Dukes of Grafton papers accepted by UK Government in lieu of tax

From the National Archives in England (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/allocation-of-papers-accepted-in-lieu-of-tax-2/):

Part of the archive of the Northamptonshire estates of the Dukes of Grafton has been accepted in lieu of tax by the government.

Notable material includes accounts, correspondence, deeds, estate maps, architectural drawings, and manorial records from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

Any library, record office or institution in the United Kingdom interested in acquiring the papers should contact Philip Gale, Head of Standards and Improvement, Archives Sector Development, The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU (email asd@nationalarchives.gov.uk) for further particulars in the first instance.

Applications for allocation of this material must be received in writing at the same address by Friday, 22 February 2019.

COMMENT: For what it's worth, my self-employed tax return is due end of this month. If HMRC wants a copy of my family history as part payment, by all means, do drop me a note, happy to discuss! :)

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.

Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland as a research resource

Regular readers may know that I don't have a lot of time for the fancy dress trappings of the so called 'great and the good' politically, and certainly show no deference to the absurd institution of monarchy or the landed gentry. However, I do appreciate a good resource for historical research concerning them, simply because much of what they did in the past did affect us, particularly in their role of landholders and landlords. There is a great blog on that front for those researching the landed gentry in the north of Ireland, entitled Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland, which can be accessed at http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.co.uk. He's not a genuine lord, it is a spoof title by a blogger called Timothy William, but it does carry some interesting material.

Today, I notice it has a post on Caledon House in County Tyrone. My mother's line, the Grahams, can be traced back, at present, to my three times great grandfather Thomas Graham, who was born about 1820, and for whom I know he had a likely sister called Margaret born in 1809. They settled in Belfast, but the only possible clue that I have on their origins is a vague note from Thomas' youngest grandson Brian, who passed away in 2007, that he believed that the family came from Caledon. It's on my to do list to check for any possible parish and estate records for the area, but the post itself explains about the families of landed gentry that were resident at the estate - a useful resource in terms of knowing for whom I need to start looking for records!

The Caledon post is available at http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/caledon-estate_21.html but do spend the time exploring previous posts - there may well be something of relevance there to your own research.

Incidentally, the site also deals with other parts of the British Isles, as landowners held interest all over the shop, so you'll find material there on Scotland and the Republic of Ireland also.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. 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.

PRONI Conference: Looking at Lissan - The Staples family and Lissan House

From the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.proni.gov.uk):

½ Day Conference: Looking at Lissan: The Staples family and Lissan House, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
When: Thursday 19th March 2015 2-4.30pm
Where: PRONI

PRONI will be hosting a half day conference examining the Staples family of Lissan, Cookstown, Co Tyrone. Speakers will draw from papers held in PRONI and elsewhere to consider the family’s estates, highlight some of the more colourful members of the Staples family, examine the significance of Lissan House and discuss the work of the Lissan House Trust.

Contributors will include:
Dr Neil Watt, Lissan House Trust
Dr Anthony Malcomson
Jayne Greer, Lissan House Trust

Contact PRONI to reserve a place

(With thanks to the PRONI Express)

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.

Irish Landed Estate Court Rentals

FindmyPast Ireland has a new guide online exploring the records of the Irish Encumbered Estates Courts, including the rental rolls drawn up for the sale of estates from 1850-1885 that can help to tell more about your ancestors' lives.

The guide is available at http://blog.findmypast.ie/2012/05/the-landed-estate-court-rentals/

(With thanks to @findmypastie on Twitter)

Chris

British GENES on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES and Twitter @chrismpaton

Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk and www.facebook.com/ScottishGenealogyResearch