Wednesday 30 October 2019

Orkney witchcraft trial source books

Orkney Archive has uploaded a fascinating post on the records it holds concerning witchcraft trials in Orkney, including Sheriff Court records and other collections collated over the years.  The post is available to read at http://orkneyarchive.blogspot.com/2019/10/orkney-witchcraft-trial-source-books.html.


If interested in Scotland's dark history concerning witchcraft, don't forget to also visit The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, "an electronic resource for the history of witchcraft and witch-hunting in Scotland" from the University of Edinburgh, available at http://www.shca.ed.ac.uk/Research/witches/.

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.

FamilySearch adds new Oxfordshire and Yorkshire collections

FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) has added two new small English records collections:

England, Oxfordshire Parish Registers 1538-1904 (826 indexed records)

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/3293406
Source: “The original records are held at various record custodians.”

England, Yorkshire Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1613-1887 (96 indexed records)

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/3477664
Source: “Church of England marriage bonds and allegations from the Diocese of York and Diocese of Ripon both in Yorkshire from 1613 to 1887. The original records are held at the Borthwick Institute.”

For other releases from the US, Canada, and South America, visit https://media.familysearch.org/new-free-historical-records-on-familysearch-week-of-28-october-2019/

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.

Saturday 26 October 2019

Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts soon

A reminder that my next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course kicks off in just over a week's time, from November 4th, and for five weeks. Here's the blurb:

This is an intermediate level course in Scottish family history for those who are going back beyond 1850. You should have some experience with research in the Old Parochial Registers of the Church of Scotland and in using major websites for Scottish research. This course discusses sources that fill the gap when the OPRs are uninformative or missing; for example, records of parish and town administration, occupations, land transfer and taxation. Using these records involves several different locations. You will learn how to check online finding aids and how to find the most effective way to obtain records that may be online, in print, on CD or microfilm. This is the second course on Scottish research. If you have not taken Scottish Research Online please check its description.

Lesson Headings:

* Kirk Sessions records and parish poor
* Burgh records and town poor
* Occupations, taxation and early lists
* Land transfer and the value of sasines
* Land, inheritance and estates

Each lesson includes exercises and activities; a minimum of 1 one-hour chat session per week. See How the Courses Work.

STUDENTS SAID: "well structured chats with opportunities for questions as well"

Relevant Countries: Scotland
Course Length: 5 Weeks
Start Date: 4 Nov 2019
Cost: £49.99

The following video also gives a bit more of a flavour about what to expect:



(Available also at https://youtu.be/1vX6GZtwZJ0)

For further details, and to sign up, please visit https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302.

I'll hopefully see you there!

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.

Friday 25 October 2019

FindmyPast adds Norfolk and Dundee records

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


New Norfolk Parish Records
More than 1.4 million new Norfolk parish registers are now available to search. Published online in association with the Norfolk Record Office, these new records span more than 500 years (1464 to 1993) of Norfolk history and add more than 500 new parishes to our existing collection of Norfolk records.
Created from over 2,500 original handwritten registers.

Scotland, Forfarshire (Angus), Dundee Trade & Postal Directories 1783-1842
Explore nine Scottish trade and postal directories from Dundee spread over 1783 to 1842. Directories are a valuable source for your family history research, revealing your ancestor’s trade or occupation and address.

British & Irish Newspapers
This week we have added 130,418 new pages to The Archive, including one brand new title the Strathearn Herald.
We have also updated six of our existing Scottish titles including the Arbroath Guide, the Aberdeen Press and Journal and the Aberdeen Evening Express, the West Lothian Courier, the North British Daily Mail and the Staffordshire Sentinel.

For further information and links visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/new-norfolk-records-covering-500-parishes

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.

Thursday 24 October 2019

PRONI adds History of Belfast City Cemetery talk to YouTube

PRONI has added a video to its YouTube channel entitled History of Belfast City Cemetery. Here's the blurb:

Author, Tom Hartley, talks about the history of Belfast City Cemetery which opened on the 1 August 1869 as a cross denominational burial ground for the people of Belfast. This event took place on 17 October 2019.

The talk can be viewed at https://youtu.be/6No9QLVxqbY and is presented here also for convenience:



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.

Family Tree Maker England and Ireland tour

From Software MacKiev:

YOU ARE INVITED! UK+IRELAND TOUR

Family Tree Maker is heading to the UK and Ireland this week as we celebrate the arrival of our 30th Anniversary edition, FTM 2019, with two big events in four cities (Click here for an interactive map). The first stop is London for the RootsTech conference (Thursday - Saturday, Oct 24-26) where we'll be showing off new features and a sneak preview of updates on the way. And then three more stops for “insider” events in Belfast (Sunday, Oct 27), Cork (Monday, Oct 28) and Dublin (Tuesday, Oct 29). At each insider tour stop there will be THREE speakers (see list below), FREE conference totes, deep discounts on products, — and we'll be around after the presentations to chat and answer your questions. Hope to meet you along the way!

ROOTSTECH LONDON CONFERENCE

EVENT #1 – ROOTSTECH LONDON CONFERENCE (Thurs-Sat, Oct 24-26) — FREE
Join us for three days of ongoing presentations in our 24 seat stand theatre which is FREE and open to the general public. (See below how to get free RootsTech passes and reserve seats in our stand theatre.) In addition to an in-depth look at our new edition, there will be presentations by the creators of Family Book Creator (Stefan Harms) and Charting Companion (Pierre Clouthier). And of course a SHOW STORE with deep discounts on FTM 2019, Family Book Creator, Charting Companion and more.

