RootsTech in 2022 to be a virtual event again

From FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org):

RootsTech Connect 2022 Aims to Repeat Success

RootsTech 2022 Announces Dates FamilySearch today announced that RootsTech Connect 2022 will take place on March 3–5, 2022, as a fully virtual family history event. After welcoming over one million visitors from over 240 countries to its 2021 online event, RootsTech Connect 2021 was the largest in the history of RootsTech, and spectacular proof of humanity’s interest globally in discovering our roots and connecting to each other. Building on its success, RootsTech Connect 2022 will remain completely virtual and free. Registration will open in September 2021.

“We were humbled with the response to an all-virtual RootsTech, and so grateful to all of our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and attendees who participated,” said Steve Rockwood, FamilySearch International CEO. “We heard from thousands of people from all over the globe that the 2021 online experience allowed them to participate for the first time and enjoy the power of learning and connecting virtually. And it created an expansive online archive for learning that is now available for free all year long. It’s an incredible resource, and we are excited about what we’re planning for 2022.”

RootsTech Events Online and In-person

The in-person events anticipated for London this fall and Salt Lake City in 2022 will not take place. For future events (2023 and beyond), RootsTech plans on offering a hybrid online and in-person model with content that is expanded and accessed throughout the year. Rockwood said the in-person events are part of the RootsTech experience and will be reevaluated each year as RootsTech continues to seek the best opportunities to expand connections with audiences worldwide. 

For the full press release visit https://media.familysearch.org/rootstech-connect-2022-aims-to-repeat-success/. Registration will open in September.

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

New URL address for PRONI?!

I'm currently preparing material for my Irish classes in the forthcoming ISBGFH hosted British Institute in October (see www.isbgfh.com/BRITISH-INSTITUTE), and I've just noticed something on the website for the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, which is a little bizarre to say the least!

The main URL for the site has long been www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni - which still works - but I have just noticed that it is immediately defaulting to a different address - www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/public-record-office-northern-ireland-proni. It seems to only be the front page, other URLs I have noted in the past on the site seem to be fine.

Sooo.... when did PRONI become a 'campaign', rather than a national archive?! What's the campaign's aim? Who are the good guys campaigning on this valiant crusade? Who are the bad guys getting in the way?!!

I've no idea how long this has been the case, but I really hope this is just a blip - until then, vive le campaign!!!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Scottish Crannog Centre Trust seeks funds to rebuild

On June 12th 2021, a devastating fire totally destroyed the Scottish Crannog Centre at Loch Tay (see www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-57452498). Now the Scottish Crannog Centre Trust is seeking funds to help rebuild:

Help the Scottish Crannog Centre build towards a new future!

The Scottish Crannog Centre suffered a devastating fire in June 2021, and the iconic and much loved Crannog roundhouse was destroyed. The Crannog Centre is now raising funds towards a new development, and a new and exciting future for the museum.

To read about the project's plans to rebuild, and/or to make a donation, please visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/crannog

Good luck to all involved!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Scottish Indexes Conference XI takes place this Saturday 10th July 2021

The eleventh Scottish Indexes (www.scottishindexes.com) conference takes place this coming Saturday 10th July, with the following great programme of speakers and sessions:

First session (UK times)

07.00
Introduction

07.15
‘Sharing Shetland Surnames’ by Susan Cooper & Alan Beattie, representing the Shetland Family History Society.

08.00
‘Tracing Scottish Women’ - by Kirsty Wilkinson, genealogist and author of ‘Finding Your Scottish Ancestors: Techniques for Solving Genealogy Problems’.

09.00
‘Member's Story: Diana Rae’ by Jennifer Jolly.

10.00
‘Tracing Scottish Ancestors before 1855’ by genealogist Alison Spring.

11.00
‘The Stones of Seafield: exploring monumental inscriptions in Edinburgh's Seafield Cemetery’ by Emma Jolly, writer and genealogist at emmajolly.co.uk.

