NIFHS launches Ballycarry DNA Project

The North of Ireland Family History Society (www.nifhs.org) has launched a new Ballycarry DNA Project.

From the site:

Ballycarry is an historic County Antrim village with strong Scottish connections and has a number of families that have lived in the district for many generations. We wish to explore the connections between people who are the descendants of whose who lived in Ballycarry in the past to identify if the families living side-by-side were indeed related to each other. This will allow individuals living today to identify that they are related to each other (and others who have taken tests) and to build up a picture of relationships in the past that will explain their connections. In many instances these connections go back beyond paper records and effectively ‘recreate’ a family tree where one no longer exists.

In order to carry out this project we intend to DNA test individuals who can establish their connections to people who lived in the Ballycarry (Parish of Templecorran) in the 1800s. Doing this will help us to explore links between the testers and other people who have already taken a DNA test. By testing people from a specific area it is anticipated that many connections will be identified and confirmed as the tests can give meaningful information back to each person’s 5x great grandparents (usually at least to the mid 1700s).

For further details of the project, and the launch event on Tuesday 8th October 2019, please visit https://www.nifhs.org/dna/ballycarry-dna-project/.

COMMENT: Whilst I have no identified connections to Ballycarry as yet, I am tripping over lines from nearby Islandmagee, so I am intending to join the main NIFHS DNA project - full details at https://www.nifhs.org/dna/.

(With thanks to Rosemary Sibbett)

Chris

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

Headstones reinstated at Quarriers' Nittingshill Cemetery

Headstones to commemorate 335 children buried in the Quarriers village's Nittingshill Cemetery in Renfrewshire from 1888 until 1971, have been reinstated, following their removal in the 1960s. A service was held on Thursday 26 September 2019 to dedicate the grave markers.

For more on the story visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-49853718 and the Quarriers website at https://quarriers.org.uk/about-us/history/nittingshill-cemetery/.

Chris

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

Possible merger for Denbighshire and Flintshire archives

Denbighshire County Archives (http://archives.denbighshire.gov.uk), currently based in the former gaol at Ruthin, may be forced to close and merge with Flintshire Archives (www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/LeisureAndTourism/Records-and-Archives/Home.aspx).

The suggested plan is to replace the facilities with a new centre at Mold next to Theatr Clwyd, at a cost of £16.6 million, and with work expected to commence in 2022. The proposals have not gone down too well with users of the facilities, with whom there appears to have been no consultation.

For more on the story visit www.deeside.com/denbighshire-county-archives-could-merge-with-flintshires-and-move-to-16m-building-in-mold and www.darrenmillaram.com/news/council-criticised-failing-consult-public-over-plans-close-denbighshire-archives.

(With thanks to Martin James via Twitter)

Chris

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

Back To Our Past announces DNA lecture programme

The schedule of DNA talks for the forthcoming Back To Our Past exhibition at the RDS in Dublin from October 18-19 is now available on the event's website at https://backtoourpast.ie.

There are two days worth of talks, with 12 talks in total, six per day. The one that catches my eye in particular is 'Epigenetics for the Genetic Genealogist' by Katherine Borges, a subject I once tried to get a Horizon documentary commissioned about at the BBC, because it is just soooo damned interesting - nature versus nurture, the eternal debate!

Sadly I won't be able to attend, but there is plenty of fine fare there with speakers including my good chum Michelle Leonard from Glasgow to fly the Scottish flag!

The full programme is at https://backtoourpast.ie/schedules/dublin-dna-lecture-schedule/.

The main stream of genealogy talks will be announced on the event's website on Monday 30th September.

Chris

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

Update on my forthcoming books

I'm extremely grateful for the many kind comments and reviews that I have received about Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (Second Edition) (https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483), it certainly makes it worthwhile from this end in putting it together, and was certainly fun to work on!

My next book, Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records, is just a few weeks away from being released in November, with the final proofs now sorted. The book can be pre-ordered at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848 for just £11.99 plus p&p. Once published, an e-edition will be forthcoming shortly after.

This is the book that will provide context to many of the Scottish records we take for granted, from vital records and censuses to church registers, court records, and much, much more, the purpose of which is to explain their background, advise where to find them in our many archives (and online), to point out their many uses for family history research, and in some cases, offer some useful advice on the records you have already found which you may never have even dreamed was relevant! What do you need to find, have you found everything, and do you fully understand what you have located - and just as importantly, what you have not? Another fun one to have put together, and I hope you find it equally useful!

Following this, I can now announce that Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet will be published in April 2020, and will neatly complement the previous book, with advice on how to plunder the internet for your Caledonian research, with sources both national and from county to county, and on a range of themes.

Having written three books in a year, I swore to myself that I would never do that again. 'Choose life' I said, move on to other things...

Yeah, that didn't work out!

I am delighted to say I have now been commisisoned to write three more books over the next year or so, the first of which is not geographically related, and on a very different subject entirely - but more on that down the line!

