The National Library of Ireland (www.nli.ie) has announced that its Roman Catholic parish registers collection will go online from July 8th 2015 - here's the full press release:
National Library of Ireland Announces Launch Date for New Online Genealogy Resource
– Almost 400,000 images of Catholic parish register microfilms to be available online for free from 8th July 2015 –
The entire collection of Catholic parish register microfilms held by the National Library of Ireland (NLI) will be made available online – for free – from 8th July 2015 onwards. On that date, a dedicated website will go live, with over 390,000 digital images of the microfilm reels on which the parish registers are recorded.
The NLI has been working to digitise the microfilms for over three years under its most ambitious digitisation programme to date.
The parish register records are considered the single most important source of information on Irish family history prior to the 1901 Census. Dating from the 1740s to the 1880s, they cover 1,091 parishes throughout the island of Ireland, and consist primarily of baptismal and marriage records.
Commenting today, the NLI’s Ciara Kerrigan, who is managing the digitisation of the parish registers, said:
“We announced initial details of this project last December, and received a hugely enthusiastic response from people worldwide with an interest in Irish family history. We are delighted to announce that the project has been progressing well, and we will be able to publish all the digitised records online from 8th July onwards.
“This is the most significant ever genealogy project in the history of the NLI. The microfilms have been available to visitors to the NLI since the 1970s. However, their digitisation means that, for the first time, anyone who likes will be able to access these registers without having to travel to Dublin.”
Typically, the parish registers include information such as the dates of baptisms and marriages, and the names of the key people involved, including godparents or witnesses. The digital images of the registers will be searchable by parish location only, and will not be transcribed or indexed by the NLI.
“The images will be in black and white, and will be of the microfilms of the original registers,” explained Ms. Kerrigan. “There will not be transcripts or indexes for the images. However, the nationwide network of local family history centres holds indexes and transcripts of parish registers for their local areas. So those who access our new online resource will be able to cross-reference the information they uncover, and identify wider links and connections to their ancestral community by also liaising with the relevant local family history centre.”
The NLI is planning an official launch event for the new online resource on 8th July. Further details will be available in the coming weeks.
COMMENT: Note the release states the records are from throughout the island of Ireland, implying this will cover Northern Ireland as well. Hurrah!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Norfolk title deeds talks for beginners
From Norfolk Record Office (@NorfolkRO), news of a forthcoming talk at Norfolk Heritage Centre:
Ever wanted to find out more about using title deeds to further your historical research? Then this is the event for you! Our NRO expert, Archivist Frank Meeres, will guide you through the process of finding, interpreting and using various different types of deeds. An introductory talk at the Norfolk Heritage Centre on Tuesday 5 May (1-2pm) is followed up with a practical workshop at the Norfolk Record Office where you will be able to see original documents. The workshop will run on Tuesday 12 May (at NRO) from 2-3.30pm.
This mini-course is free but booking is required. You are welcome to attend one or both of the parts of this course but it is best to attend part one to get the most from the practical workshop. Any queries please telephone (01603) 774740.
For further details and to register visit http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/title-deeds-for-beginners-tickets-16199259421
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Ever wanted to find out more about using title deeds to further your historical research? Then this is the event for you! Our NRO expert, Archivist Frank Meeres, will guide you through the process of finding, interpreting and using various different types of deeds. An introductory talk at the Norfolk Heritage Centre on Tuesday 5 May (1-2pm) is followed up with a practical workshop at the Norfolk Record Office where you will be able to see original documents. The workshop will run on Tuesday 12 May (at NRO) from 2-3.30pm.
This mini-course is free but booking is required. You are welcome to attend one or both of the parts of this course but it is best to attend part one to get the most from the practical workshop. Any queries please telephone (01603) 774740.
For further details and to register visit http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/title-deeds-for-beginners-tickets-16199259421
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Medieval English Genealogy website update
The Medieval English Genealogy website (www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk) has an update with news of new published additions to the Victoria County History series, abstracts for 2916 fines for several counties added to the Feet of Fines sections, new web links, and more.
For full details visit www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/updates/update.shtml
(With thanks to the Guild of One Name Studies via Twitter)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
For full details visit www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/updates/update.shtml
(With thanks to the Guild of One Name Studies via Twitter)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Free trial on Irish Newspaper Archives
Claire Santry has news of another free 3 day trial on Irish Newspaper Archives - for further details see http://www.irishgenealogynews.com/2015/04/irish-newspaper-archives-three-day-free.html
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Chief Executive sought for new Scottish heritage body
From Historic Scotland:
Chief Executive sought for new lead public body for Scotland’s historic environment
A Chief Executive is being sought for a brand new lead public body for Scotland’s historic environment.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), established by the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014, brings together two organisations - Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS).
The new organisation will be the lead public body for the historic environment in Scotland, working to deliver the Scottish Government’s Historic Environment Strategy “Our Place in Time”.
The successful candidate will lead an organisation with responsibilities ranging from looking after over 345 properties in care to having a statutory role as a regulator and advisor to ministers, to holding one of the largest photographic collections in the world. They will also lead a team of archaeologists, craftspeople, conservators and historians amongst many others, to help manage, celebrate and promote Scotland’s unique historic environment.
The new organisation will come into effect from October of this year, with a board now in place, headed up by Chair, Jane Ryder OBE.
Jane Ryder, OBE, Chair of Historic Environment Scotland, said:
“The new role as a lead public body focusses on working with, and enabling others, as part of a more collective approach. That requires crossing some conventional barriers and some creative thinking, including how we can engage with others, so that the collective approach that is laid out in ‘Our Place in Time’ can be realised.
“As the first Chief Executive of HES, the successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to be involved in the creation of a new organisation which will play a lead role in shaping the historic environment in Scotland, and in the lives of Scottish people and visitors alike, for decades to come.
“We believe there is a no more exciting and challenging role for anyone interested in Scotland’s history and in the development of modern Scotland, and look forward to hearing from candidates.”
Applications are now being welcomed with recruitment open until 18th May. For further information visit
http://www.aspenpeople.co.uk/vacancies/vacancy.php?id=225 http://www.s1jobs.com/apply/jump/570806790.html
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Chief Executive sought for new lead public body for Scotland’s historic environment
A Chief Executive is being sought for a brand new lead public body for Scotland’s historic environment.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), established by the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014, brings together two organisations - Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS).
The new organisation will be the lead public body for the historic environment in Scotland, working to deliver the Scottish Government’s Historic Environment Strategy “Our Place in Time”.
The successful candidate will lead an organisation with responsibilities ranging from looking after over 345 properties in care to having a statutory role as a regulator and advisor to ministers, to holding one of the largest photographic collections in the world. They will also lead a team of archaeologists, craftspeople, conservators and historians amongst many others, to help manage, celebrate and promote Scotland’s unique historic environment.
The new organisation will come into effect from October of this year, with a board now in place, headed up by Chair, Jane Ryder OBE.
Jane Ryder, OBE, Chair of Historic Environment Scotland, said:
“The new role as a lead public body focusses on working with, and enabling others, as part of a more collective approach. That requires crossing some conventional barriers and some creative thinking, including how we can engage with others, so that the collective approach that is laid out in ‘Our Place in Time’ can be realised.
“As the first Chief Executive of HES, the successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to be involved in the creation of a new organisation which will play a lead role in shaping the historic environment in Scotland, and in the lives of Scottish people and visitors alike, for decades to come.
“We believe there is a no more exciting and challenging role for anyone interested in Scotland’s history and in the development of modern Scotland, and look forward to hearing from candidates.”
Applications are now being welcomed with recruitment open until 18th May. For further information visit
http://www.aspenpeople.co.uk/vacancies/vacancy.php?id=225 http://www.s1jobs.com/apply/jump/570806790.html
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Monday, 27 April 2015
Two more New Zealand databases on Ancestry
Just released on Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk):
New Zealand, Teacher and Civil Service Examinations and Licenses, 1880-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=6196
New Zealand, Sheep Returns, Owners and Officers, 1879-1889
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=6162
Further details via the links
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
New Zealand, Teacher and Civil Service Examinations and Licenses, 1880-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=6196
New Zealand, Sheep Returns, Owners and Officers, 1879-1889
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=6162
Further details via the links
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Friday, 24 April 2015
Early bird ticket offer for WDYTYA Live 2016
From WDYTYA Live (www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com):
We are already working hard to ensure that next year's show will grow on this year’s success! We have re-booked the Birmingham NEC from 7-9th April for 2016, so book your tickets early here and quote: EARLY for a special 2015 early-bird price of 2 for £22 to avoid disappointment!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
We are already working hard to ensure that next year's show will grow on this year’s success! We have re-booked the Birmingham NEC from 7-9th April for 2016, so book your tickets early here and quote: EARLY for a special 2015 early-bird price of 2 for £22 to avoid disappointment!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Deceased Online adds records for Sandwell
From Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com):
Sandwell, heart of the Black Country, adds records to Deceased Online
Records for all cemeteries and crematoria managed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council are being added to www.deceasedonline.com. Sandwell is a large council area in the famous Black Country in England's West Midlands (adjacent to the City of Birmingham)
Although Sandwell is a relatively new council area, it has a great heritage from the Industrial Revolution and includes such well known towns as Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich. See full details here.
The new collection dates back to 1858 and will comprise over 1 million records for over 300,000 burials and 130,000 cremations; immediately available are records for four key sites at Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and Oldbury.
The records comprise:
- digital scans (or computerised versions) of original burial registers
- details of all grave occupants in each cemetery
- maps indicating, where possible, the section where the grave is located in Tipton cemetery
Our blogger and genealogist Emma Jolly and her family have much Black Country ancestry so they're very excited about this latest collection. Read her latest blog about Sandwell and the Black and Country and her discoveries at last week's Who Do You Think You Are Live.
