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

 

30 Days Until the Final Scottish ViC

 

We are just a month away from the final Scottish ViC, a virtual conference for those researching their Scottish ancestors. This final conference has an historic perspective to it, and quite nicely also fits in with VisitScotland's themed year, Year of Scottish Stories. 

 

Jimmy Fisher runs Scottish Reformation Tours where he takes people to visit the places associated with the Martyrs who fought to keep their religion out of the hands of the King and in doing so lost their lives. Jimmy will share these stories with us during his presentation on the Covenanters.

 

Hugh Alison is the former manager of the Culloden Visitor Centre. He will be talking about the events leading up to the battle as well as the aftermath following the battle. This battle ended the highland way of life and ultimately led to the outflow of highlanders to north America.

 

Ciaran Jones will share with us some of the incredibly unimaginable stories that are contained within the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database. These were extraordinary times and yet many of the accused were quite ordinary folk. Come and hear about the database and the information contained within it.

 

Matthew J Smith will share with us the stories contained within the Legacy of British Slave Owners Database. Following abolition, merchants who had owned slaves were able to apply for compensation from the government for loss of property. The LBS project is now also working to understand and develop the stories of those who were enslaved.

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

Schedule for Scottish ViC 2022 is Now Confirmed

The next Scottish ViC will take place on Saturday, January 22, 2022. The schedule has now been confirmed:

9:15    Scottish Covenanters presented by Jimmy Fisher                               

10:30    Culloden presented by Hugh Allison                               

11:40     LUNCH                          

12:30     Survey of Scottish Witch Trials presented by Ciaran Jones                               

2:00       British Slave Owner Database presented by Matthew J Smith                               

3:30        Wrap-up

To meet our presenters: https://www.genealogyvic.com/ViC-2022

Registration is open. All presentation will be live, but are being recorded to allow access for those with time zone challenges. Access to the recordings will remain open for 30 days after the live event. 

Voices from the Scottish Diaspora: Highland Emigration to Canada in the Twentieth Century

 

Recently I had the honour of recording the presentation that Professor Marjory Harper is presenting for the November ViC. I was mesmerized. Actually hearing the voices of those who have emigrated, I was acutely aware that so much of what they were saying mirrored my own family's emigration story. 

The ViC is just a month away. Registration for the November ViC ends on Nov 26th. This allows me to ensure everything is ready for the 28th. The syllabus will be sent out ahead of the ViC so that you can read through and prepare questions for the presenters. 

If you haven't yet registered but want to, you can do so here: https://www.genealogyvic.com/ 

You will have access to the presentations for 6 weeks.

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.

Need a Last Minute Gift for a Genealogist on Your List?

Need a Last Minute Gift for the Genealogist on Your List? Give them the gift of learning. Give them insight into the records where they might find their Scottish ancestors. Help them to understand the social and historic events during which their ancestors lived. Register them for the Scottish ViC. https://www.genealogyvic.com/  Topics for 2020: Glasgow and the Caribbean Slave Trade Death, Burial and Cemetery Records Prison Registers Asylum Registers Wills and Testaments Scottish Newspapers Scottish Emigration to Canada

Scottish Genealogy Research January 25, 2020

Scotland is where my story begins

Scotland is the home of my ancestors. I have a deep and abiding connection to them. There is a never-ending yearning to learn more of their story so that I can better understand my own.

To learn more about your Scottish ancestors, join us on Saturday, January 25th, 2020 for a day of virtual learning. Learn about record sets that contain information about the lives of your ancestors:

Death and burial, Wills and Testaments, Prison, Asylum, Emigration, Newspapers. For more details: https://www.genealogyvic.com/PRESENTERS

One low fee, seven presentations by six presenters. Access until February 25th to allow for time zone challenges. All from the comfort of home. No travel expense. No time away from family, friends, work or home. No accommodation expense. No meal expenses. Stay warm, stay in your jammies. Engage with others and learn from the best.

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

Give Yourself the Gift of Learning

St Andrew's Day is just over a week away. We are five weeks away from Christmas and before you know it, it will be a new year and a new decade. 

Burn's birthday is January 25th and that means the annual Scottish ViC. 

We have a great line up of presentations. Presentations not offered outside of Scotland. Presentations that I wanted to be able to bring to a wider audience, which is why I started the ViC. 

In ViC 2020, we take an in-depth look at Prison and Asylum records and learn of the minutia of detail that they contain about the people in the records. Hair colour, eye colour, height, scars, tattoos

We look at records that will help you to learn about the death of your ancestors - and this goes well beyond the death registers and monumental inscriptions. A wide array of records can be consulted to assist with finding this information for your ancestors. 

We look at the rich detail contained in wills and testaments, the legal process of probating a will and the records generated as a result. 

We learn about Scotland's relationship to the Caribbean Slave trade - not a pleasant part of Scotland's history, but an important part to understand. Yes, you might even have ancestors of Scottish descent in the Caribbean.

