On August 12th 1948, the county of Berwickshire endured one of its worst ever flooding disasters when the rivers Tweed, Blackadder, Whiteadder, Till and Eye Water all overflowed, after a third of the annual rainfall for the area fell in just six days.
The BBC looks back at the disaster at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7554405.stm .
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Free Scottish emigration records on WorldVitalRecords
Apologies to one and all for the limited number of posts in recent days - I'm currently finishing off a university dissertation, so have been slightly busy!
By way of a humble offering to make up for it, here is a cracking freebie for those with Scots ancestry (OK, I would have announced it anyway!). WorldVitalRecords.com have two new Scottish databases - Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration, 1725 - 1775: The People of Inverness-shire and Scots-Scandinavian Links in Europe and America, 1550 - 1850 (click on the links to access). Both are free to access for the next ten days only, so if you have links with either, better get going quicky! After this time, they will be available by subscription.
The two collections are digitised from the books by well known Scottish genealogist, and expert on Scottish emigration, David Dobson.
Remember - ten days folks...!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
By way of a humble offering to make up for it, here is a cracking freebie for those with Scots ancestry (OK, I would have announced it anyway!). WorldVitalRecords.com have two new Scottish databases - Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration, 1725 - 1775: The People of Inverness-shire and Scots-Scandinavian Links in Europe and America, 1550 - 1850 (click on the links to access). Both are free to access for the next ten days only, so if you have links with either, better get going quicky! After this time, they will be available by subscription.
The two collections are digitised from the books by well known Scottish genealogist, and expert on Scottish emigration, David Dobson.
Remember - ten days folks...!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Thursday, 7 August 2008
DNA tests - Which? magazine misses the point
The consumer magazine Which? has issued a press release, We reveal online DNA tests are waste of money, in which it explains how it did tests through four different companies, namely DNA Solutions, Oxford Ancestors, 23andMe and (wait for it) "Ancestory.co.uk". The article appears to have misunderstood how such tests work, criticising the results from two companies in particular without understanding the basic fact that not all companies examine the same DNA markers, or indeed even name the ones that are in common the same way.
But in common with many nay-sayers on the DNA front, they also again appear to have been seduced by the "deep ancestry" aspect of the tests, in which one can find out if one's ancient caveman ancestor from thousands of years ago was originally from Outer Mongolia or inner Croydon. From a genealogy point of view, I would suggest that this aspect is really irrelevant, and if that is what you are after, then you probably are wasting your money. Dr Andrew Gritt's article 'How Many Ancestors Do I Have?' in the Family and Local History Handbook (11) reveals the simple fact that 20 generations ago we had 1048576 ancestors. On the deep ancestry front, a DNA test will tell you very little about just one of them, though you will get a nice pretty chart that probably looks very techie...!
The true value of such DNA tests in genealogy is in comparing your results with others with similar profiles, in order to try and identify a recent common ancestor. If you have found a brick wall on your line, and the new relative can go further back on his own line, his or her research can provide a possible way to bypass your own brick wall. An example of this happening is described within an article that I wrote some time ago which is now hosted on the Talking Scot website, at A Beginner's Guide to Genetic Genealogy. But DNA tests are nothing more than just a tool, and on their own can tell you little without additional documentary research to further investigate possible relationships flagged up by the test results.
My advice is to consider a DNA test only if you have a particular need to do so, whether that be because you wish to do a one name study or because you have a brick wall to overcome. However, before you take a test, make sure you understand exactly how it works. Ancestry (or Ancestory!) has a good online set up, which I have also written a beginners guide to - see DNA & Genealogy.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
But in common with many nay-sayers on the DNA front, they also again appear to have been seduced by the "deep ancestry" aspect of the tests, in which one can find out if one's ancient caveman ancestor from thousands of years ago was originally from Outer Mongolia or inner Croydon. From a genealogy point of view, I would suggest that this aspect is really irrelevant, and if that is what you are after, then you probably are wasting your money. Dr Andrew Gritt's article 'How Many Ancestors Do I Have?' in the Family and Local History Handbook (11) reveals the simple fact that 20 generations ago we had 1048576 ancestors. On the deep ancestry front, a DNA test will tell you very little about just one of them, though you will get a nice pretty chart that probably looks very techie...!