Chris

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

FindmyPast updates English/Welsh 1939 Register

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

1939 Register Update
To mark the 80th anniversary of the 1939 Register, we have made over 79,000 closed records searchable for the first time in association with the National Archives. In the three years since the Register was first launched, Findmypast has matched millions of ‘closed records’ to multiple data sources to correctly confirm the date and location of death for individuals whose information was redacted. These new additions are currently exclusive to Findmypast, the official home of the 1939 register.

Scotland, Forfarshire (Angus) Dundee Poor Lists 1821-1840
Did your Dundonian ancestors fall on hard times? Explore this collection of more than 2,400 poor relief records to find out. In mid-19th century Scotland, the plight of the poor was intolerable and the assistance they received was minimal.

Scotland, Forfarshire (Angus), Dundee Militia Lists 1801
Search returns by constables and schoolmasters listing men between the ages of 19 and 30 who were liable for service in the militia in accordance with the Militia Acts in Forfarshire. Each transcript will reveal a combination of your ancestors name, occupation and address.

Irish Parish Register Archive, ffolliott Collection
Explore three new collections of Irish baptisms, marriages and burials compiled by the renowned genealogist Rosemary ffolliott. These records mainly cover the counties of Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Monaghan, however there are also records from more than half the counties of Ireland. Each record includes a transcript and index image of parish registers, mostly Church of Ireland (Episcopalian), dating between the 1950s and 1990s.

International Records - Spain
Explore your Spanish heritage with over 12 million transcripts of baptisms, marriages and burials spanning the years 1502 to 1950. These records will provide you with important dates, locations, the names of family members, and will generate hints against the details stored in your Findmypast family tree.

British & Irish Newspaper Update
This week we have added 73,766 new pages to our collection, with the addition of three brand new titles. This includes Liverpool based publication, the Northern Daily Times, with pages covering the mid-nineteenth century and one thousand issues added as well as two new Scottish titles, the North British Daily Mail and the East of Fife Record. We have also made updates to existing titles including the Aberdeen Press and Journal and the Aberdeen Evening Express, adding the year 1996 to both titles. We have also added new pages to the Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. This short-lived publication appeared on Tuesday and Friday mornings and was founded by Samuel Franceys in 1832. This newspaper took a conservative, Protestant tone, and closed some twenty years later after its first issue was published.

Further details and links at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/explore-life-in-britain-on-the-eve-of-war

Chris

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

Pòsda ann an Glaschu - Married in Glasgow

I've been working on my new Gaelic Genealogist blog, and have added a new post about the marriage of my grandparents in Glasgow in 1934, my grandmother's background, and where to find the records. You can find it at https://gaelicgenealogist.blogspot.com/2019/09/posta-ann-glaschu.html.

I've decided to add an English translation at the bottom of the Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bit, and being a humble learner, I am completely open to corrections for anything I have mangled (Please use the comments section!)

I am keeping posts simplistic just now, because that is where I am at with my own level in the language. If anyone else learning wishes to make a guest contribution, do drop me a note!

Chris

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

FindmyPast offers tree hints option

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

Grow your family tree with the help of other Findmypast members' research.

We're delighted to announce that we’re now able to offer you hints sourced from other members’ trees. This means that as you build your family tree, you can benefit from research other members have done on common ancestors. Tree-to-tree hints are free for a limited time on all Findmypast family trees so get growing today.

For further details visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/family-tree/tree-to-tree-hints

Chris

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

New Regimental Histories released on TheGenealogist

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

TheGenealogist has just released a set of 50 Regimental Records to join its ever-growing military records collection bringing its total coverage to over 70 different regiments. Researchers can use the collection to follow an ancestor’s regiment, discovering the battles they took part in and trace their movements. You can also find ancestors who were mentioned in the war movement diaries or listed in the appendices of men and officers of the regiment.

This release covers records from the 17th century in the earliest incidence, for The Ancient Vellum Book of the Honourable Artillery Company 1611-1682, through to the late 1920s for The King's Royal Rifle Corps Chronicle, 1927. There are also a large number of Regimental Histories that cover the First World War which can reveal some fascinating details for family historians tracing their ancestors in World War I.

Use these records to:

Add colour to a soldier’s story
Read the war movements of his regiment
See maps of the regiment’s progress in the theatre of war
Discover if a soldier is mentioned in the report of the action
Find if an officer or other rank is listed for receiving an Honour or an Award
Note the names of those members of the regiment wounded or killed

This expands TheGenealogist’s extensive Military records collection.

