TheGenealogist completes project to link census entries to maps

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

TheGenealogist Unveils 1841 Census on its Innovative Map Explorer
Discover over 18.4 million individuals on historical maps

Leading genealogy research website TheGenealogist has announced the integration of the 1841 census into its cutting-edge MapExplorerTM tool. This significant addition allows family historians and researchers to delve deeper into their ancestral past with unprecedented geographical context.

Key Highlights:
●    The 1841 census, the first modern census of England, Scotland and Wales, is now on TheGenealogist's MapExplorer.
●    Locate your ancestors to the parish, street or even house they lived in
●    Over 18.4 million individuals are recorded in the 1841 census and you can now explore their neighbourhoods
●    Users can visualise their ancestors' locations on historical maps, providing a unique perspective on family history

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Development at TheGenealogist, stated, "We're proud to announce the completion of our project to "map the census". Never before could you pin down your ancestors through each year, from 1841 all the way to the 1939 register. This visual approach to genealogy brings the past to life in ways never before possible."

Found in these records is Surgeon Nurse Eliza Roberts, the forgotten hero of the Crimea, read her story here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2024/eliza-roberts-a-forgotten-pioneer-in-nursing-7666/

To celebrate this release, for a limited time you can claim a Diamond Subscription for just £99.45, a saving of £40. You can claim this offer here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBCEN924

Offer expires 30th December 2024.

Comment: The Scottish component of the MapExplorer tool is for the 1841-1901 censuses. The Scottish 1911-1921 censuses are only available on ScotlandsPeople, whilst the 1939 National Identity Register for Scotland is only available from the NRS.

(With thanks to Paul Bayley)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Ancestry adds index to UK professional boxers 1900-1979

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added another third party index to its database, this time documenting professional boxers:

Web: United Kingdom, Index of Professional Boxers, 1900-1979
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/70956/
Source: boxinghistory.org.uk. https://www.boxinghistory.org.uk/alist.html Accessed: Jan 2024.

The site that it leads to, www.boxinghistory.org.uk, is the work of boxing historian Miles Templeton.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

British Newspaper Archive passes 84 million pages of content

The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) has just passed 84 million pages of content, with 84,006,438 pages at the time of writing.

The following are the latest additions for Scotland and Ireland over the last 30 days - it's not a lot:

Scotland

Kirkintilloch Herald
1961

Falkirk Herald
1993-1994, 1996-1997

Motherwell Times
1990

Carluke and Lanark Gazette
1987, 1992, 1994

Galloway Gazette
1996-1998

Milngavie and Bearsden Herald
1903

Brechin Advertiser
1993

Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties' Advertiser
1964


Ireland

Belfast News-Letter
1997, 2001

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Back to university in Glasgow!

So that's me now back at university! On Monday, I started the year long (well, nine months!) Certificate HE course in Gaelic Immersion at the University of Glasgow, which is essentially a full-time attendance based course that will allow me to become fully fluent in Scottish Gaelic. I've been able to speak in Gaelic for a while, and properly to have conversations for almost two years now, but as a learner there's still that process of constantly translating in the head, as opposed to just speaking a language without thinking. This course, taught entirely in Gaelic, will hopefully push me through the pain barrier to full fluency, and perhaps towards pastures new after, although predominantly fluency is my main goal. This is my fourth time at university, having previously studied for an HND in Graphic Design at the University of Ulster in Belfast, a degree in Time-Based Media at the University of the West of England, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, but I can honestly say that this is the one that I think that I have been looking forward to the most, and with the least pressure in terms of a pre-determined outcome. I'm going to enjoy this one!

As part of the course we'll be doing all sorts of assessed work, reading a Gaelic book each week and meeting the authors, doing weekly work experience in a Gaelic speaking environment, spending three weeks in South Uist next year, and much more. I'm in a class of fifteen, and the vibe is brilliant, everyone is rooting for each other and enjoying the craic - it'sdefinitely going to be a fun year. This is me pictured outside the university's library, where tomorrow I will be popping in to see a book written by a five times great uncle, which was published in 1870!

