MyHeritage adds filtering to its DNA platform

News of another very useful advance from MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com) on its excellent DNA platform:

MyHeritage Launches New Filtering System for DNA Matches

We’re excited to announce the release of a new feature — a brand new filtering system for DNA Matches.

Thanks to the growth of our database, most users on MyHeritage now have thousands of DNA Matches. Managing all those DNA Matches, and making sense of them has become a challenge — and this is exactly where the new filtering system comes in!

Filtering lets you view a subset of your DNA Matches at a time, focusing on those that match particular criteria, of more interest to you. We’ve added a beautiful user interface to the DNA Overview page that lets you filter your DNA Matches easily by relationship, by country or by ethnicity. And we’ve added a powerful filter toolbar that lets you do all that, and much more. Using the new filter toolbar, you can combine multiple filters, and filter matches by additional criteria such as those that have a family tree, have shared ancestral surnames with you or have Smart Matches™ with you.

Filtering of DNA Matches can be combined with sorting and searching. For example, you can easily find all your DNA Matches that include “Gordon” in the name of the match or as an ancestral surname, filtering them to view only those who have a particular ethnicity and live in a particular country, while sorting them alphabetically or by the amount of shared DNA.

These powerful capabilities, together with the high accuracy of the matches, make MyHeritage’s DNA Matches the most powerful and easy to use DNA matches on the market today. Anyone who has taken a MyHeritage DNA test or has uploaded DNA data from another service can now take advantage of our new filtering system for DNA Matches, and it’s free! (Some advanced features in the DNA Match review page require a subscription, such as viewing the ethnicity results of a DNA Match).

As part of this update, we’ve also made some improvements to the user interface of the DNA Matches in general. For example, we placed ethnicity and DNA Matches on two adjacent tabs to make it very easy to switch from one to the other for any of the DNA kits you manage. Viewing family trees of your DNA Matches now uses the Pedigree View.

Many users have told us that we have the best user interface for DNA Matches, and now we’ve made it even better.

For the full story, and a step by step guide, visit https://blog.myheritage.com/2018/06/revolutionary-new-filtering-system-for-dna-matching/.

(With thanks to Daniel Horowitz)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Latest English record additions added to FindmyPast

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

Kent, Lydd Midwife's Birth Register 1757-1815
Search for your Kent ancestors in William Waylett's birth register. The collection contains over 2,400 records transcribed from the original register of William Waylett (1729-1815), a male midwife who practiced in Lydd and the surrounding parishes on Romney Marsh in Kent.

Sussex Monumental Inscriptions
Over 1,800 new records have been added to our collection of Sussex Monumental Inscriptions. The new additions cover churchyards in Eastbourne, Litlington, Lullington and West Dean.

Northumberland and Durham Memorial Inscriptions
Over 14,000 new records have been added to our collection of Northumberland and Durham Memorial Inscriptions. The new additions cover churchyards in Birtley, Blyth, Boldon, Eighton Banks, Gosforth, Great Lumley, Penshaw, Ryhope, South Shields, Whitley Bay and Woodhorn.

Yorkshire Burials
Over 38,000 new records from Stoney Royd Cemetery in Halifax have been added to our collection of Yorkshire burials. Yorkshire burials now contains over 5.1 million records spanning more than 400 years of the county's rich history.

Further details and links available at https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/findmypast-friday-june-29th-2582126903.html

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

FamilySearch adds 135 million records for Denmark, Finland, Sweden

From FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org):

FamilySearch Adds 135M New Records for Denmark, Finland, Sweden

FamilySearch Tips to Research Denmark, Finland, Sweden Genealogical RecordsSALT LAKE CITY (26 June 2018), FamilySearch announced today the availability of its newest record collections—135.4 million free digital historical recordsfrom Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. These new collections were digitized in partnership with MyHeritage and the National Archives of Denmark and Finland and can now be accessed at FamilySearch.

The freely searchable collections are comprised of church records, including birth, marriage, and death records, confirmations, moving-in and moving-out records; court; tax lists; examination books; and more.

“The new collections will provide a better research experience,” said Whitney Peterson, FamilySearch International collections specialist. “Uniquely identifying ancestors from these countries can be difficult due to the frequency of common names [the use of patronymics]. Before now, our vital indexes have provided broad but incomplete coverage. These new, complete collections will make it easier to find and track your ancestors.”

The new records include the following:

Denmark
55.1 million new records added
Census records (1834-1930).
Church records (1686–1941; record images only)
Land records of Denmark—deeds and mortgages (record images only)
Probate records—Denmark estate records (1436–1964; record images only); Probate indexes (1674–1851).
Denmark civil marriages (1851–1961)
Denmark, Copenhagen civil marriages (1739–1964; indexed 1877–1964)

Finland
33.4 million new records added
Finland church census and preconfirmation books (1657–1915)
Tax lists of Suomi-Henkikirjara (1819–1915).


Sweden
46.9 million new records added
Sweden household examination books (1880–1920).
Church books (Kyrkoböcker) from Kopparberg (1604–1860), Örebro (until 1860), and Östergötland (1555–1911).


Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Society of Genealogists supports Family Tree Live

From Warner Group Publications, news on Family Tree Live (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2018/05/family-tree-live-genealogy-event.html):

Society of Genealogists supports Family Tree Live
Family Tree Live, in partnership with the Federation of Family History Societies
Alexandra Palace, London – 26 and 27 April 2019

The team behind the new family history show Family Tree Live are delighted to announce the Society of Genealogists (SoG) as an Associate Sponsor of the event.

In addition to the sponsorship, SoG will also be sponsoring the ‘Society of Genealogists Lecture Theatre’ at the two-day London event and will be giving visitors help and advice from the SoG stand.

Else Churchill, Genealogist at SoG, said: ‘Genealogy education and learning is at the heart of the Society’s foundation and hence we are delighted to be sponsoring a lecture theatre at Family Tree Live. Additionally, on the SoG stand you can meet our members and experts who are on hand to offer help and advice with your research and show how the Society’s library and remarkable research collections can take your family history further.’

Family Tree Live is set to become the UK’s most popular family history event. The major exhibition will feature lectures, workshops, displays and stands and will be suitable for all levels of family history experience.

Helen Tovey, Editor of Family Tree magazine, said: ‘It’s fantastic to be working with the Society of Genealogists, and their support fits perfectly with the strong learning aspect of Family Tree Live. We’re excited with the range of lectures, workshops and hands-on activities to be offered over the two days, and delighted to welcome SoG as an associate sponsor, an exhibitor and the sponsor of the Society of Genealogists Lecture Theatre.’

