Registration open for RootsTech 2022

From FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) 

FamilySearch opened registration today for RootsTech 2022, the largest family history event in the world held online March 3–5, 2022. It offers a forum where people of all ages across the globe are inspired to discover and share their memories and make meaningful connections. Register for free at www.rootstech.org today. RootsTech 2022 will be a virtual-only experience, with some enhancements and improvements.

A new set of educational classes will be featured during 2022, along with new technologies to explore in the virtual expo hall, and inspiring stories shared by a fascinating line-up of keynote speakers.

“RootsTech 2022 is sure to be an incredible experience once again” said Jen Allen, event director for RootsTech. “Earlier this year, we organized our first-ever virtual event amid a pandemic—something we never thought would happen. But as we watched the participants come together to provide joyful learning experiences in many different languages, we knew something special was taking shape.”

Classes for the event will have a mix of on-demand, livestream, and interactive sessions that will allow attendees to learn, grow and connect to people all over the globe. Participants will also be able to connect with fellow attendees, speakers, experts, and enthusiasts. In 2022, the planners of RootsTech are looking to take that experience to the next level.

RootsTech is a place of connection. “We witnessed incredible connections [in 2021] between participants all over the world,” said Steve Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch. “As they connected to their homelands and ultimately to their families, they then connected to each other. At FamilySearch, we choose connection, and we witness every day the ways family history transcends all walls of separation and unites us as the true story of humanity unfolds.”

While there will always be some differences between the in-person and online experiences, RootsTech will continue to expand its online experience while working towards a time when the hybrid model of both can once again be offered.

“We are busy creating innovative ways to capture and share messages of culture, unity and connection that push the boundaries of what a virtual conference can be. We can’t wait to share what we’ve got in store,” added Allen.

The event will take place March 3–5, 2022, and you can register for RootsTech right now by visiting www.rootstech.org. The conference is free and open to anyone. For updates, be sure to follow RootsTech on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

(Original press release at https://media.familysearch.org/ready-to-connect-rootstech-2022-registration-is-now-open)

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.

Fold3 adds Royal Navy Officer Patrol Service Cards

From Fold3 (www.folds3.com)

We have added a new UK collection of Royal Navy Officer Patrol Service Cards to our archives. These cards are dated 1904-1970 and can provide insights for those who served in the Royal Navy Patrol Service (RNPS). These records were created from microfilm held at The National Archives, with the original paper records located at the Imperial War Museum.

The RNPS was a branch of the Royal Navy whose origins date back to the Great War when the British Admiralty first realised the threat of mine warfare. The RNPS operated during both the First and Second World Wars.

For further details visit https://blog.fold3.com/new-uk-royal-navy-records-added/

 

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.

Learn with Lorna from Highland Archives

There have been some truly heroic efforts from the family history and archives community throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but one of the most gargantuan has been an amazing effort by Lorna Steele from Highland Archives (www.highlifehighland.com/archives-service/) through her weekly series of Learn with Lorna Facebook broadcasts. 

Each week Lorna has given a short lecture, ranging from about half an hour to forty minutes in length, on a topic related to the archive holdings at Highland Archives. These have revealed not just the range of materials held by the facility, but also the many stories that they have documented. Topics have included 'Sabbath breaking and other breaches of discipline', 'Witchcraft', 'Food for rich and poor', 'The aluminium industry in the Highlands', 'The Jacobites and the Battle of Culloden', 'Poor Relief', 'Christmas in the collections', and so much more. 

To date there have been NINETY (you read that right!) such presentations, and you can find these on YouTube at www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyxasYGi8kIcL7OThf1QGsHAMACY_1DGE. If you have ancestors from the Highlands they will be of immense interest, but even if not, they still present a superb insight into the vast range of holdings available in the many wonderful archives around Scotland. 

You can find more about Lorna's series at www.highlifehighland.com/blog/learn-with-lorna-series-brings-more-people-to-highland-archive/. 

Thanks Lorna!

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.

Ancestry's new AncestryDNA Traits service

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has launched a new product, AncestryDNA Traits. 

