An article in Thursday's edition of the Guardian entitled The cost of historical research: why archives need to move with the times was of particular interest to me, as it flags up something that was addressed at a recent archive conference in Scotland, by both historians and from a genie POV by yours truly. Written by Northampton based Nell Darby, a doctoral research student in history, the article flags up the inconsistent policy of many archives across England in charging variable rates for the right to copy documents in an archive with a digital camera. The full article is at www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2013/may/23/history-research-costs-archive-fees.
At present, national institutes such as The National Archives at Kew and the National Records of Scotland will allow free photography, so long as you don't use a flash. The point I raised in my talk was that this ability to do so can beneficially transform how genealogists work. The NRS in Edinburgh is a 5 hour round trip for me from the west of Scotland, and in the past I have often had to make repeated visits to the archive to consult documents for clients. The copying charges for documents were ludicrous - not to mention the travel costs. Thankfully that has now changed. To give an idea how dramatic a difference that can make, when I wrote a book last year about the murder of an ancestor, I previously had made several trips to Edinburgh to consult the precognition papers for the trial, and had still only managed to get about two thirds of the material transcribed. In one afternoon, following the introduction of permission to photograph material at the NRS, I was able to photograph the entire lot, including the material I had already transcribed, and was able to successfully complete the book without going bankrupt from travel costs! It made an enormous difference.
At TNA at Kew I was recently able to photograph an entire service history not yet available online for a WW1 ancestor - no questions asked! I also cited a client job where I was able to successfully take some 200 photographic images at the NRS of a range of 17th and 18th century estate papers, letters of horning, sequestration papers, and more, all written in Secretary Hand (the Devil's attempt to improve the style of old handwriting!), which needed to be forensically transcribed. Some of the documents were actually quite fragile, with one actually referred to the archivist as I was seriously worried about its condition. Being able to image the documents meant only one visit to the facility, less wear and tear on the material, and the ability to work on it at home for the client to extract the story I was pursuing. Such an ability means less costs for the client (travel mainly), and offers an ability to genealogists who don't live in Edinburgh (or London) to be more competitive, and productive. The national repositories may be based in London or Edinburgh, but they are there to serve the whole country/countries, not just the locals who can get there easily.
In Darby's article she points out that many institutions use photographic passes income as a way to plug the gaps in their funding. But she cites a horrendous inequality - in the piece she cites a charge of £25 at North Yorkshire to gain a photography pass, but only £3 at North Devon. TNA and the NRS don't charge at all. Whether a facility should charge or not is certainly an issue - but equally important is the issue about being allowed to photograph images in the first place. One other issue cited at NRS, is that some materials held there are held on behalf of private individuals, and permission is not given to photograph them. That's fair enough, though obviously if permission is granted by the relevant owner, I would hope this could be waived (I've not had to do this yet, as the need has not arisen, so not sure if this is possible).
So yes, archives do need to move with the times. The national repositories are leading the way - to everyone else, come on now, please let us photograph documents at your facilities as well. If we have to pay, fair enough - but as with academic historians, we're not a cash cow, so be gentle! But please do move with the times.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Saturday, 25 May 2013
What women could not do in Ireland in 1970
An interesting piece from the Galway Advertiser describes ten rights which were won by Irish women in the 1970s - it starts each point with a description of what a woman could not do that year, and then explains how the law subsequently changed.
Read the article at www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/57301/ten-things-an-irish-woman-could-not-do-in-1970-and-be-prepared-to-cringe
You will cringe...
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Read the article at www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/57301/ten-things-an-irish-woman-could-not-do-in-1970-and-be-prepared-to-cringe
You will cringe...
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
TNA podcast - William Wallace and Edward 1
The latest podcast from the National Archives at Kew is William Wallace’s rising and execution, and Edward I’s conquest of Scotland, a talk from John Reuben Davies and Dauvit Broun at just under half an hour. here's the blurb:
The period of crisis in Scotland following the death of Alexander III, and leading to the eventual conquest by Edward I, still excites controversy and discussion, not least about the role of William Wallace. During work on an AHRC-funded project the ‘Breaking of Britain’, important discoveries were made using documents in The National Archives and in a private collection in Norway.
