Progressing Your Irish Research Online - course feedback!

I've just completed teaching the first run of my new course for Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd, entitled Progressing Your Irish Research Online, which I must admit has been some of the best fun I've experienced in a few years! These are some of the comments from students:

"Great course!"

"The course has opened my eyes to the huge array of resources available for family research and the importance of persisting in scrutinising seemingly unreadable documents."

"Thank you very much Chris, it’s been an excellent course. I shall be revisiting all the lessons in order to draw up a plan of action!"

"Chris, I want to thank you very much for the excellent course, well-documented, organized and executed. It helped me a lot with both Family History and general knowledge."

"Thank you very much Chris for an excellent course which I have really enjoyed.  I can now go forward with a better understanding of Irish resources and how to use them which will be invaluable for my family history research."

"Thank you for teaching this course, it was time well spent!"

"Thank you, Chris, for the course. It has been good fun, and has succeeded in keeping me from the 101 jobs that need doing in the house and garden."

"This course has given me more avenues to search down in my quest to find my Irish roots."

"It is difficult to pick out the most useful, as each lesson has provided a lightbulb moment. I have also learned new tips and techniques about sources I already used and thought I knew."

"VERY helpful, and generally informative."

"Brilliant course. I learnt so much and now have to apply it."

"Thanks for such a rich course."

 

So... when's the next one then? Well I'm glad you asked! The next 5 week course run of Progressing Your Irish Research Online starts from November 15th, just six months away, but already many students have booked, hence this post - if you'd like to sign up, spaces are already filling up fast. 

Here's a short video introducing the material that will be covered:

(Also available at https://youtu.be/aonRMQEnIFw)

It's been a lot of fun so far, to the point where I might even consider writing a follow up - but one thing at a time!

I hope to see you in November - and don't forget that I will also be teaching the following Scottish courses this year:

Scottish Research Online
30 AUG 2021 5 weeks  £49.99
https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102

Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers
1 NOV 2021  5 weeks  £49.99
https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302

I hope to see you soon!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

A Visit to the ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh

I'm just back in the door in Irvine from a research trip to the ScotlandsPeople Centre (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/visit-us), which re-opened in Edinburgh yesterday. The last time I was at the centre was on January 27th 2020, some sixteen months ago - but not only that, this was the first time in well over a year that I had been in the city centres of both Glasgow and Edinburgh, thanks to the pandemic. So on many levels, today was a BIG DAY for me. So how did I get on?

First up then, the ScotlandsPeople Centre. When it was recently announced that the centre was to re-open, the condition was that it would be on the basis of four hour slots, and that you would have to pre-pay for your seat, at the rate of £7.50, which I duly did (the full terms and procedures are listed at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/visit-us). Those attending will have their arrival and departure times staggered so as to avoid clustering by the entrance for the purposes of social distancing, and so I was booked to arrive at 10.20am, and was to make my way to the Dundas Room entrance via the Archivists Garden. 

I was on autopilot when I arrived, and without thinking, I entered the Reid Search Room entrance by mistake, where a bemused archivist told me I really needed to go to the Dundas Room! What I did glean from this conversation, though, is that if you do need access to the archives at the NRS, the Reid Search Room seems to be acting as the reading room venue that you will visit, rather than the Historic Search Room (which is appallingly inaccessible for many at the best of times - so that could be a bonus for some if this is the case!). At the moment genealogists are not allowed to come in to play with the archives, it is mainly for academic and other priorities.

 

I made my way to the Dundas Room, and was relieved to find that they knew that I had already booked in (thankfully!), and after being signed in I was then led to the terminal where I would be working. There are only 9 stations available for now, with most based on tables by the exterior wall beside the windows, with a fairly large gap between desks. The positioning of my terminal was initially problematic, as my seat was beside a window, with the sun glaring right through at me, but the staff very quickly and kindly pulled the blinds down to block the light, before I melted like the wicked witch from Oz!

Initially I was a little confused with the set up, in that the computer was not switched on, and there were no instructions. A member of staff soon assisted, and it soon became clear that no-one was going to touch the computer other than me, to minimise the potential for cross-infection, should I have been symptomatic. Whoever had sat at my seat yesterday had not logged out of her account, which was loaded with 30 credits, and so I duly did so for her. It's worth noting that if you have credits on your account before going into the centre at Edinburgh, you will see your account tally in the corner when you log in, but you will not actually be using your credits, as you will have unlimited access to the records instead. So your credits cannot be used on site if you don't log out - but it is still worth making sure that you do sign out! At the end of the session I was again guided verbally as to what to do to shut down, so that the staff did not have to touch the terminal. The plan is that the only people who will touch the computers will be those using them, and then those cleaning them. Eminently sensible!

The research session itself went like a dream, with no technical problems encountered. I was unable to print off copies of historic records, and if I needed to have an image rescanned, that would not have been possible for now. What I was particularly grateful for was the fact that the wifi was available, as I needed to double check something I had mistranscribed from FamilySearch, which was soon sorted. Fortunately, in today's session I was carrying out a research task where I had already compiled the bulk of a report for my client from research carried out at home over the last couple of months, it really was the access to the more recent records, not available online, that was my problem in delivering the final project. With today's four hour finale, I resolved the outstanding issues and can now put this one to bed.

