It's been a while since I've heard from the Hebrides People (www.hebridespeople.com) folk on the Isle of Harris, so it's great to be able to bring the following update from Chris Lawson of Co Leis Thu? - it's a bit lengthy, but does give both an update on new additions to the database, but also a useful case study as to how to use the site. Here goes...!
UPDATE
The immediate news is that we have now added Lochs Parish to the main data-base, so that it now includes Lochs and Stornoway parishes – the whole eastern side of Lewis - as well as Harris, bringing the total number of entries to sixty-three thousand! We were now working on the Parish of Uig, which, with a bit of luck and a lot of embrocation for my typing fingers, should be ready by the end of the autumn.
I am frequently asked how clients can get the most results from the databases , and perhaps the best explanation is to give an example. We had an enquiry recently from a client in Connecticut whose ancestor was George, a son of William and Rachel MacLeod, who had come from the Isle of Lewis in the mid-eighteen hundreds.
Most emigration from Lewis at the period was to the Eastern Townships of Quebec, near the border with the USA, from 1838 to 1863, and to Bruce County, Ontario, near Lake Huron, in the 1850s.
We can then look up the hebridespeople.com website; this is done by buying credits – minimum £10 for 10 credits, with reductions for larger quantities.
We look first in the emigrants section, of which the entry screen costs one credit. If we call up all William MacLeods on the emigration section of the data base, we find twenty-three William MacLeods – which is interesting, but not particularly useful! – but there is also a summary of the information for each. From this we can see only one that fits the details we have, so we can call up his entry. Alternatively by specifying more details on the entry screen we can call up directly any that fit.
You can see that the ease of identifying the correct person depends on the amount of starting information – there are over 350 John MacDonalds on the database, so obviously a great deal of information would be required to identify any one person of that name, whereas a Farquhar MacLennan is probably unique. Our database does not of course claim to be wholly comprehensive (though we are adding to it all the time) but it does cover all the main families we can trace in the main emigration areas.
In our case, we have identified the appropriate entry, so we can call it up, at a cost of 5 credits -
William MacLeod ; born 1813; married to Rachel Finlayson; son of Donald MacLeod and Margaret MacKenzie; left from Branahuie, Stornoway Parish, Isle of Lewis; settled in Lingwick Township, Compton County, Quebec, in 1842
The information about where they came from and where they settled is gathered from census returns both in Scotland and in Quebec, which also give us an indication of ages – neither William nor Rachel appears in the OPR for Stornoway Parish. We know from Quebec records that William and Rachel both died in 1899, but the records do not show parents’ names. However, we know from oral tradition that William was a brother of a Mrs Catherine MacLeod of Bayble, Lewis, and her death register there in 1907 shows her parents as Donald and Mary MacLeod.
There is even less formal information about Rachel – only an entry in the census of 1841, but her Gaelic patronymic is remembered as Raonaid Dhomhnaill ‘ic Sheorais – Rachel, daughter of Donald son of George – that her father was drowned when she was a young girl and that she was brought up by her uncle John Finlayson of Coll, in Lewis.
References are shown for our emigrant register – Q608 – and our Hebridean register – 8325. These refer to Family Notes and a handwritten Family Sheet, both of which can in many cases be accessed direct from the emigration database.
Alternatively, or in the case of non-emigrant families, we can then move to the main Hebridean database. This is currently available for the Parishes of Lochs and Stornoway on Lewis, and for the Parish of Harris, but other parishes are being entered as available.
Again access to the entry sheet costs one credit, and again, the more information you have, the easier it is to identify the correct entry – on this database there are already over 700 John MacDonalds, and many more to come!
Having chosen the correct entry, you can then download it for a further five credits. This will give parents, where known, spouse where appropriate, date and place of birth (though pre-1855 these may be from census records and not necessarily wholly accurate), date and place of marriage, date and place of death (if known) our family tree reference for the person and spouse, and where they have been located in appropriate census records from 1841 to 1901.
Access can also be had to Family Notes, which give earlier family history, the first generation of children, and their marriage details and references. These cost a further ten credits.
In the example we are using, we get more information about the members of the extended family of William (Ref 8325) and Rachel MacLeod - Donald MacLeod of 11/12 Branahuie is believed to have been a son of Murdo, but nothing further is known about him. He was married to Mary MacKenzie, daughter of John MacKenzie and Ann MacKinnon, with four of a family – Margaret, who did not marry; Isabella, who married Roderick MacIver of Tolsta and emigrated to the Eastern Townships of Quebec; Catherine, who married Donald MacLeod (8456) of 37 Lower Bayble, and William, who married Rachel Finlayson, daughter of Donald Finlayson (7285) of Tong, and also emigrated to the Eastern Townships of Quebec, where they were among the first settlers on the shores of Lac Megantic.