(With thanks to Lauren Beharrell)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Colour tithe maps for Yorkshire added to TheGenealogist

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

The Genealogist releases the new Change of Names Database as well as the Colour Tithe Maps for the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire

TheGenealogist has just released a great new resource for family historians wanting to find ancestors who had officially changed their forename or surname in Britain. The Change of Names Database covers information gathered from a number of sources including Private Acts of Parliament; Royal Licences published in the London and Dublin Gazettes; notices of changes of name published in The Times after 1861 with a few notices from other newspapers; registers of the Lord Lyon [King of Arms] where Scottish changes of name were commonly recorded; records in the office of the Ulster King at Arms and also some private information.

Use this database to:

* Discover ancestors that recorded a change of name

* Find what name had been adopted and the name discarded

This is available to Diamond Subscribers and can be found under Miscellaneous Records.

The second release this month is to coincide with the return of The Family History Show, York to the racecourse on Saturday 23rd June. TheGenealogist has now added the Colour Tithe Maps for the North Riding and the East Riding of Yorkshire. Complimenting the already released schedule books and greyscale maps, these colour maps add an attractive visual aid to find where your ancestor lived in the mid 1800s.

The fully searchable tithe records released online allow researchers to:

* Find plots of land owned or occupied by ancestors in early Victorian North Riding and East Riding of Yorkshire on colour maps

* See where your forebears lived, farmed or perhaps occupied a small cottage or a massive estate.

To search these and a huge assortment of other genealogical records see more at: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk

Read our article on the fascinating Change of Name Database at: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2018/change-of-name-database-discovers-ancestors-who-adopted-different-surnames-846/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

National Records of Scotland now wifi enabled

I have been reliably informed that the National Records of Scotland (www.nrscotland.gov.uk) now has wifi on site. Not a lot more to add really.

WIFI....!!!!!!!!

Archivists do move in mysterious ways.

I suspect this isn't a flag pole in the picture above, but a large antenna...! :)

(With thanks to Lorna Kinnaird)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Ancestry adds Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Electoral Registers, 1832-1976

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added the following Scottish electoral registers collections:

Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Electoral Registers, 1832-1976
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61479
Source: Aberdeenshire Electoral Registers, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives, Aberdeen, Scotland.

This database contains yearly registers listing names and residences of people in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who were eligible to vote in elections. These year-by-year registers can help place your ancestors in a particular place and possibly also reveal some information about property they owned.

Historical Background
Electoral registers are lists of individuals who are eligible to vote during the time the register is in force (usually one year). Registration for voters in Scotland has been required since 1832, and registers were typically published annually. Restrictive property requirements denied the vote to much of the population for years, though these were eased somewhat in 1867 and 1884 through the Second and Third Reform Acts. There were also requirements when it came to local elections that varied from borough to borough (e.g. residence), and voters had to petition to be added to the electoral registers.

Property restrictions were finally removed for men in 1918, when most males age 21 and older were allowed to vote. The franchise was extended to some women over age 30 in 1918, but it was not until 1928 that the voting age was made 21 for both men and women. Thus, the number of names listed in the registers increases with the expansion of suffrage.

Searching the Registers
Electoral registers typically provide a name and place of abode, and older registers may include a description of property and qualifications to vote. Registers were compiled at a local level, with names appearing alphabetically within wards/districts. Many of the registers in this database have been indexed electronically, which allows you to search them by name, but if you’re searching for a somewhat common name it will be helpful to know the area in which your ancestor lived to narrow your results. The street address can be searched in the Location field.

Please find below a guide to the codes used in the registers:

R Residence qualification
BP Business premises qualification
O Occupational qualification (occupation in this case is occupation of a property, not employment)
HO Qualification through husband's occupation
NM Naval or military voter

From 1928, with the advent of women's suffrage, the following codes can be found:

R Residence qualification (man)
Rw Residence qualification (woman)
B Business premises qualification (man)
Bw Business premises qualification (woman)
O Occupational qualification (man)
Ow Occupational qualification (woman)
D Qualification through wife's occupation
Dw Qualification through husband's occupation
NM Naval or military voter

The following extra codes can also sometimes be seen

J Eligible to serve as juror
SJ Eligible to serve as special juror
a Absent voter
BP Business premises register
CI Civilian residence register
SE Service register
RR Ratepayers register

Please note that no registers were produced during the war years 1916, 1917 and 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944.

Note: This index was created using text recognition software, records were not transcribed. We have created indexes of the electoral registers for every fifth year.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Maritime Perspectives: Collecting Art of a Seafaring Nation

From the Scottish Maritime Museum (www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org) in Irvine:

The Scottish Maritime Museum will unveil a remarkable new national art collection featuring works by artists such as FCB Cadell, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Muirhead Bone, Kate Downie and John Bellany in a major art exhibition opening on Friday 1st June.

‘Maritime Perspectives: Collecting Art of a Seafaring Nation’, which will run at the Scottish Maritime Museum on the Harbourside in Irvine, North Ayrshire, until Sunday 21st October, will be the first full showing for the new art collection which captures life along Scotland’s coastline in all its grit and glory.

The exhibition will feature over 80 works gathered for the collection over the last three years through SMMart, an ambitious project to create a nationally significant art collection to enrich the nationally recognised maritime heritage at the Museum.

For further details, see the original story at https://www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/Pages/FAQs/Category/exhibitions, where you can also download a flyer of art related events to tie in.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Forces War Records ‘WWI Casualty Records’ collection reaches 1 million names

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

Over 1 million NEW WWI Casualty records transcribed - What our WWI casualties collection database means to genealogists

Forces War Records ‘WWI Casualty Records’ collection has now reached the milestone of over 1 million individuals records transcribed and available to search by name.

The Casualty lists are an excellent resource to use when researching a soldier who fought in the Great War 1914-18.

