The Scottish GENES Blog (GEnealogy News and EventS): Top news stories and features concerning ancestral research in Scotland, Ireland, the rest of the UK, and their diasporas, from genealogist and family historian Chris Paton. Feel free to quote from this blog, but please credit Scottish GENES if you do. Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thà inig thu!
The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) is approaching 99 million pages of hosted content, with 98,981,588 pages available on the site at the time of writing.
The following are the most recent Scottish and Irish additions over the last 30 days:
Highland News and Football Times 1907-1917, 1920-1935, 1937-1938, 1940-1949
Montrose Review 2000-2004
Ireland
Larne weekly recorder and Northern express 1883
Connaught Telegraph 1876-1913, 1919
Irish Temperance League Journal 1863-1870, 1874-1896
Tyrone Courier 1919
Belfast Telegraph 2000-2014
Irish Independent 1921, 1926, 1960
Dromore Leader 1921-1950
Irish Ecclesiastical Gazette 1888-1896
Ulster Gazette 1878
Athlone Times 1889-1902
Chris
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
FamilySearch has announced its keynote speakers for its 2026 RootsTech conference. I personally have no idea who any of them are, but you may well do - full details are available at https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/.
The virtual keynotes will be available on demand from 13 February 2026, with the rest given at the event itself from 5-7 March 2026.
FamilySearch has also confirmed that the full talks schedule will be available on its site from Thursday 8 January.
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
My 5-week-long courseProgressing Your Irish Research Online, taught through Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd (www.pharostutors.com), kicks off again on Monday, 26 January 2026, and I am very much looking forward to meeting the next group of students!
Here is some further information about the course:
There is a common belief that if you have Irish ancestors then you should give up hope of finding out about them, because 'nothing survived the fire', referring to the destruction of Ireland's Public Record Office during the Civil War in 1922. The overall aim of this course is to point out that this is a nonsense, and that the glass is half full and not empty. Whilst there are certainly challenges to be overcome, a great deal can still be accomplished with the many resources now rapidly finding their way online.
This course will describe the many state created records and church records that can be used to research your Irish ancestry. It will provide a context to understand why they were created, and by whom and point out exactly where to find them online, and how to use them effectively.
Lesson Headings:
Understanding Ireland's boundaries, key repositories and platforms
The vital records of Church and State
Documenting the people: Irish censuses and substitutes
Valuation records and inheritance
The Decade of Centenaries
Each lesson includes exercises and activities and a one-hour Zoom-based chat per week.
Some reviews from students:
'I enjoyed all of the course, the lessons, exercises and chat sessions were all very helpful. I found Chris Paton ran the course and chat sessions brilliantly. I now feel enthused to carry out more research.'
'The astonishing range of information presented, the subsequent results within my own research and the fun, friendly and knowledgeable way it was all delivered. Excellent course and a tutor I would definitely want to study with again.'
'It really opened my eyes to what Chris calls the half FULL glass of Irish records, plus a glimpse of history and geography. Excellent.'
'It was beneficial from the standpoints of both improving general knowledge of Irish history, and illuminating the numerous and often unique potential sources of genealogical/family history information against that background.'
'Depth of knowledge. Expertise of tutor. Excellent Handouts.'
'Fantastic tutor. First class lesson materials. Top-notch quality learning programme.'
'The realization that there are more resources and information available than I first thought!'
And if it helps, a brief introductory video explaining what it will hopefully achieve!
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
Pen and Sword Books' Family History imprint currently has a sale on in the UK, with large discounts on many titles. The following are some of my books' RRP and sale prices, as examples:
Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, RRP £14.99, SALE £7.50
Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records, RRP £14.99, SALE £7.50
Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, RRP £14.99, SALE £7.50
Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, RRP £14.99, SALE £7.50
Sharing Your Family History Online, RRP £12.99, SALE £6.50
Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland, RRP £14.99, SALE £12.79
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
Since October 2012 I have had the great pleasure to be a member of the stakeholder forum of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/public-record-office-northern-ireland-proni), which meets every three months to receive updates about the archive's work and priorities, and where it also listens to feedback from people from across all walks of life in Northern Ireland who have a vested interest in its work.
I was first asked to join the forum as a genealogist and to act as its 'remote member', in other words to provide feedback from beyond the physical jurisdiction which PRONI represents, and to comment on its services, particularly its online services. In return I had permission to regularly report through this blog on practically all aspects of PRONI's latest work, to help keep the genealogy world updated. (I wasn't able to attend the last meeting in December, and so my most recent blog post from the meetings was in September, available at https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2025/09/major-relaunch-of-proni-website-later.html).
It's been a fun and happy relationship over the last thirteen years, which I have enjoyed immensely, but this year I am preparing myself for one of the biggest gambles of my working life (which I will hopefully announce more about in a few weeks!). Sadly this means that I am having to make some changes to my usual routine, one of the consequences of which is that I informed PRONI earlier today that I am regrettably stepping down from the forum with immediate effect. In my note to the team I stated the following:
"It has been an absolute honour to be able to attend the stakeholder forum over the last few years, to hear about updates, and to hear from fellow forum members also, a truly brilliant bunch. To the day I die I will always promote PRONI as the best exemplar of an archive that I have ever come across. The archive's commitment to taking its work out to the community, its partnerships, and its transparency are just phenomenal, not to mention the small matter of the amazing work you all do in making accessible Ulster's records. I truly think PRONI is the only national archive I have ever had dealings with that actually understands its user base."