So in summary, the booking process (which was initially a bit slow upon launch) worked out well, and the on-site Covid restrictions are cautious but sensible. Masks must be worn throughout a visit, the onsite toilets are accessible, and the staff are as friendly and helpful as ever. Follow the instructions given when you book, and you should be fine!

So the other big thing about today was seeing civilisation again! Those who know me well know how much I absolutely love Glasgow, and that I occasionally visit Edinburgh, and it was great to see both cities absolutely gleaming today. Despite the fact that we are beginning to unlock, the footfall was still massively diminished in both places, but the buzz was there. 

The one thing I was particularly delighted to see was the revamped Glasgow Queen Street Station, which looks simply stunning from the outside, and where from the inside you can actually now see George Square, it was a job well down. I'm not sure I saw any bilingual signs there though with Gaelic, but hopefully they will be implemented soon.

And Edinburgh Castle is still there, which is nice!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

National Archives family history books 30% discount

The National Archives in England (https://nationalarchives.gov.uk) is hosting a sale this month, with 30% discount from its holdings on Pen and Sword books. All of my Scottish and Irish titles are there, as well as my new book Sharing Your Family History Online, and books from many other authors.  

You can access the sale at https://shop.nationalarchives.gov.uk/collections/save-30-on-pen-sword-family-history-books

Have fun!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

TheGenealogist adds Index of Irish Wills 1484-1858

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

TheGenealogist adds over 100,000 names to its Irish Will Indexes

TheGenealogist’s Index of Irish Wills 1484-1858 is an index to surviving records of Wills, Grants and Administrations, held by The National Archives of Ireland (NAI). Records include the original NAI reference, which can be used to order a copy of the existing document.

This new release adds an easily searched and useful resource to the ever growing suite of records available to Diamond subscribers of TheGenealogist. The Index of Irish Wills 1484-1858 features:

●    More than 100,000 names
●    Easily Searchable by Name, County, Address and Keyword
●    Can provide dates, occupation, status and place of abode
●    Can provide reference and link to order the document from the National Archives of Ireland.

Prior to 1858, Irish wills were administered by the ecclesiastical courts of the Established church, (the Church of Ireland), a part of the Anglican communion. In 1857, however, the Church of Ireland lost its responsibility for Irish Wills when the Probate Act of that year transferred the supervision to the state.

Read TheGenealogist’s article: Using Irish Wills to discover your ancestors
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2021/using-the-index-of-irish-wills-1484-1858-to-discover-more-about-ancestors-important-details-1406/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne) 

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Council's new free burials database

Thanks to Claire Santry for flagging up that the new free burials database from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is finally now live (in test phase) at https://antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/residents/cemeteries/. I tweeted just over a month ago that I was looking forward to this being released, following an article in the Newtownabbey Times published on February 5th (See https://www.newtownabbeytoday.co.uk/news/politics/council/online-burial-search-initiative-antrim-and-newtownabbey-council-3125265).

The cemeteries included are in the following areas:

• Antrim
• Ballyclare
• Belmont         
• Carnmoney (Main and East)
• Crumlin
• Mallusk
• Sixmile
• Rashee Cemetery
• Umgall

Burial grounds not included:

• Cranfield
• Drummaul
• Kilbride
• Milltown
• Muckamore
• Templepatrick

Let's just say I may not get a lot of work done today! (I have lots of folk in Carnmoney!)

(With thanks to Claire Santry at https://www.irishgenealogynews.com/2021/04/new-free-burials-database-for-antrim.html)

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

Scottish Indexes adds Poor Relief Records indexes

From Scottish Indexes (www.scottishindexes.com): 

Scottish Poor Relief Records

Delighted to announce a new addition to our website today - Scottish Poor Relief Records

When our ancestors fell on hard times they relied on family and friends to help them. When they couldn’t be cared for by those they knew they turned to the parish, or in later years the parochial board.

The records created are full of fascinating details and genealogy gems, telling us not just names, dates and places, but the stories of some of the most challenging days in the lives of our ancestors.

Today we have added selected records from Wigtownshire, Roxburghshire and Peeblesshire and as always these are free to search.

Search for your ancestors: https://www.scottishindexes.com/poorsearch.aspx

(With thanks to Emma Maxwell)

NB: Incidentally, thanks to Jack Davis via the Scottish Genealogy Network for advising that Glasgow City Archives, which re-opened on Tuesday, is currently permitting the use of mobile phones to photograph documents such as poor law records whilst the pandemic restrictions are in place.

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

Free access to British census records on FindmyPast this weekend

From FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

All UK census records are free this weekend

All of Findmypast’s British census records (1841-1911) are completely free to access from 10:00 (BST) on 30 April until 3 May. Amazing snapshots of the past, census records can help you trace your family tree, generation by generation.