At the start of the First World War, it was decided to publish casualty list for soldiers who were reported killed, died of wounds or accident, been declared as missing, wounded or admitted to hospital with shell-shock. The ‘Daily War Office Casualty Lists’

were first published on 1st September 1914 and printed within various newspapers such as The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Irish Times and The Scotsman until August 1917. In August, it was decided that newspapers would no longer be able to print the casualty list in full due to the shortage of paper and the effect of morale on the public seeing the great number of casualties daily. Instead, the Daily Casualty List were published as the ‘Weekly Casualty List’ by His Majesty’s Stationary Office. Forces War Records has now transcribed all the records published within The Daily Telegraph Newspaper and we are very proud to be working with the National Library of Scotland to transcribe their original collection of the ‘Weekly Casualty List by His Majesty’s Stationary Office’. These records are of enormous value to researchers, for in many cases the information that a man appeared in a list will not be available elsewhere. Researchers should note that the appearance of a name on the list was some time after the man became a casualty – usually around a month or so. Armed with this information and the War Diary of the man’s unit, the circumstances in which he became a casualty can be researched. Also, you can use the exclusive Forces War Records ‘WWI Troop Movements and ORBATS’ interactive map to follow your ancestor's footsteps while listening to the in-depth and highly detailed commentary.

During the First World War the British war effort required an incredible amount of manpower – with over 8,500,000 million serving at some point during the conflict – and whilst this figure is inflated by colonial contributions – numerically it means almost a fifth of the UK population served. The official Medical Services statistics report 2,272,998 men wounded so there was little over a 1 in 3 chance that a man was wounded! (Although the 2 million does include men who were injured multiple times so that statistic will be misleading).

The proportion of the country serving meant that everyone will have known several people fighting, and due to the great numbers of casualties often the quickest to find out the fate of friends, or family was to read these daily lists. This led to several national newspapers, including the Times and the Daily Telegraph publishing the lists as well as many local papers. Given the fate of many of the First World War Service records, this will be the only surviving record for many of these men. Furthermore, if a man was listed as wounded in this record then you can infer that he was eligible to wear a wound stripe on his uniform.

Figure 1: WWI Wounded Stripe

The collection available on Force War Records is likely to include the following:

* Surname

* First Name or Initials

* Regimental Numbers

* Rank

* Regiment or Corps

* Battalion

* Attached Unit

* Gallantry Awards

* Fate (wounded, captured, shell shock, missing etc)

* Duty Location

* Date of Incident

* Place of Enlistment (given as Resided Town)

Please be aware that due to the way we collate and cross-reference our databases, some records will contain more information than that listed above.

N.B. Soldiers who were killed are to be found in the ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919’ collection and not within this new collection.

The benefits of this unique collection of Casualty list in your military genealogy research is that it can be the only record of a solider having been wounded if their service records was destroyed and they weren’t discharged with a Silver War Badge

Why not log on to Forces War Records and search our NEW collection to find out more about your own ancestors – there could be a war hero in your family just waiting to be discovered and remembered…

FYI – Link to collection: https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/over-1-million-new-wwi-casualty-records

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

ScotlandsPeople adds new maps and plans collection

From ScotlandsPeople (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk):

More than 2,400 historic maps, plans and drawings from National Records of Scotland (NRS) collections have been made available on the ScotlandsPeople website. Many of the maps show the changing Scottish landscape over time. They also record where people lived or worked, so they can throw light on ancestors’ lives and even suggest new avenues for research. The maps and plans cover certain areas of Scotland, but not the wholeof the country. They include both country estates and plans of towns and cities, including for example Glasgow. Most of the maps and plans originate in the records of court cases, Scottish government departments, Heritors’ records, as well as in private collections gifted to or purchased by NRS.

If you would like to find out more, read our maps and plans guide, or search the maps and plans.

The maps and plans collection is amongst the finest in the UK and contains the largest number of Scottish manuscript maps and plans held by any single institution. Spanning four centuries, the collections cover both manuscript and printed topographical maps and plans. They are particularly strong in estate and railway plans; architectural drawings; and engineering drawings, particularly of ships, railway engines and rolling stock. More maps and plans will be added to the ScotlandsPeople website.

Plan of the Carron River from Carron works to Grangemouth, 1797

National Records of Scotland, RHP242/2

For more information, and several examples of maps that have been added, please visit https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/news-article-maps-and-plans-release.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Exhibition: Voices and Votes - Suffrage and the Representation of the People, 1832-1928

A new major exhibition coming to PRONI (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni) in Belfast:

Voices and Votes: Suffrage and the Representation of the People, 1832-1928

The exhibition explores the history of suffrage from a local perspective, particularly the struggle for women’s representation, and includes unique archival material which highlights some of the people who championed change.

A range of educational resources will also be launched on the day, including an interactive resource featuring archival material relating to the suffrage movement, a graphic novel exploring the lives of Countess Constance Markievicz and Edith, Lady Londonderry, and a 2.5D animation charting the history of the suffrage movement.

The event will also see the first public performance of a new drama production from Kabosh Theatre Company, featuring a fictional meeting between Edith, Lady Londonderry and Countess Constance Markievicz.

Dr Margaret Ward, Queen’s University Belfast, will deliver a keynote lecture, ‘Winning the Vote: Suffrage in Ulster’.

Additional information

PRONI opening hours and getting here
DATE: Monday 2 July, 10.00am-1.00pm
LOCATION: PRONI, Titanic Quarter, Belfast
Admission is FREE, however booking is essential. Register for this event at Eventbrite
LUNCH SERVED from 12.30pm
For further details, please visit the PRONI website

(With thanks to PRONI)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

FindmyPast updates its Suffragette Collection

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has updated its Suffragette Collection:

Suffragette Collection Update

Explore over 22,000 new additions to our Suffragette Collection. Exclusively available on Findmypast, this latest batch of records has been digitised and released online for the first time in association with the National Archives. It includes a wide variety of Home Office and Metropolitan Police files as well as 1911 census returns that list either "Suffragette" or "Suffragist" as an occupation.

The Suffragette Collection now contains more than 78,000 records that reveal the struggles endured by the movement's most ardent supporters and highlight the State's response as it attempted to contain them. These rich documents bring together the stories of women from all walks of life who actively supported women's suffrage, either by attending demonstrations and meetings or opting for militant "direct action".

The collection spans from 1902 to 1919 and includes the following series of records from The National Archives: AR 1, ASSI 52, CRIM 1, CRIM 9, DPP 1, HO 144, HO 45, HO 140, LO 3, MEPO 2, MEPO 3, PCOM 7, PCOM 8, PRO 30, T 1, T 172, TS 27, and WORK 11. Among these are photographs of suffragettes, cabinet letters, calendars of prisoners, Home Office papers of suffragette disturbances, an index of women arrested between 1906 and 1914 (the official watch list of over 1,300 suffragettes), reports of force-feeding, and more.