I stand by every word of this. The community engagement that PRONI is involved with on a daily basis, opening up its records - opening up our records (I am an Ulsterman!) - to public access has been an absolute joy to watch and to report on over the years, and should embarrass some other institutions which pale by comparison. PRONI knows why it is there, it knows who funds it, and it knows how to serve its user base, and it has genuinely been an honour, and by far one of the most enjoyable parts of my working life over the last few years, with regular visits back home to Northern Ireland to visit the institution, both for research purposes and for meetings. I will still be popping over for research purposes from time to time, and look forward to doing so!
Thank you once again PRONI - in particular to Stephen, Janet, Gavin, and all fellow forum members - and best of luck for 2026!
Chris
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
"Keep your eyes peeled for the annual release of birth, death and marriage records, coming in January.
You’ll also be able to browse new Scottish Women's Land Army records and, later in the year, we'll add new prison registers and church court records."
Chris
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
Discover seafaring ancestors in exclusive new Royal Navy records on Findmypast
Exclusive new records released in the New Year to help researchers uncover and understand their Naval ancestors’ lives
Records include Casualty Logs, WRNS enlistments, and the first comprehensive collection of British Naval submarine records anywhere online
Researchers have uncovered fascinating stories of vessels and crew, such as that of the forgotten submarine HMS Torbay, which led an audacious commando raid during WWII to assassinate German General Erwin Rommel
Release part of major new digitisation partnership between Findmypast and Museum of the Royal Navy, forming a growing new online hub for naval research
Family historians can now uncover the stories of their naval ancestors like never before, thanks to the latest major release of exclusive Royal Navy records – part of the landmark digitisation project by Findmypast in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
In the first release of the year, over 121,000 exclusive new Royal Navy records are available online for the first time, opening up an extraordinary resource for genealogists worldwide. This release includes five major record sets, offering unparalleled detail about life and service at sea, with further releases planned throughout the year*.
These exclusive new collections provide unprecedented access to personal details that were previously only accessible to visitors to the Royal Navy archives in Portsmouth. Whether your ancestor served on a famous submarine, in the WRNS, or aboard a warship during WWII, these records offer a chance to uncover their story in vivid detail.
Researchers at Findmypast have already uncovered some extraordinary stories within the new records, including that of HMS Torbay, once dubbed the “most famous submarine in the world” and now all but lost in public memory. The 60-strong crew took part in some remarkable action during the Second World War, including the covert commando raid, ‘Operation Flipper’, which unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate German General Erwin Rommel. In one of the most audacious submarine actions, the Torbay also penetrated the heavily defended Axis-held harbour on the Greek island of Cephalonia, surfacing among enemy ships and firing torpedoes at point-blank range to sink and damage many of them, before enduring 17 hours of relentless pursuit and finally slipping away into the Mediterranean. The operation earned the submarine a Mention in Despatches, and her crew went on to receive one of the most remarkable clusters of awards in Royal Navy history.
The new records include:
British Royal Navy Casualty Logs, 1939-1945: Trace your family members through the fierce sea battles of the Second World War, including major moments like the loss of HMS Hood and other significant casualties. This exclusive new collection of 5,400 ships and 100,000 names. Search by name, official number, age, ship name, injury and death dates.
British Royal Navy Submarine Movement Cards: Forming the first cohesive collection of Royal Navy submarine records online, you’ll be able to search over 40,000 service cards to discover details like name, rating, official numbers, birth dates, awards, and every ship served on with dates. Uncover action below the waves from the early years of this covert service during WWI, through the major engagements of the Second World War, and into the tension of Cold War patrols.
British Women’s Royal Naval Service Enrolment Forms, 1917–1919: Delve into the experiences of the women of the Royal Navy during the First World War in over 6,000 detailed enrolment forms of the WRNS. Records include key details like name, age, address, marital status, next of kin, and personal questionnaires. They offer rich insight into women’s lives before joining the WRNS, with signatures and service contracts.
Royal Naval Division Records, 1916–1919: This unique collection contains unique cards digitised for the first time, providing details of the officers and ratings who joined or trained at the major Navy centre at Crystal Palace – officially known as HMS Victory VI – during the First World War. It contains around 4,500 names, covering birth date, address, occupation, next of kin, and service number, offering never-before seen information on those who undertook specialist technical and medical training during the war. The collection builds on Royal Naval Division Cards already available on the site thanks to the ongoing partnership with the National Archives.
British and Allied Warships Lost in WWII, 1939–1945: Discover the details of all major British and Allied warships lost under British operational control, helping to provide context and understanding of your ancestor’s Second World War experiences.
The new records form part of an ever-expanding new British Naval hub on Findmypast, providing the go-to resource for researchers wishing to understand their Naval roots. Here, researchers can discover and search all Royal Navy collections, as well as tips and resources for naval research.
Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast, said: ‘This release is a game-changer for anyone with seafaring ancestors. For the first time, you can trace the men and women who served beneath the waves or on the high seas, discover the ships they sailed on, and understand their lives in wartime. These records don’t just list names – they tell stories of courage, sacrifice, and service. We’re so excited to bring thousands more of these exclusive records to the site throughout 2026, making Findmypast the home of British Navy records.’
*Please
note: data protection safeguards are in place, which means that some
records that include personal information for those still living are
not included in the initial release. Additional records will be made
available over time, with new material released each year.
(With thanks to Madeleine Gilbert)
Picture below, a submarine movement card for a family friend many years ago, Sir Arthur Hezlet from Aghadowey in Co. Londonderry, who was a submarine ace in the Second World War.
Chris
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
ScotlandsPeople (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) has published a festive article entitled Santa Baby Found in Scotland's Historical Records, noting various Christmassy themed names found by staff members in the archival collections of the National Records of Scotland.
Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.
