|
The new Scotland's People website launched yesterday, and there are some great new features (we'll be writing more about them shortly), and most importantly, some extremely useful new record sets. Eventually it will be a major improvement on the old version, but we've had some misadventures when searching. So far we've found what appear to be four different bugs in the search engine:
 So is William, the second entry in this list:  The Reference and entry numbers are the same, showing that these index entries refer to the same event (which I already knew, I have a copy of the certificate). The search is supposed to allow you to search for a marriage record using both surnames. But when I tried to do so, this is what came up: 
 2643 matches! Quite a lot to trawl through. Now what happens if I search for her under just one of the surnames?   Given that 2493 + 60 = 2553, what the search engine does when you search for a death with two surnames is return all index entries that match either surname. Potentially a useful option in some cases, but not very practical at all in this case. I'm sure Scotland's People will fix these quickly, but just be warned, the search results may not be quite what you're used to.
1 Comment
Coupar Angus is a pleasant little town, with a slightly complicated geography. It's generally accepted that it's mostly in Perthshire, but partly also in Forfarshire/Angus. I say generally, because it seems the new Scotland's People website has a third option - it's in neither.  The clipping above shows what happens when you search for deaths in Coupar Angus in 1855-1890. There are quite a few, a little under 70 a year. (The actual number will be somewhat lower, because married women are indexed under their maiden names and married names.) But were these deaths in Angus or Perthshire?  Not in Perthshire, apparently, so presumably they were in Angus:  Oh. So where was Coupar Angus?  Somebody's got some county-coding mixed up ...
The new - and slightly delayed - version of the Scotland's People website went live this afternoon. The new records added are obviously more than welcome, but something strange happens when you search the records. This is what you see when you search for ROBERTSON in one of the new record sets - Bon Accord Free Church baptisms in Aberdeen (NRS Ref: CH3/874/15) - with no dates specified (see the top line of this image for the search parameters):  You'll notice that the 4 entries are dated between 1849 and 1854. Now watch what happens when you search in the same register for Robertsons born between 1849 and 1854:  I *think* what's happened is that the baptism dates are not being mapped properly on to the birth date search parameters, but I can't be certain. It's certainly not limited to one record set. The same thing happens when you search in the Kinclaven Associate Session, often referred to as Kirk o' the Muir (NRS Ref CH3/502/2).  I don't think it should be too difficult to fix this problem, but I'd really have expected this to be picked up in testing.
Have you tried the new Scotland's People website? What are your impressions? After several unplanned delays, the new-look Scotland's People website went live this afternoon. There are a few changes worth noting:
Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 3 - 9 October 2016
Note that there may be a small charge for some of these events, and some may be for members only. We will be publishing lists of upcoming talks and events regularly - if you are organising a talk or event relating to Scottish genealogy or history, please let us know and we will be happy to add your events to our list. Monday, October 3 2016, 12:30- 1:00pm From accessioning to display: my three favourite Treasure Trove objects
Venue: Elgin Museum, 1 High Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1EQ Lunchtime talks by Museum volunteers about their favourite objects Ticket price Free Booking: Phone: 01343 543675 Email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk Website: www.elginmuseum.org.uk Monday, October 3 2016, 7.30 pm Making Archaeology and its Sciences do Something Useful Dr Brian Moffat Venue: St Andrews Church, Park Road, Milngavie Milngavie and Bearsden Historical Society Dr. Brian Moffat makes a welcome return to give an update of the investigations at the mediaeval hospital at Soutra; exotic plants brought in for medical purposes still in use today and other strangely prophetic skills. £4 for non-members Monday, October 3 2016, 7.30 pm Elsie Inglis and