Wednesday 30 September 2015

Thanks to Routes to Your North East Roots

A belated thanks to Routes to Your North East Roots (www.northeastscotlandroots.com) for its superb event held at Stonehaven Town Hall on Saturday.

I attended the event to give a well attended talk on Scottish church records, and it was a very busy day, with quite a buzz in the main hall itself. I happily managed to pick up a copy of a book I've been looking for over the last few months (In Famed Breadalbane by William Gillies), and caught up with some of the great and the good in the family history world, including Aberdeen Archives, the Aberdeenshire and North East Scotland FHS, genealogist Lorraine Stewart and many others. The venue could not have been more accessible if it tried, very easy to reach.




This was also my first ever visit to Stonehaven (I'd previously driven past it many times, but had never visited!), so I took a dander down to the harbour after - nice place!





Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Irish Registry of Deeds Index Project site updated

The Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland has received another update, with 202,123 index records from 23,212 memorials of deeds now available.

To access the index visit http://irishdeedsindex.net/search/index.php - to submit an extract, visit http://irishdeedsindex.net/search/make_abstract.php


(With thanks to the project and the North of Ireland Family History Society via Facebook)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Irish Genealogy improves civil marriage search facility

The Irish Genealogy website at www.irishgenealogy.ie has updated its civil registration indexes to improve its marriage records search facility (subject to a 75 year closure period), as well as to update by a year the indexes available for births and deaths (subject to closure periods of 100 and 50 years respectively). The following is the news announcement (www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/news):

The Indexes to Birth Records over 100 years, the Indexes to Marriage Records over 75 years and the Indexes to Death Records over 50 years are available to search on www.irishgenealogy.ie. The Birth Records Indexes date from 1864 to 1914, the Marriage Records Indexes date from 1845 (1864 for Roman Catholic Marriages) to 1939, and the Death Records Indexes date from 1864 to 1964. Regular users of the site will also notice the enhancement of the Marriage Indexes, with both parties to the Marriage now being shown from 1882 onwards.

Essentially it is now possible to do a marriage search from 1882-1939 using one party's name, such as Patrick Burns, and to know that you have found the right entry for the candidate of interest, with the other party's name of interest also returned in the search result - e.g.


A useful addition, but one that would be even further enhanced when the entries from 1845-1881 are also added in!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Using TNA's Discovery workshop

For those still baffled by it, the National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) down in England is running a free 45 minute session on how to get the best out of its Discovery catalogue system. The session takes place on Tuesday, 6 October 2015 from 11:15 to 12:00 at the archive in Kew.

Further details on the session are available at http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-discovery-getting-the-most-from-our-online-catalogue-tickets-18467919043


Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Canada, WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947

A collection released a couple of weeks back by Ancestry's Canadian wing may be of interest to those in the UK with Canadian connections.

Entitled Canada, WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947, it is available at http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=9145 via a Worldwide subscription, and carries the following description on the site:

Canada entered the Second World War on 10 September 1939. More than a million Canadians served in the armed forces, representing about 10 percent of the entire population. Around 45,000 lost their lives.

This collection contains case files of nearly 45,000 Canadian military personnel killed in the Second World War. Over 29,000 of the case files have been indexed and can be searched using the provided search fields. Images for the remaining case files may be browsed, and will be indexed in a later update to this collection.

The files include attestation papers, death certificates, and photos of the soldiers. Information found on the documents varies, but can include a wide variety of details, such as:

soldier's name
date and place of birth
address
religion
marital status
names and birthdates of children
military service
physical description
education
occupational history
parents’ names
next of kin and address

Some records are in French. Use the arrow keys to make sure you see all the pages related to your ancestor.

The source is Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Canada (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx)

Sherman tank as a war memorial, North York, Toronto

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

The new National Library of Scotland 2015-2020 strategy

The National Library of Scotland - "a cathedral of knowledge" - has published its new 2015-2020 strategy. The document is accessible at http://www.nls.uk/the-way-forward, alongside a short video summarising its key aims and objectives.

The video is also presented here for convenience:



(With thanks to the NLS)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Soil Survey of Scotland maps 1950s-1980s online

From the National Library of Scotland (www.nls.uk):

New online - Soil Survey of Scotland mapping (1950s-1980s)

To commemorate the International Year of Soils 2015, we’ve collaborated with the James Hutton Institute to put online a set of detailed soil maps across Scotland.

Soil surveys were done by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen, which subsequently created a set of strikingly attractive coloured maps categorising and portraying soil type on Ordnance Survey one-inch to the mile base mapping.

The soil maps can be viewed with a clickable map of Scotland and we’ve georeferenced them so that they can easily be compared to present day satellite imagery, or to other maps.

See the maps in a georeferenced layer
See the maps in a side-by-side layer
Soil Survey of Scotland Homepage


(With thanks to the NLS)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

A brief history of the Scottish Kirk

By way of a handy research guide, I have added a wee bonus to this blog for those carrying out Scottish based family history research - a history of the Church of Scotland, as presented with the first chapter in my book Discover Scottish Church Records. It explains the various schisms and the state of play concerning the Scottish churches by 1851, when the religious census was carried out in Scotland, alongside the regular decennial census. If you can't find your ancestor on ScotlandsPeople, this may help to explain why! Subsequent chapters of the book itself then tell you how to find the records that aren't online, as well as those that are, and an overview of all the wee tricks of the trade in understanding what it is that is presented before you when you do find them.

The link is available in the tabs at the top of this page, entitled Kirk History, or directly via http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/kirk-history.html.

Enjoy!

John Knox statue, Stirling

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

TNA podcast: Kew lives – reconstructing the past

The latest podcast from the National Archives in England is entitled Kew lives – reconstructing the past, a 14 minute talk from Emily Ward-Willis about researching local history.

The recording is available at http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/kew-lives-reconstructing-past/ or can be downloaded for free from iTunes.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Gould Genealogy September book sale in Australia

I've only just been made aware of this, but Gould Genealogy in Australia is running a September sale on many of its Unlock the Past books.

In addition to several of my Scottish and Irish titles, there are many others relating to the British Isles, including Paul Milner's Buried Treasure and Discover English Census Records, and Neil Smith's Finding the Family Redcoat: Tracing Your British Military Ancestors in Australia. Other authors represented include Shauna Hicks, Helen C Smith, Thomas MacEntee, Rosemary Kopittke, Carol Baxter and many more on a range of worldwide genealogy topics!