The true value of such DNA tests in genealogy is in comparing your results with others with similar profiles, in order to try and identify a recent common ancestor. If you have found a brick wall on your line, and the new relative can go further back on his own line, his or her research can provide a possible way to bypass your own brick wall. An example of this happening is described within an article that I wrote some time ago which is now hosted on the Talking Scot website, at A Beginner's Guide to Genetic Genealogy. But DNA tests are nothing more than just a tool, and on their own can tell you little without additional documentary research to further investigate possible relationships flagged up by the test results.
My advice is to consider a DNA test only if you have a particular need to do so, whether that be because you wish to do a one name study or because you have a brick wall to overcome. However, before you take a test, make sure you understand exactly how it works. Ancestry (or Ancestory!) has a good online set up, which I have also written a beginners guide to - see DNA & Genealogy.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
New military records released by The National Archives
The National Archives at Kew has released two major military collections through its Documents Online service.
The first is the release of the Medal Index Cards for those who were entitled to claim medals for service within the Indian Army during the First World War. These have been released as individual index cards, as opposed to six per page as with their oiginal release of WW1 cards.
The records of Royal Naval officers have also been released through the same service. These were kept by the Admiralty from the 1840s and record service for warrant officers joining the Royal Navy up to 1931 and commissioned officers joining the service up to 1917.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/206.htm?homepage=news .
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
The first is the release of the Medal Index Cards for those who were entitled to claim medals for service within the Indian Army during the First World War. These have been released as individual index cards, as opposed to six per page as with their oiginal release of WW1 cards.
The records of Royal Naval officers have also been released through the same service. These were kept by the Admiralty from the 1840s and record service for warrant officers joining the Royal Navy up to 1931 and commissioned officers joining the service up to 1917.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/206.htm?homepage=news .
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
What is a GEDCOM?
I'm sure many of us will remember the first time somebody asked if we could e-mail them a GEDCOM file. I know my first puzzled response to the question was something along the lines of "Your what's itchy?!!"
If you are just starting out, and haven't the foggiest what a GEDCOM is, then American genealogy blogger Dick Eastman has just put up a handy dandy explanation of what it means, and fortunately, talcum power is not required!
To read Dick's explanation of GEDCOM, visit http://blog.eogn.com:80/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/08/gedcom-explaine.html
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
If you are just starting out, and haven't the foggiest what a GEDCOM is, then American genealogy blogger Dick Eastman has just put up a handy dandy explanation of what it means, and fortunately, talcum power is not required!
To read Dick's explanation of GEDCOM, visit http://blog.eogn.com:80/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/08/gedcom-explaine.html
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Monday, 4 August 2008
Happy Birthday to the Spitfire
It's of pensionable age, but will never need a bus pass to travel in style! The Spitfire is still one of the world's most iconic planes, a remarkable achievement for a plane that has just turned seventy years old. The BBC has a tribute to the plane's enduring legend online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7540305.stm .
Of course, the plane was nothing without the pilots who flew them in the Second World War. I had the pleasure of meeting several of the Few, the pilots of the Battle of Britain, some eight years ago whilst working on a Channel Four documentary. Pictured below is former Sergeant Pilot Iain Hutchison, a Glasgow born spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, who took part in the documentary. I met Iain on three occasions, and on the third I had taken him along to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford to reminisce as a Spitfire there was flown for our filming purposes. Seeing the delight in Iain's eyes as the plane did several circuits around us overhead, I had a quick word with the pilot after he had landed, and then asked Iain if he fancied sitting in the cockpit again? I had barely got the words out of my mouth before Iain was up on the wing and climbing in! It was the first time he had been in the cockpit of the plane since World War Two, and if he had had his way, he'd have been off in it!
Sadly, Iain passed away last year, as have many others of his former collagues. So whilst we can commemorate the beauty and legend of the Spitfire, hopefully we can also remember the true heroes of the war, which weren't the planes, but those who risked, and in many cases lost their lives going up in them day after day.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Of course, the plane was nothing without the pilots who flew them in the Second World War. I had the pleasure of meeting several of the Few, the pilots of the Battle of Britain, some eight years ago whilst working on a Channel Four documentary. Pictured below is former Sergeant Pilot Iain Hutchison, a Glasgow born spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, who took part in the documentary. I met Iain on three occasions, and on the third I had taken him along to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford to reminisce as a Spitfire there was flown for our filming purposes. Seeing the delight in Iain's eyes as the plane did several circuits around us overhead, I had a quick word with the pilot after he had landed, and then asked Iain if he fancied sitting in the cockpit again? I had barely got the words out of my mouth before Iain was up on the wing and climbing in! It was the first time he had been in the cockpit of the plane since World War Two, and if he had had his way, he'd have been off in it!
