Friday, 18 October 2019

Karen Cummings appointed Course Director of Pharos

From Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd (www.pharostutors.com):

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Karen Cummings as Course Director of Pharos, taking over the role that Sherry Irvine held until her retirement a few years ago. Helen Osborn continues as Managing Director.

Karen is one of our longstanding tutors and has taught and written a number of Pharos courses over the last 5 years. She currently tutors:
  • Demystifying DNA for Family Historians
  • Professional Genealogist: Become One Become a Better One
  • Wills & Administrations, the riches of probate records

Karen started her career in the pharmaceutical industry and holds a PhD in scientific research. She gained her genealogy qualifications with the IHGS (Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies) and holds both the Higher Certificate and Diploma in Genealogy. She set up her genealogy research business, Professional Family History, in 2010. In addition to her work for Pharos Karen has also tutored and written course material for the IHGS and held the position of Examiner for the Diploma in Genealogy. Karen is a Member of AGRA (the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archive), the accrediting body for genealogists in England and Wales, and has served on AGRA’s Council and Board of Assessors.

Karen is passionate about methodology in genealogy. She loves teaching tricks and tips to students to help them gain the most from their research.

Good luck Karen! For furtehr details on Pharos courses, visit the website at https://www.pharostutors.com/coursesmainsd.php

* Don't forget also that my next Pharos course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs (originally written by Sherry!), starts on November 4th - for further details, and a short introductory bvideo, see https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2019/09/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-course.html. To register for the course, visit https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302.

(With thanks to Helen Osborn)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Parochial history of Mullingar digitised

The Representative Church Body of Ireland's Library in Dublin has added a digitised copy to its side of A Parochial History of Mullingar, compiled by the Revd William Reynell, 13th–19th Centuries, as its Archive of the Month offering. The work is essentially a scrapbook of sorts of a variety of sources, running to some 300 pages, as compiled by Rev Reynell.

For further information on Mullingar and the book, visit https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/8980/parochial-history-of-mullingar-compiled.

The digitised book itself is directly accessible at https://issuu.com/churchofireland/docs/molyngar

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Stirling Council puts burial records online

Stirling Council has made available some 83,221 burial records online for free via its Open Dhttps://data.stirling.gov.uk/dataset/cemetery-records.
ata platform at

The records can be downloaded in several formats, and include burials for the following areas:
  • Aberfoyle
  • Balfron
  • Ballengeich
  • Balquhidder
  • Bannockburn
  • Buchanan
  • Callander
  • Drymen
  • Dunblane
  • Fintry Churchyard
  • Gargunnock
  • Gartmore
  • Gartmore Churchyard
  • Killearn
  • Killearn Woodland
  • Killin
  • Kilmadock
  • Kippen
  • Kirkton (Tyndrum)
  • Lecropt
  • Logie
  • Mar Place
  • Port of Menteith
  • Snowdon
  • St Ninians
  • St Thomas
  • Strathblane
  • Thornhill 
  • Trossachs Churchyard
  • Tyndrum New Cemetery
  • Valley

The informaion returned, where available, is as follows:
  • Cemetery
  • Section, Row and Number
  • First Name and Surname
  • Age and Age Unit (e.g. days, months, years)
  • Date Died
  • Date Buried

The records were first uploaded on 4 FEB 2019, and updated again two weeks ago on 2 OCT 2019.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

FindmyPast adds Dumfriesshire burial records

The latest additions to FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) this week:


Scotland, Will and Testament Index 1481-1807
Did your ancestors die in Scotland? Explore this index of more than 164,000 records from the commissariat courts of Scotland between 1481 and 1807. Each record includes a transcript of the original will and testament that will reveal the date of the will and where it was made.

Scotland Monumental Inscriptions
Over 112,000 new records covering all of Scotland are now available to search. The latest updates include 9 burial sites across Dumfriesshire - Cummertrees Churchyard, Dalton Graveyards, Kirkconnel Churchyard, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Langholm Old Graveyard, Lochmaben Old Churchyard, Staplegordon Graveyard, Staplegordon Graveyard, Wauchope Graveyard and Westerkirk Churchyard.