Full details are at http://www.gould.com.au/Unlock-the-Past-guides-s/2576.htm - but get in quick folks, sale ends in two days!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

PRONI conferences - Steam Trains, and Sport in the First World War

Two forthcoming conferences at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.proni.gov.uk):

Playing the Game: Sport, Ireland and The Great War

A joint conference organised by PRONI and the Antrim and Down Branch of the Western Front Association.

Thursday 5 November 2015, 10.30 to 4.00


Sport and the sporting ethos played an important role in the First World War both as a recruiting tool and as a means of maintaining moral in the fighting forces. It was also a cause of controversy as the continuation of spectator sport on the home front was seen as a distraction from the war effort. The conference will look at various aspects of sport and the War in Ireland.

Speakers will include: Dr Tim Bowman (University of Kent) on recruiting sportsmen’s units in Ireland; Dr Conor Curran (Dublin City University) on sport in Donegal during the Great War; Dr Dónal McAnallen on the GAA and the First World War; Tara Lynne O’Neil on women’s football and the Great War; Tom Thorpe (King’s College London) on the military value of sport; Stephen Walker on Irish sportsmen and the Great War.

Admission is FREE but booking is recommended. Please contact PRONI to secure your place.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

2 Titanic Boulevard, Belfast, BT3 9HQ E: proni@dcalni.gov.uk T: (+44) 028 9053 4800


Golden Age of Steam

Tuesday 20 October 2015, 13.30 to 16.00


PRONI is delighted to announce that we will be hosting a half day conference on the 20 October on the era of steam trains. Speakers will include: Charles Friel (Railway Preservation Society Ireland) ‘The origins of Ulster’s railway’; Robin Masefield (author) ‘Be Careful Dont Rush’ Celebrating 150years of train travel between Holywood and Bangor; Mark

Kennedy (National Museums Northern Ireland) ‘The LMS in Ireland’; Robert Davison (British Transport Police History Group) ‘Railway Police in Ireland during the Nineteenth Century’; Jayne Hutchinson (PRONI) ‘Sources in PRONI on Railway History’ and Francis Jones (NI Screen) An Audio Visual presentation on Railways in Ireland.


The conference will start at 1.30pm and close at 4.30pm.

Admission is FREE but booking is recommended. Please contact PRONI to secure your place.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

2 Titanic Boulevard, Belfast, BT3 9HQ E: proni@dcalni.gov.uk T: (+44) 028 9053 4800

(With thanks to PRONI)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Friday 25 September 2015

Berwick 900 Family History Festival

A quick note from Peter Munro at Borders Family History Society about a festival on 3rd-4th October entitled Berwick 900 Family History Festival. It's a family history festival which will include a presence from, amongst others:

Berwick 900
Berwick Record Office
Borders Family History Society
Eyemouth Museum
Northumberland & Durham Family History Society
Northumberland Archives
The Great Performing Rope
The Scottish Genealogy Society

In addition there is a full programme of talks.

For further details please visit http://berwick900.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/family-history-festival.html

(With thanks to Peter)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Ulster Historical Foundation's Essential Genealogy Research pack offer

The Ulster Historical Foundation (www.ancestryireland.com) is again promoting its Essential Genealogy Research pack for Irish research, available at http://www.booksireland.org.uk/store/all-departments/essential-genealogical-research-pack, which I am delighted to say includes one of my books. Here's the announcement:

The Foundation is delighted to make available to our Guild members and friends a new book offer which will benefit both the budding and experienced genealogist alike – the Essential Genealogy Research pack.

For just £49.99 plus P&P (normal retail price £59.96) this pack comprises Four Key Publications which will provide invaluable information in your quest to uncover your family history and complete your research!

Included in this pack are the following books (which can also be purchased separately below):
  • Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800 by Dr William Roulston (RRP £11.99)
  • Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet: A guide for family historians by Chris Paton (RRP £12.99)
  • Irish Libraries, Archives, Museums & Genealogical Centres: A Visitors’ Guide (3rd ed.) by Robert K. O'Neill (RRP £14.99)
  • Tracing Your Irish Ancestors by John Grenham (RRP £19.99)
For more information please go to visit: www.booksireland.org.uk


Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800

Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors is the perfect and essential guide for anyone researching Ulster families.

One of the greatest frustrations for generations of genealogical researchers has been that reliable guidance on sources for perhaps the most critical period in the establishment of their family'€™s links with Ulster, the period up to 1800, has proved to be so elusive. Not any more. Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800 by Dr William Roulston can claim to be the first comprehensive guide for family historians searching for ancestors in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Ulster.

Whether their ancestors are of English, Scottish or Gaelic Irish origin, it will be of enormous value to anyone wishing to conduct research in Ulster prior to 1800. A comprehensive range of sources from the period 1600-1800 are identified and explained in very clear terms. Information on the whereabouts of these records and how they may be accessed is also provided. Equally important, there is guidance on how effectively they might be used.

The appendices to Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors include a full listing of pre-1800 church records for Ulster; a detailed description of nearly 250 collections of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century estate papers; and a summary breakdown of the sources available from this period for each parish in Ulster.


Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet: A guide for family historians

Ireland has experienced considerably more tragedy when it comes to the preservation of resources for family historians than its close neighbour Britain. Many of the nation's primary records were lost during the civil war in 1922 and through other equally tragic means. But in this new book Chris Paton, the Northern-Irish-born author of the best-selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, shows that not only has a great deal of information survived, it is also increasingly being made available online.

Thanks to the pioneering efforts of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, the National Archives of Ireland, organisations such as FindmyPast Ireland, Ancestry.co.uk and RootsIreland, and the massive volunteer genealogical community, more and more of Ireland's historical resources are accessible from afar.

As well as exploring the various categories of records that the family historian can turn to, Chris Paton illustrates their use with fascinating case studies. He fully explores the online records available from both the north and the south from the earliest times to the present day. Many overseas collections are also included, and he looks at social networking in an Irish context where many exciting projects are currently underway. His book is an essential introduction and source of reference for anyone who is keen to trace their Irish roots.


Irish Libraries, Archives, Museums & Genealogical Centres: A Visitors’ Guide (3rd ed.)

This important reference volume – now in its third edition – introduces readers and researchers to the treasury of printed and manuscript resources available in Irish libraries, archives and genealogical centres. Although it is aimed principally at the Irish Diaspora – amounting to some 70 million people around the globe who can trace their ancestry back to Ireland – Irish and non-Irish researchers alike should find the book of inestimable value for their research anywhere in Ireland.