(Thanks to Deceased Online)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Sandwell, heart of the Black Country, adds records to Deceased Online
Records for all cemeteries and crematoria managed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council are being added to www.deceasedonline.com. Sandwell is a large council area in the famous Black Country in England's West Midlands (adjacent to the City of Birmingham)
Although Sandwell is a relatively new council area, it has a great heritage from the Industrial Revolution and includes such well known towns as Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich. See full details here.
The new collection dates back to 1858 and will comprise over 1 million records for over 300,000 burials and 130,000 cremations; immediately available are records for four key sites at Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and Oldbury.
The records comprise:
- digital scans (or computerised versions) of original burial registers
- details of all grave occupants in each cemetery
- maps indicating, where possible, the section where the grave is located in Tipton cemetery
Our blogger and genealogist Emma Jolly and her family have much Black Country ancestry so they're very excited about this latest collection. Read her latest blog about Sandwell and the Black and Country and her discoveries at last week's Who Do You Think You Are Live.
(Thanks to Deceased Online)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
National Records of Scotland catalogue back up
After four weeks of being offline, the National Records of Scotland catalogue is now back up at http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/search.aspx. Other services such as SCAN (www.scan.org.uk) also appear to be back up.
And about time too.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
And about time too.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Reduced posting over next few days
Hi folks, as I had a series of minor operations yesterday at Inverclyde Royal Hospital on my left hand, right arm and right shoulder, there will be a likely reduction in my posting over the next few days, as having ten stitches to contend with is making typing a little awkward!
I was actually out canvassing last night for the forthcoming election as soon as I got out of hospital (I can hold clipboards and leaflets etc!), it's just repetitive typing that hurts a wee bit, but I will do my best to keep things up to date, even if that means just one liners for posts - normal service will hopefully resume soon!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
I was actually out canvassing last night for the forthcoming election as soon as I got out of hospital (I can hold clipboards and leaflets etc!), it's just repetitive typing that hurts a wee bit, but I will do my best to keep things up to date, even if that means just one liners for posts - normal service will hopefully resume soon!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
FindmyPast releases Yorkshire, Co. Clare and POW records
FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has released the following new records for Yorkshire:
Over 1,2 million new Yorkshire baptisms, 1538-1914
Over 1.3 million new Yorkshire bishop’s transcripts of baptisms, 1578-1914
Over 277,000 new Yorkshire banns, 1653-1930
Over 709,000 new Yorkshire Marriages 1539-1930
Over 684,000 new Yorkshire bishop’s transcripts of marriages 1534-1899
Over 885,000 new Yorkshire burials 1538-1966
Over 945,000 new Yorkshire bishop’s transcripts of burials 1578-1972
It has also released 43,000 POW records from the First World War.
Amongst other releases is the following collection from Ireland:
Containing over 7,000 records, Clare County Government Proceedings 1732 – 1882 record the members, presentments and correspondence of Clare’s Grand jury. Grand juries were the forerunner of county councils and functioned as local government authorities. Letters and circulars to the Grand Jury are also to be found.
For further details visit http://blog.findmypast.com/2015/this-findmypast-friday-new-pow-records-plus-phase-2-of-the-yorkshire-collection/
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Over 1,2 million new Yorkshire baptisms, 1538-1914
Over 1.3 million new Yorkshire bishop’s transcripts of baptisms, 1578-1914
Over 277,000 new Yorkshire banns, 1653-1930
Over 709,000 new Yorkshire Marriages 1539-1930
Over 684,000 new Yorkshire bishop’s transcripts of marriages 1534-1899
Over 885,000 new Yorkshire burials 1538-1966
Over 945,000 new Yorkshire bishop’s transcripts of burials 1578-1972
It has also released 43,000 POW records from the First World War.
Amongst other releases is the following collection from Ireland:
Containing over 7,000 records, Clare County Government Proceedings 1732 – 1882 record the members, presentments and correspondence of Clare’s Grand jury. Grand juries were the forerunner of county councils and functioned as local government authorities. Letters and circulars to the Grand Jury are also to be found.
For further details visit http://blog.findmypast.com/2015/this-findmypast-friday-new-pow-records-plus-phase-2-of-the-yorkshire-collection/
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Irish family history - the Essential Genealogical Research Pack
So you're intent on doing some Irish family history, but don't know where to turn for assistance? The Ulster Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com) has a new book offer which might just help. Behold, the Essential Genealogical Research Pack, at just £49.99 - and I must admit, I'm feeling flattered to have one of my books included in the mix, alongside three other Irish authors who I have a lot of time for!
From the site:
The Foundation is delighted to make available to our Guild members and friends a new book offer which will benefit both the budding and experienced genealogist alike – the Essential Genealogy Research pack.
For just £49.99 plus P&P (normal retail price £59.96) this pack comprises Four Key Publications which will provide invaluable information in your quest to uncover your family history and complete your research!
Included in this pack are the following books (which can also be purchased separately below):
* Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800 by Dr William Roulston (RRP £11.99)
* Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet: A guide for family historians by Chris Paton (RRP £12.99)
* Irish Libraries, Archives, Museums & Genealogical Centres: A Visitors’ Guide (3rd ed.) by Robert K. O'Neill (RRP £14.99)
* Tracing Your Irish Ancestors (4th ed) by John Grenham (RRP £19.99)
For more information please go to visit: www.booksireland.org.uk.
Remember folks, God's Irish - are you?!
(With thanks to the Ulster Historical Foundation)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
From the site:
The Foundation is delighted to make available to our Guild members and friends a new book offer which will benefit both the budding and experienced genealogist alike – the Essential Genealogy Research pack.
For just £49.99 plus P&P (normal retail price £59.96) this pack comprises Four Key Publications which will provide invaluable information in your quest to uncover your family history and complete your research!
Included in this pack are the following books (which can also be purchased separately below):
* Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800 by Dr William Roulston (RRP £11.99) * Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet: A guide for family historians by Chris Paton (RRP £12.99)
* Irish Libraries, Archives, Museums & Genealogical Centres: A Visitors’ Guide (3rd ed.) by Robert K. O'Neill (RRP £14.99)
* Tracing Your Irish Ancestors (4th ed) by John Grenham (RRP £19.99)
For more information please go to visit: www.booksireland.org.uk.
Remember folks, God's Irish - are you?!
(With thanks to the Ulster Historical Foundation)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Edinburgh Collected community archive
I'm not sure if I've seen this before, but there's an interesting community archive site for those with Edinburgh ancestry, which appears to have been launched last year - it's called Edinburgh Collected. Here's the blurb from the site's About page:
Make history for now and the future!
Edinburgh Collected is a place to share, explore and discuss your memories of Edinburgh.
Everyone can browse, or you can sign up to:
upload your own memories
save your favourite memories in a scrapbook.
Edinburgh Collected is managed and maintained by Edinburgh Libraries, part of the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC).
All the material added will expand the City’s digital heritage collections, adding to the material held in the Central Library, already the most extensive collection about Edinburgh in existence.
To access the site visit https://www.edinburghcollected.org
(With thanks to Nicola Osborne of EDINA, via Facebook)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Make history for now and the future!
Edinburgh Collected is a place to share, explore and discuss your memories of Edinburgh.
Everyone can browse, or you can sign up to:
upload your own memories
save your favourite memories in a scrapbook.
Edinburgh Collected is managed and maintained by Edinburgh Libraries, part of the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC).
All the material added will expand the City’s digital heritage collections, adding to the material held in the Central Library, already the most extensive collection about Edinburgh in existence.
To access the site visit https://www.edinburghcollected.org
(With thanks to Nicola Osborne of EDINA, via Facebook)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
English Civil War conference in August
From the Federation of Family History Societies (via Facebook www.facebook.com/FederationFHS)
Leicester University's Centre for English Local History has organised a major international conference to celebrate the opening of the National Civil War Centre at Newark Museum. The event will take place over two full days on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August. It features a total of 19 presentations on the theme "Mortality, Care and Military Welfare during the British Civil Wars".
You can see the full programme on the conference website, along with the booking arrangements and details of nearby overnight accommodation.
Further details at http://www2.le.ac.uk/conference/militarywelfare2015?uol_r=3619a340
(With thanks to the FFHS)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Leicester University's Centre for English Local History has organised a major international conference to celebrate the opening of the National Civil War Centre at Newark Museum. The event will take place over two full days on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August. It features a total of 19 presentations on the theme "Mortality, Care and Military Welfare during the British Civil Wars".
You can see the full programme on the conference website, along with the booking arrangements and details of nearby overnight accommodation.
Further details at http://www2.le.ac.uk/conference/militarywelfare2015?uol_r=3619a340
(With thanks to the FFHS)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Ancestry releases UK First World War army diaries
Ancestry has released two collections of First World War army diaries for the British Army:
UK, WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60779
These war diaries document operations for British and colonial units serving in theatres of operations between 1914 and 1920, including Russia, at home, and in the colonies, as well as British military missions and Armies of Occupation between 1919 and 1920. The diaries contain daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries, and other pertinent material, and they can provide an on-the-spot description of what your ancestor experienced. The range of dates shown for individual items does not mean there is a document inside the file for each day between the two covering dates.
No diaries for the campaign in South West Africa in 1914-1915 are included in this series because no British units participated; operations were conducted under the auspices of the South African armed forces.
Source: First World War and Army of Occupation War Diaries. WO 95/1096–3948. The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England.
