Irish Family History Experience in June

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

Irish Family History Experience, 10-15 June

This brand new, six-day programme will offer you the opportunity to spend three days learning from the experts and researching in the Public Record Office Northern Ireland (PRONI) followed by the option of three days of touring Ireland’s famous historic sites.

For further details visit https://www.ancestryireland.com/family-history-conference/summer

(With thanks to the UHF)

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.

Ulster Historical Foundation American Tour - update

From the Ulstrer Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com):

American Lecture Tour - Update

Our 2019 Irish and Scots-Irish family history lecture tour of the United States begins next week on 09 March in Concord, NH.

Our events in Madison, WI and Tampa, FL have already sold out and our other events are filling up fast. If you are interested in attending any of our events, even those that are free to attend, we would recomend you contact the host organisation as quickly as possible to ensure that you don't miss out.

If you would like to register for one of the programmes simply click on the relevant link below.

09 March - Concord, NH
10 March - Philadelphia, PA
11 March - Chicago, IL
12 March - Madison, WI SOLD OUT
13 March - Green Bay, WI
14 March - Salt Lake City, UT
15 March - Salt Lake City, UT
16 March - Denver, CO
18 March - Pittsburgh, PA
19 March - Louisville, KY
20 March - Coeur d'Alene, ID
22 March - Valparaiso, IN
23 March - Tampa, FL - SOLD OUT
24 March - Fairfield, CT
25 March - New York City, NY
26 March - New York City, NY

Getting involved – we would like you to help us

We would like you to help us make our 2019 lecture tour as successful as it can be. It is easy to get involved: by talking to friends and family, especially those interested in family history; telling your local library, community learning groups, fraternal organisations in your area; messaging genealogy and history societies, museums, Irish, Scots-Irish and celtic cultural organisations, sharing and commenting on social media, blogs and forums; or even mentioning the Foundation to your local Irish pubs, clubs or local interest groups.

You don’t need to live in USA to assist. Supporters living in UK and Ireland, Canada, Europe, Australasia and South Africa have friends, family and contacts in USA. You too can share posts, tweets and details of the tour with potentially interested parties.

We would like to thank you for your help and support. More information can be found at https://www.ancestryireland.com/lecture-tour-2019.

(With thanks to the UHF)

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. 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.

Ulster Historical Foundation programme 2019

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

2019 Family History Programmes - Update

For those interested in attending one of our 2019 events please note that our October programme is now at capacity. However there are still spaces available for our June and September programmes. Crucially, for the research enthusiast, you can choose to spend the whole of these events researching in the Belfast and Dublin archives with our team of genealogists or you can spend your time touring famous historic sites


Irish Family History Experience – 10–15 June 2019

This six-day programme offers 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 or further assisted research.

For more information visit https://www.ancestryireland.com/family-history-conference/summer/


Tracing your Irish Ancestors - 04-11 September 2019

Our classic eight-day programme offers you the opportunity to tour famous historic sites and cultural attractions, such as Kilmainham Gaol, Giant’s Causeway and the Knowth passage tomb at Brú na Bóinne as well as visit to the picturesque town of Enniskillen situated in Co. Fermanagh's beautiful lakelands, or a mixture of both tours and research – the choice is yours.

September 2019 "Early Bird" Registration - Ends soon

For those of you who register before 10 March 2019 the cost to participate in our conference is just £899.99. Reserve your place now, with a deposit of only £350 (GBP) per person! After this date the full price for attendance will be £949.99 (GBP).

For more information visit https://www.ancestryireland.com/family-history-conference/autumn/

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. 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.

Stranmillis College evening classes on Irish family history

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

Our Research Officer, Gillian Hunt, will deliver a 10-week evening class on Irish family history sources at Stranmillis College, Belfast from Tuesday 18th September 2018 (7pm-9pm)

She will be covering topics such as census, civil and church records, estate papers, wills, school registers and land and valuation records.

To book please contact the Lifelong Learning office on 028 9038 4345 or via email

(With thanks to the UHF)

Chris

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.

Forthcoming Londonderry Plantation talk in Belfast

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

Lunchtime lecture with Professor James Stevens Curl

Thursday, 18 January, 12:15-14:00 GMT

Join us for a lunchtime lecture given by historian and author Professor James Stevens Curl on the historical background and unique story behind the financing of the early Londonderry plantation.

This event is designed for Guild members (though non-members are welcome) to help celebrate the achievements of ‘one of our own’. Prof. James Stevens Curl is a life member of the Guild and was awarded the prestigious President’s Medal by the British Academy in 2017. Everyone is welcome to attend the event, though pre-registration is advised.
How to register for the event

Guild member registration

This event is free of charge to members of the Foundation’s Ulster Genealogical and Historical Guild (the Guild).