Women's Suffrage Petition 1866

Discover your ancestor in this index from the women's suffrage petition of 1866. The petition contains over 1,500 names and was obtained through www.parliament.uk. Each transcript will list your ancestor's name, address and any additional notes. Additional information about these records can be found on the source's website.

The suffrage petition of 1866 was the first Votes for Women mass petition put before Parliament. It was presented on 7 June 1866 by John Stuart Mill, a Member of Parliament. The original document with the individuals' signatures no longer exists. However, the list of signatories was printed in a pamphlet for circulation in 1866. Today, only two copies of this list exist, and it was from this document that this index was created.


Suffragette Newspapers Browse

Over 58,000 new records and 14 new titles have been added to our collection of Suffragette Newspapers.

The new titles available to browse include:

Church League for Women's Suffrage
Common Cause
Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Review
Free Church Suffrage Times
International Woman Suffrage News
Jus Suffragi
The Suffragist
The Vote
Woman's Dreadnought
Woman's Leader and the Common Cause
Woman's Signal
Women's Franchise
Women's Suffrage
Women's Suffrage Record

Further details at https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/findmypast-friday-2573964835.html

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

The 1718 migration from Ulster

From the Ulster Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com):

The 1718 Migration: From Ulster to New England

The 1718 Migration: From Ulster to New England covers perhaps the most important single year in the story of the relationship between Ulster and America. The 1718 migration was not by any means the first migration of people from Ulster to America, but it is probably the first that was organised to bring groups of settlers from one definite catchment area, and importantly, these were people who wanted to continue to live together in the new land.

This publication which only costs one penny (P&P charges do apply) is now available on our bookstore - see https://www.booksireland.org.uk/store/all-departments/the-1718-migration-from-ulster-to-new-england

1718 Migration Bundle

To mark the re-publication of The 1718 Migration we are offering a 1718 Migration bundle. Get Ulster Emigration to Colonial America, 1718–1775, Robert Dinsmoor’s Scotch-Irish Poems as well as The 1718 Migration: From Ulster to New England for just £19.99

Visit https://www.booksireland.org.uk/store/all-departments/1718-migration-bundle to order your bundle.

(With thanks to the Foundation via email)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Looking forward to Glasgow Family History Discovery Day!

It's the conference of the week, and I'm looking forward to speaking at it about Irish Family History Resources Online - and as usual, I'll have a few wee words and thoughts to impart!

The Glasgow Family History Discovery Day kicks off at 10am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 35 Julian Avenue, Kelvinside, Glasgow, G12 0RB. Amongst the speakers there will be Irene O'Brien, Alison Spring, Bronwen Fogg, Roger Gardiner, Sandy Duncanson, June Cumming and James Greer.

For further details, please visit http://www.glasgowfamilydiscoveryday.com

I'll hopefully see you there! :)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

MyHeritage adds further protection for cybersecurity

From MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com):

MyHeritage Releases Two-Factor Authentication

On Monday, June 4, we released a statement regarding a cybersecurity incident. Earlier that same day, at approximately 1 p.m. EST, MyHeritage’s Chief Information Security Officer received a message from a security researcher that he had found a file containing email addresses and hashed passwords, on a private server outside of MyHeritage. Our Information Security Team received the file from the security researcher, reviewed it, and confirmed that its contents originated from MyHeritage and included 92.3 million email addresses of users who signed up to MyHeritage up to and including October 26, 2017 (the date of the breach), and their hashed passwords. MyHeritage does not store user passwords, but rather a one-way hash of each password, in which the hash key differs for each customer. This means that anyone gaining access to the hashed passwords does not have the actual passwords.The security researcher reported that no other data related to MyHeritage was found on the private server.

We have no reason to believe that any other information was compromised, such as the actual user passwords, credit card details, family tree data or DNA data. Credit card details are only stored on trusted third-party billing providers, while other types of sensitive data are stored by MyHeritage on segregated systems, separate from those that store the email addresses, and they include added layers of security.

We took several immediate steps, including establishing an Information Security Incident Response Team to investigate the incident, notifying relevant authorities, setting up a special customer support team, expiring all user passwords and forcing users to reset their password upon next login, and expediting our work on the upcoming Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) feature to further protect MyHeritage accounts.

Two-Factor Authentication had been scheduled to be added to MyHeritage accounts in the July-August timeframe but following the breach and our June 4th promise to expedite its development, we worked around the clock and are glad to announce today that we have completed the development and have released its initial implementation to all users of MyHeritage.

In MyHeritage’s first release of 2FA, you designate a mobile phone and link it to your account by providing MyHeritage with its number. Then, any time you will log in to MyHeritage from a new computer, tablet or phone, or if a month has passed since your last login, MyHeritage will send you a six-digit verification code as a text (SMS) message to your mobile phone and you will need to enter it on MyHeritage to complete the login successfully.

The privacy and the security of our users' data on MyHeritage is our highest priority. The implementation of the Two-Factor Authentication, MyHeritage being among the first in the genealogy and DNA industry to provide users with this added layer of security, is a testament to this commitment.

Please find more information in this blog post:
https://blog.myheritage.com/2018/06/new-myheritage-adds-two-factor-authentication-2fa-to-secure-your-account

(With thanks to Daniel Horowitz)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Family Tree magazine's 2019 European river cruise

From the UK's Family Tree magazine (https://www.family-tree.co.uk), news of an interesting new venture in September 2019:

We've teamed up with AMAWaterways (https://www.amawaterways.co.uk), a luxury River Cruise line to bring you a brand new 7-night Family History Cruise. The cruise begins in Amsterdam on Monday 9th September 2019 and ends in Basel, on Monday 16th September.

You’ll cruise aboard the 156-guest AmaMora, the new addition to AmaWaterways’ award-winning fleet. Known for their exquisite cuisine, active discovery tours and excursions, extensive complimentary amenities and personalised service, AmaWaterways’ ship AmaMora will provide the perfect setting for discovering your family history.

Sail with a family history expert, who will host several sessions and interactive activities throughout the cruise on topics including essential
records, information about DNA testing, how to use online resources,visiting archives and your next steps!

Where will you go?