STEP 1. Get FREE RootsTech entrance passes.
You can get FREE passes sent by email from RootsTech that will get you into the Exhibition Hall. Just click here.

STEP 2. New Option – Reserve a Seat.
You can reserve a Family Tree Maker theatre seat for certain times each day by clicking here
(and then clicking the red "Select a Date" button). Or just stop by our stand (#310) any time to join the next presentation.

RootsTech Exhibition Hall Hours
ExCel London Exhibition Centre
Thursday 9:45 AM – 7 PM
Friday 9:45 AM – 6 PM
Saturday 9:45 AM – 5 PM

EVENT #2 – UK+IRELAND TOUR – INSIDER SESSIONS (Sun-Tues, Oct 27-29)

Join us on the Emerald Isle as we continue our FTM 2019 Insiders Tour – right after RootsTech in London. We'll be visiting three cities: Belfast (Oct 27), Cork (Oct 28) and Dublin (Oct 29). At each insider tour stop there will be THREE speakers (see list below), FREE conference totes, deep discounts on products, — and we'll be around after the presentations to chat and answer your questions.
blue tote

FREE totes for all presentation attendees.

Advance Tickets Required. Most Insider Tour event tickets are FREE (paid by Family Tree Maker). After the free seats are filled, there will be additional tickets available for a small fee with all proceeds going to the co-sponsoring society as a donation. You do not need to be a member of the sponsoring society – all tour events are open to the general public.

How to get tickets. Click the link below for the session you want to attend:

BELFAST – Sunday, Oct 27
Park Avenue Hotel
Cranthorpe Suite 1
• Morning Session Click here. (10 AM - 12:30 PM)
• Afternoon Session Click here. (1:30 PM - 4 PM)

CORK – Monday, Oct 28
The Kingsley Hotel
Deane-Woodward Suite
• Evening Session Click here. (6 PM - 8:30 PM)

DUBLIN – Tuesday, Oct 29
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
Helen Roe Lecture Room
• Morning Session Click here. (11 AM - 1:30 PM)
• Afternoon Session Click here. (2:30 PM - 5 PM)
• Evening Session Click here. (6 PM - 8:30 PM)

CONFERENCE SPECIAL PRICES – AT ALL EVENTS
Family Tree Maker 2019 will be on sale for up to 50% off its regular price. We'll also have discounts on Charting Companion 7 which will help you integrate your DNA test results into your family history research, and Family Book Creator which creates a professional quality printed family history book using your FTM tree.

SPEAKERS AND SESSIONS
All tour stops including the RootsTech conference will feature all three speakers and topics:

Mark Olsen (Family Tree Maker Ambassador)
Family Tree Maker 2019 - An In-depth Insiders View

Stefan Harms (Creator of Family Book Creator)
Making a Professional Quality Family History Book

Pierre Clouthier (Creator of Charting Companion)
Using DNA Test Results in Your Family History Research

(With thanks to Mark Olsen)

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 adds colour tithe maps for Warwickshire

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

We have just released additional sets of Colour Tithe Maps to join the previously available greyscale maps in our National Tithe Records collection. This release for Warwickshire is of high-resolution colour digitised maps which will provide the family historian with highly detailed maps sourced from both The National Archives as well as the Warwick County Record Office.

Researchers searching for owners or occupiers of Warwickshire land surveyed in the 19th century for the Tithe Commutation Act 1836, now have a choice of plans linked to the fully searchable apportionment schedules. Subscribers to our Diamond membership can select to view The National Archives' grayscale maps, The National Archives' colour maps, or the Warwickshire Record Office colour maps when using the Tithe & Landowner records for this county. The Warwickshire Record Office maps are, in many cases, less faded and more vibrant in their colours, having had less wear and tear than the alternatives. 


For more on the story visit https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2019/warwickshire-colour-tithe-records-discovers-the-house-that-went-to-america-1198/

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.

DeceasedOnline introduces new annual subscription tiers

From Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com):

New Subscriptions

At Deceased Online we are introducing new ways to improve and expand our range of data, adding records from a greater number of cemeteries and crematoria across the UK, and giving our users the benefit of more regular additions of new records.

These improvement plans will include changes to the way we offer annual subscriptions.

Our users range from the occasional family historian through to corporate users viewing many thousands of records a year. Until now we have not differentiated between types of user, but offered a single annual subscription option at £89 for unlimited views of most of our records. We’ve managed to resist the pressure to increase this price for over 5 years, since we first introduced subscriptions, even while users were expressing surprise at the generosity of the unlimited views offered.

Users can still purchase a subscription for £89, although the terms have changed slightly. We have decided, in line with other on-line genealogy websites, to offer a range of subscriptions to suit customers according to how heavily they would like to use the site.

To do this we now offer three annual subscription options, each with a different limit to the number of records viewable.

The basic annual subscription, now called ‘Silver’, will remain at £89. However, we have introduced a limit of 450 record views for this subscription*, which we calculate will not affect the majority of our users. For heavier professional and corporate users of the site we have introduced the ‘Gold’ subscription at £249 for a maximum of 2000 views, and the ‘Platinum’ subscription at £499 for 5000 views.

We feel this is a fair and long-overdue revision of our subscriptions policy, which will help us to be more cost effective and allow us to expand and improve the website, which is what our customers want.

*Existing subscriptions will remain unlimited until expiry

Terms and Conditions

We have amended Section 6 of the website Terms and Conditions to reflect the changes to subscriptions.

We have also in Section 10 clarified the types of user we allow to use the website. In particular we have made it clear that it is an abuse for registered users to distribute paid-for information from our website, via social media or by any other method, to others who are pursuing their own separate family history enquiries.

