Latest North Irish Roots journal has a sporting theme

The latest North Irish Roots journal (Vol. 36 No. 2, 2025) from the North of Ireland Family History Society (https://www.nifhs.org) is now available for members, this time with a sporting theme. Amongst this edition's content there are several articles on tracing sporting ancestors, including within the areas of rugby, hockey, and golf.

For further details on the journal and other membership benefits please visit https://www.nifhs.org/research-centre-resources/resources/north-irish-roots-jstor/

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

MyHeritage updates Theory of Family Relativity matches

From MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com):

Hit a brick wall when analyzing your DNA Matches? We’ve got you covered! We’ve updated the data for Theory of Family Relativity™, adding 103 million new theories to help you explore your relationships to your DNA Matches. 

Theory of Family Relativity™ combines family tree data and historical records with MyHeritage’s powerful matching technologies to suggest how you and your DNA Matches may be related. Each theory includes one or more possible paths for you to explore further.

MyHeritage DNA is the leading DNA test in Europe and is trusted by millions of people worldwide. All kits purchased now are processed using Whole Genome Sequencing — a major technological upgrade that opens the door to even greater accuracy in DNA Matching and ethnicity results, and paves the way for new features and DNA products.

Haven’t taken a DNA test yet? The MyHeritage DNA kit is now on sale — order now for yourself or as a gift.  

What’s new (by the numbers)

• The total number of theories has grown by 44%, to 336,543,046.
• The number of DNA kits with at least one theory has grown by 20%, to 3,552,790.
• The number of DNA Matches that have a theory has grown to 244,069,985, representing a 46% increase.
• The total number of paths has increased by 41%, to 2,306,896,689.

With every new DNA test, family tree profile, and historical record added to MyHeritage, the number of theories continues to grow — opening up more opportunities to discover how you’re related to your DNA Matches and further your family history research. 

For further details visit https://blog.myheritage.com/2025/11/major-update-to-theory-of-family-relativity-103-million-theories-added/.

(With thanks to Daniel Horowitz)

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Family Tree Magazine December 2025 now on sale

The December 2025 issue of the UK's Family Tree magazine is on sale, and includes my article on how family history stories connect into the wider tapestry of history, on both a national and local scale.

Also in the latest issue:

• Royal Marines research with David Annal
• Unusual tales of tragedy and intrigue in Dear Paul
• Gill Shaw’s ancestor trail in Twiglets
• How to accelerate your family history with AI with Carole McCulloch
• Software review: Reunion 14 for Mac and iOS with Kathie Ross
• Inquisitions Post Mortem explained: medieval land and lineage with Richard Tolson
• DNA surprises and how to solve them with Karen Evans
• Getting children engaged in family history with Imogen Kay
• British Army uniforms and photographs decoded with Graham Bandy
• Expert Q&A & Photo Corner advice with Graham Caldwell and Jayne Shrimpton
• Thoughtful reflections, with Diane Lindsay
• Ancestry Tree Tips, reader letters and more

For furtehr details, and to order a copy, visit https://www.family-tree.co.uk/store/back-issues/family-tree-magazine/family-tree-magazine-december-2025-issue-241/.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish Register of Tartan fees to be increased from January 19th 2026

As previously mentioned in this blog last month, the NRS had been considering raising various fees connected with the Scottish Register of Tartans (see 'Recommendation for Scottish Register of Tartans fees to be substantially increased' https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2025/10/scottish-register-of-tartans-fees-to-be.html), following a recent consultation.

It has now confirmed that the proposed rise in fees will take place from January 19th 2026. 

For more on the story visit https://nrscotland.gov.uk/latest-news/scottish-register-of-tartans/.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Arbroath Library and Angus Archive to reopen next week ahead of schedule

From Arbroath Library and Angus Archive (https://angusalive.scot/local-family-history/):

Arbroath Library and Angus Archive is reopening ahead of schedule

We’re delighted to share that Angus Archives will reopen to the public on Monday 17 November, a full week earlier than planned, following essential library renovation preparation work. 

From Monday, you’ll find both Arbroath Library and Angus Archives operating from the first floor of the library building, where we’ll be offering a reduced service while ground floor renovation work continues.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make improvements to your local library and archive facilities. We can’t wait to welcome you back!

Opening hours: 

Monday: 10:00–16:00
Tuesday: 10:00–16:00
Wednesday: 10:00–14:00
Thursday: 14:00–16:00
Friday: 10:00–16:00 

(With thanks to the archive via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AngusArchives)

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

FindmyPast updates Naval and Marines pension records collections

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has updated one of its Royal Navy collections:

British Royal Navy & Royal Marines Service and Pension Records, 1704-1939
We added 1,385 records from 1842 to this existing collection

For further details, and the link, visit https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/british-royal-navy-and-royal-marines-service-and-pension-records-1704-1939.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Scottish GENES Webinar: The Godly Commonwealth - Discover Scottish Church Records

Hi folks, 

My next Scottish GENES Webinar takes place on Saturday 29th November 2025 at 7pm UK time:

The Godly Commonwealth - Discover Scottish Church Records 

From 1560 until the mid 19th century, the Kirk was Scotland’s shepherd, moral guardian and disciplinarian, its records today providing one of the key resources for genealogical research. But in trying to establish a Calvinist Godly Commonwealth on Earth it defied the Stuart monarchs for well over a century, and through its democratic and Presbyterian zeal constantly split into denominational factions over endless points of doctrine. In the immediate aftermath of its greatest crisis, the ‘Disruption’ in 1843, its ancient theological enemy, Roman Catholicism, was once again back in force in Scotland, as a consequence of the Irish Famine. By this point the dream of the Godly Commonwealth was finally over, with the state taking many of the Kirk's former functions, including poor relief, policing, and the registration of vital events. 