the Scottish Women’s Hospitals Iain Macintyre Venue: Gibson Craig Memorial Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie Currie & District Local History Society Monday, October 3 2016, 7.30 pm The Hunterston Brooch and Portencross Castle Alan Hodgkinson Venue: John Knox Church Hall, High Street, Stewarton Stewarton and District Historical Society The Hunterston Brooch is an important Celtic brooch found in 1926 while digging drains. Portencross Castle is a recently renovated ancient Ayrshire coastal fortress. Members £1 Non-members £2. Monday, October 3 2016, 7.30 pm Cast in bronze Tom Marchant Venue: Morison Memorial Church, Dumbarton Road, Clydebank Clydebank Local History Society Tuesday, October 4 2016, 1 pm Business, farming and ‘jolly good times’: The migration of British and Irish soldiers to the Perth military settlement in Upper Canada 1815-1850 Shane Smith (Northumbria University) Venue: Room G16, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, William Robertson Wing, Old Medical School Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies Diaspora Studies Graduate Workshop Series Tuesday, October 4 2016, 12:30- 1:00pm Beakers, Burials and Beanfeasts
Venue: Elgin Museum, 1 High Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1EQ Lunchtime talks by Museum volunteers about their favourite objects Ticket price Free Booking: Phone: 01343 543675 Email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk Website: www.elginmuseum.org.uk Tuesday, October 4 2016, 6.45 pm for 7.15 pm The Charles Smith Lecture; Edinburgh City Archives Richard Hunter, City Archivist Venue: Morningside Parish Church Hall Morningside Heritage Association Tuesday, October 4 2016, 7.30 pm 19th Century Nationalism Ian Mathieson Venue: Kilmarnock College, Holehouse Rd, Kilmarnock Kilmarnock & District History Group £2 donation for non-members Tuesday, October 4 2016, 7.30 pm The Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms The Lord Lyon - Dr John Morrow Venue: Fairweather Hall, Barrhead Road, Newton Mearns, G77 6BB Wednesday, October 5 2016, 12:30- 1:00pm A Logboat from the Spey
Venue: Elgin Museum, 1 High Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1EQ Lunchtime talks by Museum volunteers about their favourite objects Ticket price Free Booking: Phone: 01343 543675 Email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk Website: www.elginmuseum.org.uk Thursday, October 6 2016, 12:30- 1:00pm The Verdun Crucifix
Venue: Elgin Museum, 1 High Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1EQ Lunchtime talks by Museum volunteers about their favourite objects Ticket price Free Booking: Phone: 01343 543675 Email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk Website: www.elginmuseum.org.uk Thursday, October 6 2016, 7 pm Female Suffrage in Fife 1900 – 1919 Dr Sarah Pederson Venue: The 252 Memorial Hall, Betson Street, Markinch Free to members and £2 for non members Thursday, October 6 2016, 7.30 pm The 1800 Census of Coldstream David Welsh Coldstream and District Local History Society Friday, October 7 2016, 11.00 am A New Mining World Heritage Landscape in the Heart of Europe Miles Oglethorpe Venue: National Mining Memorial Centre, Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, Dalkeith EH22 4QN National Mining Museum Scotland Friday, October 7 2016, 12:30- 1:00pm More news from the Sculptor’s Cave, Covesea: ‘our’ finds in context
Venue: Elgin Museum, 1 High Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1EQ Lunchtime talks by Museum volunteers about their favourite objects Ticket price Free Booking: Phone: 01343 543675 Email: curator@elginmuseum.org.uk Website: www.elginmuseum.org.uk Saturday, October 8 2016, 2.00pm-4.00pm Another look at recording and storing your family history
Venue: Activities Room, Elgin Library, Cooper Park, Elgin, IV30 1HS Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society Saturday, October 8 2016, 2.00pm-4.00pm Mapping Aberdeenshire over time - four hundred years of maps, their makers and audiences Chris Fleet, MapCurator, National Library of Scotland Venue: Renfield Saint Stephen's Church Centre Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society
We've taken a quick look at the Kinclaven War Memorial, which simply lists names, units and years of death. By looking for information in the records of the Scottish National War Memorial, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, we've been able to sketch out a little more info about the war dead of Kinclaven.