To listen to the podcast visit http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/william-wallaces-rising-and-execution-and-edward-is-conquest-of-scotland/ or download free from iTunes.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
The period of crisis in Scotland following the death of Alexander III, and leading to the eventual conquest by Edward I, still excites controversy and discussion, not least about the role of William Wallace. During work on an AHRC-funded project the ‘Breaking of Britain’, important discoveries were made using documents in The National Archives and in a private collection in Norway.
To listen to the podcast visit http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/william-wallaces-rising-and-execution-and-edward-is-conquest-of-scotland/ or download free from iTunes.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Scottish Monumental Inscriptions update
Helen Grant has just dropped me a note with the latest news from her Scottish Monumental Inscriptions site, which has recently been redeveloped at www.scottish-monumental-inscriptions.com.
The following is a summary of recent progress:
Still Under Transcription
Dunfermline Cemetery CD1 - CD2- CD3 maybe even 4
Dunfermline has been a total nightmare to do as we have had to go back at least 7 or 8 times, due to light issues, bad photographs, the list goes on, but glad to say were catching up here now with only about 12 sections to complete. This will be with you as soon as we can get it ready.
New On CD now.
From the Isle Of Bute:
Rothesay Cemetery (Barone Road)
St Colmac's Church, Cnoc-an-Raer
Kingarth Church and Cemetery
Cemeteries waiting to be completed are:
Patna- Ayrshire
Irvine Church- Ayrshire
Lesmahagow Cemetery- LKS
Linlithgow Cemetery
Recently Photographed:
Blairgowrie Cemetery
Blairgowrie old Kirk
Rattray Church
(With thanks to Helen)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
The following is a summary of recent progress:
Still Under Transcription
Dunfermline Cemetery CD1 - CD2- CD3 maybe even 4
Dunfermline has been a total nightmare to do as we have had to go back at least 7 or 8 times, due to light issues, bad photographs, the list goes on, but glad to say were catching up here now with only about 12 sections to complete. This will be with you as soon as we can get it ready.
New On CD now.
From the Isle Of Bute:
Rothesay Cemetery (Barone Road)
St Colmac's Church, Cnoc-an-Raer
Kingarth Church and Cemetery
Cemeteries waiting to be completed are:
Patna- Ayrshire
Irvine Church- Ayrshire
Lesmahagow Cemetery- LKS
Linlithgow Cemetery
Recently Photographed:
Blairgowrie Cemetery
Blairgowrie old Kirk
Rattray Church
(With thanks to Helen)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Friday, 24 May 2013
Dambusters records launched on The Genealogist
From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk)
To celebrate the 70th Anniversary in 2013, new online records of the Dambusters Raid are now available on TheGenealogist
To coincide with recent commemorations on the RAF raid on the industrialised areas of the German heartland, TheGenealogist is pleased to announce the availability of full online records of one of the most daring bomber raids of World War Two.
Prior to the start of the war, the British Air Ministry identified Germany’s heavily industrialised Ruhr Valley and especially the dams as important strategic targets. Repeated air strikes with large bombs could be effective but Bomber Command had struggled for accuracy in the face of heavy enemy fire.
Finally ‘Operation Chastise’ was devised using a specially designed ‘bouncing bomb’ invented and developed by Barnes Wallis.
The operation was tasked to No 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the mission. Led by 24 year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of over 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from existing squadrons in 5 Group. These crews included RAF personnel of several different nationalities, as well as members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 miles north of Lincoln.
Full details of the Operation Record Book now online
The new records on TheGenealogist provide an in-depth analysis of the mission which went on to achieve legendary recognition. The fascinating information includes an account of each aircraft’s flight, including full crew list and details of the awards made to each of the crew members after the mission.
