FindmyPast free access to military and census records

From FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

Over 65 million FREE world military records

On the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, we want to give you the chance to remember the soldiers in your family. Search our vast collection of world military records for free, including British Army records from WW1, and find your military hero ancestry with Findmypast.

Britain lost 146,431 men to the 141 day Battle of the Somme, with 57,470 casualties on the first day alone. This week, you can explore all of our world military records, as well as over 65 million UK and Irish censuses, for free.

Our military collection includes:

- 65 million world military records, including 8 million exclusive to Findmypast

- 32 million World War 1 records, including 2 million exclusive to Findmypast

- 12.5 million British World War 1 records, the most comprehensive collection online

To access the collections visit http://www.findmypast.co.uk/battle-of-the-somme


NB: The free access runs until 11:59pm (BST) on Monday 4th July. To access records during this period, you will need to be registered and signed in to the site.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Scottish Stories of the Somme

From the National Records of Scotland (www.nrscotland.gov.uk):

Stories of the Somme

To commemorate the start of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916, the National Records of Scotland (NRS) and ScotlandsPeople have been exploring the unique records that you can search when tracing your First World War ancestors.

scottish soldiers in the sommeYou can read about the lives of eight soldiers (seven Scottish and one French), who died on the first day, just a few of the 21,392 soldiers in the British, Commonwealth and Empire Army who lost their lives or were reported missing in action. On that first day another 35,493 soldiers were wounded and 585 taken prisoner. The battle was to last another 141 days.

In the first article, NRS has selected two from the special series of 26,000 Soldiers’ Wills on ScotlandsPeople, to tell the stories of two soldiers who served in the 15th Battalion, Royal Scots.


In the second article, ScotlandsPeople has researched documents from the larger series of Wills & Testaments (1513-1925), along with some census records, to create a picture of the short lives of six soldiers - both in peacetime and wartime. These soldiers served in the Highland Light Infantry, the Gordon Highlanders, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, the Royal Scots and the 78th Brigade of the French Army.

Both articles also feature men with an architectural connection, to mark Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs in the Scottish Government, said:

"These personal documents are powerful evidence of the sacrifice made by thousands of Scots soldiers during the Battle of the Somme. Their stories and the experiences of their families and loved ones deserve to be told."

Tim Ellis, Registrar General and Keeper of the Records of Scotland, said:

"We are privileged to be able to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme by highlighting some of the countless stories of the service and sacrifice of Scottish soldiers during the First World War. National Records of Scotland holds a wealth of archives and records which help us understand the enormous impact the First World War had on the people of Scotland."

(With thanks to the NRS and ScotlandsPeople)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Free online genealogy course from Strathclyde University

From the University of Strathclyde:

Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree.

This free online course offered by the University of Strathclyde and FutureLearn will help you develop an understanding of basic genealogy techniques and how to communicate your family history. Starts the 18th of July and runs for 6 weeks. The first course run attracted 26,000 students from around the world!

Learn more and sign up at: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/genealogy

(With thanks to Tahitia McCabe)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Forces War Records - WW1 Troop Movements

From Forces War Records (www.forces-war-records-co.uk):

WW1 Troop Movements
To commemorate all those who served at the Somme

* New ‘moving' interactive and informative map from Forces War Records
* Audio-visual function – see battle manoeuvres as they happened - step-by step, listen to what happened in each location

* Live now – go to www.forces-war-records.co.uk/maps/search

* Watch the DEMO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSZN2pil73A

* A NEW genealogy tool - people researching their family will be able to find out so much more information about their ancestor’s unit manoeuvres during battle, see where they moved to and listen to what happened at each location.

* Informative historical resource - for associations, education organisations and historians.

* FREE access from 30th June to 3rd July, details: www.forces-war-records.co.uk/ww1-troop-movements


WW1 Troop Movements - using Order of Battle of Divisions (ORBATS); a new interactive feature on the Forces War Records website.

Giving more details of army ancestors who served in the Great War of 1914-18, movements of his battalion, where he embarked, which battles he would have fought in, and in which locations and on what battlefronts he may have served. Specialist military genealogy website Forces War Records created this new function.

The ORBATS data, transcribed by Forces War Records, was used to produce this ‘moving’ audio-visual interactive map, which tracks step-by-step the progress of units throughout the course of the war, from the opening battle at Mons to the closing stages of the Spring Offensive and the Armistice. Pinpoint exactly where a unit was on a given date and trace the battles, actions and events it took part in, whilst listening to an account of the action that took place at each location.

The specialist data team has been working for 2 years to transcribe the official ORBATS, published by His Majesty’s Stationery Office, as well as numerous official histories of the Great War, to help create this in-depth record of military operations and engagements by the British Army.

What are ORBATS?

These are documents produced by the military that outline the hierarchical structure, command organisation and disposition of units for particular engagements undertaken by the Commonwealth and British Armed Forces. At the highest level they present a breakdown of the units involved in wider conflicts, the First World War in this case, including the names of divisional and brigade commanding officers and details of the organisation of the divisions, right down to battalion level, along with their attached units, for example from the Royal Artillery.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

UK Archaeology Festival

From Dave Moore of the Council for British Archaeology:

Archaeology for all

The UK-wide Festival of Archaeology is an annual celebration of Britain’s history, made up of events hosted and run by museums, heritage sites, local societies, community groups, national parks and volunteers across the UK. This two-week celebration of everything archaeological offers more than 1,000 opportunities nationwide for everyone to discover, experience, explore, and enjoy the past. This year’s Festival takes place between 16 and 31 July and is coordinated by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA), the UK’s archaeology charity.

Archaeologist and ‘Meet the Ancestors’ TV presenter, Julian Richards says “This year’s Festival of Archaeology is a great way to make everyone realise just how many fantastic projects, excavations and discoveries are going on all over the country - and give everyone the chance to get involved! Talks and walks, digs and discoveries - this really is archaeology for all!”

You can search for events near you on the Festival website: https://www.festivalofarchaeology.co.uk/ and with events happening all over the UK it is worth taking a look. You could take part in a ‘live’ dig at Copped Hall in Essex, visit a bustling Roman marketplace at the Hull and East Riding Museum, paddle a coracle at Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire, learn how to use a spear in South Shields, or admire the Cheshire Hoards at Congleton Museum to name but a few of the hundreds of events taking place across the country.

