2020 SAFHS Conference in Musselburgh

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies 31st annual conference will be held at The Brunton, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, EH21 6AA, on Saturday 18th April 2020, from 9am-4.30pm.

Entitled "It's a Sair Fecht!", the price for delegates is £35, for a talks programme with four speakers. For those wishing only to attend the fair, with up to 50 stands, the entry price will be £2, payable at the door.

Further details will soon be available at https://www.safhs.org.uk/conference.php

(With thanks to Lorna Kinnaird via the Scottish Genealogy Network's Facebook page)

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

SAFHS website refreshed

I've just noticed that the website of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies at www.safhs.org.uk has had a bit of a refresh. You'll find contact details for most mainland Scottish societies on the site, as well as details of projects and other resources. Well worth bookmarking.

Chris

My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts May 13th 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Early bird tickets for SAFHS 2018 conference

Early bird tickets for the Scottish Association of Family History Societies 2018 conference are on sale until January 3rd, priced at £15, after which date the price will increase to £20.

Entitled Was Your Ancestor a Convict?, the conference will take place at The Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 5NX, from 10am-4.30pm on Saturday 21st April 2018.

For further details on the conference visit https://safhs2018.fifefhs.org.

(With thanks to Frankie Black)

Chris

Needing a Christmas present for a family history obsessed love one (or for yourself)?! For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

2018 SAFHS Conference in Fife

The 29th Scottish Association of Family History Societies (www.safhs.org) conference is to be held at the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, Fife, on Saturday 21st April 2018, from 10am-4.30pm. The event is being organised by Fife Family History Society, which ha sset up a dedicated website at https://safhs2018.fifefhs.org.

If attending the fair only, admission will be just £2 at the door, whilst accompanied children under 12 will be admitted free. For those wishing to attend the conference, the ticket price is £20. Speakers at the event will include Andrew Campbell, Emma Maxwell, Ken Nisbet and Bruce Durie.

Further details are available via the conference website.

Chris

My next 5 week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course commences Nov 6th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Elgin Courier death notices CD now on sale

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies (www.safhs.org) has announced a new CD on sale from Moray and Nairn FHS:

Death Notices, Articles Concerning Deaths, and Obituaries from the Elgin Courier, 1827-1834

New, from Moray & Nairn FHS, Death Notices, Articles Concerning Deaths, and Obituaries from the Elgin Courier, 1827-1834, published in two parts – including an account of the murder of William Ritchie, the hunt for the perpetrator, the capture and trial of William Noble, his confession and execution – the last public execution held in Elgin.

See www.morayandnairnfhs.co.uk for more details.

(With thanks to SAFHS)

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.

SAFHS conference 2017

One to bookmark - next year's Scottish Association of Family History Societies conference is being held on Saturday 22nd April 2017 at Cairn Queensferry Hotel, North Queensferry, Fife, KY11 1HP. Unusually, the conference is not being hosted by a family history society on this occasion, but by professional genealogist organisation the Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives.

For further details please visit http://www.safhs.org.uk/conference.asp.

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. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Mental health records added to Scottish Indexes

From Scottish Indexes (www.scottishindexes.com):

To celebrate the The Scottish Association of Family History Societies’ annual Conference on 23 April 2016 Scottish Indexes has releasing thousands of Scottish paternity and mental health records, as well as releasing a new section of their website ‘Mental Health Institutions in Scotland’.

These newly indexed genealogy resources can help you trace your family tree but also help you understand more fully the lives of your ancestors. The new section of the website, ‘Mental Health Institutions in Scotland’, is designed to help you locate each Scottish mental health institution and its records as well as learn about the history of mental health care in Scotland.

Emma Maxwell, Genealogist at www.scottishindexes.com and secretary of the Scottish Genealogy Network, will be giving a talk ‘Understanding Our Ancestors - A Look at Prison Registers and Mental Health Records’ at the SAFHS conference. Emma says, “Mental Health is all too often misunderstood, even today. It is our hope that by shining a light on these records people can understand their ancestors better.”

(With thanks to Emma Maxwell)

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. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

SAFHS Conference 2016 at New Lanark

A reminder that this year's annual conference for the Scottish Association of Family History Societies (www.safhs.org.uk) is being organised at New Lanark on Saturday 23rd April 2016 by Lanarkshire Family History Society (www.lanarkshirefhs.org.uk).

For further details on the conference visit http://safhs2016.weebly.com.

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. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

SAFHS 2016 conference at New Lanark

From Lanarkshire Family History Society (www.lanarkshirefhs.org.uk):

SAFHS 2016 AT NEW LANARK

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies will hold its 2016 Annual Conference and Family History Fair at New Lanark on Saturday 23rd April. The event is being hosted in the World Heritage Site village by Lanarkshire Family History Society.

