Happy Birthday Glenrothes!

Glenrothes is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The town, constructed under the New Towns Act (Scotland) in 1948, was initially designed to accomodate miners at the Rothes Colliery, but this closed just four years later. It was later reinvented as an electronics centre, and then later still as the seat of local government for Fife.

I spent three interesting months with Fife Council's Trading Standards department in Glenrothes in 2005 as part of a BBC Scotland documentary series called The Enforcers, and one other thing that I can absolutely confirm is that the town also does a great line in roundabouts! But it has some great pubs and friendly folk, and hopefully the locals will have a wee bevy or two to celebrate!

For more info, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7481090.stm.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

DNA tests connecting Ulster Scots to North Americans

Genealogy seesm to be a big thing these days with the media and Senator John McCain, the US presidential hopeful. Apart from the "is he or is he not descended from Robert the Bruce" question, now a Northern Irish member of the McCain diaspora has connected himself to the Republican politician. The findings form just one of many talks at a symposium on Ulster's extended diaspora at the Ulster American Folk Park's Centre for Migration Studies.

For more info, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7476058.stm.

And for the history of the Scots in Ireland, you can read my free to access online article at http://www.scotlandsgreateststory.bravehost.com/ulsterscots.html.


Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Aberdeenshire's Glenbuchat Ballads to be performed

The BBC is reporting that the 19th Century Glenbuchat ballads, including the "Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie" are to be performed locally for the first time since their donation to Aberdeen University in 1949 and subsequent publication last year. Unfortunately, the piece does not actually state when the songs will be performed!

For more information, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7477243.stm

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Forthcoming Scottish Lectures and Events - July 2008

The Slave Trade and its Implications for Genealogy, by Dr Eric J Graham
University of Strathclyde Genealogy Lecture Series
Tuesday 1 July 2008 at 6.30pm, Ground floor (Level 2), Graham Hills Building, 40 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1QE Cost £3
Web: www.cll.strath.ac.uk/genealogy
Tel: 0141 5484147


James Watt – His Life and Times, by Bill Dow
Friends of Dundee City Archives
Thursday 3 July 2008 at 1.00pm, Glasite Hall, St. Andrew's Church, King Street, Dundee
Web: www.fdca.org.uk


Visit to Eilean Chaluim Chille (by Loch Erisort, Isle of Lewis)
Comann Eachdraidh na Pairc
Saturday 5 July at 11.30am - assembly at the road into Crobeg (left off the Cromore road). Free barbecue, with all welcome.


Cèilidh air an airidh: Visit to Mealista Sheiling
Comann Eachdraidh Uig, Harris
Saturday 12 July at 10.00am, meet at Mealista pier.
Web: www.ceuig.com


Scottish Border Rievers, by Susan McLean
Genealogical Society of Victoria (Australia)
Thursday 17 July 2008 12.30am – 2.00pm, at GSV Meeting Room
E-mail: gsv@gsv.org.au
Web: www.gsv.org.au


Islands of Loch Roag, and boat trip to Little Bernera (weather permitting), by Jim Crawford
The Islands Book Trust
Saturday 19 July at 10.30am, Great Bernera Community Centre
Web: www.theislandsbooktrust.com
Contact Alayne Barton at (01851 820946) for more information, or to book


Visit to New Register House
The Lothians Family History Society
Wednesday 23 July 2008 18.30 – 21.00
Email: lothiansfhs@hotmail.com
Web: www.lothiansfhs.org.uk


Using ScotlandsPeople
Genealogical Society of Victoria (Australia)
Tuesday 29 July 2008 at 2.00pm (Members Only)
E-mail: gsv@gsv.org.au
Web: www.gsv.org.au


Using ScotlandsPeople
Genealogical Society of Victoria (Australia)
Thursday 31 July 2008 at 2.00pm (Members Only)
E-mail: gsv@gsv.org.au
Web: www.gsv.org.au

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

DNA Ancestry - UK discount offer

Ancestry.co.uk is offering a 50% discount on its DNA testing products until September 30th 2008. The basic Y-Chromosome 33 test is now $74.50, the Y-Chromosome 46 test is at $99.50 (both for the paternal line) and its mitochondrial DNA test (for the maternal line) is now just $89.50. For more information visit www.ancestry.co.uk/halfprice .

To learn more about how Ancestry's genetic genealogy service works, you can read the free to access Scotland's Greatest Story beginner's guide, available at our website through the following link: Discover Genetic Cousins at Ancestry .