12.00
Genealogy Q & A hosted by Graham and Emma Maxwell.

13.00
‘Merchant and Trades House Records’ by Dr Irene O'Brien, senior archivist at Glasgow City Archives.

14.00
‘Overcoming Brickwalls: Case Studies' by Emma Maxwell, genealogist at Scottish Indexes.


Second session (UK times)

15.00
Introduction

15.15
‘Sharing Shetland Surnames’ by Susan Cooper & Alan Beattie, representing the Shetland Family History Society.

16.00
‘Tracing Scottish Women’ - by Kirsty Wilkinson, genealogist and author of ‘Finding Your Scottish Ancestors: Techniques for Solving Genealogy Problems’.

17.00
‘Member's Story: Diana Rae’ by Jennifer Jolly.

18.00
‘Tracing Scottish Ancestors before 1855’ by genealogist Alison Spring.

19.00
‘The Stones of Seafield: exploring monumental inscriptions in Edinburgh's Seafield Cemetery’ by Emma Jolly, writer and genealogist at emmajolly.co.uk.

20.00
Genealogy Q & A hosted by Graham and Emma Maxwell.

21.00
‘Merchant and Trades House Records’ by Dr Irene O'Brien, senior archivist at Glasgow City Archives.

22.00
‘Overcoming Brickwalls: Case Studies' by Emma Maxwell, genealogist at Scottish Indexes.

For equivalent times worldwide please visit www.scottishindexes.com.

 

COMMENT: It looks to be another great programme! Although I'm not doing a talk in this event, I will hopefully pop in and participate in the first Q&A panel session, so hopefully see you there!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

MyHeritage allows users to confirm or reject Theory of Family Relativity matches

From MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com):

You asked, we delivered. I’m excited to tell you about an important feature update we just released: you can now confirm or reject a Theory of Family Relativity™ on MyHeritage. This functionality was widely requested by our DNA users, and we are delighted to make it available.

Our Theory of Family Relativity™ feature incorporates genealogical information from all our historical records and family tree profiles to offer theories on how your DNA Matches might be related to you. While the theories presented are often accurate, sometimes, they are incorrect. Before now, there was no way to confirm or reject a theory. Now there is! This new functionality will allow MyHeritage users to systematically review their theories and mark the ones they’ve already looked at so they can focus on new ones.

By the way, we also recently introduced a new filter to the DNA Match pages: Genetic Groups. You can now filter your DNA Match list according to the Genetic Groups your matches belong to.

The addition of both of these features will make it easier than ever for MyHeritage DNA users to focus on the DNA Matches most important to them so they can move forward with their research.

For further details visit https://blog.myheritage.com/2021/07/new-theory-of-family-relativity-confirm-or-reject-theories/

(With thanks to Daniel Horowitz)

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

FamilyTreeDNA announces updates and new features

From FamilyTreeDNA (www.familytreedna.com), via email:

We are excited to announce the release of several updates to the platform and to your reports! These improvements are just the beginning of a continued effort to help you discover more about yourself and your ancestry.

Thanks for allowing us to join you on your journey of discovery!

Family Finder Updates
The new Family Finder Matches page includes improvements to our matching algorithm, predicted relationship ranges, and X-chromosome matching. The new design allows you to better navigate your matches, and we’ve added more options for sorting, filtering, and searching your match list, including ways to find matches with shared Family Trees.
Further details at https://blog.familytreedna.com/updates-to-family-finder-matching-and-chromosome-painter/

Y-DNA Updates
The new Y-DNA Matches page provides the ability to easily view a breakdown of the number of matches per marker level as well as your matches’ earliest known paternal ancestor’s countries of origin. The new design allows you to better navigate your match list and includes more ways to sort, filter, and search your matches.
Further details at https://blog.familytreedna.com/improvements-to-the-y-dna-matches-page/

New Help Center
We’ve released a brand new learning center that will be referred to as the Help Center. We’ve also added links throughout the platform and your reports that will take you directly to Help Center pages that are specific to the report or page you are viewing. The goal of the new Help Center is to help you find answers to your questions faster. The full migration of the Learning Center to the new Help Center will complete in the 3rd quarter of the year.
Further details at https://blog.familytreedna.com/the-new-familytreedna-help-center/

Website Performance & Usability
We’ve improved match load times and have also made big improvements to the website’s usability. These usability updates include tons of new tooltips throughout the platform and direct links to specific Help Center topics throughout the platform.

