For the Scottish Heritage
JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
Access to information may be free, but you must "do it yourself" or pay some researcher to do it on your behalf. Learn as much as you can about the reliable sources in the system. Be prepared for some significant costs. I trust that the section on fraud, hoaxes, scams and myths will inform but not discourage you.
Nevertheless, I encourage everyone to make genealogy their hobby. Start your collection of data close to home. Use the Scottish resources when you have assembled sufficient information. Eventually, you may begin to develop hypotheses about the ages of males at marriage, the difference in ages between spouses, the patterns of naming children, etc. Always question the conclusions of others. There are regional differences. Families are unique. Explore your own questions and answers. Enjoy the hobby. I rarely give advice and nobody could afford to pay me for my genealogical services. Thank you for your understanding.
It helps if you know where your ancestors came from in Scotland. Many Clan societies [E.g. - Clan Ross Association of Canada, Inc.] publish newsletters, which include genealogical inquiries from MEMBERS or VISITORS in a Family History Corner. By the way, not everybody knows the genealogical connection between your great uncle John's third cousin twice removed and a great-great-grandmother Elspet on your maternal side. Be explicit. Proofread your inquiries. Finally, don't give up your search.
Do NOT pay for a "family coat-of-arms", which doesn't belong to you, unless you belong to the family of a Chief of the Clan. Beware of carnival hacks, who promise your family history for a paltry sum of a couple of bucks. You can discover much more on your own.
RECORD KEEPING:In 2018, I began to establish some uniformity in recording details in my family tree at "My Heritage". The sources for records at "My Heritage" are all over the place . . . with impossible census items, burial dates before death dates, incomplete data for geographical locations, etc.
[I have also given more attention recently to those records providing photos of the individuals. It helps to add a year-of-birth after the person's name to identify the photo, thus eliminating the need for Jr/Sr/1st/ad infinitum.]
Another source of frustration is the variation in records for the United States of America. For example, I have noted UNITED STATES, UNITED STATES of AMERICA, USA, Usa, usa, United States, United States of America and US all in the same set of records. I also like the county and state correctly typed.
I have begun to add a UK for the United Kingdom. Canadian locations contain "Canada" typed in full to prevent confusion with California (which uses CA).
PLEASE NOTE: Bookmark any links on this page which you find interesting. Use the BACK Button of your browser. Don't forget to come back, though!
Please advise us about DEAD or DIFFICULT or USELESS links via our email address. In that way, this "Genealogy Kit" will remain useful for others.
| A GOOD PLACE TO START |
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My Heritage has partnered with Family Search to help you discover, preserve and share your family history --- Free!
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Your search for many answers to your genealogical questions can begin here.
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A series of articles by Larry Ruickbie provides tips, info and tricks that may be useful.
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Whether you are a beginner or not, you might enjoy some of the lessons provided by the RootsWeb organization. Rootsweb is undergoing some changes, but perhaps some helpful pages will return. In any case, you might try HERE.
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This website is part of the RootsWeb/GenWeb Scotland project to provide information about the individual counties.
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Websites for the Family History Centres are hosted by RootsWeb. Some collected items are helpful, but accuracy is not always guaranteed.
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The largest collection in the world of free genealogy records is preserved at Family History Libraries by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
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This resource was sent by 8th graders studying family history in Mary Ward's class in Chicago.
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| OTHER RESOURCES |
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This is the official government source of genealogical data for Scotland. It is a partnership between the General Register Office, the National Archives of Scotland, The Court of the Lord Lyon and Scotland On Line.
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The General Registry Office in Scotland is the main source of family history records.
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The Scottish Archive Network provides internet access to the written history of Scotland.
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The Scottish Genealogy Society promotes and collects research into family history.
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The Association of Scottish Genealogists and Researchers in Archives provides a list of reliable professional researchers with full contact details to arrange private commissions
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| CLANS OF SCOTLAND |
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The aim of this site is to link Scottish clans worldwide from Scotland
and to help you find your Scottish roots. Other free aids are offered.
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Electric Scotland provides a list of all clans approved by the Court of the Lord Lyon. You are encouraged to visit your own clan's website for the official History and list of Septs.
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| FRAUD & MYTHS |
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This website also provides a great list of scams for the gullible customer.
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You might trust Cyndislist to tackle some popular myths, hoaxes and scams.
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| REFERENCES (CANADIAN) |
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The Canadian Genealogy Centre contains all physical and online genealogical services of Library and Archives Canada. The site has many very helpful links.
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| UNDETERMINED USEFULNESS |
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FAST TRACK: Go to the Scotland Genweb Project. Scroll down to the Shires (based upon Sheriffdoms) or true Counties (which had Earls/Counts in the past).
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A very general reference . . .
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This is an overview of products available for those considering a DNA test.
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Genealogy by genetics is the newest addition to the researcher's tool kit. It is also very costly.
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Here is a reference that is useful for some general guides and links. It is less useful for Scottish searches.
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