It will acquaint the user with the valuable and accessible collections in Irish repositories. Essential information on operating hours, contact information – including names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and website addresses – access and service information, descriptions, and the location of these repositories will prove to be immensely practical.

A number of features enhance the practical value of the book as an indispensable work of reference. The entries are arranged alphabetically by city or town within county, and a separate list, arranged alphabetically by type of institution, is provided for added convenience. There are lists of publications, a detailed glossary and bibliography, and an extensive index. For family and local history researchers, a brief guide to the Irish Family History Foundation (and the Foundation’s website www.rootsireland.ie) is provided, along with a helpful introduction to tracing your ancestors.

Of special interest are the vital reference details for each parish in Ireland for the crucially important tithe and valuation records from c. 1830 in the record offices in Belfast and Dublin.

The guide also provides information of practical benefit to many other interested parties: academic researchers, professionals in the area of business, education, marketing, medicine, law and technology, as well as vacationers interested in learning about local resources available to them.


Tracing Your Irish Ancestors

This 4th edition of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors retains the three-part structure of earlier editions, but updates and improves the material already included while adding new sources which have emerged since publication of the third edition in 2006.

The bibliographies - an important element of the book - are more comprehensive than ever before. With the growing use of Internet searches the number of sources has grown dramatically since the last edition. John Grenham has a specific chapter on the Internet, with detailed references to online transcripts in the source lists.

In addition, the invaluable index has been completely revised and updated to take account of the 35% increase in content over the previous one.

COMMENT: I can't vouch for my book (I'm biased), but I will certainly recommend the other three!

(With thanks to the UHF)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

FindmyPast releases Britain, Directories & Almanacs

Just released by FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

Britain, Directories & Almanacs

Britain, Directories & Almanacs allows you to explore 112 volumes of fascinating documents spanning three centuries. They include a wide variety of records ranging from trade directories and county guides to almanacs and general directories. Almanacs and directories are an excellent resource for anyone researching their family history and can provide unique insights into how your ancestors lived.

They can include topographical accounts of towns, social statistics and comprehensive guides of local areas as well as full listings of gentry, business owners, trades people, civil servants, church leaders, school teachers and much more! You can also uncover the history of your home and uncover previous proprietors.

Included in the collection is Colonial Office Lists from 1863 and 1870. They includes both lists of officers and those working within the civil establishment throughout the British Empire and can even provide geographical details and histories of regions such as Barbardos, the Cape of Good Hope, Dominica, Malta, Nova scotia, New South Wales and Trinidad.

The collection is formed from records held by the Anguline Research Archives, Gould Genealogy, Yorkshire Ancestors and Eneclann. There are also a significant number of Irish records taken from Dod's peerage, baronetage and knightage of Great Britain and Ireland, and Thom’s Official Directory for Great Britain & Ireland, 1914 – a directory for both Great Britain and Ireland which includes social and economic statistics for all countries involved.

Each record consists of a PDF image of the original document that can reveal where your ancestor lived, where they worked and whether they owned a business. A Transcript box will also be displayed to the left of the image that will clearly mark the title of the publication, where the publication is based and an image number to help you to explore the publication further.

A full list of the many sources that make up the collection is available on our dedicated search page (http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/britain-directories-and-almanacs).

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Thursday 24 September 2015

Interview with Alan Simpson of Oxford Family History Society

Alan Simpson of Oxford Family History Society (http://www.ofhs.org.uk) has been interviewed by a local station, Oxford TV. The interview is available online at https://youtu.be/gXLuMcOTT8o, and is embedded below:




(With thanks to Wendy Archer of Oxford FHS)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Stand up and be counted - Ulster's suffragettes

Another great initiative from PRONI (www.proni.gov.uk) in Belfast takes place next week with the online launch of a new resources looking at women's suffrage in Northern Ireland - the following is he news announcement for those wishing to attend:

Stand Up and Be Counted! An online resource of the theme of suffrage 

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) invites you to the launch of our new online resource, entitled Stand Up and Be Counted!, which uses archives to explore issues around suffrage, gender and democracy. The launch, which will take place on Monday 28th September, will be followed by a practical workshop demonstrating how the resource can be used in the community.

This free event is aimed at community group members and leaders, youth workers, educationalists, cultural and good relations staff, or anyone wishing to explore Decade of Centenaries (1912-1922) topics or issues around suffrage and democracy.

1.30pm – Launch of Stand Up and Be Counted! online resource

2.00 – 4.00pm – Workshop

1.30pm: Launch of Stand Up and Be Counted! online resource Archives have a key role to play in helping communities and individuals explore our shared history. The online resource pack is aimed at anyone with an interest archives, suffrage or the wider Decade of Centenaries. The aim of the resource is to exemplify how archives not only help us explore the past, but can also inform and inspire debate around more contemporary issues. The resource pack will provide online access to original PRONI archives (via scanned copies) which can be downloaded and used to explore themes relating to Decade of Centenaries within the local community. The resource also includes contextual information and suggestions for workshop exercises. The resource will be available on the PRONI website www.proni.gov.uk

2.00 - 4.00pm: Cafe-conversations style workshop During this practical session, participants will have a chance to explore primary sources – such as letters, documents and images - created by a range of individuals and organisations involved in shaping our past.

You don’t need to be a history expert – you just need to be curious! You will use evidence from the archives to consider how different backgrounds and ideologies – unionist and nationalist, labour and class, the suffragette movement – may have influenced opinions on suffrage. You will then go on to discuss how circumstances have changed over time, and consider how the successes and challenges of the past can inform and engage people in debate about present day topical issues.

Booking Admission is free, however booking for the workshop is essential.

To reserve a place, contact PRONI Email: proni@dcalni.gov.uk Tel: (+44) 028 9053 4800 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland PRONI, 2 Titanic Boulevard, Belfast, BT3 9HQ

COMMENT: I discussed women's suffrage in a talk in Toronto last Friday on the Decade of Remembrance - it is as much a part of the revolutionary proceedings between 1912 and 1922 as any other event, so I'm very much looking forward to this.  For those interested, another very useful resource online is a website and free downloadable ebook on the topic from the Glenravel Family History group at http://www.belfastsuffragettes.com - thoroughly recommended.


Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Welsh love letters from the First World War preserved in song

There are many ways to try to preserve family stories from long ago, but this one gets a gold medal as far as I am concerned! The story of love letters written between Gladys 'Gladdie' Woodland and Leslie Atwill, both from Cardiff, over a hundred years ago during the First World War, is being preserved in a song written by Glady’s great-grandaughter Amy Goddard. It has already reached the semi final of a UK Songwriting competition.


For more on the story visit www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/musician-writes-song-inspired-letters-10118314.

Nice one!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

National Archives - October events at Kew

The National Archives at Kew in England has published its list of October and November hosted events. Talks include a session on rugby in the First World War and how to use the London Gazette, there's a user forum meeting also, and various other events including a workshop on the battle of Agincourt.

For a full list visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/visit/events.htm.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Thesis - The Eurasian Problem In Nineteenth Century India

Thanks to Jonathan Gentry in Toronto for the following. A thesis by Valerie E.R. Anderson entitled The Eurasian Problem In Nineteenth Century India, from the Department of History, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, is available online. Chapter 6 on Law and Marriage is especially of note. The thesis is well worth a read at http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/13525/1/Anderson_3334.pdf

The following is the abstract:

ABSTRACT
The Eurasian problem in nineteenth century India was a question of their national identity. People of mixed European and Indian ancestry, were seen by the British as other than European but treated by them as other than Indian. First legal proscriptions and later social mores acted to maintain a barrier between the British and Eurasians but the separation was never complete. The British administration needed Eurasian labour and European men continued to seek Eurasian wives, pulling Eurasians into the sphere of British influence. At the same time, eager to define and preserve the Britishness of its presence in India, the government and European society pushed Eurasians away. Encouraged by the prospect of work to maintain a strong affiliation with British culture moulded through continued interaction and education, Christian and largely Anglophone Eurasians emerged at the end of the century othered again. In the minds of many Indians, the Eurasians, working primarily as government servants, were firmly associated with subjugation and colonial rule.

In colonial India poor or Indianised Eurasians were somewhat of a problem for the British who sought to legitimise their rule with an illusion of European superiority. In late colonial and independent India Anglo-Indians were sometimes perceived as another kind of problem; an unwelcome hang-over from the British Raj. Thus, both their Indian and their European heritage were problematic. A small population with neither political power nor wealth, Eurasians were stuck in a liminal zone between the coloniser and the colonised. As such they were caught up in and buffeted by colonial hegemony, nationalist demands, and the need to put bread or chapattis on their tables. This thesis explores the everyday realities of marriage and family, education and employment, and shows how Eurasian agency in choosing their own lifestyles and affiliations, was gradually eroded by the colonial state.


Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Scottish family history societies board on Pinterest

I've just added a board to my new Pinterest account, linking to known family history societies and Western Isles based comuinn eachdraidh with an online presence - it is available at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/scottish-family-history-societies/.

I am still getting used to Pinterest, so a small number of societies have yet to be added, as they have no embedded images on their websites to link to, but I will see what I can do! I may also add local history groups to the board in due course.

If you are part of a Scottish Interest Group around the world, I'd be happy to link to your site also - drop me a note with details.

I'll also deal with the rest of the British Isles in due course - I just want to get the home territory sorted first!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Wednesday 23 September 2015

Commonwealth War Graves Commission survey

For readers of the CWGC newsletter:

CWGC SURVEY – PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

We are taking the slightly unusual step of writing to you to ask for your help by participating in a CWGC survey.

Your answers will help us to better understand our audience and how we tailor our services and communications to your needs.

The survey should only take a few minutes to complete and all answers will be treated in the strictest confidence. Your help is greatly appreciated.

The survey can be accessed here: CWGC Survey (https://survey.crowdology.co.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=144231495493)

Finally, we hope to relaunch a new and improved newsletter early in the new year.

Yours faithfully

Colin Kerr

Director External Relations
Commonwealth War Graves Commission


COMMENT: Tut tut. One of the options offered in the residency question is "UK and Northern Ireland". I would have expected better from a body such as the CWGC on that front. The UK includes Northern Ireland - quite a few Northern Irish folk died for the UK in the two world wars.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Mayflower 400 anniversary events planning visit to Plymouth

From Plymouth City Council:

US AMBASSADOR VISITS CITY LEADING THE MAYFLOWER 400 ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

US Ambassador to the UK Matthew Barzun is visiting the city where the Mayflower set off on its historic voyage to the United States almost exactly 395 years ago.

The Ambassador is visiting Plymouth over two days and will be meeting the leadership group responsible for planning the Mayflower 400 events for which Plymouth is the lead city in the UK.

He will also be meeting students and young people, visiting local businesses, paying his respects to US servicemen and visiting sites connected to the historic voyage.

The Ambassador’s visit to Plymouth is a high point to date in the Mayflower 400 campaign, which ultimately seeks to invite all US presidents past and present to stand on the Mayflower steps in 2020.

“We have set ourselves some very ambitious objectives for 2020” said Adrian Vinken OBE chair of the Mayflower 400 Leadership Group. “When we started out on this campaign two years ago we probably wouldn’t have thought that we’d be welcoming Ambassador Barzun to Plymouth and yet we’re honoured by his presence here today. For an occasion as globally significant as Mayflower 400 anything is possible.”

City Council Leader Tudor Evans wrote to the Ambassador last year inviting him to the city and a delegation from Plymouth to the USA in March visited the State Department to discuss Mayflower 400 and the international opportunity that the commemoration represents.

Councillor Evans said: “We’re delighted that Ambassador Barzun is coming to Plymouth almost exactly five years before this hugely important anniversary. The sailing of the Mayflower is arguably one the most influential single voyages in the history of the world and the spirit of that voyage and the beliefs that motivated it led to the creation of the most p owerful nation on earth.

“So Mayflower 400 is a very significant event on both sides of the Atlantic. We are looking forward to discussing the opportunity with the Ambassador, as well as sharing some of the many connections between Plymouth and the United States both past and present and showing him the city where it all started.”

The Ambassador’s visit will also coincide with the launch of the Mayflower 400 website and a national Mayflower education pack which is being distributed to schools in all 11 English towns and cities that make up the Mayflower 400 Compact.

“We’re delighted that Ambassador Barzun has come to the city to visit where his ancestor stood before embarking on that world-changing voyage’ said Mr Vinken. “It also serves to demonstrate that the ‘special relationship’ we share with the United States which originated with the Mayflower and its values of individual freedom and democracy is today as relevant and strong as ever.”