9 Sep: Embark AMSTERDAM

10 Sep: AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam Canal cruise and city tour. Scenic cruising out of Amsterdam

11 Sep: COLOGNE
Walking tour and cathedral visit. Plus, enjoy a Cologne bike tour or Kölsch beer tasting

12 Sep: RHINE GORGE
“Castles along the Rhine” scenic cruising
RÜDESHEIM
Wine tasting, Gondola ride or Schloss Johannisberg bike tour. Plus, Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum or Rüdesheimer coffee

13 Sep: LUDWIGSHAFEN
“Romantic Heidelberg” excursionm, with Heidelberg Philosopher’s Path hike or “Secrets of Speyer” excursion

14 Sep: STRASBOURG
“The Gem of Alsace” tour or Strasbourg bike tour

15 Sep: BREISACH
Riquewihr walking tour, with Freiburg excursion, a Breisach wine country bike tour or Black Forest excursion

16 Sep: Disembark BASEL


Further details, inclusing the costs, are available at https://www.family-tree.co.uk/news-and-views/family-history-river-cruise-2019.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Franco-Welsh family archive gifted to Cardiff University Archives

News concerning an acquisition by Cardiff University's Special Collections and Archives (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/special-collections):

Gift of family archive reveals Franco-Welsh links

Window on the past: experiences of an extraordinary family

The significant role in the two World Wars of a prominent French family who made the Welsh capital their home is being celebrated at Cardiff University.

Paul Barbier became the University’s first Professor of French after coming to the city to take up the post of lecturer at the newly founded University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire in 1883. The family’s continuing strong links to Cardiff have recently led to relatives donating a wealth of diaries, letters and photographs to the Special Collections and Archives at Cardiff University.

Paul Barbier’s eight children were all educated in the city, and two of his sons, Paul and Georges, were called up to join the French army during the First World War, and were seconded as interpreters to the British Expeditionary Forces.

During the Second World War, their nephew, Jacques De Guélis, played a crucial role as a spy in the secretive Special Operations Executive (SOE) due to his Franco-British background. His fluent French allowed him to go behind enemy lines unnoticed no less than three times and he was hailed a hero for his efforts. Following a car crash shortly after the war ended, he was buried at Cathays Cemetery in Cardiff.

Relatives Delphine Isaaman, Paul Barbier and other family members will attend a special event to launch the archive on Wednesday June 6, the 74th anniversary of D-Day. There will also be a blue plaque unveiled at 3 Museum Place, the house on the University campus where Jacques De Guélis was born on 6th April 1907.

Mrs Isaaman, a cousin of De Guélis, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that these documents will now be available to scholars and the wider public. There is an enormous amount of social history in the archive about the first 50 years of the twentieth century. It’s right that its new home is the Welsh capital, where we have such strong ties. ”

Professor Hanna Diamond, of the School of Modern Languages, an expert in French history, said: “This is a hugely significant collection, which will give the public, students and academics the chance to learn about a family with an incredible story. It also gives us an insight into what life was like for people in Cardiff during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. It’s sure to become an invaluable resource and a fitting legacy for Paul Barbier and his descendants.”

Alan Vaughan Hughes, Head of Special Collections and Archives, said: “We are delighted to offer this remarkable archive a safe home for the people and students of Cardiff. The richness of the archive offers a magnificent insight into Cardiff’s rich cultural and civic heritage and we are excited to be making it available to the public as well as academics and students.”

(With thanks to Victoria Dando)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Illegal adoptions in Ireland

I have been contacted by professional genealogist and APG member Fiona Fitzsimons, of Dublin based firm Eneclann (www.eneclann.ie), who has asked me to share an article she has written on the background to the historic adoption scandal currently playing out in the Republic of Ireland, and offering advice for those who may need it. (Fiona has also published the story on the Association of Professional Genealogists Britain, Ireland & the Isles Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/APG.BII/):

So...

So, post-Referendum, and with little or no pause, Ireland is straight into another scandal where women’s reproductive rights are/ were stage-centre. This time, it’s all about adoption.

In 1952 legal adoption was introduced into Ireland by an Act of parliament (the Dáil). From this date, records of all legal adoption are held by the Adoption Board.

This last week evidence that illegal adoptions took place in Ireland after 1952 has come into the public domain.

Tusla, the child and family agency issued the following statement.

Media Statement re St Patrick’s Guild adoption records 
29 May 2018: Tusla – Child and Family Agency has identified at least 126 instances of incorrect registrations of birth in the records of St Patrick’s Guild. The registrations in question relate to births between 1946 and 1969 and were discovered as a result of Tusla proactively undertaking significant work to scan St Patrick’s Guild records and identify instances of incorrect registrations. http://www.tusla.ie/

Tusla’s statement concerning 126 cases is only the tip of the ice-berg. As early as 1956 over 500 cases of illegal adoptions were known. The issue of illegal adoptions was openly debated in the Dáil, by Maureen O’Carroll of the Irish Labour party (incidentally, mother of comedian Brendan O’Carroll, aka Mrs. Brown). See https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/removal-of-those-children-definitely-illegal-ocarrolls-mum-told-dil-in-1956-36967348.html

Falsifying records, or making no record in the first instance, has had and continues to have, catastrophic consequences: it places a huge obstacle to the person adopted from tracing a birth mother/ father; it likewise prevents birth parents from tracing their children.

Many readers will have seen the film Philomena with Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. But there are hundreds of other similar stories out there. (see https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/getting-back-to-his-roots-after-american-adoption-as-a-boy-30218730.html)

So how can we as family historians/ genealogists assist in tracing Irish children in these circumstances?

Here’s some guidelines:

Records were kept for the greater number of children in Ireland (26 counties corresponding to the Irish Republic) raised in care/ fostered from the 1920s.

Where an illegal adoption has taken place after 1952, records are not usually held by the Adoption Board.

What records were made were usually controlled by the Adoption Agencies (like St. Patrick’s Guild), or by the individual homes. The greater part of these records known to have survive, are part of the AIRR collection.

The A.I.R.R. (Access to Institutional and Related Records) Project is a central index to records of children raised in care in Ireland between the 1930s and 1990s.

Even where records have been falsified, there is often some note to this effect made at the time of the event. This is how Tusla uncovered the 126 cases.

These records are held by two Irish State agencies. A person directly affected, or their next of kin, can apply for access to these records.

The A.I.R.R. records are accessible through the Department of Health and Children.

Phone: A.I.R.R. 00 353 1 635 4190 or 1 635 3030

In addition, the Health Service Executive operates a Tracing Service that has greater coverage of the records of infant hospitals, mother-and-baby homes, adoption societies, and a large number of registers of private nursing homes. The earliest records date from the late 1890s.