You can gain access via https://www.findmypast.co.uk/page/free-access

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

More on the Scottish Indexes conference on May 22nd

An update from the team on the forthcoming Scottish Indexes (www.scottishindexes.com) conference, the tenth, to be held on May 22nd:

Registration Instructions

Facebook: This is an easy way to watch and interact with the presenters and attendees of the Scottish Indexes Conference. It is also possible to cast the conference to a TV which makes viewing more comfortable. Click here to join the Scottish Indexes Facebook Group.

Zoom: Many of us are now more familiar with Zoom than we were last April when we held our first conference. We have now expanded our package so there is plenty of capacity if you would prefer to watch on Zoom. Click here to register on Zoom.

Our Presenters

Kate Keter: Genealogist at www.familytreetales.co.uk
Presentation: "Mother dead, Father in prison"

In this presentation Kate will tell how a single entry in a school admission register led to uncovering stories of 3 generations of one family in sources from workhouses, prisons, passenger lists and British Home Children, to name just a few, from Scotland, England, Canada and USA.

Kate has been researching family trees for over 30 years and now works as a professional genealogist based in Linlithgow. She has an MSc in Genealogical, Palaeographical and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow where she is now a tutor on the Family History Research short courses. Kate is an accredited member of the Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (ASGRA).

 

Andrew Armstong: Genealogist at Relatively Scottish
Presentation: "Patterns of Migration in the Scottish Textiles Industries 1750-1950"

Andrew has been working as a professional genealogist since 2015 in the Scottish Borders. He has a postgraduate diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde. He has presented on the Records of the Kelso Dispensary and Using Buccleuch Estate records at previous Scottish indexes Conferences. Andrew is accredited on the Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG).

 

Chris Paton: Genealogist at Scotland’s Greatest Story
Presentation: "Genealogy Without Borders"

Northern Irish born Chris Paton lives today in Ayrshire, Scotland, where he works as a genealogist through his Scotland’s Greatest Story service. A holder of a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde, Chris is author of 'Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd edition)', 'Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records' and 'Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records', and also writes a daily genealogy blog, Scottish GENES. As well as regularly lecturing on Irish and Scottish subjects, Chris also runs courses for Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd.

 

And I have just noticed archivist Margaret Fox (@mf6060) tweeting the following:

Want to hear a poignant story of a young woman from Ayr being transported to Australia in 1847 for killing her baby? Then sign up for the next @scottishindexes online conference on 22 May (it's free!)

There's plenty more yet to be announced, it should be another fun day!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

We’re looking forward to the 10th Scottish Indexes Conference. If you are joining us for the first time, here’s how it works. We start at 7 am UK time and keep going until 11 pm UK time. We do this to make our conferences time-zone friendly. Each presentation is shown twice, once between 7 am and 3 pm, then again between 3 pm and 11 pm. You can come and go throughout the day.

Glasgow City Archives re-opens

Good news for our Glaswegian contingent! Glasgow City Archives (www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/city-archives) has re-opened, albeit on a restricted basis for now. From the archive to me, via Twitter:

We're re-opening today and will be open Tue-Thu (11am-3pm) by appointment. If you'd like to request an appointment, please read our FAQs and send the linked Booking Form to archives@glasgowlife.org.uk. The FAQs are at https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/media/6787/20201104-archives-faqs-final-updated.pdf

 

Good to see us finally getting back to normal - I even had a pint last night at my local pub for the first time in seven months!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.

Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers course starts on May 3rd

My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers course kicks off on May 3rd 2021 for a further five week run. If you're looking for a way to learn a little bit more each week about your favourite subject, why not sign up?!  

Here's the description:

This is an intermediate level course in Scottish family history for those who are going back beyond 1850. You should have some experience with research in the Old Parochial Registers (OPRs) of the Church of Scotland and in using major websites for Scottish research. This course discusses sources that fill the gap when the OPRs are uninformative or missing; for example, records of parish and town administration, occupations, land transfer and taxation. Using these records involves several different locations. You will learn how to check online finding aids and how to find the most effective way to obtain records that may be available online or offline. This is the second course on Scottish research. If you have not taken Scottish Research Online please check its description.

Lesson Headings:

* Kirk Sessions records and parish poor
* Burgh records and town poor
* Occupations, taxation and early lists
* Land transfer and the value of sasines
* Land, inheritance and estates

Each lesson includes exercises and activities; a minimum of 1 one-hour chat session per week. (See How the Courses Work at https://www.pharostutors.com/howcourseswork.php.)

STUDENTS SAID: "well structured chats with opportunities for questions as well"

Relevant Countries: Scotland
Course Length: 5 Weeks
Start Date: 4 May 2020
Cost: £49.99

The following video also gives a bit more of a flavour about what to expect:

(Available also at https://youtu.be/1vX6GZtwZJ0)

For further details, and to sign up, please visit https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302.

Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers has been designed as a follow on course from the Scottish Research Online course, although it can certainly be signed up for if you already have the same level of knowledge as given from the earlier course.

I'll hopefully see you there! 

Chris

Chris Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. 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.