(With thanks to DeceasedOnline)

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.

Wednesday 23 October 2019

Ulster Historical Foundation announces 2020 programme

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

Are you already thinking of what to do or where to go for your 2020 vacation?

Now that our final conference of 2019 has ended we are delighted to announce that details and booking information for each of our 2020 research programmes and conferences are now available.


Tracing your Irish Ancestors: Family History Conference
10 - 17 June 2020

Our classic 8-day conference programme returns in June 2020!

This programme will include brand new tours to famous historic sites across the island of Ireland and crucially for the research enthusiast, all your time can alternatively be spent researching in the archives of Belfast and Dublin with the Foundation's team of researchers (or a mix of the two).

Assisted personal research, talks, tours and sightseeing are all part of the eclectic, friendly and fun mix of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors. Join us for the journey. We will be delighted to see you.


June 2020 Highlights

To uncover the history of this place, our extensive programme of tours throughout the week will take you through rolling countryside to sites of international renown from the Giant’s Causeway on County Antrim’s wild Atlantic coast to the famous and historic Walls of Derry and Hillsborough Castle, the official Northern Ireland palace of the Royal Family!

Our 2020 June programme will see delegates:

  • Journey into the heart of County Down, enjoying visits to Hillsborough Castle, Killyleagh Castle, Inch Abbey and the St Patrick's Centre.
  • Take a trip through Belfast and south County Antrim, enjoying visits to one of Belfast's most interesting visitor attractions at Crumlin Road Gaol and Ireland's oldest and best preserved Norman citadel at Carrickfergus.
  • Experience brand new tours to some of Dublin's most popular visitor attractions - locations to be announced soon.
  • With visits to Hillsborough Castle, Carrickfergus Castle and Inch Abbey and more, our June 2020 programme will see delegates tour the churches, castles and causeways of Ireland.

Irish Family History Experience: Introduction to Irish Genealogy
07-12 September 2020

Folllowing the success of the first programme which ran in June 2019, next year will see the return of the Foundation's Irish Family History Experience: Introduction to Irish Family History in September 2020

This programme will appeal to the budding family history researcher wishing to make the first step towards research success as well as the dedicated family historian wishing to break down those genealogical brick walls.

In just six days our September programme will give you the skills and experience to further explore your family history and help you find your Irish and Scots-Irish ancestors.

Irish Family History Experience will offer you the opportunity to spend three days learning from the experts in the classroom and researching in the Public Record Office Northern Ireland (PRONI) followed by the option of three days of tours to sites such as Kilmainham Gaol and the Giant's Causeway or assisted research in PRONI.

Book your place for June or September with just a £350 deposit
Given the current low value of sterling (GBP) against other currencies now is a particularly good time for overseas visitors to book their 2020 getaway. Sign up to one of the Foundation's family history research programmes today and save up to $160 on your booking (based on today's exchange rate compared to last week).

The present exchange rate values will ensure overseas delegates can make a very tidy saving on the cost.


Researching your Irish Ancestors: Assisted Research Programme
05-09 October 2020

Limited space available!

This enhanced research programme offers you the chance to spend a week researching in the archives each day being guided and supported by our team of researchers, and presents a great opportunity to break down any genealogical brick walls and unlock your family history.

This programme will also have a maximum capacity of 30 people meaning that you will experience more one-on-one time with our research team than you would at any of our other conferences and classes.

As our team know the archives and how to mine the information for your family tree, working closely with our researchers will greatly enhance your experience in the archives as well as improving your chances of success.

For more information, and to book a place on any of the above, visit https://www.ancestryireland.com

(With thanks to the UHF)

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.

Tuesday 22 October 2019

Forthcoming events at PRONI in Belfast

Forthcoming talks and events at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni):

History Teacher’s Association of NI: AGM
22 October, 6-8pm
The History Teacher’s Association welcomes all to sit in on their event. The guest speaker will be Dr Rosie Hickey from the Prison Memory Archive.

Cold War Heritage in Northern Ireland
24 October, 1pm
Dr James O’Neill will use archaeological examples to explore how the Cold War impacted on Northern Ireland during the 20th century.

Archives of Internment
24 October, 10am-1pm
PRONI would like to invite you to an event exploring the Prisons Memory Archive and PRONI’s other archives on internment.

Bank Buildings: The Story Behind the Façade
29 October, 1-2pm
Richard Graham navigates the history of one of Belfast’s most iconic sites, from the first building in 1797 until the last, which was engulfed by fire in August 2018.

A Haunting Halloween at PRONI
31 October, 6-7.30pm
Dr Andrew Sneddon, Lecturer at the University of Ulster, historian, and expert on the history of the supernatural in Ireland, will join PRONI to explore some of the spooky ghost stories from the archives.

Reflections on the Nineteenth-Century from the Beyond 2022 Project​
7 November, 7-8.30pm
A presentation will be given by Dr Peter Crooks on the virtual reality project which is recreating the Public Record Office of Ireland and its collections that were destroyed in 1922 during the Civil War.

Launch of Linenopolis Exhibition at PRONI​
8 November, 1-2pm
An exciting new exhibition launching at PRONI, celebrating Belfast's linen heritage. It explores the social history, lives of the workers. The Artists Wilma Kirkpatrick and Helen O'Hare will showcase a selection of embroidered linen samplers.

The Civil Rights Movement and the Role of the IRA​
13 November, 1-2pm
Journalist, author and broadcaster, Malachi O’Doherty will be giving a presentation looking at the change of the Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland over the past 50 years and will expand upon research from his book which will be available on the day.