Westmorland Parish Records
Three brand new parish record collections from historic English County of Westmoreland are now available to search on Findmypast, including:
·  Westmorland Baptisms – over 39,000 records that will reveal details such as baptism date, parents' names and residence.
·  Westmorland Marriages – Over 22,000 records listing details such as marriage date, spouse’s name, father’s name and place of marriage.
·  Westmorland Burials – Over 9,000 records that enable to discover your ancestor’s final resting place, age at death, burial date and residence.

International records update – The Philippines
Does your family tree have roots in the Philippines? Search thee new indexes covering births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials spanning the years 1642 to 1994 are now available to search of Findmypast.

British & Irish Newspaper Update
This week’s new titles include two Scottish publications, the Arbroath Guide and the Perthshire Constitutional and Journal, daily London title, the Express and the Sheerness Times Guardian.

Further details and links at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/search-new-uk-parish-records--scottish-wills-this

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Thursday, 17 October 2019

LivingDNA launches new platform and products

LivingDNA (www.livingdna.com) has completely revamped its online platform from today, and also launched new product ranges.

The following are the press releases for the new products:

LIVING DNA LAUNCHES GENEALOGY AND WELLBEING DNA KIT AT LOWEST RETAIL PRICE POINT IN SECTOR

Popular Direct-To-Consumer DNA Service Fills Gap Left By Others In Affordability and Privacy


Somerset, UK, October 17 -- Living DNA, the global direct-to-consumer genealogy DNA service that does not sell or share customers’ DNA or data with third parties, today announced their entry into the health sector. In addition to the new Living DNA Wellbeing kit for $129, a $49 Starter DNA Kit is also available designed for the billion people who could benefit from DNA testing but are unsure of which part of testing they want.

The Starter Kit is a taster experience including a high-level global view of your ancestry, the ability to find DNA matches with people across the world, wellbeing reports focused on supporting your diet and exercise and the analysis of over 700,000 areas of your DNA code. Once you’ve taken your test you can select deeper insights and reports.

Living DNA has also overhauled its customer results platform and introduced a new Wellbeing Kit experience for users, aiming to cut down 80% of illness and disease that is lifestyle-related. Unlike
other firms that focus on health conditions, Living DNA is first exploring areas of your life influenced by your DNA where a customer can make changes which can lead to a greater quality of life.

David Nicholson, co-founder advises “Before we launched Living DNA, we always felt and understood that the power DNA offers people an opportunity to enjoy a greater quality in their lives. This comes not only from enriching relationships with your family but also understanding the way your body responds to different diets and exercises. By looking at the whole picture, it's possible to move from the era of post cause treatment to true preventative medicine.”

Co-Founder Hannah Nicholson shares that, “We are the people’s DNA company in terms of privacy and affordability. We see it as our responsibility to make sure everyone has access to information in a way that can truly transform their lives. Each of us has the power to take charge of our wellbeing with simple changes that could save healthcare systems around the world billions of dollars, cut waiting lists for critical care and spark GDP increases.”

The firm is building on its foundation as one of the leading companies that provides ancestry testing services worldwide with a mission of making sure each customer is in charge of their own DNA, and
never doing anything with a customer’s DNA information that they have not requested.


LIVING DNA NEW GENEALOGY AND WELLBEING KITS FACT SHEET

Company Overall

Living DNA’s range of easy to use DNA testing kits makes DNA testing accessible, private and secure to everyone across the world, from a simple mouth swab. Through our advanced ancestry reports, we help you unravel stories about your past, designed to enrich your family life and help you celebrate a shared past together. Our range of wellbeing reports shines a light on areas of nutrition and fitness to help improve your overall quality of life today and for the future.

The reports are not only simple to understand but often include actionable steps you can take in your life provided by relevant experts. No matter which Living DNA kit you choose, your privacy and security is our top concern and we only ever do what you ask us to do with your DNA.

Our starter kit costs just $49 USD giving you a taster into the ancestry and wellbeing experience with the full ancestry at $99, the full wellbeing test at $129 and a bundle including both the wellness and ancestry kits at $179. Existing Living DNA customers will be able to upgrade their accounts in mid-november 2019 to purchase the full Wellbeing experience for a reduced rate of $49 (normally $69) until December 31st 2019.

Starter Kit - $49/£49

The Living DNA starter kit, covering ancestry and wellbeing, is the best value DNA kit available. It’s perfectly designed for people who’ve heard about DNA testing but are unsure about which type of test to take. It gives you a taster experience of what is possible through a simple mouth swab. You can see:

● Your global ancestry breakdown across continents
● The ability to find people around the world who you share DNA with
● A nutrition report determining if your genetics indicate that you are prone to Vitamin D deficiency
● The type of exercise your muscles respond to best

The test includes a broad analysis of your DNA but if you want to explore a deeper or wider range of reports, a simple one-click process will unlock the next step in your DNA adventure.