If you would like to become involved in either fundraising or participating then please visit our website: www.mayflower400UK.co.uk

Plymouth City Council is proud to be working with our national and international partners:
Scrooby & Babworth (Nottinghamshire)
Austerfield & Doncaster (Yorkshire)
Gainsborough (Lincolnshire)
Boston (Lincolnshire)
Immingham (Lincolnshire)
Leiden (Holland)
Rotherhithe (Southwark)
Harwich (Essex)
Southampton (Hampshire)
Dartmouth (Devon)
Plymouth (Devon)
Plymouth, Massachusetts (USA)


Mayflower 400, Plymouth is led and supported by:
Plymouth City Council
Plymouth Culture
Plymouth and Devon Chamber
Plymouth Citybus
Destination Plymouth
Plymouth University
City College Plymouth

(With thanks to Annabel Jenkins)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

US passports and Warwickshire parish registers added to FamilySearch

FamilySearch has just added 3 million US passport images, 1.9 million of them indexed, in a new collection, United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925, available via https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2185145.

Todd Knowles has written a short blog post explaining the collection at http://knowlescollection.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/united-states-passport-applications.html

John Reid is also blogging that Warwickshire parish records have been added at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1462403. His blog post is at http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/familysearch-adds-england-warwickshire.html.

(With thanks to Todd Knowles)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Routes to Your North-East Roots event in Stonehaven

This coming Saturday I will be giving a talk at the Routes to Your North-East Roots event in Stonehaven:

Routes to your North East Roots - Stonehaven Town Hall, Saturday 26th September 2015

We hope you're all looking forward to the Routes to your North East Roots event at Stonehaven Town Hall on Saturday! The event will be taking place between 10.30am and 4.30pm, so there's plenty of opportunity to stop by and visit.

With a great line up of exhibitors, including Kincardineshire Ancestors, the National Records of Scotland, Stonehaven Heritage Society and many more, there will be plenty of people on hand to answer your questions. From an interest in family history, to wondering what the history of a building may have been, you're sure to find some useful information.

There's also an excellent programme of talks taking place throughout the day on a variety of subjects including Scotland's People and heraldry. The full timetable can be found here.

COMMENT: My talk at 2.30pm is Discover Scottish Church Records. In addition to describing how to find the records, the talk also focusses heavily on the history of the Kirk from 1560-1855. If you can't find a record on ScotlandsPeople in that period, this talk will most definitely help provide a few clues as to why that might be!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Scots urged by CWGC to remember the fallen of the Battle of Loos

COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION (CWGC) URGES SCOTTISH PUBLIC TO REMEMBER SCOTS SACRIFICE ON BATTLE OF LOOS CENTENARY

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org) today urged the Scottish public to remember the sacrifices made by Scots during the Battle of Loos in France a century ago ahead of a series of commemorative events in Dundee this weekend.

The Battle of Loos (September – October 1915) was the British Army’s largest effort of the war so far, with 75,000 men involved on the first day alone – almost half from Scottish Regiments. Battalions from every Scottish regiment fought in the Battle of Loos and suffered huge numbers of casualties.

Five Victoria Crosses were given to Scots after the battle in recognition of their extraordinary bravery – including one to Piper Daniel Laidlaw who famously ripped off his gas mask, climbed onto the parapet of his trench and played his comrades forward into battle.

Loos saw the first British use of poison gas and also the first deployment of battalions formed of inexperienced wartime volunteers - part of General Douglas Haig’s First Army. It became known at the time as ‘the Big Push.’

To mark the centenary, the CWGC has launched a remembrance trail, that has been specially designed to encourage more people to visit this often overlooked battlefield.

The CWGC Loos Remembrance Trail takes the visitor on a journey of discovery across the battlefields of Loos, visiting some of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemeteries where many of those killed in the battle lie buried and discovering more about the battle and the experiences of those who fought it.

The CWGC’s Director of External Relations, Mr Colin Kerr, explained: “The Battle of Loos might be described as a Scottish battle given the huge number of Scots that took part. Almost 30,000 Scots fought at Loos and some 7,000 lost their lives. Of the 20,000 names of the dead on the Commission’s memorial at Loos, one-third are Scottish.”

“These losses were deeply felt in every city, town and village across Scotland and yet the Battle of Loos has largely been forgotten. We be lieve that is not right and that these men, and the cemeteries and memorials where they are commemorated, deserve to be better known and visited and that is why we have launched this fascinating and easy to follow remembrance trail.”

A pdf of the remembrance trail leaflet can be downloaded, here: Loos Remembrance Trail Leaflet.

(With thanks to Nick Birch)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre now open

With thanks to the Federation of Family History Societies and Phil Bufton of Herefordshire FHS for the following:

The new Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre (HARC) is now open to the public, We are open Tuesday to Friday 9.15am to 4.45pm and all day the second Saturday of every month
Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre will be officially opened by HRH Duke of Kent KG, in the morning of Thursday 1st October 2015.

Please note that all visitors attending between 9:00 – 13:00 on this day will require identification and proof of address. Suitable forms of identification include driver's license, passport, national identity card, birth certificate, current utility bill, bank statement or council tax bill etc. A CARN reader's ticket alone will NOT be accepted as proof of identity for these hours.
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/local-history-and-heritage/archives-getting-involved

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

My Pinterest account

I had briefly flirted with this before, but after a chat with genie Thomas MacEntee in Philadelphia at the weekend, I have decided to have another bash at using Pinterest. My account is online at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton and in due course I will use it to add interesting pics and items from a range of genealogical areas of interest. So, whilst there's not a lot there just now, if you use Pinterest and would like to follow the account, I will do my best to keep adding content...!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Tuesday 22 September 2015

TNA podcast - From the Gramophone to the iPhone

The latest podcast from the National Archives in England is entitled Electric shock: From the gramophone to the iPhone, a 40 minute talk from writer Peter Doggett. It can be accessed at http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/writer-month-peter-doggett-electric-shock/ or downloaded for free via iTunes.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My new Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Irish Lives Remembered Sept/Oct 2015 issue now out

The latest free to access issue of Irish Lives Remembered is now available online at www.irishlivesremembered.com

This issue:

Fiona Fitzsimons from Eneclann shares her research on British Actor, Jeremy Irons Irish Family History which unearths the McCreight family from Down who founded a linen factory in Blarney, Co. Cork - close to where the actor lives today plus a reversal of fortune for his Dublin connections.