New Feature Coming Soon — Chromosome Painter
Later in July, we’ll be releasing the new Chromosome Painter feature for Family Finder!  The Chromosome Painter is another way to explore your myOrigins results. It paints segments of your genome with colors that represent the populations in your results. The Chromosome Painter goes beyond telling you your percentages by revealing from where each DNA segment in your ancestry originates. 

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

A visit to Dalgarven Mill Museum in Ayrshire

Today I visited the Dalgarven Mill Museum of Country Life and Costume (www.dalgarvenmill.org.uk) in North Ayrshire, located just north of Kilwinning on the road to Dalry. It's been on my Ayrshire to do list for some time, and it did not disappoint.

The mill itself can trace its presence on the site back to the 12th century, as part of the estate of Kilwinning Abbey, where it was previously known as the Waulk Myln of Groatholm. In 1568 a charter of feu records the mill being transferred into lay hands, and over the centuries it has been owned and operated by several families. Under the Blairs of Blair it was run by the Walkers, the Kings and then the Fergusons, and has seen some drama over the centuries, including a devastating fire in 1869 and its requisition by the UK Government as a mill during the Second World War.

The mill buildings on site have been painstakingly and lovingly renovated by architect Rob Ferguson (who my wife and I had the pleasure to meet and chat with in the coffee shop), with his family having occupied the buildings since 1883, and owned them since 1922, his own father having been the last working miller on the site. Today the premises host an extensive costume museum, exhibits on rural and country life, as well as the renovated mill working themselves, all open for display.

It's the unusual wee nuggets of information you come across in such places that make them such a pleasure to visit, and amongst the impressive display of Japanese kimonos currently on display there was a photograph of a church that used to exist just outside of Dreghorn village, not ten minutes walk from my flat in Irvine. It was purchased by the Japanese company Sun Life in 1996 and re-erected in the city of Hiratsuka near Tokyo to form a working wedding chapel today (see https://www.facebook.com/OldIrvine/posts/perceton-and-dreghorn-parish-church-in-japanperceton-and-dreghorn-parish-church-/1231881963527437/). You live and learn! 

As well as the impressive exhibition, Rob has written a fascinating guide book on the history and renovation of the mill entitled The Life and Times of the Dalgarven Mills - A Miller's Tale, available from the museum (see https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/573029608/a-millers-tale?ref=shop_home_active_5). It's a great read, not only documenting the existence of the original mill from the 12th century onwards but explains the evolution of milling technology, the feudal customs of thirlage, the transfer of ownership across time, and the absolute mammoth task of the mill's renovation and transformation into the museum that now exists today. 

And if that doesn't encourage you to visit, its cafe has the best clootie dumpling I've tasted in years! 

For more on the museum visit its website at www.dalgarvenmill.org.uk - it is open from 10am-4pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, and 11am-4pm on Sundays; it is closed on Mondays. Admission is £6. 

Here are a few more pics to tempt ye!

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

TheGenealogist adds County Carlow Roman Catholic records

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

TheGenealogist expands its Irish coverage

TheGenealogist expands its Irish coverage TheGenealogist has just added more than 327,300 individuals to their Irish Catholic Parish Record Collection, along with a suite of Thom’s Official Directories covering Great Britain and Ireland.

These new Catholic Parish Registers have links to the original images. They cover the County of Carlow in the southeast region of Ireland.