If we call up the Family Notes for Rachel’s cross-reference (7222) we find – George Finlayson of Aird Tong was a son of James Finlayson, who according to some sources came to Lewis from Lochcarron in Wester Ross in the 1750s. George Finlayson was married to Ann MacLeod, but nothing further is known about her. George had a brother John who appears in estate rentals in Tong as mac Sheumais mhic Anndra – son of James son of Andrew. George Finlayson had five of a family – John, of whom nothing further is known; Ann, who married Murdo MacIver in Quebec; Kirsty, who married John MacDonald, also in Quebec; and Donald, whose daughter Rachel married William MacLeod (8325) of Branahuie and Quebec.
Access is also available to family sheets, which are working family tree sheets, hand-written by Bill Lawson, showing the family from the earlier records to the 1920s, with cross-referencing of spouses. These also cost ten credits, so that the whole information made available costs twenty-six units (£26) – surely a bargain for the amount of information provided. If your starting information is less exact, you may have to spend more credits in making the first identification of the correct family, so the moral, as in all genealogy, is to do your homework first!
Not all researches will end up so successful as this of course – there are many cases where the source information is just not available – but perhaps this example will show what can be done.
(With thanks to Chris Lawson)
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 please consider purchasing the great new version of Caledonia by The Libations at 79p via www.caledonia2014.com - all profits go to help fund Scottish foodbanks
Showing posts with label Hebrides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrides. Show all posts
Monday, 11 August 2014
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Conservation work at Kisimul Castle
From the Historic Scotland and RCAMHS joint newsletter:
A commitment to Kisimul
One of Scotland's most iconic castles is to undergo major conservation, archaeological and interpretation work as part of a plan agreed between Historic Scotland and Macneil of Barra.
Kisimul Castle of the Isle of Barra is regarded as the most significant medieval castle in the Western Isles. The work, which will see an investment of over £200,000, half of which is coming from funds donated by Clan Macneil members, represents a unique opportunity to conserve and secure the site for current and future generations. It will also result in an improved visitor experience and ensure that the fabric and structure of the castle are conserved for years to come. Gaelic will be a key consideration in the interpretation that will be developed for the site.
As part of the plan, three key projects will be completed by the end of 2015 - re-roofing the flat roof over the hall, reinforcing concrete structures and overhauling the chapel roof and incorporating a new timber walkway. Upgrading works to slipways at the Castle and on the shore will follow at a later date. Historic Scotland have made special efforts to record local knowledge of the source of materials used to build the Castle. In this way, it should be easier to more accurately conserve the fabric of Kisimul.
Rory Macneil, the 47th Clan Chief said, 'Agreement on the conservation plan is a milestone in the long and varied history of Kisimul Castle. It opens the door to completion of the immediate projects covered by the plan and long term conservation of this unique structure. This plan will help ensure that Kisimul continues to play a central, symbolic and economic role in Barra and Vatersay, and to serve as an inspiration to MacNeils around the world.'
Ian Walford, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland said, 'Kisimul Castle is a true icon of the Western Isles, representing Barra's rich, colourful and sometimes turbulent history. There are few castles of this nature in Scotland, sitting proud in the island's main harbour and for most visitors it is their first experience of Barra's historic environment. We are delighted to be launching this plan. Working in partnership with Macneil of Barra, this plan will conserve and enhance a truly magical site in a spectacular Scottish setting for future generations to come.'
(The full newsletter is available at http://rcahms.cmph.org/o/JlC5vQI2RCA)
Chris
My latest book, Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records, is now available from http://www.gould.com.au (print) and http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html (ebook), whilst Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet is available at http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-History-on-the-Internet/p/3889/. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs, starts Nov 13th - see http://pharostutors.com.
A commitment to Kisimul
One of Scotland's most iconic castles is to undergo major conservation, archaeological and interpretation work as part of a plan agreed between Historic Scotland and Macneil of Barra.
Kisimul Castle of the Isle of Barra is regarded as the most significant medieval castle in the Western Isles. The work, which will see an investment of over £200,000, half of which is coming from funds donated by Clan Macneil members, represents a unique opportunity to conserve and secure the site for current and future generations. It will also result in an improved visitor experience and ensure that the fabric and structure of the castle are conserved for years to come. Gaelic will be a key consideration in the interpretation that will be developed for the site.
As part of the plan, three key projects will be completed by the end of 2015 - re-roofing the flat roof over the hall, reinforcing concrete structures and overhauling the chapel roof and incorporating a new timber walkway. Upgrading works to slipways at the Castle and on the shore will follow at a later date. Historic Scotland have made special efforts to record local knowledge of the source of materials used to build the Castle. In this way, it should be easier to more accurately conserve the fabric of Kisimul.