Sadly, Iain passed away last year, as have many others of his former collagues. So whilst we can commemorate the beauty and legend of the Spitfire, hopefully we can also remember the true heroes of the war, which weren't the planes, but those who risked, and in many cases lost their lives going up in them day after day.
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
ScotlandsPeople Centre taking bookings from next Monday
The following info has just been made available on the ScotlandsPeople Centre website at www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk .
As previously announced, there will be a partial opening of the new centre on Monday, August 25th 2008, where visitors can try out the new facilities by way of a free two-hour taster session in the Adam Dome. Bookings for these searches will commence as of next Monday, 11th August, and can be made by calling 0131 314 4300 from that date.
The free search sessions will run from 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 and both sessions will be followed by a short tour and talk on the centre and its records. Visitors will have access to all the digitised birth, death, marriage, wills, census and coats of arms records. However, as these are free sessions, there will be no access to microfilmed records, stand alone computers or the library. In addition, visitors will also not be able to use laptops in the Adam Dome.
Visitors will be able to print off copies or save images from the new computer system to a memory stick, for the following charges:
A4 black and white print - historic GROS records/Wills and Testaments £0.50
A3 black and white print - historic GROS records/Wills and Testaments £1.00
Save statutory record image entry to USB stick - exc. Coats of Arms £1.00
Save Wills and Testaments image entry to USB stick £1.00
Save Coats of Arms image entry to USB stick £10.00
As these are sessions for new and inexperienced users to get familiar with the centre, visitors are only entitled to one free search session each.
The shop will also be open from the 25th.
Remember though, hold off on trying to book a place until next Monday..!
The ScotlandsPeople Centre will also be participating in Doors Open Day on September 27th 2008, and the site will announce more on this in due course.
(Finally, whilst a link is up for the User Group Meeting Minutes for June 12th 2008, the link is currently defective, taking users to another version of the home page again. Hopefully this will be remedied soon!)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
As previously announced, there will be a partial opening of the new centre on Monday, August 25th 2008, where visitors can try out the new facilities by way of a free two-hour taster session in the Adam Dome. Bookings for these searches will commence as of next Monday, 11th August, and can be made by calling 0131 314 4300 from that date.
The free search sessions will run from 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 and both sessions will be followed by a short tour and talk on the centre and its records. Visitors will have access to all the digitised birth, death, marriage, wills, census and coats of arms records. However, as these are free sessions, there will be no access to microfilmed records, stand alone computers or the library. In addition, visitors will also not be able to use laptops in the Adam Dome.
Visitors will be able to print off copies or save images from the new computer system to a memory stick, for the following charges:
A4 black and white print - historic GROS records/Wills and Testaments £0.50
A3 black and white print - historic GROS records/Wills and Testaments £1.00
Save statutory record image entry to USB stick - exc. Coats of Arms £1.00
Save Wills and Testaments image entry to USB stick £1.00
Save Coats of Arms image entry to USB stick £10.00
As these are sessions for new and inexperienced users to get familiar with the centre, visitors are only entitled to one free search session each.
The shop will also be open from the 25th.
Remember though, hold off on trying to book a place until next Monday..!
The ScotlandsPeople Centre will also be participating in Doors Open Day on September 27th 2008, and the site will announce more on this in due course.
(Finally, whilst a link is up for the User Group Meeting Minutes for June 12th 2008, the link is currently defective, taking users to another version of the home page again. Hopefully this will be remedied soon!)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
More Burns, and a' that...
The University of Glasgow has announced it is to compile a new 'definitive' collection of the works of Robert Burns, in a 15 year project commencing next year, the 250th anniversary of his birth. For more info, the BBC has the story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7539600.stm .
