Romany and Traveller FHS family history event

From the Romany and Traveller Family History Society (www.rtfhs.org.uk)

We're holding an informal, drop-in family history event in October for anyone who's interested in tracing their British Romany Gypsy, Traveller or Fairground roots.

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday 19 October 2013
Time: 11.00am until 4.00pm
Location: Old School Hall, Hadlow, Kent TN11 0EH

This year the Romany and Traveller Family History Society is celebrating the lives of the Gypsy and Traveller hop-pickers who drowned near Hadlow 160 years ago in the so-called Hartlake Disaster.

What’s on offer at our event?

Memorial to those who died in the Hartlake Disaster

• Displays about the Disaster, hop-picking and useful family history sources
• Presentation about the Hartlake Disaster by local historian and RTFHS member Anne Hughes
• The chance to see the monument to the victims in in Hadlow churchyard, just a short walk away from the Old School Hall
• The chance to attend a dedication by the vicar of Hadlow of a new commemorative plaque to those who died. We hear that this dedication will take place in the afternoon of 19 October 2013 in Hadlow churchyard. Time to be confirmed on our website shortly: www.rtfhs.org.uk
• Family history research help desk
• Books for sale including Romany, Traveller and Fairground family history and culture
• Live music and song: join in with your own instruments, voices and stepping shoes

The event is free for RTFHS members. Token £1 charge on the door for non-members to include coffee or tea.

How to find the Old School Hall in Hadlow:

Enter Hadlow village on the A26 (High Street) from Tonbridge or Maidstone and turn into the unnamed road opposite Victoria Boorman’s hairdressing salon in the village square. There’s a bus stop on one corner of this road and a phone box on the other. The road entrance is marked Hadlow Primary School. The Old School Hall is at the end of this short road on the left.

(With thanks to Sharon Heppell)

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.

What about the Scots language in the 2011 census?

There's an interesting post on the Bella Caledonia website by Michael Hance, Director of the Scots Language Centre, about the recent 2011 census results published in Scotland on identity, ethnicity and language (see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/2011-scottish-census-results-on.html). When announced the NRS discussed the use of language in the country, including Gaelic, but apparently omitted to publicise any findings about Scotland's other language - Scots - despite there also being a question on the use of it in the home in the census.

The full post is at http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2013/10/02/the-missing/

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.

Ancestral tourism workshops for Homecoming Scotland

Former Registrar General of Scotland, George MacKenzie, has just been in touch with the following, which may be of interest to any businesses seeking advice on the opportunities that may be presented from the forthcoming Homecoming Scotland initiative in 2014:

There is a major push on ancestral tourism from Tourism Intelligence Scotland, a partnership of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and VisitScotland. Following the new guide for businesses launched in July, they have announced a series of workshops across Scotland. These are aimed principally at business people, rather than genealogists and archivists, but we're hoping some of them will participate too, and also local family history societies. The idea is to explain the potential of this market and how to reach it, and to encourage a joined up approach so that ancestral visitors get a consistent and warm welcome wherever they go in Scotland. The initiative is timed to get ready for Homecoming 2014 next year.

These are the weblinks to the workshops.

Edinburgh – National Records of Scotland - 11th October
http://events.scottish-enterprise.com/events/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?id=300423&orgId=1&tabid=37

St Andrews – Gateway Building - 30th October
http://events.scottish-enterprise.com/events/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=300431&orgId=1

Hawick - Heritage Hub - 7th November
http://events.scottish-enterprise.com/events/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=300429&orgId=1

Glasgow - The Mitchell Library - 12th November
http://events.scottish-enterprise.com/events/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=300427&orgId=1

Perth – AK Bell Library - 14th November
http://events.scottish-enterprise.com/events/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=300430&orgId=1

Inverness - Highland Archive Centre - 14th November
http://events.scottish-enterprise.com/events/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=300426&orgId=1

Aberdeen - Aberdeen City and Shire Archives - 15th November
http://events.scottish-enterprise.com/events/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=300428&orgId=1

(With thanks to George)

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.

Cotton Town website updated

The Cotton Town website, which provides a digital archive of local history for Blackburn and Darwen in Lancashire, and specifically the textiles industries there based on cotton, has been updated. The site is accessible at http://www.cottontown.org.

Oh, and it's brilliant!

(With thanks to @LFHHSOnline)

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.

RCAMHS, aerial archaeology and one place studies

The BBC is running a story today about RCAMHS's use of laser technology in the field of aerial archaeology at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24358106. The new technique, employing the LIDAR scanning system (used in the past by the RAF amongst others), uses sound waves to create images of a landscape which can be manipulated on a computer in 3D, and then lit in certain ways to help reveal hidden physical features in the landscape, long abandoned across time.