Upgrades - Starter kit customers can upgrade to the ancestry experience for $49 and the wellbeing experience for $69.


Ancestry Kit - $99/£99

Living DNA’s ancestry experience is the most advanced in the industry, working to determine not only the countries where your ancestry is from, but where possible, sub-regions within those countries. The result is a DNA kit with the greatest number of DNA-based regions and sub-regions compared to any other in the industry. You will:

● Experience your ancestry at different points through history
● Uncover people who genetically match with you and are part of your ‘extended family’
● Learn about areas of the world where people live today who share your DNA
● Receive your recent ancestry report showing the countries and, where available, subregions your ancestors are from over the past 1000 years
● Delve into your extended ancestry exploring the migration paths your ancestors took out of Africa 80,000 years ago through today

This complete view of your ancestry is delivered through an intuitive interactive online platform as well as an optional hardcover personalized coffee table book for $69.00.

Ancestry kit customers will be able to upgrade to the full wellbeing experience for $69.

Wellbeing Kit - $129/£129

Living DNA’s wellbeing experience is designed to cast a light on your unique genetics that play a part in your quality of life. Discover how through understanding your body, it may be possible to improve the quality of your life by making adjustments to your diet and exercise.

Living DNA provides you with reports that indicate how your body responds to lifestyle-related analysis such as:

● How your body responds to different vitamins
● How your body breaks down foods to which your body may be sensitive to such as gluten or lactose
● How your body responds to different types of fitness.
● How we can help you understand what type of exercise best supports your body, for instance, DNA can indicate if you are better suited to running and sprinting or weight and circuit training.

Using a simple mouth swab, your DNA is analysed on the unique Living DNA system that allows us to provide a range of advanced reports focused around your goals. From weight management, vitality and digestion to strength and stamina, you will discover how genetically, your body breaks down different vitamins, food types and the exercise program that can support you. Understand the role genetics plays with your lifestyle choices and how you can optimise your wellbeing.

Customers who order at launch will also receive a complimentary 180-day updates package worth $39 that provides new reports as we release them.

Upgrades - Wellbeing kit customers can upgrade to the ancestry experience for $49.
Wellbeing + Ancestry kit- $179/£179

For our most complete experience, the combined wellbeing and ancestry DNA kit brings all the benefits of the two detailed products together at an incredible price. The combined DNA kit will enable you to understand the full depths of your ancestry, bringing family stories to life and unlocking goal-orientated wellbeing reports that help you to live a greater quality of life.

(With thanks to David Nicholson at LivingDNA)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Wednesday, 16 October 2019

Military Archives releases The Collins Papers Online

From Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie):

The Collins Papers Online Release

In response to the ongoing Decade of Centenaries and increased public interest in accessing archives which chart the revolutionary period, the Military Archives is pleased to announce the online release of The Collins Papers. Over 6,000 documents dating from 1918 to early 1922, taking in the War of Independence years (1919 – 1921) and tumultuous post Truce and Treaty period are held in The Collins Papers.

The collection contains communications (despatches) mainly between I.R.A. Brigade and Battalion Officers and predominately those holding appointments in I.R.A. General Headquarters including Michael Collins, Richard Mulcahy, Cathal Brugha and Gearoid O’Sullivan. The chief creator and man behind most of the paperwork held in this collection was General Michael Collins. The collection, which has been in the custody of the Military Archives for decades, was named ‘The Collins Papers’ to signify that connection.

The paperwork links to Michael Collins’ successive G.H.Q. appointments post the third Convention of the Irish Volunteers (19th November 1917) including the periods when he was Director of Organisation, Adjutant General and Director of Intelligence. Much of the later intelligence material (post Truce and Treaty period) held in the collection can be attributed to Collins’ intelligence deputies, Frank Thornton and Liam Tobin. The collection also contains a number of files linked to Collins' ministerial position in the Department of Finance and as Teachta Dála (TD) for Armagh (1921-1922) in Dáil Eireann.