Read their article:
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2019/using-regimental-histories-to-discover-your-ancestors-war-1187/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

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

Finding Your American Cousins talk in Templepatrick

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

Finding Your American Cousins

You are invited to a talk by our 40th Anniversary Guest Speaker, DONNA MOUGHTY

On Sunday 20th October 2019 at 2.30pm
CASTLE UPTON SUITE HILTON HOTEL, TEMPLEPATRICK
Admission £5
Come along and bring a friend

Donna Moughty is a Professional Genealogist who has been conducting family research for over 25 years. She teaches and lectures on a variety of subjects including Internet, Irish research, methodology and computer topics locally and at national and regional conferences and institutes. Her blog can be found at www.irishfamilyroots.com

(With thanks to Ken Tait)

Chris

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

MyHeritage Live 2019 lectures now online

MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com) has announced that lectures from its recent show in Amsterdam are now freely available online.

The full list is available at https://blog.myheritage.com/2019/09/myheritage-live-2019-lectures-now-online.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

My new blog - The Gaelic Genealogist

And now for something completely different... 😀

For some time now I have been trying to learn Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig). I started to learn it initially in Bristol some twenty years ago, after buying a Runrig album and wondering why the Irish was so different in the lyrics (!) - until that point, being a Northern Irish born madman, I had never heard of Scottish Gaelic. Since then I've had all sorts of fun with it, including working for a short stint in the BBC's Gaelic department in Glasgow, but the reality is that living in Largs, there are not a lot of opportunities for me to try to use the language, with it's current heartland being more in the Western Isles. I'm at the point where I am seriously beginning to forget more than I can remember.

One of the most useful things I ever did when I started to learn Gaelic was to keep a diary for a couple of years as a very desperate learner, to try to improve my fluency. I've decided to try to revive that idea now in blog form, by writing about something I know a bit about in a language that I want to increase my proficiency in.

This is not a blog about genealogy in the Western Isles - I have absolutely no ancestral connections that I am aware of to the Hebrides, and Gaelic is a language that should know no boundaries, geographical or otherwise. Instead, it will be a blog about Scottish genealogy, maybe even a little Irish genealogy, based on my own experience with connections to Perthshire, Inverness and Glasgow, where I will try to share a few stories and tips.

I have absolutely no idea if it is a sustainable idea, but God loves a trier - that highest apple has yet to be reached...!

The first post on The Gaelic Genealogist is therefore now live at https://gaelicgenealogist.blogspot.com. If you have an interest in the language, please feel free to follow and comment. All I ask is if that if I have made a dog's dinner of something in the way I have written it, please do drop me a note, or make a comment, about how it should be phrased better. In return, I will try to share what I know about ancestor hunting!

And if you are learning Gaelic, and fancy sharing a story or two, you will find a welcome home on the blog also!

 
Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

RootsIreland adds Dun Laoghaire WW1 soldiers records

From RootsIreland (www.rootsireland.ie):

We have added to our database on Roots Ireland the records of 374 soldiers born or resident in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin (formerly Kingstown), & environs who died in the Great War 1914-18.

For a full list of sources for Dun Laoghaire Heritage & Genealogy please click here

To search these records, go to dublinsouth.rootsireland.ie, choose ‘Census Substitutes’ and select ‘WW1 Dun Laoghaire Soldier Deaths’ from the ‘Source’ drop down list. Login and Subscribe if required.

(Original story at http://www.rootsireland.ie/2019/09/new-ww-i-records-for-dun-laoghaire/)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

New look for DNA Painter

From Jonny Perl at DNA Painter:

A redesigned homepage is now live at https://dnapainter.com featuring a new dashboard with quick and easy access to your chromosome maps, trees, and WATO probability trees. There's also a more focused introduction for new users. I hope this is helpful. All feedback welcome!

(With thanks to Jonny via @DNApainter)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

FamilySearch Wiki reaches 90,000 articles

From FamilySearch (https://media.familysearch.org/90000-articles-published-free-familysearch-wiki/):

SALT LAKE CITY (23 September 2019), The FamilySearch Research Wiki has published its 90,000th help article, with more added weekly. The free service launched 12 years ago to help patrons quickly with their personal family history research questions. Explore it for free at the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

The FamilySearch wiki is like discovering an unexpected treasure along your family history discovery journey. In a day when online consumers want what they are seeking within a few keystrokes and seconds, the FamilySearch wiki delivers. Go to the main page, and suddenly a world of databases, maps, countries and tutorials are at your fingertips.

The FamilySearch Research Wiki operates similar to Wikipedia. They are both wikis, allowing people to edit and create articles collaboratively. The FamilySearch wiki’s content is produced predominantly by staff and volunteers of the FamilySearch Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The wiki enables contributors to freely share their genealogical expertise with others. The inspiration for the content comes from patron interactions and questions and the ever-expanding historical record collections of FamilySearch.

So far in 2019, the wiki has had millions of viewers and 18 million page views. Nearly 7,600 new articles have already been published this year. The top five countries using the wiki are the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, and Germany. Content on the wiki is available in 10 languages as resources allow.