The Irish in TEXAS
· Genealogist and lecturer, Joe Buggy looks at tracing the Irish in Texas
· New Jersey genealogist, Maureen Wlodarczyk takes a look at the lives of James Power, Rosalie Bridget Hart & the Irish colonization of Texas

General News
· Tracing your Workhouse Ancestors - 6 step guide from Findmypast Ireland on how best to navigate through their record database
· Jayne Shrimpton covers a photo from a kindergarten in Waterford dated 1929
· Flyleaf Press added Tracing Your Kerry Ancestors to their county book series.
· Fly Leaf Press are offering a special discount on their title ‘IRISH CHURCH RECORDS’ for €20
· New Irish records on Findmypast Ireland
· IARC help launch Limerick DNA project
· Derry Genealogist Brian Mitchell remembers Second Lieutenant George Mitchell and the Relief of Kut who was killed in action on 1 February 1917
· The McMahon Archival Collection at Clare Museum includes details of 60 families and landed estates in County Clare from 1600’s to mid 1900’s
· Ireland Reaches Out launches Epic Journeys Ellis Island which brings to life the experiences of people who left Ireland at the turn of the 19th Century and passed through the Immigration Station at Ellis Island before scattering to all parts of North America to begin a new life
· University College Cork announces their line-up of speakers for their annual 2016 Irish Genealogy Summer School.

(With thanks to Eileen Munnelly)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My new Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Amazing weekend of conferences in Ontario!

I'm just back from one of my most enjoyable visits to Ontario yet, having travelled across the pond to speak at two events organised over the weekend by the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society (http://torontofamilyhistory.org), and the BIFHSGO (www.bifhsgo.ca) conference in Ottawa. This was my third OGS event (second in Toronto), and my second BIFHSGO conference, and it was a great chance to catch up with many familiar and friendly faces, to meet many new acquaintances, and to talk on a range of subjects both Scottish and Irish.

Always in standby genie mode, when arriving in Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (my first visit to the US since October 2001), I managed to grab a few minutes to look at an interesting Revolutionary War exhibition on Fort Mifflin, at which I took a couple of quick pics:



I then took my my next flight to Toronto, a short hop north of just under an hour. In the city my heart then nearly missed a beat in the evening, when, upon paying for my taxi from the airport at my hotel, I discovered that the local post office here in Largs had given me 200 Australian dollars rather than the 200 Canadian dollars I had requested (they look incredibly similar), which could have caused a small crisis if the taxi driver hadn't also had a card reader to hand!

Before I discuss what I got up to in Canada, here's an amazing view of Toronto from the air...


On Friday then, at North York Library in Toronto, I gave a two hour lecture entitled Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, which ties in with my recent book of the same name, looking at how the moments of personal crisis in the past often led to the generation of very specific and detailed records. There was a packed audience for the event, and in the evening the Scottish Interest Group of the Toronto branch very kindly took myself and William Roulston to dinner, where I managed to catch up on genealogy developments in Canada since my last visit!

Saturday then was the main event for the Toronto branch of the OGS, and that was a full day Irish conference specifically focussed on Ulster based research. Both William (from the Ulster Historical Foundation; pictured left) and I gave two talks each. William's first presentation was on the 17th century Plantations, with his Powerpoint showing at one point a photo of the Carrickfergus based church where my parents married (and where I used to attend Boys Brigade!), and another on offline based resources of use for Ulster based family history research, including land and church records.

I gave talks on the latest online offerings for Northern Irish based research and the use of PRONI as an archive, followed by an overview on the Decade of Remembrance from 1912-22/23, including details on how to research those who signed the Ulster Covenant, the British Army, the IRA and Irish Citizens Army, the Dublin Lockout, the Suffragettes, the Ulster Volunteer Force, and more. Before getting under way I informed the audience that William and I had one major blessing in common, and that was the fact that we have the same accent as the Lord God Almighty - but that I also had one major thing in common with the Toronto crowd, in that, just like them, a lot of my Ulster research has to be done online (from Scotland)!

There were further contributions in the day from Linda Reid, David Elliott and Leigh Anne Coffey, with all three giving talks at the same time in different venues in the library. I decided to attend Leigh-Anne's excellent session on the history of the Orange Order in Canada and Ireland, which provided a glimpse of some of the types of records that the organisation has historically kept for members, albeit records that they don't actively push for research purposes, it still being a largely secret society at heart. The day ended with a Q&A session with William and I desperately searching for answers in a machine gun round of all things Norn Iron and genealogical.

As soon as I was done at North York Library I was then straight into a taxi for the airport to make my way to Ottawa. With this flight it was to soon be two for two in travel crises (after the currency issue in the taxi!), as this flight was delayed for an hour, meaning that I didn't get to my hotel until 11.30pm. A huge thanks to Christine Woodcock who valiantly waited at the airport to pick me up!

On Sunday morning then, it was straight back into the flow of things. The BIFHSGO conference was a three day event, and I was along for the last day only - as such, I packed in three talks on the same day, looking at Scottish land records, the law and records surrounding Scottish inheritance (moveable and Heritable estate), and the final session, on the history, law and records surrounding marriage in Scotland. (I was careful to announce up front that this was a genealogy lecture, and not a counselling session!). All three talks had subjects that covered areas which have historically been handled very differently in Scotland compared to the rest of the British Isles, with Scots Law being a very separate construct to English Law. I had a lot of fun trying to convey the information over, and as usual tried to be serious about what I was discussing, but not necessarily in how I discussed it!




The biggest laugh of the three talks came when a question from the audience was asked about a Scottish woman in the 1841 census describing herself as independent - what did that mean? I answered that she was 170 years ahead of the rest of us! It was the anniversary weekend of our independence referendum, so I was being topically flippant - but I did give the actual answer immediately after!

After the conference was over I had the great pleasure of going for a drink and a bite to eat with fellow Scottish talks speaker Christine Woodcock, and Chicago based speaker and geneablogger Thomas MacEntee, with whom I had previously gone on an Unlock the Past talks tour of Australia and cruise at the beginning of last year. It was great craic and a very relaxing way to unwind after three hectic but enjoyable days.