“Importantly, the Festival provides an opportunity to support our local heritage heroes and celebrate their work,” adds CBA Director, Dr Mike Heyworth MBE, “Volunteers play a crucial role in archaeology and heritage across the UK and this gives us the chance to enjoy the fruits of their hard work.” The Festival gives you the chance to experience and enjoy your heritage whilst supporting those who work hard to ensure that it is preserved for future generations so get out there and experience the past.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Canadian Photographic Albums of Settlement 1892-1917

The following collection has been released on Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) which may be of possible interest to those with Candian connections:

Canada, Photographic Albums of Settlement, 1892-1917
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=9212

About Canada, Photographic Albums of Settlement, 1892-1917

This collection consists of photographic albums compiled within the Department of the Interior in the period from 1892 to 1917, then maintained in the Immigration Branch of the Department of Mines and Resources from 1936 to 1939. The albums contain photographs primarily taken by photographers John Woodruff and Horatio N. Topley, who were either employed by or on contract to the Department of the Interior, and who undertook a number of journeys in the period from 1903-1914 to complete the photographs in the albums. Included are views relating to agriculture, railroads, ports, cities, and immigration in virtually every province and territory in Canada (excluding Newfoundland).

The photographs have not been indexed but images are available for browsing. At the beginning of each album, you will find a table of contents with a brief description of each photograph and the photograph number. Use these tables to help you browse to the photograph of interest.

The collection is sourced from Library and Archives Canada - Photographic Albums of Canadian Settlement. 47 albums. Department of the Interior Fonds. R190-0-3-E.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Additions to The Original Record

Latest additions to The Original Record (www.theoriginalrecord.com):

1602
Salford Portmote
The earliest surviving records of the portmote of the borough of the township and manor of Salford in Lancashire were transcribed and edited by J. G. de T. Mandley and published by the Chetham Society in 1902. The court was held after Easter and Michaelmas each year. The record usually starts with a list of jurors, sometimes with a general suit roll. Officers are appointed in the autumn court - borough reeve, constables, miselayers, burleymen, alefounders, scavengers, and overseers for the pump. Where a freeholder had died since the previous court, an inquiry was made as to his or her heir. There are presentments of minor offences, particularly affrays and selling ale contrary to statute. 19 October 1602

1625
Letters of Marque: Masters of Ships
The Letters of Marque or Commissions to take Pirates authorized the owners of ships enumerated in the second column, to set forth the ships named in the third column, for the purposes contemplated by their Letters of Marque or Commission. 24 June 1625 to 30 December 1625

1800
East Riding Game Certificates
A list of Game Duty certificates issued in the East Riding of Yorkshire, September 1800. Full names are given, surname first, and address.

1870-1874
London Telegraph Clerks
This list of persons irregularly admitted to the service of the Post Office from the date of the transfer of the telegraphs, 29 January 1870, to 30 September 1874, extends to 3653 names. The return gives full name (surname first, married women indicated by Mrs.); age when admitted; service to which admitted; and last previous employment.

1877
Hull Sailors' Orphans
Orphans admitted to the Port of Hull Sailors' Orphan Home in January 1877. Full names, and port.

1879
Zulu War Medal Roll: 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot
List of Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, and men, entitled to the medal for military operations in South Africa, during 1877-8-9, and the names of those soldiers who would have been entitled except for Desertion, or Misconduct. This regiment's actions were almost exclusively against the Zulus in 1879. WO 100/47

1937
Naturalized Aliens
The Home Office issued a monthly list of aliens to whom Certificates of Naturalization (or of Readmission to British Nationality) had been granted by the Secretary of State, and whose oaths of allegiance had been registered. The lists are arranged alphabetically by surname and forename; then give country of origin, occupation, address, and date of taking oath of allegiance. This is the list issued in September 1937 of those naturalized in August 1937. An asterisk indicates re-admission.

(With thanks to The Original Record)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Oxfordshire FHS Family History Fair

From Oxfordshire Family History Society (www.ofhs.org.uk):

Oxfordshire FHS Family History Fair

Oxfordshire FHS Family History Fair will be held on *Saturday 1 October 2016* at *Marlborough School, Woodstock, OX20 1LP*

Doors open 10:00 ’til 16:00 - Free entry and plenty of free parking

# Talk personally with OFHS advisors with access to the Search Services suite exploring the parish registers of Oxfordshire.

# Get help with your research – particularly in the county but also further afield
# Gather information about your ancestor's life in Oxfordshire with maps, photos and local knowledge
# Explore neighbouring and other local counties with material and experts in their area
# A chance to chat with other researchers over a tea/coffee or even lunch and share your research tips
# Browse and buy books, CDs, maps, postcards and materials from specialist companies

Visit www.ofhs.org.uk/fair.html for the latest confirmed stall holders and other services which will be available to you or contact:

Angie Trueman, the Fair Organiser email fair@ofhs.org.uk or call 01488 71714

(With thanks to Wendy Archer)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

India Office Records sessions at British Library

From the Families in British India Society (www.fibis.org):

Readers might be interested in these useful free training sessions being held at the British Library this summer on using India Office Records family history sources.


Introduction to family history sources in Asian and African Studies

‘Introduction to family history sources in Asian and African Studies’ training sessions are aimed at new or inexperienced users. Free; lasting ca. 75 minutes; book via hrs-training@bl.uk.

Dates
27 July
22 August
27 September


Researching Ancestors in the Army in India

Asian and African Studies Reference Services working in tandem with the Families In British India Society (FIBIS) are delighted to present specialized sessions looking at biographical sources for military personnel. No previous knowledge of the subject is expected or required. If, therefore, you believe you have European ancestors who served in the Indian sub-continent whether as officers or private soldiers, please book your free place by contacting hrs-training@bl.uk.

Dates
5 September

(With thanks to Valmay Young)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Claiming an Irish passport

In the wake of the UK's gut-wrenchingly shocking decision to vote for a withdrawal from the EU, a reminder of a couple of real time posts from last week on how to claim dual nationality with an Irish passport, which may be of some use to readers.

