[This is a guest post written by Rob McFadden, of the McFadden Project. If you'd like to write a guest post for us on anything Scottish history or genealogy related, get in touch.] For centuries, there had been just one way to determine whether or not two people were related - you travelled to distant, dusty archives, read through mountains of small print and bad handwriting, prayed to the gods of genealogy that these people knew how to spell their own names, then ultimately came down with a headache. Eyes were strained. Backs were strained. Tears were shed. They were dark times for all of us.
Ah, but now we find ourselves in 2016. The age of self-driving cars! Much of that bad handwriting can now be found on a miraculous thing called "the internet", which means you can strain your eyes and your backs from the confines of your own home. It's a new era of research and a new era of chair comfort. However, perhaps even more interesting and exciting for genealogists and historians is the emergence of genetic genealogy. The concept is simple - spit into a tube or swab your cheek, send your stuff off to a lab, then open your e-mail to find out you're descended from royalty. Ok, it's not really that simple. It's actually quite complex. But the bottom line is that it is now possible for people to connect with distant cousins through DNA testing. More importantly, it's now possible for men to take a specific type of test, compare their results, and determine whether or not they are of the same lineage going back centuries. This opens the door for surname studies that could never have previously been attempted. And that is where the McFadden Project comes in. If you or someone you know is a man with the last name McFadden, Macfadyen, McFadzean, or any similar name thought to be derived from Mac Pháidín - the McFadden Project wants you! We're looking to put together the pieces of the McFadden puzzle. Are the Scottish Macfadyens and the Irish McFaddens of the same ancient clan? What about the Pedens and Padens, and Faddens and Pattersons and all the others? If not, which are related to which? Where did they originate? How long ago? These are the questions that we're asking and that we're hoping you can help us answer. If we have your attention, our web site is here. Additionally, anyone with any interest at all in the name is welcome to visit our website and participate on our brand new message board. We're looking to develop a broader Mac Pháidín community where people can come to discuss genealogy, history, or anything at all. Looking for help with a mysterious McFadden ancestor? Have a great story about one you'd like to share? Big fan of that pop star guy? Swing on over. Thanks for your time, and don't forget to rest those eyes. Rob McFadden, Project Admin http://themcfaddenproject.com http://twitter.com/projectmcfadden
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Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 7 - 13 March 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, March 7 2016, 6.30 pm The Builders of Edinburgh's first New Town, 1767-1795 Anthony Lewis Venue: St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Dr Anthony Lewis is curator of Scottish History for Glasgow Life/Glasgow Museums, where he has worked since 1992. At the same time he began researching Edinburgh’s New Town in preparation for the exhibition about James Craig at the Edinburgh New Town in 1995. He has been a member of the AHSS for years and even attended Forth and Borders Cases Panel meetings. On the same day in 2006 he was promoted to curator and was awarded his PhD by Edinburgh University for his research on the builders of Edinburgh first New Town. In 2014 his book based on his PhD was published. Monday, March 7 2016, 7 pm for 7.30 pm Three Centuries of the Scots and China Ian Wotherspoon Venue: Drummond Community High School, Bellevue Place, Edinburgh Monday, March 7 2016, 7.30 pm The history of the Glasgow Veterinary School Prof Oswald Jarrett Venue: St Andrews Church, Park Road, Milngavie Milngavie and Bearsden Historical Society Professor Oswald Jarrett tells of the modest beginnings in a small shoeing forge in Sauchiehall Lane in 1862 to the present large complex at Garscube Estate. The School has been at the forefront of innovation in animal welfare, public health, basic research and veterinary education. Recent research has been done on the feline leukaemia virus. Monday, March 7 2016, 7.30 pm The Country Houses, Castles and Mansions of West Dunbartonshire John Hood Venue: Morison Memorial Church, Dumbarton Road, Clydebank Clydebank Local History Society Monday, March 7 2016, 7.30 pm Jews in Ayrshire Harvie L Kaplan Venue: John Knox Church Hall, High Street, Stewarton Stewarton and District Historical Society The Director of the Scottish Jewish Archive Centre gives us a history of Ayrshire's Jewish community including wartime refugees Monday, March 7 2016, 7.30 pm People at work in Edinburgh Peter Stubbs Venue: Gibson Craig Memorial Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie Currie & District Local History Society Peter Stubbs delves into his vast archive of photographs and gives us People at Work in Edinburgh covering the many and various trades and activities carried out in and around the capital. Monday, March 7 2016, 7.30 pm Ayr and St Germain-en-Laye: as Aspect of the Auld Alliance Bill Rogers, Ayr Town Twinning Association Venue: Loudoun Hall, Boat Vennel, Ayr Kyle and Carrick Civic Society Monday, March 7 2016, 8 pm 'The Village has changed a little but always for the better', a celebration of the architecture of Colinton before the First World War Simon Green, RCAHMS Venue: Dreghorn Loan Hall, Colinton, EH13 0DE Colinton Local History Society Tuesday, March 8 2016, 2.00 pm “Art & Calligraphy Duncan Gilfillan Venue: Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, Kirk Wynd Tuesday, March 8 2016, 6 pm Rescuing the Unrescuable and Providing Creative New Uses: Community-led approaches and interventions for the conservation of abandoned towns in Southern Italy