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Deceased Online website

A new site with a lot of potential for family historians with a connection to England or Wales, is the new Deceased Online website, as revealed on Simon Fowler's "Ancestors" magazine blog. The service, currently still in test form, promises to provide digital scans from burial and crematoria registers for councils based down south, though at present has just one council on board, Tunbridge Wells in Kent. There is a free search facility, with copies then available to be ordered.

The following is the service's press release:

Using the Internet to find Census records and entries in the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages is fairly simple, but until now there has been no central facility for searching UK burial and cremation register records. Anyone wishing to find a grave, or details of a burial or cremation, has to approach each burial authority or crematorium individually, and in the UK there are over 10,000 cemeteries and nearly 250 crematoria! With genealogy becoming ever more popular, this is a very unsatisfactory situation.

Deceased Online is about to change all this. A central web server will store regularly updated copies of computerised register data from all participating cemeteries and crematoria, providing the first ever national database of its kind. Powerful web-based searching facilities will then allow enquirers to find burial and cremation records by name, date and locality, with the option to retrieve further related information, such as digitised images of the original register pages, photographs of headstones and other memorials, scans of book of remembrance pages, and maps to locate graves in cemeteries. One feature that will excite family researchers, and which is missing from other types of genealogy web site, is the ability to list all other interments in a located grave, enabling key family connections to be made.

As with other genealogy websites, an initial search on name and date will be free, and credits can be purchased on-line to access further information.

This national service will be invaluable to amateur and professional genealogists, who will no longer have to make hundreds of individual searches, as well as to cemetery and crematorium managers, who are being encouraged by the Government to open their register data to public Internet access.

Bereavement Services managers requiring further information can contact Deceased Online on 01273 207203 or by email at info@deceasedonline.co.uk.

Whilst it has a terrible title (it could have been worse - e.g. The Dead dot com!), it is definitely a site to keep an eye on.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

New Family History event to rival WDYTYA? LIVE

For some time I have been hearing talk that the English based Family History Societies have been deeply unhappy about the high costs charged for stalls by the Who Do You Think You Are? Live event. A table at the Olympia event costs £400 plus VAT, though the FHSs do get a discount, but it is felt that this is still relatively high for many organisations constituted on a charitable basis. The high costs involved, and the moving of the date for the next event forward to February has deeply upset many people within the FHS movement, so much so that they have now decided to form their very own Rebel Alliance to do something about it!

A new event has now been organised, provisionally entitled The FH Event, booked for the first May Day bank holiday in 2009. It has its own website available, at which you can register for updates, at http://www.cabinter.net/cabs/thefhevent/index.html , and futher information can also be obtained from the organisers by calling 0844 4780410 (calls cost 5p a minute), by e-mail at mail@theFHevent.info or by post at PO Box 2420, Purley, Surrey, CR8 3DX.

This new event is not organised by the Federation of Family History Societies or any other umbrella body, it is very much a meeting of minds at the grass roots level with the emphasis on once again making it affordable for societies, though at this early stage some of these bodies have expressed an interest.

The venue has been confirmed in London, though details will not be released until final agreements are in place with the Borough Council involved. More news is expected within the next few weeks.

(Thanks to Jill at The FH Event, and to Guy Etchells at the Your Family Tree magazine forum)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Robert Mugabe stripped of KCB

Robert Mugabe has been stripped of his knighthood by the Queen, which was given to him in 1994, when he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. But what is the Order of the Bath?

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath was founded on May 18th 1725 by George I, and derives its name from the medieval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved a ritual of bathing to symbolise purification.

It has three classes of members, being the Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GCB); the Knight Commander (KCB) or Dame Commander (DCB); and a Companion (CB). In addition it has the Sovereign (the current Queen), and a Great Master (Prince Charles). The order's chapel is at Henry VII Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey.

The order also has six officers, being the Dean, the Bath King of Arms (responsible for heraldry), the Registrar and Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, the Genealogist, and the Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod. Previously there was a seventh officer, the Messenger, but this role was abolished in 1859.

Other orders of chivalry include the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick and the Most Noble Order of the Garter. No knighthoods have been conferred through the Order of Patrick since the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922. The Order of the Bath is the fourth in order of seniority.

Mugabe was bestowed an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, which allowed him to use the KCB letters after his name, but not the title "Sir". At his last investiture as President, he wore the Order's star on his left breast pocket. Not any more!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

New Dundee women's history trail

A new history trail has been created in Dundee to recognise 25 women of historic importance to the city. Names celebrated include missionary Mary Slessor, maramalade maker Janet Keiller, and suffragette Ethel Moorhead.