Part One: http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/claiming-irish-passport-1.html

Part Two: http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/claiming-irish-passport-part-2.html

Part Three: https://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/claiming-irish-passport-part-3.html

Part Four will be posted in due course

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Yorkshire Family History Fair

From The Genealogist  (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

Yorkshire Family History Fair
Saturday 2nd July 2016
10am to 4.30pm
The Knavesmire Exhibition Centre, The Racecourse, York, YO23 1EX

The second largest Family History Fair in the UK is in its 21st year. With exhibitors from all over the UK and Ireland many family history societies and companies attend each year.

You don't have to have Yorkshire Ancestors to come to this fair - they can be from anywhere at all. Everyone is very welcome and there is lots to see. There is plenty of parking, refreshments are available all day, with exhibitors on two floors and FREE talks held throughout the day.

This event is organised by family historians for family historians. Do you really know who you are? Come and find out - you may be surprised.

Chose between two great ticket offers on www.yorkshirefamilyhistoryfair.com
FREE gift when you pre-book tickets Claim your Discover Your Ancestors Issue 4 and Discover Your Ancestors Compendium (worth £17.94) at the show

Or

Buy One Ticket and Get One Free
(offers valid until Wednesday 29th June at midday BST)

See you at The Knavesmire Exhibition Centre, The Racecourse, York, YO23 1EX.

Admission: Adults £4.80, Children under 14 FREE
For late availability on exhibitor space contact stanley@merridews.freeserve.co.uk

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Ancestry adds Niagara Falls honeymoon records

Here's a fun new collection on Ancestry - did your ancestors go to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, on their honeymoon?! Here's the blurb:

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, Honeymoon and Visitor Registers, 1949-2011
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60714

Niagara Falls, formed by the forces of nature more than 12,000 years ago, was discovered by French explorer Father Louis Hennepin in 1678. Tourism to the falls began in the early 1800s. Initially, visitors traveled to the falls by boat. As railroads expanded across North America in the 1800s, eventually the Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge was built in 1855, but boats remained the main route for tourists to visit the falls until their use was gradually superseded in the early 1900s by automobiles, buses, and trains.

Niagara Falls received its reputation as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World” in 1801, when Theodosia Burr Alston (daughter of the 3rd Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr) chose to honeymoon at the falls. Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother, Jerome Bonaparte, did the same in 1804, starting a popular tradition that continues to this day. Today, approximately 50,000 newly-wed couples visit Niagara Falls each year. Many choose to sign their names in register books that are kept by the Niagara Falls Tourism Office, which have been digitized and indexed for this collection.


The source for the collection is given as Niagara Falls Honeymoon Registries. Niagara Falls Tourism Office, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, with the records indexed as part of the World Archives Project.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

National Archives of Ireland places Seán MacDiarmada's will online

The National Archives of Ireland (www.nationalarchives.ie) has placed the last will of Seán MacDiarmada online as its document of the month for June. The document was written in Kilmainham Gaol (pictured below) on May 12th 1916, just prior to his execution for his role as one of the seven leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.

The document can be viewed online at http://www.nationalarchives.ie/digital-resources/documents-of-the-month/2016-2/june-document-of-the-month/.

A comprehensive summary of post-1858 surviving Irish wills, inventories and probate calendars is available on this blog in a dedicated accessible from the top menu, or directly via http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/ireland-probate-calendars.html.

Don't forget also that my book A Decade of Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923 can also help to locate additional resources for family history research within one of Ireland's most tumultuous periods. See http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html for details on how to access copies worldwide or in ebook format.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

TNA podcast: Campaign for Homosexual Equality history

The latest podcast from the National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) is entitled Amiable Warriors: A History of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality, a 46 minute talk by playwright and journalist Peter Scott-Presland on the history of the oldest surviving LGBT organisation in the UK.

The podcast can be listened to at http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/amiable-warriors-history-campaign-homosexual-equality/ or downloaded for free from iTunes.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

National Archives of Australia podcasts

You mean that you didn't know that the National Archives of Australia (www.naa.gov.au) had its own podcasts series? Fair enough, neither did I!

Amongst the areas covered are family history, war
and social history, with lectures as diverse as the Dutch in Australia 1606-2006, Australian civil internees of the Japanese, family and local history sources in postal records, woman transported: myth and reality, the Australian Light Horse, shining the light on persoanl war experiences, anbd much, much more.

You can access the archive's library of podcasts at http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/publications/papers-and-podcasts/index.aspx - enjoy!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

AncestryDNA passes two million people tested

Ancestry has announced that it has now tested more than 2 million people through its AncestryDNA service. The full announcement is at http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2016/06/22/2-million-people-strong/, with further commentary at http://dna.ancestry.com/lp/genetic-testing-news.

I sent my own test off to the company a few weeks ago and so should hopefully be receiving my results fairly soon. It will be interesting to see what they suggest.

Chris


For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Prominent Northern Irish family historian commemorated

From the North of Ireland Family History Society (www.nifhs.org):

Posthumous presentation to family of late Randal Gill to mark his election as a Fellow of the Irish Genealogical Research Society – recognising his decades of dedicated service to the genealogy community in Northern Ireland and further afield.

On Saturday, 18th June 2016, at the Library and Research Centre of the North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS) in Newtownabbey, a posthumous presentation was made to the family of the late Randal Gill, a founder member and former President of the Society, to mark his election as a Fellow of the Irish Genealogical Research Society (www.irishancestors.ie) which he had been a member of since 1982. The Award of Fellowship was made to recognise Randal’s outstanding contribution to genealogy across the province of Ulster.

Without doubt, Randal is recognised in Irish genealogical circles as having made an immensely significant contribution to the development of Ulster genealogical knowledge and resources for over forty years. Randal‘s pursuit of family history began in 1967 when a cousin from Australia visited Northern Ireland and together they began to research the family of Randal’s mother. This soon ignited his interest in the Gill family and thus began a lifelong fascination of genealogy and family history.

In 1979, Randal was one of the founding members of the North of Ireland Family History Society, serving in various roles, including twice as president of the Society. His enthusiasm for Ulster family history drove him to be a most generous individual with his time and knowledge. He thought nothing of travelling the length and breadth of the North of Ireland, attending NIFHS branch meetings and giving informative talks, which were often highly entertaining. His biggest contribution to the NIFHS was the building up of its library to be one of the most important resources for Ulster genealogy and local history. It was fitting then, that after his untimely and sudden death in 2012, that the NIFHS named their library 'The Randal Gill Library'.