May East, sustainability practitioner, educator and designer Venue: Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, University of Dundee, DD1 4EN Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Tuesday, March 8 2016, 6 pm Rescuing the Unrescuable and Providing Creative New Uses: Building Preservation Trusts and their Revolving Funds Mia Scott, historic buildings consultant, Inverness Venue: Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, University of Dundee, DD1 4EN Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Tuesday, March 8 2016, 7.30 pm The 100 Days. Life in the British Army during the Waterloo Campaign Duncan Ainslie, formerly of Stirling University Venue: Dining Hall, Dollar Academy Tuesday, March 8 2016, 7.30 pm Moidart MacIsaacs Donald MacIsaac Venue: Public Library, Airds Crossing, Fort William Lochaber and North Argyll Family History Group Tuesday, March 8 2016, 7.30 pm Evening Workshop
Venue: Largs Library Community Room Largs and North Ayrshire Family History Society Non-members welcome Tuesday, March 8 2016, 7.30 pm Suffragettes visit North East Fife Roddy Greig Venue: Volunteer House (Vonef Centre) in 69 Crossgate Cupar KY15 5AS Tuesday, March 8 2016, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm AGM
Venue: Masonic Halls, Collier Street, Johnstone Wednesday, March 9 2016 The Golfing Characters of North Berwick John Fergie and Douglas Seaton Venue: Coastal Communities Museum, School Road, North Berwick, East Lothian EH39 4JU Wednesday, March 9 2016, 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm The History of the Paisley Shawl Valerie Reilly Venue: Kincardine Community Centre - Hepburn Room Kincardine-on-Forth Local History Group Wednesday, March 9 2016, 6.30 pm ‘In rood health’ - Excavations at Perth Whitefriars 2014-15
Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee Wednesday, March 9 2016, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm Statistical Accounts of Scotland Lisa Otty Venue: Lasswade High School Centre Eskdale Drive Bonnyrigg Midlothian EH19 2LA Lothians Family History Society Wednesday, March 9 2016, 7.30 pm Deltiology - A Local Collector’s Treasure Trove of Images Stuart Ingram Venue: Parish Church Hall, St Mary Street, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4DN Kirkcudbright History Society Preceded by AGM Wednesday, March 9 2016, 7.30 pm Archaeological Work in Dumbarton and district Fiona Baker Venue: Concord Community Centre (next to the Denny Theatre), Dumbarton, G82 1LJ Well known local archaeologist Fiona Baker will be describing her work across the area; discovering, uncovering and deciphering early history. Thursday, March 10 2016, 7.30 pm Saints & Sinners Spencer Rosie Venue: St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall Thursday, March 10 2016, 7.30 pm Local Hero - Cromar's Veteran of Trafalgar Stephen Howarth Venue: MacRobert Hall, The Square, Tarland Sailing Master George Forbes, buried at Logie Coldstone, was the sailing master for HMS Swiftsure at the battle of Trafalgar. Stephen Howarth, a distinguished author and historian, will transport us back to the Georgian navy and the famous battle. Thursday, March 10 2016, 7.30 pm Hawkcraig Admiralty and the Hydrophone Diana Maxwell & Lewis Banks Venue: Queens Hall, Charlestown, KY11 3EG The Forum’s purpose is to promote the wise and sustainable use of the Forth. The Forum aims to bring together all those with an interest in the development and use of the coast and marine area, to work towards a balance between economic growth, environmental protection and social wellbeing, through good planning, management and communication. The Forum is the only organisation that has a strategic overview of the Forth as a whole and it works as a neutral body to allow it to develop and maintain working relationships with a range of interest groups. The Forum has a key role in maintaining good communication between stakeholders. This aids understanding of the issues in the coastal and marine environment and encourages a co-ordinated approach to the management of the coast and marine area. Chris Cutts was recently appointed the new manager for the Forth Estuary Forum and he will be telling us how he sees the future activities of the Forum developing under his management. Thursday, March 10 2016, 7.30 pm The Road to the Riding of the Marches 2016 Alistair Knowles Venue: St Peter's Church Hall, High Street, Musselburgh Musselburgh Conservation Society Thursday, March 10 2016, 7.30 pm Clan McGregor DNA Project Richard McGregor Venue: Smith Museum and Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road, Stirling Central Scotland Family History Society Thursday, March 10 2016, 7.30 pm Art and Architecture in Neolithic Orkney: the view from the Ness of Brodgar Antonia Thomas Venue: The Shawl Gallery, Paisley Museum, High Street, Paisley Renfrewshire Local History Forum Speaker from the University of the Highlands and Islands Thursday, March 10 2016, 7.30 pm John Knox: the man behind the myth Marie Macpherson Venue: Dirleton Kirk Hall Gullane and Dirleton History Society Thursday, March 10 2016, 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm Researching in the UK and Abroad George English Venue: Johnnie Walker Bond, Strand Street Kilmarnock East Ayrshire Family History Society Saturday, March 12 2016 Irish records? - They all went up in smoke . . . or did they? Jill Williams, FIGRS Venue: Scottish Genealogy Society Library, 15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL An introductory class on Irish ancestry Saturday, March 12 2016, 11.00 am Philosophical Discourse in Seventeenth-Century Scotland: Key Texts Dr Steven Reid and Professor Alexander Broadie Venue: Meadows Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh Advance booking required Saturday, March 12 2016, 2 pm Inventing the Scots III: Chronicling the kirk from Bower to Buchanan (and Beyond) Prof Roger Mason Venue: Meadows Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh Advance booking required |
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