Before civil registration was introduced in two stages into Ireland, first in 1845 for non Roman Catholic marriages and then in 1864 for all births, marriages and deaths, the parish registers of the various denominations were the main records in which Irish ancestors' vital events would have been recorded. The Roman Catholic church was far the largest denomination in Ireland and so it is these records that the majority of Irish forebears will mostly appear within.

Also released at this time are Thom's Official Directories covering the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from Victorian times up to the 20th century. These records are great for discovering more about the towns and areas, finding the names of people who held official municipal or government offices, or were professionals such as doctors, clergy, etc.

You can use these books to find Irish businesses from manufacturers of Ales and Agricultural implements to makers of Woolens and Yarns. Thom’s directories allow you to find business advertisements as well as search for tradespeople from Auctioneers and Blacksmiths to Watchmakers and Wine & Spirit Dealers for all parts of Ireland.

The directories released in this package include:

● Thom's Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1859
● Thom's Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1898
● Thom's Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1913
● These expand the Irish directories already in our collection

This release of Irish records joins those of the Irish Wills, recently made available on TheGenealogist, and so expands the coverage of Irish records on this family history site renowned for its comprehensive search facilities.

Read their article, Alexander Thom – Publisher and The Queen’s Printer for Ireland: www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2021/alexander-thom--publisher-and-the-queens-printer-for-ireland-1426/ 

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

RootsIreland offers 20% discount on Annual Subscriptions

From RootsIreland (www.rootsireland.ie), by email:

Special 20% Discount on Annual Subscriptions! Discover your Irish roots by taking out a 12-month subscription for Roots Ireland from 1st July to 14th July!

WHY TAKE OUT AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION WITH ROOTS IRELAND?

RootsIreland have the most complete and most accurate set of Roman Catholic church records online, as well as numerous Protestant records, civil records, census records, headstone inscriptions and census substitutes. Our index is easily searchable and has features such as standardised surname and forename searches which make your searches even more user-friendly.

We hold over 22 million records, and our database is being added to continually. In 2020, we added over 500,000 records to our database from Limerick, Clare, Sligo, Kerry, Wicklow, Westmeath, Kilkenny, South Dublin, Armagh, North Mayo and Cork. Over 50,000 records from Cork, Galway and Kerry have been added to our database this year, with more coming soon.

Together, our 34 genealogy centres have an unparalleled amount of local knowledge which can be invaluable to those tracing their ancestors, a service which no other website or company can provide to such a high standard. By taking out a subscription with RootsIreland, you are helping these centres to continue to provide a world-class service and securing many Irish jobs.

If you have any questions please check our Help section and if this does not provide an answer, then you may contact us or one of the county centres. You can check what is available on our site for each county  here.

*Offer applies from 1st July 2021 to 12 midnight Irish time on 14th July 2021 only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

COMMENT: Pre-discount an annual subscription was £198; with a 20% discount it is £158.

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

US Revolutionary War records added to FindmyPast

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added a few collections concerning the US Revolutionary War, in which many Scots and Scots-Irish (Ulster Scots) particpated as combatants.

United States, Census of Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1840
Unlock family heroes' names, ages and addresses with this historic census. It documents the lives of American War of Independence veterans. This special census can also reveal the names of multiple family members, a feature not included in the main 1840 US census.

United States, British Loyalists
Not everyone in British America wanted independence. Trace those loyalists and their intriguing stories in this unique collection of publications. This record set consists of 22 combined publications from across British America covering everything from orderly books to subscription lists.

United States, Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment, 1776
This small but eye-opening record set lists enslaved people who answered Lord Dunmore’s call to arms during the American Revolution. Compiled from a number of sources, we've created a searchable index of all known individuals who joined Dunmore's unit. In it, you'll discover their names, aliases, ages and, in some cases, what became of them after the war.

Links for these collections, and details of others (including vital records from Manitoba, Canada), are available at www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/us-canadian-records.

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.