UK, WWI War Diaries (Gallipoli and Dardanelles), 1914-1916
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60380
You can use this collection of war diaries from the First World War to get a picture of day-to-day life in your ancestor’s unit. The diaries include information on a unit’s movements, where the unit was stationed on a given day, what activities troops were engaged in, and other information, such as embarkation, travel, or casualties.
Source: First World War and Army of Occupation War Diaries. WO 95/4263-4359. The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England.
Ancestry has blogged about the release at http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2015/04/22/reports-from-gallipoli-the-dardanelles-and-the-western-front-wwi-military-diaries-go-online/
In addition Ancestry has updated two further WW1 collections, by updating their search forms:
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1543
UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=5119
Details on the updates to the search forms are available at www.ancestry.co.uk/searchforms
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
UK, WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60779
These war diaries document operations for British and colonial units serving in theatres of operations between 1914 and 1920, including Russia, at home, and in the colonies, as well as British military missions and Armies of Occupation between 1919 and 1920. The diaries contain daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries, and other pertinent material, and they can provide an on-the-spot description of what your ancestor experienced. The range of dates shown for individual items does not mean there is a document inside the file for each day between the two covering dates.
No diaries for the campaign in South West Africa in 1914-1915 are included in this series because no British units participated; operations were conducted under the auspices of the South African armed forces.
Source: First World War and Army of Occupation War Diaries. WO 95/1096–3948. The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England.
UK, WWI War Diaries (Gallipoli and Dardanelles), 1914-1916
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60380
You can use this collection of war diaries from the First World War to get a picture of day-to-day life in your ancestor’s unit. The diaries include information on a unit’s movements, where the unit was stationed on a given day, what activities troops were engaged in, and other information, such as embarkation, travel, or casualties.
Source: First World War and Army of Occupation War Diaries. WO 95/4263-4359. The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England.
Ancestry has blogged about the release at http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2015/04/22/reports-from-gallipoli-the-dardanelles-and-the-western-front-wwi-military-diaries-go-online/
In addition Ancestry has updated two further WW1 collections, by updating their search forms:
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1543
UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=5119
Details on the updates to the search forms are available at www.ancestry.co.uk/searchforms
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Monday, 20 April 2015
Tracing medieval Scots, Welsh and Irish emigrants in England
Amanda Epperson's Scottish Emigration Blog has a good piece on the England's Immigrants 1330-1550 database at www.englandsimmigrants.com, noting that it is possible to identify some 3389 Scottish emigrants who appeared in England in that period, as mentioned within various medieval documents. The full post is available at http://scottishemigration.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/scots-in-medieval-england.html.
I carried out a similar search on Irish emigrants who turned up in England, and found some 2018 entries, whilst for Wales, 60 folk are noted.
(With thanks to Amanda)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
I carried out a similar search on Irish emigrants who turned up in England, and found some 2018 entries, whilst for Wales, 60 folk are noted.
(With thanks to Amanda)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Family history taster and archive exploration sessions at PRONI
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.proni.gov.uk) is hosting an IT and Family History taster session at the end of this week, and has added new dates to its Explore the Archives programme at the archive:
Spring Online Event: IT and Family History Taster Session
When: Friday 24 April 2015, 10.00-12.00
Where: PRONI
Spring Online Week will run from 20 April to 24 April 2015 to help and inspire people achieve a lasting use of the internet. Go ON NI’s programme of events are free and will take place in PRONI on Friday 24 April.
The event will include an IT taster session to help you go online for the first time, to improve your digital skills or help you search the internet for information and services. The taster session will be followed by a tour of PRONI's research areas and a workshop on online sources for family history.
Explore the Archives – Practical Workshops at PRONI – New Dates!
Once you’ve collected some information about your ancestors, why not come along to one of PRONI’s practical workshops where you will get a hands-on introduction to searching archives on the internet; and searching, ordering and using original documents held at PRONI.
The practical workshops consist of 2 sections the first being an introduction to Archives Online, 2pm and the second being an introduction to Using the Documents (searching for, ordering and viewing original documents), 3pm.
New dates added are the 13th May and 17th June. Please contact PRONI to secure your place on a session!
For both events contact PRONI to reserve a place - see http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/contact_us.htm
(With thanks to the PRONI Express)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Spring Online Event: IT and Family History Taster Session
When: Friday 24 April 2015, 10.00-12.00
Where: PRONI
Spring Online Week will run from 20 April to 24 April 2015 to help and inspire people achieve a lasting use of the internet. Go ON NI’s programme of events are free and will take place in PRONI on Friday 24 April.
The event will include an IT taster session to help you go online for the first time, to improve your digital skills or help you search the internet for information and services. The taster session will be followed by a tour of PRONI's research areas and a workshop on online sources for family history.
Explore the Archives – Practical Workshops at PRONI – New Dates!
Once you’ve collected some information about your ancestors, why not come along to one of PRONI’s practical workshops where you will get a hands-on introduction to searching archives on the internet; and searching, ordering and using original documents held at PRONI.
The practical workshops consist of 2 sections the first being an introduction to Archives Online, 2pm and the second being an introduction to Using the Documents (searching for, ordering and viewing original documents), 3pm.
New dates added are the 13th May and 17th June. Please contact PRONI to secure your place on a session!
For both events contact PRONI to reserve a place - see http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/contact_us.htm
(With thanks to the PRONI Express)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
New NIFHS research guide for County Tyrone ancestors
The North of Ireland Family History Society (www.nifhs.org) has released the third book in its new series of guides entitled Researching Your Ancestors in the North of Ireland, this time focussing on Northern Ireland's largest county, Tyrone.
As with the two previous editions, covering counties Cavan and Monaghan, this latest edition provides a handy reach-to guide identifying the key resources available for Tyrone based research. In addition to detailed lists of land based records (including a short guide to the Ulster Plantation of the county, and a guide to estate records), censuses, census substitutes, civil registration record sources, court records and newspapers, there is an extensive guide to surviving church records from all denominations in the county, as well as sources for locating gravestone inscriptions, online and offline. A handy appendix listing books specifically concerned with County Tyrone is of interest, as is a website guide.
A nice touch, as with its predecessors, is a range of colour maps in the guide. These depict i) Main towns and villages, ii) Civil parishes and baronies, and iii) Poor law unions.
The book is illustrated throughout, and will be an essential addition to any Irish family history library.
NB: It's so hot off the presses that the book has yet to be added to the NIFHS website, but it will cost £6 plus p&p. Keep an eye out on the site!
UPDATE: The book is now available from the NIFHS website at http://nifhs.org/publications.htm - price including p&p is £7.50.
(With thanks to the NIFHS)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
As with the two previous editions, covering counties Cavan and Monaghan, this latest edition provides a handy reach-to guide identifying the key resources available for Tyrone based research. In addition to detailed lists of land based records (including a short guide to the Ulster Plantation of the county, and a guide to estate records), censuses, census substitutes, civil registration record sources, court records and newspapers, there is an extensive guide to surviving church records from all denominations in the county, as well as sources for locating gravestone inscriptions, online and offline. A handy appendix listing books specifically concerned with County Tyrone is of interest, as is a website guide.A nice touch, as with its predecessors, is a range of colour maps in the guide. These depict i) Main towns and villages, ii) Civil parishes and baronies, and iii) Poor law unions.
The book is illustrated throughout, and will be an essential addition to any Irish family history library.
NB: It's so hot off the presses that the book has yet to be added to the NIFHS website, but it will cost £6 plus p&p. Keep an eye out on the site!
UPDATE: The book is now available from the NIFHS website at http://nifhs.org/publications.htm - price including p&p is £7.50.
(With thanks to the NIFHS)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Canadian WW1 war gratuities and Gloucester gaol registers
Two new collections on Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) which may be of interest if you have English or Canadian connections:
Canada, Imperial War Service Gratuities, 1919-1921
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=9149
Source: Imperial War Service Gratuities. RG9-II-F-10. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Web: Gloucestershire, England, Gaol Registers, 1815-1879
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=9742
Source: Gloucestershire Archives Genealogical Search. Gloucestershire County Council. http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/genealogy/Search.aspx: accessed 11 August 2014.
Further details via the links.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Canada, Imperial War Service Gratuities, 1919-1921
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=9149
Source: Imperial War Service Gratuities. RG9-II-F-10. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Web: Gloucestershire, England, Gaol Registers, 1815-1879
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=9742
Source: Gloucestershire Archives Genealogical Search. Gloucestershire County Council. http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/genealogy/Search.aspx: accessed 11 August 2014.
Further details via the links.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Ancestry releases app for Apple iWatch
Ancestry (www.ancestry.com) has released a version of its app for the new Apple iWatch. I have to admit, I don't see this gadget going too far, but if it does, it will be interesting to see how or if it affects the world of family history."Daddy what time is it?"
"It's half past your great granny!"
For the full story see http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2015/04/20/family-history-on-your-wrist-introducing-ancestrys-apple-iwatch-app.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Server problems continue with National Records of Scotland services
Earlier today I tweeted the National Records of Scotland (www.nrscotland.gov.uk) asking for a meaningful update as to why the online catalogue services for the archive, and other services reliant on the NRS (e.g. the SCAN catalogue for some fifty archives across the country), are still not available, now more than three weeks since they first went offline. To say it is now becoming farcical would be an understatement.
The NRS has duly complied with an update at http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/news/2015/nrs-online-services. The records are offline because of a service failure, but they still cannot provide any details as to when services will be restored. The catalogue is accessible at the archive, but not online, which I guess is fine for folk living in Edinburgh, but not for those living further afield within the nation. I should add that this is disrupting my own ability to carry out client research, and I have heard from other genealogists and academics that they are similarly being frustrated in their endeavours to make a living.
