Hugh Wallis batch numbers site update

Further to my past last month on the Hugh Wallis batch numbers website (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2011/09/hugh-wallis-batch-numbers-site-problem.html), FamilySearch has now made an announcement on plans to correct the issues that have affected his site following the reinvention of the FamilySearch databases.

The announcement is at www.familysearch.org/node/1361

(With thanks to Genealogy in Time)

Chris

Knowles Collection blog

You live and learn....! I had no idea that there was a blog to accompany FamilySearch's Knowles Collection, which contains about 320,000 Jewish records.

I have no Jewish connections, but it looks a great read, and is written by Todd Knowles himself - to see the blog visit http://knowlescollection.blogspot.com.

FYI, a major announcement on how the collection is being reorganised due to recent additions was made mid-September and can be read at http://knowlescollection.blogspot.com/2011/09/growth-brings-change.html

Chris

New British Home Children database

Library and Archives Canada has announced the release of a new version of database listing the names of some 20,000 British Home Children sent to Canada from 1869-1930. The database is at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/home-children/index-e.html, whilst John Reid has the press release at http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-version-of-home-children-database.html

(With thanks to John Reid)

Chris

Gordon Highlanders statue to be unveiled

A statue to the Gordon Highlanders is to be unveiled on Saturday 15th October 2011 at Aberdeen's Castlegate.

A full press release is available at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CouncilNews/ci_cns/pr_unveilingofstatue_111011.asp

(With thanks to the Scottish Military Research Group)

Chris

North East Scotland Roots on Facebook

North East Scotland Roots now has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/North-East-Scotland-Roots/203410443065710

(With thanks to @anesfhs via twitter)

Chris

Court of the Lord Lyon - 'bonkers'

The Daily Mail is not happy! It's having a go at the Court of the Lord Lyon (www.lyon-court.com) today, the government body in Scotland responsible for the correct use of heraldry, which can prosecute for the illegal use of a coat of arms in Scotland.

The full story is at http://singletonblog.dailymail.co.uk/2011/10/is-this-the-silliest-most-pointless-government-body-ever.html

Chris

Maps for Angus cemeteries online

Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com) has added maps to its site identifying the location of 64,000 lairs in Angus, in the following graveyards:

- Airlie Churchyard
- Arbroath Eastern Cemetery
- Arbroath Western Cemetery
- Barry Churchyard extension
- Brechin Cemetery + extension
- Guthrie Churchyard
- Kirriemuir Cemetery
- Newmonthill Cemetery + extension
- Sleepyhillock Cemetery extension

For more, visit www.deceasedonline.com/servlet/GSDOSearch?AcctView=LoggedIn&SrchView=Basic&lang=E&sessionid=1945673173&DetsView=Content§ion=ARTICLES&context=20111003_3

(With thanks to Deceased Online)

Chris

ScotFamTree forum temporarily offline

The brilliant ScotFamTree family history discussion forum is temporarily offline whilst work is done to move it to a new platform. A post on the migration progress has been made on the SFT blog at http://scotfamtree.blogspot.com/2011/10/latest-update-on-migration.html

Normal service to be resumed soon!

Chris

Unlock the Past - cruise shore seminars

For readers in New Zealand and Australia, there's a chance to attend some of the talks that myself and other members of the Unlock the Past (www.unlockthepast.com.au) talks team will be giving on the Scottish and Irish genealogy cruise starting next month in Auckland, and ending in Sydney.

Although we'll be giving talks on the ship from November 21st-December 5th, we'll be kicking off with a day long event at Whare Wānanga, Central City Library, Auckland, on November 19th, and then at the following locations over the next fortnight - Tauranga, Napier (Hawkes Bay), Wellington, Akaroa (Christchurch), Port Chalmers (Dunedin), Burnie (or Devonport), Melbourne (I'm afraid I'll be absent from this one), and finally Sydney.

The UTP team are still planning the shore based programmes of seminars, which are designed for those living in the regions concerned, and not for those on the cruise itself, but preliminary details are available at www.unlockthepast.com.au/events/history-and-genealogy-cruise-november-2011-scottish-irish-theme/cruise-shore-seminars - if interested, please bookmark and check back for further details in due course!

Chris

Thank you to Dumfries & Galloway FHS

A big thank you to Dumfries and Galloway Family History Society (www.dgfhs.org.uk) for its generous hospitality today in Castle Douglas. Unusually for Scotland, the society holds its meetings on a Saturday, rather than on an evening during the week - for a good reason! The society rotates its meeting venues, and members tend to make a day of it at the respective locations - so as well as listening to me blethering for a bit on Irish records, there was some all important shopping to get done in Castle Douglas! :) Inspired...!

I had a chance to look at some new 2012 calendars for both Dumfries and Galloway being produced by Through the Lens (www.dgttl.co.uk), which include some amazing old photos from the company - keep an eye out, some wonderful images included! There was also some great feedback on the new archive facility at Carlisle, following a recent visit by several of the society's members.

Check out the society's news page at www.dgfhs.org.uk/news.asp for some recent publications made available by it.

Chris