“The intriguingly interesting thing about the wiki is how diverse the 90,000 articles are,” said Danielle Batson, FamilySearch wiki content manager. “It is amazing to find such a wide variety of research subjects for locations all over the world.”
Here are just a few examples:

• Sweden Feast Day Calendars help determine the exact date for feast days found in the Swedish church records.
• English parish pages, including this example, give information about available records and parish history.
• Birth and Death Date Calculators. Tombstones and other historical records sometimes list only the age at the time of death instead of the birthdate. This page links you to several online date calculators to help you find the birthdate.
• United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards describes the historical records available, including a coverage table by state.
• Mexico Guided Research lists the best available collections for birth, marriage, and death in Mexico according to the user’s specified location.
• Archive of Free Monthly Family History Library Classes and Webinars gives links to webinars and handouts from past classes and webinars sponsored by the library.

The five most popular articles in 2019 are the following:

1. Online Genealogy Records by Location Worldwide
2. United States Genealogy
3. United States Death Records
4. Surname Distribution Maps
5. United States Census Online Genealogy Records

The wiki is not the place to search by ancestral names—you’ll want to use FamilySearch’s vast record collections and Family Tree for that. Instead, it’s like having a team of reference specialists at your service to help you know what to try next in your family history quest. It provides research strategies and suggests records and resources that are most likely to help you discover the ancestors you’re seeking.

“It is the goal of our wiki teams to create, update, maintain, and add content. We encourage users to discover, gather, and connect to their family heritage. There is also a place on the wiki where people can contribute,” Batson said. Future content will focus on geographic locations that are still lacking reference resources.

To submit a wiki article, start your own project, or help edit, go to Get Involved in FamilySearch Wiki Projects.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Dirk Weissleder appointed General Secretary of ICGH

From Dirk Weissleder:

The General Assembly of the International Confederation of Genealogy and Heraldry (Confédération Internationale de Généalogie et d`Héraldique, CIGH) on Friday, 20.09.2019 in Antwerp, Belgium, elected Dirk Weissleder (50), Chairman of the German umbrella organization (DAGV), from Laatzen near Hanover, as its General Secretary. Weissleder, who heads the German umbrella organization for family history research (genealogy) and heraldry, succeeds the Russian Dr. Stanislav V. Dumin from Moscow, who was elected 3rd Vice President. Weissleder is the first German to hold the position of General Secretary of the World Federation.

The CIGH was founded in 1971 in Brussels as the worldwide umbrella organization of genealogical and heraldic associations and has its headquarters in Paris. The aim is the international exchange, networking and cooperation between associations and federations in the fields of genealogical-heraldic research and studies. Dirk Weissleder, who is at the same time 2nd Vice President and co-founder of the worldwide umbrella organization for German genealogy of the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP), said in his inaugural speech: "Genealogy and heraldry are currently facing undreamt-of challenges that are very similar worldwide despite all their differences. The question arises: Why do I need associations when I get "everything" on the Internet? And in addition, genealogy and heraldry often present themselves internationally as unconnected islands. This is a great opportunity to learn more with and from each other and to connect the individual players." He continued: "My term in office begins in a phase of upheaval and I am convinced that the future of genealogy and heraldry will be decided today and not sometime in the future".

The world association currently has around 80 member organizations and associated partners from 43 countries on five continents. In addition to the annual meetings, the biennial International Congress of Genealogy and Heraldry is considered to be the highest event, organized in close cooperation with the two International Academies of Genealogy (AIG) and Heraldry (AIH). The next 34th International Congress will be held in Madrid in October 2020.

Pic: CIGH President Pier Felice degli Uberti from Italy (right) welcomes Dirk Weissleder as new General Secretary of the World Federation ofGenealogie and Heraldry (CIGH)

(With thanks to Dirk, and congrats!)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

FindmyPast adds Cumberland parish records

The latest records from FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

United States Directories & Almanacs
110 Ohio directories have been added to our collection of United States directories & almanacs. These records, dating from the 1700s to the 1900s, are a great way to discover your ancestor’s address and occupation or explore the history of your home.

Cumberland Baptisms
Did your ancestors live on the Scottish border? Search over 76,000 Cumberland baptisms to find out. These transcripts and images of original documents include a combination of your ancestor’s baptism date, baptism place, residence, parents’ names and father’s occupation. This collection has been provided by the College of Arms. The College of Arms is the official heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and much of the Commonwealth including Australia and New Zealand. The records cover the parishes of Dacre, Dalston, Great Orton, Holme Cultram, Kirkoswald, Lamplugh, Lanercost, Millom, Penrith, Skelton, Whicham and Wigton.

Cumberland Marriages
Add new branches to your family tree with over 37,000 new parish marriages. Each result includes both a transcript and image of the original document. The details listed include the date of the marriage and where it took place as well as the ages, residences and father’s names of both the bride and groom. Parishes covered - Crosthwaite, Dacre, Dalston, Great Orton, Holme Cultram, Kirkoswald, Lamplugh, Lanercost, Millom, Penrith, Skelton, Whicham and Wigton.