To register visit https://www.ancestryireland.com/special-lecture-prof-james-stevens-curl/

Non-member registration

Non-members can attend this lecture for just £5.00. Registrations made via Eventbrite will attract an additional charge of £1.84 comprising an administrative fee and VAT, giving a total amount of £6.84.

If you are not a Guild member and wish to register please go to Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/londons-derrie-the-background-to-the-building-and-financing-of-the-early-londonderry-plantation-tickets-41518647392

Alternatively you can contact the Foundation on 028 9066 1988 to arrange payment.

(With thanks to the Foundation)

UPDATE: The Foundation is hoping to live stream this lecture for those who cannot attend on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UlsterHistoricalFoundation. The recorded talk will also be made available on YouTube later in the week.

Chris

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.

Discounted credits offer for Ulster Historical Foundation records

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

With Christmas approaching we realise many of you may be planning to carry out some research over the holidays and we are delighted to offer this credit bundle.

From now until 22nd December 2017, Pay-Per-View members can receive 48 credits to use to search our databases for just £25! (Over 25% Discount)

To take advantage of this offer just go to: https://www.ancestryireland.com/special-ppv-credit-offer/

Also, if you become a Guild Member, you can also take advantage of this offer at the lower price of £18!

More information on becoming a Guild Member can be found here: https://www.ancestryireland.com/membership/

(With thanks to Kevin Keenan)

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.

Ulster Historical Foundation launches records video tutorials & new FAQ guide

The Ulster Historical Foundation has launched a couple of video tutorials online at its Ancestry Ireland website at www.ancestryireland.com/help/tutorials/. The aim of the tutorials is to help you become familiar with its online records databases - vital records for Antrim and Down, and a fair few other collections from across the island.

The society's William Roulston has also revised his online Genealogy FAQs research guide at www.ancestryireland.com/help/genealogy-faq-a-guide-to-researching-ulster-ancestors/.

(With thanks to the UHF)

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.

Discount on Antrim and Down BMD records via AncestryIreland

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

Take advantage of our January sale!

All our 2 million pay-per-view birth, marriage & death records for Counties Antrim & Down are half-price on www.ancestryireland.com until 31 January 2015.

Our website includes virtually all Roman Catholic registers of baptisms for Counties Antrim and Down prior to 1900, a large number of Church of Ireland and Presbyterian registers of baptisms for Counties Antrim and Down and the city of Belfast as well as many civil birth records for Belfast.

We also hold virtually all civil marriage records for County Antrim and County Down, virtually all Roman Catholic registers of marriages for County Antrim and County Down prior to 1900 and a large number of Church of Ireland and Presbyterian registers of marriages for mid, south and west County Down

In addition our website contains funeral records (where they survive) from Roman Catholic registers for Co. Antrim and Co. Down prior to 1900 and a large number of Church of Ireland and Presbyterian registers of burials for the city of Belfast.

Visit www.ancestryireland.com to take advantage of this limited time offer, which must end 31 January 2015!

(With thanks to the UHF)

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.

Books offers from the Ulster Historical Foundation

Some book offers from the Ulster Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com):

Place Names of Northern Ireland

We are delighted to advise that we have recently acquired new stock of the Place-Names of Northern Ireland (with the exception of Volume 8: County Fermanagh I). This scholarly but accessible series concentrates on townland names and is of considerable interest to the family historian. A number of these volumes have been unavailable for some time but we are now pleased to offer the following:

Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Vol. 1: County Down I, Newry and South-West Down
Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Vol. 2: County Down II, The Ards
Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Vol. 3: County Down III, The Mournes
Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Vol. 4: County Antrim I, The Baronies of Toome
Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Vol. 5: County Derry I, The Moyola Valley
Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Vol. 6. County Down IV, North West Down/Iveagh
Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Vol. 7. County Antrim II, Ballycastle and North-East Antrim

These titles are priced at £8.00 each (Volumes 1-5) and £8.50 each (Volumes 6-7) but from now on until 1 February they will be offered at the very competitive price of only £4.00 each (plus P&P). To access more information on these titles and to order, please visit www.booksireland.org.uk.

We are most grateful to Dr Micheal O'Mainnin and the Northern Ireland Place-Name Project for the supply of these important volumes


Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland

The half-price offer on the Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland (excluding reprints) will end on 1 February. We would encourage you to take advantage of this great reduction on this invaluable resource, with prices as low as £3.75 each (Volumes 2-18) and £4.25 each (Volumes 19-38), as soon as possible. The reprinted volumes are not affected.

(COMMENT: For those here in Scotland, these books act as an Irish equivalent of our Statistical Accounts, and are invaluable for understanding the nature of a parish in the first half of the 19th century. They also tend to be slightly more name rich, with sample lists of emigrants, teachers, and more etc. Well worth going this for this while they are so cheap!)


