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FAMILY
HISTORY RESEARCH
Family
history research has become extremely popular over the last few years.
Getting a clear picture of your family and where they came from
has proved to be of great importance to many people, thus allowing
them to have a better understanding of themselves.
There are now many websites and magazines available for people to
use to aid in their research. There
are many records to search from - records of births, deaths and
marriages, to parish records, census records, wills and monumental
inscriptions.
So,
with all these records and information, where do you start? 
The
registration of births, deaths and marriages in
Scotland became compulsory on
1st January 1855
and
it would be these records that you would start from.
Working
backwards towards 1855 is fairly straightforward, as birth, death and
marriage records contains
parents
names, including mothers maiden surname, and where applicable on birth
certificates, a date and place
of
marriage.
 These
records are held in Edinburgh; however, the indexes and scanned images
are now computerised
and
are accessible in all full time registration offices.
Consultation
of these documents can be facilitated by contacting your local
registration
office
to make arrangements to search the records and by paying a search fee.
Another
way of searching is through burial ground records.
Some registration offices contain
these,
and it is advisable to contact the registration office prior to visiting
to check on what records they hold.
General
Register Office for Scotland
New
Register House
Edinburgh
EH1
3YT
Website
www.gro-scotland.gov.uk
By
examining these records it is thus possible to establish all who is
resting in that lair. You
may also
discover
other members of the family you did not know about.
Headstones can also provide information
 as they can contain
inscriptions of family members that are
resting
in the lair; however, just because they are mentioned
on
the headstone does not automatically mean that the
person
is in the actual lair.
By
checking with the burial ground records this can be
confirmed.
As
with registration documents, parish records are also held
in
Edinburgh
. These can be viewed in
Edinburgh
, they are
not
held in registration office, however, and local libraries
may
hold some parish records. You may be able to find pertinent
information
within these documents; however, they are not as comprehensive as
registration records. Parish
records
date
from 1553 to 1854 and the standard of record keeping varies from parish
to parish.
Another area worth searching through is census records.
These are available for the years 1841 to 1901
and
held in local libraries,
Scotland
’s people and local family history societies.
By using these records you
can
ascertain where a person was born, age of any members of a household and
relationships, you may
also
find out a date of birth.
SEARCH
POINTERS
Check your own certificates first, then work
backwards to your parents and check their certificates etc.
Speak to family members.
Check local libraries to see what information they
may hold on local matters.
Check
with your local registrar to see what records they hold.
Check local papers for back issues or if they hold
originals of earlier editions to find birth, marriage and death
announcements.
Go to the local burial ground where you think ancestors were buried,
read the headstones.
When
searching through records remember spellings may be different to present
day spellings.
Indexes
hold records that were written by the registrar at the time.
For instance if you are looking for Macdonald,
double
check McDonald.
Parish records, though may be useful, are far from
complete.
There
are other organisations that keep records not held by the Registrar
General in
Edinburgh which are
worth
checking.
The
Court of the Lord Lyon www.lyon-court.com
The
have records relating to coats of arms.
The
Family Records Centre www.familyrecords.gov.uk
For
records of births, deaths and marriages in
England
and
Wales
.
The
Registrar General for
Northern Ireland
www.groni.gov.uk
The
General Register Office,
Dublin
www.groireland.ie
Additional information and web sites to help
with your research.
Research
Help
Family
History Research Guide: http://www.familysearch.org
If
you are new to doing family history, this Family Search guide is a good
place to start.
Connecting
People
RootsWeb:
http://www.rootsweb.com/
The
primary purpose and function of RootsWeb is to connect people so that
they can help each
other
and share genealogical research.
Advice
Genealogy: Advice for
Effective Searches: http://www.genealogy-search-advice.com/
Answer
a
series of simple questions at this site and get free, customized advice
on the most effective next steps
in
your genealogy search.
Everything you will ever need.
http://www.cyndislist.com/.
A must visit site with links
to over 250,00
other
sites.
The Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society
http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/links.htm
exists
to assist and promote the study of genealogy and family history based on
the North East
corner
of Scotland. This area
covers the old counties of Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire
and
Morayshire.
Births
marriage, deaths, military records
www.1837online.com.
Free search of over 400 million
records.
Pay only for the records you view. (£5
for 50 page images).
Census records, 1837 – 2003
Birth
Deaths & Marriages, Military Records
Birth
Marriage and Death Records
www.Ancestry.co.uk is
the first and only UK website
to offer
the
complete collection of General Register Office (GRO) birth, marriage and
death records for FREE.
Clan
Searches
www.ancestralscotland.com
Ancestral tourism site of VisitScotland
Search for your
surname
using the Clan Search and surname The site is updated regularly with the
latest consumer
news
and competitions.
British
Family History
www.British-Genealogy.com
is dedicated to assisting people with their British
family
history research. EVERYTHING HERE IS FREE.
Landed
Gentry
http://www.burkes-landed-gentry.com/sites/peerageandgentry/sitepages/home.asp
The
definitive historical guide to the UK and Irelands titled and landed
families.
Chartists
/ Militants Chartist
Ancestors: http://www.chartists.net/
Millions
of people signed the three great Chartist petitions of 1839 to 1848.
Thousands were active
in
those years in the campaign to win the vote, secret ballots, and other
democratic rights that we
now
take for granted.
Clergy.
http://www.theclergydatabase.org.uk
Research
your religious relatives with this database.
You
can search for relatives serving Church of England between 1540 and
1835.
Museums,
parish registers, National Archives, Lists of Cemeteries
www.genuki.org.uk
this is
a
Major UK genealogy portal with a dedicated Scotland section.
National
Archives www.scottishdocuments.com
Scottish Documents is the
e-commerce site of the
Scottish
Archive Network (SCAN) and the National Archives of Scotland (NAS). The
Scottish wills and
testaments
service has now transferred to the ScotlandsPeople
website.
Church,
Census, legal and military records.
www.familysearch.org
Maintained
by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this
is the largest genealogy database
in
the world.
Channel
Islands http://www.societe-jersiaise.org/pages/familyhistory.html
Channel
Islands Family History Service. This is a very comprehensive site with
many links to other
national
and international sites including e.g. Maps and Gazetteers, Ships and
Passenger Lists.
War
Graves.
http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx
The site of the Commonwealth War
Graves
Commission.
The
"Debt of Honour Register" is the Commission's database listing
the 1.7 million
men
and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars
and the 23,000
cemeteries,
memorials and other locations worldwide where they are commemorated.
Family
Tree Builder
www.genesreunited.com
Genes
Reunited is the UK's largest family tree and
genealogy
website. Get started by registering FREE, try a search or build your
family tree.
North
East England
North
East History: http://www.thenortheast.fsnet.co.uk/
This
is the place to visit for information about the history, legends,
dialect, songs, place names and famous
people
of the North East of England and Yorkshire.
Research
your House
Online
History Detective: http://www.house-detectives.co.uk/
If
you are interested in tracing the history of your house, or indeed any
building in your town or village,
this
site has been designed for you! Inspired by the BBC TV series 'The House
Detectives' and based on
a
new book on the subject.
British
& Irish Records
Origin Search: http://www.originsearch.com/
Featuring
comprehensive and exclusive British and Irish record collections dating
back to the 13th century,
as
well as rare and unique photos and books to browse.
This
search engine currently covers over 300
million
names from around the world.
Murderers
Murder Research:
http://www.murderresearch.com/
Serious
crime down through the ages has affected every class of family. There is
a very high possibility that
a
member of your family at sometime during the past few hundred years was
involved in a criminal activity,
either
as the victim or the criminal and there is an equally high chance that
the crime was reported in the
newspapers
creating an opportunity to learn more about the person you are
researching.