Cumberland Burials
Discover the final resting place of your Cumberland ancestors with more than 61,000 new burial records. These transcripts and images will reveal a combination of your ancestors’ burial date, burial place and residence at time of death. Parishes covered - Crosthwaite, Dacre, Dalston, Great Orton, Holme Cultram, Kirkoswald, Lamplugh, Lanercost, Millom, Penrith, Skelton, Whicham, Wigton.

Scotland, Forfarshire (Angus), Dundee, D C Thomson Staff War Album 1939-1945
Search through this unique collection of vivid portrait images of men and women employed with DC Thompson in Dundee, who volunteered to serve during the Second World War. DC Thomson, the long established Dundee based publishing company, is the parent company of Findmypast. DC Thomson is best known for publishing The Evening Telegraph, The Dundee Courier, The Dandy and the longest running British children’s comic, the Beano.

International Records – Ukraine
Does a branch of your family tree have roots in the Ukraine? Search over 14,000 transcripts of births and baptisms spanning the years 1784 to 1879 to discover important dates, locations and parents' names. These International Genealogical Index records will also generate hints against any names stored in your Findmypast family tree.

British and Irish Newspaper Update
96,352 new pages are available to search this week including two brand new Scottish titles – the West Lothian Courier and the Irvine Times. We also have extensive additions to our specialist Scottish farming title the North British Agriculturalist as well as new recent additions to the Irvine Herald, Wishaw Press, and Montrose Standard, Aberdeen Press & Journal and to the Aberdeen Evening Express.

Further details and links at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/heres-whats-new-this-findmypast-friday

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

RootsTech 2020 registration now open

From RootsTech (www.rootstech.org):

SALT LAKE CITY (18 September 2019) - FamilySearch International has announced that registration for RootsTech 2020 Salt Lake City is now open. RootsTech is a popular 4-day annual family history and technology conference where individuals and families are inspired to discover, share, and preserve their family roots, heritage, and stories. The 2020 conference will be held February 26–29, 2020, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit rootstech.org/salt-lake. Discounts are available for early registrations.

In 2019, RootsTech attracted over 20,000 attendees from 38 different countries and all 50 states.

RootsTech 2020 will celebrate its 10thanniversary and the distinguished honor that it is the largest genealogy conference of its kind in the world. The conference will feature a full lineup of inspiring and well-known keynote speakers, over 300 informative sessions, including hands-on computer workshops taught by industry professionals; interactive activities and helpful exhibitors in the expo hall; and entertaining events—all designed to inspire and empower personal family discoveries.

Conference Details

The theme for RootsTech 2020 will be “The Story of YOU.” Many of the classes, keynote address, and venue décor will reflect this theme.

“At RootsTech, we believe that the stories we’re creating and preserving today are just as important as the stories of our ancestors,” said Jen Allen, event director. “Reflecting on and celebrating each of our personal journeys is an important part of family history that we are excited to explore at the 2020 conference.”

RootsTech 2020 will also introduce learning forums—new class sessions covering a variety of specialized topics including: records access and preservation, innovation and technology, and DNA. One of these forums will be offered on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

RootsTech 2020 will officially begin on Wednesday, February 26 with class sessions beginning at 8 AM MT. Wednesday’s general keynote session will begin on the main stage at 4:30 p.m. Steve Rockwood, CEO of FamilySearch International, will be the featured keynote speaker.

General keynote sessions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday will begin on the main stage at 11 AM MT and will lead directly into the lunch hour.

Pricing

Early bird discount pricing is available for a limited time on 4-day passes at just $169 (a $130 discount on regularly priced passes). Single day RootsTech passes are also available for $99. Both one-day and full conference passes include access to the popular expo hall and keynote sessions. Early bird pricing ends October 11, 2019.

Family Discovery Day

Registration for Family Discovery Day is also now open. The event takes place on Saturday, February 26, 2020, and is designed for families and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This free 1-day event includes inspiring messages from Church leaders; engaging classes for families, youth, and young single adults; and evening entertainment to inspire and help families make family history connections. Family Discovery Day attendees will also hae access to all the interactive activities and exhibitors found in the RootsTech expo hall. Event details, including speakers and class sessions, will be made available soon at RootsTech.org. The event is free, but registration is required.

Register via at www.rootstech.org/salt-lake

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Inadequate computer speeds at Glasgow Registrar's Service

Many folk who use the Glasgow Registrar's Service (www.glasgowfamilyhistory.org.uk/DiscoverLearn/GettingStarted/Pages/Registrars.aspx) for genealogical research, via the ScotlandsPeople service, know that for much of the last year the service's computer speeds have at times been absolutely appalling. On Tuesday of this week I visited the centre to carry out some research for a client, and once again fell victim to the problem - one name search took me ten minutes, and it became such a problem that I ended up swapping computers. As a consequence, I made a formal complaint, and have now received the following response:

Dear Mr Paton,

Front Line Stage One Complaint re: Glasgow Registrars/Scotland's people

I refer to your complaint regarding Computer Speed.