The release of these papers online marks the final stage in a very long journey which took these papers from their point of creation to eventual preservation in the Military Archives. The advent of the Collins Papers online presents new opportunities to a global audience to analyse the years preceding and encompassing the War of Independence and the post Truce and Treaty period, using the records created by I.R.A. leaders and General Headquarters staff.

More details on the collection, its archival history and contents can be found by visiting the Collection Page, which also includes a customised search tool to assist users in the navigation of the catalogue and the associated digitised collection files.

* The original announcement is at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/en/news-updates/single-view/article/the-collins-papers-online-release

(With thanks to Claire Santry via Irish Genealogy News)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

FamilySearch adds indexed Shropshire parish records

More releases from FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org), with the number of new or added indexed records in brackets:

England, Shropshire Parish Registers, 1538-1918 (775,855)
France Deaths and Burials, 1546-1960 (341,046)
France, Marriages, 1546-1924 (1,209,615)
Sweden, Stockholm City Archives, Index to Church Records, 1546-1927 (22,902)
Alabama, Church Records, 1831-1994 (11,048)
Delaware, Church Records, 1707-1939 (75,282)
Hawaii, Tax Assessment Rolls, 1847-1903 (48,133)
Illinois, Church Records, 1837-1995 (28,599)
Kansas State Census, 1905 (30,672)
Louisiana, Parish Voter Registration Records, 1867-1905 (132,854)
Maryland, Church Records, 1668-1995 (88,574)
Massachusetts, Church Records, 1630-1943 (6,606)
Minnesota, Church Records, 1798-1991 (4,977)
New Hampshire, Church Records, 1771-1905 (404)
New York, Church Records, 1660-1954 (106,989)
Ohio, Clermont County Tax Records, 1816-1900 (116,184)
Uruguay, Passenger Lists, 1888-1980 (1,017,722)

Further details and direct links at https://media.familysearch.org/new-free-historical-records-on-familysearch-week-of-14-october-2019/

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Tuesday, 15 October 2019

FamilySearch adds Sussex parish register records

Amongst the latest additions to the FamilySearch website (www.familysearch.org) are 1,223,484 indexed records added to the England Sussex Parish Registers 1538-1910 collection at https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1465706, as sourced from West Sussex County Record Office, Chichester.

In addition, the following collections have been added or updated this week:
  • Czech Republic Land Records 1450-1889
  • United States Freedmen's Bureau Records of Freedmen's Complaints 1865- 1872
  • Utah Tremonton and Garland Obituaries 1959-2013
  • New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists 1906-1942
  • District of Columbia Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records 1863-1872
  • Czech Republic School Registers 1799-1953
  • Peru Cusco Civil Registration 1889-1997
  • United States Freedmen's Bureau Ration Records1865-1872
  • Illinois DeKalb County Land Records 1838-1927
  • United States Freedmen's Bureau Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education 1865-1872
  • Norway Probate Index Cards 1640-1903
  • England Sussex Parish Registers 1538-1910
  • Czech Republic Church Books 1552-1963
  • Peru La Libertad Civil Registration 1903-1998
  • New Hampshire Vital and Town Records Index 1656-1938
  • Arizona County Marriages 1871-1964
  • Portugal Porto Catholic Church Records 1535-1949
  • Michigan Obituaries 1820-2006
  • New Jersey, State Census, 1855
  • Minnesota Clay County School Census Records 1909-1962
  • United States Muster Rolls of the Marine Corps 1798-1937

For further details, visit https://media.familysearch.org/new-free-historical-records-on-familysearch-week-of-14-october-2019/

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Irish Times Revolution Files supplement

Today's Irish Times has a The Revolution Files supplement, documenting stories from throughout the Irish revolutionary period and across the whiole island.

The sources for the material include the Military Services Pension Collection and other materials from the Defence Forces, as held by Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie).

To read the content visit https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/century/the-revolution-files


Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Monday, 14 October 2019

New Angus Antiquarian Burial Grounds website

A new website lisitng burials from Angus (Forfarshire) in Scotland, is now online.

Darren Eyers' Angus Antiquarian, Burial Grounds platform is available at http://graveyards.angus-antiquarian.info/index.php and carries records transcriptions and photos for the following sites:

New Howff, Dundee
Logie, Dundee
Old Mains, Dundee
St Andrews, church
St Peter's, Dundee.
St Aidans, Broughty Ferry
St Peter's, Invergowrie

Further details are available on the website.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.