At the event, IGRS President, Fergus Gillespie, former Chief Herald of Ireland, said: “Our pleasure in recognising Randal Gill’s unique contribution to Irish genealogy in early 2012, with his election as a Fellow of the IGRS, was overtaken by sadness when we learned of his premature death so shortly afterwards. Randal’s work in promoting Ulster genealogy and the North of Ireland Family History Society was unrivalled. He was without doubt a most knowledgeable and generous individual and a man most deserving of this Fellowship.”

Ann Robinson, NIFHS president, said “Randal was for years a vital part of our Society and his sudden death in 2012 was a great loss to us, as both a committed member and as a friend to so many. We are very pleased that Randal's family are here with us today to accept the Fellowship on his behalf. It is wonderful that this presentation recognises his important contribution to family history across the North of Ireland for over four decades. His legacy lives on in a network of family history branches and in the library materials that are available to family and local history researchers worldwide.”

(With thanks to the NIFHS)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

DNA evidence resolves baronetcy inheritance claim in Scotland

DNA evidence has overturned an inheritance claim in a ruling that could have profound implications for similar cases within the aristocratic and landed classes in Britain, and perhaps beyond.

An accountant from High Wycombe called Murray Pringle and a businessman from Hastings, Simon Pringle, had both claimed the right to inherit the baronetcy of Pringle of Stichill, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders. The original baronetcy had been granted by the Crown to Robert Pringle of Stichill and all "male heirs from his body" in January 1683. When the 10th baronet died in 2013, the two claimants, who are second cousins once removed, asserted their right to inherit.

Murray Pringle's case was based on the allegation that Simon Pringle's grandfather, Norman Pringle, the 9th Baronet, was not a son of the 8th baronet of the same name - whereas the 9th baronet's brother Ronald, father to Murray Pringle, was a legitimate son. Seven judges at the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, asked to intervene by the British Queen (see my previous post at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/dna-tests-may-upset-blue-blooded.html), had ruled that DNA testing was perfectly legitimate as a means to resolve the dispute. The test results have now confirmed that Simon Pringle is not a male line descendant of the 8th baronet, and thus has no claim as a 'male heir of his body' to inherit; the same tests have shown that Murray Pringle is the legitimate heir, as his DNA confirms his descent.

For the full story, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-36576672 and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/20/accountant-wins-legal-claim-to-baronetcy-in-unusual-cuckoo-in-th/.

The full judgment itself is available at https://www.jcpc.uk/cases/jcpc-2015-0079.html.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

FamilySearch website maintenance

A banner at the top of the Family Search website (https://familysearch.org) notes the following:

The FamilySearch website will be undergoing a technical upgrade Monday, June 27th starting at 12:00 am MDT (6:00 am UTC) and may be down for up to 24 hours as we test the system.

In real money this means that the site will not be accessible from the UK and Ireland from 7am Monday until possibly 7am Tuesday.

NB: If new to family history, FamilySearch is the free to access online platform for the indexed and digitised genealogical records acquired by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints through its microfilming and digitisation projects. Most usefully for Scotland it has indexes to all (or most) surviving baptism and marriage records as found in the Church of Scotland parish registers, and some nonconformist records. It also carries gazillions of other records from the entire planet.*

(*Excluding Antarctica - but give it time...!)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Thanks to the Society of Australian Genealogists

This morning (Scottish time!) I delivered two lectures online as part of the Society of Australian Genealogists' (http://www.sag.org.au) two day webinar entitled Lost in England and Scotland.

The talks I gave were Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and The Godly Commonwealth: Discover Scottish Church Records - we had some great questions at the end, and I hope the talks will help those who attended with their ancestral pursuits (don't forget the handouts!). A huge thanks to Martyn Killion and Heather Garnsey for helping it to all go so smoothly!

I'm beginning to get the hang of these webinars, even if I look like a mad eejit doing a bad impression of Madonna whilst giving them!

If you weren't able to attend, two books I have written may help - Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition) - see this blog's books section at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html for details on how to obtain a copy!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

FindmyPast misled public on 1939 register claims

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has upheld two complaints made against FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) concerning advertising of its 1939 National Identity Register collection for England and Wales.

The complainant challenged two of the company's claims on the following basis:

1. "The most comprehensive record set ever released" and "The 1939 Register is the most comprehensive record set ever released" because they understood that the 1911 census was more comprehensive; and

2. "Every member of a household", because they understood that the register did not include serving members of the armed forces or people born within the last 100 years.


The following were the findings:

1. Upheld

The ASA considered that consumers would understand the “most comprehensive” claims to mean that the 1939 Register contained more data than any other comparable record sets, and in particular that, compared to such record sets, there were more records available and/or more information available within each record. We considered consumers were likely to understand the “most comprehensive” claims to relate to the actual data pertaining to each individual, and/or the totality of such data, rather than as relating to items such as the maps, news articles and photographs to which Findmypast referred, or the rigour with which it was carried out.

Findmypast did not provide full details of what was included in each record set. However, we understood that, although the 1939 Register did include some information that was not recorded in the 1911 census, the 1911 census also included some information that was not available in the 1939 Register, such as birthplace, nationality, and the individual's relationship to the ‘head’ of the household. We also understood that there were more than five million more records available to view in the 1911 census than the 1939 Register. In addition, although the complainant had specifically referred to the 1911 census, we considered that the claim was a comparison against all such record sets, and we had not seen evidence on any comparable sets other than the 1911 census.

For those reasons, we did not consider that Findmypast had substantiated the claims that the 1939 Register was the most comprehensive record set ever released, and therefore concluded that they were misleading.

On that point, the ad breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 3.1 (Misleading advertising) and 3.7 (Substantiation).

2. Upheld

We considered that the claim "Every member of a household" was likely to be interpreted by consumers to mean that no members would be missing from data relating to particular households. However, we understood that there were exceptions, such as members of the armed forces, and those born less than 100 years ago (unless proof of death was verified). We considered that including that information elsewhere on the website was not sufficient to remove the impression that data on all household members would be included, and that, in any case, that information contradicted the claim. We concluded that the claim was misleading.