One other point is that I believe that the problems may also be affecting the ScotlandsPlaces (www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk) platform with regards to the provision of some images. I noticed this a few days ago with some of the free to access collections such as the Farm Horse Tax records, whilst a friend of mine at WDYTYA Live reported similar problems that he has also encountered over the last few days. The transcripts for those images that have been completed are still available however.
It's simply beyond belief.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
The NRS has duly complied with an update at http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/news/2015/nrs-online-services. The records are offline because of a service failure, but they still cannot provide any details as to when services will be restored. The catalogue is accessible at the archive, but not online, which I guess is fine for folk living in Edinburgh, but not for those living further afield within the nation. I should add that this is disrupting my own ability to carry out client research, and I have heard from other genealogists and academics that they are similarly being frustrated in their endeavours to make a living.
One other point is that I believe that the problems may also be affecting the ScotlandsPlaces (www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk) platform with regards to the provision of some images. I noticed this a few days ago with some of the free to access collections such as the Farm Horse Tax records, whilst a friend of mine at WDYTYA Live reported similar problems that he has also encountered over the last few days. The transcripts for those images that have been completed are still available however.
It's simply beyond belief.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
My latest Unlock the Past Scottish and Irish books now available in the UK
Yorkshire based My History (www.my-history.co.uk) has now made available several more Unlock the Past books within the UK, including my two latest guides, Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis and Irish Family History Resources Online (2nd edition). Here are the details:
Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis
Price: £7
http://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Down-and-Out-in-Scotland--Researching-Ancestral-Crisis-UTP0286.html#SID=876
It is perhaps one of greatest truisms of family history research that we will often find that the lives of our ancestors were best documented when the chips were truly down.
There were many battles that our forebears fought for and against in Scotland, both on a personal level and as part of the society within which they lived. There were the laws of the local parish church and the punishments awaiting those who breached kirk discipline; the struggles to avoid poverty and the stigma of being a debtor; the darkest moments of the soul, from mental health issues and illness, to murder and suicide; and the dramatic moments of rebellion, when our forebears drew a line in the sand against a perceived tyranny or democratic deficit. Illness, death, bigamy, abandonment, accidents, eviction, ethnic cleansing - a dramatic range of challenges across a lifetime, and at times, outright tragedy. And close to each of them, a quill and ink.
But through all of these episodes, there is an even greater story that emerges, of how our ancestors overcame such struggles. In this Unlock the Past guide, genealogist Chris Paton goes in search of the records of ancestral hardship in Scotland, to allow us to truly understand the situations that our ancestors had to endure and overcome across the generations, to help us become the very people who we are today.
Irish Family History Resources Online (2nd edition)
Price: £9
http://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Irish-Family-History-Resources-Online-UTP0282.html#SID=876
There is a popular belief that Irish family history research is virtually impossible because ‘all the records were burned in the civil war’. But as Northern Irish born family historian Chris Paton demonstrates, the glass is most definitely half full rather than half empty when it comes to research in the Emerald Isle. Many records still exist which can help with your ancestral pursuits, and for those unable to make their way to Ireland to carry out research, the internet is finally coming to the rescue, as more and more material is increasingly finding its way online by the day.
This concise Unlock the Past guide explores the key repositories and records now available online, and will prove to you that if you have been put off with Irish research in the past, now is absolutely the time to take another look.
Ebook editions are also available from www.gen-ebooks.com. These are in PDF format, with the Scottish title available for AU$7.95 (about £4.15) and the Irish title at AU$9.95 (about £5.20).
For the full range of books now available from My History, please visit http://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Unlock-the-Past-Booklets.html.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis
Price: £7
http://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Down-and-Out-in-Scotland--Researching-Ancestral-Crisis-UTP0286.html#SID=876
It is perhaps one of greatest truisms of family history research that we will often find that the lives of our ancestors were best documented when the chips were truly down.There were many battles that our forebears fought for and against in Scotland, both on a personal level and as part of the society within which they lived. There were the laws of the local parish church and the punishments awaiting those who breached kirk discipline; the struggles to avoid poverty and the stigma of being a debtor; the darkest moments of the soul, from mental health issues and illness, to murder and suicide; and the dramatic moments of rebellion, when our forebears drew a line in the sand against a perceived tyranny or democratic deficit. Illness, death, bigamy, abandonment, accidents, eviction, ethnic cleansing - a dramatic range of challenges across a lifetime, and at times, outright tragedy. And close to each of them, a quill and ink.
But through all of these episodes, there is an even greater story that emerges, of how our ancestors overcame such struggles. In this Unlock the Past guide, genealogist Chris Paton goes in search of the records of ancestral hardship in Scotland, to allow us to truly understand the situations that our ancestors had to endure and overcome across the generations, to help us become the very people who we are today.
Irish Family History Resources Online (2nd edition)
Price: £9
http://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Irish-Family-History-Resources-Online-UTP0282.html#SID=876
This concise Unlock the Past guide explores the key repositories and records now available online, and will prove to you that if you have been put off with Irish research in the past, now is absolutely the time to take another look.
Ebook editions are also available from www.gen-ebooks.com. These are in PDF format, with the Scottish title available for AU$7.95 (about £4.15) and the Irish title at AU$9.95 (about £5.20).
For the full range of books now available from My History, please visit http://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Unlock-the-Past-Booklets.html.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Who Do You Think You Are? Live 2015 review
This year's Who Do You Think You Are? Live provided a welcome evolution for a show which, bar a brief foray to Glasgow last year, has been confined to London ever since its inception many years ago. So how did it fare in its new home at Birmingham?
My normal routine for London is to travel down on an overnight bus from Glasgow before the show, and to then travel back on an overnight train on the return journey (for a little added luxury). With the disruption this causes for the three days away, plus the two travel days, it usually takes a significant chunk of a week from my normal activities. Locating the show at the Birmingham NEC was therefore an act of genius as far as I am concerned - I booked a flight from Glasgow which takes just an hour, and almost literally stepped off the plane at Birmingham and into the show (after a short 90 second transit shuttle in between). Similarly on Saturday, I left at 3.30pm and was home in Largs just three hours later. I have never had a more relaxing journey to an event and back again!
So travel wise, a big thumbs up. But what about the new venue? One of the advantages with the NEC is that the floor space was so much bigger, meaning that each of the vendors and societies were not huddled together like sardines. My impression was that the numbers attending seemed to be about the same as last year's event, but that it did not seem so congested. Such congestion always made it seem so much more frantic and stressful in the past, and its absence was welcome. The queues outside the venue each morning were impressive, and there were periods on the Thursday and Friday in particular when we were run off our feet. On the Saturday it was my impression that maybe the societies' stands were busier than those of the larger corporate vendors, but I have no idea if that was in fact the case, they just seemed busier to me!
This year I helped for the most part on the Unlock the Past Cruises (www.unlockthepastcruises.com) with Alan Phillips, and helped to promote the genealogy cruises and also the separate book range from the parent company Unlock the Past (www.unlockthepast.com.au), also available as ebooks on www.gen-ebooks.com. The range of books, including my various Scottish, Irish and British titles, is now also published in England by Yorkshire based My History (www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Unlock-the-Past-Booklets.html), who were merrily selling copies on our behalf.
In addition to the UTP stand, I also did two stints within the Society of Genealogists' Ask the Experts area, at an hour and two hours respectively on Friday and Saturday. Although I am based within Scotland and predominantly work within Scottish genealogy, I do also do some Irish research, but bizarrely I only had one Scottish query at the event, and eight Irish situations to deal with - though I was able to handle them all easily enough! One in particular was a real eye opener for the couple involved, concerning an ancestor of theirs who had been adopted. This had been a brick wall for some time, but they actually had the adoptive mother's name on a birth certificate, and I was soon able to locate a potentially significant target family for them in Ireland to which she seemed to be related, and therefore a whole new line of enquiry to pursue.
In terms of news developments, The Genealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk) launched an extension to their English and Welsh tithes records and tithes maps collections, and I managed to grab an audio interview with Mark Bayley on that, for the next podcast. I had fantastic conversations with Fiona Fitzsimmons and Brian Donovan from Eneclann (www.eneclann.ie) and Findmypast Ireland, and they have all sorts of goodies that they are currently working, not least of which a collection of Quaker records for the Republic of Ireland, and workhouse records from Dublin. Brian also hinted that something wicked this way comes later this year, but was keeping schtum on that for now! A new revamped website platform is also on the cards in the near future. Staying with Ireland, the wonderful folk from the North of Ireland Family History Society (www.nifhs.org) were there again in force, and promoting their latest research guide publication on County Tyrone, which I will review separately in due course. I also renewed my membership! The society's Ann Robinson also explained that they are planning to give their website a refresher in the near future - an interview with Ann will also appear on my next British GENES podcast.
There was a depressing absence of Scottish vendors or societies there, with only the two universities, Strathclyde and Dundee and ASGRA in attendance, as well as many members from the Scottish Genealogy Network (www.scottishgenealogynetwork.co.uk). Towards the end of the event I caught up briefly with Strathclyde's heid yin Tahitia McCabe, and recorded a discussion with her about the forthcoming summer institute in Glasgow that she is planning - again, keep an ear out for that on the next podcast, coming very soon! The fact that ScotlandsPeople and the National Records of Scotland were not there was simply extraordinary - but in the latter case I suspect not a lot would have been achieved by their presence anyway, with their online catalogue facilities now offline for over three weeks, which is frankly now becoming farcical. I did catch up with Miriam Silverman from Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), however, who acquires content for the platform, and she revealed that there are plans to place some new material for Glasgow and Edinburgh online in the very near future, though I'll hold off mentioning any further specific details on that until I get the go ahead! Ancestry was also merrily plugging away its new AncestryDNA test, which is also soon to be launched in Australia. I briefly caught up with Bryony Partridge from the company, and thanked her for the test that she sent to me a few weeks past, which I have still to do, and will post a review on that when I do - honest!