Census
for Scotland 1861 on, Parish Records, General records,
+ Wills www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
This
website offers the opportunity to view and order British primary source
data online including births,
marriages,
deaths and wills, dating from the 1550's to 1925. This site offers a
simple, secure, and affordable
pay-per-view
mechanism.
Ancestral
Tourism
www.scotexchange.net
This is the Scottish tourism industry web site, which gives
information
and news about ancestral tourism.
Military
medals and awards, bankruptcies, intestacies http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/
One of the
principle
sources of official information is the London Gazette, together with its
companions the Edinburgh
Gazette
and the Belfast Gazette. You can now view the Gazettes online.
Royal
Navy seamen
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
The
National Archives is continuing to expand the range of documents you can
access through its
method
of free index with charged-for download of document image. The latest
are the service registers
of
more than 500,000 Royal Navy seamen between 1853 and 1923. Downloaded
documents cost £3.50
Parish
Records
http://Edina.ed.ac.uk/StatAcc
Detailed description of every Scottish parish in
the late
18th
& 19th Centuries using the
Statistical Accounts of Scotland.
Scotsman
Newspaper
http://archive.scotsman.com
Electronic access to the Scotsman newspaper
from
1817 to 1950. Searching
the Archive is FREE
- although you must purchase a subscription to view
the
articles in full.
Scottish Genealogy.
www.scotsgenealogy.com
The Society is a charity which exists to serve everyone
who
has an interest in Scottish genealogy.
The Family History Index is an index of over 2,500 separate
files
deposited by researchers with the Society over a period of almost 50
years.
Tay
Valley Family History Society
http://www.tayvalleyfhs.org.uk
Based
in Dundee the Tay Valley Family History Society is the main centre for
family history research in the
Tay
Valley area (the former counties of Angus, Fife, Kinross and Perthshire).
National
Library of Scotland
www.nls.uk/news Old
newspapers from 1700s
Orkney
Genealogy Site
http://www.cursiter.com. Family Heritage of the Orkney
Islands. Also
including
Caithness
and the Shetland Isles
Irish Genealogy.
http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/frame_1024.cfm.
Irish
Genealogy Ltd has been
established
to co-ordinate the Irish Genealogical Project.
English
Names
http://www.list.jaunay.com/engnames/
Online English names directory for pre 1974
counties
in England.
Census for England & Wales
Census
Online:
http://www.census.pro.gov.uk/
The
1901 British census for England and Wales was posted on the Internet on
the 1st January 2001.
A
basic search of the site will be free of charge but to download a census
image will cost 75p per page.
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Presentations
from the Formartine Partnership Tourism Group
meeting
held on 26th January 2006
Presentation
to Formartine Partnership Tourism Group
by
Eleanor
Rowe
Archivist
Email
archives@aberdeencity.gov.uk
©
Aberdeen City Archives
Archives
in
Aberdeenshire today
In 1996
Grampian Region was reorganised - Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and The
Moray Councils
Care of
the records was transferred to Aberdeen City Archives
Since
1996 a joint service has been offered to the city of Aberdeen and
Aberdeenshire.
Four
archivists are employed
2
offices - the Town House and Old Aberdeen House
© Aberdeen
City Archives
Old
Aberdeen House, Dunbar Street, Aberdeen
©
Aberdeen City Archives
The
searchroom at Old Aberdeen House
©
Aberdeen City Archives
The
Strong Room
©
Aberdeen City Archives
 ©
Aberdeen City Archives
© Aberdeen City
Archives
 
© Aberdeen City
Archives
Commissioners
of Supply
First established in
1667 to collect the cess or land tax
During 18th century
collected various assessed taxes and with the JPs were responsible
for country roads and bridges
Nearly all their
responsibilities were transferred to the new county councils in 1890
Finally abolished in
1930
© Aberdeen City
Archives
‘Report
of Assessed taxes 3rd district of Aberdeenshire for the year ending
1807’ - showing the variety of taxes which had to be paid,
including for hair powder!