Rory Macneil, the 47th Clan Chief said, 'Agreement on the conservation plan is a milestone in the long and varied history of Kisimul Castle. It opens the door to completion of the immediate projects covered by the plan and long term conservation of this unique structure. This plan will help ensure that Kisimul continues to play a central, symbolic and economic role in Barra and Vatersay, and to serve as an inspiration to MacNeils around the world.'
Ian Walford, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland said, 'Kisimul Castle is a true icon of the Western Isles, representing Barra's rich, colourful and sometimes turbulent history. There are few castles of this nature in Scotland, sitting proud in the island's main harbour and for most visitors it is their first experience of Barra's historic environment. We are delighted to be launching this plan. Working in partnership with Macneil of Barra, this plan will conserve and enhance a truly magical site in a spectacular Scottish setting for future generations to come.'
(The full newsletter is available at http://rcahms.cmph.org/o/JlC5vQI2RCA)
Chris
My latest book, Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records, is now available from http://www.gould.com.au (print) and http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html (ebook), whilst Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet is available at http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-History-on-the-Internet/p/3889/. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs, starts Nov 13th - see http://pharostutors.com.
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Museum of Islay Life on Facebook
There's a new Facebook page just started for the Museum of Islay Life at www.facebook.com/pages/Museum-of-Islay-Life/253572141449875 - well worth signing up to if your lot came from Argyll and Islay in particular.
(With thanks to Jenni Minto)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
(With thanks to Jenni Minto)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Friday, 25 January 2013
Lewis records on HebridesPeople
More from HebridesPeople:
Northton Heritage Trust are happy to announce that the next instalment of their hebridespeople database is now available on www.hebridespeople.com The first stage was the publication of the emigrant database, and this was followed with the database for families connected with the Isle of Harris, including Berneray and St Kilda. Now it is the turn of the Point area of Lewis.
The site works on the principle of purchasing credits, which will be familiar to those who have used the scotlandspeople website. Entering a name will show all persons of that name on the database, their date of birth and parish of birth, and by choosing the appropriate entry you can find access directly to place of birth, parents (where known) date and place of marriage and death, together with a note of where that person appears in the census records from 1841 to 1901. Dates are only shown as years, but with this information exact dates and certificates etc. can be accessed from scotlandspeople if desired.
The database also allows access to two further unique features - family notes and family sheets. These take the researcher beyond research into individual persons to research into whole families. The family notes give a summary of the family history. They are based on the 1851 census as a datum-line, working back as far as possible – usually to the generation born in about 1750/60, and forward as far as 1920. The family sheets are hand-written work-sheets, compiled by Bill Lawson for each family, showing the lines of descent in the male line, together with cross referencing of the female line to their spouses’ family sheets. There is also a gazetteer available, with a summarised history of each township for those less familiar with Harris.
So there we have stage 3 of the database containing 12,000 records of people connected with the Point area. It is hoped to gradually add all the other parishes of the Outer Hebrides over the next few years.
The project has been funded by HIE, LEADER Innse Gall, Comunn na Gaidhlig, and the Heritage Lottery Fund and the website design and genealogical application is by Reefnet Ltd.
(With thanks to Bill and Chris Lawson)
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.
Northton Heritage Trust are happy to announce that the next instalment of their hebridespeople database is now available on www.hebridespeople.com The first stage was the publication of the emigrant database, and this was followed with the database for families connected with the Isle of Harris, including Berneray and St Kilda. Now it is the turn of the Point area of Lewis.
The site works on the principle of purchasing credits, which will be familiar to those who have used the scotlandspeople website. Entering a name will show all persons of that name on the database, their date of birth and parish of birth, and by choosing the appropriate entry you can find access directly to place of birth, parents (where known) date and place of marriage and death, together with a note of where that person appears in the census records from 1841 to 1901. Dates are only shown as years, but with this information exact dates and certificates etc. can be accessed from scotlandspeople if desired.
The database also allows access to two further unique features - family notes and family sheets. These take the researcher beyond research into individual persons to research into whole families. The family notes give a summary of the family history. They are based on the 1851 census as a datum-line, working back as far as possible – usually to the generation born in about 1750/60, and forward as far as 1920. The family sheets are hand-written work-sheets, compiled by Bill Lawson for each family, showing the lines of descent in the male line, together with cross referencing of the female line to their spouses’ family sheets. There is also a gazetteer available, with a summarised history of each township for those less familiar with Harris.
So there we have stage 3 of the database containing 12,000 records of people connected with the Point area. It is hoped to gradually add all the other parishes of the Outer Hebrides over the next few years.
The project has been funded by HIE, LEADER Innse Gall, Comunn na Gaidhlig, and the Heritage Lottery Fund and the website design and genealogical application is by Reefnet Ltd.