It was good to see the English based National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) back now in force, not only providing lectures but also an advice area once again, which was busy throughout, and Rebecca Probert, who I met in Portugal just a few weeks back, was also at the event, publicising her new book Divorced, Bigamist, Bereaved?. Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com) launched records for the Sandwell area, and I briefly caught up with genealogist Emma Jolly, who blogs for the company, and got to meet her kids and hubby for the first time!
This year I did not submit any proposals for any talks, and I never managed to attend any talks, although as the UTP stand was beside the SoG 4 theatre I did manage to eavesdrop in on a few! Overall, I would say that the show was a much better event for being held in Birmingham, with many fantastic benefits at the NEC such as the presence of so many restaurants and cafes on site.
The only criticisms I really heard from folk were some issues surrounding parking. The show will be at Birmingham again next year from April 7th-9th - it has been changed from April 28th-30th - and it looks like it may be there for a few years yet, one of the reasons for the date change. Personally, that decision gets the thumbs up from me also - Birmingham NEC is simply the most fantastic conference venue I've ever attended yet in the UK.
Finally, a few more pics...!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
My normal routine for London is to travel down on an overnight bus from Glasgow before the show, and to then travel back on an overnight train on the return journey (for a little added luxury). With the disruption this causes for the three days away, plus the two travel days, it usually takes a significant chunk of a week from my normal activities. Locating the show at the Birmingham NEC was therefore an act of genius as far as I am concerned - I booked a flight from Glasgow which takes just an hour, and almost literally stepped off the plane at Birmingham and into the show (after a short 90 second transit shuttle in between). Similarly on Saturday, I left at 3.30pm and was home in Largs just three hours later. I have never had a more relaxing journey to an event and back again!So travel wise, a big thumbs up. But what about the new venue? One of the advantages with the NEC is that the floor space was so much bigger, meaning that each of the vendors and societies were not huddled together like sardines. My impression was that the numbers attending seemed to be about the same as last year's event, but that it did not seem so congested. Such congestion always made it seem so much more frantic and stressful in the past, and its absence was welcome. The queues outside the venue each morning were impressive, and there were periods on the Thursday and Friday in particular when we were run off our feet. On the Saturday it was my impression that maybe the societies' stands were busier than those of the larger corporate vendors, but I have no idea if that was in fact the case, they just seemed busier to me!
This year I helped for the most part on the Unlock the Past Cruises (www.unlockthepastcruises.com) with Alan Phillips, and helped to promote the genealogy cruises and also the separate book range from the parent company Unlock the Past (www.unlockthepast.com.au), also available as ebooks on www.gen-ebooks.com. The range of books, including my various Scottish, Irish and British titles, is now also published in England by Yorkshire based My History (www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Unlock-the-Past-Booklets.html), who were merrily selling copies on our behalf.
In addition to the UTP stand, I also did two stints within the Society of Genealogists' Ask the Experts area, at an hour and two hours respectively on Friday and Saturday. Although I am based within Scotland and predominantly work within Scottish genealogy, I do also do some Irish research, but bizarrely I only had one Scottish query at the event, and eight Irish situations to deal with - though I was able to handle them all easily enough! One in particular was a real eye opener for the couple involved, concerning an ancestor of theirs who had been adopted. This had been a brick wall for some time, but they actually had the adoptive mother's name on a birth certificate, and I was soon able to locate a potentially significant target family for them in Ireland to which she seemed to be related, and therefore a whole new line of enquiry to pursue.
In terms of news developments, The Genealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk) launched an extension to their English and Welsh tithes records and tithes maps collections, and I managed to grab an audio interview with Mark Bayley on that, for the next podcast. I had fantastic conversations with Fiona Fitzsimmons and Brian Donovan from Eneclann (www.eneclann.ie) and Findmypast Ireland, and they have all sorts of goodies that they are currently working, not least of which a collection of Quaker records for the Republic of Ireland, and workhouse records from Dublin. Brian also hinted that something wicked this way comes later this year, but was keeping schtum on that for now! A new revamped website platform is also on the cards in the near future. Staying with Ireland, the wonderful folk from the North of Ireland Family History Society (www.nifhs.org) were there again in force, and promoting their latest research guide publication on County Tyrone, which I will review separately in due course. I also renewed my membership! The society's Ann Robinson also explained that they are planning to give their website a refresher in the near future - an interview with Ann will also appear on my next British GENES podcast.There was a depressing absence of Scottish vendors or societies there, with only the two universities, Strathclyde and Dundee and ASGRA in attendance, as well as many members from the Scottish Genealogy Network (www.scottishgenealogynetwork.co.uk). Towards the end of the event I caught up briefly with Strathclyde's heid yin Tahitia McCabe, and recorded a discussion with her about the forthcoming summer institute in Glasgow that she is planning - again, keep an ear out for that on the next podcast, coming very soon! The fact that ScotlandsPeople and the National Records of Scotland were not there was simply extraordinary - but in the latter case I suspect not a lot would have been achieved by their presence anyway, with their online catalogue facilities now offline for over three weeks, which is frankly now becoming farcical. I did catch up with Miriam Silverman from Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), however, who acquires content for the platform, and she revealed that there are plans to place some new material for Glasgow and Edinburgh online in the very near future, though I'll hold off mentioning any further specific details on that until I get the go ahead! Ancestry was also merrily plugging away its new AncestryDNA test, which is also soon to be launched in Australia. I briefly caught up with Bryony Partridge from the company, and thanked her for the test that she sent to me a few weeks past, which I have still to do, and will post a review on that when I do - honest!
It was good to see the English based National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) back now in force, not only providing lectures but also an advice area once again, which was busy throughout, and Rebecca Probert, who I met in Portugal just a few weeks back, was also at the event, publicising her new book Divorced, Bigamist, Bereaved?. Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com) launched records for the Sandwell area, and I briefly caught up with genealogist Emma Jolly, who blogs for the company, and got to meet her kids and hubby for the first time!This year I did not submit any proposals for any talks, and I never managed to attend any talks, although as the UTP stand was beside the SoG 4 theatre I did manage to eavesdrop in on a few! Overall, I would say that the show was a much better event for being held in Birmingham, with many fantastic benefits at the NEC such as the presence of so many restaurants and cafes on site.
The only criticisms I really heard from folk were some issues surrounding parking. The show will be at Birmingham again next year from April 7th-9th - it has been changed from April 28th-30th - and it looks like it may be there for a few years yet, one of the reasons for the date change. Personally, that decision gets the thumbs up from me also - Birmingham NEC is simply the most fantastic conference venue I've ever attended yet in the UK.
Finally, a few more pics...!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Sunday, 19 April 2015
Date change for WDYTYA Live 2016
The dates for next year's Who Do You Think You Are? Live event have been changed only days after they were first announced. In a newsletter posted out a few days ago the organisers had announced the event would be held on April 28th-30th 2016, but during the event a new set of dates have been confirmed now as April 7th-9th 2016. Thanks to Else Churchill from the Society of Genealogists for the following explanation on the change:
At @WDYTYALIVE NEC came up with good deal for 2-3 years but can only offer 1st weekend of April as regular gig
So apologies for passing on the original dates, I was acting on good faith! But more importantly it looks like Birmingham now has the WDYTYA Live gig beyond 2016, and THAT is by far the better news - a much better venue! I'll blog a report later (when I wake up properly - what a 3 days!), but just to end... where's London again?!
(With thanks to Dick Eastman and Else Churchill)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
At @WDYTYALIVE NEC came up with good deal for 2-3 years but can only offer 1st weekend of April as regular gig
So apologies for passing on the original dates, I was acting on good faith! But more importantly it looks like Birmingham now has the WDYTYA Live gig beyond 2016, and THAT is by far the better news - a much better venue! I'll blog a report later (when I wake up properly - what a 3 days!), but just to end... where's London again?!
(With thanks to Dick Eastman and Else Churchill)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
New Lanark Mill Visitor Books transcription
Glasgow University Archive Services has an interesting post about a project to transcribe the names recorded in its New Lanark Mills visitors books.
The full story is at https://universityofglasgowlibrary.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/monthly-collections-blog-post-transcribing-the-new-lanark-mill-visitor-books/
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
The full story is at https://universityofglasgowlibrary.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/monthly-collections-blog-post-transcribing-the-new-lanark-mill-visitor-books/
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Glasnevin Cemetery's Easter Rising Necrology
From Glasnevin Cemetery (www.glasnevintrust.ie) in Dublin:
Our 1916 Easter Rising Necrology research suggests 485 people were killed in the Easter Rising.
This list researched by Glasnevin Trust shows 485 men, women and children killed during or as a direct result of the 1916 Rebellion.
The story of Glasnevin Cemetery and those buried here is central to the history of the 1916 Rebellion. The full significance of this list will be further explored in the 1916 Rebellion Centenary Exhibition at Glasnevin Cemetery Museum. We hope you will join with us and support us in telling that story.
Additional information on all of the names listed is currently held by Glasnevin Cemetery Museum. We would like people who are related to, or have information on those listed, to get in contact with us so we can further expand these stories in advance of our exhibition and events to mark the centenary of the Rebellion.
We need your help.
