Scottish Covenanters

At the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679, over 1200 covenanters were taken prisoner and taken to Edinburgh. Approximately 400 of these prisoners were held in the Covenanters Prison in Greyfriars Churchyard. 

Here they were kept out in the open, exposed to the elements for the winter months. They were kept under guard by tyrant George "Bluidy" MacKenzie. 

The prisoners were given 4 ounces of bread and water each day. Those that died under these conditions were buried in the part of the kirkyard reserved for criminals. Those that survived the winter were either executed come spring, or shipped off to Barbadosas slaves.  Of those who were executed, some 100 were burned and their ashes buried under the Martyrs Memorial. 

Although quite weathered, the inscription reads:

Halt passenger take heed what thou dost see

This tomb doth shew for what some men did die

Here lies interr'd the dust of these who stood

Gainst perjury resisting unto blood

Adhering to the Covenants and Laws

Establishing the same which was the Cause

Then their lives were sacrificed unto the Lust

Or Prelatist's abjur'd though here their dust

Lies mixt with murders and other crew

Whom justice did justly to death pursue

But as for this in them no cause was found

Worthy of death but only they were found

Constant and steadfast zealous witnessing

For the prerogatives of CHRIST their king

Which truths were feared by famous Guthrie's head

And all along to Mr Ranwick's blood

They did endure the wrath of enemies

Reproaches torments deaths and injuries

But yet they're these who from such troubles came

And now triumph in glory with the LAMB

From May 27th 1661 that the noble Marquess of Argyle suffered to the 17th of Febr 1688 that Mr James Ranwick suffr'd were executed at Edinburgh about an hundred of Noblemen Gentlemen Ministers & others noble martyrs for JESUS CHRIST. The most part of them lies here.

This Tomb was erected anno 1706.

If you have covenanter ancestors:

http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=7021

2016 Tour Now Booking

The April 2015 Genealogy Research Trip is Fully Booked. The itinerary is confirmed and can be viewed here:

http://genealogytoursofscotland.blogspot.ca/2014/10/april-2015-tour-itinerary-now-confirmed.html

Dates for the 2016 tour are set. The tour runs from May 30 - June 8. This tour is already starting to fill up. Spaces on these tours is limited to 15 researchers so that you get a better experience and to make the research in the archives more manageable for you.

If traveling to Scotland to conduct family history research is on your bucket list and 2016 is your year, don't wait to book or you may be disappointed.

Your tour fees include:

• pre-tour preparation package
• pre-tour webinars
• 9 nights accommodation
• 9 breakfasts
• protected research time
• onsite overviews and talks
• 3 full days of research at Scotland's People Centre
• Full day of research at the National Library of Scotland
• Full day of research at the NLS Maps Reading Room
• Daily research fees
• Evening at the Scottish Experience Dinner show
• All ground transportation for research
• Time to visit the area where your ancestors lived (additional travel fees not included)
• Opportunity to visit the local family history society where your ancestors lived
• Optional evening guided tours of Old Edinburgh and Greyfriars Kirkyard (additional fee)

For more information:

http://www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca

If you have unanswered questions: genealogytoursofscotland@gmail.com

April 2015 Tour Itinerary Now Confirmed

Sunday: This is a day of arrival. We will meet in the restaurant area of the hotel at 6:30 pm for a meet and greet and to talk about the week ahead. There will be an opportunity to sign up for optional walking tours of Edinburgh during the week.

Monday: Following breakfast, we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group for 8:45. From here we will taxi to ScotlandsPeople Centre where we will enjoy a Family History session followed by research time.  

Tuesday: Following breakfast we will again meet in the lobby of the hotel for 8:45. From here we will taxi to ScotlandsPeople Centre for a full day of research. 

Those who are signed up for the tour of Greyfriars Kirkyard will meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30. From here we will walk over to the Kirk yard gates to meet with the tour organizers. Payment is payable directly to the tour organizers.  

Wednesday: Following breakfast- we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group at 9:45. From here we will taxi to the maps building of the National Library of Scotland.  

Those who are signed up for the tour of Old Edinburgh will meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30. From here we will walk over to the Greyfriars Kirkyard gates to meet with the tour organizers. Payment is payable directly to the tour organizers.

Thursday: Following breakfast- we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group at 9:30. From here we will walk over to the National Library of Scotland. You will require a library card. This will take time to process the group. At 10:30, we will enjoy a talk on the resources available at the library followed by a tour of the library. The rest of the day will be available for research. If you require a taxi to get to the NLS, one will be ordered for you.  

Friday: This day is set aside for you to research in the local archives or Family History Society in the region where your ancestors lived. You may also choose to sightsee, shop or take a day trip instead.  

Saturday: Following breakfast, we will meet as a large group in the lobby of the hotel for 6:45. From here we will taxi to Stirling where we will enjoy a full day of learning at the Scottish Association of Family History Societies conference. Those who have made plans to stay overnight in Stirling will be on their own to get to the hotel they have booked. The rest of the group will be taken back to the hotel in Edinburgh.

Sunday: This day is set aside for you to research in the local archives or Family History Society in the region where your ancestors lived. You may also choose to sightsee, shop or take a day trip instead.

Monday: Following breakfast, we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group for 8:45. From here we will taxi to ScotlandsPeople Centre where we will enjoy our final day of research.  

At 6:20pm, we will meet in the hotel lobby as a large group. From here we will taxi to Prestonfield where we will enjoy the Taste of Scotland Dinner and Show.

Tuesday: today is check-out day. I wish you safe travels as you return home with your newly found documents, stories and most of all, memories.

1798-1799 Consolidated Tax Schedules Now Available

National Records of Scotland have released the Consolidated Tax Schedules for 1798-1799. These are available on the ScotlandsPlaces  website.

From 1798 onwards taxpayers were no longer taxed individually for taxable items. Rather all of the taxes were consolidated into one payment.  

Unfortunately, only the consolidated schedules counties which begin with the letters A-M survive. There are no schedules available for Nairnshire, Orkney, Peebles-shire, Perthshire, Renfrewshire, Ross-shire  and Wigtownshire.

Here's the link:

http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/news/2014/consolidated-tax-schedules-released-online