On that point, the ad breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rules 3.1 (Misleading advertising) and 3.7 (Substantiation).


The ASA has decreed the following to FindmyPast:

The ad must not appear again in its current form. We told Findmypast Ltd not to claim that records were the most comprehensive, unless they held evidence to substantiate the claim, or that they included every member of a household if that was not the case.
The full case is outlined at https://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2016/6/Findmypast-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_341392.aspx#.V2VPgzUXSDP




UPDATE: Apparently this is the fourth time FindmyPast has fallen fould of the Advertising Standards Authority - see http://www.oneplacestudy.org/blog/?p=944


(With thanks to Margaret Hirst for the link)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Further additions to The Original Record

Latest additions to The Original Record website (www.theoriginalrecord.com):

1621
Foreigners in London: St Martin le Grand
'The howseholders being strangers within the libertie of St Martin's le Grand, London.' State Papers Domestic James I cxxxi 104.

1826
Masters of Ships at Belize
Shipping Information published in the Honduras Gazette and Commercial Advertiser, listing movements of vessels in Belize harbour: also including occasional news from Port Omoa and Truxillo, and ships travelling to and from Honduras arriving in and departing from Britain, and spoken to at sea. 1 July to 30 December 1826.

1853
Members of the London & County Joint Stock Banking Company
Inland Revenue copy of the return under 7 & 8 Vic. cap. 32 listing persons of whom the company or partnership consists: giving name, residence and occupation. 23 February 1853

1885
Men-at-the-Bar
Joseph Foster's Hand-List of Men-at-the-Bar gives a paragraph biography of men who had been called to the bar and were alive in 1885. After the full name (surname first, in capitals) there is a short statement of occupation or practice; a student at which inn of court; when called to the bar; father's name and then address; when born; if married, and, if so, wife's name (and her father's name) is often given. At the foot, in small type, is present residence, as of 1885.

1910
Members of Durham University
The alphabetical list of all living members of Durham University, issued in 1910, was compiled from the Admission Book and University Register. It gives surname, initials, degree, college, and date. Those marked with an asterisk were Members of Convocation. In the case of graduates in Arts, Theology (except in the case of Bachelors of Divinity) and Civil Law, the dates refer to the year in which the examination for the degree of B.A. was passed; in the case of Bachelors of Divinity who were not Graduates in Arts, of Licentiates in Theology, of Civil Engineers, and of Licentiates in Medicine, to the year in which each passed the Final Examination. In the case of Hygiene, Science, and Music, to the year in which the Examination for B.Hy., B.Sc., or B.Mus. was passed; and in the case of Graduates in Medicine to the year in which the Examination for the degree of M.B. was passed, except in the case of practitioners, when the date refers to the year in which the examination for the degree specified was passed. In cases where no date is given the degree is Ad Eundem, unless it is marked honorary. The abbreviations are: Arms., Armstrong College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Codr., Codrington College, Barbados; Cos., Bishop Cosin's Hall; F. Bay, Fourah Bay, Sierra Leone; Hatf., Bishop Hatfield's Hall; Med., College of Medicine, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; St. Chad's, St Chad's Hall; St. John's, St John's Hall; Univ., University College.

1912
Estates of the Deceased
Notices re claims on estates of the deceased, mostly pursuant to 22 & 23 Vic. c.35, An Act to Further Amend the Law of Property and to Relieve Trustees, also known as the Law of Property Amendment Act. These notices usually give the full name and final address of the deceased, date of death, where the will was proved or administration granted, and the full names of the executors or administrators. Also included in this index are some other similar notices relating to claims on such estates. October 1912.

1927
Members Joining the Cyclists' Touring Club
Each month in the Cyclists' Touring Club Gazette was printed a list of candidates for membership, area by area, giving surname, initial(s), and full postal address. (F.) indicates that the candidate was joining the club under the Family Membership Scheme; (J.) joining under the Juvenile Membership Scheme. In addition, candidates for Affiliated Membership are listed under individual cycling clubs.

(With thanks to The Original Record)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Halifax burial and cremation records join Deceased Online

From Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com):

200,000+ burial and cremation records for Halifax area now available on Deceased Online

With the addition of two cemeteries and the area's main crematorium, www.deceasedonline.com now has records available for all locations in the Calderdale Council area in West Yorkshire, England.

There are now over 200,000 individual records across the seven cemeteries and the crematorium managed by Calderdale Council. The latest additions are for Sowerby Bridge Cemetery and, in Halifax, Stoney Royd Cemetery and Park Wood Crematorium. The earliest burial records are from 1861 and the crematorium dates from 1956.

Stoney Royd Cemetery war graves

Stoney Royd Cemetery, Halifax, features many war graves as well as a memorial (Picture: Tim Green) Below, many of the earlier registers feature excellent detail including occupations, parents' names, together with full names, addresses and other details of the deceased.
Register scan

As well as digital scans of registers, the records available on Deceased Online for Stoney Royd and Sowerby Bridge cemeteries also include grave details, indicating all those buried in each grave, and section maps indicating the cemetery section where each grave is located.

Emma Jolly's latest blog takes a look at the history of these sites and their records and particularly why the two cemetery additions bear their names.

Other West Yorkshire records on Deceased Online include The National Archives collection for many sites across West Yorkshire and Wakefield Metropolitan Council.

(With thanks to Deceased Online)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Gloucestershire Archives records accessible via Ancestry

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added several new third party indexes to Gloucestershire Archives hosted collections. From the site:

More than 12 million records from the county of Gloucestershire are now available to explore including the county’s detailed Prison Records 1791-1914, which give an intriguing insight into 19th century crime and punishment. They comprise a comprehensive series of prisoner calendars, registers and conviction books. There are even thousands of photos that were passed around the help local policemen recognise habitual offenders.

Our other new Gloucestershire records include annual Electoral Registers 1832-1974 and the Gloucestershire Land Tax Records, 1713-1833.