The Waddells of Ireland

After years of research C. W. Bingley's labour of love, The Waddells of Ireland will be arriving this week. The Foundation is delighted to be distributing Freda's comprehensive guide to one of Ireland's oldest families. We appreciate the patience of all those who placed pre-publication orders during the last year.

(With thanks to the Ulster Historical Foundation)

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.

Ulster Historical Foundation adds Cromwellian estate forfeiture records

From the Ulster Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com), news of another database that has been added to the members area:

We are pleased to announce the addition of another database to our members’ section of our website, titled ‘Forfeiting Proprietors in Ireland, under the Cromwellian Settlement, 1657’.

This database of over 4,000 entries details the names of those, mostly Irish Catholics, by county and barony, whose estates were confiscated as part of the Cromwellian settlement of the 1650s.

In some cases the actual locality was recorded, in others a note describing the person was included, for example ‘killed at the siege of Derry, as a beseiger’ or ‘A Scotch Protestant, and in Arms agst, the State, in 1649’.

Counties covered were Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Fermanagh, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Londonderry, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Sligo, Tyrone and Wexford.

This list of names has been transcribed from O'Hart’s Irish Landed Gentry when Cromwell Came to Ireland.

To acquire membership, please visit the Foundation's website (see above).

(With thanks to the UHF)

Chris

Stuck for a Christmas gift?! I have a series of genealogy books available in the UK, Australia and Canada, on Scottish, Irish and British based subject areas. Further details at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. Santa approves!

Tracing your Irish Ancestors conference in Belfast

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

We are delighted to advise that the website for the Foundation’s next family history conference Tracing your Irish Ancestors is now live (www.ancestryireland.com/family-history-conference/). Running from 6-12 September 2015, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors is aimed at both the dedicated family historian and those who may prefer to spend more time savouring the enchanting landscape and historic sites of their ancestors.

The week will comprise an engaging and entertaining mix of research in the archives with the help of the Foundation’s experienced genealogists, talks from acknowledged experts and a variety of tours, all making for a memorable experience. Highlights from the varied programme include visits to Titanic Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway, the National Archives in Dublin and the famous Walls of Derry, dinner at Belfast’s historic Reform Club and afternoon tea at Barons Court, home to the Duke of Abercorn.

So why not banish those winter blues (and at this time our thoughts are with our friends in the north east of the United States and Canada who are suffering such extreme weather) and lift your spirits by booking a place on Tracing Your Irish Ancestors? You will be very welcome.

If you have any queries, please email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk

(With thanks to the UHF)

Chris

Stuck for a Christmas gift?! I have a series of genealogy books available in the UK, Australia and Canada, on Scottish, Irish and British based subject areas. Further details at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. Santa approves!

Anglican records coming online soon from Ulster Historical Foundation

The Ulster Historical Foundation, has announced (via its newsletter) that it will soon be uploading more than 27,000 records from Church of Ireland burial and marriage registers in Counties Antrim and Down.

The earliest records will be from the 1660s from Blaris (Lisburn) CI and from the 1680s from Comber CI, as well as records records from the 1700s from Ardkeen, Carrickfergus, Donaghadee, Down, Dromore, Glenavy, Magheralin, Aghalee, Ballinderry, Ballyclug, Ballyculter, Ballyhalbert, Ballymacarrett, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Ballyphilip, Bangor, Drumballyroney, Finvoy, Larne, Kilkeel and Kilmore. The records are being transcribed Emeritus Research Director Dr Trainor, and will be made available at www.ancestryireland.com/search-irish-genealogy-databases/.

(With thanks to the UHF)

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.

Current genealogy books sales for summer

There are two big books sales on the go just now in the UK, from the Ulster Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com) and the National Archives at Kew (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk).

Some of the books currently on discount from the Ulster Historical Foundation:

• New Reprint of The Famine in Ulster by Christine Kinealy & Trevor Parkhill – £8.99 (RRP £11.99)
• John King: Irelands First Explorer – Australia’s First Hero still only £4.99 (RRP £9.99)
• The Book of Ulster Surnames – better than half price at only £5.00 (RRP £12.99)
• Ulster Emigration to Colonial America 1718-1775 - £10.00 (RRP £19.99)
• Scottish Migration to Ulster in the Reign of James I - £10.00 (RRP £19.99)
• Researching Scots Irish Ancestors – £7.99 (RRP £11.99)
• From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English – £8.99 (RRP £14.99
• George Best Will Not be Playing Today - £10.00 (RRP £24.99)

Full details on these and more at http://www.booksireland.org.uk/store/special-offers

At the National Archives there is up to 70% off a range of books also - full details on these can be read online at http://bookshop.nationalarchives.gov.uk/11/Special-Offers/.

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.