For more information visit www.dundeewomenstrail.org.uk. A book on the subject is also available from the site priced £6.99, entitled "Dundee Women's Trail, by Mary Henderson.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Royal opening for ScotlandsPeople Centre

Her Majesty the Queen is to offically open the new ScotlandsPeople Centre on the morning of Friday, July 4th 2008, as confirmed by the Royal Diary's future events page at http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page3950.asp. Following the visit, she will then visit the Queen Margaret University Campus in Edinburgh and open the new Campus.

According to Talking Scot poster TAFKAM, "Work is frantically continuing apace at SP HQ - all the bothies are now gone from the courtyard - all going to look nice and spick and span for Her Majesty's visit on 4th July!" Well, it's the least they could do for the old girl!

Although this is an official ceremony to open the centre, it will not be formally up and running for the public until, it is believed, August 25th, and until this point both the GROS and NAS will operate under current arrangements.

For many years, researchers in Scotland have been able to explore their family histories within the General Register Office for Scotland and National Archives buildings, both of which sit just metres away from each other at the far end of Princes Street, across from the famous Balmoral Hotel. The Victorian GROS building also hosts the Court of the Lord Lyon, the body legally responsible for all things heraldic in the country, which is situated on the first floor. The new centre is a collaboration between these three bodies, and will be hosted in refurbished search rooms located both within the current GROS building and on the ground floor of the National Archives.

As well as the digitised births, marriages and deaths images currently available at the GROS, and the census returns, there will be some major new additions. The Public Register of All Arms and Bearings, which depicts every coat of arms granted within the country from 1672 to 1906 (along with many detailed genealogies), has been digitised and indexed, and will be available at the click of a button - that’s about 12,000 entries in total – and users will also be able to view Scottish wills and testaments up to 1901 at their screens.

Already in the pipeline is the digitisation of the Roman Catholic baptismal and marriage registers, held by the Scottish Catholic Archives, and the indexing of the already digitised 1881 Census and pre-1855 death records held by the GROS, which will be made available towards the end of the year. Further down the road, the digitised Kirk Session Registers, currently available on the first floor of the National Archives building, will also be made available at the same terminals.

Hosting all of these records is a new computer set-up which will replace the current DIGROS search system, which will work in a similar way to the external Scotland’s People website. This is currently undergoing final tests. Users will have accounts within which they can save up to 200 images of records, meaning that they can return at any stage to pick up from where they have left off. There will also be a screen providing links to certain external websites such as Find My Past, through which people can access their own accounts, meaning that it will be possible to access additional information that may also help them. Customers will also be able to get black and white paper prints from the statutory, census and OPR records, but will also be offered a facility to save records directly to a USB memory stick, for a pound per image, and to have large colour prints done from the Public Register if one of their ancestors had a personal coat of arms recorded, though this will be at a higher price still to be determined.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Who Do You Think You Are LIVE 2009

The next Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE event has been confirmed as taking place between February 27th and March 1st 2009, on the site's website at www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk.

The move to an earlier date has prompted a lot of criticism from many FHSs and suppliers who believe that the May bank holiday helps to bring the crowds in, and there are fears that an earlier event may have a diminished attendance. I also know personally of one unhappy publisher who has had to bring forward a book deadline by two months because of this, and one of the major Scottish institutions has already told me that they are unlikely to attend, as the funding for their participation would fall into the same business year as the last event. There has also been criticism from some that the event is always based in London - certainly there was only one Scottish family history society present, though ironically, they came all the way from Shetland!

In the event's defence, it still remains the premiere event for genealogists, and combined with the archaeology and history shows will, in my opinion, will certainly be worth the effort for the humble consumer in attendance. It remains to be seen whether the rescheduling move has any negative impact on the turnout, however - both for the public and the vendors!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Griffith's Valuation - new site

If you have Irish ancestors and wish to find them in the 19th Century Griffith's Valuation, visit http://staging.askaboutireland.ie/gv4/gv_family_search_form.php . The site is free and has digitised images of the published results.

Gosh, the Irish are getting good on the genealogy front these days, aren't they?!!!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Tay Valley Family Historian No. 80 June 2008

The latest issue of the Tay Valley Family Historian, produced by the Tay Valley Family History Society (http://www.tayvalleyfhs.org.uk/), has just come through my letterbox, and it is a cracker. There are articles on the Battle of Rorke's Drift, a Perthshire murder, the Kirk O' the Muir in Kinclaven, the Tayside Police Museum, the lost Perthshire village of Strelitz, Dundee asylums, and more.