It's International Rabbit Day, so it seems a good moment to remind you not to mess with the bunnies of Kinclaven. They were so notorious that their viciousness was reported on the other side of the world, in Milton, New Zealand, in 1886: The other day, as two English ewes were grazing in a young grass field in the parish of Kinclaven and Strathmore, a grey rabbit made its appearance from a burrow in the field, and attaced one of the ewes in the fashion of a cat, and then ran back for a yard, and being followed by the ewe, it turned again and made another furious attack, springing on to the face of the ewe and striking out smartly with its feet. The ewe left the mouth of the burrow, and the rabbit then returned to the burrow. It was thought by the onlookers who watched the occurrence that the rabbit had its young in the hole, and was defending the mouth of the burrow, but it was afterwards found that the rabbit tenanted the hole by itself. 
Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 26 September - 2 October 2016
Note that there may be a small charge for some of these events, and some may be for members only. We will be publishing lists of upcoming talks and events regularly - if you are organising a talk or event relating to Scottish genealogy or history, please let us know and we will be happy to add your events to our list. Monday, September 26 2016, 7.30 pm Kinclaven and its People Fergus Smith and Penny Lewis Venue: Kinclaven Church West Stormont Historical Society Fergus and Penny will describe some of the findings of their one-place study on Kinclaven and its people, including their attempt to construct a "family forest" of the people of Kinclaven. There will be an opportunity after the talk to ask about your Kinclaven ancestry or the history of your house. Monday, September 26 2016, 1:00, 2:00, & 3:00pm The Treasure Trail
Venue: Meet at the Visitor Centre, Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld. North Lanarkshire Council Regeneration and Environmental Services This is a 1 mile family treasure hunt. Follow the secret trail, answer the questions and then get directed to the next clue. Will your search lead you to gold or silver? You will need your brains, your eyes and your legs. Venue: Meet at the Visitor Centre, Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld. Special requirements: Booking is not required. Ticket price Free Website: http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=32425 Monday, September 26 2016, 10:00am-1:00pm A ramble in the footsteps of Romans and Navvies
Venue: Meet at Auchinstarry Quarry Car Park near Kilsyth North Lanarkshire Council Regeneration and Environmental Services This is a 5 mile walk around the Kelvin Valley. This walk will look at the heritage, geography and wildlife of the Kilsyth area. The Antonine Wall, Forth and Clyde Canal and John Muir Way all pass close by, in fact people have been coming and going through this valley for thousands of years and they’ve left their mark. But the area is still home to plenty of wildlife and offers some great scenery. Venue: Meet at Auchinstarry Quarry Car Park near Kilsyth. Special requirements: Booking is essential. The route is mostly off road with some unsurfaced paths so good outdoor footwear is recommended. A snack and drink are also recommended. Ticket price Free Website: http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=32425 Monday, September 26 2016, 11.15am-12:00pm, 12.15-1:00pm, 2:00-2.45pm, 3:00-3.45pm Jacobite Secrets
Venue: Edinburgh Castle It wasn't just men who supported the Jacobite uprisings. Come along and meet a secret Jacobite lady and hear her tales of the 1715 and 1745 Risings, and the arrival of Bonnie Prince Charlie in Edinburgh. The Jacobite cause divided families, including hers. Come along and hear her story. Ticket price This performance is included in the Edinburgh Castle admission price. Booking: events@hes.scot, 0131 668 8885 Website: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/whats-on/event/?eventId=de84d65c-4d09-4c15-a4d9-a5fe00a929c1 Monday, September 26 2016, 12:00-4.30pm Biggar Gasworks Steam Days