The theme is “Heritage Along the Clyde”, and there will be four keynote speakers, as well as exhibitors from throughout Scotland and further afield. Family history societies from all parts of Scotland will attend, as well as major online genealogy companies FindMyPast and FamilySearch. Other exhibitors include the Scottish Genealogy Society, Guild of One-Name Studies, Scottish Monumental Inscriptions and the University of Strathclyde’s Genealogical Studies Postgraduate Programme.

FamilySearch and ASGRA (the Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives) will offer free one-to-one help and advice to anyone trying to overcome a family history “brick wall”, or needing advice on starting out on their research.

Jane Masters, Heritage Manager at New Lanark, will open the event with a talk on New Lanark Mill Village and its People; Dr Irene O’Brien, City Archivist for Glasgow will outline the Mitchell Library’s holdings on Shipbuilding and other industries on the River Clyde. After lunch, Emma Maxwell of Scottish Indexes will advise on Understanding Our Ancestors - A Look at Prison Registers and Mental Health Records; and the day will be rounded off by Dr Stephen Mullan who will speak about Runaway Slaves in Britain: Bondage, Race and Freedom in the 18th Century.

Entry to the four talks costs £16, or £20 with a buffet lunch; entry to the family history fair is free. Throughout the day, a free shuttle bus will run between the New Lanark car park and the village. The event is open between 9.30am and 4.45pm. Up to date information is available on the dedicated website at http://safhs2016.weebly.com/ where bookings can also be made.

COMMENT: Unfortunately I'll be overseas and will miss this, but with such a great venue, and with a great talks programme, this definitely looks like one not to miss!

(With thanks to Liz Irving)

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. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

LDS Family History Discovery Day in Edinburgh

A Family History Discovery Day will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Edinburgh on October 10th 2015. Registration for the event commences at 8.30am, with the first presentations available from 10am.

For further details on the programme visit www.safhs.org.uk/news.asp. For details of the centre's location, visit https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Edinburgh_Scotland_Family_History_Center

(With thanks to SAFHS)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Scottish monumental inscriptions survey

Bruce Bishop has recently reported to SAFHS (www.safhs.org.uk) the findings of a short survey of the monumental inscriptions records that have been gathered by Scottish based family history societies. The full survey is noted at http://www.safhs.org.uk/news.asp (fourth story down) and includes the following state of play summary at present:

Of the 3543 sites across Scotland, the inscriptions in 2587 have been published, there are 475 unpublished records, usually where the site is too small to warrant its own publication, or where the transcriptions are in the process of being checked. Work is known to be in progress on 71 sites across Scotland. This shows us that out of the total of 3543 sites. Some 3133 have either been completed or are currently being researched.

The full report details where many publications are held within the country. For summary details on all known collections, also visit http://www.safhs.org.uk/burialgrounds.asp

Chris

For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

Thanks to Central Scotland FHS

A big thanks for the welcome and hospitality given to me last night by Central Scotland Family History Society (www.csfhs.org.uk), where I gave a talk on the use of Scottish land records.

Don't forget that Central Scotland is hosting the 26th Scottish Association of Family History Societies annual conference in Stirling on Saturday 25th April 2015. For further details visit http://csfhs.org.uk/safhs_conference_2015.htm.

Chris

For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

Pre-1841 published population lists in Scotland

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies has added a new database to its website detailing pre-1841 population lists that are known to have been published - it can be accessed at http://www.safhs.org.uk/populationlists.asp.

The counties for which the database currently has entries are: Aberdeen, Angus (Forfar), Argyll, Ayr, Banff, Berwick, Dumfries, Fife, Inverness, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Midlothain (Edinburgh), Moray (Elgin), Orkney, Peebles, Perth, Renfrew, Ross and Cromarty, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Shetland, Stirling, Sutherland, Wigton and West Lothian (Linlithgow).

(With thanks to Doug Stewart)

Chris

For details on my range of genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

There Was a Soldier... - the 2015 SAFHS conference

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies 2015 conference will be hosted by Central Scotland Family History Society on Saturday 25th April 2015, and is entitled There was a soldier...  The event will take place at Allan Park South Church, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, FK8 2QJ, and as usual, there will be a family history fair, as well as a talks programme from five speakers on military themes.