I was previously a member of TVFHS, and had always been disappointed at the coverage of Perthshire (my ancestral patch), but this issue really fairly reflects the geographic area covered by the society. The journal has also recently undergone something of a revamp, and in terms of quality, I think it is fair to say that it is by far the slickest on the bookshelf just now, printed as it is in full colour, and at an impressive 64 pages.

Copies can be obtained either through society membership, or by contacting tvfhs@tayvalleyfhs.org.uk

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

ScotlandsPeople Centre update

A poster on the Talking Scot forum (http://www.talkingscot.com/) has stated that the opening date for the new ScotlandsPeople Centre has been fixed for August 25th 2008. The official website (www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk) merely states the following on the matter:


Opening Date - Although we are unable yet to give an opening date for the centre we hope to be in a position to make an announcement sometime in July. We are in the final stages of developing and testing the software and once that is complete we will be in a position to make an announcement.

Prior to opening it will be possible for customers to pre book and pre pay for seats and it is strongly recommended that anyone planning to visit the centre makes use of this facility. This will alleviate queuing, especially in the first few days after opening. Full details of how and when customers will be able to do this will be announced here in the coming weeks.


The minutes of the center's user group are online at the site through the following link: ScotlandsPeople Centre Usergroup April 2008. Some interesting points include the following:

a) once a cafe is up and running in the new centre, it will no longer be possible to eat your own food brought to the centre

b) internet booking will not be initiated through the main centre website until after the opening of the centre (The main site now states "It is hoped that an online booking system for seats will be operational late in 2008 or early 2009")

c) the opening date is conditional on successful load testing on the computer system being introduced

d) there have been major problems with resourcing that have prevented updates to the centre's website - it is hoped this will be addressed in order to keep the public appraised of progress, as was originally planned

e) there is a possibility that local authority archives may become available in the centre at a future stage

As announced before, the official high profile ceremony to acknowledge the end of construction of the new centre will take place on the morning of July 4th.

In the meantime, a few pics by way of a sneak preview! (All images (c) Chris Paton)

The Mathieson Dome

The Reid Search Room, prior to computer installation

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Six months on...!

Well it has been six months since I made the first post on this blog, and I just wanted to say a huge thanks to all those who have given their support to it so far - there are currently over 350 unique visitors a week, and the figure is still climbing!

I am always keen to hear any kind of contructive critique about the coverage, and to learn if there are other areas that you might be interested in me featuring. The blog remains free for those wishing to let me know about new products or events that may be of interest to those researching their Scottish family history, but are there other areas that you wish to see covered? Should there be more English based coverage, more on the Scots diaspora worldwide, or perhaps more general history events, for example? And has the blog helped you in any way?

I'd love to hear about your thoughts and comments, so feel free to e-mail me at enquiry@scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk if you've anything you would like to share!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Your Family Tree 66 (July 2008) on sale

The latest issue of Your Family Tree (Your Family History overseas) has just gone on sale, and features a range of interesting articles, covering military prisoners of war, childhood records, the London Metropolitan Police, doctors, Welsh ancestors and more.

Yours very truly makes two humble contributions this month, first through a case study involving my grandparents' experience in the Belfast Blitz of Easter Tuesday 1941, and the second on how to get started with your research into gravestone inscriptions.

Your Family Tree is on sale at all wonderful, wonderful newsagents...!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

A diary entry in error....!

As any genealogist knows, diaries are important documents, and so it was with great delight that my seven year old son allowed me to read his school diary last night, within which he had been asked by the teacher to make occasional reports about events going on in his life.

The following is his diary entry for his recent brthday party...

Yesterday it was my birthday. My favrit present was my new bike. At my party I was Darthfader on blind mans buff. My Dad cheated. When the pinyata fell down we all put our hands in it. When Ross and Jason were the only ones there we were pirates.

I would like to point out that I have never cheated at Blind Man's Buff - I was merely peering over the blindfold for health and safety reasons...!

(To think that this document will be one of many that will inform future generations about me - tsk!)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Bonnie Prince Charlie?