Beyond the Centenaries: The First World War and its impact on Ireland​
14 November, 2-4.30pm
A conference and workshop chaired by Dr Timothy Bowman will be held at PRONI which will look at Ireland between 1912 and 1921 mainly focusing on the aftermath of the First World War.

Linenopolis: The Health & Welfare of Mill Workers​
21 November, 1-2pm
PRONI’s David Huddleston will examine the workhouse, asylum, school and mill records in PRONI to reveal the health and welfare of mill workers during the late 19th century.

Using WikiTree
27 November, 1pm
Anne Johnston will deliver an introduction to WikiTree, a free genealogy website that maintains over 17 million ancestral profiles which can be used to research your own family tree.

A Beginner’s Guide to Using DNA for Family History​
28 November, 1-2pm
DNA can now be used to track your family’s history even beyond paper records. Come down to PRONI and hear Martin McDowell give a talk about the usefulness of DNA for family history.

New Online Records at PRONI
29 November, 11am-3pm
This event will feature a series of presentations and demonstrations showcasing digitized records that will be made available online.
(See http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2019/09/proni-to-release-new-digitised-records.html)


PRONI Workshops:
1) Getting Started
13 & 25 Nov, 16 Dec, 11am-1pm
Introductory workshops for those interested in local and family history.

2) Online Resources
26 November, 6 December, 11am-1pm
Introduction to using online records for family and local history research.

To book a seat at the above events visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/talks-and-events-proni

(With thanks to the latest PRONI Express)

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.

Thanks to Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS

Thanks again to Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS (www.gwsfhs.org.uk) for its warm reception last night, at my second Irish themed talk this year to the society. I gave a short talk about the history of an Irish farm within my wife's ancestry, followed by a forty minute Q&A section, with some very diverse enquriies on both Scottish and Irish family history themed issues.

The venue was at Kelvinside Academy, and bizarrely when I turned up last night the exterior had been dressed by a BBC film production, which was also filming there. Fortunately, I only have a face for radio, so there was no big Hollywood discovery moment!!!



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.

Ancestry updates DNA ethnicity estimates again

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has again updated its ethnicity projections for those who have taken DNA tests, due to an expanded reference panel. From the news release:

Ancestry® Expands Reference Panel to Deliver More Precise Results and New Regions

Consumer genomics is a new and evolving field and Ancestry® is at the forefront, constantly developing new ways for you to learn about yourself through DNA. Today, we’re proud to announce that our team of scientists have increased the AncestryDNA® reference panel to more than double its previous size with samples from more places around the world, resulting in the latest update to AncestryDNA ethnicity estimates.

Over the next several months, AncestryDNA customers may receive updated ethnicity estimates, thanks to our expanded reference panel, which allows us to determine ethnic breakdowns with a higher degree of precision. This means there may be some changes to your results.

For example, previously we had North and South America as two large regions: Native American–Andean and Native American–North, Central, South. With this new update, we are able to refine the areas into 11 smaller ones. If you received one of the older regions before, your new report will most likely have one of the newer, more precise regions instead like Indigenous Eastern South America, Indigenous Cuba, and Indigenous Americas–Mexico, among others.

While not common, some customers may also lose a small percentage region as a result of this update. One way this can happen is if that ethnicity has been re-assigned to a nearby region. This is because people from neighboring areas tend to look similar genetically. For example, some people with ancestors from southern Italy will lose their small amount of Turkey/Armenia and possibly gain a bit of Near East instead.

The full announcement is at https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2019/10/21/ancestry-expands-reference-panel-to-deliver-more-precise-results-and-new-regions/, whist a list of the categorised regions now available to Ancestry's DNA customers can be found at https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/List-of-AncestryDNA-Regions

COMMENT: My own DNA page has advised that there was an update, but for me it does not seem to be drastically different to what was previously there.



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.

Family Footsteps returns to BBC Northern Ireland

A second series of BBC Northern Ireland's series Family Footsteps kicked off last night. Here is the blurb for the first episode:

Gavin Andrews leads the Smyths, an Ulster-Scots family from Bangor, on a genealogical detective trail as they piece together their family tree and discover fascinating insights into the lives of their family members in the 18th and 19th centuries. It's an adventure packed with surprises that ultimately leads to a connection with a notorious historical figure.

Episode 1 starts with a boat trip for the Smyth family as they cross Belfast Lough from Bangor to Carrickfergus, where Peter's family lived for generations. Their first big discovery is that the former family home is now a tanning parlour! The trail leads them to Belfast's industrial past where they discover some relatives who became big shots in a very big business - linen. Going further back, they find out about other business interests which took this adventurous family overseas. Their next family footstep takes them all the way to the majestic St Petersburg in Russia, where it's revealed one of their ancestors, Robert, ran a prestigious bookshop. Amongst his customers were Russia's literary elite, including author Vladimir Nabokov. This leads to revelations of royal connections for the Smyth family – Robert’s sister, Lizzie, who became a trusted retainer for Nabokov's aunt, a famous Princess. The Smyths feel it's all a long way from Bangor!

I'll definitely need to tune into this one - not only am I originally from Carrickfergus, but my grandmother from Carrick was originally a Smyth!


The seriesis being shown on Monday evenings at 7.30pm on BBC NI. To watch last night's episode, visit the iPlayer at https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009qj9/family-footsteps-series-2-episode-1 (possibly UK residents only - not sure about the Republic, if someone can advise!)

(With thanks to Allie Nickell @alliethinks 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.

Sunday 20 October 2019

Thanks to Manchester and Lancashire FHS

A huge thank you to the Anglo-Scottish branch of the Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society for its hospitality yesterday (Saturday), when I travelled down from Scotland to give  atalk on being Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis.