Operation Chastise was a success: two dams were breached and one was damaged, severely impacting German resources in the summer of 1943. However this success came at a high price. Of the 19 Lancaster Bombers that took part in the operation, 8 were shot down, with 53 aircrew killed and 3 taken prisoner. With the new records added to TheGenealogist, it is now possible to look at every airman involved in the raid, including all the brave aircrews and how they fared in this unique bombing raid.
The factual story of the brave men involved in the Dambuster raids
Flying very low in ever worsening weather conditions, the Operations Record Book of 617 Squadron provides us with an in-depth account of Operation Chastise. Commencing the story with their last training flight, to the operation itself, to the visit by the King and Queen to congratulate the surviving aircrews, all the details on the famous ‘Dambuster raids’ are now online. This new resource is ideal if you had a relative involved with 617 Squadron, or if you are interested in one of the most iconic RAF missions of World War Two.
NB: Additional releases from the company this month can be found on its newsletter at www.genealogysupplies.com/email_news.htm
(With thanks to David Osborne)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
To celebrate the 70th Anniversary in 2013, new online records of the Dambusters Raid are now available on TheGenealogist
To coincide with recent commemorations on the RAF raid on the industrialised areas of the German heartland, TheGenealogist is pleased to announce the availability of full online records of one of the most daring bomber raids of World War Two.
Prior to the start of the war, the British Air Ministry identified Germany’s heavily industrialised Ruhr Valley and especially the dams as important strategic targets. Repeated air strikes with large bombs could be effective but Bomber Command had struggled for accuracy in the face of heavy enemy fire.
Finally ‘Operation Chastise’ was devised using a specially designed ‘bouncing bomb’ invented and developed by Barnes Wallis.
The operation was tasked to No 5 Group RAF, which formed a new squadron to undertake the mission. Led by 24 year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of over 170 bombing and night-fighter missions, twenty-one bomber crews were selected from existing squadrons in 5 Group. These crews included RAF personnel of several different nationalities, as well as members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The squadron was based at RAF Scampton, about 5 miles north of Lincoln.
Full details of the Operation Record Book now online
The new records on TheGenealogist provide an in-depth analysis of the mission which went on to achieve legendary recognition. The fascinating information includes an account of each aircraft’s flight, including full crew list and details of the awards made to each of the crew members after the mission.
Operation Chastise was a success: two dams were breached and one was damaged, severely impacting German resources in the summer of 1943. However this success came at a high price. Of the 19 Lancaster Bombers that took part in the operation, 8 were shot down, with 53 aircrew killed and 3 taken prisoner. With the new records added to TheGenealogist, it is now possible to look at every airman involved in the raid, including all the brave aircrews and how they fared in this unique bombing raid.
The factual story of the brave men involved in the Dambuster raids
Flying very low in ever worsening weather conditions, the Operations Record Book of 617 Squadron provides us with an in-depth account of Operation Chastise. Commencing the story with their last training flight, to the operation itself, to the visit by the King and Queen to congratulate the surviving aircrews, all the details on the famous ‘Dambuster raids’ are now online. This new resource is ideal if you had a relative involved with 617 Squadron, or if you are interested in one of the most iconic RAF missions of World War Two.
NB: Additional releases from the company this month can be found on its newsletter at www.genealogysupplies.com/email_news.htm
(With thanks to David Osborne)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Further English parish records release on FindmyPast
From FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk)
Family history website findmypast.co.uk has added over 450,000 new parish baptisms, marriages and burials covering the period 1538-2009 from areas as diverse as Northumberland, Durham, Ryedale, Sheffield, Wiltshire and Suffolk to make it easier than ever to trace your ancestors further back through history and further expanding what has now become the most comprehensive collection of England and Wales parish records online. Paul Nixon, Content Licensing Manager for findmypast.co.uk commented on the new release “This is a tremendous step for those trying to uncover their UK ancestors, and a great resource for family historians with British roots worldwide”.