© Aberdeen City
Archives
Extract
for Ellon from the Report of the Assessed taxes, for the 2nd
district of the county of Aberdeenshire 1800 - 1801.
Gives
the names and addresses of those paying the tax or cess
Aberdeen
City Archives
Extract
for Turriff from the Report of the Assessed taxes for the 2nd
district of the county of Aberdeen 1806
Gives
the names and addresses of those paying the tax or cess
©
Aberdeen City Archives
Assessed
tax lists for the county of Aberdeenshire - showing the entries
for the parish of Methlick in 1799
Lord
Aberdeen had 110 windows on which he paid £39 18s (1988
is the number assigned to the ratepayer
)
©
Aberdeen City Archives
List
giving the names and addresses of the Roads Trustees for Turriff,
29 July 1867
Minute
Book of the Commissioners of Supply for Aberdeenshire, 1799 -
1808.
Reward
for murderer, 20 December 1800
School
headteachers’ log
books
n
Daily
record of school life
n
Main
focus on attendance
n
Record
anything which would affect this e.g.
the weather, illnesses
n
Information
on curriculum and staff
n
Generally
little information on pupils
n
The
Data Protection Act (1998) applies to
school
records
Turriff
School log book - summary of the Inspector’s report, 1879.
The
new school building was built in 1879 for 365 pupils on the site
of the current academy
Meldrum
school log book - the headteacher, Mr Bearsley, was having some
trouble with discipline in 1880 - ‘snow-balling some of the
teachers’
Fyvie
School Log book, 1879
The
head teacher was concerned about absences -
one boy George ‘had bad shoos to sitt in school with in
so stormy wither’.
The
head was not
convinced
Log
book for Fyvie School, 1878 - Records severe weather holding up the
trains (ED/GR6S/B31/1/1)
 
Pupil
Admission Registers
n
Record
details of a pupil upon admission to a school
n
Record
useful information for genealogists - age, relations, address,
date of birth
n
Often
record the date of leaving and why e.g. secondary school,
leaving the area
n
Data
Protection Act (1998) applies to these records
Ellon
Public School Admission register, 1885
Turriff
Academy Admission register, 1874.
Useful for genealogy as they give the date of birth and the
name of the parent or guardian and their address
Continuation
of the same page from the Turriff Academy Admission register, 1874
Poor
Law/Parochial Board/Parish
Council records
nParochial
boards established in 1845
nMost
parishes assessed for poor rates by 1862
nReplaced
by wholly elected Parish Councils in 1894
nAbolished
under Local Government Act 1929
nPublic
assistance function abolished in 1948 with the introduction of
welfare under the National Insurance
Act 1946
nThe
Data Protection Act (1998) applies to the Poor Law records
Entry
from the General Register of the Poor for the parish of Ellon for
Elspet Kennedy or Cowie 1855
‘Her
son James is imbecile and requires great attention’
This
is the entry from the General Register of the Poor for
Elspet’s son James Cowie.
After his mother died in 1892 he
was looked after by the matron of the Ellon parochial lodging
but in 1900 he was moved to the Aberdeen Royal Asylum.
He died in 1905 aged about 52
Roll
of permanent paupers for parish of Turriff 30 October 1847
Property
History - sources in
Aberdeen
City Archives
Maps and
plans
Architects
drawings - private collections - George Bennett Mitchell
& Son, Duncan & Munro . (RCAHMS)
Aberdeen City
Archives also hold George Bennett Mitchell & Sons plans
reference accession 398.
Sasine
registers (abridgements held by Aberdeen City Archives for
1781 - 1971) Full versions held by the National Archives of
Scotland, Edinburgh
Local
authority architects’ drawings - some for Peterhead,
Inverurie, many for Aberdeen city - housing developments
Building
warrant drawings for Aberdeen City. Very few exist for
Aberdeenshire.
Dean of Guild
records - involved in the regulation of building work.