We are asking the public who may have relatives killed in the Easter Rising to contribute to the Necrology. Please use form on our website to submit any information.
If you have already submitted a form and haven't yet heard from us, please contact Historian and Curator, Conor Dodd at the museum on +353 (0)1 882 6550 or email CDodd@glasnevintrust.ie
(With thanks to Glasnevin Cemetery)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Our 1916 Easter Rising Necrology research suggests 485 people were killed in the Easter Rising.
This list researched by Glasnevin Trust shows 485 men, women and children killed during or as a direct result of the 1916 Rebellion.
The story of Glasnevin Cemetery and those buried here is central to the history of the 1916 Rebellion. The full significance of this list will be further explored in the 1916 Rebellion Centenary Exhibition at Glasnevin Cemetery Museum. We hope you will join with us and support us in telling that story.
Additional information on all of the names listed is currently held by Glasnevin Cemetery Museum. We would like people who are related to, or have information on those listed, to get in contact with us so we can further expand these stories in advance of our exhibition and events to mark the centenary of the Rebellion.
We need your help.
We are asking the public who may have relatives killed in the Easter Rising to contribute to the Necrology. Please use form on our website to submit any information.
If you have already submitted a form and haven't yet heard from us, please contact Historian and Curator, Conor Dodd at the museum on +353 (0)1 882 6550 or email CDodd@glasnevintrust.ie
(With thanks to Glasnevin Cemetery)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Who Do You Think You Are? Live to return to Birmingham in 2016
It looks like London's been abandoned as a venue next year - a newsletter from Who Do You Think You Are Live (www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com) has just confirmed that the show will be returning to Birmingham again in 2016.
From the newsletter:
Dates for 2016 revealed!
Due to the fantastic popularity of this year's show so far, we have already re-booked Birmingham's NEC for from 28th - 30th April 2016. Early bird tickets on sale this weekend!
The link for the early bird tickets, however, is currently to a page for this year's event.
Incidentally, a free app for Apple devices for this year's event is available at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/who-do-you-think-you-are-live/id820984342?mt=8
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
From the newsletter:
Dates for 2016 revealed!
Due to the fantastic popularity of this year's show so far, we have already re-booked Birmingham's NEC for from 28th - 30th April 2016. Early bird tickets on sale this weekend!The link for the early bird tickets, however, is currently to a page for this year's event.
Incidentally, a free app for Apple devices for this year's event is available at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/who-do-you-think-you-are-live/id820984342?mt=8
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Who Do You Think You Are? Live exhibitor map
An exhibitor map is now available for Who Do You Think You Are? Live in Birmingham this week, which takes place from Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th April 2015. It can be viewed at https://bristolcdn.s3.amazonaws.com/WDYTYALive/2015_map.pdf. For details on the show itself, visit http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com/.
For the three days I will be working on the Unlock the Past Cruises (www.unlockthepastcruises.com) stall, 126, as well as doing stints with the Society of Genealogists hosted Ask the Experts stall on Friday from 10-11, and Saturday from 10-12, so please do pop along and have a chat!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
For the three days I will be working on the Unlock the Past Cruises (www.unlockthepastcruises.com) stall, 126, as well as doing stints with the Society of Genealogists hosted Ask the Experts stall on Friday from 10-11, and Saturday from 10-12, so please do pop along and have a chat!
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
TheGenealogist updates tithes records and adds WW1 medal records
From The Genealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):
TheGenealogist is launching millions of new records at the Who Do You Think you Are? Live show. These include many unique resources:-
New Tithe Maps for more English counties
New Tithe Apportionment documents for Wales completing the release.
750,000 new Parish Records
4.66 million new WW1 Medals Records
A major addition to the National Tithe Records have been launched for the show. Joining the previously released maps for Middlesex, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Leicestershire, are the counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire & Yorkshire.
Tithe maps allow you to identify the land on which your ancestors lived and worked in the 19th century. The tithe apportionments list the names of both the owner and the occupier as well as detail the amount of land, how it was used, and tithe rent due. These unique records are key to geographically placing where your ancestors lived and worked in these times.
750,000 more Parish Records from 22 counties join the already significant collection on the site and these new records include: Buckinghamshire, Caernarvonshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumberland, Devon, Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, London, Monmouthshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, Somerset, Sussex, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
Parish records are a prime source for family historians to find the key life events of their ancestors and so this release will be greatly welcomed by many whose ancestors are from these areas.
TheGenealogist is launching at the show, 4.66 million new WW1 Campaign Medal Cards. This takes their WWI medal collection close to 6 million records. Included in this new release are the following medals
1914 Star
1914/15 Star
British War Medal 1914-1920
Victory Medal 1914-1919
These medal cards make it even easier to find an ancestor in the collection of military records online as many of our ancestors who served in the First World War will have been eligible.
Mark Bayley, head of Content at TheGenealogist said “We always like to have a big release for the show. The completion of the Tithe apportionments and the release of maps for an additional 11 counties gives researchers the opportunity to beat the abiding challenge of finding where their ancestors lived and worked. With the vast number of Parish, Medal and Tithe Records that we are releasing there should be something for everyone to discover.”
(With thanks to Nick Thorne)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
TheGenealogist is launching millions of new records at the Who Do You Think you Are? Live show. These include many unique resources:-
New Tithe Maps for more English counties
New Tithe Apportionment documents for Wales completing the release.
750,000 new Parish Records
4.66 million new WW1 Medals Records
A major addition to the National Tithe Records have been launched for the show. Joining the previously released maps for Middlesex, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Leicestershire, are the counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire & Yorkshire.
Tithe maps allow you to identify the land on which your ancestors lived and worked in the 19th century. The tithe apportionments list the names of both the owner and the occupier as well as detail the amount of land, how it was used, and tithe rent due. These unique records are key to geographically placing where your ancestors lived and worked in these times.
750,000 more Parish Records from 22 counties join the already significant collection on the site and these new records include: Buckinghamshire, Caernarvonshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumberland, Devon, Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, London, Monmouthshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, Somerset, Sussex, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
Parish records are a prime source for family historians to find the key life events of their ancestors and so this release will be greatly welcomed by many whose ancestors are from these areas.
TheGenealogist is launching at the show, 4.66 million new WW1 Campaign Medal Cards. This takes their WWI medal collection close to 6 million records. Included in this new release are the following medals
1914 Star
1914/15 Star
British War Medal 1914-1920
Victory Medal 1914-1919
These medal cards make it even easier to find an ancestor in the collection of military records online as many of our ancestors who served in the First World War will have been eligible.
Mark Bayley, head of Content at TheGenealogist said “We always like to have a big release for the show. The completion of the Tithe apportionments and the release of maps for an additional 11 counties gives researchers the opportunity to beat the abiding challenge of finding where their ancestors lived and worked. With the vast number of Parish, Medal and Tithe Records that we are releasing there should be something for everyone to discover.”
(With thanks to Nick Thorne)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Monday, 13 April 2015
National Records of Scotland catalogue services still offline
The National Records of Scotland (www.nrscotland.gov.uk) catalogue and other services such as the SCAN catalogue, the National Register of Archives for Scotland catalogue, the Scottish Handwriting website and the Scottish Documents platform, are all still offline, after more than two weeks. To say this is frustrating is an understatement, and no doubt may well be causing many genealogists problems, not least those who work as family historians for a living. I tweeted the archive earlier to ask for an update and possible timescale for its restoration, and received the following response:
Apologies - we are making every effort to enable access ASAP but cannot yet offer a timescale.
The archive has its status updated at www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/catalogues-and-indexes to say the following:
Please note that we are currently experiencing technical issues with our catalogues and indexes.
We hope to restore all services as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience.
It should also be noted that for those hoping to seek any advice from the archive that neither the NRS nor ScotlandsPeople appear to be included in the vendors list for this week's Who Do You Think You Are? Live event in Birmingham.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Apologies - we are making every effort to enable access ASAP but cannot yet offer a timescale.
The archive has its status updated at www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/catalogues-and-indexes to say the following:
Please note that we are currently experiencing technical issues with our catalogues and indexes.
We hope to restore all services as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience.
It should also be noted that for those hoping to seek any advice from the archive that neither the NRS nor ScotlandsPeople appear to be included in the vendors list for this week's Who Do You Think You Are? Live event in Birmingham.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
PRONI lunchtime lectures - The Antrim Coast in the Age of Industry
This looks like being a cracking series of lunchtime talks at PRONI (www.proni.gov.uk):
LUNCHTIME LECTURE SERIES: The Antrim Coast in the Age of Industry, 1750 to 1890.
When: Tuesday lunchtimes from the 28th April to 2nd June 2015
Where: PRONI
PRONI will be delivering a series of lunchtime lectures in April, May and June 2015 examining the arrival of Victorian technology and industrial activity in the Antrim coast and Glens. Until the 1800s much of the Antrim coast and Glens was wild and hard to access. During the nineteenth century the landscape was opened up and efforts were made to bring about an industrial revolution, like that of Belfast, in the country villages and peat-bogs.
Tuesday 28th April: The Industrial Heritage of the Antrim Glens, Fred Hamond
Tuesday 5th May: The Limestone Town of Glenarm: quarries and quarrymen, Gerard Muldoon
Thursday 21st May: The Ballintoy Project: how to organise a Local History Group, Robert Corbett
Tuesday 26th May: William Bald and the Making of the Antrim Coast Road, 1832 to 1840, Desmond McCabe
Tuesday 2nd June: Iron and Stone: the Earls of Antrim as Victorian industrialists, Ian Montgomery
(With thanks to the PRONI Express)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
LUNCHTIME LECTURE SERIES: The Antrim Coast in the Age of Industry, 1750 to 1890.