To celebrate the new release, Ancestry has posted a blog post Liz Jack, author of A Rogue’s Gallery: Victorian Prisoners in Gloucester Gaol, detailing the potential of the Web: Gloucestershire, England, Gaol Registers, 1815-1879 collection. The blog post is accessible at http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2016/06/17/victorian-prisoners-in-gloucester-gaol-1815-1879/, whilst the collection itself can be searched via http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=9742.

The full holdings from Gloucestershire are accessible via Ancestry at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/group/uk_gloucestershire_archives or through the archive itself at http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/genealogy/Search.aspx.

(With thanks to Bryony Partridge)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Evening Herald joins Irish Newspaper Archive

From the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com):

The Evening Herald Archive 1891 to 1949

We are delighted to announce the long awaited release of the first tranche of the Evening Herald newspaper. The Evening Herald has played a significant and integral role in Irish history and from its very first edition announced the paper was here to fight for Irish free political thinking "The Herald has come to fight" "Our purpose is to maintain political independence in Ireland, and to voice the thoughts of the Irish people who are uncontrolled by English politicians or any other extraneous domination".

The Evening Herald is a fabulous new edition to our extensive online newspaper archive. Irish Newspaper Archives now hosts over 60 newspapers spanning 300 years of Irish history. The Herald joins a list of daily titles that we have available from the Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, Irish Press, Freeman's Journal and many more.

To celebrate the Evening Herald Archive release we offering a major reductions on all products and 20% off monthly and annual membership rates. Use the below COUPON CODE to get your 20% off:

Coupon Code: EHARC 20

Don't forget to use your coupon code!!


For further details and access visit https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/wp/evening-herald-1891-1949/

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

More Irish Petty Session and poor law records added to FindmyPast

FindmyPast has announced its has added 547,000 more records to its Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912 collection. A list of what is new can be accessed at http://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/irish-petty-sessions-order-books.

Also released are:

Ireland Poor Law Reports

There are six titles included in this collection of poor law reports:

* Parliamentary Report (Distress Ireland), Treasury Minute and First Report of the Relief Commissioners, published by William Clowes and Sons in 1847 – This publication is the first report of the new relief system put in place to handle the calamitous impact of famine on the Irish people. The report details many issues facing Ireland at this time. In particular, the growing number of destitute and how to alleviate their burden, as well as details pertaining to the new relief scheme and how it differs from previous attempts. Appendixes include additional useful information, including further details regarding the new relief scheme and sample forms used by the Finance Committees and Relief Committees.

* The Evils of the State of Ireland; Their Causes and Their Remedy – A Poor Law, authored by John Revans and published by John Harchard and Son in 1837 – The ideas that Revans puts forth in this publication were ultimately deemed too radical for adoption (such as fair rents and minimum living wages), but they represent the argument for equitable poor law relief in Ireland at this time.

* 7th Annual Report of the Commissioners for Administering the Law for Relief of the Poor in Ireland, 1854, published by Alexander Thom & Sons in 1854 – The bulk of the report is its appendixes: Appendix A, Circulars of Instruction Issued by the Commissioners and Correspondence to and form the Commissioners, and Appendix B, Tables.

* 10th Annual Report of the Commissioners for Administering the Laws for Relief of the Poor in Ireland, 1857, published by Alexander Thom & Sons in 1857 – The bulk of the report is its appendixes: Appendix A, Circulars of Instruction Issued by the Commissioners and Correspondence to and form the Commissioners, and Appendix B, Tables.

* 11th Annual Report of the Commissioners for Administering the Law for Relief of the Poor in Ireland, 1858, published by Alexander Thom & Sons in 1858 – The bulk of the report is its appendixes: Appendix A, Circulars of Instruction Issued by the Commissioners and Correspondence to and form the Commissioners, and Appendix B, Tables. A subject of note is the information relating to the removal of the poor to Ireland from England and Scotland.

* 14th Annual Report of the Commissioners for Administering the Laws for Relief of the Poor in Ireland, 1861, published by Alexander Thom & Sons in 1861— The bulk of the report is its appendixes, particularly, Appendix A, Circulars of Instruction Issued by the Commissioners and Correspondence to and form the Commissioners, and Appendix B, Tables. Of note, the report details the upset facing the Erris district following the failure of the oat and potato crops.


South Australia Rate Books

South Australia Rate books is an index of roughly 4,000 records. The index was transcribed from rate assessments for the coastal district of Beachport in southeast South Australia between 1882 and 1888.

Each record includes a transcript and an original image. The amount of information listed varies, but the transcripts usually include your ancestor's name, assessment year, assessment number, occupier, owner, situation and town

Images may be able to provide additional details, such as property descriptions, rate values, and dates paid. Entries span two pages in the original document; you can use the right-hand arrow in the image viewer to view the second image associated with your ancestor's entry. You can also use the previous and next arrows to peruse other entries.


Ireland Dog Licence Registers

Updated to now include more than 343,000 additional records to uncover the age, colour, and breed of your ancestors four legged friend.


Yorkshire West Riding Marriages

Over 49,000 new records from Yorkshire's West Riding have been added to our collection of Yorkshire Marriages.


Full details via https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/fridays

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

FIBIS Indian Cemeteries Project

From the Families in British India Society (www.fibis.org):

FIBIS Cemeteries Project

FIBIS has hired a photographer who is currently visiting cemeteries in India and taking two photographs of every gravestone: one of the whole and one of the inscription. Mindful that many Indian cemeteries are in a dilapidated condition that is only going to deteriorate further, we are looking for sponsorship to enable us to continue this important project.

In the meantime, the photographer is receiving from FIBIS a modest fee and necessary expenses for travel. Therefore, if you would like access to the original photographs we are asking for a suggested donation of £3 (Three pounds sterling) for one image or £5 (Five Pounds sterling) for both.


Donate to the FIBIS cemeteries project

Please make any donations to the cemeteries project via the PayPal button on the Cemeteries Project page of the FIBIS website to ensure donation go to the correct project. If you are ordering photographs please quote the Cemetery and Image Reference that you require in the "Add special instructions to recipient" section of the "PayPal Review your payment" screen and we will arrange for e-mail copies of the photographs to be sent to you.

Cemeteries completed
Roorkee
Secunderabad

Coming soon
Bareilly
Ferozepore

Hopefully more cemeteries will be photographed, after the ones listed above, if we raise enough funds. Please make any donations to the FIBIS cemeteries project via the PayPal button on the Cemeteries Project page.