London based art dealer Bendor Grosvenor might be throwing a spanner in the works with regard to one of the most iconic images of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the famous pastel image created by Maurice Quentin de la Tour. Grosvenor has used computer aided research to compare the image with that of a picture showing Charles' brother, Henry, later to become a Cardinal in Rome, and he believes that the alleged Charlie picture is in fact another of Henry, in military garb. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery refutes the claim - have a look at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7465452.stm and see what you think!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk

Scotland's Greatest Story

Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

DNA testing under fire in California

There's a fascinating story unfolding in California just now, as recounted by Dick Eastman on his American based genealogy blog (http://blog.eogn.com). It looks like the baddies are trying to shut down all non-state run DNA testing facilities, including genealogical testing facilities.

According to California's Chief of Laboratory Services in the Health Department, Karen Nickles, "We [are] no longer tolerating direct-to-consumer genetic testing in California." Cease-and-desist letters have been sent to 13 different companies in the State. The full story can be explored further at http://www.wired.com/medtech/genetics/news/2008/06/ca_dna . Nickles has quoted several California statutes in her defence in her letters, such as the Business and Professions Code Section 1241, which requires that "all clinical laboratories in California ... possess a clinical laboratory license", and Business and Professions Code Section 1288, which requires a doctor's note for all laboratory tests, unless, like pregnancy tests, they are specifically exempt from that law. She claims that "Genetic tests are NOT exempt" and that "As such, the test must be ordered by a physician or surgeon". Twenty five DNA companies in the state are under investigation, of which the 13 have been ordered to stop immediately and to "desist from ever doing it again".

On Dick's blog, a comment from reader 'Bill' in Texas seems to reflect the response in a beautifully American way: "Karen Nickles needs a glass naval - so she can see where she is going with her head up her butt". Far be it for me to argue with Texas Bill...!

(By the way, a new series of Big Brother has just started on Channel Four...!)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Tartan Register passes first hurdle

Plans for a tartan register to be maintained by the National Archives of Scotland have passed the first hurdle in the Scottish Parliament today. The bill will now proceed to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny. For more information see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7461981.stm

The tartan industry generates £350 million a year to the Scottish economy, and the plan is to charge between £80 and £100 to register a new tartan each time one is created. There are currently about 7000 different tartans in existence.

Rumours that a database on shortbread tins following suit is entirely unfounded...! lol

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

English and Welsh trade directories online at FamilyRelatives.com

FamilyRelatives.com have announced the addition of a series of Pigot's trade directories online for the following English and Welsh counties between 1828 and 1839. These are for Bedfordshire 1839, Cambridgeshire 1830, Derbyshire 1835, Durham 1834, Essex 1839, Herefordshire 1835, Hertfordshire 1839, Huntingdonshire 1830, Kent 1839, Leicestershire 1835, Lincolnshire 1835, London 1839, Middlesex 1839, Monmouthshire 1835, Norfolk 1839, North Wales 1835, Northumberland 1828, Nottinghamshire 1835, Rutlandshire 1835, Shropshire 1835, South Wales 1835, Staffordshire 1835, Suffolk 1830, Surrey 1839, Sussex 1839, Warwickshire 1835, and Worcestershire 1835.

No sign of any Scottish directories online just yet, but Northern Irish directories from 1819 to 1900 can be accessed at the PRONI demo site at http://proni.aetopia.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/StreetDirectories

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

DNA tests helping adoptees

There's a good article on the BBC news site today outlining how adoptees are using commercial DNA testing companies to try to work out their biological surname. It can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7459578.stm

For more information on how DNA can be used in genealogy, I've written a couple of articles on the subject in the past for Your Family Tree magazine, which I have subsequently adapted after publication and placed online for free access. The first is a beginners guide to DNA, which can be found at the Talking Scot forum entitled A Beginners Guide to Genetic Genealogy ; the second is a users guide for the groundbreaking DNA Ancestry service which is on the Scotland's Greatest Story website, entitled DNA and Genealogy.

It is important to remember that DNA use in genealogy is not going to provide a magic solution to a brick wall you might have on its own. Despite a lot of the hype, it is simply a tool that can help to smash a brick wall - you will still need good old fashioned research to help the process!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

2011 Scottish Census

Next year, on March 29th 2009, 50,000 households in Lewis, Harris and West Edinburgh will be able to fill in a test census online in a trial run for the main event on March 27th 2011, as opposed to the traditional paper version. This follows the GROS award of an £18.5 million contract to CACI (UK) to handle the entire census process.

On the GROS website, Registrar General Duncan MacNiven has commented on the decision:

"The next census is the first to offer people the online questionnaire option. We studied other countries' approach to using the internet for census returns and concluded that it offers many benefits.

"Householders can choose the method that is most convenient to them: a paper or online questionnaire. The online option has the potential to improve the quality of results because we can help people navigate through the questionnaire and consider how to answer each question.