For more information on the conference, including details on the talks programme, please visit www.csfhs.org.uk/safhs_conference_2015.htm,

Chris

For details on my range of genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

Scottish family history societies at WDYTYA Live Glasgow

Announcement from the Scottish Association of Family History Societies (http://safhs.org.uk):

Scottish Association of Family History Societies & the Federation of Family History Societies - WDYTYA? Live Glasgow

STAND 13-20
Friday 29 – Sunday 31 August 2014
9.30 – 5.30 each day

Representation by members of:

Alloway & S Ayrshire FHS
Anglo Scots FHS
Borders FHS
Central Scotland FHS
Lancashire Heraldry & FHS
Largs & N Ayrshire FHS
Lothians FHS
Renfrewshire FHS
Scottish Genealogy Society
Tay Valley FHS

SAFHS will also be in attendance with The Federation of Family History Societies in the commercial section of the Show

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.

SAFHS conference 2014

A quick reminder that the Scottish Association of Family History Societies (SAFHS) is holding its 25th annual conference next Saturday 26th April in Dunfermline - full details are accessible at www.safhs.org.uk/silver.asp, and the conference booking form at www.safhs.org.uk/images/2014/delegate.pdf.

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. And for those wishing to take Scottish ancestral research a bit further, my next Pharos course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Records, commences May 14th 2014.

SAFHS conference in 2015 to be in Stirling

An early notice that the 26th conference of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies (www.safhs.org.uk) is to be held in Stirling on April 25th 2015, at Allan Park South Church. It is being hosted by Central Scotland Family History Society (www.csfhs.org.uk).

The 25th annual conference will be held next year in Dunfermline, Fife, on April 26th - for further details see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/safhs-2014-conference-update.html.

(With thanks to Chris Halliday via the SGN LinkedIn group)

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/.

SAFHS adds pre-1841 population lists inventory online

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies (www.safhs.org.uk) has added another online database to its website, entitled Inventory of Published pre-1841 Population Listings. From the site:

This Inventory contains published pre-1841 Population Lists in the following main formats:

• Censuses 1801 – 1831, mainly containing similar information to the 1841 census
• Poll Tax Records, mainly 17th century, containing Heads of Households and in some cases other family members
• Hearth Tax Records, similar to the Poll Tax Records
• Heads of Families, lists of Heads of Families in the parish, included if known is a fairly complete list of families
• Examination Lists, adults and older children in the parish examined on their knowledge of the scriptures
• Visitation Lists, as Examination Lists
• List of Inhabitants, included where considered a fairly complete list of the people living in the parish or area
• Population Lists, known to be a complete list, as far as can be confirmed, of those resident in the parish

As with the Burial Grounds inventory added a few days back (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/safhs-inventory-of-scottish-graveyards.html), the population lists themselves are not hosted on the site, merely the publication details - nevertheless a highly useful research aid. The inventory is directly accessible at http://safhs.org.uk/populationlists.asp.

(With thanks to Bruce Bishop)

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.

SAFHS Inventory of Scottish Graveyards goes online

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies has added its Inventory of Scottish Graveyards to its website at http://safhs.org.uk/burialgrounds.asp

The inventory essentially lists the whereabouts of all known monumental inscriptions collections, both published and unpublished, from information supplied by several family history societies across the country, as previously co-ordinated by the SAFHS Graveyard Working Group. The data available includes information on the location and documentary evidence of burial grounds across the country, with details including OS map grid references, religious denomination, years when burials were first known to commence, the FHSs holding the records and much more, though it does not contain actual inscriptions. As a tool, it is one of the most useful in the Scottish genealogist's toolkit, so this is a great move to place it online.

Previously available in CD format, the last edition (the 2nd) was published in 2008. I'm unclear as to whether this is the data from that publication, or if it has been updated, but will update in due course when I find more. Even if the data is that from the 2008 edition, there are details of some 3500 burial grounds included, which should certainly be able to help most people!

The online presentation arranges the records alphabetically by county, parish and burial ground name(s). Using the search fields above the list you can instantly jump to the area of interest. The database is free to access.

UPDATE: This is currently the 2008 edition, but each family history society has been asked to provide an update on any new publications produced since then, the details of which will be added to the database. Once this is done the plan is to then update the database every six months or annually.

(With thanks to Bruce Bishop)

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.

SAFHS 2014 conference update

The Scottish Association of Family History Societies (SAFHS) has uploaded additional details for its 25th anniversary conference, to be held at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline on Saturday 26th April 2014. The talks programme is now available at http://safhs.org.uk/images/2014/programme.pdf with details of speakers and the topics covered, and for this event there will actually be parallel streams of talks running throughout the day, rather than a single stream.

Conference delegate booking forms and details on the venue can be found at http://safhs.org.uk/silver.asp. Attendance as a delegate will cost £32, though if only attending the accompanying family history fair, the price will be £2, payable at the door.

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...!