Registration for the Scottish ViC ends January 20/22

 

You don't want to miss this one! I have had the great pleasure of listening to Hugh Allison speak about the Battle of Culloden and the fallout which led to emigration. I have had the great pleasure of speaking to Matthew Smith and hearing about the stories that will be uncovered during the talk about the British Slave Owner Database. These stories are not just about the slave owners but also about the enslaved. The connections between the Caribbean and Scotland run strong.

I have also had the great pleasure of hearing Ciaran Jones talk about the Witches of Scotland and the information available in the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database in conjunction with the Interactive Map of Scottish Witches. And I have heard about the Covenanters in Scotland and the tragedy of those who were presecuted simply for wanting to hold onto their Presbyterian religion.

All of these talks fit well with VIsitScotland's Year of Scottish Stories. They will give you tremendous insight into the times in which your ancestors lived. The fear, the worry. Many of these events affected not just the individuals but also their families, and indeed, entire communities. 

This event will certainly let the Scottish ViC go out on a high note. I am incredibly proud of the depth of learning that these events have provided over the years, and this one is no exception. 

The ViC will run from 9:15 eastern and wraps up at 3:30 eastern. Access to the recordings remains open for 30 days for those with time zone challenges. 

To register: https://www.genealogyvic.com/ViC-2022

 

Scottish Virtual Conference January 2021

 

The next virtual conference is on January 22-23, 2021. We will be starting on the Friday afternoon again with a virtual tour of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots with Anne Daly of Mary’s Meanders. Anne is a wonderful storyteller. The tour will take us to Linlithgow Palace, where Mary was born, to Holyrood House where Mary lived and her husband was killed, Edinburgh Castle where her son James was born and Lochleven Castle where Mary was imprisoned. In addition we visit her holiday home at Falkland Palace and Stirling Castle where she was ensconced until she was 5 years old. 

Talks on Saturday include: 

• The Border Reivers – presented by Andrew Armstrong
• The Scots in Ulster – presented by William Roulston (this is for those who have “Scots-Irish” ancestors)
• Borderers in the High Court Records - presented by Margaret Fox
• An Introduction to the Scottish Jewish Archives – presented by Harvey Kaplan
• Women’s Suffrage in Scotland – presented by Donna Moore 

To register: https://www.genealogyvic.com/BURNS-DAY-ViC

 

January Scottish ViC Registration is Now OPEN!

Registration is now open for the January ViC. While there is a focus on Borders research  we also look at the Scottish Jewish Archives and the Scots in Ulster. Many of the Reiver families were sent to Ulster. We will look at Women's Sufferage and our treat is a virtual tour of the places associated with the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. 

• Hannah Bell with present on the Borders Archive Services
• Margaret Fox will present on Scottish Border Cases in the High Court
• Andrew Armstrong will present on the Border Reivers
• William Roulston will present on the Scots in Ulster
• Harvey Kaplan will present on the Scottish Jewish Archives
• Donna Moore will present on the Women's Suffrage Movement
• Anne Daly will take us on a virtual tour of Mary Queen of Scot's life

Again I am thrilled with the level of new topics and the calibre of speakers for the ViC.

You can register for just the January ViC for $74cad or for both Nov AND January for $143. Look for the SAVE ON TWO registration to get the discount. 

ViC 2020 is in the Books!

This year's ViC was incredibly successful. And for that I have to thank each and every one of the attendees for trusting that the program was going to be worth the money and time that you invested.

I owe a great deal of thanks to this year’s presenters as well:

Stephen Mullen

Irene O’Brien

Margaret Fox

Emma Maxwell

Aoife O’Brien

Thanks to each of you for being so willing to share your knowledge with us and for making the day such a success. The feedback has been terrific and each one of you received accolades on your presentations. New information that we didn’t know before the day started and a renewed interest in the lives of our Scottish ancestors.

Ideas are already coming in for next year, from both attendees and speakers. And that tells me how engaged people are in this learning platform. Save the date! ViC 2021 will be Saturday, February 23.

Just a Week to Go!

The Scottish ViC is just one week away! A full day of presentations for people researching their own Scottish ancestry or who are conducting research for clients with Scottish ancestry. 

The day starts at 8:30 with a presentation on Scotland, and in particular, Glasgow's involvement in the Caribbean Slave Trade. This presentation is given by Dr Stephen Mullen of the University of Glasgow who has conducted research in this area. 

Next up is Dr Irene O'Brien, Sr archivist at Glasgow City Archives who will show us the various records available for researching your ancestor's death. Dr O'Brien's presentations are always chock full of detailed information to show you just how much information you can glean from the records available in local archives. 

