If you are going to make a photocopy of an original Scottish birth record OR make a digital copy double check the back side. Oftentimes the christening/baptism date was written on the back (mine being an example). Also check information that might have been added onto the certificate at a later date. I have a number of birth certificates where the christening dates have been written in, and signed by the minister.
I have copies of a number of OPR pages that I am revisiting. I originally got them because a specific family member was recorded on each page. One page I am currently "re-visiting" has two or three other people on it that are family but I did not know that at the time the copy was made.
I also have both copies of the Certificate of Proclamation of Banns that were posted for my maternal grandparents. The marriage date was written in after the event on both copies by the minister. One of the pieces of paperwork is "suitable for framing" :)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Scots-Irish: The Thirteenth Tribe
The longer I live in the south the more questions I get asked about Ireland, specifically the "Scotch-Irish". Yesterday during our question and answer session at our local genealogy group my mind went completely blank when asked for resources and unfortunately I did not have my resources book with me :( (It's at the Franklin FHC if anyone is interested in looking.)
Northern Ireland (Belfast)
PRONI - Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
http://www.proni.gov.uk/
Southern Ireland (Dublin)
General Register Office
http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm
National Library of Ireland
http://www.nli.ie/
Find My Past Ireland (new)
http://blog.findmypast.ie/
I have issues with the term "Scotch-Irish" and consider it a purely American "tag" made for convenience sake. Having said that it did originate with the Protestant Irish to separate themselves from the newer Catholic Irish immigrants. Here's some sources about the history.
The Scots Irish - The Thirteenth Tribe
www.ulsterancestry.com/ulster-scots.html
Tracing the Scots Line
http://barlowgenealogy.com/Resources/scots-irish.html
Scottish and Scotch-Irish Americans
http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Scottish-and-Scotch-Irish-Americans.html
Scotch Irish Emigration to America
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mcclell2/homepage/migrate.htm
The Irish Story
http://www.theirishstory.com/
This wee Scots lass with Irish ancestry is currently trying to work out why her ancestor moved from Ireland to Scotland. I guess I better hit the history books again. Looking at the time period 1790'ish thru 1815.
Northern Ireland (Belfast)
PRONI - Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
http://www.proni.gov.uk/
Southern Ireland (Dublin)
General Register Office
http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm
National Library of Ireland
http://www.nli.ie/
Find My Past Ireland (new)
http://blog.findmypast.ie/
I have issues with the term "Scotch-Irish" and consider it a purely American "tag" made for convenience sake. Having said that it did originate with the Protestant Irish to separate themselves from the newer Catholic Irish immigrants. Here's some sources about the history.
The Scots Irish - The Thirteenth Tribe
www.ulsterancestry.com/ulster-scots.html
Tracing the Scots Line
http://barlowgenealogy.com/Resources/scots-irish.html
Scottish and Scotch-Irish Americans
http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Scottish-and-Scotch-Irish-Americans.html
Scotch Irish Emigration to America
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mcclell2/homepage/migrate.htm
The Irish Story
http://www.theirishstory.com/
This wee Scots lass with Irish ancestry is currently trying to work out why her ancestor moved from Ireland to Scotland. I guess I better hit the history books again. Looking at the time period 1790'ish thru 1815.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Book Review- History for Genealogists......
The full title is "History For Genealogists. Using Chronological Time Lines to Find and Understand Your Ancestors" by Judy Jacobson, a very long title for a very interesting little book. Very well researched.
It mainly covers USA state timelines and history BUT there's a bit about Scotland at the start and a number of European sections. I'm still reading the book and enjoying it very much.
How did I find the book? My friend Rick attended my class on Timelines and when he saw the book thought I would be interested in reading it. He came into the FHC and I have it on loan from him. I need to buy my own copy because I guarantee I will use it often :)
Here's a taste of some of Judy's timelines -
Major revolutionary war events and battles
foreign military and armed engagements
uncivil disobedience
epidemics
international disasters
the rise of labor unions
Judy has a lot of concise, well written "shorts" that are packed full of information. A great jump off point to take your own research further e.g. Meandering Boundaries, Ghost Towns, Orphan Trains, The Lost Three States, America's Historical Migration Patterns, to name but a few.
Chapter 2 is specifically about how and why to create Time Lines.