Your complaint has been considered and I can respond as follows:

I refer to your complaint regarding the computer speed within the Registrar’s Service at the Mitchell Library. 

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention and I have contacted our IT supplier to make them as aware of your complaint. There is a planned schedule for upgrading our IT estate and while they cannot give a definitive date for the Mitchell’s public PC this process has started and will hopefully resolve the issues you experienced. I understand your frustrations and please be assured I am lobbying for the Mitchell’s PC estate to be prioritised.

Glasgow Life welcomes customer feedback and all complaints are regarded as important for improving our services. If you are unhappy with this response and wish to escalate your complaint to an Investigation of our complaints procedure, a member of the Senior Management Team will investigate matters further. Please call 0141 287 8977 and quote the reference at the top of this letter or write to us at Business Support, Admin Hub One, 38 Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 1LH or e-mail info@glasgowlife.org.uk Please raise your concerns to us within 20 working days of the date of this letter.

Yours sincerely.

Dawn Vallance
Principal Librarian
The Mitchell Library

I should add that the staff at the Mitchell, and in the Registrar's Service, have all been exceptionally professional, and have tried to assist in every way possible. The problem is not ScotlandsPeople, and it is certainly not the staff, it is the IT set-up that Glasgow City Council is employing for the purpose of providing the service. If you too have been suffering from the issues, the Council's complaints procedure is accessible via https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/complaints.

In the meantime, if your research is not Glasgow specific (i.e. you do not need the archive or other resources at the Mitchell), be advised that several other centres across the country also offer the ScotlandsPeople service (Edinburgh, Hawick, Alloa, Kilmarnock, Inverness) - details of these are available at https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/visit-us/scotlandspeople-centre and https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/local-family-history-centres.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

University of Glasgow conserves and digitises Gaelic manuscripts

The University of Glasgow has an interesting article on the conservation and digitisation of 260 Gaelic song manuscripts from the 18th century, as held within its library.  

For more on the story visit https://universityofglasgowlibrary.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/conserving-gaelic-manuscripts-for-digitisation/

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

French records site Filae launches English language platform

From French platform Filae (www.filae.com):

PRESS RELEASE

Filae.com launches English language site and facilitates access to 1.5 billion names from French records

Filae’s French collection opens the door for non-French-speaking people to discover their family stories online; 40 million people in the world (excluding France) claim French descent.

Paris, France –September, 18, 2019 –Filae.com, the world’s largest online resource for accessing French official records, today announced the launch of its first foreign language international sister-site: https://en.filae.com

With more than 40 million people in the world claiming French heritage, the launch of an English language version ofFilae.comgives all of them an unprecedented and exclusive access to more than 150 million images of French Census and Vital records (birth, marriage, death) which have been indexed by Filae.com.

As Elvis Presley, Alec Baldwin, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Kurt Cobain, Warren Buffett, Hillary Clinton and many other celebrities, 4% of the US population, 17% of Argentinians and 14%of Canadians have French roots!

"The launch of Filae.com is just the beginning of a more global strategy whose aim is to facilitate access to the largest resource of French records and to help people with French descent tracing back theirancestry whatever their language is and wherever they live! We are thrilled to share information we digitized and indexed with family history fans all over the world." said Toussaint Roze, CEO and founder of Filae.com

Starting as early as 1500,Filae’s French historical collection features records such as Parish registers, Civil records, Census and vital records, Passenger lists, Military records (Napoleonic wars, WWI, WWII), Indexes provided by French societies, Directories and many other historical records (French revolution, etc) Filae.com also provides its users with easy-to-use tools to build their own trees or import their gedcom files, upload photos and documents and share them with other members.

About Filae.com

• Launched in December 2016, Filae.com is the first and largest resource for French digitized and indexed records online.
• The service was created by Toussaint Roze, a French serial-entrepreneur dedicated to genealogy who previously created successful online services like notrefamille.com, genealogie.com and gedlink.
• Filae.com hosts and indexes more than 150 million digitisations of French original records for the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries.

(With thanks to Emmanuel Condamine)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

ScotlandsPeople adds more dissenter Presbyterian baptism records

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

More than 3,000 baptism records covering the period 1752-1855 have recently been added to ScotlandsPeople. These new additions cover Presbyterian congregations in Ayrshire, Fife, Dundee Renfrewshire, Aberdeenshire and Midlothian and may be helpful for anyone searching for a person who was born before the introduction of statutory registration in 1855.

The baptismal entries occur within the records of Presbyterian churches which were outside the Church of Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries but had united with the Church of Scotland by 1929. The Church of Scotland compiled what are known as Old Parish Registers (OPRs) of baptisms, marriages and burials prior to 1855 but OPRs do not always record baptisms carried out by other churches, which kept their registers of baptisms, marriages and burials. NRS has been indexing these ‘Other Church Registers’ and adding them to the ScotlandsPeople site since 2016. More baptism entries from other congregations are in preparation.