The Cemeteries Project page is at http://www.fibis.org/about-2/cemeteries/cemeteries-project/

(With thanks to Valmay Young and FIBIS)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Lost in England and Scotland webinar

The Society of Australian Genealogists is holding a seminar this weekend entitled Lost in England and Scotland, with a programme of eight talks over Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th, and with yours truly contributing two Scottish based topics on the Saturday - Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and The Godly Commonwealth: Discover Scottish Church Records.

The following is the programme, with Australian times given up front (UK equivalents in brackets):

DAY 1 – Saturday 18 June 2016

3.30pm-4.10pm  (UK: 6.30am-7.10am)
A short introduction to our Virtual ‘Lost In’ weekend
What you need to know before you start – Martyn Killion
The clues you need to undertake overseas research are often contained in the Australian records. This introduction reminds you of the importance of working backwards methodically step by step, and reminds you that doing your homework is always important if you want to have success overseas.

4.30pm-5.30pm (UK: 7.30am-8.30am)
English and Scottish resources at the SAG - Alison Wolf
The SAG has many resources to assist you with your research. Have you remembered to check the MIDAS catalogues to see what records we have? Have you investigated our book and CD collection? This session will highlight the overseas resources we hold, and show you how to make the most effective searches of our catalogues.

6.30pm-7.30pm (UK: 9.30am-10.30am)
Down and out in Scotland - Chris Paton
Chris Paton is a professional genealogist from Ayrshire, Scotland.
Illness, death, bigamy, abandonment, accidents, eviction, ethnic cleansing – our Scottish ancestors faced many hardships. Chris explores these challenges and the records that were left behind.

8.00pm-9.00pm (UK: 11am-12pm)
The Godly Commonwealth: Discover Scottish Church Records - Chris Paton
Chris explores the history and records of the various churches in Scotland prior to 1855, the year in which civil registration commenced within the country.


DAY 2 – Sunday 19 June 2016

11.30am-12.30pm (UK: 2.30am-3.30am)
English censuses – Cora Num
Cora’s presentation will help you locate, understand and effectively use English census records.

1.30pm-2.30pm (UK: 4.30am-5.30am)
Scotlands People and Scotlands Places – Kerry Farmer
ScotlandsPeople and ScotlandsPlaces websites provide access to national databases of birth, marriage and death records, censuses, valuation rolls, wills and testaments, tax registers and more. In these collections researchers can find details about Scottish individuals from the 16th century to the present.

4.30pm-5.30pm (UK: 7.30am-8.30am)
Pre 1837 English parish register research – Heather Garnsey
It can be a challenge to know you’ve located the right family when you are looking for baptisms, marriages and burial records in English parish registers. This session looks at the changing format of parish registers and provides some useful pointers you can use when consulting these vital records.

6.30pm-7.30pm (UK: 9.30am-10.30am)
Til death do us part: Causes of death 1300-1948 - Janet Few
Janet Few is a UK historian and genealogist.
The diseases and accidents of our ancestors are an integral part of our family history. This webinar examines a wide variety of possible causes of death for our British ancestors, describing their symptoms and prognoses. It also suggests records that may be used to provide information about how an ancestor died.

The cost for the webinar is AU$115 for non-SAG members (about £60), AU$80 for SAG members. For further information, please visit http://www.sag.org.au/events/event-listing/icalrepeat.detail/2016/06/18/142/-/lost-in-england-and-scotland.html

Should be fun - hopefully we'll see a few of you there!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Claiming an Irish passport - Part 2

Having decided now to apply for an Irish passport (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/claiming-irish-passport-1.html), it's time to get underway.

The first step is to get the relevant application forms. The Citizens Information website at http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/travel_abroad/passports/applying_for_or_renewing_an_irish_passport.html describes the basic process for application - on this it notes that because I live outside of the Republic of Ireland, I must obtain an APS2 form, but this is unfortunately not available online.

The advice on this Citizens Information page states that "If you are living abroad you can apply in person or using ordinary or registered post to your nearest Irish embassy or consulate."  Living in Scotland, the nearest consulate to me is in Edinburgh, and so a quick search on Google reveals the relevant passport page on its website at https://www.dfa.ie/irish-consulate/edinburgh/passports/how-to-apply-for-a-passport/. On this I was advised to contact them by email, with my home address, to request copies of the required number of APS2 forms.

Having done so, within an hour I received an email from Edinburgh notifying me that the required form will be sent by post to me this evening. We're under way! I am also advised that at present, the turn around time for successful applications is 7 weeks, although a priority service is available at additional cost. I'm happy with the seven weeks, thanks. :)

Under the Documents tab on this same page, there is a list of accompanying document types that I will need. As I am applying for an Irish passport for the first time, I am advised that I will need to obtain a copy of my long form birth certificate from the General Register Office of Northern Ireland to prove that I was indeed born in Northern Ireland. This can be done via the GENI website at https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/. (NB: If I was a woman I would also need to obtain a civil marriage or civil partnership certificate, if my name was now different to that shown on my birth cert).

On the GENI website, rather than use the top section I would normally use to Search registrations for genealogical research, I instead need to order a birth cert from the Order Certificates section. This can all be done online, which takes a couple of minutes, as I step through various pages, providing my name, date and place of birth, and the details of my parents. Once completed, I am charged £15 all in. As I am not paying for priority postage, I am notified that it will be sent out to me by second class post.

Note that I am applying to the GRONI in Belfast because of my Northern Irish birth, but if I was from the Republic of Ireland, I would need to apply to the separate General Register Office of Ireland to obtain the southern equivalent - to do so, visit https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Apply-for-Certificates.aspx, although this is a snail mail version for which payment cannot be made online. To pay online, visit http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/bdm/Certificates/ instead.

So I've ordered the relevant application form, and a copy of my birth certificate. Now I need to wait for them to arrive...!