From a work point of view the only casualty will be that I am having to cut back considerably on client work (I will be doing very little at all on that for a while, but may be able to take on some small jobs), but it is business as usual on all other fronts, including Pharos courses tuition, giving talks, writing articles, book writing, and so on - and of course, going to Australia for three weeks in November/December for the 18th Unlock the Past Genealogy Cruise (https://www.gould.com.au/18th-cruise-southern-australia/) as the lead speaker! I will continue to put out a newsletter weekly, but may need to revisit that decision if the workload gets a bit too heavy.

In the meantime, a quick heads up that on Tuesday, October 17th, I will be giving a talk to the Joint Meeting of the Ayrshire Family History Societies, entitled Breaking Ancestral Brick Walls with DNA, to show how powerful DNA can be as a tool to help smash your genealogical headaches. The meeting will be at Troon Portland Church Hall, South Beach, Troon, at 7:30 pm.

I will hopefully see some of you there!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Strathclyde Institute of Genealogical Studies talk on Punjab Registers

From the Strathclyde Institute of Genealogy Studies (Strathclyde University):

Join us on Wednesday the 23rd of October (18.00 - 19.00 BST) for the fourth Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies’ Spotlight Talk featuring Dr Tejpal Ralmill and Professor Gavin Rand.

In this talk, Tej and Gavin will introduce the ‘Punjab Registers’ – a unique collection of archival records which reveal the scale of India’s ‘contribution’ to the First World War. Housed in the Lahore Museum, the Punjab Registers detail the names, biographies and service histories of some 320,000 recruits from colonial Punjab.

As part of a project undertaken by the UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) and the University of Greenwich, the Registers have recently been digitised and transcribed. The digitised Registers – all of which will be available online in due course – provide a unique resource for academic historians, as well as for genealogists and family historians, particularly those from the global Punjabi diaspora.

Tej and Gavin will discuss their work on the Registers to date and the next steps for their project, as well as reflecting on what the Registers tell us about the complex, and sometimes controversial, legacies of empire in the twenty-first century.

Reserve your FREE place using the 'Book Online' via https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/news/sigsspotlighttalks/.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

FamilySearch's RootsTech 2025 event registration is open

From FamilySearch's RootsTech (https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/):

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (25 September 2024)—RootsTech by FamilySearch is excited to announce that registration for RootsTech 2025 is now open! RootsTech, the premier global family discovery event, will take place from March 6–8, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and online at RootsTech.org. Select content will be available in multiple languages. Register or learn more now at RootsTech.org.

This year’s event promises to be an unforgettable experience, offering an exciting mix of in-person and online events designed to inspire and educate family history enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you are a seasoned genealogist or just beginning your family discovery journey, RootsTech 2025 has something for everyone. It’s a great place to connect with old friends, make new ones, and expand your social network. RootsTech 2024 attendees made more than 350 million new family connections.

Highlights of RootsTech 2025

• Hundreds of Classes: Choose from a wide variety of online and in-person classes and workshops led by industry experts, covering topics for beginners to advanced research techniques.
• Expo Hall: Explore the latest innovations and products.
• Inspiring Main Stage Sessions: Enjoy presentations from celebrities, influencers, and experts who will share their personal family stories and insights.
• Family Discovery Day: This free event on Saturday, March 8, is filled with fun activities, games, and discovery ideas for the entire family.

Registration Details

• In-Person Conference: Early bird registration is available for just $99 and will increase to $129 on November 1, 2024. Be among the first 1,000 registrants to receive a limited-edition RootsTech pin.
• Online Conference: Receive free access to all virtual sessions and events on RootsTech.org.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with family history enthusiasts from around the world, and discover new ways to explore your family’s story. Register today at RootsTech.org.

What Is RootsTech?

RootsTech is a place to learn, be inspired, and make connections through family history. Hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by other leading genealogy organizations, we have hundreds of classes, tips and tricks videos, and inspiring stories that can help you experience family history like never before. Visit our on-demand learning library, or plan to join us for our next virtual or in-person conference event. RootsTech 2025 offers a wide range of 200+ sessions, exhibitors, and experiences to help attendees discover, remember, and share their stories. 

