballybay (CI, 1823-1931): 703 records

Census Substitutes:

CI Parishioners Monaghan (1802): 190 records 

(With thanks to RootsIreland, via email)

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.

Scottish Indexes adds Crown Counsel Procedure Books 1854-1863 index

From Scottish Indexes (www.scottishindexes.com):

Ahead of the Scottish Indexes Conference this weekend we’ve just added an index to Crown Counsel Procedure Books 1854-1863 to www.scottishindexes.com. These are entries from volumes AD9/15-18 which are held by the National Records of Scotland. In this release, we have added over 30,000 new entries.

The total number of records now in Scotland's Criminal Database is 365,732. You can see a breakdown of our coverage here: https://www.scottishindexes.com/coveragescd.aspx

There is more information here: https://scottishgenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2022/01/scottish-indexes-adds-more-records-to.html 

NB: For more on this weekend's confernce see http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2022/01/scottish-indexes-conference-on-january.html

(With thanks to Emma Maxwell)

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.

Guild of One Name Studies webinar series

The Guild of One Name Studies has two free webinar series coming up, which may be of interest:

Family History Software for your One-Name Study (perspectives from Guild members)

Wednesdays from 12th January - you can book a place on these sessions using the link at https://one-name.org/seminar-events/

Resources for your Study

Three free talks, covering the 1921 census (Myko Clelland, 16th Feb), the upcoming US 1950 census (Marian Burk Wood, 1st June), and Chancery records (Sue Swalwell, 9th March).  

For further details visit https://one-name.org/webinars-2022/

(With thanks to Charlie Wilson)

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.

FIBIS website - scheduled maintenance on Wednesday

From the Families in British India Society (www.fibis.org):

Please note that the main FIBIS website will be down for scheduled maintenance on Wednesday 12 January 2022. The FIBIS database, Gallery and Fibiwiki will remain online though.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

(With thanks to Valmay Young via email)

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.

North of Ireland Family History Society classes for 2022

From the North of Ireland Family History Society (https://www.nifhs.org):

Bookings are now being taken for our series of Classes for Spring 2022.

There are lots of exciting topics on offer and some of the classes are FREE!
All classes will be via Zoom - so you can join us from wherever you are in the world.

Thursdays 3 & 17 February @ 9am GMT - Strictly for Beginners
Thursdays 3 & 17 February @ 2pm GMT - Strictly for Beginners
Thursday 10 February @ 9am GMT - More Online Resources for Genealogy & Family History - FREE
Thursday 10 February @ 2pm GMT - More Online Resources for Genealogy & Family History - FREE
Wednesdays 23 February & 2 March @ 7pm GMT - Family Finder
Friday 11 March @ 7pm GMT - Valuation Records
Tuesday 15 March @ 7pm GMT - An Introduction to Scottish Online Records
Wednesday 23 March @ 7pm GMT - NIFHS Look Up Service - FREE
Thursday 24 March @ 7pm GMT - What’s New in Family Tree Maker- Discussion and Q & A - FREE
Friday 25 March @ 2pm GMT - Emigration to Australia and New Zealand
Friday 25 March @ 7pm GMT - PRONI Online Records
Thursday 7 April @ 7pm BST - Using Ancestry DNA
Saturday 23 April @ 11am BST - DNA Day - Beginner’s Talk - FREE
Tuesday 3 May @ 7pm BST - Five Top Tips for Analysing your DNA Results

For further details on the talks, and to book, visit https://www.nifhs.org/courses/. 

NB: I'll be doing the talk An Introduction to Scottish Online Records on March 15th, I hope to maybe see you there!

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 Feb 2022 issue now on sale

The February 2022 issue of Family Tree magazine is now on sale, and includes a hefty article by yours truly on Scottish land records, whilst genealogist Alison Spring looks at free records available on ScotlandsPeople. 

From the site:

Also in this issue:

Explore the Family Tree 1921 census fact-file
Top 10 1921 Census FAQs, a crop of fascinating facts revealed about the 1921 Census, and a look at the tumultuous times in which with census was taken, with Helen Tovey

Writing the stories of our ancestors
With the help of her daughter and for the love of her mother, family historian Sarah Lewis has written a book of her family’s story

Documenting your life, creating your legacy
Chris Broom takes a look at why now is the time to start keeping a log of what your life is like

#reclaimjane
Join family historian and family story teller Natalie Pithers this February in her free online writing challenge

Improve your search skills

Investigating our ancestors’ names
Family Tree Academy tutor David Annal discusses our ancestors' first, middle and surnames, and suggests ideas as to how we can better glean the clues from them

5 ways to research with The Gazette
Search for notable ancestor details back centuries

The Rumsfeldian approach
Engineer & genealogist Alfred Gracey suggests a practical method for turning unknown facts into known ones

Kickstart your research
Jump start your genealogy in 2022 with Ancestry in 5 simple steps

& all your regular favourites 

For further details visit https://www.family-tree.co.uk/store/back-issues/family-tree-magazine/family-tree-magazine-february-2022-issue-195-1/

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.