NB:
PART 3 at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/claiming-irish-passport-part-3.html 
PART 4 at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/claiming-irish-passport-part-4-claimed.html

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Claiming an Irish passport - Part 1

Many of you who have attended talks that I have given over the last few years might have heard me refer to the identity crisis that first led me to start researching my family history in 1999. As a child of both Irish and Scottish stock who grew up in the Northern Ireland of the Troubles, I was never comfortable with my description of 'British' or its alternative of 'Irish' - the idea that I was being labelled with an identity simply because of an accident of birth and history, which society dictated that I must adhere to, to become loyal to the ideals of one 'tribe', and not the other. Indeed, I've often jokingly referred to myself as suffering from something called Sruth na Maoile syndrome, the Gaelic phrase for the Straits of Moyle, which is the waterway that divides Scotland from Ireland - the inference being that my true identity is all at sea somewhere in between! (You can hear me discuss this in a talk I gave at St. Catherine's Ontario 2 years ago, at https://soundcloud.com/chrismpaton/genealogy-without-borders-lecture-in-niagara-may-2014).

Obviously since carrying out my ancestral research I have been able to throw all that baggage away, and discover from scratch my true identity for myself, which derives from the sum of all my ancestral parts, and not some politician's pen. As I have lived in the UK for all of my life to date, I currently have a British passport, issued by the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. To me, my British passport does not indicate my identity - my family history reveals that - but it does permit me certain rights and protections as someone who has grown up in the UK when travelling. It is more than a British passport, though, in that a holder of a British passport is currently also a member of the European Union, and has the same rights in law as any other EU citizen when so doing - it's why all EU passports are the same shape, size, colour, and with similar wording. However, as you may be aware, next week we are having a referendum on whether the UK retains its membership of the European Union. As a consequence, these rights and protections as an EU citizen may soon be withdrawn.

I do not wish to give up my EU rights when travelling - and I have a way to bypass this eventuality. As someone who was born in Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland, under the current rules in the Republic of Ireland I can also claim an Irish passport - indeed, so too can my children, as even though they were born in Scotland, under Irish law, they are automatically considered to be Irish citizens simply because they have Irish parents, irrespective of whether we are from the north or south (we come from each end of the island!). The Republic of Ireland is also a member of the European Union, and isn't planning on going anywhere on that front. Now, partly because of the entirely negative nature of the current UK referendum campaign, on both sides, and partly because I now feel comfortable in the fact that my true identity lies embedded across the islands of both Ireland and Britain, I have finally decided that I am going to exercise my right to claim dual citizenship. 

The ability to claim an Irish passport and hold dual citizenship is something that many people in Britain, and further afield, have enjoyed for decades. But what are the rules on eligibility? Well, it all depends on whether you have a connection to Ireland - and this is where the genealogy bit comes in! The Irish Government's Citizens Information site neatly outlines the criteria that must be fulfilled for qualification at http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/irish_citizenship/irish_citizenship_through_birth_or_descent.html. This is the key part - for clarification, the use of the term 'Ireland' here refers to the island, encompassing both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (the 'Irish state'):

Citizenship through birth in Ireland

If you were born in Ireland and your parent(s) were Irish citizens, then you are also an Irish citizen.

However, in certain circumstances some people born in Ireland have to claim Irish citizenship. You can find more details about claiming Irish citizenship through special declaration in 'Further information' below.

Children of foreign national parents

A child born in the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 is entitled to Irish citizenship if they have a British parent or a parent who is entitled to live in Northern Ireland or the Irish State without restriction on their residency. A child born in Ireland to a parent who has been granted refugee status is also automatically entitled to Irish citizenship.

Under the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004, children born of other foreign national parents in the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 are not automatically entitled to Irish citizenship. These parents must prove that they have a genuine link to Ireland. This will be evidenced by their having 3 out of the previous 4 years reckonable residence in the island of Ireland immediately before the birth of the child. On proof of a genuine link to Ireland their child will be entitled to Irish citizenship and can apply for a certificate of nationality - see 'How to apply' below.

Children born outside Ireland to Irish citizen parents

If either of your parents was an Irish citizen who was born in Ireland, then you are automatically an Irish citizen, irrespective of your place of birth.

Irish citizen parents born outside Ireland

If you were born outside Ireland to an Irish citizen who was himself or herself born outside Ireland, then you are entitled to become an Irish citizen. If your parent derived Irish citizenship in another manner, for example, through marriage, adoption or naturalisation, and was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you can become an Irish citizen.

However before you can claim Irish citizenship, you must have your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register, which is maintained by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - see 'How to apply' below. If you are entitled to register, your Irish citizenship is effective from the date of registration - not from the date when you were born.

If the parent through whom you derive Irish citizenship was deceased at the time of your birth, but would have been an Irish citizen if alive at that time, you are also an Irish citizen. Also, you derive citizenship through an Irish parent whether or not your parents were married to each other at the time of your birth.

Citizenship through descent from Irish grandparents

If one of your grandparents is an Irish citizen who was born in Ireland, but none of your parents was born in Ireland, you may become an Irish citizen. You will need to have your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register.

If you are entitled to register, your Irish citizenship is effective from the date of registration. The Irish citizenship of successive generations may be maintained in this way by each generation ensuring their registration in the Foreign Births Register before the birth of the next generation.

Since 1 July 1986, a person registered in the Foreign Births Entry Book after 1986 is deemed to be an Irish citizen only from the date of his/her entry in the Register and not from the date of birth. This means that children born to that person before his/her date of entry in the Register are not entitled to citizenship.

People registered before July 1986 are deemed Irish citizens either from the date the original Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act came into force, that is, 17 July 1956, or their date of birth, whichever is later. Only children born after 17 July 1956 can claim citizenship in such cases.

Other Irish ancestors

Unless at least one parent or an Irish-born grandparent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you cannot claim Irish citizenship on the basis of extended previous ancestry (that is, ancestors other than your parents or grandparents). In addition, you cannot claim Irish citizenship on the basis that relation such as a cousin, aunt or uncle was an Irish citizen if none of your parents or grandparents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.

In case it should provide some assistance to anyone else who may be interested in doing likewise, I've decided I will share my experience in claiming an Irish passport over the next few weeks.

The first stage will be to initiate the application process, and to get a copy of my birth certificate, the processes for which I will outline in due course!

NB:
PART 2 at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/claiming-irish-passport-part-2.html
PART 3 at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/claiming-irish-passport-part-3.html 
PART 4 at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/claiming-irish-passport-part-4-claimed.html

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.