Phone: H.S.E. Tracing Service: 00 353 1 8976858

If you have been directly affected by this and would like advice, please contact us. We can’t take individual cases, but are willing to act as guides, directing you to sources and contacts.

(With thanks to Fiona Fitzsimons)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Review: Plantations in Ulster, 1600-41 – A Collection of Documents

Plantations in Ulster, 1600-41 – A Collection of Documents, edited by R. J. Hunter

This guide, originally published by R. J. Hunter, but now expanded and updated with additional material by Ian Montgomery of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and Dr. William Roulston of the Ulster Historical Foundation, is quite simply a breathtakingly beautiful book - not just because it is a visual treat, with its many wonderfully captured full colour images of documents from the Plantation period and easy to access transcriptions, and not just because it only costs a penny! But because, as with any good resource book, it unlocks an entire new world of potential in terms of documentary sources to pursue, and research approaches to take.

Almost twenty years ago I wondered if I would ever be able to connect back to the resources of Griffith's Valuation in the mid-19th century; now I am at the stage where I am beginning to touch the Plantations of Ulster era on many of my Northern Irish lines. What this book does is to completely bring that era to life, telling the story of the Plantations, the frustrations of the Plantations, the failure of parts of the Plantations scheme, and also some of the successes of the Plantations, by providing an insight into the Plantations as a project and scheme which was actually carried out. This was not just a chapter heading in a book, this actually happened as an event, and had many real experiences at its heart – for good and for bad – which are to this day still vilified as controversial by some, and commemorated as an achievement by others.

The Plantations scheme as envisaged in London is described through a series of contemporary documents marking progress along the way, including its inception, its revisions and its impact. There are examples of surveys of the lands in Ulster to be planted with Protestant settlers from Britain, reports on the native Irish experience in Armagh from 1624, examples of port books, the Charter of Belfast, a photograph of the memorial stone to Arthur Chichester in my home town of Carrickfergus, petitions, maps, and the list goes on.

A third of the documents featured are new additions extending the late Bob Hunter's original work, with the new version of the book produced in association with the R. J. Hunter Committee. Some of these previously unpublished documents were actually worked on by Bob Hunter himself, whilst Ian Montgomery and William Roulston completed the additions.

The book costs just a penny, but you will need to pay for postage and packing – details on how to do so are available at http://www.booksireland.org.uk/store/all-departments/plantations-in-ulster-documents.

This may well become one of my all time favourite Irish genealogy books, because I now believe that whilst I may have made a lot of progress on my Irish research in twenty years, it's just reminded me I am still a novice with a hell of long way to go!

(With thanks to PRONI and the Ulster Historical Foundation)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Ancestry adds Norfolk Bishop and Archdeacon Transcripts

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added the following English collection:

Norfolk, England, Bishop and Archdeacon Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1600-1935
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61636
Source: Church of England Bishop and Archdeacon Transcripts of Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England.

This collection contains images of transcripts created by Bishops and Archdeacons of baptism, marriage, and burial records for the years 1600–1935 from the county of Norfolk, England. Also included are Weekly Register Bills from Great Yarmouth.

There have also been a lot of collections for the Uk recently updatedfrom May 24 onwards, but I've no idea what the actual updates are:

UPDATED UK and Ireland, Obituary Index, 2004-2018
UPDATED Somerset, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1914
UPDATED West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812
UPDATED Somerset, England, Church of England Confirmations, 1843-1913
UPDATED West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910
UPDATED West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
UPDATED Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812
UPDATED UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current
UPDATED Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914
UPDATED Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current
UPDATED Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914
UPDATED Wiltshire, England, Wills and Probate, 1530-1858
UPDATED Norfolk, England, Church of England Baptism, Marriages, and Burials, 1535-1812
UPDATED Norfolk, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915
UPDATED Norfolk, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940
UPDATED Norfolk, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1990
UPDATED Wiltshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1916
UPDATED Web: UK, Burial and Cremation Index, 1576-2014
UPDATED Wiltshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
UPDATED Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1916
UPDATED Wiltshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1916
UPDATED Derbyshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1916
UPDATED Derbyshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
UPDATED Derbyshire, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1991
UPDATED Derbyshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

TheGenealogist adds to its 1921 census substitute

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

TheGenealogist adds more records to its new 1921 census substitute

With the 1921 census still some years away from public release, TheGenealogist has added to its 1921 census substitute. This resource covers a large number of county directories which have been transcribed to produce a searchable resource. This appears under Census Records as the 1921 Census Substitute on TheGenealogist and they encompass a period currently not served by a published census. With this release the total records are boosted to 1.75 million heads of household.

The fully transcribed, searchable records released today will allow researchers to:

* search on forename, surname and profession

* search by street, town and county

* look for a business name

* discover your ancestors’ addresses

* find professions listed

These 1921 directories cover Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicestershire & Rutland, Derby, Shropshire, Kent and add to those already released for Aberdeen, Bath, Berkshire, Bradford and Surrounding Districts, Bristol and Suburbs, Brixton and Clapham, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Channel Islands, Cheshire, Cumberland, Dorset, Durham, Hessle, Hull, Lincolnshire, London, London County Suburbs, Middlesbrough, Norfolk, Northumberland, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Westmorland, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire. If you have ancestors that you are tracing in the 1920s then this new release from TheGenealogist adds a fantastic name rich resource for you to use.

At a time when we are celebrating the 100 years of women getting the vote we have used this newly released records to find some people with suffragette connections.

See our article here: https://thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2018/1920s-census-substitute-reveals-the-suffragists-tea-room-836/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Latest FindmyPast additions

The following records have been added to FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) in the past week:

Chicago Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms
Were your Catholic ancestors baptised in the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois? Over 1.2 million additional Sacramental registers dating from the mid-1800s up to 1925 have been added to our existing collection of Chicago Catholic Baptisms. Records will reveal the date and location of your ancestor's baptism, the names of their parents and their residence. Each result will provide a transcript and image of the original baptism register.

Chicago Roman Catholic Parish Marriages
Explore over 597,000 additional parish marriage records covering the Catholic population of Cook and Lake Counties in north-eastern Illinois.

Chicago Roman Catholic Parish Burials
Search over 229,000 recently added burial records to discover when and where your Catholic ancestors were laid to rest. Images may reveal additional details such as cause of death, residence, place of birth, father's name, mother's name and the name of the priest who conducted the service.