Venue: Biggar Gaswork Museum For upwards of 130 years – from 1839 to 1973 – Biggar Gasworks made coal-gas for the town and surrounding district. It was one of the first small-town gasworks to open in Scotland, and among the last to close. It is the only preserved gasworks left in Scotland. Not long afterwards, it passed into State care, to be preserved as a lasting reminder of an industry that provided so much benefit to all the country’s citizens. During the 'Steam Days' the boiler will be operating and driving various items of steam driven machines associated with gas production and distribution. Ticket price Booking: events@hes.scot, 0131 668 8885 Website: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/whats-on/event/?eventId=9d089e53-9386-4959-a5bc-a602009d2e3b Monday, September 26 2016, 12:00-4:00pm Conservation in Action
Venue: Alloa Tower, Alloa Park, Alloa FK10 1PP Come and see Conservation in Action as we clean three 18th century paintings throughout August and September. Take a peek behind-the-scenes to see how paintings are cleaned at the historic tower. We'll conserve three paintings by Alloa-born 18th Century painter David Allan. Monday, September 26 2016, 12:30-3:30pm The Seven Lochs Trail
Venue: Meet at the Visitor Centre, Drumpellier Country Park, Townhead Road, Coatbridge North Lanarkshire Council Regeneration and Environmental Services This is a one-way 5½ mile walk with a free mini bus taking us to the start. The Seven Lochs Wetland Park is a green network bringing together eight square miles of lochs, parks and woodlands to the north of Glasgow and Coatbridge. Our walk will start at Frankfield Loch and return via Bishop Loch to finish at the Lochend Loch Visitor Centre in Drumpellier Country Park. Venue: Meet at the Visitor Centre, Drumpellier Country Park, Townhead Road, Coatbridge. Special requirements: Booking is essential as places on the mini-bus are limited. Some of the route is uneven so good outdoor footwear is recommended. A snack and drink are also recommended. Ticket price Free Website: http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=32425 Monday, September 26 2016, 6 pm - 8 pm Get started with your family history
Venue: 52 Overhaugh St, Galashiels, TD1 1DP Borders Family History Society Come with an idea of what you want to discover and bring your earliest family birth, marriage, death certificate or more certificates, if possible. Monday, September 26 2016, 7.30 pm Struthers Castle and Estate Robert I G Scott Venue: Age Concern Building, Provost Wynd, Cupar Tuesday, September 27 2016, 10 am - 4 pm Are your roots in the Borders ? Discover your family history or build your family tree
Venue: 52 Overhaugh St, Galashiels, TD1 1DP Borders Family History Society Build your family tree. Knock down a 'brick wall'. Explore your family history primarily in the Border counties (Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire) of Scotland, though we'll still try to help you if your roots are elsewhere. Tuesday, September 27 2016, 10:15am-3:45pm Life in the Border 1914-1919 Exhibition
Venue: Borders Family History Society, 52 Overhaugh, St, Galashiels. TD1 1DP Borders Family History Society A fascinating exhibition about life in the Scottish Borders during World War I and afterwards. The exhibition is a joint venture between BFHS and Saving and Sharing Scottish Borders Stories of WWI Project Ticket price Free Website: http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk/ Tuesday, September 27 2016, 6:00-7:00pm Collecting Glasgow
Venue: Mitchell Library North Street, Glasgow, G3 7DN Glasgow Life In this talk about The Mitchell's Glasgow Collection, Librarian Susan Taylor shares some of its highlights and discusses both its history and possible future developments. Ticket price Free Website: http://events.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/collecting-glasgow Tuesday, September 27 2016, 7.30 pm AGM
Venue: West Kilbride Community Centre, Corse Street, West Kilbride, KA23 9AX Wednesday, September 28 2016, 10:00am Standing Stones of Stenness and Barnhouse Village Walk