Irene is followed by Aoife O'Connor. Aoife works with Findmypast and is their expert on the British Newspaper Archives. Aoife will show us how to get the most out of Scottish newspapers for learning more about the rich details of our ancestor's lives. 

The morning closes off with genealogist Emma Maxwell. Emma and her husband run Scottishindexes. Emma will walk us through using Asylum records to learn about some of the sadder stories of our ancestor's lives. 

We then take a break to have lunch, do some research and recharge before starting the afternoon off with archivist Margaret Fox. Margaret is retired but formerly worked at the National Records of Scotland. Margaret will be giving an in-depth presentation on using Scottish Wills and Testaments and how you can get rich details on your ancestor's life by using these documents. 

ScotlandsPeople have generously provided 26 free credits to all registrants. This will allow registrants to download 2 wills and one other record. 

Following Margaret is a return by genealogist Emma Maxwell who, in this presentation, will show us the deep detailed information that can be gleaned from Prison records. 

Wrapping up the day is genealogy educator Christine Woodcock who will look at the reasons that led to Scots leaving Scotland and settling in Canada and the records that they generated as a result of their emigration. 

The recordings of all presentations are available until February 25th, 2020. 

"Door" prizes: 

1 year subscription to MyHeritage
1 year subscription to Findmypast
1 month subscription to Findmypast 
1 year subscription to Legacy Family Tree Webinars
1 Legacy Family Tree Software

All for just $99cad (~75usd)

To register: https://www.genealogyvic.com/

Can't Find Your Ancestor's Death Information?

Have you hit a snag trying to find your Scottish ancestor's death record? Maybe it's because you aren't looking at the right records. 

Glasgow City Archivist, Irene O'Brien will show us a variety of records where you can find the information you are looking for when the standard records don't seem to be available. 

Join us for the Scottish ViC to learn about researching Scottish deaths and so much more. Seven presentations, six presenters to show you that your Scottish ancestors really are waiting for you to find them. 

Registration allows access to the presentations and downloadable handouts for one full month. https://www.genealogyvic.com/

WIN YOUR ViC REGISTRATION!

As we approach Cyber Monday, you have the opportunity to WIN your ViC registration. 

Everyone who registers (or is already registered) for the ViC by Cyber Monday (Monday, December 2, 2019) will be entered to win back their registration fees. (A full refund will be issued to the winner)

REGISTER TO WIN!

Scottish Prison and Asylum Records Presentations

Do you know what your ancestor looked like? Do you know his height? His hair and eye colour? Whether he had tattoos or scars? Scottish PRISON records have such rich detail contained within them.

Do you know what the living conditions were for your ancestor who was in a Scottish asylum?

The Prison and Asylum records for Scotland include a wealth of rich detail that will help you to get a clearer understanding of your ancestor and the life that they lived.

Emma Maxwell will be giving 2 presentations during the Scottish ViC. One on Prison records and the deep detail they contain and one on Asylum records and the stories contained within them about your ancestors.

Access to the presentations is open for a full month following the ViC once you register.

ACCESS TO ViC RECORDINGS EXTENDED!

At the request of several registrants, and given the timing of the ViC, access to the recordings is being extended to one month rather than just one week.

That means that when you register for the ViC, you will have access to the recordings of the presentations until February 25th, 2020.  

This allows you to attend your Burns Night Celebration without missing out on the learning that is being offered. 

Access will also be extended for the downloadable handouts as well. Ready to register? https://www.genealogyvic.com/

Third Annual Scottish ViC January 25, 2020

Genealogy Tours of Scotland announces the third annual virtual conference on Scottish Genealogy Research. This is the only virtual conference dedicated to Scottish research topics.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25^TH, 2020

The ViC (virtual conference) will launch on Saturday, January 25th, 2020 at 8:30 am Eastern

The line-up of talks and speakers for the day:

Glasgow’s Role in the Slave Trade on Plantations in the West Indies presented by Stephen Mullen

Using Wills and Testaments for Scottish Genealogy Research presented by archivist Margaret Fox

Using Prison Records for Genealogy Research, presented by genealogist, Emma Maxwell

Using Asylum Records for Genealogy Research, presented by genealogist, Emma Maxwell

Using the Records Generated Upon Death for Genealogy Research, presented by archivist Irene O’Brien

Researching Your Scottish Ancestors in British Newspapers presented by Aoife O’Connor

Canada: Land and Opportunity presented by genealogy educator Christine Woodcock

Registration fee is just $99.99 (cad) and allows unlimited access to the talks, handouts and marketplace until midnight (eastern) on February 1st, 2020.

*** Virtual "Seats" are limited!*** For more information or to register: https://www.genealogyvic.com/page-1075191

All presentations are pre-recorded and released on a timed basis throughout the day, just like an in person conference. The live Q&A will only happen on January 25^th when the presenters will be available following their presentation to answer any questions.