Chicago Roman Catholic Parish Registers Browse
Our collection of Chicago Roman Catholic Parish Registers is now available to browse. Our browse function enables you to delve through original registers of baptisms, marriages and burials page by page.

Chicago Roman Catholic Parish Congregational Records
Were your ancestors members of a Catholic congregation in Chicago? Explore more than 430,000 assorted congregational records from across the archdiocese to uncover vital biographical details as well as where and when your ancestors worshiped.

Ireland National School Registers
Over 43,000 additional records covering schools in County Mayo have been added to our collection of Ireland National School registers. The entire collection now contains more than 186,000 records from many areas of the country spanning the years 1860 to 1922.

Scotland Monumental Inscriptions Index
Over 33,000 additional records have been added to our collection of Scottish Memorial Inscriptions. The collection includes records from 14 Scottish counties including the Isle of Skye and 209 burial grounds. A full list of the burial grounds, organised by county, found in Scotland monumental inscriptions index can be found through the link provided in Useful links and resources.

Further details and links at https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/findmypast-friday-2573964835.html

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

June's PRONI stakeholder forum meeting in Belfast

On Friday 1 June 2018 I attended the latest Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni) user forum meeting in Belfast. Upon arrival I was greeted by Stephen Scarth, who handed me a copy of the new Plantations of Ulster, 1640-41: A Collection of Documents guide, which has been reprinted and updated, and which I will review separately – suffice to say, the smile on Stephen's face and on everyone else who received a copy was well warranted!

The meeting started with a demonstration of PRONI's contribution to the Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) web platform. This is a platform which has been up and running for a few years now, and which is essentially an official record of The Troubles, with documents from governments north and south, and in England, concerning the last 40 years. Access to PRONI's contributed records is available through the CAIN archive's website at http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/proni/index.html. On 10 MAY 2018, some 500 document records from 1988-89 and earlier were added, some 2200 pages of content, following the latest 20 year release of government papers, covering politics, security, the economy, Harland and Wolfe, the Irish language, education, social issues, health, and much more, including the talks at the time about ending the conflict. The archive presents the records in thematic areas or by annual listings (though not chronologically within a year), and contains a fascinating insight into our Troubled society at the time. There was some very Sir Humphrey type language in parts, with phrases such as 'spotting icebergs' used in one document to mean unexpected items coming their way, etc!

Another topic discussed was one that might be of interest to Northern Irish folk who experienced life in the Troubles, the possible establishment of an oral history archive, as posited in the 2014 Stormont agreement. Such an archive will need to be established by legislation, and so a consultation is currently under way, which closes on 10 SEP 2018. The consultation is online at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/addressing-the-legacy-of-northern-irelands-past.

We then had an update on recent acquisitions. These include papers relating to PACE (Protestant and Catholic Endeavour) from 1992-2018, a single volume from 1919 containing an inventory of household goods belonging to Robert Young (of Young and Mackenzie architects), and 121 diaries of a Major Henry John Furnace Potter covering 1941-2000 – though sadly, most of us who were in the room will never likely see them, as they have a 50 year closure on them, as requested by the family.

On cataloguing, the Londonderry Papers have had more work on them including records relating to the Women's Legion from the 1930s and 1940s, and Mount Stewart estate papers from 1933-35. PRONI's efforts to digitise recently borrowed Anglican and Methodist records has now been completed for this year – for more on this, and a summary of all digitised records that can be accessed on site at PRONI (including those added last year), see http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2018/06/new-digitised-northern-irish-church.html. The records will be available through PRONI's on site catalogue from autumn.

On the exhibitions front, Northern Lights: A Century of Design by Young and Mackenzie Architects kicks off on 7 June, with a lecture on site at 1pm by Paul Harron, and after finishing a stint in PRONI the exhibition will then travel across Northern Ireland. There will also be a Spanish Flu conference at PRONI at 2pm on 14 June 2018.

The big event for this year will be the Voices and Votes: Suffrage and Representation of the People 1832-1928 exhibition, commemorating the 1918 Representation of the People Act centenary which extended the vote to women for the first time. We had a sneak peak at parts of the exhibition, which launches on 2 July 2018, and which will look at the legislation, who championed the change, the early experience of women, suffragists and suffragettes, women, class and war, reform, equality, and much more. The exhibition panels will also include QR (Quick Response) codes for attendees to engage with on their mobile devices, lining to other websites and more. In addition, an exciting addition to the Spatial NI website will see an interactive map with links to documents and stories at various locations across Northern Ireland linked to the fight for the vote. There will also be a graphic novel launched to illustrate the stories of Lady Edith Londonderry and Countess Markiewicz, which will tie in to the key stage 3 of the Northern Irish schools curriculum. There will be a few other events and releases tied into the exhibition, so keep an eye on the PRONI website for more details!

A further exhibition in the works is one on prisons in Northern Ireland, from bridewells to the present day, mostly dealing with the late 19th and early 20th century.

On publications, as well as the new Plantations of Ulster, 1640-41: A Collection of Documents reproduction, PRONI is currently working on a re-invention of its former Steps to Partition facsimile pack, for release in September. The exact format of this is still being worked on, but there may be two versions, one for school use, and one in more depth for a more general release.

Finally from the meeting, PRONI is still working on being Northern Ireland's first accredited archive, and made its submission in March, with assessors visiting the archive in May. Good luck to the archive, the best in the UK as far as I'm concerned!

After finishing the meeting, I made my way to the search room, and kept bumping into folk, including Michael Rooney from Ancestor Network, and a couple called Alex and Nancy who heard me give a talk in Toronto three years ago, and who are active members of the Toronto branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. Requisite selfies were duly acquired...!

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

New digitised Northern Irish church records at PRONI from autumn 2018

The following church record sets from Northern Ireland have been digitised by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni) last year and this year (2017/2018), with permission of the Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church and the Congregational Church. This completes PRONI's Church Records digitisation efforts for this year, with most of the collections not previously available at the archive in any format.

For the most part they will be accessible from the autumn in a digitised format via the onsite catalogue at the PRONI archive's premises in Belfast only, and not online. There are some closure periods in play for some of the registers - most notably all the new Methodist baptism records sadly - but most of the rest have an overlap with the commencement of the civil registration period in Ireland (April 1845 onwards for civil marriages, Jan 1864 onwards for baptisms).

