Coming shortly: Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records

It's been proofed and it's just about ready to go - my new book, Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records!

Here's the blurb:

This latest guide from family historian Chris Paton takes a look at the vast world of Scottish civil registration records. Scotland commenced the statutory registration of births, marriages and deaths within the country in 1855, some seventeen and half years after a similar process had already got under way in England and Wales. The information lost to the family historian by such a late start is, however, more than made up for by the fact that Scottish registration records are the most detailed of all those found within the British Isles.

But what was the law behind Scottish registration, and how did it differ to England, Wales and Ireland? Who was legally obliged to do what and when, what were the penalties for default, and how might such knowledge help with our ancestral research? Why were all the forms of Scottish irregular marriage not abolished in 1939, and what angered the country's doctors? Where are the records not found online via ScotlandsPeople, such as those for adoption, vaccination, civil partnerships and divorce – and what vital records does the General Register Office in England hold for Scots as far back as the 1760s, and far beyond Britain's shores?

Should be out shortly - will let you know when it's available to purchase! (A big thanks to Rosemary Kopittke and Alan Phillips at Unlock the Past for their editorial work on the book). Once it's formally published I'll come back with more information on the contents, and details on where to purchase it from.

That's not all though - I'm currently working on another Scottish title for Unlock the Past, possibly the most challenging yet... but more on that in due course! :)

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!