FIBIS Indian Cemeteries Project

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

FIBIS Cemeteries Project

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

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


Donate to the FIBIS cemeteries project

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

Cemeteries completed
Roorkee
Secunderabad

Coming soon
Bareilly
Ferozepore

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

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

(With thanks to Valmay Young and FIBIS)

Chris

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

Lanarkshire FHS secures funding for disabled access to research room

There was a wee mention of Lanarkshire Family History Society (www.lanarkshirefhs.org.uk) in our Parliament a few days ago, via a motion but forward by the local MSP, John Pentland, Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish Labour, lodged on 28 MAY 2014:

That the Parliament welcomes the news that the Lanarkshire Family History Society has secured £8,187 in funding from the Awards for All scheme; believes that the society will use the money to install a stairlift in its resource centre so that disabled members can access the research room; understands that the society, based in Motherwell, was formed in 1991 to help local people research their family histories; applauds the society on its work, and wishes it all the best for the future.

The motion was supported by David Torrance, Anne McTaggart, David Stewart, Hanzala Malik, Roderick Campbell, Bill Kidd, Jayne Baxter, Mike MacKenzie, Jackie Baillie, Mark McDonald, Colin Beattie, Fiona McLeod, Kevin Stewart, Dennis Robertson, Maureen Watt, Bob Doris, Richard Lyle, Sandra White, Sarah Boyack.

More importantly - congrats to Lanarkshire FHS on securing its funding!

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And FindmyPast - please reinstate the original Scottish census citations on your new site.

Thanks to Fife FHS

A big thanks to Fife Family History Society, particularly Frankie and Ali, for their hospitality on Tuesday evening in Cupar, where I gave a talk on Irish genealogy resources, noting those available for research (online and offline), and discussing how to tackle the dreaded "born Ireland" conundrum in a Scottish census. Lots of fun, and one attendee nearly did a double take, as he had just returned from the National Family History Fair down in England, where I had introduced the speakers there! The Fife based society has recently launched a new website at http://fifefhs.org - well worth checking out.

The next talk I'll be giving is also on Irish resources, at the Scottish Genealogy Society's 60th anniversary conference in Edinburgh on Saturday 5th October. Full details on the event are available at http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/60thAnniversaryConference.aspx. Hopefully see you there!

Chris

My wife Claire is planning to swim from the Scottish island of Cumbrae to the town of Largs on September 14th to raise money for local charity Gillian's Saltire Appeal, providing respite for families affected by cancer (Claire's mum and sister in Ireland have previously come through cancer, whilst my mum, based in England, currently has bladder cancer). Her Just Giving sponsorship page, with further details, is at http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Paton1. If you can help to sponsor her, even by a wee amount, we'd be very grateful - many thanks!

Derry Jewish history talk

Foyle Family History Society in Derry is holding a talk by Phillippa Robinson on February 4th 2013 at Derry Central Library on the Jewish Communities of Derry – the stories of the Londonderry Hebrew Synagogue and the Derrycraft workers from Vienna.

For further details visit http://hmd.org.uk/events/find/northern-ireland/12932-foyle-family-history-society-derry-n-ireland-talk-on-local-jewish-community-history.

Chris

Pre-order my new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, through Pen and Sword (30 April 2013), or purchase early at Who Do You Think You Are Live 2013 in London. For my other genealogy books, please visit  http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html; whilst for my online Scottish based genealogy courses please visit the Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd site.

Cambridgeshire's CAMDEX indexes for BMDs

Cambridgeshire County Council Registration Service has announced a new online site produced in partnership with Cambridgeshire Family History Society to provide access to the indexes of births, marriages and deaths recorded at a local level in Cambridgeshire from 1837 to the present day. Known as CAMDEX, the site has some two million indexed records, and is free to use. The full story is at the Fenland Citizen website at www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/community/community-news/fenland-family-history-records-to-go-online-1-4423569.

Locally registered documents sometimes contain more information than those transferred through to the centralised GRO, with a handful not even making it to the GRO, so can certainly be worth pursuing. To order a local copy of such a record will cost £10, though this now compares unfavourably to the records from the GRO at £9.25, following recently imposed price rises in England and Wales by the Westminster Government.

For equivalent indexes to local records in many other counties across England and Wales, visit the UKBMD site at www.ukbmd.org.uk.

UPDATE: The link seems to have died for the Fenland Citizen - CAMDEX can be accessed directly at www.camdex.org.uk/search.cfm

UPDATE: And the Fenland Citizen link is alive again! :)

Chris

Scotland 1750-1850 - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 2 NOV 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Glasgow City Council loses FOI case on burials

I've received the following from Sheila Duffy of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society (www.gwsfhs.org.uk), who has herself received it from one of the society's members (thanks to both). It concerns a decision made by the Scottish Information Commissioner in March 2012, and so events may have been superseded since then (perhaps via appeal).