When: Tuesday lunchtimes from the 28th April to 2nd June 2015
Where: PRONI
PRONI will be delivering a series of lunchtime lectures in April, May and June 2015 examining the arrival of Victorian technology and industrial activity in the Antrim coast and Glens. Until the 1800s much of the Antrim coast and Glens was wild and hard to access. During the nineteenth century the landscape was opened up and efforts were made to bring about an industrial revolution, like that of Belfast, in the country villages and peat-bogs.
Tuesday 28th April: The Industrial Heritage of the Antrim Glens, Fred Hamond
Tuesday 5th May: The Limestone Town of Glenarm: quarries and quarrymen, Gerard Muldoon
Thursday 21st May: The Ballintoy Project: how to organise a Local History Group, Robert Corbett
Tuesday 26th May: William Bald and the Making of the Antrim Coast Road, 1832 to 1840, Desmond McCabe
Tuesday 2nd June: Iron and Stone: the Earls of Antrim as Victorian industrialists, Ian Montgomery
(With thanks to the PRONI Express)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Irish Manor Courts lecture at PRONI cancelled
From PRONI in Belfast (www.proni.gov.uk):
The Lecture due to take place on Thursday 16th April titled 'The rise and fall of the Irish Manor Courts 1785 - 1859’ by John Larkin QC, has been cancelled. It is hoped that this event may take place later in the year. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
The Lecture due to take place on Thursday 16th April titled 'The rise and fall of the Irish Manor Courts 1785 - 1859’ by John Larkin QC, has been cancelled. It is hoped that this event may take place later in the year. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Saturday, 11 April 2015
BACSA South Asian cemeteries news, and Pakistani BMD site
From the Kabristan Archives newsletter:
NEWS FROM INDIA & PAKISTAN
If you need a birth or death certificate there is a dedicated web
site that will obtain it for you BIRTH CERTIFICATE PAKISTAN trusted not
to compromise
See http://birthcertificatepakistan.com/death-certificate-from-pakistan/
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR CEMETERIES IN SOUTH ASIA (BACSA)
The British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA) has
launched its new website www.bacsa.org.uk This society specializes in
preserving the memories of the Raj by giving grants and repairing
European cemeteries in the Indian sub-continent and elsewhere in South
Asia. New members are wanted and if you are interested in the British
heritage in Asia, BACSA would love to have you on the team.
(With thanks to Ken Nisbet)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
NEWS FROM INDIA & PAKISTAN
If you need a birth or death certificate there is a dedicated web
site that will obtain it for you BIRTH CERTIFICATE PAKISTAN trusted not
to compromise
See http://birthcertificatepakistan.com/death-certificate-from-pakistan/
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR CEMETERIES IN SOUTH ASIA (BACSA)
The British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA) has
launched its new website www.bacsa.org.uk This society specializes in
preserving the memories of the Raj by giving grants and repairing
European cemeteries in the Indian sub-continent and elsewhere in South
Asia. New members are wanted and if you are interested in the British
heritage in Asia, BACSA would love to have you on the team.
(With thanks to Ken Nisbet)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
FindmyPast update
The latest releases from FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):
· Containing over 29,000 records, the New South Wales Gaol Photographic Books 1871-1969 consist of entries of prisoners from 14 different gaols around the state. The records are particularly fascinating as they contain not only transcripts and scans of the original prisoner entry listings themselves, but also the mugshot photographs of individual inmates. The original series, held by the State Records Authority of New South Wales, was created as per the ‘Gaol Regulation’ which was proclaimed in the New South Wales Government Gazette on 19 February 1867. This required that description books be maintained to keep track of incoming and outgoing prisoners. Each record includes a transcript and image.
· The New South Wales Government Gazette Indexes 1832-1863 consist of over 1.2 million transcripts containing rich details of life in Australia’s most populous state. The information recorded was of an administrative and bureaucratic nature and can reveal details of your ancestor’s property, occupation, transactions and other useful biographical information. Each record includes a transcript of the original document.
· Containing over 156,000 records, the Essex Wills Beneficiaries Index 1505-1916 was compiled over a 15 year period by researcher Thora Broughton. The index records all people mentioned in a will, with the exception of witnesses and those with the same name as the testator - therefore not only beneficiaries and relatives appear but also executors, trustees, occupiers of property and adjacent landowners and so on. Each record contains a transcript and an image of the index
· Containing over 4,000 records, Craven's Part in the Great War 1914-1919, was designed to serve as a memento of the part that the district of Craven in Yorkshire played in the Great War. The memorial itself is divided into two main sections. The first is a nominal roll containing names, ranks and regiments, while the second section is a roll of honour includes including photographs supplied by the families of the deceased. Each record includes a transcript as well as an image of the original document.
· Over 5.3 million articles and 15 new titles have recently been added to our collection of historic British newspapers. The collection now stands at over 124 million articles from across England, Scotland and Wales and covers 245 years of British history from 1710-1955. New to the collection is the national title, The Daily Telegraph from 1871. There’s also new additions from other cities and towns around the country including Nottingham, Fife, Yorkshire and London. Substantial additions have also been made to existing titles, including the Fife Herald and the Derbyshire Courier.
(With thanks to Alex Cox)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
· Containing over 29,000 records, the New South Wales Gaol Photographic Books 1871-1969 consist of entries of prisoners from 14 different gaols around the state. The records are particularly fascinating as they contain not only transcripts and scans of the original prisoner entry listings themselves, but also the mugshot photographs of individual inmates. The original series, held by the State Records Authority of New South Wales, was created as per the ‘Gaol Regulation’ which was proclaimed in the New South Wales Government Gazette on 19 February 1867. This required that description books be maintained to keep track of incoming and outgoing prisoners. Each record includes a transcript and image.
· The New South Wales Government Gazette Indexes 1832-1863 consist of over 1.2 million transcripts containing rich details of life in Australia’s most populous state. The information recorded was of an administrative and bureaucratic nature and can reveal details of your ancestor’s property, occupation, transactions and other useful biographical information. Each record includes a transcript of the original document.
· Containing over 156,000 records, the Essex Wills Beneficiaries Index 1505-1916 was compiled over a 15 year period by researcher Thora Broughton. The index records all people mentioned in a will, with the exception of witnesses and those with the same name as the testator - therefore not only beneficiaries and relatives appear but also executors, trustees, occupiers of property and adjacent landowners and so on. Each record contains a transcript and an image of the index
· Containing over 4,000 records, Craven's Part in the Great War 1914-1919, was designed to serve as a memento of the part that the district of Craven in Yorkshire played in the Great War. The memorial itself is divided into two main sections. The first is a nominal roll containing names, ranks and regiments, while the second section is a roll of honour includes including photographs supplied by the families of the deceased. Each record includes a transcript as well as an image of the original document.
· Over 5.3 million articles and 15 new titles have recently been added to our collection of historic British newspapers. The collection now stands at over 124 million articles from across England, Scotland and Wales and covers 245 years of British history from 1710-1955. New to the collection is the national title, The Daily Telegraph from 1871. There’s also new additions from other cities and towns around the country including Nottingham, Fife, Yorkshire and London. Substantial additions have also been made to existing titles, including the Fife Herald and the Derbyshire Courier.
(With thanks to Alex Cox)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Bletchley Park Presents WW1 lectures
Bletchley Park (www.bletchleypark.org.uk) has announced a series of First World War lectures, under the banner of Bletchley Park Presents. They include:
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - VICTOR MADEIRA
DATE 19 APR 2015
Victor Madeira talks about his book Britannia and the Bear - The Anglo-Russian Intelligence Wars, 1917-1929, which examines Russian and British espionage in those critical interwar
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - JERRY WHITE
DATE 17 MAY 2015
Author Jerry White will talk about his new book London’s First Air War, 1915-1918. Jerry White gives an overview of the Zeppelin raids.
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - TAYLOR DOWNING
DATE 21 JUNE 2015
In his revelatory new take on the Great War, Taylor Downing explores the war’s scientific successes and legacies.
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - SINCLAIR MCKAY
DATE 19 JULY 2015
Top author Sinclair McKay will talk on his new book recounting the story of RAF Fighter Command, to tie in with the 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Britain.
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - TESSA DUNLOP
DATE 20 SEPT 2015
Award-winning broadcaster Tessa Dunlop talks about her extraordinary journey around 15 women with one shared experience; over 70 years ago they all worked for Britain’s most secret organisation – Bletchley Park.
Further details at this link.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - VICTOR MADEIRA
DATE 19 APR 2015
Victor Madeira talks about his book Britannia and the Bear - The Anglo-Russian Intelligence Wars, 1917-1929, which examines Russian and British espionage in those critical interwar
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - JERRY WHITE
DATE 17 MAY 2015
Author Jerry White will talk about his new book London’s First Air War, 1915-1918. Jerry White gives an overview of the Zeppelin raids.
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - TAYLOR DOWNING
DATE 21 JUNE 2015
In his revelatory new take on the Great War, Taylor Downing explores the war’s scientific successes and legacies.
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - SINCLAIR MCKAY
DATE 19 JULY 2015
Top author Sinclair McKay will talk on his new book recounting the story of RAF Fighter Command, to tie in with the 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Britain.
BLETCHLEY PARK PRESENTS - TESSA DUNLOP
DATE 20 SEPT 2015
Award-winning broadcaster Tessa Dunlop talks about her extraordinary journey around 15 women with one shared experience; over 70 years ago they all worked for Britain’s most secret organisation – Bletchley Park.
