Interesting Facts About Scottish Marriages
Unlike the rest of the UK, Scottish marriage laws were much more lenient. Under Scots law, there were three forms of “irregular marriage”. An irregular … Read more
Christine Woodcock
Do You Have Canadian Roots? Plan to Attend the Great Canadian Genealogy Summit
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! The Great Canadian Genealogy Summit will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, Brampton from Oct 21-23 2016. On October 21, we have … Read more
Scottish Emigration Schemes
Following the Highland Clearances, many of these families took advantage of emigration schemes which saw them transported to Canada, the Colonies of America and Australia. Young … Read more
Researching Scottish Death, Burial and Lair Records
Some of the best resources for genealogy research are death records. This isn’t limited to statutory records, but included burial records, cemetery records, and lair records … Read more
The Unsung Genealogy Heroes
Last month, we learned of the Genealogy Rock Stars. This is an annual event hosted by blogger John Reid of Anglo-Celtic Connections. This year, the … Read more
Who Gets Included in the Family Tree?
There has been some interesting discussion in Genea-land lately about who to include in family trees. Certainly for those with UK or European ancestry, it … Read more
Taphophila is a Grave Business
As my kids know only too well, I am a bit of a “taphophile”. Taphophile: someone with a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. Taphophilia … Read more
I’m Not Sure What My Clan Is
Having spent several weekends at highland games this summer, assisting people with their Scottish genealogy research, likely the most common comment I heard was, “I’m … Read more
Google – Your Genealogy Guru
I love Google. It’s simple, efficient, opens a world of knowledge and makes me feel smart just through its simplicity and ease of use. But … Read more
Why ISN’T Everything Online?
We so often hear “not everything is online” And that is very true. Likely less than five percent of all of the archival documents available … Read more
Why It’s Important to Use Desktop Family Tree SOFTWARE
Big name databases have all encouraged us to create our family trees online. And while this is fine, it is also limiting. You still need … Read more
Preparing for a Genealogy Road Trip
If you are planning to head to the state or provincial archives to do research on your ancestors, it is important to plan ahead so … Read more
The Learning Curve – Learn about Genealogy
One of the best things about genealogy is the many opportunities to learn. Workshops, magazines, blogs, conferences and even Facebook pages/groups. Whether you are a … Read more
Researching Ancestry on the Periphery
Do you remember this song from Sesame Street? “Who are the people in your neighbourhood…. They’re the people that you meet When you’re walking down … Read more
Scottish Surnames and Spelling
It is important to note that spelling was not consistent until dictionaries made it standard in the 1800s. Until this time, spelling was quite fluid … Read more
Canadian Sources, Eh?
If your ancestors originate from the British Isles, and came to north America after the Revolutionary war, it was easier for them to immigrate through … Read more
Using Twitter for Genealogy
The first question might be “just what is Twitter anyway?” Well, simply put, Twitter is a social media venue that allows access to instant information. … Read more
It’s Elementary, Dear Watson
Part of the joy of genealogy research is the thrill of the hunt. We tune into, hone and cultivate our inner detective. Let’s look at … Read more
Scottish Wills and Testaments
In Scotland, prior to the 19th century, wills only involved moveable property and did not include land, buildings, mining rights or minerals. Before the 19th … Read more
Do You Feel the Connection?
Genealogy is about connecting. I personally have a pretty low need to affiliate. Don’t quite understand the tears and hugs after a week long event … Read more