If you are unable to find an ancestor within the OPRs, consult the ‘Roman Catholic Church records’ and within ‘other churches’ for pre-1855 events, especially for the period 1843-54, when a third of the Church of Scotland members left to set up the Free Church.

Search the church baptism registers or read more about them in our church registers guide.

List of volumes released in August 2019

Beith – Head St Relief (CH3/1054/10) 1802-1820
Dundee – Tay Square United Secession (CH3/94/15) 1831-1848
Dunfermline – Gillespie Relief (CH3/1689/5/1) 1752-1782
East Calder Associate (CH3/349/2) 1777-1802
Greenock – Trinity Associate, Nicholson Street United Presbyterian (CH3/659/9) 1836-1850
Irvine Relief, Irvine United Presbyterian (CH3/409/1) 1778-1831
Kintore Free (CH3/195/3) 1843-1855

Fiurther information is available at https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/news-article-release-additional-presbyterian-church-records

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

FamilyTreeDNA releases new dashboard look

From FamilyTreeDNA (www.familytreedna.com):

Dear FamilyTreeDNA Member,

Today, we released a new version of the dashboard! Along with a new look, the dashboard includes new capabilities to make navigating the platform easier.

These enhancements include but are not limited to:

The ability to rearrange the order in which the tests are displayed on the dashboard
The ability to create up to five bookmark-like quick links at the top of the page
Tracking information for shipping and test processing is now displayed on the dashboard

A tutorial on the dashboard is available to guide you through most of the new features when you sign in to your kit. Additional information about the update is also included in our Learning Center (see https://www.familytreedna.com/learn/general/ftdna-dashboard/).

We hope you enjoy the improvements!

Sincerely,
FamilyTreeDNA

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Scottish ViC 2020 announced for Jan 25th 2020

From Genealogy Tours of Scotland:

Genealogy Tours of Scotland announces the third annual virtual conference on Scottish Genealogy Research. This is the only virtual conference dedicated to Scottish research topics.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 2020

The ViC (virtual conference) will launch on Saturday, January 25th, 2020 at 8:30am Eastern

The line-up of talks and speakers for the day:

• Glasgow’s Role in the Slave Trade on Plantations in the West Indies presented by Stephen Mullen
• Using Wills and Testaments for Scottish Genealogy Research presented by archivist Margaret Fox
• Using Prison Records for Genealogy Research, presented by genealogist Emma Maxwell
• Using Asylum Records for Genealogy Research, presented by genealogist Emma Maxwell
• Using the Records Generated Upon Death for Genealogy Research, presented by archivist Irene O’Brien
• Researching Your Scottish Ancestors in British Newspapers presented by Aoife O’Connor
• Canada: Land and Opportunity presented by genealogy educator Christine Woodcock

Registration fee is just $99.99 (CAD) and allows unlimited access to the talks, handouts and marketplace until midnight (eastern) on February 1st, 2020.

*** Virtual "Seats" are limited!*** For more information or to register: http://www.genealogyvic.com

For questions: genealogytoursofscotland@gmail.com

All presentations are pre-recorded and released on a timed basis throughout the day, just like an in person conference. The live Q&A will only happen on January 25th when the presenters will be available following their presentation to answer any questions.

(With thanks to Christine Woodcock)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

FindmyPast adds Irish Boundary Commission Reports

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

Irish Boundary Commission Records 1924-1925
The Irish Boundary Commission was set up to determine the boundary between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. Findmypast has digitised this collection of more than 47,000 records from The National Archives which include the Commission’s minutes, papers, correspondence and report of the Irish Boundary Commission, and records of oral and written evidence submitted to it.

Berkshire Marriages Index
Over 63,000 additional records have been added to 16 parishes across the county. The new additions consist of transcripts provided by the Berkshire Family History Society that may reveal your relative’s age, marital status, residence, occupation, father’s name and spouse’s details. Some records may also include the names of witnesses and additional notes.

Derbyshire Deaths and Burials
Over 23,000 Derbyshire Family History Society transcripts have been added for 12 cemeteries around the county. As well as revealing the final resting place of your ancestor, these records may also reveal their age at death, birth year, death year, burial date and if they died paupers. Some records may also list next of kin, allowing you to add new names to your growing family tree.

British In Ceylon Parish Records
From 1815 until 1948, Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, was a British colony. The 4,500 records in this collection span that period and have been collected and transcribed by the Kabristan Archives. They include the names of those who were serving in Ceylon and were married, died, or had children there. Over a thousand names of those who served in Ceylon during the First World War are also included.

International records update - Russia
Does your family tree have Russian roots? Search for your Russian ancestors in more than 325,000 baptisms, marriages and burials. These three indexes will provide you with essential names, dates and locations for expanding your Russian family tree.