Yesterday morning both Thomas and I were then given a lift to the airport by Pamela Cooper (who coincidentally is currently studying one of my Pharos courses - small world!), and after a further gab with Thomas it was time to say goodbye. At this point, of course, it was soon three for three on the travel front, as my flight to Philadelphia was delayed by an hour, leaving me just half an hour to board my flight to Glasgow - and just to get me to four for four, in Glasgow my suitcase never turned up when I arrived there this morning! The last I have heard, it has started a new life in Philadelphia, but is to be deported later this evening... :)

I would like to thank both the committees at the Toronto Branch of the OGS and BIFHSGO for such superb events, and in particular, to thank Susan Kis and Jane Down for their superb efforts in co-ordinating my participation. I would also like to thank the SIG group in Toronto for a great evening meal on Friday, to all the fellow speakers and friends I caught up with whilst out, to Global Genealogy for the promotion of my Unlock the Past books, and to Christine Woodcock and Pam Cooper for getting me to where I needed to be on time!

Chì mi a-rithist sibh - until the next time!!!


(For readers based in Canada, various books I have written which I referred to in my talks, tying in with much of the content I discussed, can be accessed from Global Genealogy at http://globalgenealogy.com/admin/utp.htm. Global does not appear to have my new book Discover Irish Land Records as yet, but it can also be sourced from Unlock the Past in Australia or My History in England - please see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html for details. E-book editions are also available.)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My new Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Thursday 17 September 2015

Lewisham records join Deceased Online

From Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com):

14 London councils' burial records now on Deceased Online

Deceased Online has added the first set of burial and cremation records for the London Borough of Lewisham and all records will be available at www.deceasedonline.com by mid-October.

Immediately available are the records for Grove Park Cemetery and Hither Green (aka 'Lewisham') Crematorium

When complete and online, the full Lewisham collection will comprise approximately 1 million records (nearly 400,000 names) and will include Brockley, Hither Green and Ladywell Cemeteries (in addition to Grove Park and the crematorium) dating back to 1858.

The new collection comprises:
digital scans of original burial and cremation registers
details of all grave occupants in each cemetery
maps indicating the section in each cemetery for all graves
Lewisham is located in south east London and is the 14th London council to add its records to the Deceased Online website. When complete (and with some remaining records for Southwark to be added soon), there will be 60+ cemeteries and crematoria with approximately 4 million names and 8 million+ records for London on Deceased Online.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Heading to Canada to give a few talks

Tomorrow (Thursday) I will be making my way back to Ontario to give talks at various events in both Toronto and Ottawa, which I am very much looking forward to!


On Friday I will be giving a two hour Scottish based talk from 3pm-5pm at North York Central Library, Toronto, to the Ontario Genealogical Society's Toronto branch (http://torontofamilyhistory.org/event/scottish-family-history-lecture/). I last spoke to the society at the library in June 2011, and had a great time there, so very much looking forward to my return visit. On Saturday I then go into full blown Norn Iron (Northern Ireland!) mode, alongside William Roulston, Linda Reid, Leigh-Anne Coffey and David Elliott, in helping to deliver a programme of talks for the Irish Genealogy Workshop - Focus on Ulster workshop (http://torontofamilyhistory.org/learn/workshops/irish-genealogy-workshop-focus-on-ulster/), which should be good fun. No, hang on, it won't be good fun. It's an Ulster based workshop - it will be good craic! (Get practising the accent folks, you still have three days! lol)

On Saturday evening I am then flying out to Ottawa to participate on the last day of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa conference at Ben Franklin Place (www.bifhsgo.ca/aem.php?eid=1), and I will be back in Scottish mode to give talks on Scottish land records, Scottish inheritance, and the unique law surrounding Scottish marriage. This is the last day of the conference, so do check out the main website for events on Friday and Saturday. Although pre-registration has now closed, John Reid's blog (http://anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/b-4.html) notes that walk-ins are welcome on the day. Again, this should be another great event, and another chance to catch up with some familiar faces!

I'll do my best to keep blogging whilst away, subject to local wifi access!

(And a quick heads up - next year I'll be making my way over to Vancouver for a wee talks tour - more details soon...!)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

FindmyPast offers free access this weekend

Free access to FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) this weekend:

London, UK, 16 September 2015 Findmypast has announced that this weekend, they will be opening up their archives and giving unlimited free access to billions of records and newspaper pages from all over the world. From midday on Friday, September 18th to midday on Monday, September 21st (BST), absolutely everyone will have access to Findmypast’s comprehensive collections of historical records and innovative research tools, including:

· Millions of records you won't find anywhere else, including fascinating WW2 Prisoner of War records, millions of England & Wales Crime records and the incredible British in India collection.

· Birth, marriage and death records dating back to the 18th century

· The largest online collection of UK parish records, dating back to 1538

· Historical newspapers from across the world, including more than 11 million British newspaper dating all the way back to 1710

· The most comprehensive collection of UK military records anywhere online

· The largest collection of Irish family history records available online

· Passenger lists for ships sailing to and from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA

· An easy to use online family tree builder, which allows you to import and export your tree if you’ve built it elsewhere

… As well as millions of other records that will give everyone the opportunity to explore their family history, and bring their past to life.


Extended access for existing users

It’s not only new users who’ll enjoy special family history research opportunities this weekend. Those with current Findmypast Local subscriptions (with an active Britain, Ireland, US & Canada or Australia & New Zealand subscription) will be able to access Findmypast’s historical World records during the free access weekend, and those with active World subscriptions will have an additional three days added to their subscription.

Find out more at Findmypast’s dedicated Free Weekend page (www.findmypast.co.uk/freeweekend).

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts November 4th

The follow up to the Scottish Research Online course from Pharos (currently being taught by yours truly) is the five week long Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs, which starts Wednesday, November 4th 2015.

Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs (Old Parish Registers, i.e. the Church of Scotland parish registers) takes a look at some of the most fascinating areas of Scottish genealogical research, from land records and inheritance to nonconformism and burgh records. Here is the official description:

Scotland 1750 - 1850 - Beyond the OPRs (302)

This is an intermediate level course in Scottish family history for those who are going back beyond 1850. You should have some experience with research in the Old Parochial Registers of the Church of Scotland and in using major websites for Scottish research. This course discusses sources that fill the gap when the OPRs are uninformative or missing; for example, records of parish and town administration, occupations, land transfer and taxation. Using these records involves several different locations. You will learn how to check online finding aids and how to find the most effective way to obtain records that may be online, in print, on CD or microfilm. This is the second course on Scottish research. If you have not taken Scottish Reserach Online please check its description.

Instructor: Chris Paton
Kirk Sessions records and parish poor
Burgh records and town poor
Occupations, taxation and early lists
Land transfer and the value of sasines
Land, inheritance and estates

Each lesson includes exercises and activities; a minimum of 1 one-hour chat session per week. See How the Courses Work.