Further details at this link.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Daily Record's free ScotlandsPeople credits promotion
The Daily Record newspaper is running a promotion now to offer 20 free credits to ScotlandsPeople (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk), worth £4.50. That's enough for three index searches and three full BMD or census record views, or two wills views. The code is obtainable at http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/trace-your-ancestry-free-credits-5466919 - you may have to answer a survey question first before accessing the article.
(With thanks to Pam McGowan Finch)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
(With thanks to Pam McGowan Finch)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Thursday, 9 April 2015
Admiralty Charts of Scotland, 1795-1963, now online from NLS
A new online addition from the maps department at the National Library of Scotland (www.nls.uk):
New online Admiralty Charts of Scotland, 1795-1963
The National Library of Scotland has just made newly available online 950 charts covering Scottish coastal waters in the 19th and 20th centuries. These are all their holdings of Admiralty charts of the Scottish coastline and adjacent seas, published over 50 years ago. Admiralty Charts show many coastal features in good detail, and are also useful in surveying the coasts before the Ordnance Survey for many northern counties in Scotland. For many of Scotland’s busier estuaries and ports, there are also regular revisions of charts coming through to the present day - often more revisions than for Ordnance Survey maps, and at different dates.
Charts are also useful for genealogists as they include detailed and informative depictions of coastal towns and harbours. Conspicuous buildings such as churches, towers, or chimneys were always of interest, as well as the overall size and shape of settlements. Charts are often also useful sources of information on communications, such as roads, railways, bridges, and canals.
Admiralty charts home page: http://maps.nls.uk/coasts/admiralty_charts_list.html
Clickable map: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/find/#zoom=6&lat=56.7114&lon=-4.9000&layers=25
Further information: http://maps.nls.uk/coasts/admiralty_charts_info.html
NLS has also georeferenced a selection of 200 charts, so that they can be viewed as zoomable overlays on a Bing map or satellite layer or in our Side by side viewer, eg:
Georeferenced overlay, Scapa Flow, 1944: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=10&lat=58.8733&lon=-3.0874&layers=101942045
Side by side view of Forth Bridge, 1860 and 1963: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=14&lat=56.0014&lon=-3.3969&layers=101942630&right=101942762
Featured pics - Peterhead 1854 and Wick 1857.
(With thanks to Chris Fleet at the NLS)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
New online Admiralty Charts of Scotland, 1795-1963
The National Library of Scotland has just made newly available online 950 charts covering Scottish coastal waters in the 19th and 20th centuries. These are all their holdings of Admiralty charts of the Scottish coastline and adjacent seas, published over 50 years ago. Admiralty Charts show many coastal features in good detail, and are also useful in surveying the coasts before the Ordnance Survey for many northern counties in Scotland. For many of Scotland’s busier estuaries and ports, there are also regular revisions of charts coming through to the present day - often more revisions than for Ordnance Survey maps, and at different dates.Charts are also useful for genealogists as they include detailed and informative depictions of coastal towns and harbours. Conspicuous buildings such as churches, towers, or chimneys were always of interest, as well as the overall size and shape of settlements. Charts are often also useful sources of information on communications, such as roads, railways, bridges, and canals.
Admiralty charts home page: http://maps.nls.uk/coasts/admiralty_charts_list.html
Clickable map: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/find/#zoom=6&lat=56.7114&lon=-4.9000&layers=25
Further information: http://maps.nls.uk/coasts/admiralty_charts_info.html
NLS has also georeferenced a selection of 200 charts, so that they can be viewed as zoomable overlays on a Bing map or satellite layer or in our Side by side viewer, eg:
Georeferenced overlay, Scapa Flow, 1944: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=10&lat=58.8733&lon=-3.0874&layers=101942045
Side by side view of Forth Bridge, 1860 and 1963: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=14&lat=56.0014&lon=-3.3969&layers=101942630&right=101942762
Featured pics - Peterhead 1854 and Wick 1857.
(With thanks to Chris Fleet at the NLS)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
Who Do You Think You Are Live ticket offer for British GENES readers
Who Do You Think You Are Live has been in touch with a ticket offer for readers of British GENES. You can obtain two tickets for £24 using the code CP24 - purchase them via http://wdytya.seetickets.com/tour/who-do-you-think-you-are-live
Hopefully see you there!
(With thanks to WDYTYA Live)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Hopefully see you there!
(With thanks to WDYTYA Live)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Guild of One-Name Studies appoints new chairman
A couple of announcements from the Guild of One Name Studies. The first is that the body has elected a new Chairman, Paul Howes - the full press release announcing his appointment is available at http://one-name.org/election-of-new-chairman/.
The Guild will also be at Who Do You Think You Are Live in Birmingham from April 16th-18th, and will be offering a small membership discount and a goody bag to new members at the show. For further details see http://one-name.org/join-the-guild-at-wdytya-live-2015/
(With thanks to Cliff Kemball)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
The Guild will also be at Who Do You Think You Are Live in Birmingham from April 16th-18th, and will be offering a small membership discount and a goody bag to new members at the show. For further details see http://one-name.org/join-the-guild-at-wdytya-live-2015/
(With thanks to Cliff Kemball)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Irish Genealogy website civil BMD indexes back online
Following the recent comedy of errors from the Republic of Ireland's General Register Office, whereby it uploaded a series of birth, marriage and death indexes that nearly caused the Information Commissioner's office to have a coronary over the issue of privacy, the Irish Genealogy website is once again offerings access to BMD indexes for civil registration records in the Republic of Ireland (and for Northern Ireland up to partition). The tool is available at www.irishgenealogy.ie.
Before accessing them you have to confirm that you are doing a search as facilitated by "Section 61 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004" which "provides for a member of the public to make an application to an tArd-Chláraitheoir to search the indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages registers." It seems an unnecessary task, but anything for a quiet life.
You are then taken to a search screen. The records available are similar to those on the Northern Irish GENI site: "The Indexes to the Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages date from 1864 with non-Roman Catholic Marriages recorded from 1845. The indexes to Births over 100 years old, the indexes to Marriages over 75 years old and the indexes to Deaths over 50 years old." The difference is that these are only indexes, not the digitised images from the registers as in the north.
The detail available in the indexes is outlined at http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/civil-records/help/what-information-is-on-the-indexes-that-are-on-line. For information on how to apply for photocopies or formal certificate copies of the records, visit http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/civil-records/help/i-want-to-get-a-copy-of-a-certificate-what-do-i-do - but do check out https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk for the pre-Partition Northern Irish entries (counties Antrim, Down, Fermanagh, Armagh, Tyrone and Londonderry), as the register images are available, and will be much cheaper.
The new indexes are not particularly user friendly, although the birth records from 1900-1914 do include mothers' maiden names, and you can search for marriages with two surnames. Note that Irish indexes beyond the stated closure periods for births and marriages on Irish Genealogy are in fact available on FamilySearch, Ancestry and FindmyPast, all the way up to 1958. Don't ask!
(With thanks to the North of Ireland Family History Society via Facebook)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Before accessing them you have to confirm that you are doing a search as facilitated by "Section 61 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004" which "provides for a member of the public to make an application to an tArd-Chláraitheoir to search the indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages registers." It seems an unnecessary task, but anything for a quiet life.
You are then taken to a search screen. The records available are similar to those on the Northern Irish GENI site: "The Indexes to the Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages date from 1864 with non-Roman Catholic Marriages recorded from 1845. The indexes to Births over 100 years old, the indexes to Marriages over 75 years old and the indexes to Deaths over 50 years old." The difference is that these are only indexes, not the digitised images from the registers as in the north.
The detail available in the indexes is outlined at http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/civil-records/help/what-information-is-on-the-indexes-that-are-on-line. For information on how to apply for photocopies or formal certificate copies of the records, visit http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/civil-records/help/i-want-to-get-a-copy-of-a-certificate-what-do-i-do - but do check out https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk for the pre-Partition Northern Irish entries (counties Antrim, Down, Fermanagh, Armagh, Tyrone and Londonderry), as the register images are available, and will be much cheaper.
The new indexes are not particularly user friendly, although the birth records from 1900-1914 do include mothers' maiden names, and you can search for marriages with two surnames. Note that Irish indexes beyond the stated closure periods for births and marriages on Irish Genealogy are in fact available on FamilySearch, Ancestry and FindmyPast, all the way up to 1958. Don't ask!
(With thanks to the North of Ireland Family History Society via Facebook)
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
Friday, 3 April 2015
FamilySearch adds Westminster and Derbyshire records
FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org) has added two new English collections to its site:
England, Westminster Rate Books, 1634-1900
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2489869
This collection contains rate books from various parishes in Westminster City from 1634-1900. The rate books were an assessment of tax that was owed and are an excellent census substitute. They are arranged by street and usually contain the head of household, owner, street address, rate owed, and event date. This collection was originally filmed at the Westminster City Archives and the index was created by FindMyPast.com.
England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers, 1537-1918
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1911752
Church of England parish registers containing baptisms, marriages/banns, and burials. Date ranges of available records may vary by locality. Source: Church of England, Record Office, Matlock.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.
England, Westminster Rate Books, 1634-1900
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2489869
This collection contains rate books from various parishes in Westminster City from 1634-1900. The rate books were an assessment of tax that was owed and are an excellent census substitute. They are arranged by street and usually contain the head of household, owner, street address, rate owed, and event date. This collection was originally filmed at the Westminster City Archives and the index was created by FindMyPast.com.
England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers, 1537-1918
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1911752
Church of England parish registers containing baptisms, marriages/banns, and burials. Date ranges of available records may vary by locality. Source: Church of England, Record Office, Matlock.
Chris
For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.