(With thanks to Bill and Chris Lawson)
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.
Monday, 3 December 2012
Harris families on Hebrides People
From Hebrides People (www.hebridespeople.com)
Harris families revealed!
Northton Heritage Trust is happy to announce that the second instalment of their www.hebridespeople.com database is now available. The first stage was the publication of the emigrant database, and this has now been followed with the database for families connected with the Isle of Harris, Berneray and St Kilda.
The site works on the principle of purchasing credits, which will be familiar to those who have used the scotlandspeople website. Entering a name will show all persons of that name on the database, their date of birth and parish of birth, and by choosing the appropriate entry you can find access directly to place of birth, parents (where known) date and place of marriage and death, together with a note of where that person appears in the census records from 1841 to 1901. Dates are only shown as years, but with this information exact dates and certificates etc. can be accessed from scotlandspeople if desired.
The database also allows access to two further unique features - family notes and family sheets. These take the researcher beyond research into individual persons to research into whole families. The family notes give a summary of the family history. They are based on the 1851 census as a datum-line, working back as far as possible – usually to the generation born in about 1750/60, and forward as far as 1920. The family sheets are hand-written work-sheets, compiled by Bill Lawson for each family, showing the lines of descent in the male line, together with cross referencing of the female line to their spouses’ family sheets. There is also a gazetteer available, with a summarised history of each township for those less familiar with Harris.
So there we have stage 2 of the database. Stage 3, comprising the families of the Point peninsula in Lewis should be ready soon, and it is hoped to gradually add all the other parishes of the Outer Hebrides over the next few years.
The project is funded by HIE, LEADER Innse Gall, Heritage Lottery Fund and Comunn na Gaidhlig. The website has been created and managed by Reefnet Ltd.
(With thanks to Bill and Chris Lawson)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Harris families revealed!
Northton Heritage Trust is happy to announce that the second instalment of their www.hebridespeople.com database is now available. The first stage was the publication of the emigrant database, and this has now been followed with the database for families connected with the Isle of Harris, Berneray and St Kilda.
The site works on the principle of purchasing credits, which will be familiar to those who have used the scotlandspeople website. Entering a name will show all persons of that name on the database, their date of birth and parish of birth, and by choosing the appropriate entry you can find access directly to place of birth, parents (where known) date and place of marriage and death, together with a note of where that person appears in the census records from 1841 to 1901. Dates are only shown as years, but with this information exact dates and certificates etc. can be accessed from scotlandspeople if desired.
The database also allows access to two further unique features - family notes and family sheets. These take the researcher beyond research into individual persons to research into whole families. The family notes give a summary of the family history. They are based on the 1851 census as a datum-line, working back as far as possible – usually to the generation born in about 1750/60, and forward as far as 1920. The family sheets are hand-written work-sheets, compiled by Bill Lawson for each family, showing the lines of descent in the male line, together with cross referencing of the female line to their spouses’ family sheets. There is also a gazetteer available, with a summarised history of each township for those less familiar with Harris.
So there we have stage 2 of the database. Stage 3, comprising the families of the Point peninsula in Lewis should be ready soon, and it is hoped to gradually add all the other parishes of the Outer Hebrides over the next few years.
The project is funded by HIE, LEADER Innse Gall, Heritage Lottery Fund and Comunn na Gaidhlig. The website has been created and managed by Reefnet Ltd.
(With thanks to Bill and Chris Lawson)
Chris
Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...! Also now out - new Kindle edition of Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, from http://tinyurl.com/d3vqtz5
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
1872 Education Act and Gaelic conference
A one day conference entitled The Education (Scotland) Act 1872 – A watershed for the Gaelic language is to be hosted by Tasglann nan Eilean Siar (Hebridean Archives) at Balivanich Primary School on Benbecula, August 25th 2012, to commemorate the act's 140th anniversary.
Tickets cost £10, including a light lunch, and booking forms are available from enquiries@tasglann.org.uk, by visiting www.tasglann.org.uk or telephoning 01851 822750.
For further information, including the topics and speakers, visit www.ampaipear.org.uk/2012/08/did-formal-education-really-damage-the-gaelic-language/
NB: Talks will be given bilingually in both Gaelic and English.
(With thanks to Am Paipear)
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)
Tickets cost £10, including a light lunch, and booking forms are available from enquiries@tasglann.org.uk, by visiting www.tasglann.org.uk or telephoning 01851 822750.
For further information, including the topics and speakers, visit www.ampaipear.org.uk/2012/08/did-formal-education-really-damage-the-gaelic-language/
NB: Talks will be given bilingually in both Gaelic and English.
(With thanks to Am Paipear)
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)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)