"Our dedicated web site will have robust security security measures in place to protect peoples confidential information.

"GROS continues to have responsibility for the design and delivery of Scotland's census. The contract announced today means we can also commission modern technology to enhance other areas of the census programme, such as high-speed scanners and software to read handwriting and tick boxes.

"Everyone's census record remains private for 100 years after the census. CACI (UK) and its team of supporting companies will abide by confidentiality guarantees, backed by census legislation and the Data Protection Act.

"2011 marks 150 years since GROS took responsibility for organising Scotland's census. Our task now is to work with our suppliers as one team to ensure the 2011 Census reflects the needs of Scotland's population as quickly and efficiently as possible."

In principal it is is a good idea on many fronts, and certainly more convenient. My only concern is that the digital data survives the hundred years before it is released to the genealogy enthusiasts of the future.

It will be interesting to see what the rehearsal throws up next year, but personally, I think I'll be filling out the form, and then photocopying it for the family files - though if I did it online, I suppose I could keep the original paper copy of the form and save myself 10p on the photocopier...!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

TARA aerial photos collection moves to Scotland

The Aerial Reconnaissance Archive, aka TARA, is moving from Keele University to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in Edinburgh. The majority of the archive's images comes from the Allied Central Interpretation Unit (ACIU), the headquarters of photographic intelligence during World War II, which was based at Medmenham in Buckinghamshire. The collection includes Luftwaffe images of Clydebank used during the Blitz, and the photograph taken of the Bismarck in a Norwegian fjord, which led to her sinking by the Royal Navy. The archive also features images from later conflicts, including Suez, the Korean War and the Falklands conflict.

Once the TARA collection reaches Edinburgh, it is hoped that it can be preserved, further digitised and then made accessible to the general public. The move should take about six months.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Prince William becomes Knight of the Garter

Prince William has joined the highest order of chivalry in the land, the Order of the Garter, becoming a Royal Knight Companion. It's possibly not a surprise to see him joining the order, first established in 1348 by Edward III, bearing in mind that he will one day become the king! The prince's entry into the order makes him the 1000th person to appear in its register.

For more on the story, and a video showing him in full garb, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7457000.stm, and for more on the Order itself, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Garter

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
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(The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain 1853 is available from SGS, priced £12.99 +p&p - see website for details!)

Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme unveiled

Next year sees the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, and the country is celebrating with a year long package of events under the umbrella title of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Amongst the many events of genealogical interest will be the Scottish Mining Museum's Mayfest (May 1-4), Culloden - From Battle to Exile (May 9-10), Meet your Ancestors in Clackmannanshire (Jun-Nov), the International Genealogy Festival and Conference at the University of Strathclyde (Jul 21-24), St. Kilda Day: Latha Hiort (Aug 29 - all Sep), the Blas Festival in the Highlands (Sep 4-12), Angus & Dundee Roots Festival (Sep 6-13), Conference on Emigration from the Outer Hebrides (Sep 10-12), the Highland Homecoming - Ur Beatha Dhan Duthaich! (Oct 15-31), and much more. For more information, pleast visit http://www.homecomingscotland.com/whats-on.aspx

If you are planning to come home to Scotland for an event, and wish to trace your roots whilst here, at Scotland's Greatest Story we would be only too happy to help, either with preparatory research for your trip in advance, or the pursuit of your ancestry whilst you are here! We maintain that the greatest story that you will ever find in Scotland will be your very own, and we would love to help you uncover it!

For more information on how we can help, please visit our Ancestral Tourism site.

Turas math dhuibh - enjoy your trip!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Emerald Ancestors updated

In the last two weeks, several records have been added to the Emerald Ancestors website at www.emeraldancestors.com. These include:

Ballycastle (Co. Antrim) civil births from 1864-1875
Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church (Belfast) baptisms 1830-1864
Moneymore 2nd Presbyterian Church (Co. Londonderry) baptisms 1845-1864
Various civil marriage records 1845-1921 (6000 entries from from Ballymena, Seagoe, Killaney, Drumachose, Templemore, Donaghenry, Desertcreat and Belfast)
Cumber Lower Presbyterian Church (Co. Londonderry) baptisms 1845-1864

By far still the best site for access to Northern Irish records!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Historic cine films of the Island of Bute to be shown

A showing of several old films concerning the island of Bute is to be made on Thursday June 19th 2008. The programme features the 'premiere' of two recently discovered films from the Edwardian era.