It was my first time to Manchester in six years, following the death of my mother there in 2013, and it was great to see the place buzzing as much as normal, and to see so many folk attend the talk in the superb Central Library building.

For more on the society, visit https://www.mlfhs.org.uk.



(With thanks to Yvonne and Michael!)

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.

The Drunk Women Solving Crime tackle the Mount Stewart Murder of 1866

So it's a typical Sunday, when I suddenly learn from a niece in Waterford, Ireland, that a book that I wrote a few years back has just been the subject of the latest edition of the Drunk Women Solving Crime podcast, recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe on September 25th...! 🤣🤣🤣

Episode 58 looks at the brutal murder of my 3 x great gran Janet Rogers, nee Henderson, in 1866, which happened at Mount Stewart Farm in Forgandenny, Perthshire, and about which I wrote a book in 2012 (The Mount Stewart Murder: A Re-Examination of the UK's Oldest Unsolved Murder Case). It's Scotland's longest unsolved murder case by a modern police force, and has a few twists and turns along the way.

Apart from the fact that there are questionable pronunciations of words such as Forgandenny and Crichton, and a recurring obsession with ploughman's lunches, I'm still very honoured to have had it featured as the main story! 😂😂😂😂

You can listen to the podcast on iTunes at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/58-drunk-women-live-with-isma-almas/id1425174819?i=1000451116871. You can also find the series of podcasts on Spotify.

The book itself, written in 2012, can be purchased from the History Press at https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/the-mount-stewart-murder/9780752460208/ in print and ebook formats.

For more on the Drunk Women Solving Crime podcasts, visit https://drunkwomensolvingcrime.com

Slàinte mhath!

(Thanks to my niece Jessica in Ireland, and to the three drunk ladies solving crimes!)

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.

Friday 18 October 2019

Karen Cummings appointed Course Director of Pharos

From Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd (www.pharostutors.com):

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Karen Cummings as Course Director of Pharos, taking over the role that Sherry Irvine held until her retirement a few years ago. Helen Osborn continues as Managing Director.

Karen is one of our longstanding tutors and has taught and written a number of Pharos courses over the last 5 years. She currently tutors:
  • Demystifying DNA for Family Historians
  • Professional Genealogist: Become One Become a Better One
  • Wills & Administrations, the riches of probate records

Karen started her career in the pharmaceutical industry and holds a PhD in scientific research. She gained her genealogy qualifications with the IHGS (Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies) and holds both the Higher Certificate and Diploma in Genealogy. She set up her genealogy research business, Professional Family History, in 2010. In addition to her work for Pharos Karen has also tutored and written course material for the IHGS and held the position of Examiner for the Diploma in Genealogy. Karen is a Member of AGRA (the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archive), the accrediting body for genealogists in England and Wales, and has served on AGRA’s Council and Board of Assessors.

Karen is passionate about methodology in genealogy. She loves teaching tricks and tips to students to help them gain the most from their research.

Good luck Karen! For furtehr details on Pharos courses, visit the website at https://www.pharostutors.com/coursesmainsd.php

* Don't forget also that my next Pharos course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs (originally written by Sherry!), starts on November 4th - for further details, and a short introductory bvideo, see https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2019/09/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-course.html. To register for the course, visit https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302.

(With thanks to Helen Osborn)

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.

Parochial history of Mullingar digitised

The Representative Church Body of Ireland's Library in Dublin has added a digitised copy to its side of A Parochial History of Mullingar, compiled by the Revd William Reynell, 13th–19th Centuries, as its Archive of the Month offering. The work is essentially a scrapbook of sorts of a variety of sources, running to some 300 pages, as compiled by Rev Reynell.

For further information on Mullingar and the book, visit https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/8980/parochial-history-of-mullingar-compiled.

The digitised book itself is directly accessible at https://issuu.com/churchofireland/docs/molyngar

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.

Stirling Council puts burial records online

Stirling Council has made available some 83,221 burial records online for free via its Open Dhttps://data.stirling.gov.uk/dataset/cemetery-records.
ata platform at

The records can be downloaded in several formats, and include burials for the following areas:
  • Aberfoyle
  • Balfron
  • Ballengeich
  • Balquhidder
  • Bannockburn
  • Buchanan
  • Callander
  • Drymen
  • Dunblane
  • Fintry Churchyard
  • Gargunnock
  • Gartmore
  • Gartmore Churchyard
  • Killearn
  • Killearn Woodland
  • Killin
  • Kilmadock
  • Kippen
  • Kirkton (Tyndrum)
  • Lecropt
  • Logie
  • Mar Place
  • Port of Menteith
  • Snowdon
  • St Ninians
  • St Thomas
  • Strathblane
  • Thornhill 
  • Trossachs Churchyard
  • Tyndrum New Cemetery
  • Valley

The informaion returned, where available, is as follows:
  • Cemetery
  • Section, Row and Number
  • First Name and Surname
  • Age and Age Unit (e.g. days, months, years)
  • Date Died
  • Date Buried

The records were first uploaded on 4 FEB 2019, and updated again two weeks ago on 2 OCT 2019.

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 adds Dumfriesshire burial records

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


Scotland, Will and Testament Index 1481-1807
Did your ancestors die in Scotland? Explore this index of more than 164,000 records from the commissariat courts of Scotland between 1481 and 1807. Each record includes a transcript of the original will and testament that will reveal the date of the will and where it was made.