From its announcement at https://blogs.ancestry.co.uk/ancestry/2021/11/10/ancestry-launches-genetic-traits-for-international-customers/:

Combining cutting-edge science with data, Traits allows you to discover up to 36 traits and attributes influenced by your DNA in an innovative and engaging way.  You can learn more about each of the traits you’ve inherited from your ancestors, find out who else you share that trait with and where in the world it connects you to.

Split into four categories (Fitness, Nutrients, Sensory and Appearance) the traits will help you discover whether you have the ‘sprinter gene’ or are more of an endurance person, how your body may react to certain vitamins or other nutrients.  It might reveal whether you are susceptible to sun sneezing or likely to be lactose intolerant or perhaps even what colour hair or eyes run in your family!

Additional interactive features such as ‘Around the World’ let you delve even deeper and find out where in the world your traits are most commonly found and how they might be connected to your ethnic origins.  The ‘Compare’ feature allows you to compare the genetic markers that influence your traits with friends, family, or any other AncestryDNA customer who has Traits.  You can see what today’s genetic science has to say about what you have in common with friends and family – then maybe share your findings around the dinner table with them this holiday season.

The full announcement is available at the above link. I'm not sure this one is for me really, but it will be available for new customers from November 1st, and for existing customers early next year.

(With thanks to Debbie Kennett)

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.

Pen and Sword books 30% discount this weekend

For this weekend only, Pen and Sword (www.pen-and-sword.co.uk) is offering 30% off its books in a sale. To avail yourself of the offer, use the discount code BLACKFRIDAY21. There is a free p&p in the UK for orders over £35, and the offer is valid until 29 NOV 2021.

A reminder that my Scottish and Irish Family History books are available to buy at https://pen-and-sword.co.uk/Chris-Paton/a/1799, including my new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records - they could make a great Christmas present or a well-deserved treat for yourself, and with 30% off over the next couple of days, I'd get in there!!! (But I'm biased!)

Don't forget to check out the full range of family and military history titles!

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.

Historic Environment Scotland's annual report 2020-21

From Historic Environment Scotland (www.historicenvironment.scot):

Today (23 November 2021) we published our Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020-21 & Properties in the Care (PiC) of Scottish Ministers Annual Report 2020-21.

The reports highlight how HES is delivering on its Corporate Plan - ‘Heritage For All’ and commitments, as well as providing an overview of the contribution that the organisation makes.

While the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions had a major impact on finances for the financial year and called for an immediate and comprehensive response, HES continued to make a strong impact across a number of key areas and agendas, including climate change, communities and widening opportunities for digital engagement.

Key statistics from the year include:

• Invested over £13 million through the HES grants programme, helping communities to restore their built heritage and improve their understanding of the past, including the launch of the Historic Environment Recovery Fund.
• Commercial income during this period was hit by the impact of COVID-19 and fell [87%] to £8.2 million.
• HES welcomed 246,000 visitors to the staffed sites which were able to reopen in 2020- 2021.
• A total of £25.3 million, inclusive of staff costs, was invested in conservation, maintenance and management of the PiCs.
• More than 80,000 digitised items were added to Canmore, our online archive site, bringing the total available to 1.1 million.
• We continued to make a positive contribution to net zero, with carbon emissions reduced by 34.8%, bringing the total reduction over 2014 - 2021 to 54.6%.
• Around £16.1 million generated into the Scottish economy from heritage tourism.

The full period of this Annual Report took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and the various lockdowns imposed to contain the outbreak. All staffed visitor sites were closed for the majority of the reporting period, with the re-opening of over 70% of staffed and free to access sites last summer followed just a few months later by their re-closure over the winter lockdown.

For more on the story read the full press announcement at https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/news/our-annual-report-2020-21/ and the report itself at https://www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and-research/publications/publication/?publicationId=7ccaad05-36eb-476b-a622-ade200f6989e

Comment: In terms of online resources, the report notes the following:

DIGITISED AND MADE AVAILABLE MORE THAN 80,000 images and files, bringing the total available to over 1.1 MILLION
((2019–20: 170,000 (1 million total), down 53%))

The HES also notes that "We revised our Digital Strategy, which redefines the place of digital in the future of our services, and the implementation plan was approved by HES Board in March 2021."