Aerial archaeology is something I just happen to know a wee bit about, as I helped to create a TV series utilising the concept a decade ago for BBC2, which ran for 2 series (it was called Time Flyers), and on which I directed three episodes. For the pilot programme, we were initially going to do a story based on crop marks found within the Yorkshire Wolds in England, but were defeated by the foot and mouth epidemic ongoing at the time (the programme was subsequently made when the series was commissioned). The story chosen for the pilot was therefore one based at Castle Menzies in Perthshire - and it was inspired by an RCAMHS aerial archaeology find. A crop mark to the east of the main castle, which looked like a tennis court, was later discovered to in fact be part of a formal garden which was destroyed during the Forty Five rebellion by the Duke of Cumberland. Crop marks form when features buried beneath the ground mean that there is less soil above them than in the surrounding terrain where the soil is undisturbed, therefore less moisture for the crops, affecting their growth rate (or if a ditch has been filled in, there's more soil above it, meaning more mositure for the crops above it). Bottom line is that the growth rate of the crop above the feature is different, meaning that you get a relief image of the feature, especially when the ground is parched of water in a dry period. See http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/84804/details/castle+menzies/ for the image of the crop mark

In another instance, I recently used the site to look up a place in the parish of Dores in Invernessshire. I had found a farm there bearing the name of a settlement my family lived in at the middle of the 17th century, but the aerial image actually revealed some deserted settlements in an adjacent field, meaning that the modern building may not necessarily be the actual one the family stayed in. All useful contextual stuff!

RCAMHS is absolutely stuffed with aerial images via its CANMORE database, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to point out one of the best things about Canmore - it's interactive. You can actually upload your own images to the site. In this case, as a pay back for RCAMHS image we used in the Time Flyers pilot (which was not broadcast as we made changes to the presentation team) I uploaded a couple of images to show the details found in the excavation of the Castle Menzies site - you can see these on the same page quoted above, by clicking on the Public Contributions, Photos link that shows the number 2.

I've uploaded other material to the site - see http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/28432/contribution/perth+priory+chapel+and+hospital+of+st+leonard/ for example, where I have added an old postcard image of a place called Carr's Croft in Perth, along with two pages of text from a dissertation describing various land transactions on the site in the 19th century.

If you are doing a one place study, RCAMHS may well be a brilliant source of info - and you can also add to the database to build up a truly impressive national resource for Scotland!

NB: For other resources for land and house based research in Scotland (where the law has historically been very different to elsewhere in the UK), don't forget my book Discover Scottish Land Records, available in print format from http://www.gould.com.au/Discover-Scottish-Land-Records-p/utp0283.htm or in ebook format from http://gen-ebooks.com.

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.

Farmers and Labourers lecture at PRONI

From PRONI (www.proni.gov.uk):

The first in the Exploring Family History series will take place tomorrow, Thursday 3 October at 6:30 at PRONI. The opening lecture is on Farmers and Labourers and will be delivered by Dr Janice Holmes of the Open University in Ireland. All are invited and the event is free.

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.

Brightsolid announces DC Thomson Family History

Following the company's recent split, Brightsolid's family history wing, which is responsible for FindmyPast, ScotlandsPeople, Genes Reunited and the British Newspaper Archive, now has a new name - DC Thomson Family History.

The full announcement is at http://www.brightsolid.com/brightsolid-group/latest-news/recent-news/brightsolid-online-publishing-rebrands.html and http://www.brightsolid.com/brightsolid-group/latest-news/recent-news/the-future-for-family-history-is-digital.html.

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.

PRONI site updates

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has been tweaking the look of its online search pages at www.proni.gov.uk, with all now adopting a standardised blue and white colour scheme and with all now opening as separate pages. The catalogue page has also been similarly revamped.

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.

Scotland's oldest family firms

Scotland's oldest family firms have been revealed in a report by Family Business United and Close Brothers Asset Management (CBAM). The oldest is said to be Fife-based John White & Son Ltd, which was first established in 1715.

The full story is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-24353956

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.

Devon Wills Project indexes online

From Origins (www.origins.net)

Devon Wills Project 1312-1891 fully searchable for FREE online

Index to over 132,540 and testamentary documents online.
This index has been created as a combined project by Origins.net and the Devon Wills Project (a collaborative project involving the Devon Family History Society, the Devon Record Office, GENUKI/Devon, and the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office) to compile a consolidated index of pre-1858 Devon wills, administrations, inventories, etc.

Many Devon probate records were destroyed by enemy action, when the Probate Registry was destroyed in the bombing during the Exeter Blitz in 1942. Thus the aim of this index is to create a finding-aid to enable the researcher to determine what probate materials were originally recorded and most importantly what documents have survived and where they can be located.

The current index includes over 132,540 records of probate documents compiled from the following sources. Updates to this collection will follow soon.

• Archdeaconry Court of Barnstaple Devon Wills and Administrations Index 1563-1858
• Calendar of Devon and Cornwall Wills and Administrations, proved in the court of the Principal Registry of the Bishop of Exeter, 1559-1799, and of Devon only, proved in the Court of the Archdeaconry of Exeter, 1540-1799 (BRS Vol. 35)
• Calendar of Devon and Cornwall Wills and Administrations, proved in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Exeter, 1532-1800 (BRS Vol. 46)

Search Devon Wills Project 1312-1891 for FREE at http://www.origins.net/NationalWills/Search/devon/searchdevonwills.aspx

(With thanks to Maggie Loughran)

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.