Scotland Monumental Inscriptions
Over 112,000 new records covering all of Scotland are now available to search. The latest updates include 9 burial sites across Dumfriesshire - Cummertrees Churchyard, Dalton Graveyards, Kirkconnel Churchyard, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Langholm Old Graveyard, Lochmaben Old Churchyard, Staplegordon Graveyard, Staplegordon Graveyard, Wauchope Graveyard and Westerkirk Churchyard.

Westmorland Parish Records
Three brand new parish record collections from historic English County of Westmoreland are now available to search on Findmypast, including:
·  Westmorland Baptisms – over 39,000 records that will reveal details such as baptism date, parents' names and residence.
·  Westmorland Marriages – Over 22,000 records listing details such as marriage date, spouse’s name, father’s name and place of marriage.
·  Westmorland Burials – Over 9,000 records that enable to discover your ancestor’s final resting place, age at death, burial date and residence.

International records update – The Philippines
Does your family tree have roots in the Philippines? Search thee new indexes covering births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials spanning the years 1642 to 1994 are now available to search of Findmypast.

British & Irish Newspaper Update
This week’s new titles include two Scottish publications, the Arbroath Guide and the Perthshire Constitutional and Journal, daily London title, the Express and the Sheerness Times Guardian.

Further details and links at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/search-new-uk-parish-records--scottish-wills-this

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.

Thursday 17 October 2019

LivingDNA launches new platform and products

LivingDNA (www.livingdna.com) has completely revamped its online platform from today, and also launched new product ranges.

The following are the press releases for the new products:

LIVING DNA LAUNCHES GENEALOGY AND WELLBEING DNA KIT AT LOWEST RETAIL PRICE POINT IN SECTOR

Popular Direct-To-Consumer DNA Service Fills Gap Left By Others In Affordability and Privacy


Somerset, UK, October 17 -- Living DNA, the global direct-to-consumer genealogy DNA service that does not sell or share customers’ DNA or data with third parties, today announced their entry into the health sector. In addition to the new Living DNA Wellbeing kit for $129, a $49 Starter DNA Kit is also available designed for the billion people who could benefit from DNA testing but are unsure of which part of testing they want.

The Starter Kit is a taster experience including a high-level global view of your ancestry, the ability to find DNA matches with people across the world, wellbeing reports focused on supporting your diet and exercise and the analysis of over 700,000 areas of your DNA code. Once you’ve taken your test you can select deeper insights and reports.

Living DNA has also overhauled its customer results platform and introduced a new Wellbeing Kit experience for users, aiming to cut down 80% of illness and disease that is lifestyle-related. Unlike
other firms that focus on health conditions, Living DNA is first exploring areas of your life influenced by your DNA where a customer can make changes which can lead to a greater quality of life.

David Nicholson, co-founder advises “Before we launched Living DNA, we always felt and understood that the power DNA offers people an opportunity to enjoy a greater quality in their lives. This comes not only from enriching relationships with your family but also understanding the way your body responds to different diets and exercises. By looking at the whole picture, it's possible to move from the era of post cause treatment to true preventative medicine.”

Co-Founder Hannah Nicholson shares that, “We are the people’s DNA company in terms of privacy and affordability. We see it as our responsibility to make sure everyone has access to information in a way that can truly transform their lives. Each of us has the power to take charge of our wellbeing with simple changes that could save healthcare systems around the world billions of dollars, cut waiting lists for critical care and spark GDP increases.”

The firm is building on its foundation as one of the leading companies that provides ancestry testing services worldwide with a mission of making sure each customer is in charge of their own DNA, and
never doing anything with a customer’s DNA information that they have not requested.


LIVING DNA NEW GENEALOGY AND WELLBEING KITS FACT SHEET

Company Overall

Living DNA’s range of easy to use DNA testing kits makes DNA testing accessible, private and secure to everyone across the world, from a simple mouth swab. Through our advanced ancestry reports, we help you unravel stories about your past, designed to enrich your family life and help you celebrate a shared past together. Our range of wellbeing reports shines a light on areas of nutrition and fitness to help improve your overall quality of life today and for the future.

The reports are not only simple to understand but often include actionable steps you can take in your life provided by relevant experts. No matter which Living DNA kit you choose, your privacy and security is our top concern and we only ever do what you ask us to do with your DNA.

Our starter kit costs just $49 USD giving you a taster into the ancestry and wellbeing experience with the full ancestry at $99, the full wellbeing test at $129 and a bundle including both the wellness and ancestry kits at $179. Existing Living DNA customers will be able to upgrade their accounts in mid-november 2019 to purchase the full Wellbeing experience for a reduced rate of $49 (normally $69) until December 31st 2019.

Starter Kit - $49/£49

The Living DNA starter kit, covering ancestry and wellbeing, is the best value DNA kit available. It’s perfectly designed for people who’ve heard about DNA testing but are unsure about which type of test to take. It gives you a taster experience of what is possible through a simple mouth swab. You can see:

● Your global ancestry breakdown across continents
● The ability to find people around the world who you share DNA with
● A nutrition report determining if your genetics indicate that you are prone to Vitamin D deficiency
● The type of exercise your muscles respond to best

The test includes a broad analysis of your DNA but if you want to explore a deeper or wider range of reports, a simple one-click process will unlock the next step in your DNA adventure.

Upgrades - Starter kit customers can upgrade to the ancestry experience for $49 and the wellbeing experience for $69.


Ancestry Kit - $99/£99

Living DNA’s ancestry experience is the most advanced in the industry, working to determine not only the countries where your ancestry is from, but where possible, sub-regions within those countries. The result is a DNA kit with the greatest number of DNA-based regions and sub-regions compared to any other in the industry. You will:

● Experience your ancestry at different points through history
● Uncover people who genetically match with you and are part of your ‘extended family’
● Learn about areas of the world where people live today who share your DNA
● Receive your recent ancestry report showing the countries and, where available, subregions your ancestors are from over the past 1000 years
● Delve into your extended ancestry exploring the migration paths your ancestors took out of Africa 80,000 years ago through today

This complete view of your ancestry is delivered through an intuitive interactive online platform as well as an optional hardcover personalized coffee table book for $69.00.