We take a look at how best to search for your ancestors in the Scottish newspapers and the rich detail that can be gleaned from them. Like maps, newspapers are a huge rabbit hole and learning how to focus our time and attention will make for better success. Ok, who are we kidding, everyone's story in newspapers is worthy of a read - even people who have no relationship to us. 

We will look at the reasons Scots left their homeland and emigrated to Canada. We will learn about the emigration societies, their purpose, how land was parcelled and how our Scottish ancestors fared once they arrived in Canada. And we will learn of the more enterprising Scots who came after the initial settlers and how they made their mark. 

Access to the presentations will be open until February 25th to allow you time to revisit them at your leisure and on your schedule. 

All presenters will be available LIVE and in person in the closed Facebook group for ViC registrants. They will be available immediately following their presentations on January 25th. 

Give yourself the gift of learning. REGISTER HERE

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/

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.

NEW! COMMONWEALTH VIRTUAL INSTITUTE

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR BRITISH GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY

 PRESENTS

COMMONWEALTH VIRTUAL INSTITUTE

The ISBGFH is pleased to announce their Virtual Institute which will run from March 16-19, 2020. The theme for this Institute is Researching in Commonwealth Countries. Each day of the Institute will feature 4 presentations on a particular Commonwealth Country:

Monday March 16 – Canadian Research presented by Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS. Kathryn is a Canadian professional genealogist who revels in teaching people how to find their ancestors in Canada. She is the founder and owner of the Canadian-based genealogy business, Looking4Ancestors.

Tuesday March 17 – South African Research presented by Sue McNelly. Sue is a professional genealogist based in Phoenix, Arizona, with over 16 years of experience. Born in South Africa to her English father and South African mother, Sue’s roots are predominantly English with a little Scottish, Irish and of course South African, to add to the mix. Sue is the owner of KindredPast, a genealogy company focusing on research in South Africa, England, and the Isle of Man.

Wednesday March 18 – British India Research presented by Emma Jolly. Emma Jolly MA is a professional genealogist and writer. Based in London, Emma writes regularly for family history publications and is the author of four books. Emma's media work includes radio and television appearances, as well as research for British and Swedish television channels, independent production companies, and national newspapers. She also edits the monthly newsletter of the Society of Genealogists. Emma specializes in genealogy problem-solving, tracing living relatives (alongside DNA test analysis), London history, social history, women's history and the British in India.

Thursday March 19 – Australian Research presented by Kerry Farmer. Kerry Farmer is a researcher, presenter and teacher in genealogical studies. She is on the Board of the Society of Australian Genealogists and convener of their Education Committee. She is Director of Australian Studies for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, developing their Australian Records courses.

**Please note that this will be a late afternoon/evening series given the time zone differences**

$70usd per day. $249usd for all 4 days.

Registration allows you access to recordings of the presentations

until April 30th 

To register: https://isbgfh.wildapricot.org/

FREE WEBINARS!

As a lead up to the Scottish ViC, I will be offering a series of free webinars on Scottish research:

BRICK WALL BUSTERS FOR SCOTTISH GENEALOGY

Thursday Nov 14, 2019 at 8 pm eastern

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8803595391334010124

STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER

GENEALOGY GEMS IN SCOTTISH LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES

Thursday Nov 21, 2019 at 8 pm eastern

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2520043668757077004

PREPARING FOR A GENEALOGY TRIP TO SCOTLAND:

Thursday Nov 28, 2019 at 8 pm eastern

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4618182334151670028

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/

Join Us for the Scottish ViC

Scottish ViC 2020

Saturday January 25, 2020

The Scottish ViC is in its third year. The ViC is a virtual conference.  It is the ONLY virtual conference dedicated to assisting people researching Scottish ancestors. The ViC is enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. No travel necessary. We bring the learning to YOU.

There are a series of presentations throughout the day, on a timed basis, just like an in-person conference. The presentations are pre-recorded and cover topics not normally presented outwith Scotland. The presenters are all intimately familiar with the records they are discussing and understand the value of these records to the family historians.

Following the presentation, the presenter will be available answer your questions.

Your registration allows you to have access to the presentations for a full week so that you can go back and re-visit the topics that are of the most interest to you as a genealogy researcher.

7 Presentations:

Death & Cemetery Records

Prison Records

Asylum Records

Wills & Testaments

Newspapers

Glasgow’s Role in the Slave Trade

Canada: Land & Opportunity

Scots Emigration to Canada

Click to register: https://www.genealogyvic.com/

Online learning is not the next best thing. It is the NOW best thing.

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.

JOIN ME AT THE VGA CONFERENCE NOV 1-3

I am delighted to have been chosen as a speaker for the Virtual Genealogical Association's first Virtual Conference. The conference runs from Nov 1- 3, 2019 and showcases 19 speakers over the three days. 

Registrants will have access to the recordings and handouts for all sessions for 6 months following the conference - watch any time, any place, on any device. Register at https://virtualgenealogy.org/2019-vga-conference ($59 for members, $79 for non-members).

Closed captioning via Rev.com will be added to recordings of all sessions and will be made available to registrants within 7 days of the live broadcast.

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