Ulster Historical Foundation adds more Anglican records to database

The Ulster Historical Foundation has added the following Anglican (Church of Ireland) baptismal records to its Ancestry Ireland database at www.ancestryireland.com:

Aghaderg CI, Down 
1814 – 1870 (2692 records)

Blaris CI (Lisburn), Antrim & Down 
1720 – 1750, 1763 – 1819 (11,125 records)

Christchurch CI, (Belfast), Antrim 
1850 – 1870 (15,426 records)

Dromore CI, Down 
1784 – 1816, 1858 -1871 (5473 records)

Some additonal details from the email announcing the release:

The register for Aghaderg Church of Ireland includes the first name of the mother of the child and sometimes her maiden name. The father’s occupation was recorded between 1839 and 1870. In addition, between the years 1832 and 1838, each child had at least three sponsors!

In 1728 the minister for Blaris Church of Ireland recorded some of the occupations of the fathers whose children were being baptised. We can see therefore that in the town of Lisburn at that time there was a shoemaker, saddler, potter, inn-holder, gardener, chandler, whipmaker, blacksmith, hatter, ‘joyner’, and glazier. If the father was a soldier, the name of his Regiment was often recorded in this register, particularly in the 1790s.

The register for Christchurch Church of Ireland in Belfast contains the exact street address of the family, the father’s occupation and the mother’s full name including her maiden name; much like the information contained on a civil birth record but these registers date from 14 years before the start of civil registration in 1864. The minister from 1855 to 1859 also recorded the Church where the parents were married, a most useful piece of information, particularly if they had married outside of Belfast or even Ireland. Places of marriage detailed in this register include Glasgow, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Greenock in Scotland; Liverpool, Carlisle, Sefton in Lancashire, Manchester, London and Cornwall in England as well as America and Gibraltar!

The register for Dromore Church of Ireland contained the name of the mother, including her maiden name. The father’s occupation was recorded from 1858.

In addition, for Easter, the group is offering The Book of Ulster Surnames, with over 500 entries of the most common family names in Ulster, for just £5.00 (normally £12.99), plus postage and packing. In addition, anyone purchasing a copy of Dissenting Voices: Rediscovering the Irish Progressive Presbyterian Tradition by Roger Courtney will have the opportunity to buy the lavishly illustrated Presbyterians in Ireland for just £5.00 (plus postage and packing).

(With thanks to the UHF)

Chris

Time to find your inner Irish...! All the best online Irish genealogy resources can be found through my book Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet - in print and ebook formats. "Very useful, makes me wish I was Irish!" - Saint Patrick, patron saint.

County Down records added to Ulster Historical Foundation

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

We are pleased to announce that we have just added over 16,000 Church of Ireland baptismal records to our online database for County Down.

The records were transcribed by Dr Brian Trainor, former Director of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. The following Churches have been added:

• Name Denomination Type Years Number
• Killinchy Church of Ireland baptisms 1820-77 (418)
• Blaris Church of Ireland baptisms 1661-1720 (7709)
• Magheralin Church of Ireland baptisms 1783-1870 (6628)
• Bangor Church of Ireland baptisms 1803-43 (1050)
• Ballywalter Church of Ireland baptisms 1845-75 (125)
• Ardkeen Church of Ireland baptisms 1746-1871 (541)

More Church of Ireland records will be added soon for the parishes of Antrim, Carrickfergus, Comber, Donaghadee, Down, Drumballyroney and Kilmore.

We would also like to remind you that we have also recently added Ireland’s Memorial Records to our Members’ Databases. This is a hugely important and indeed poignant resource listing the almost 50,000 Irishmen who gave their lives during the Great War 1914-18.

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/.

Ulster Historical Foundation - St Paddy's Day records offer

The Ulster Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com) has announced the following discount for the week following St Paddy's Day, as well as some new Catholic records for Belfast:

Irish Genealogy Records - Special Offer and St. Joseph's Records online

For eight days, including the holiday weekend, we have decided to reduce substantially the cost of accessing individual records, by 50% for Guild members and 25% for non-members. This marvellous offer will only run from Sunday 17th March to Sunday 24th March, (inclusive), so we do hope you will take advantage of this opportunity.

We are delighted to announce the addition of a new tranche of important records to our website. The baptismal records of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Belfast from 1899 to 1929 are now available on www.ancestryireland.com; adding over 3300 more entries to our existing database of more than 2 million genealogical records. Many of these baptismal entries also include details of the individual's later marriage.


The Foundation has also mentioned in its newsletter that a new series has just started on BBC Northern Ireland, which may be of interest to viewers in Ireland and Scotland. An Independent People is a 3 part series on the history of Ulster's Presbyterian community - part 1 has already been shown on Sunday 10th, but can be found on the BBC iPlayer for a limited period (www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer - for viewers in the UK only.)

The link to an online version of the newsletter from the email currently does not work, but if it becomes active I will add it in due course.

(With thanks to the UHF)

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. 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.