Speakers Confirmed for Scottish ViC 2020

Saturday January 25th, 2020 Speakers and topics are now confirmed for the Scottish ViC in 2020. Once again, we have a great line-up of speakers and topics. Presentations will be (in no particular order as yet): Margaret Fox - archivist Margaret Fox will once again give a presentation. As anyone who has attended a previous ViC knows, Margaret is incredibly knowledgeable and incredibly thorough in her presentation. Her topic will be Wills and Testaments. Irene O'Brien - archivist Irene O'Brien will talk about the records that can be generated when a person dies. Death registers, Cemetery & Lair records and funeral home records. Emma Maxwell - genealogist Emma Maxwell will be giving two presentations in 2020. One will be on Asylum records and the other on Prison records. Aoife O'Connor - Aoife is from Findmypast and will be talking in depth about the British Newspaper Archive. Newspapers are a fabulous way to find the stories of your ancestors lives. Dr Stephen Mullen -Based at the University of Glasgow, Dr Mullen's work focuses on Scotland and Glasgow's historical connections with the Caribbean and wider Atlantic world in the 18th and 19th centuries. His presentation will focus on the economic and social impact of Caribbean slavery on Glasgow and Scotland. Christine Woodcock - genealogy educator, Christine Woodcock will give a presentation on the enticements that were offered to Scots which led them to emigrate to Canada.  Registration opens October 1, 2019

SAFHS CONFERENCE 2017

Saturday morning we were up bright and early and on the road by 7:30 to get to Fife for the annual conference of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies. In addition to the talks, the Tour participants were thrilled to be able to connect with the local family history societies to buy books, ask questions and get some guidance about their family history research. 

The conference was opened by the Lord Lyon, Dr Joseph Morrow, who spoke of his family's connection to the Mormons of Clackmannan. 

There were four talks offered as part of the Conference:

• Crossing the Firth of Forth Before the Bridges
• Connecting People and Places (all about maps!)
• Connecting to Life Through Death
• Scottish Records on Findmypast

As well there were several additional talks offered as part of the Family History Fair. So much was learned and shared with other participants later on that evening over meals or drinks. 

The conference food was amazing - hot bacon rolls, shortbread, chicken tikka, pasta, hot fresh danish. We were truly spoiled! 

Join Me in Halifax

If you are in the Halifax area, plan to attend the Scottish Genealogy Symposium. Come and learn about researching your Scottish ancestors. 

Talks include:

In Search of Your Scottish Ancestors
Lesser Known Resources for Scottish Genealogy
Brick Wall Busters for Scottish Genealogy
They Came From Scotland - Historic Events That Led to Mass Emigration

Lunch is included!

There will be door prizes, a 50/50 draw and publication sales. 

To register: http://novascotiaancestors.ca/

Join Me in Kelowna April 10th

On Sunday, April 10^th, 2016, “When the wild flowers do spring and the wee birdies sing,” the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society is featuring a wonderful day of learning about Your Scottish Roots with renowned presenter:  Christine Woodcock from Ontario.  This is a unique opportunity to make real progress on your Scottish research! 

About Christine Woodcock, www.genealogytoursofscotland.ca:   

Having been born in Scotland, and having traveled back and forth for her entire life, it was beyond Christine’s ken to think that others who had roots in Scotland hadn't had the same experience. And so, Genealogy Tours of Scotland was born. Every year, Christine gets the honour of accompanying groups of genealogy researchers to Scotland where they can immerse themselves in their Scottish ancestry. When not traveling or planning, she lectures, writes, edits genealogy newsletters, engages with the Scottish North American community and is a self-proclaimed ambassador for both genealogy tourism and for Scotland. 

Topics:

·         In Search of Your Scottish Ancestors

·         Navigating the ScotlandsPeople Website (attendees get free credits to practice at home)

·         Lesser Known Databases for Scottish research

·         Preparing for a Genealogy Research Trip to Scotland

·         Researching Scottish Death, Burial and Lair Records

Where:

·         University of British Columbia Okanagan (Kelowna), Room EME 1101 (Engineering Building)

·         9:00am – 4:15pm (lunch break at 12:10); sales tables will be open from 8:30am-4:45pm

·         Parking discount available ($5 for the day)

·         A Campus map and explicit directions will be emailed to all registrants

Includes:

  FREE credits to ScotlandsPeople

·         Five Workshops with handouts

·         Morning beverage and snack break; afternoon beverage break

·         Opportunity to purchase archival supplies, Christine’s books and we are hoping that the BCGS Boutique will   also be in attendance

·         Please bring a bagged lunch or have lunch at one of the many venues on-campus

To register or for more information: conference@kdgs.ca