British & Irish newspaper update
This week we have added 110,926 new pages to our collection. This includes two newspapers that cover the historic county of Dumfriesshire. Both weekly publications, the Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser was published in Langholm and the newspaper continues to this day, and the Galloway News and Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser was published in Dalbeattie. Rounding off our trio of new Scottish titles this week is the Montrose Standard, another weekly title that was published in Angus. Founded in 1837, we have an extensive run of editions for this particular publication, numbering nearly 50,000 pages and so far spanning the years 1844 to 1957, representing over a century’s worth of local news coverage.

For further details, and links, visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/berkshire-derbyshire-irish-records

Chris

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

TheGenealogist expands its Education collection

TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk) has expanded its Education records collection:

New School and University Registers on TheGenealogist

As children go back to school, TheGenealogist has just released a diverse batch of school and university records to join its ever growing education collection.

Researchers can use this new data to find ancestors who attended or taught at a variety of Educational establishments between the 1830s and 1930s. Also listed are the names of those who held high office in the institutions, such as the patrons, deans, visitors, professors, masters in the case of universities and the principles and governors in the case of schools.

Use these records to add colour to a family story and glean important information from the biographical details to use in further research.

The list of records included in this release are:

St. Lawrence College Ramsgate Register, 1879 to 1911
Upper Canada College Address List 1829-1929
The Report Of The President Of Queen's College Belfast 1896-1897
The Glenalmond Register 1847-1929
Clifton College Register 1862-1912
Edinburgh Institution 1832-1932
King Williams College Register 1833-1904
The Bradfield College Register 1850-1923
The Old Denstonian Chronicle 1915
The Old Denstonian Chronicle 1916
The Old Denstonian Chronicle 1917
The Old Denstonian Chronicle 1918
The Old Denstonian Chronicle 1919
Isle of Man, King William's College Register 1833-1927
Ireland, The Campbell College Register 1894-1938
Eton College, Easter 1862
Keble College Register, 1870-1925
Rathmines School Roll, 1858-1899
Charterhouse Register 1911-1920 Vol. III
Cheltenham College Register 1841-1927
Alumni Carthusiani, 1614-1872

This expands our extensive education records collection.

Read our article:
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2019/find-ancestors-in-education-records-1180/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

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

PRONI to release new digitised records online

Just back from Belfast, where I attended the latest stakeholder meeting at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni) - and with some very exciting news!

For some time PRONI has been discussing making available through its online catalogue various digitised record sets. This already happens at the archive's search room in Belfast, where, for example, you can access various digitised church records collections (see https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Church%20Records%20Available%20as%20Digital%20Copies%20in%20PRONI_0.pdf)

The plan now is to try to make several collections available for users to access from home in time for Explore Your Archive Week, towards the end of November. The collections being made available will include:

ED/1 National Education Commisioners Grant Aid Application ( 1832-1889)
From the PRONI catalogue:
In September 1831, the Commissioners of National Education were established to administer a fund of 30,000 per annum placed at the disposal of the Lord Lieutenant for the education of the poor in Ireland. They were empowered to make grants to local schools on condition that part of the required sum was raised locally and in addition they supervised the work of the schools, supplied textbooks and trained teachers. This class of records which bears the PRONI reference number ED/1, consists of 33 volumes of applications made to the Commissioners for grants for building schools, payment of teachers, provision of textbooks, equipment etc. The applications were made on printed questionnaire forms (occasionally accompanied by correspondence), which were filed and bound together in date order and arranged county by county. They cover the period 1832-1889. ED/1/1 to ED1/28, are available on microfilm and bear the reference number MIC/548, Reels 1 to 52. The National Archives in Dublin hold a few unbound applications from Counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh and Meath, as well as a volume of Rejected Applications from Ulster schools for the period 1868-72.

Tithe Applotment Books (Northern Ireland)
The books from the Republic are already available online at http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp. This collection from PRONI will not be presented in the same way, in that they will not be keyword searchable, but instead must be browsed by the relevant townland or parish (much more preferable, in that when browsing you can pick up on things that a keyword search may miss). They will be presented as large scale PDF documents, via a 'View digital object' button on the catalogue entries. PRONI will be adding to its site a how-to user guide to explain how to work through the collections. 

(NB: It is hoped these will be ready in time for the main launch, but they admit they are working to a tight deadline - nevertheless, if not ready by November, they are imminent)

Photo collections - various collections will be made available, including some gems such as circus photos, historic images from the Steeple estate in Antrim, and material from the Northern Ireland Photographic Association (formed 1967).

Hansard Papers - from the Northern Irish Assembly

Other news:

340 documents have been added to the Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) covering the years 1991-1992. Plans are in place to add further records for 1993-94 over the next year.

State papers form 1995 have now been added to the site's catalogue. (535 fully open, 172 partially redacted, with 45 still closed to access).

I'll blog about forthcoming events on a separate thread.

But hey - the tithe records are coming online soon!

(With thanks to all at PRONI)

Chris

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