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.

Dublin's Registry of Deeds facilitates self-service digital photography

As part of Explore Your Archive week in Ireland, the Registry of Deeds at Henrietta Street in Dublin (https://www.prai.ie/registry-of-deeds-services/#records), part of the Property Registration Authority, has announced that it is now permitting self-service digital photography in its reading room with small hand-held cameras or mobile devices, for documents over 100 years old, and for private research only. There is no fee. The announcement follows a trial held earlier in the year.

A short video explaining the change is available at https://twitter.com/i/status/1463084616198328322.

Don't forget that black and white microfilmed images of many of the records can be accessed freely online via FamilySearch at https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/185720. Many are also indexed at https://irishdeedsindex.net.

** For more on the Registry of Deeds, and how to use it for Irish family history research, along with many other land record types, consult my book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, available to buy from Pen and Sword at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Ancestors-Through-Land-Records-Paperback/p/19283.

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.

MyHeritage DNA offer until November 26th

From MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com):

Enjoy the lowest price EVER on MyHeritage DNA — ONLY £39! That’s 50% off the regular price.

- Treat yourself and your loved ones to the perfect holiday gift.
- Discover where your ancestors came from
- Pinpoint your origins across 2,114 geographic regions
- Find new relatives through shared DNA

Buy as many kits as you want for ONLY £39 each!
Enjoy FREE SHIPPING on orders of 2+ kits and a beautiful gift wrap option.

*Offer expires on November 26, 2021, at 11:59 PM 

To order visit visit https://www.myheritage.com/order/3035127085/CampaignSite.Email/items-bag?s=68768861&processor=adyen

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 14th conference on December 5th

Scottish Indexes (www.scottishindexes.com) has announced the schedule for its 14th conference on December 5th 2021. The programme of talks will be run twice during the day, with live Q&As after each sessions and in the two dedicated hour long Q&A sessions. 

The following are the scheduled talks and their times in the UK and Ireland:

First session

07.00    Introduction
07.10     ‘Dundee's Tallest Tenement’ by Jennifer Jolly
08.00    ‘Tracing Jewish families in Scotland and Central/Eastern Europe’ by Michael Tobias
09.10    'Scottish Marriage: Instantly Buckled for Life’ by Chris Paton
10.20    ‘Ae Fond Kiss and then we sever’ by Kirsty Wilkinson
11.30    Genealogy Q & A hosted by Graham and Emma Maxwell
12.30    'Tips for tracing your 18th century Scottish ancestors online' by Andrew Armstrong
13.25    ‘Business Records for the Family Historian’ by Dr Irene O’Brien
14.30    ‘Solving Brickwalls’ by Emma Maxwell

Second session

15.00    Introduction
15.10     ‘Dundee's Tallest Tenement’ by Jennifer Jolly
16.00    ‘Tracing Jewish families in Scotland and Central/Eastern Europe’ by Michael Tobias
17.10    'Scottish Marriage: Instantly Buckled for Life’ by Chris Paton
18.20    ‘Ae Fond Kiss and then we sever’ by Kirsty Wilkinson
19.30    Genealogy Q & A hosted by Graham and Emma Maxwell
20.30    'Tips for tracing your 18th century Scottish ancestors online' by Andrew Armstrong
21.25    ‘Business Records for the Family Historian’ by Dr Irene O’Brien
22.30    ‘Solving Brickwalls’ by Emma Maxwell

For equivalent schedules in different time zones around the world, please visit www.scottishindexes.com, where you can also find details on how to sign up. The conference is free to attend, although donations to the organisers are welcomed.

I look forward to seeing 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.

AncestryDNA sale until November 29th

From Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk):

Now is the perfect time to explore your family story. Order AncestryDNA® today for only £49* – our lowest price of the year. Offer ends Monday the 29th. ONLY £49* (normally £79) + shipping 

*Offer ends 29 Nov 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Excludes shipping. Terms apply. 

To order kits visit https://www.ancestry.co.uk/checkout/MLI

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.