Here is the list, with the catalogue accession numbers in brackets after the church name:

Church of Ireland Records (2017/2018 Batch)

Christ Church, Deriaghy, Lisburn, Co. Antrim (CR1/1)
Burials 1873-1913

Knockbreda Parish Church, Belfast. Co. Antrim (CR1/24)
Graveyard Book c.1763-2014

Craigs Parish Church, Cullybackey, Co. Antrim (CR1/55)
Baptisms 1839-1925 (records from 1864-1925 are closed)
Marriages 1841-1925
Burials 1841-1944
Vestry minutes 1874-1904
Register of Vestrymen 1870-1910

St Matthews Parish Church, Shankill, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR1/65)
Baptisms 1893-1905
Marriages 1897-1916
Burials 1887-1917
Vestry minutes 1858-1900
Confirmation register 1893-1930 (records from 1893-1930 are closed)

Dromore Cathedral , Dromore, Co. Down (CR1/119)
Church Warden Books 1801-1836

Christ Church, Lisburn, Co. Antrim (CR1/123)
Baptisms 1849-1909
Marriages 1874-1907

Magheragall Parish Church, Lisburn, Co. Antrim (CR1/124)
Baptisms 1775-1850
Marriages 1772-1845 **
Burials 1772-1858 **
Vestry Minutes 1771-1870 **
** for marriages 1772-1845, burials 1772-1842 consult combined Baptism, Marriage & Burial Registers in CR1/124/1. For Vestry Minutes 1771-1870 consult Baptism, Marriage, Burial & Vestry Register in CR1/124/1/1

St. Mark's Parish Church, Ballysillan, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR1/125)
Baptisms 1856-1890
Marriages 1860-1906
Vestry Minutes 1870-1914

St. James Parish Church, Dunaghy, Cullybackey, Co. Antrim (CR1/126)
Baptisms 1824-2001** (records from 1877-2001 are closed)
Burials 1906-2001**
Vestry Minutes 1794-1906
Register of Vestrymen 1870-1995
** Please note for Baptisms 1824-1826 consult Vestry Minutes in CR1/126/4/1/1 (Baptisms 1827-1886 not received). For Burials please consult CR1/127/3/1, records of Killagan Parish Church

Killagan Parish Church, Cullybackey, Co.Antrim (CR1/127)
Baptisms 1880-2001 (records from 1880-2001 are closed)
Marriages 1845-1935 (records from 1845-1935 are closed)
Burials 1894-1939

St. Columba's Parish Church, Kings Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR1/128)
Baptisms 1890-1945 (records from 1890-1945 are closed)
Marriages 1896-1917


Methodist Church Records (2017/2018 batch)

Dungannon Methodist Church, Co. Tyrone (CR6/23)
Baptisms 1830-1943 (records from 1830-1943 are closed)
Marriages 1865-1900

Primitive Wesleyan Methodist, Moy & Dungannon, Co. Tyrone (CR6/25)
Baptisms 1874-1997 (records from 1874-1997 are closed)

Stewartstown Methodist Church, Co. Tyrone (CR6/25)
Baptisms 1868-1911
Marriages 1869-1921

Carrickfergus Methodist Church, Co. Antrim (CR6/26)
Baptisms 1826-2015 (records from 1826-2015)
Marriages 1864-1916


Congregational Church Records (2017/2018 batch)

Albert Bridge Congregational Church, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR7/14)
Marriages 1878-1900

(With thanks to David Huddleston at PRONI)


Previously digitised collections, made available this time last year, are also accessible on site, and detailed as follows:

Church of Ireland Records

St. Columb’s Cathedral, Londonderry (CR1/113)
Baptisms 1642 – 1983 (records from 1905 – 1983 are closed)
Marriages 1826 – 1830, 1843 – 1904
Burials 1829 – 1955 (records from 1874 – 1955 are closed)
Vestry Books 1741 – 1793
Vestry Minutes 1823 – 1935

Derryloran Parish, Co. Tyrone (CR1/114)
Baptisms 1797 – 1995 (records from 1913 – 1995 are closed)
Marriages 1832 – 2000 (records from 1930 – 2000 are closed)
Burials 1855 – 1878

St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR1/115)
Baptisms 1745 – 1911
Marriages 1745 – 1914
Burials 1745 – 1809

Drumcree Parish Church, Portadown, Co. Armagh (CR1/116)
Baptisms 1784 – 1930 (records from 1906 – 1930 are closed)
Marriages 1784 – 1930 (records from 1926 – 1930 are closed)
Burials 1784 – 2013

St. Andrew’s Parish Church, Hope Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR1/117)
Baptisms 1886 – 1933 (records from 1903 – 1933 are closed)
Marriages 1870 – 1889

St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Donegall Pass, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR1/118)
Baptisms 1847 – 1872
Marriages 1862 – 1872
Burials Not Received
Register of Vestrymen 1870 – 1932
Select Vestry Minutes 1900 – 1911

Dromore Cathedral, Dromore, Co. Down (CR1/119)
Baptisms 1784 – 1846
Marriages 1784 – 1845
Burials 1784 – 1853

St. Luke’s Parish Church, Mullaglass, Co. Armagh (CR1/120)
Baptisms 1852 – 1865
Marriages 1845 – 1880
Burials 1853 – 1865
Preachers 1860 – 1865
Vestry Minutes 1870 – 1911
Register of Vestrymen 1890 – 1902
Roll of Subscribers 1877 – 1913

St. George’s Parish Church, High Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR1/121)
Baptisms 1817 – 1870
Marriages 1817 – 1875
Burials Not Received
Minutes of Congregational Committee 1837 - 1840
Rector’s Notebook 1837 – 1843

St. Patrick’s Parish Church, Ballymacarret, Belfast, Co. Down (CR1/122)
Baptisms 1827 – 1883
Marriages 1827 – 1874
Burials Not Received
Minutes of general Vestry Meetings 1850 – 1980 (Closed)
Select Vestry Minutes 1891 – 1913


Methodist Church Records

Ballymacarrett Methodist Church (later known as Newtownards Road Methodist Church and now East Belfast Mission) (CR6/18)
Stewards Book 1871 – 1884

Hyde Park Methodist Church, Parish of Grange, Mallusk, Co. Antrim (CR6/19)
Marriages 1840 – 1931

Ligoniel Methodist Church, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR6/20)
Baptisms 1870 – 1908

Frederick Street Methodist Church, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR6/21)
Baptisms 1841 – 1877
Marriages 1840 – 1873

Salem Methodist New Connexion Church, York Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim (CR6/22)
Baptisms 1829 – 1904
Marriages 1836 - 1844

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.