Venue: Standing Stones of Stenness Join the Ranger Service for a guided tour of our oldest stone circle and explore the fascinating links with the nearby Neolithic village of Barnhouse. Ticket price Free Booking: No booking required. For more information call 01856 841 732 or email orkneyrangers@hes.scot Website: www.historicenvironment.scot/events Wednesday, September 28 2016, 11.15am-12:00pm, 12.15-1:00pm, 2:00-2.45pm, 3:00-3.45pm Bolts and Bodkins
Venue: Edinburgh Castle Join castle archer Rusty Bodkins for an explanation of how the Scots used the medieval longbow and crossbow. Learn about different types of arrowheads and how arrow wounds were treated. Get dressed for battle and join the garrison! Ticket price This performance is included in the Edinburgh Castle admission price. Booking: events@hes.scot, 0131 668 8885 Website: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/whats-on/event/?eventId=f4e0b6b1-2455-4cda-b4fe-a4ed00db88d3 Wednesday, September 28 2016, 11:15am; 12:00pm; 12:45pm; 1:30pm; 2:30pm; 3:15pm; and 4:00pm Scotland’s National Hero
Venue: The National Wallace Monument Who was William Wallace? Listen as a costumed actor gives you an insight into the life of Scotland’s National Hero – who he was, where he came from, and how he fought to free the people of Scotland from oppression. Ticket price Admission Prices: Adults: £9.99, Children £6.25 Website: http://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/ht_event/scotlands-national-hero/ Wednesday, September 28 2016, 6.30 pm - 8 pm Smugglers, Spies and Stolen Plum Pies: or, The Darker Side of Alloa's Trade in the 18th Century
Venue: Alloa Inner Forth Landscape Initiative This evening will see a performance of a brand new, bespoke play about the smuggling and trading shenanigans around Alloa in the 18th century. Meet Walter Grosset, the unpopular Customs Collector; the Earl of Mar (or 'Bobbing John'); and a 'flash-mob' of Jacobites. This play is based on original historical research by IFLI volunteer, Ian Middleton, and will be written and performed by The Walking Theatre Company, ably assisted by pupils from Alloa Academy. Wednesday, September 28 2016, 7 pm for 7.30 pm The Admiralty Research Station at Hawkcraig Point, Aberdour in WWI Diana Maxwell Venue: Museum of Communication, 131 High Street, Burntisland KY3 9AA Joint Lecture with Lothians Radio Society. £4 members, £5 non-members Wednesday, September 28 2016, 7.30 pm Bringing Coal to Auld Reekie: The Innocent Railway James Waugh Venue: Gullane Village Hall Gullane and Dirleton History Society James Waugh explores the history of this naïve sounding railway line Wednesday, September 28 2016, 7.30 pm Opening Night - Slide Show & Exhibition
Venue: Volunteer Hall, Galashiels Thursday, September 29 2016 Sir Walter's Muckle Banket Sandy Neil Venue: Abbotsford, Melrose TD6 9BQ Join us for a fascinating talk by Borders journalist and writer Sandy Neil on 19th century culinary delights and Walter Scott’s passion for the food of Scots. Thursday, September 29 2016, 1:00pm Ring of Brodgar Walk
Venue: Ring of Brodgar Explore the area around the Ring of Brodgar during our guided walk with a ranger and find out the special significance of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. Ticket price Free Booking: No booking required. For more information call 01856 841 732 or email orkneyrangers@hes.scot Website: www.historicenvironment.scot/events Thursday, September 29 2016, 10 am - 4 pm Are your roots in the Borders ? Discover your family history or build your family tree
Venue: 52 Overhaugh St, Galashiels, TD1 1DP Borders Family History Society Build your family tree. Knock down a 'brick wall'. Explore your family history primarily in the Border counties (Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire) of Scotland, though we'll still try to help you if your roots are elsewhere. Thursday, September 29 2016, 10:15am-3:45pm Life in the Border 1914-1919 Exhibition
Venue: Borders Family History Society, 52 Overhaugh, St, Galashiels. TD1 1DP Borders Family History Society A fascinating exhibition about life in the Scottish Borders during World War I and afterwards. The exhibition is a joint venture between BFHS and Saving and Sharing Scottish Borders Stories of WWI Project Ticket price Free Website: http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk/ Thursday, September 29 2016, 10:30am-1:00pm Museum of Banff Open Days