Record survival variable. Very few building plans survive
(?paper salvage drive WWII)
Valuation
rolls from 1855 (Aberdeen County from 1859)
Electoral
Registers date from 1918 for Aberdeen county
Photographs
(some)
n©
Aberdeen City Archives
The
firm of Architects George Bennett Mitchell undertook a survey
of Church of Scotland property in 1925, including photographs
of redundant and disused churches and plans of churches and
manses(Acc 398)
George
Bennett Mitchell & Son - photographs and postcards of
the disused church in Turriff (Acc 398)
Registers
of Sasines (abridgements) 1781 - 1971. Record the transfer of
land.
The full versions for Aberdeenshire are held in the
National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh
©
Aberdeen City Archives
Valuation
rolls give information on the owner and tenant of property.
Start
in 1855 - cease 1989 when the community charge was
introduced
© Aberdeen City
Archives
Building
warrant plan for 146 Union Street, Aberdeen
© Aberdeen City
Archives
Ground
floor plan of Ellon Church by
George Bennett Mitchell & Son, 1925
©
Aberdeen City Archives
From
Duncan & Munro, architects, Turriff, 1870 - (DM/1870/32/1/1 -
3)
Fyvie
Cottage Hospital ground plan (DM/1870/32/1/1 - 3)
© Aberdeen City
Archives
Plans
drawn by Duncan & Munro, Turriff of a house in Turriff for Mr
William Paterson.
In Victoria Terrace, Turriff 1896
©
Aberdeen City Archives
Plan
from Duncan& Munro of a house at Turriff Station for Mr Henry
Marr, 1892
©
Aberdeen City Archives
Side
view and ground floor plan of the house at Turriff station, drawn
by Duncan & Munro, 1892
DM/1890/21/1/7
©
Aberdeen City Archives
Dwelling
houses in Cuminestown by Duncan & Munro, 1871
(DM/1870/6/1/4)
© Aberdeen City
Archives
Interior
of the houses at Cuminestown
(DM/1870/6/1/4)
© Aberdeen City
Archives
 
Turriff
Mutual Improvement Association Minute Book, 1913 - 1921
Aberdeen City Archives
Old Aberdeen House
open Monday - Wednesday 9.30 - 1.00 and 2.00 - 4.30.
Telephone 01224
481775. Email archives@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Town House open
Wednesday - Friday 9.30 - 4.30. Telephone 01224 522513
Small searchroom -
please make an appointment before visiting
Staff are happy to
give talks and prepare exhibitions
© Aberdeen City
Archives
archives@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Haddo
Estate Records
The
following information relates to the private collection of records held for
Haddo
Estate.
Details of the collection and copies of some of the papers are available
at the National Archive in
Edinburgh,
and
the
papers split into 4 categories.
The first are the family papers relating to
the Gordon's of Haddo and include some of the papers from the 4th Earl
of Aberdeen (who held a number of Political Offices including Foreign
Secretary as well as being Prime Minister) and the 6th Earl who was
Governor General of Canada and Viceroy of Ireland. His wife, Ishbel, was
a great innovator and was in many ways ahead of her time.
Second are the Estate papers mainly in the form of rent records from the
1840's. These give details of the Tenant farmer, size of holding and
rent payable (and whether this was paid or not!) At this time the Estate
extended to around 75,000 acres from New Deer in the North to Oldmeldrum
in the South and from Fyvie in the West to near Ellon in the East with
various splinter holdings in other parts of Aberdeenshire including
Boddam and Tarland. There are also a number of plans and maps including
detailed drawings of Haddo House and some farms.
Third are the
records of work. These are largely un
researched but include
daybooks for activities on the Estate and in the House and Gardens.
Lastly,
are the miscellaneous
papers relating to the area and to more general matters.
The archive is
accessed by arrangement through the Haddo Estate Office (where it is
also kept). There is currently no charge for access to the papers unless
they are to be used for commercial gain but we do ask for donation
to be made to a charity.
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A
step by step guide to how Pat Fraser researched her family history.
Genealogy
by Pat Fraser
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