Register via https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Latest Irish Genealogy Matters newsletter now available

The latest Irish Genealogy Matters, the newsletter from the Irish Family History Foundation, the publishers of the RootsIreland website at www.rootsireland.ie, is available to read at https://www.rootsireland.ie/2024/09/new-issue-of-irish-genealogy-matters-published-3/.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

ScotlandsPeople Centre to reduce opening hours

The ScotlandsPeople Centre (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/visit-us) in Edinburgh is to reduce its opening hours from September 30th, in what it describes as a move being done on a 'pilot basis over the winter months'. From Monday 30th, the weekday opening hours will be from 9.00am to 4.00pm, half an hour shorter than the current closing time.

According to the ScotlandsPeople Centre, "There will be an opportunity for customers to provide feedback from the start of the pilot period" i.e. after the new hours are in operation. This sounds to me like civil service spin, with the decision already taken; it does not sound like consultation.

Once again, a really poor show from the National Records of Scotland. 

Just for context, in Belfast, PRONI has started re-opening on Thursday evenings until 8.00pm, recognising that not all of its user base can get to the archive from 9-5 each day.

Which national archive do you think understands its user base better?

(Source: https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/news-and-articles/changes-opening-hours)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

23andMe's independent board directors resign

More bad news for DNA company 23andMe (www.23andme.com), which has not been having a good time of it of late:

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The independent directors of the Board of 23andMe Holding Co. (Nasdaq: ME), today sent the following letter to Anne Wojcicki, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder, and Chair of the Board of Directors of 23andMe, in which the independent directors have provided their resignation from the Board, effective immediately:

Dear Anne,

We, the independent directors of the 23andMe Board, hereby tender our resignations, effective immediately.

After months of work, we have yet to receive from you a fully financed, fully diligenced, actionable proposal that is in the best interests of the non-affiliated shareholders. We believe the Special Committee and the Board have provided ample time for you to submit such a proposal. That we have not seen any notable progress over the last 5 months leads us to believe no such proposal is forthcoming. The Special Committee is therefore unwilling to consider further extensions, and the Board agrees with the Special Committee’s determination.

While we continue to wholeheartedly support the Company’s mission and believe deeply in the value of the personalized health and wellness offering that you have articulated, it is also clear that we differ on the strategic direction for the Company going forward. Because of that difference and because of your concentrated voting power, we believe that it is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders that we resign from the Board rather than have a protracted and distracting difference of view with you as to the direction of the Company.

We are proud of what 23andMe has achieved in pioneering direct access to genetic information, and we have been honored to have had the opportunity to be part of those efforts.

Sincerely,

/s/

Roelof Botha, Patrick Chung, Sandra Hernández, M.D., Neal Mohan, Valerie Montgomery Rice M.D., Richard Scheller, Ph.D., Peter J. Taylor 

(Original release at https://investors.23andme.com/news-releases/news-release-details/independent-directors-23andme-resign-board)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Dundee's Local and Family History Fair this coming Saturday 21st September

Thanks to Ken Nisbet for the following news of the Local and Family History Fair in Dundee this coming Saturday 21st September, from 10am-4pm: 

Come along to this free event to find out more about Family and Local History in the Dundee and wider Tayside and Fife areas. 

There will be stalls hosted by local archives, family history societies, local heritage groups and much more. There will also be an exhibition of records held at the Dundee City Archives. If you are interested in local history, would like to do your own research or are interested in starting a family tree, why not come along and have a chat. 

There will be stalls hosted by: Abertay Historical Society, Angus Archives, Dundee City Archives, Dundee Museum of Transport, OnFife Archives, Fife Family History Society, Local History Centre at Dundee Central Library (Dundee Libraries), Perth & Kinross Archives, Tay Valley Family History Society, Archive Collections, University of Dundee, and the Western Front Association. 

There will also be 2 free talks on local history: 

• 11am: What's in a Name? A street history of Broughty Ferry and Monifieth by Callum Webster.
• 2pm: The Wellgate Project: creative collaborations inspired by family histories by Erin Farley. There will also be an exhibition of records held at Dundee City Archives. 

The event will take place in both the St Andrews Hall and Glasite Hall at the Kingsgait Church (formerly St Andrews Church) on King Street Dundee. 

Teas, coffees and snacks will be available for purchase at the event (cash only).

For further details please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-and-family-history-fair-tickets-1009152962677?aff=oddtdtcreato.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - 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 tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.