Venue: Banff Library AB45 1AE Banff Preservation and Heritage Society Banff Museum was founded in 1828 as the museum of the Banff Institution and is the oldest museum in Scotland north of Perth. The Banff Institution was dissolved in 1875 and the collections passed to Banff Town Council. The present museum and library building were built in 1902. Banff Preservation and Heritage Society currently run the Museum in partnership with Aberdeenshire Museums Service. The Museum is on Banff High Street, in the same building as Banff Library. The postocde is AB45 1AE. The exhibits show a vast range of interesting artefacts from the Celtic period up to the modern day. They reflect life in Banffshire and show some stunning examples of our historical past in Banff and Macduff. Ticket price Free Website: http://www.bphsmob.org.uk/ Thursday, September 29 2016, 11.15am-12:00pm, 12.15-1:00pm, 2:00-2.45pm, 3:00-3.45pm Bolts and Bodkins
Venue: Edinburgh Castle Join castle archer Rusty Bodkins for an explanation of how the Scots used the medieval longbow and crossbow. Learn about different types of arrowheads and how arrow wounds were treated. Get dressed for battle and join the garrison! Ticket price This performance is included in the Edinburgh Castle admission price. Booking: events@hes.scot, 0131 668 8885 Website: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/whats-on/event/?eventId=f4e0b6b1-2455-4cda-b4fe-a4ed00db88d3 Thursday, September 29 2016, 12 pm - 2 pm Gowan Hill, Stirling's Forgotten Jewel Dr Murray Cook Venue: Meet at Beheading stone Stirling Council Join Dr Murray Cook, Stirling Council’s Archaeologist in a tour of the hill: from prehistoric War Crimes to Executions and Jacobites to the Homes Guard. Duration 2 hours, wear appropriate clothes. Booking essential, contact Murray Cook cookm@stirling.gov.uk Thursday, September 29 2016, 2 pm - 4 pm Find Your Ain Folk Drop in Service
Venue: Community Room, Largs Library, Allanpark Street, Largs North Ayrshire Family History Society Thursday, September 29 2016, 2.30pm-4.00pm Listed Buildings in Haddington Emma Doyle Venue: John Gray Centre Friends of the John Gray Centre Learn about listed buildings in Haddington and the rules behind listing them from specialist in the field Emma Doyle. Bring your questions to make the most of this unique opportunity to discover the architectural heritage of hour town. Followed by AGM Thursday, September 29 2016, 3.30 pm - 5 pm Introduction to Ancestry
Venue: Barrhead Foundry East Renfrewshire's Heritage Collection Ancestry Library Edition is a must for anyone doing their family history and you can get access to this fabulous resource in your local East Renfrewshire library, without spending a penny. This informal session will help you master the basics and you'll soon be searching with ease through millions of world-wide records. Thursday, September 29 2016, 5.15 pm for 5.30 pm Sir George Mackenzie and the Stuarts Dr Clare Jackson (University of Cambridge) Venue: TC Smout Lecture, Arts Lecture Theatre, St Andrews Institute of Scottish Historical Research Thursday, September 29 2016, 6.30 pm - 8 pm Collecting Scottish Silver George Dalgleish Venue: Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, The Observatory, Rotchell Road, Dumfries, DG2 7SW Dumfries and Galloway Museums and Galleries A talk by George Dalgleish, recently retired Keeper of Scottish History and Archaeology at National Museums Scotland Silver has played an important part in Scottish history from the time of the Romans onwards. It played a key role in establishing and communicating power and prestige. In more modern times it was seen as a display of wealth and good taste. This talk will look at silver made by Scottish craftsmen from the 16th century onwards and will be illustrated with examples from the Dumfries Museum collection. Thursday, September 29 2016, 7.30 pm The archaeology of the forest with particular reference to Aigas Forest Dr Roland Spencer-Jones, NOSAS Venue: Seaforth Lodge, Station Square, Fortrose, IV10 8SZ Admission to all lectures will be £5 (Members/Students £2.50). Thursday, September 29 2016, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm Martin Luther King - Interviews with his Assistants Robert Hamilton Venue: Glen Halls, Neilston Barrhead & Neilston Historical Association Friday, September 30 2016, 10 am - 4 pm Are your roots in the Borders ? Discover your family history or build your family tree