In September 2010 John McKnight requested information from Glasgow City Council concerning two burials within Glasgow's Eastern Necropolis, essentially asking for details of who was buried in a lair there. The council stated that to perform a search would cost £62. The alternatives were to use search facilities at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow or at New Register House, Edinburgh. Unsatisfied, John McKnight resubmitted his application as a request under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act (FOISA), but was turned down by the Council. The request was unsuccessfully appealed and then sent to the Information Commissioner for adjudication.

In her decision, the Information Commissioner ruled that the council had failed to prove that it could block the FOISA request through various lines of argument. For example, New Register House does not have any burials information for the cemetery, and the Mitchell Library only holds records from 1847-1918, with the info only publicly available on 6 very poorly photographed and unindexed microfilms (I know how bad they are, I've tried to use them myself!). The application specified no time scale, so this was clearly inadequate also. The FOI exemptions quoted by the Council also did not apply in this case.

In the investigation there are some interesting revelations - the publication scheme created in 2004 that the Council was relying on expired in 2009 and was not replaced, and there is also news on the work being carried out by the National Records of Scotland with the Mitchell Library and Family Search (records have been digitised but yet to be indexed), so a worthwhile read. The final decision was as follows:

DECISION

The Commissioner finds that Glasgow City Council (the Council) failed to comply with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) in responding to the information request made by Mr McKnight. By incorrectly withholding the information in terms of sections 25(1) and 33(1)(b) of FOISA, the Council failed to comply with section 1(1) of FOISA.

In order to comply with Part 1 of FOISA, the Commissioner therefore requires the Council to provide Mr McKnight with the information withheld, or to issue a notice to Mr McKnight in terms of sections 9 or 12 of FOISA by 15 May 2012

The Commissioner also finds that the Council failed to respond to Mr McKnight’s requirement for review within the timescale specified in section 21(1) of FOISA. The Commissioner does not require the Council to take any action in respect of this failure, in response to Mr McKnight’s application.


It has been suggested that it might be worth getting FOISA applications in on the basis of using this as a precedent, though do bear in mind if you choose to do so that the Information Commissioner does advise that "she will decide each case on an individual basis". I am also unclear as to whether this has been appealed by the council and if there has been any follow up.

The full decision is available at www.itspublicknowledge.info/UploadedFiles/Decision059-2012.pdf

Chris

Scotland 1750-1850 - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 2 NOV 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Bromley Central Library family history session

Members of North West Kent Family History Society (www.nwkfhs.org.uk) will be at Bromley Central Library on Saturday 27th October to help at a family history drop in session. No need to book, turn up for free genealogical advice!

The full story is at www.bromley.gov.uk/press/article/580/find_out_more_about_your_family_history

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Northumberland History Fair

The 3rd Northumberland History Fair takes place at Woodhorn Museum on Sunday 28th October. Attending the fair will be Clan Johnstone Association, Hexham Local History Society, Northumberland and Durham Family History Society, Wallsend and Glendale Local History Societies, Border Family History Society, Mining Institute, North East War Memorials Project, Isaac’s Tea Trail, Relatively Helpful

For further details visit www.experiencewoodhorn.com/3rd-northumberland-history-fair/

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

The Belfast Blitz in Alloway!

A huge thank you to Alloway and Southern Ayrshire Family History Society (www.asafhs.co.uk) for its warm hospitality last night, when I gave a talk on tracing Irish ancestry.

There is a saying in Northern Ireland that everyone knows everyone through everyone else - there's no truer instance than last night! I wrote an article for the first edition of the Irish Family and Local History Handbook last year on the experience of my family within the Belfast Blitz, when my grandparents' house was damaged by a German bomb. In the article I quoted a gentlemen who I had managed to trace who remembered my family from then, and who as a small boy was also present on the same night in the same part of Belfast. He had hidden with his aunt's family under an oak table, and when a parachute bomb blew up and destroyed most of the house, the family had survived in an air pocket in the rubble, thanks to the sturdiness of the table. Well last night, I met this guy's cousin! He had a copy of my article and also brought along a photograph of his aunt who had resided in the property I had described at Vandyck Gardens - so yes, we do indeed all know everyone in Northern Ireland through everyone else!

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Thanks to Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS - & new CD

A huge thanks to Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society for its warm welcome last night at Hillhead Library, where I gave a talk on some online resources that tie into what is available on ScotlandsPeople, but which take the research journey a bit further. I last spoke there about a year and a half ago, and the subject was online Irish research resources, which got a packed audience (always one of the more popular talks I give in Scotland!). Last night however, was equally as packed with its attendance, certainly a thriving society! Keep an eye out on its website (www.gwsfhs.org.uk), because the society will soon be moving to new premises for its monthly talks, within the next couple of months or so.

