Pre-order Finding Your Scottish Ancestors by Kirsty Wilkinson

A quick plug for a pal with a new book on the way!

Finding Your Scottish Ancestors: Techniques for Solving Genealogy Problems
Kirsty F Wilkinson
(Robert Hale Ltd, to be published 27 Jan. 2020)

Tracing family history has become increasingly popular over the last few decades and the availability of many records online means that those fortunate enough to have Scottish ancestors can easily access many of the sources they need to build their family tree. However, as research progresses, most family historians will eventually hit the dreaded 'brick wall' and find themselves unable to proceed further.

This book provides a wealth of information, advice and techniques to help solve these genealogy problems and gives family historians the tools they need to track down even the most elusive forebears. Contents include: sources for Scottish family history research, both traditional archives and online resources; techniques for searching and interpreting genealogical records; planning and recording research and, finally, common genealogy problems and their solutions.

The book is available to pre-order in the UK at www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Your-Scottish-Ancestors-Techniques/dp/0719830532/

COMMENT: Kirsty is an expert genealogist based in Edinburgh who absolutely knows her stuff - I'm very much looking forward to seeing this when it comes out next month!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Strathclyde University appoints genealogy research fellow

A press announcement from the University of Strathclyde's Genelogical Studies Department (http://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/genealogy/):

Honorary Research Fellow Appointed

Dr Iain McDonald has been appointed as Honorary Research Fellow in the Genealogical Studies Department, University of Strathclyde.

Iain comes originally from an Aberdonian family, and began his interest in genealogy 15 years ago, whilst trying to identify any family connection to the Lords of the Isles. Unfortunately, there was no connection, but the process led to an avid interest in Scottish genealogy, and the early history and movement of the Scottish people.

By day, Iain is an astrophysicist, working at the University of Manchester. By night, he has been using physical, statistical and mathematical techniques to develop tools, for both conventional and genetic genealogy.

His speciality is in estimating the dates of male-line (surname) relationships from commercial genetic tests, and using these to construct models of population movements between mainland Europe and the British Isles over the last 5000 years.

Tahitia McCabe, Course leader said: “we are delighted to have Iain on board and look forward to utilising his expertise and knowledge of the technical aspects of DNA testing as applied in genetic genealogy”.

For further information on our study pathways including an online 8-week Introduction to Genetic Genealogy course, please contact us at scosh@strath.ac.uk

(With thanks to Tahitia)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Beginner's Guide to British and Irish Genealogy, 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.

The Future of Genealogy - discussion panel on Unlock the Past cruise

One of the highlights of the recent Unlock the Past cruise based genealogy conference in Australia was a discussion panel session chaired by American based genealogist Thomas MacEntee. The panel consisted of Australian genealogists Shauna Hicks and Mike Murray, Kirsty Gray of the Guild of One Named Studies, and myself, and was entitled The Future of Genealogy.

Shauna has now written up a summary account of the questions asked by Thomas and the answers we returned, covering a range of topics. Although in parts the Australian and British based perspectives differ slightly, for the most part the topics covered seemed to produce a picture that was consistent on both sides of the planet.

To read Shauna's account of the discussion, visit www.shaunahicks.com.au/the-future-of-genealogy-as-seen-from-feb-2014/.

(With thanks to both Shauna and Thomas)

Chris

My latest genealogy books are Tracing Your Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records, and Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet. My next Pharos course is Scottish Research Online, which commences Feb 27th 2014, 5 weeks, price £45.99.

A huge thank you!

British GENES readers and other genealogy colleagues from around the world helped to raise £550 of a grand total of £1027.44 for my wife's charity swim yesterday from the island of Cumbrae to the town of Largs in North Ayrshire on behalf of Gillian's Saltire Appeal (www.gillianssaltireappeal.org.uk), a local charity that seeks to provide respite care for cancer sufferers and their families in Scotland. Seventy seven swimmers set out, and a lot of money was raised for a great cause.

A big thanks from me for all your donations - and a wee word from Claire herself!

There's a lot more about how the day itself went on my other wee blog at http://walkingineternity.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/a-huge-thank-you.html, including photos and video. If you'd still like to donate, you can do so via https://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Paton1

Once again, many thanks - much appreciated!

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.

Richard III press conference now online

For those of you who watched Monday night's truly appalling The King in the Car Park mockumentary on Channel 4, all about the finding of Richard III, a much better presentation of the proceedings behind the story is now available online from the University of Leicester at www.youtube.com/watch?v=91R-LkW2x3s - and presented below:

It's long winded, very academic, but by God it actually deals with the subject matter, including an indepth discussion of the DNA and genealogy work that was used to help to confirm the former English monarch's identity.