Venue: 52 Overhaugh St, Galashiels, TD1 1DP Borders Family History Society Build your family tree. Knock down a 'brick wall'. Explore your family history primarily in the Border counties (Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire) of Scotland, though we'll still try to help you if your roots are elsewhere. Friday, September 30 2016, 10:15am-3:45pm Life in the Border 1914-1919 Exhibition
Venue: Borders Family History Society, 52 Overhaugh, St, Galashiels. TD1 1DP Borders Family History Society A fascinating exhibition about life in the Scottish Borders during World War I and afterwards. The exhibition is a joint venture between BFHS and Saving and Sharing Scottish Borders Stories of WWI Project Ticket price Free Website: http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk/ Friday, September 30 2016, 10:30am-1:00pm Museum of Banff Open Days
Venue: Banff Library AB45 1AE Banff Preservation and Heritage Society Banff Museum was founded in 1828 as the museum of the Banff Institution and is the oldest museum in Scotland north of Perth. The Banff Institution was dissolved in 1875 and the collections passed to Banff Town Council. The present museum and library building were built in 1902. Banff Preservation and Heritage Society currently run the Museum in partnership with Aberdeenshire Museums Service. The Museum is on Banff High Street, in the same building as Banff Library. The postocde is AB45 1AE. The exhibits show a vast range of interesting artefacts from the Celtic period up to the modern day. They reflect life in Banffshire and show some stunning examples of our historical past in Banff and Macduff. Ticket price Free Website: http://www.bphsmob.org.uk/ Friday, September 30 2016, 11 am - 4 pm Kirnie Law - Prehistory and Industrial Past Talk Erica Niven Venue: Innerleithen Parish Church car park, Innerleithen EH44 6JF Join Scottish Borders Council Ranger, Erica Niven on a walk through prehistory and the industrial past. Walk past the Iron Age fort on Pirn Hill, visit incredible engineering at the reservoir on Kirnie Law, view the medieval and post-medieval archaeology above Walkerburn, and travel back to Innerleithen along the lazy Tweed. Bring packed lunch for this. 12km, 7.5 miles walk. Friday, September 30 2016, 11:00am-12:30pm Brodick Castle Secrets Tour
Venue: Brodick Castle, Garden & Country Park Come along to the castle and join the Secrets Tour. We will tell you a few things that the 'ordinary visitor' does not get to know, and let you see things that you would not usually see. A more in depth look at various castle tales, places and objects. Ticket price £8 Booking: For further information please call 01770 302202 Website: http://www.nts.org.uk/Events/Brodick-Castle-Garden-and-Country-Park/Brodick-Castle-Secrets-Tour/ Friday, September 30 2016, 12:00-4:00pm Conservation in Action
Venue: Alloa Tower, Alloa Park, Alloa FK10 1PP Come and see Conservation in Action as we clean three 18th century paintings throughout August and September. Take a peek behind-the-scenes to see how paintings are cleaned at the historic tower. We'll conserve three paintings by Alloa-born 18th Century painter David Allan. Friday, September 30 2016, 2 pm - 4 pm Close Encounters - Discover Dunbar: Summer Foot Tours
Venue: Sparkly Frog boutique, 92 High St, Dunbar The Dunbar Trades Association in conjunction with Local Historian Roy Pugh bring you FREE history tours of Dunbar, every friday afternoon throughout summer. This is a unique opportunity to find out more about the history of the town and ask any questions you have always wondered about. Friday, September 30 2016, 7 pm Mesolithic Deeside Caroline Wickham-Jones Venue: Horsemill, Crathes Castle Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology Service Free Saturday, October 1 2016, 1 pm Discovering Mesolithic Crathes Heather Sabnis Venue: Horsemill, Crathes Castle Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology Service Free Saturday, October 1 2016, 11 am Scotland's Earliest Ceremonial