Also, I said I'd give them a quick plug for a new product! The society has just released a new CD - The Glasgow Necropolis: 7,000 Photographs and Transcriptions of the Monuments within Glasgow. Price TBA, and it will be released in November through the website as noted above.

Thanks again folks!

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Glamorgan Family History Fair

Another quick plug for Glamorgan Family History Fair in Merthyr Tydfil next Saturday, 13th October - see www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wlsglfhs/openday12.htm.

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

An Daonchartlann opening hours

From the Federation of Family History Societies (www.ffhs.org.uk)

ARCHIVES & RESEARCH CENTRE

An Daonchartlann - the Archives & Research Centre of the Genealogical Society of Ireland located at the Carlisle Pier (Old Mail-Boat Pier) in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland, will be open until Saturday November 3rd 2013 as follows:

Monday evenings from 18.00hrs to 21.00hrs (except Bank Holidays); on Wednesdays from 10.30hrs to 16.30hrs (except the 4th Weds. open 13.00hrs) and on Saturdays from 14.00hrs 18.00hrs providing family history research advice, free of charge, to visitors to the facility.

The Society also offers advice to groups planning ancestry events to be held as part of the nationwide festival of The Gathering 2013.

For directions to the GSI Archives & Research Centre please see www.familyhistory.ie

(With thanks to Beryl Evans)

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Dig Up Your Roots in West Lancashire

From Ormskirk and District FHS (www.odfhs.org.uk):

ROOTS Event Saturday 15/09/12

Our "Dig up your Roots in West Lancashire" event now has 11 groups due to attend & talks will be given.It is next Saturday, 15th September 2012, from 10am to 4pm and it is FREE.

The Emmanuel Methodist United Reformed Church is on Derby Street Ormskirk, directly opposite the Railway Station and behind the Bus station. There is parking for disabled on site an plenty of pay & Display parking nearby. The post code is L39 2DE.

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Family history open evening in Milngavie

Dunbartonshire Family History Society is holding an open evening for those interested in getting started with research on Thursday September 13 at 7.30pm in Milngavie Community Centre. For further details contact chairperson Anne Byers on 0141 943 0281 or the secretary Sheena Gardiner on 0141 942 7896.

The society is a slightly invisible group - it's not a member of SAFHS, and doesn't yet have a website - but I gave a talk to them in the last season and they are a very friendly bunch, with regular talks held in a great venue. So do check them out, they definitely know what they're talking about! :)

(With thanks to the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald)

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Sulgrave Manor family day

It's a bank holiday in England next Monday 27th August, and as such Sulgrave Manor will be hosting a special family day, which will include dressing up for children, family tours, outdoor activities, trails, old-fashioned games, brass rubbing, colouring activities, and a chance for visitors to dig deep into their own pasts with members of Northamptonshire Family History Society. Further details are available at www.sulgravemanor.org.uk.

(With thanks to the Banbury Guardian)

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Midlands Family History Fair

Thanks to Christine Hancock for the following:

The Midlands Family History Fair
25th August, Warriors Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium, Worcester

Come along and meet members of local family history societies and find out how they can help you! Listen to talks by Dr. Nick Barratt (President of FFHS), Mark Bayley of S. & N. Genealogy Supplies and Frank Townsend from Malvern FHS.

Further Information from www.herefordshirefhs.org.uk/events/31

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Devon FHS AGM and conference

Devon Family History Society's AGM/Conference is to be held on 6th October 2012 at Belmont Chapel, Western Way, Exeter EX1 2DB.

For the full programme, speakers' details, map and booking details, please visit www.devonfhs.org.uk/agm.htm.

(With thanks to Maureen Selley, Chairman and Conference Organiser, Devon FHS)

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Buchan Family History Beginner’s Workshop

The Family History Society of Buchan is running a Family History Beginner’s Workshop in Arbuthnot House, Broad Street, Peterhead, on Monday, September 10th 2012. For further details, and to access an application form to participate, please visit www.buchanroots.co.uk. The fee is £5.

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

The Facebook Generation - Buckinghamshire talk

On Tuesday 14th August, at 7.15pm, DNA guru and genealogist Debbie Kennett will be giving a talk entitled The Facebook Generation to Buckinghamshire FHS (www.bucksfhs.org.uk). The venue is the Community Centre, Wakeman Road, Bourne End. The talk will look at social networking and family history. Non-members are welcome, with a small donation appreciated.

(With thanks to Bucks Free Press)

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Family history open day at Bourne

THE Bourne branch of the Lincolnshire Family History Society is hosting an annual open day on August 18th at the Bourne United Reformed Church Hall, Spalding Road. The event is free, and runs from 10am to 4pm.

For more information visit www.lincolnshirefhs.org.uk/lfhs/documents/BourneOpenDay20120818.pdf.

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)