In this session family historian Chris Paton will provide a broad sweep of three hundred years of church history in Scotland, and discuss its impact for the family historian in locating relevant records for research.

Registration is £10, and can be carried out via https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_enWsWNSfSeOZgNZlEmep9g

I hope to maybe see you there!

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Help bring The Result tall ship back to its rightful home in Carrickfergus

News of an appeal from my home town, Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland, which is trying to raise funds to conserve and bring back an extra special vessel to the town: 

APPEAL LAUNCHED AND WEBSITE EXPANDED

The Carrickfergus Tall Ship Project is embarking on a fundraising campaign to develop their plans to conserve and bring home the last Carrick-built ship. The Result was built in the town's Victorian shipyard and had a long career as a merchant schooner providing a lifeline to coastal communities during both peace and wartimes. Additionally she saw action as a Q-Ship in the First World War with weaponry hidden on board to lure in and attack unsuspecting German U-Boats.

Our website has a number of new pages providing an in depth account of Result's history, our project aims and how to support us - including an appeal for donations to help raise funds for the necessary vessel conservation and transport logistics surveys, and enabling works.

Since the Carrickfergus Tall Ship Project was launched in July 2024 it has been engaged in discussions with the Result’s owners National Museums NI, and the Mid & East Antrim Borough Council. 

For further details please visit https://www.carrickfergustallship.com/news/appeal-launched-to-bring-home-the-result 

* The Result has always had a wee place in my heart, as whilst attending Model Primary School in Carrick in 1980, my P5 class did a project about it, which was featured on BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight programme. The Result was built in the small Paul Rodgers shipyard that used to exist where today's Legg Park is located, and I was interviewed with fellow classmates about our project, then went home. As the news came on that eveing, my aunt from Belfast phoned my dad to say "Our Chris is on the telly, our Chris is on the telly!" as the opening lines of the story played out, with various shots of us all doing our project playing out as the narrator spoke. Then came the interviews, and I had been cut out - my aunt was raging! It was, however, the first time I had ever been glimpsed on the telly, even fleetingly, and I remember being fascinated by the camera crew at work, not knowing that within a couple of decades I would be directing my own programmes for the Corporation!

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Two new military collections from FindmyPast

Two new collections from FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) this week:

Faces of the Fallen 1914-1918

Explore this unique collection of photographs from our extensive newspaper archive. During the First World War, newspapers across Britain published photos of those who fought, died, went missing, or were wounded in action, providing a deeply personal record of the human cost of the conflict. These photos offer a moving and powerful glimpse of how the war affected communities across the British Isles, with a remarkable story behind each one waiting to be uncovered. We will update this collection regularly as we find more pages, ensuring that we continue to illuminate and remember more names and stories.

Anglo-Boer War Records 1899-1902

We've added 22,752 more records to this important military collection. It holds hundreds of thousands of names drawn from more than five hundred sources, revealing the unit your ancestor served with, as well as details of medals, honours, or awards they received. Additionally, it features a thoroughly revised list of men who were killed in action, died of wounds, or succumbed to disease.

For further details, and links, visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/wartime-records-maps

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

TheGenealogist releases 1 million First World War casualty records

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk): 

TheGenealogist marks Remembrance Sunday with the release of over 1 million WWI Casualty Records

To commemorate Remembrance Sunday, TheGenealogist has released 1,090,293 new Casualty List Records from The First World War, covering the period 8th April 1918 to 4th March 1919, completing their coverage of the War Office Casualty Lists. This significant addition helps researchers and families trace those who were killed, wounded, reported missing, or taken prisoner in the later part of the First World War.

TheGenealogist's Head of Content, Mark Bayley, commented: “On Remembrance Sunday, as we honour the fallen, it’s also a time to think of those who returned with wounds both seen and unseen. This release enables researchers to follow relatives throughout the conflict, right up to its end and trace the impact it had on them and their families.”

This release includes:

●    Comprehensive coverage: 1,090,293 records spanning 8th April 1918 to 4th March 1919.
●    Searchable detail: Name, rank, regiment/unit, and (where recorded) service number, place, and nature of casualty, such as killed, wounded, missing, prisoner of war, and died of wounds.
●    Derived from the official War Office Weekly Casualty Lists published at the time, with later corrections where available.
●    This completes the collection of War Office Weekly Casualty lists and brings the total Casualty List records on TheGenealogist to over 4.5 million

The new records are available now to Diamond subscribers at TheGenealogist.co.uk.

These newly added records include a number of notable names, among them the author C. S. Lewis. Read more about his wartime experience here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/cs-lewis-8787/

(With thanks to Paul Bayley from TheGenealogist)

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, 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. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.