Full details of what this exciting record release contains are as follows:
141,525 Suffolk Baptisms 1753-1911
244,309 Wiltshire Baptisms 1538-1867
27,420 Northumberland & Durham Burials 1587-2009
22,687 Sheffield Baptisms 1837-1968
8,181 Sheffield Marriages 1824-1991
7,113 Ryedale Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1754-1999
These records are brought to you by Suffolk family history society, Wiltshire family history society, Northumberland and Durham family history society, Sheffield family history society and Ryedale family history society as a result of the ongoing partnership of findmypast.co.uk and the Federation of Family History Societies. They are available to search online now and can be viewed with PayAsYouGo credits, a Britain Full or a World subscription.
The records are available on all findmypast sites as part of a World subscription.
(With thanks to Myko Clelland)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Family history website findmypast.co.uk has added over 450,000 new parish baptisms, marriages and burials covering the period 1538-2009 from areas as diverse as Northumberland, Durham, Ryedale, Sheffield, Wiltshire and Suffolk to make it easier than ever to trace your ancestors further back through history and further expanding what has now become the most comprehensive collection of England and Wales parish records online. Paul Nixon, Content Licensing Manager for findmypast.co.uk commented on the new release “This is a tremendous step for those trying to uncover their UK ancestors, and a great resource for family historians with British roots worldwide”.
Full details of what this exciting record release contains are as follows:
141,525 Suffolk Baptisms 1753-1911
244,309 Wiltshire Baptisms 1538-1867
27,420 Northumberland & Durham Burials 1587-2009
22,687 Sheffield Baptisms 1837-1968
8,181 Sheffield Marriages 1824-1991
7,113 Ryedale Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1754-1999
These records are brought to you by Suffolk family history society, Wiltshire family history society, Northumberland and Durham family history society, Sheffield family history society and Ryedale family history society as a result of the ongoing partnership of findmypast.co.uk and the Federation of Family History Societies. They are available to search online now and can be viewed with PayAsYouGo credits, a Britain Full or a World subscription.
The records are available on all findmypast sites as part of a World subscription.
(With thanks to Myko Clelland)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Brompton burials now on Deceased Online
From Deceased Online (www.deceasedonline.com):
First records for premier London cemetery now available on Deceased Online
Another first for www.deceasedonline.com with the addition of all records for one of the historic 'Magnificent Seven' Victorian garden cemeteries
Brompton Cemetery in South West London is one of the UK's most prestigious and historically significant cemeteries
Approximately 30% of the Cemetery's 207,000 records are now available for the period 1840 to 1871
The records comprise burial register scans, grave details and cemetery section maps (photos of memorials will be added soon). All records will be available on the website within the next three weeks
Read about Brompton Cemetery's fascinating history and its role-call of historically important occupants starting in this week's blog (see http://deceasedonlineblog.blogspot.co.uk)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
First records for premier London cemetery now available on Deceased Online
Another first for www.deceasedonline.com with the addition of all records for one of the historic 'Magnificent Seven' Victorian garden cemeteries
Brompton Cemetery in South West London is one of the UK's most prestigious and historically significant cemeteries
Approximately 30% of the Cemetery's 207,000 records are now available for the period 1840 to 1871
The records comprise burial register scans, grave details and cemetery section maps (photos of memorials will be added soon). All records will be available on the website within the next three weeks
Read about Brompton Cemetery's fascinating history and its role-call of historically important occupants starting in this week's blog (see http://deceasedonlineblog.blogspot.co.uk)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Parking at PRONI - but at a price
Titanic Quarter is now offering parking facilities at Titanic Boulevard in Belfast, opposite PRONI (www.proni.gov.uk), but it's clearly having a laugh at the rates.
Full details are available at http://www.proni.gov.uk/news_details.htm?newsRef=2653
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Full details are available at http://www.proni.gov.uk/news_details.htm?newsRef=2653
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Bradford City Library to be relocated
Bradford City Library is to be replaced with a new purpose facility in the city centre, with the present building deemed to be a safety risk. The new facility will open in December at the present Bradford 1 Gallery building and in an adjacent unit in City Park.