Ancestry kit customers will be able to upgrade to the full wellbeing experience for $69.

Wellbeing Kit - $129/£129

Living DNA’s wellbeing experience is designed to cast a light on your unique genetics that play a part in your quality of life. Discover how through understanding your body, it may be possible to improve the quality of your life by making adjustments to your diet and exercise.

Living DNA provides you with reports that indicate how your body responds to lifestyle-related analysis such as:

● How your body responds to different vitamins
● How your body breaks down foods to which your body may be sensitive to such as gluten or lactose
● How your body responds to different types of fitness.
● How we can help you understand what type of exercise best supports your body, for instance, DNA can indicate if you are better suited to running and sprinting or weight and circuit training.

Using a simple mouth swab, your DNA is analysed on the unique Living DNA system that allows us to provide a range of advanced reports focused around your goals. From weight management, vitality and digestion to strength and stamina, you will discover how genetically, your body breaks down different vitamins, food types and the exercise program that can support you. Understand the role genetics plays with your lifestyle choices and how you can optimise your wellbeing.

Customers who order at launch will also receive a complimentary 180-day updates package worth $39 that provides new reports as we release them.

Upgrades - Wellbeing kit customers can upgrade to the ancestry experience for $49.
Wellbeing + Ancestry kit- $179/£179

For our most complete experience, the combined wellbeing and ancestry DNA kit brings all the benefits of the two detailed products together at an incredible price. The combined DNA kit will enable you to understand the full depths of your ancestry, bringing family stories to life and unlocking goal-orientated wellbeing reports that help you to live a greater quality of life.

(With thanks to David Nicholson at LivingDNA)

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.

Wednesday 16 October 2019

Military Archives releases The Collins Papers Online

From Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie):

The Collins Papers Online Release

In response to the ongoing Decade of Centenaries and increased public interest in accessing archives which chart the revolutionary period, the Military Archives is pleased to announce the online release of The Collins Papers. Over 6,000 documents dating from 1918 to early 1922, taking in the War of Independence years (1919 – 1921) and tumultuous post Truce and Treaty period are held in The Collins Papers.

The collection contains communications (despatches) mainly between I.R.A. Brigade and Battalion Officers and predominately those holding appointments in I.R.A. General Headquarters including Michael Collins, Richard Mulcahy, Cathal Brugha and Gearoid O’Sullivan. The chief creator and man behind most of the paperwork held in this collection was General Michael Collins. The collection, which has been in the custody of the Military Archives for decades, was named ‘The Collins Papers’ to signify that connection.

The paperwork links to Michael Collins’ successive G.H.Q. appointments post the third Convention of the Irish Volunteers (19th November 1917) including the periods when he was Director of Organisation, Adjutant General and Director of Intelligence. Much of the later intelligence material (post Truce and Treaty period) held in the collection can be attributed to Collins’ intelligence deputies, Frank Thornton and Liam Tobin. The collection also contains a number of files linked to Collins' ministerial position in the Department of Finance and as Teachta Dála (TD) for Armagh (1921-1922) in Dáil Eireann.

The release of these papers online marks the final stage in a very long journey which took these papers from their point of creation to eventual preservation in the Military Archives. The advent of the Collins Papers online presents new opportunities to a global audience to analyse the years preceding and encompassing the War of Independence and the post Truce and Treaty period, using the records created by I.R.A. leaders and General Headquarters staff.

More details on the collection, its archival history and contents can be found by visiting the Collection Page, which also includes a customised search tool to assist users in the navigation of the catalogue and the associated digitised collection files.

* The original announcement is at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/en/news-updates/single-view/article/the-collins-papers-online-release

(With thanks to Claire Santry via Irish Genealogy News)

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.

FamilySearch adds indexed Shropshire parish records

More releases from FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org), with the number of new or added indexed records in brackets:

England, Shropshire Parish Registers, 1538-1918 (775,855)
France Deaths and Burials, 1546-1960 (341,046)
France, Marriages, 1546-1924 (1,209,615)
Sweden, Stockholm City Archives, Index to Church Records, 1546-1927 (22,902)
Alabama, Church Records, 1831-1994 (11,048)
Delaware, Church Records, 1707-1939 (75,282)
Hawaii, Tax Assessment Rolls, 1847-1903 (48,133)
Illinois, Church Records, 1837-1995 (28,599)
Kansas State Census, 1905 (30,672)
Louisiana, Parish Voter Registration Records, 1867-1905 (132,854)
Maryland, Church Records, 1668-1995 (88,574)
Massachusetts, Church Records, 1630-1943 (6,606)
Minnesota, Church Records, 1798-1991 (4,977)
New Hampshire, Church Records, 1771-1905 (404)
New York, Church Records, 1660-1954 (106,989)
Ohio, Clermont County Tax Records, 1816-1900 (116,184)
Uruguay, Passenger Lists, 1888-1980 (1,017,722)

Further details and direct links at https://media.familysearch.org/new-free-historical-records-on-familysearch-week-of-14-october-2019/

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.

Tuesday 15 October 2019

FamilySearch adds Sussex parish register records

Amongst the latest additions to the FamilySearch website (www.familysearch.org) are 1,223,484 indexed records added to the England Sussex Parish Registers 1538-1910 collection at https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1465706, as sourced from West Sussex County Record Office, Chichester.