Monument? Crathes 10,000 years ago Shannon Fraser Venue: Horsemill, Crathes Castle Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology Service Free Saturday, October 1 2016, 11.00 am Mediaeval Dundee Walking Tour Iain Flett (Dundee City Archives) Venue: Meet outside Henry’s Coffee House, 4 City Square Saturday, October 1 2016, 3 pm Discovering Mesolithic Crathes Heather Sabnis Venue: Horsemill, Crathes Castle Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology Service Free Saturday, October 1 2016, 9.30 am Tour of the buildings of Peter Womersley Simon Green Venue: AHSS, Rutland Square Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Join Simon Green to explore some of the buildings designed by modernist architect Peter Womersley in the Scottish Borders, including those designed for textile designer Bernat Klein near Selkirk; Womersley's own home, The Rig, at Gattonside and work at Dingleton, Melrose Saturday, October 1 2016, 9.30 am - 5.45 pm ‘A’m Grippit Dis Laand’: A Conference in Honour of Dr Doreen Waugh
Venue: University of Edinburgh, 50 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD Scottish Society for Northern Studies £20 standard, £10 full-time students. Full programme can be found at http://ssns.org.uk/resources/Documents/WaughProgramme.pdf Saturday, October 1 2016, All Day Mesolithic Deeside
Venue: Horsemill, Crathes Castle, Banchory, AB31 5QJ Cameron Archaeology Ltd 11am Shannon Fraser – talk - Crathes Castle Mesolithic pit alignment. 1pm and 3pm Heather Sabnis – talk - Discovering Mesolithic Crathes. ALL DAY – bring along flints and other stones for identification - flint sessions – handle flints from the Mesolithic Deeside sites and talk to archaeologists - events for children. Outdoor events by Brian Wilkinson 10am-4pm. FREE including free parking at Crathes Castle car parks The Scotland's People website will be down from 23.59 (BST) on Wednesday 21st September until Monday 26 September. This is due to preparatory work for the launch of the new version of the website, which is due to go live soon. Service in the Scotland's People centre in Edinburgh and the local family history centres around Scotland will be unaffected.
This week we've been looking at the records of the Board of Supervision, a body established under the Poor Law (Scotland) Act of 1845 to implement the reformed system of poor relief in Scotland, and to act as an appeals body. The Board of Supervision lasted for 50 years until it was replaced when poor relief was transferred from Parochial Boards to local authorities. We came across one noteworthy case which illustrates several aspects of the operation of the Board of Supervision and the workings (or, in this case, failings) of the poor relief system. The case first appears with no mention of the name of the poor man: Thursday 30th November 1871 The Board were usually fairly scrupulous about gathering evidence, and as such many cases dragged out for extended periods. The next mention of the case is nearly two months later. Thursday, 11th January 1872 Four weeks later, the Board again considered the evidence Wednesday, 7th February 1872 When it came, the Chairman's verdict was devastating Thursday, 15th February 1872 Even through the bureaucratic politeness, it's clear that the Board believed that the Inspector's actions were a factor in the death of poor Alexander Macdonald. They didn't however go so far as to dismiss him - something that in other cases they were willing to do.
The Board of Supervision had a dual role - providing guidance to the local officers responsible for the operation of the Poor Law, and acting as an appeals body for applicants dissatisfied with the amount of support they received. We are currently indexing the appeals cases considered by the Board from its inception in 1845 to its abolition in 1895, and will be publishing the index in the next few months. Watch this space! |
Old ScottishGenealogy and Family History - A mix of our news, curious and intriguing discoveries. Research hints and resources to grow your family tree in Scotland from our team. 
Archives
November 2022
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
Data Protection Register Registration Number: ZA018996 |