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.

IHGS family history residential course

The latest newsletter from the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (www.ihgs.ac.uk) has details of a residential course that it will be running in August:

Grow Your Family Tree
6th August 2012 - Residential Course

This residential course welcomes beginners to the subject of family history but even the experienced will benefit. All the sources needed to have a good grounding in family history will be discussed focusing on both original documents and online sources. Practical experience is gained with the help of a simulated genealogical exercise and research time in the library alongside individual advice and guidance.

The full fee includes all meals and accommodation, which is provided at a local guesthouse, and there will be plenty of free time to make use of the Institute's library or explore the medieval splendours of the city. Day attendees not requiring accommodation are also welcome.

Monday
4.45 Tea and Registration
5.00 Introduction and Tour of Library
6.00 Supper
7.00 Family Sources

Tuesday
9.15 General Registration
10.45 Coffee
11.15 Census Returns
1.00 Buffet Luncheon
2.00 Pedigrees
2.30 The Elephant Hunt
4.30 Tea
5.00 Free time in Library
6.00 Supper
7.00 I'm Stuck!

Wednesday
9.15 Parish Registers
10.40 Coffee
11.15 More Elephant Hunting
1.00 Buffet Luncheon
2.00 Parish Chest Part 1: Parish Officers
3.30 Tea
3.50 Parish Chest Part 2: The Poor
5.00 Library Time
6.00 Supper
7.00-8.00 Free or Library Time

Thursday
9.15 Wills & Probate
10.45 Coffee
11.15 More Elephant Hunting
1.00 Buffet Luncheon
2.00 Palaeography
4.00 Tea
4.30 Library Time
6.00 Supper
7.00 Elephant Hunt Solution

Friday
9.15 Military Records: An Introduction
11.00 Coffee
11.30 Census Substitutes
12.30 Buffet Luncheon
1.30 Future Study & Closing address

Library time is arranged, so do bring any notes you may need on your own research. For those who do not wish to use the library the time may be used to explore the historic city of Canterbury or to relax in our walled garden.

The price for the course is £480.00. Day attendees are welcome at a reduced rate of £240.00.

The closing date for bookings with accommodation is 1st July 2012. The closing date for bookings with no accommodation is 1st July 2012.

To book a place visit http://ihgs.ac.uk/shop/contents/courses/dayresieven_courses/index.html

(With thanks to the IHGS)

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

Ancestral therapy - Psychic Sally meets genealogy?

I'm not sure if this is the genealogical equivalent of Psychic Sally, or something even more profound - 'ancestral therapy'. The Express has a story looking at such a New Age practice, in this case called 'Family Constellations therapy', where the practitioner charges £70 an hour to apparently look around your family tree and tell you which ancestors' stories or actions may have influenced the person you are today, and in particular any problems you may be wishing to resolve about yourself which might not be your fault but that of someone who lived long before you did. The story is at www.express.co.uk/features/view/313458/Is-my-family-history-holding-me-back-.

As a genealogist it is my job to unearth what I can for a client, but it is certainly not my job to place an interpretation on them to help them explain who they are - the question "who do you think you are" is not the same as the statement "let me tell you where your problems come from". The only statement I aim to address is "let me tell you what I can find documented about your ancestors". Whilst I may come to know the documentary material that I can unearth, in most cases I don't get to know the client that well, other than through the various exchanges necessary for the research process. So how can I provide such an interpretation?! A few years past I did have a client who hired me to see what I could find in her tree, as she was going for a course of 'ancestral therapy' in the Far East (hence my interest in the Express story!). I found all sorts, having treated it as any other commission. The client duly went abroad, came back, and told me I still had not found the 'problem'. So she hired me to do some more research - great from my point of view, but as far as I was concerned it was a genealogical commission, not a medical one.

According to the Express coverage, a typical session of ancestral therapy can tackle issues "including self-esteem, friendship, health and anxiety but it could also help with career and finance problems". I suspect a good psychologist might offer similar services. Understanding our ancestors' lives can certainly be important, but unless we hear their problems in their own words - a diary perhaps - any conclusions we come to can often only be speculative, with varying degrees of probability. There may well be issues from the past that have had an effect on your family's progress. But will paying some New Age therapist resolve them for you at something like £70 an hour? From my point of view, I'd probably have to place a big question mark on that front.

Chris

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

Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk (no candles are used during the research process!) and www.facebook.com/ScottishGenealogyResearch