For more information about the book go to http://www.genealogical.com/products/History%20for%20Genealogists/9956.html
For more information about the book go to http://www.genealogical.com/products/History%20for%20Genealogists/9956.html
With all the junky weather, bronchitis type stuff that's been going round the family and my own lack of transportation on occasion, today was the first time this year that I was able to go to our local family history group. Thanks to Bob for highlighting my blog at his web page and to everyone who came to our question and answer session. Hopefully between the two of us we were able to provide decent information :)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Personal Past Meditations-A Genealogical Blog
I've been thinking recently about genealogy blogs that I really like and would like to share with others.
Dr. Daniel Hubbard has a wonderful blog (IMHO). Lots of wonderful information that is very concisely written and reflects his sense of humor :) http://thepersonalpast.com/
It's not got a huge amount of information about my area of research - Scotland BUT it does have a ton of information that is useful for any kind of family history research.
One of his recent postings entitled "Who Will They Think We Were?" raises some very good points about when a future genealogist might be researching him.
Daniel lives in the house that his grandfather built. There are plenty of records locally indicating that Daniel lived/lives there BUT does that tell the whole truth? In this case ..... NO..... because Daniel has travelled extensively, married abroad and had some of his children abroad also.
So while we are focusing on researching our own ancestry remember that one day one of our descendants might research us. What information will we leave behind in our own paper trail? Will it be accurate or shrouded in family myth?
My descendants might get upset with me because I am not an active journal writer and do not come from a family that does. I have stories that I am writing down and photographs that I am collecting, but will it be enough to flesh out the official documents?
The good doctor has a topics section in his side-bar that takes you to interesting postings on such things as experimental genealogy, forgotten history.
If you live in the USA here's a good resource from his writings that could prove useful - Sanborn Maps. http://www.thepersonalpast.com/2010/06/14/a-memory-trip-down-any-lane/What are they? Fire insurance maps. How many of you would have thought to look there for family history information?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanborn_Maps
And why is the good doctor so interested in the maps himself? http://www.thepersonalpast.com/2011/03/06/taking-walks-with-the-census-taker-and-my-dad/
I love how it links into expanding upon the use of census records AND how it got his dad talking.
Addendum - The British equivalent of Sanborn would be Goad and they can be found at the British Library http://www.bl.uk/.
Dr. Daniel Hubbard has a wonderful blog (IMHO). Lots of wonderful information that is very concisely written and reflects his sense of humor :) http://thepersonalpast.com/
It's not got a huge amount of information about my area of research - Scotland BUT it does have a ton of information that is useful for any kind of family history research.
One of his recent postings entitled "Who Will They Think We Were?" raises some very good points about when a future genealogist might be researching him.
Daniel lives in the house that his grandfather built. There are plenty of records locally indicating that Daniel lived/lives there BUT does that tell the whole truth? In this case ..... NO..... because Daniel has travelled extensively, married abroad and had some of his children abroad also.
So while we are focusing on researching our own ancestry remember that one day one of our descendants might research us. What information will we leave behind in our own paper trail? Will it be accurate or shrouded in family myth?
My descendants might get upset with me because I am not an active journal writer and do not come from a family that does. I have stories that I am writing down and photographs that I am collecting, but will it be enough to flesh out the official documents?
The good doctor has a topics section in his side-bar that takes you to interesting postings on such things as experimental genealogy, forgotten history.
If you live in the USA here's a good resource from his writings that could prove useful - Sanborn Maps. http://www.thepersonalpast.com/2010/06/14/a-memory-trip-down-any-lane/What are they? Fire insurance maps. How many of you would have thought to look there for family history information?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanborn_Maps
And why is the good doctor so interested in the maps himself? http://www.thepersonalpast.com/2011/03/06/taking-walks-with-the-census-taker-and-my-dad/
I love how it links into expanding upon the use of census records AND how it got his dad talking.
Addendum - The British equivalent of Sanborn would be Goad and they can be found at the British Library http://www.bl.uk/.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
So excited ......
...... because I am heading off to Scotland in May, with two of my daughters in tow, to visit my parents. So far we have our flight to and from London booked (we want to visit my brother) and just have to take care of booking the short hop up to Edinburgh. We have a 4 hour lay-over in Toronto, Ontario on the way over and will be in spitting distance of some family history locations there. I've already had the "no you cannot leave the airport to go visit ......." speel.
To make good use of my family history opportunity in Scotland I'm going to have to make some tough decisions about who and what I will have time to research.
How to incorporate touristy stuff for my daughters with family places I would like to see.
How much time can I actually spend at New Register House in Edinburgh without the girls "buying up" the whole city :) Last time I was in Edinburgh the new section of NRH was still being built and I so want to see the changes AND check out the newest census record releases (1911).