The full story is at www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10433704.New_library_to_be_built_in_Bradford_city_centre/?ref=mr
(With thanks to @FOBALS_Bradford)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
The full story is at www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10433704.New_library_to_be_built_in_Bradford_city_centre/?ref=mr
(With thanks to @FOBALS_Bradford)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
Republic of Ireland's GRO indexes to go online at IrishGenealogy.ie
The genealogy bug continues to hit Ireland big time, with news that the Irish Government now intends to create online access to its civil registration indexes via its Irish Genealogy (www.irishgenealogy.ie) records platform in the not too distant future. This access will be to the indexes only, and not the original register data.
At present indexes for the Republic of Ireland are available online from 1845-1958 only, and indexes for Northern Ireland from 1845-1921, via the free FamilySearch site (https://familysearch.org), and the subscription based Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) and FindmyPast Ireland (www.findmypast.ie) platforms - the last of these is the best option for marriage searches, allowing you to perform searches for both partners in a wedding event in one go (Ancestry also allows this, but I find it less effective).
The new plan to make the indexes for the Republic available is interesting, because the site on which they are destined to appear, Irish Genealogy, has so far offered access to its hosted records for free - will the indexes therefore be free also? We'll know soon enough - the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013 about to go before the Irish Parliament will amend the Civil Registration Act 2004 to include provision to make the indexes to the BMD events, and also indexes to civil partnerships, available online, but not those for adoptions or stillbirths. No date for this to happen has yet been revealed.
The full story is at www.irishtimes.com/news/burton-to-make-births-deaths-and-marriages-accessible-online-for-first-time-1.1403375
Meanwhile, keep an eye out for the forthcoming provision for online access to Northern Ireland's GRO indexes and records post-1921 later this year (see my new book, details below!).
UPDATE: Here is the wording for the relevant clause from the Bill, and the proposed amendment to the Civil Registration Act 2004:
Part 3 — Amendments to Civil Registration Act 2004 Section 16 provides for amendments to the Civil Registration Act 2004 to allow for the provision of index information from the registers of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in accordance with the National Genealogy Policy. This will enable online searching through the www.irishgenealogy.ie website hosted by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Index information in relation to adoptions and stillbirths is excluded.
The full explanatory note to the Bill is available at www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2013/5413/b5413dmemo.pdf
(With thanks to Aidan Byrne @8thRDF)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
At present indexes for the Republic of Ireland are available online from 1845-1958 only, and indexes for Northern Ireland from 1845-1921, via the free FamilySearch site (https://familysearch.org), and the subscription based Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) and FindmyPast Ireland (www.findmypast.ie) platforms - the last of these is the best option for marriage searches, allowing you to perform searches for both partners in a wedding event in one go (Ancestry also allows this, but I find it less effective).
The new plan to make the indexes for the Republic available is interesting, because the site on which they are destined to appear, Irish Genealogy, has so far offered access to its hosted records for free - will the indexes therefore be free also? We'll know soon enough - the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013 about to go before the Irish Parliament will amend the Civil Registration Act 2004 to include provision to make the indexes to the BMD events, and also indexes to civil partnerships, available online, but not those for adoptions or stillbirths. No date for this to happen has yet been revealed.
The full story is at www.irishtimes.com/news/burton-to-make-births-deaths-and-marriages-accessible-online-for-first-time-1.1403375
Meanwhile, keep an eye out for the forthcoming provision for online access to Northern Ireland's GRO indexes and records post-1921 later this year (see my new book, details below!).
UPDATE: Here is the wording for the relevant clause from the Bill, and the proposed amendment to the Civil Registration Act 2004:
Part 3 — Amendments to Civil Registration Act 2004 Section 16 provides for amendments to the Civil Registration Act 2004 to allow for the provision of index information from the registers of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in accordance with the National Genealogy Policy. This will enable online searching through the www.irishgenealogy.ie website hosted by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Index information in relation to adoptions and stillbirths is excluded.
The full explanatory note to the Bill is available at www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2013/5413/b5413dmemo.pdf
(With thanks to Aidan Byrne @8thRDF)
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
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