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Having accessed the records at the main libraries in Scotland, you may need to hunt deeper for the information you need. The same rules of research apply: know what it is youre trying to find and keep a note of everything.
INTERNATIONAL GENEALOGICAL INDEX (IGI)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has an International Genealogical Index IGI that holds information on births, baptisms, christenings and marriages. The records dont hold death certificates. Their information is based on the Old Parish Records, so it is a good start, but only a guide; you should always refer back to original sources.
www.familysearch.org/
MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS
These are recordings of the details of gravestone information. Not everyone could afford a gravestone. Many stones have fallen or are weathered, and are now unreadable. The Scottish Genealogy Society has the largest collection of Scottish monumental inscriptions in the world. Contact them if you wish to pursue this line of enquiry. Their website is here:
www.scotsgenealogy.com
WILLS AND TESTAMENTS
Its been the responsibility of Government to administer wills and grants since 1858. The Commissary Courts carried out that function from the 16th century to 1858. Indexes can be found in libraries. The index of Wills and testaments is searchable online at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk and colour digital images can be downloaded for a charge. Dont assume that only the rich and the gentry left wills. Many ordinary people did too. Copies of wills are held by the National Archives of Scotland.
www.nas.gov.uk/
MILITARY HISTORY
All British Army regiment records are kept in the National Archives at Kew. You will need to have information about the regiment served and when they served in it.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/
FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETIES
There are many societies throughout Scotland that gather information about their own area: monumental inscriptions, census, books etc. They have very eclectic records, with everything from where a house used to be, to names of people transported for wrong-doings. The Scottish Association of Family History Societies has a list of Scottish, English and Overseas societies. Contact them at:
www.safhs.org.uk/
A similar, UK-wide site:
www.ffhs.org.uk
OTHER TREASURE TROVES
 | Local libraries - can be very helpful. | | Newspapers - National and worldwide events shaped your forebears' lives. Some were started as early as the late 17th century. You can access these at the National Library of Scotland. | | Specialist Magazines they have some interesting features and articles. | | Ecclesiastical Records Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae is a list of ministers from the Established Church of Scotland. You can find this at main libraries. Scottish Catholic Archives are at 16 Drummond Place Edinburgh, EH3 6PL The Jewish Archive Centre can be contacted at 0141 332 4911. Episcopalian Records are held by each individual parish. | | CD-ROMs can be useful for people searches, and hold records of surveys, census information and parish records. | | Internet Forums great for getting in touch with people across the world with a similar interest. You may even find a cousin you didnt know about by visiting a genealogical forum. |
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Lots of people mistake baptismal date for birth date. The baptism is more likely to be registered in older records – so don’t get caught out.
If you’re looking for the death certificate of two married people – look for the woman’s first. The computer at Register House contains a married/maiden cross referencing facility which makes life a lot easier if you are searching for a common name. | | |
Unless otherwise stated images copyright © SCRAN. | |
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