What research information/notes do I want to take with me just in case there are issues with internet access.
Which cousins do I contact and visit, etc. etc. etc.
I had camera issues last time I did research over there so one of my questions to myself is "Do I want to revisit some areas to get decent photographs or do I want to go to areas not visited before?"
To make good use of my family history opportunity in Scotland I'm going to have to make some tough decisions about who and what I will have time to research.
How to incorporate touristy stuff for my daughters with family places I would like to see.
How much time can I actually spend at New Register House in Edinburgh without the girls "buying up" the whole city :) Last time I was in Edinburgh the new section of NRH was still being built and I so want to see the changes AND check out the newest census record releases (1911).
What research information/notes do I want to take with me just in case there are issues with internet access.
Which cousins do I contact and visit, etc. etc. etc.
I had camera issues last time I did research over there so one of my questions to myself is "Do I want to revisit some areas to get decent photographs or do I want to go to areas not visited before?"
Monday, March 28, 2011
Season Two: The Generations Project
The second season of BYUtv’s The Generation Project premiers Monday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. MDT. The Generations Project is a reality-based family history show that uncovers the remarkable stories and family histories of everyday people. The people take a hands-on journey to learn about their ancestors, and in the process they discover more about themselves.
The second season of The Generations Project “takes you from Germany to Holland to New York's 'Little Pakistan' and everywhere in between, following eleven journeys into the past: the Denkes explore the origins of their children’s life-threatening genetic disease. Kerry hopes his ancestors will help him find his estranged son, and Ty delves into his complicated heritage as a son of Nazi Germany. They along with eight other guests engage with the past to understand the present.”
BYUtv is available through many local satellite and cable companies. In addition, The Generations Project can be viewed live online at http://www.byutv.org (you'll need to register for a free account to view the show live). All episodes are also available to be viewed immediately after airing at http://www.byutv.org/thegenerationsproject/episodes (no registration required).
Thursday, January 20, 2011
I was contemplating 10 things then ........
we got snow and the kids were out of school all last week ........ and guess what ....... it's currently snowing so they might be out tomorrow. So before I get side-tracked with other things ..... yet again ... here's my 10 things that have surprised, humbled or enlightened me about my ancestors (and my search).
1. If there is no paper trail, there's no paper trail.
Sometimes records just plain do not exist, and it's not because "there was a fire and the court burned down." So our ancestor William Lindsay is still without parentage and no records that exist (that we can find) tell who they are. To those ancestors who found the money to pay to register .... thank-you. To those that could not ... I totally understand ... no hard feelings.
2. Some family tree "no issue" couples did a fairly good job of populating the planet :) I bet their descendants would love to see that part of the tree if I could ever track them down :)
3. Some occupations were surprising and thought provoking - keeper of orphans, prison matron, carriage maker, gunsmith, master shoemaker, spirit dealer, being a few of them.
4. Some of my brick wall research has been solved by unknown cousins who just "popped up out of nowhere" and handed over years of information "because no-one else in the family was interested."
5. My grandma and grandpa Hall never told my mother how they met.
6. There's always two sides to every family story. It's important to either keep, or develop an open mind. Ancient family "fall outs" can be reconciled and wonderful relationships created.
7. My great grandfather lost his "drawing" arm in an industrial accident and used his stump to hold his mechanical drawing instruments.
8. My great-uncle married his daughter-in-laws mother (marriage #2 for both) so said son and spouse are now step brother and sister !!!!
9. You need an iron stomach, a good dictionary, and lots of paper tissues if you take an interest in researching "cause of death" e.g progressive emaciation, gangrene, softening of the brain, miners lung, run over by a train, paralysis.
10. My seemingly very quiet, and wonderful, great aunt actually led a very active interesting life. I did not know too much about it all till after she died :( One of the disadvantages of moving to a different country as an adult (me).
Here's another general one - I miss my active research at Edinburgh's New Register House. I loved going up the the spiral staircase and being able to see the hand written documents up close and personal. Being able to share my excitement on finding someone's info with the person showing it to me was a real treat "back in the day." Having said that Scottish on-line research is amazing and I am truly thankful for what our wee country has available. Spoiled rotten we are ........ spoiled rotten.
1. If there is no paper trail, there's no paper trail.
Sometimes records just plain do not exist, and it's not because "there was a fire and the court burned down." So our ancestor William Lindsay is still without parentage and no records that exist (that we can find) tell who they are. To those ancestors who found the money to pay to register .... thank-you. To those that could not ... I totally understand ... no hard feelings.