In addition, the following collections have been added or updated this week:
  • Czech Republic Land Records 1450-1889
  • United States Freedmen's Bureau Records of Freedmen's Complaints 1865- 1872
  • Utah Tremonton and Garland Obituaries 1959-2013
  • New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists 1906-1942
  • District of Columbia Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records 1863-1872
  • Czech Republic School Registers 1799-1953
  • Peru Cusco Civil Registration 1889-1997
  • United States Freedmen's Bureau Ration Records1865-1872
  • Illinois DeKalb County Land Records 1838-1927
  • United States Freedmen's Bureau Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education 1865-1872
  • Norway Probate Index Cards 1640-1903
  • England Sussex Parish Registers 1538-1910
  • Czech Republic Church Books 1552-1963
  • Peru La Libertad Civil Registration 1903-1998
  • New Hampshire Vital and Town Records Index 1656-1938
  • Arizona County Marriages 1871-1964
  • Portugal Porto Catholic Church Records 1535-1949
  • Michigan Obituaries 1820-2006
  • New Jersey, State Census, 1855
  • Minnesota Clay County School Census Records 1909-1962
  • United States Muster Rolls of the Marine Corps 1798-1937

For further details, visit https://media.familysearch.org/new-free-historical-records-on-familysearch-week-of-14-october-2019/

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.

Irish Times Revolution Files supplement

Today's Irish Times has a The Revolution Files supplement, documenting stories from throughout the Irish revolutionary period and across the whiole island.

The sources for the material include the Military Services Pension Collection and other materials from the Defence Forces, as held by Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie).

To read the content visit https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/century/the-revolution-files


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.

Monday 14 October 2019

New Angus Antiquarian Burial Grounds website

A new website lisitng burials from Angus (Forfarshire) in Scotland, is now online.

Darren Eyers' Angus Antiquarian, Burial Grounds platform is available at http://graveyards.angus-antiquarian.info/index.php and carries records transcriptions and photos for the following sites:

New Howff, Dundee
Logie, Dundee
Old Mains, Dundee
St Andrews, church
St Peter's, Dundee.
St Aidans, Broughty Ferry
St Peter's, Invergowrie

Further details are available on the website.

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.

Saturday 12 October 2019

North Buckinghamshire Lloyd George Domesday Survey records online

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

North Buckinghamshire Lloyd George Domesday records added to TheGenealogist’s Map Explorer™

TheGenealogist has just released the North Buckinghamshire maps and field books into its property ownership and occupancy record set, The Lloyd George Domesday Survey. This unique online resource allows researchers to discover where an ancestor lived in the 1910-1915 period from various London districts and now, for the first time, North Buckinghamshire.

These records make use of TheGenealogist’s powerful new Map Explorer™ to access the maps and residential data, giving those who want to discover where their ancestors lived in the period before the First World War some powerful new features to use. The Lloyd George Domesday Survey records are sourced from The National Archives and are being digitised by TheGenealogist so that it is possible to precisely locate where an ancestor lived on large scale, hand annotated maps. These plans include plots for the exact properties and are married to various georeferenced historic map overlays and modern base maps on the Map Explorer™ which allows the researcher to thoroughly investigate the area in which an ancestor lived.

This release includes the following places: Addington, Akeley, Ashendon and Dorton, Aston Abbotts and Wingrave, Aston Clinton, Aston Sandford, Astwoo, Aylesbury, Barton Hartshorn, Beachampton, Biddlesden, Bierton, Bletchley, Boarstall, Bow Brickhill, Bradwell, Broughton, Buckingham, Calverton, Castlethorpe, Charndon, Chearsley and Long Crendon, Cheddington, Chicheley, Clifton Reynes, Cold Brayfield, Creslow and Whitchurch, Cublington, Cuddington, Dinton, Stone and Hartwell, Drayton Beauchamp, Drayton Parslow and Mursley, Dunton and Hoggeston, East Claydon, Edgcott and Marsh Gibbon, Edlesborough, Emberton, Fenny Stratford, Fleet Marston and Quarrendon, Foscott, Gayhurst, Grandborough, Hogshaw and North Marston, Great and Little Brickhill, Great Horwood, Great Linford, Grendon Underwood, Haddenham, Halton and Wendover, Hanslope, Hardwick and Weedon, Haversham, Hillesden, Ickford, Ivinghoe, Kingsey, Kingswood and Ludgershall, Lillingstone, Linslade and Soulbury, Loughton, Luffield Abbey and Stowe, Marsworth and Pitstone, Mentmore, Milton Keynes, Nash, Newport Pagnell, Newton Longville, Olney, Oving and Pitchcott, Padbury, Quainton, Radclive, Ravenstone, Shalstone, Shenley Brook End, Simpson, Steeple Claydon, Stewkley, Stoke Hammond, Stoke Mandeville, Studley, Swanbourne and Winslow, Thornborough, Tingewick, Turweston, Upper and Lower Winchendon, Waddesdon, Walton, Water Eaton, Wavendon, Weston Turville, Wing, Wolverton, Woolstone and Woughton, Wotton Underwood.


TheGenealogist’s Lloyd George Domesday records link individual properties to extremely detailed maps used in 1910-1915
  • Fully searchable by name, county, parish and street
  • The maps will zoom down to show the individual properties as they were in the 1910s
  • The transparency slider reveals a modern street map underlay
  • Change the base map displayed to more clearly understand what the area looks like today

Read our article on finding Bletchley Park in these records:
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2019/north-buckinghamshire-maps-reveal-bletchley-park-1194/

(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.