STUDENTS SAID: well structured chats with opportunities for questions as well

The course costs just £49.99 and lasts 5 weeks. I post the first lesson out on the first day, and each Wednesday thereafter, with an online chat session held on each Tuesday evening after to discuss the contents. There is more on how the course works at http://pharostutors.com/courseshowwork.php. A dedicated discussion forum is also available throughout - and it is a lot of fun!

To book, please visit http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Please note that whilst it is advisable to have done the previous course, it is not compulsory.

Hopefully I'll see a few of you there!

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

TNA podcast - Big Ideas: On Pilgrimage in England

The latest podcast from the National Archives in England is entitled Big Ideas: On pilgrimage in England, a forty minute talk from Alexandra Harris. It can be listened to at http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/big-ideas-pilgrimage-england/ or downloaded for free from iTunes.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Monday 14 September 2015

Hitler's Black Book on Forces War Records

From Forces War Records (www.forces-war-records.co.uk):

Hitler’s UK hit list translated into English to mark
75th anniversary of Battle of Britain
-Inspiration for James Bond was on Nazi death list-

List unveiled online on Battle of Britain Day, 15 September

To mark 15 September, Battle of Britain Day (its 75th anniversary), a remarkable historical record can be viewed in English - and online - for the first time. Known as Hitler’s Black Book listing ‘enemies of the state, traitors and undesirables, marked for punishment or death’, it has been painstakingly translated from the original German by specialist military genealogy website Forces War Records. It documents 2,820 of the Reich’s ‘most wanted’ people in Britain, for targeting following invasion. The entire digital Black Book can be seen and searched, free, on (www.forces-war-records.co.uk). There are many notables within the collection: probable and improbable politicians, intelligensia, even entertainers.

One further person on the hitlist however is a little known hero that the website’s historians, while researching the reasons WHY each had been named, believe was the inspiration for James Bond. If he had been killed, the series may never have been written. ‘Britain’s Schindler’ who saved 10,000 Jews from the Holocaust, is also named.

‘The real 007’

‘The real 007’, the wonderfully named Conrad Fulke Thomond O’Brien-ffrench, was a dashing and courageous spy who, for a dangerous few [weeks/months] was friendly with Bond creator, Ian Fleming.

Giving Daniel Craig (starring in the 24th Bond movie, Spectre, from next month) a run for his money, O’Brien-ffrench, was the quintessential secret agent. Classy, well-connected, intelligent, adventurous and athletic (leading a climbing party to safety in the Himalayas in 1921), he moved in only the best circles. The fluent Russian speaking, expert skier later inherited the title Marquis de Castelthomond.

Tim Hayhoe, managing director of Forces War Records – and the man behind the project explains: “Although wounded and captured during World War 1, he nevertheless managed to send letters in invisible ink to Cathleen Mann, the ‘Moneypenny’ to Major Stewart Menzies of British Counterintelligence. They contained details of troop movements and of a prototype heavy bomber, among other vital facts.”

After the war MI6 recruited him to gather information on the Russian Red Army. Then, as World War Two loomed, he was assigned ‘agent Z3’ and based in Kitzbühel, Austria, he posed as a businessman, but secretly established a spy network that stretched deep into Germany. It was there that O’Brien-ffrench met and impressed Fleming with his style, magnetism and derring-do. The dashing socialite was the first person to hear that German troops were moving towards the Austrian border in 1938, and immediately reported the news to London, necessarily blowing his cover by using an open line to prevent delay. He also managed to warn many local residents who were in especial danger, giving them time to escape. It is lucky that O’Brien-ffrench too managed to leave the country, as the fact that his name appears in the ‘Black Book’ proves the Nazis wanted revenge.

Britain’s Schindler

Major Francis E. Foley, born in Somerset in 1884, was studying Philosophy in Hamburg when World War One broke out, but managed to escape Germany with the aid of a borrowed German officers’ uniform. He initially joined the army and was later Injured in action & rendered unfit for service, he was invited to join British Intelligence and spent the rest of the war recruiting for and running spy networks across France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

After the Great War he worked as Passport Control Officer in Berlin, a cover for his work as head of the Berlin Station of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). His position enabled him to save tens of thousands of people from the Holocaust in the lead-up to the Second World War, as despite having no diplomatic immunity and being liable to arrest at any time, he blatantly broke the rules when stamping passports and issuing visas to allow Jews to escape “legally” to Britain and Palestine. Sometimes he went further by going into Internment Camps to get Jews out, hiding them in his home and helping them get forged passports.

It is lucky for him that he was recalled to Britain at the outbreak of World War Two, since the Nazis were on to him – and his name was added to the Black Book. As it was, he lived to do even more damage to their regime; in 1942 he helped to co-ordinate MI5 and MI6 in running a network of double agents, the now famous “Double Cross System”.

Others on the list

The British Black Book was compiled with a view to taking out the top layer of society and undermining British spirit. However, alongside obvious contenders, such as Winston Churchill, Clement Atlee (deputy PM) and Anthony Eden (secretary of state for war), it has a number of quite bizarre names on it too, such as Noel Coward, Paul Robeson and intriguingly, some people who were actually Nazi sympathisers. The editors of the Daily Mail and Express were on it too. But left off, intriguingly, was the royal family.

If ‘the Few’ had lost the Battle of Britain, and Hitler’s ‘Operation Sea Lion’, the planned invasion of Britain in 1940, had succeeded, the people on the list would have been the first to be rounded up and risk being killed, sent to concentration camps or forced to throw in their lot with the Germans and start doing the Führer’s bidding.

The digitising of The Black Book

The list has been painstakingly translated from its original German, interpreted to make sense of the complicated government jargon and abbreviations, and transcribed by Forces War Records’ Managing Director Tim Hayhoe, with assistance from military history graduate Sean Bennington. Previously obscure abbreviations have been explained, biographical details for the people listed have been added where available, and background information has been given on each and every Nazi department mentioned and the heads of those departments. All of this has been a labour of love that has taken around a year to complete.

Similar lists were drawn up, and indeed used, for the USSR, France, Poland and many other countries in Europe; thankfully, the only place in the British Isles where the list was actually consulted to round up ‘enemies of the state’ was the occupied Channel Islands.

Of the 20,000 or so versions of the German lists originally printed, only two are thought to be in existence today: one at The Imperial War Museum – and the other somewhere in Germany.

(With thanks to Neil White)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.