2. Some family tree "no issue" couples did a fairly good job of populating the planet :) I bet their descendants would love to see that part of the tree if I could ever track them down :)
3. Some occupations were surprising and thought provoking - keeper of orphans, prison matron, carriage maker, gunsmith, master shoemaker, spirit dealer, being a few of them.
4. Some of my brick wall research has been solved by unknown cousins who just "popped up out of nowhere" and handed over years of information "because no-one else in the family was interested."
5. My grandma and grandpa Hall never told my mother how they met.
6. There's always two sides to every family story. It's important to either keep, or develop an open mind. Ancient family "fall outs" can be reconciled and wonderful relationships created.
7. My great grandfather lost his "drawing" arm in an industrial accident and used his stump to hold his mechanical drawing instruments.
8. My great-uncle married his daughter-in-laws mother (marriage #2 for both) so said son and spouse are now step brother and sister !!!!
9. You need an iron stomach, a good dictionary, and lots of paper tissues if you take an interest in researching "cause of death" e.g progressive emaciation, gangrene, softening of the brain, miners lung, run over by a train, paralysis.
10. My seemingly very quiet, and wonderful, great aunt actually led a very active interesting life. I did not know too much about it all till after she died :( One of the disadvantages of moving to a different country as an adult (me).
Here's another general one - I miss my active research at Edinburgh's New Register House. I loved going up the the spiral staircase and being able to see the hand written documents up close and personal. Being able to share my excitement on finding someone's info with the person showing it to me was a real treat "back in the day." Having said that Scottish on-line research is amazing and I am truly thankful for what our wee country has available. Spoiled rotten we are ........ spoiled rotten.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Aaaaw shucks and thanks :-)
Kathy at http://jonesfamilymatters.blogspot.com/ has given 10 genealogy blogs the following award.
The award was the brainchild of Leslie Ann Ballou of "Ancestors Live Here" in March of 2010. http://ancestorslivehere.blogspot.com/ It was her way of sharing other genealogy/family history blogs that she enjoyed because of their "tips, tricks and funny & heartwarming stories."
So I'm supposed to pass along the award to 10 other genealogy blogs that I like (this might be hard since a goodly number of them already have been given the award), after sharing 10 things that have surprised, humbled or enlightened me about my ancestors.
Now to put my thinking cap on. It might take a few days to put my lists together.
So I'm supposed to pass along the award to 10 other genealogy blogs that I like (this might be hard since a goodly number of them already have been given the award), after sharing 10 things that have surprised, humbled or enlightened me about my ancestors.
Now to put my thinking cap on. It might take a few days to put my lists together.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Bellevue History and Genealogy Group
I've mentioned on a few occasions that I am a member of the Bellevue History and Genealogy Group. We meet most Friday mornings at the local YMCA in the Fifty Forward Center. It's free and all are welcome. I am the "baby' of the group :) I recently taught a class on how to use time lines in your research and will share some of that at a later date.
Our hard working group leader, Bob Allen, lines up speakers 3 times per month and we do computer/brick wall research on the remaining Friday. Let me introduce you to his relatively new web site. If you live locally or are interested in middle Tennessee research you will definitely find what he has to share interesting. http://www.archivelookup.com/
For those of you interested in Scottish research I hope you will continue, or start, to look at the resources in my side bar. I do update it as needed and have found everything there to be helpful to my own research over the years.
Our hard working group leader, Bob Allen, lines up speakers 3 times per month and we do computer/brick wall research on the remaining Friday. Let me introduce you to his relatively new web site. If you live locally or are interested in middle Tennessee research you will definitely find what he has to share interesting. http://www.archivelookup.com/
For those of you interested in Scottish research I hope you will continue, or start, to look at the resources in my side bar. I do update it as needed and have found everything there to be helpful to my own research over the years.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
I almost missed it.
Darn it I almost missed giving all my Scottish buddies happy St.Andrews Day greetings. Hope you had a great day.
Unlike St. Patricks Day, here in the USA St. Andrews Day kind of slips by without much fanfare, maybe because of Thanksgiving.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EhM6V9k3P84
Unlike St. Patricks Day, here in the USA St. Andrews Day kind of slips by without much fanfare, maybe because of Thanksgiving.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EhM6V9k3P84
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thanksgiving and appreciating our ancestors
I hope you enjoy Thanksgiving tomorrow and pause for a moment to give thanks for the ancestors who went before us and in their own ways helped to create the lives we each enjoy now :) Without them we would not exist.
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