"The Wedding of the 4th Marquess of Bute" will be introduced by Andrew McLean, the Bute family archivist. The film, which has been digitally restored by the Scottish Screen Archive at the National Library of Scotland, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will be shown for the first time in public since its original screening in the Marble Hall at Mount Stuart, Bute, in July 1905.

Janet McBain, curator of the moving image archive, will also introduce a newly preserved fragment of travelogue – a tram ride round Rothesay Bay in 1909. Discovered in a private collection in Germany, this short sequence of film has never been shown in Scotland before. Bute life in the 1920s will be further reflected through some of the topical films made by James Gillespie, manager of the Picture Palace in Rothesay. He filmed local events for showing in his cinema, inviting patrons to 'spot themselves on the silver screen'.

The event on Thursday 19th June is presented jointly by Mount Stuart and the National Library of Scotland, and commences at 19.00 at Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute. Tickets cost £10 and are available from the Mount Stuart Visitor Centre, tel: 01700 503877 or e-mail: contactus@mountstuart.com

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Wreck of British warship found in Lake Ontario

The wreck of HMS Ontario has been discovered off the south coast of the Great Lakes between Canada and the United States, in what has been described as an "archaeological miracle". The ship went down with all hands during a fierce gale in 1780, with 60 British soldiers, a Canadian crew of 40, and possibly 30 American prisoners of war, on board.

For more information, including underwater pictures of the ship, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7454578.stm and http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25145600/

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Further delay in ScotlandsPeople Centre opening

I'm hearing from several sources that the new ScotlandsPeople Centre will not be open to the public now until at least September, with issues such as the new computer software to be used not yet fully resolved.

An official visit to celebrate the end of the construction phase of the project will be happening at the National Archives of Scotland of the morning of July 4th (with the Historic Search Room closed to the public until 1.00pm). Whilst the completion of the construction phase is half of the battle, and to be congratulated upon, the further delay in a centre which was due to open in the Spring will be of great disappointment to many. Personally, however, I think it is much better to get the thing up and running fully functional, and if a few more weeks is what that takes, then a few more weeks is what that takes!

There have already been several changes of benefit to users of the National Archives and the GROS, the main partner companies in this, with the recent reduction of access charges to a flat £10 rate for the day (previously £17 for a full day and £10 for a half day), and the revamp of the Dundas Room and others at GROS. So they are nearly there - but it looks like we'll have to wait just a while longer for the whole package!

For more on the ScotlandsPeople Centre, visit www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

NHS 60th anniversary website now live

Just a quick reminder that the NHS Scotland 60th anniversary website is now up and running at http://www.60yearsofnhsscotland.co.uk/ - well worth a look!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Excellent Perthshire blog resource

I just wanted to give the following blog a quick plug - http://perthshire.blogspot.com/. A lot of advertising, but some nice short videos of various landmarks around the county, as well as occasional items of news.

Worth a look!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Final march of the 51st Highland Division

Veterans of the 51st Highland Division will be marching today in Perth for what is expected to be the final time. A TA Division set up in 1908, the division served at St Velery, Holland the Ardennes in WW2, and a tapestry will be dedicated which portrays their contribution to the war.

For more information on the story visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7440722.stm and for an excellent website on the history of the 51st Highland Division visit http://www.51hd.co.uk/

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

NHS Scotland 60th anniversary website

The NHS in Scotland is to commemorate its 60th anniversary through a new website which goes live next Tuesday. The site will display a timeline and will feature recollections from staff and patients. Amongst the most remarkable tales is the fact most nurses in 19th century workhouses collected their wages in beer!

The BBC has the fill story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7440054.stm , and the website will be available to read from next Tuesday at http://www.60yearsofnhsscotland.co.uk/

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Mearns Kirk Graveyard Project

The Mearns Kirk Graveyard Project, which was started in Spring 2006 by a small team who wished to transcribe the 232 memorial stones and provide an extensive record of those buried within the kirk's grounds, has been completed. As well as photographing the stones, new research into the families and farms associated with the graveyard has also been carried out, and a website is due to be up and running in the next few days at www.mearnskirkyardproject.co.uk , with the results also available on CD-ROM and in book form.