Undoubtedly it will remain the definitive collection - until the next definitive collection comes along...!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Regional Theatre Workshops at WDYTYA Live 2009
The following announcement is from the publicity officer of the Federation of Family History Societies, and will be of interest to any family history societies hoping to attend next year's Who Do You Think You Are? Live event (February 2009).
I am pleased to announce that a New Feature of Who Do You Think You Are LIVE 2009 will be The Society of Genealogists Regional Theatre Workshop in association with the FFHS.
The workshop will take the form of a series of lectures, answering the question “My Ancestor came from XXX - where’s the best place to get help?” Essentially the information being provided should include details regarding local Family History resources, County Record Offices, usefulwebsites etc. and of course most importantly Member Societies of the FFHS within the area.
This is an excellent opportunity for speakers to promote their region and ‘spotlight’ their local societies.
Whilst exhibiting Societies will be given priority, it is anticipated that some speakers will come from non-exhibiting groups. Where a society is unable to be present at the show, enquiries as a result of the lecture can be directed to the FFHS stand where the assistance of the speaker would beappreciated if possible.
Sessions are limited so if your region has an interest in participating in this excellent feature, it is advisable to make contact with us as soon as possible.
For further information please contact me at publicity@ffhs.org.uk. or Tel 01954 212094
To apply to be considered please forward the name of the Speaker/Area/Subject to:
Else Churchill
Genealogist
Society of Genealogists
14 Charterhouse Buildings
Goswell Road
London EC1M 7BA
Direct phone 020 7702 5488
genealogy@sog.org.uk
Please respond by the 15 September.
Marian French - Publicity & Communications Officer
A free platform to help promote your FHS - worth thinking about...!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
I am pleased to announce that a New Feature of Who Do You Think You Are LIVE 2009 will be The Society of Genealogists Regional Theatre Workshop in association with the FFHS.
The workshop will take the form of a series of lectures, answering the question “My Ancestor came from XXX - where’s the best place to get help?” Essentially the information being provided should include details regarding local Family History resources, County Record Offices, usefulwebsites etc. and of course most importantly Member Societies of the FFHS within the area.
This is an excellent opportunity for speakers to promote their region and ‘spotlight’ their local societies.
Whilst exhibiting Societies will be given priority, it is anticipated that some speakers will come from non-exhibiting groups. Where a society is unable to be present at the show, enquiries as a result of the lecture can be directed to the FFHS stand where the assistance of the speaker would beappreciated if possible.
Sessions are limited so if your region has an interest in participating in this excellent feature, it is advisable to make contact with us as soon as possible.
For further information please contact me at publicity@ffhs.org.uk. or Tel 01954 212094
To apply to be considered please forward the name of the Speaker/Area/Subject to:
Else Churchill
Genealogist
Society of Genealogists
14 Charterhouse Buildings
Goswell Road
London EC1M 7BA
Direct phone 020 7702 5488
genealogy@sog.org.uk
Please respond by the 15 September.
Marian French - Publicity & Communications Officer
A free platform to help promote your FHS - worth thinking about...!
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
Friday, 1 August 2008
River Bann website
Whilst doing some personal research into my family from Co. Londonderry, I have been very kindly helped by a gentleman called John Junkin who is based in the county.
John is an excellent photographer, and his website contains dozens of stunning aerial photographs of the Bann and surrounding countryside. If you have family from Derry, then pop along and have a look at http://www.riverbannireland.com/Photos.T274.aspx - if you don't, pop along anyway, you won't be disappointed!
A DVD with these images (and more) in a much higher resolution is available from the Lower Bann Partnership. For more info, contact Mark Christie of the Lower Bann Partnership Ltd, 20 Castle St, Bellaghy. Magherafelt. BT45 8LA. (Tel: 028 7938 6627)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
John is an excellent photographer, and his website contains dozens of stunning aerial photographs of the Bann and surrounding countryside. If you have family from Derry, then pop along and have a look at http://www.riverbannireland.com/Photos.T274.aspx - if you don't, pop along anyway, you won't be disappointed!
A DVD with these images (and more) in a much higher resolution is available from the Lower Bann Partnership. For more info, contact Mark Christie of the Lower Bann Partnership Ltd, 20 Castle St, Bellaghy. Magherafelt. BT45 8LA. (Tel: 028 7938 6627)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
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