To tie in with project's completion, which has received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, an exhibition on the graveyard and the team's work will be held at the following venues and on the following dates:

Mearns Library
Saturday 31st May to Tuesday 17th June 2008

Giffnock Library
Saturday 21st June to Tusday 1st July 2008

Clarkston Library
Saturday 5th July to Tuesday 15th July 2008

Congratulations to the team for all their hard work!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Official visit to mark ScotlandsPeople Centre's completion

Notes displayed on the desks of the search rooms in the National Archives of Scotland have the following information regarding the new ScotlandsPeople Centre:

Due to an offcial visit on 4th July to mark the completion of work on the new ScotlandsPeople Centre, the Historical Search Room will be closed to members of the public until 1.00pm on that day. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

This visit, as I understand it, does not mark the opening of the centre to the public, which from what I am hearing may be a couple of months down the line yet. Still, it's all inching ever closer...!

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Meallaibh ur naidheachd a dh' Iain Aonghais MacLeoid!

I've just learned that Largs based poet John Angus MacLeod has been awarded the prestigious Duais Chomunn Gàidhlig Lunnainn for his outstanding and lifelong dedication to the Scottish Gaelic language.

John Angus, a Hearach (from Harris), a crowned Bard at the Royal National Mod and a former chief of the Gaelic Society of London, was for many years active in the promotion of the language in the south of England and Wales, before moving to Largs in North Ayrshire. Whilst living in Bristol, I had the pleasure of attending several of his Gaelic classes in Cardiff, and of meeting him and his wife at several cèilidhs at the Highlands and Islands Society in London. About three years ago I also had the further pleasure of taking John Angus back to his home in Harris to be filmed for the BBC series "Coast", he having witnessed Zucker's famous rocket mail experiment in the 1930s, designed to fire mail from the Harris mainland to its western island of Scarp.

If you come here to Largs and wonder why you are greeted with a big sign proclaiming "Failte do'n Leargaidh Ghallda", it's all down to him!

The following translation of Flower of Scotland into Gaelic is just one of John Angus's many contributions:

FLUIR na H-ALBAINN

O Fhlùir na h-Albann,
cuin a chì sinn
an seòrsa laoich
a sheas gu bàs 'son
am bileag feòir is fraoich,
a sheas an aghaidh
feachd uailleil Iomhair
's a ruaig e dhachaidh
air chaochladh smaoin?


Meallaibh ur naidheachd Iain Aonhgais...! (Congratulations!)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

New Genealogy Centre for Fife

Fife Council have opened a second genealogy centre at Dunfermline, to join the already established centre at St. Andrews in 2005. It will be open Tuesday, Wenesday and Thursday mornings. The oifficial opening was carried out by the Provosot of Fife, Councillor Frances Melville.
For more information, visit the Fife Council website at http://www.fife.gov.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.display&objectid=352AC2AD-EB9D-3CF0-C5928BDB91D3F5E7

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Fathers to be named on birth certs

An interesting article in The Times explains that a white paper proposes that fathers should be forced to sign their names to the birth certificates of any children they might have. This will apparently encourage said father to take up a more active role in that child's life. Ahem...!

The article states the following:

"Under the new scheme, if a mother attempts to register the birth in her name alone, she will be asked by the registrar to name the father. If she wants him to be named and provides details of his whereabouts or workplace, the registrar will be obliged to pursue him until he signs. The father will be able to register by post and not be obliged to turn up in person — another significant change.

"If the father disputes paternity, he can take a DNA test. He will also face a fine for non-co-operation if he fails to fulfil the new requirement to register. "

The full article is at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4052091.ece

I have to say, as a genealogist, it would of course be ideal to see both names on a certificate, as the number of single parent homes is on the increase, and it will become more difficult in the future to trace back when only the mother is named on the cert. However, this system, as described, is so full of holes and open to abuse that I would not support this measure. Compulsion is absolutely not the answer, and as someone who was raised in a single parent home, I would suggest the Government should think about looking at the real problems in the country just now, rather than continuing to demonise single parents in yet another Victorian witch hunt.

The white paper can be consulted in full at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2008/birth_registration_wp.pdf

Chris

(With thanks to Guy Etchells at the Your Family Tree magazine forum)

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Glasgow University finds human remains at WW1 battle site

Glasgow University's archaeology divisoon, GUARD, has found human remains at the battle site of Fromelles, a First World war battle dating back to July 1916.

For more information, the BBC has the story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7430622.stm

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving

Perthshire Archaeology Month

Throughout June, various locations in and around Perth will unearth their secrets, as part of Perthshire Archaeology Month. Organised by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, the programme includes walks around medieval Perth, tours of Huntingtower Castle, talks on the Roman defensive line of the Gask Ridge, Perth prison, the history of Fowlis Wester, and much more.

For more information, visit http://www.pkht.org.uk/calendar/index.asp.

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving