August 1, 1995 Irish and Scottish Newsletter QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Q. What do you know about the "Irish Emigrant Archives" A. The "Irish Emigrant Archives" has been located at Cornell University through an ftp site. I was unfamiliar with the file but have done a bit of investigating. The actual ftp address is: .ftp.cs.cornell.edu The Irish Emigrant is an online newspaper available by subscription through email. I had a trial subscription about a month ago. The Emigrant details the current news of Ireland and is fairly lengthy. I did correspond with the editor, Liam Fierry (spelling is questionable) and asked if they were interested in adding a genealogical query section to their paper. Their response was - NO. The Irish Emigrant Archives at Cornell is an archive of the various issues of this newspaper. The files have only a # as a title, so among other things, it's impossible to tell which issue belongs to which number. However, if you're interested, do your own investigating. Perhaps you'll find something of interest. NAMES OF THE MONTH This month the Irish surname taken from EDWARD MacLYSAGHT's book IRISH FAMILIES Their Names, Arms & Origins, SciPrint Limited, Copyright Irish Academic Press Limited, ISBN # 0-7165-2364-7 is: MacAWLEY, Cauley, Magawley - This name is spelt in many different ways, the most usual being MacAuley, MacCauley, Cawley, Macaulay, MacGawley and Magaw-ley. There are two main Irish septs of MacAuley etc. entirely different in origin and location. One is Mac Amhalghaidh, i.e., son of Auley, an old Irish personal name now obsolete. This sept was at one time of considerable importance, being lords of a wide territory in the west of Co. Westmeath and north of Offaly: in the Elizabethan Fiants this is called "McGawley's Country", the centre of which was Ballyloughnoe in Co. Westmeath. The Four Masters describe them as Chiefs of Calry. They are descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, their surname being taken from his descendant Auley, who flourished in the thirteenth century. Their pedigree is recorded in the Office of Arms, Dublin Castle, in great detail; the Chief of the Name a century ago was Count Magawley Cerati, son of the Prime Minister of the Empress Maria Louisa. Up till that time they preserved a close connexion with their homeland in Co. Westmeath. The other sept was called in Irish Mac Amhlaoibh. They are a branch of the MacGuires and belong to Co. Fermanagh, where they have given their name to the barony of Clanawley. It should be noted that Mac Amhlaoibh is also the name of a quite distinct Munster sept, the anglicized form there being MacAuliffe (q.v.). The same Gaelic form is used by the Scottish clan of Macaulay. Many of the Irish born Macauleys and MacAuleys, particularly those living in the counties adjacent to Belfast, are descendants of Scottish settlers in Ulster. The outstanding figure of the name in Irish history is Catherine MacAuley (1787-1841), foundress of the Order of Mercy. The Scottish surname taken from The Clans and Tartans of Scotland by Robert Baird, Fontana/Collins Glasgow c1968 is: BAIRD (House of Auschmeddan) Crest Badge: An eagle's head erased, proper. Motto: Dominus fecit (The Lord made). Gaelic Name: Mac a'bhaird Origin of Name: Place-name, Lanarkshire (Not all tartans are easily described. This one, however, has a forest green and black plaid and a lavender striping laid on). "For saving his life from a wild boar, King William the Lion is said to have made extensive grants of land to one of his followers named Baird. A charter was granted to Richard Baird of Meikle and Little Kyp in Lanarkshire and King Robert the Bruce granted the Barony of Cambusnethan to a Robert Baird. The family of Cambusnethan spread of Banffshire, and later to Auchmeddan in Aberdeenshire. George Baird of Auchmeddan married the niece of the Earl Marischal and the family increased in importance, and supplied a long line of sheriffs to that county. From the Auchmeddan branch came the Bairds of Newbyth and Saughtonhall; and John, who died in 1698, was created Knight Baronet, and made a Lord of Session with the title Lord Newbyth. (Lanarkshire is in the area of Glasgow) GENERAL INFORMATION: The following is Part 1 of a 2 part description of the General Register Office for Scotland. The 2nd part will be included in the next Newsletter. ANCESTRY LEAFLET for the General Register Office for Scotland; New Register House; Edinburgh; EH1 3YT; Telephone: 031-556 3952. Open- Mondays - Thursdays 0930 hrs - 1630 hrs Fridays 0930 hrs - 1600 hrs Except Public Holidays 1. FACILITIES FOR SEARCHING IN THE RECORDS AND THE ISSUE OF EXTRACTS Records available-- a. The main records in the custody of the Registrar General for Scotland are described in paragraph 2. Broadly speaking, they fall into three categories: first, the statutory registers of births, deaths, marriages, stillbirths and adoptions; second, the old parish registers: and, third, records of censuses of the population of Scotland. b. Extracts (i.e. full copies of entries) may be obtained from any of the statutory registers of births, deaths or marriages, from the statutory register of adopted children, from the old parish registers, or from the records of the six decennial censuses taken during the period 1841 to 1891, but not from the statutory register of still-births without special permission from the Registrar General. The arrangements for searching are described below. The fees which were payable for, searches and extracts as of 1977, are shown on last page. You should write to the General Register Office for fee update. Searching by GRO staff-- c. Births, deaths and marriages We can undertake a search for an entry in the appropriate statutory register or old parish register, provided we are given sufficient information about the person concerned. It is normally possible to trace an entry if we are given the full name of the person born, deceased or married and the date and place of the event; but, if the person concerned has a fairly common surname, some other identifying information, e.g. of parentage, is also necessary. In the case of the old parish registers (i.e. in the case of events which occurred before 1855) it is essential to have accurate information about the place or parish in which the event occurred, since few of the registers are indexed and searching usually involves scanning the entries themselves. d. Adoptions We can undertake a search for a particular entry. In this case the information normally required is the full name of the adopted child, the full name(s) of the adoptive parent(s), the date of the child's birth and the date of the adoption order. e. Census entries The minimum information required for a search for a particular entry in the census records 1841 to 1891 is the name of the person for whom a search is to be made and the full address at which he was residing on the census date. f. Living relatives We do not undertake to trace the whereabouts of any living person. If that is the object of the enquiry the only suggestion we can make is that the enquirer might write to the Advertisement Manager of one or both of the following newspapers which have a wide circulation in Scotland and which carry advertisements seeking information about missing relatives: The Sunday Post, Glasgow and The People's Journal, Dundee SEARCHING BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR THEIR AGENTS g. If the search for a particular event is likely to prove to be too time consuming because of the lack of identifying detail, or if the search to be made is a general one (e.g. to trace a family tree), we cannot undertake the task. The enquirer must conduct the search personally or arrange for someone else to search on his behalf. It should be noted that accommodation in the Search Room is limited and that admission cannot be guaranteed. h. Professional assistance may be obtained from the Scots Ancestry Research Society, 20 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EP, or from a private record agent. A list of such agents may be obtained by writing the General Register Office for Scotland. i. Anyone who would like to try his own hand at compiling a family tree and can come to the General Register Office to carry out the research may find the following notes helpful. j. It is normally a fairly straightforward task to trace a line of descent back to 1855. The civil registers of births, deaths and marriages maintained since then contain full information of events and have comprehensive annual indexes. k. It is much more difficult to trace events which occurred before 1 January 1855. The records are contained in the old parish registers of births and baptisms, proclamations of banns and marriages, and deaths and burials which were kept by the ministers or session clerks of the established Church in more than 900 parishes. There are about 4,000 volumes of these parish registers, and there is no general index, although a few of the volumes have indexes of their own. The earliest register in the Registrar General's custody relates to baptisms and proclamations of banns for intended marriages in the parish of Errol in Perthshire from the year 1553, but the records are far from complete; for some parishes the earliest register dates from the early 19th century, and for other parishes there are no registers at all. Moreover, such registers as are available relate only to families associated with the parish church, and the standards of record-keeping varied considerably from parish to parish and from year to year. The tracing of lines of descent in these registers may, therefore, prove to be a very difficult task, and to get started it is essential to have some idea of where the events occurred, i.e. which parish registers are likely to record the events. l. The decennial census records from 1841 to 1891 consist of the transcript books prepared by the census enumerators after collection of the census schedules, and contain such particulars as name, age, marital state and birthplace of every member of a household present on census night. The books are not, however, indexed, and in order to trace any particular family it is necessary to have some knowledge of the address at which they were residing at the date of the census. The records of census taken after 1891 are still treated as confidential and are not available for searching or extracting. m. There are many other sources of information available to the genealogist, e.g. the minor records held by the Registrar General, the records held in other offices, and publications of various kinds held by certain libraries. Advice about the Registrar General's minor records will be given to anyone making a general search, and advice about publications should be obtained from local librarians. Among the records held outside the General Register Office, the following are of particular importance: WILLS AND OTHER DEEDS AND DOCUMENTS. Enquiries should be addressed to 'The Scottish Record Office, HM Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YX' RECORDS RELATING TO COATS OF ARMS AND RECORDED GENEALOGIES. Enquiries should be addressed to 'The Lyon Office, New Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YT RECORDS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES IN ENGLAND AND WALES. Enquiries should be addressed to 'The Registrar General, St Catherine's House, 10 Kingsway, London WC2B 6JP'. RECORDS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES IN IRELAND. Enquiries should be addressed to 'The Registrar General, Oxford House, 49/55 Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 4HL, Northern Ireland' or to 'The Registrar General, Custom House, Dublin' as the case may be. SCOT RESEARCHERS: The Odom Library, P.O. Box 1110, Moultrie, GA 31776-1110, publishes a bimonthly newsletter called THE FAMILY TREE. This newsletter is free to anyone who will drop them a postcard. They do, however, accept in return donations for their postage fund. THE FAMILY TREE's main thrust is in Scottish research, and the Odom Library is the repository for the records of a number of Scottish clans. In addition, however, the newsletter (which normally contains upwards of 40-50 pages) is sprinkled generously with valuable and little-known tidbits of general genealogical information. I have received it for a few years, and, while my interest is in Irish research, I never fail to find many, many articles of interest which I've never found elsewhere. Selkirkshire Archives and Libraries A good source of archives and local records is held at Borders Regional Library HQ in Selkirk. Bibliography "List of books relating to, or published in, the counties of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles" James Sinton Published Edinburgh, 1899 Parishes: Here is a list of parishes in Selkirkshire, together with the date of the earliest surviving baptism or marriage record for that parish, if known. * Caddonfoot (see Stow & Galashiels) * Ettrick 1693 * Galashiels 1714 * Kirkhope 1852 * Selkirk 1697 * Yarrow 779 Court Records Records of testaments, inventories etc. are held at the Scottish Record Office, in the records of the Peebles Commisariot Court (before 1823) and the Selkirk Sheriff Court (after 1823). Societies Contact the Borders Family History Society. Printed with thanks to: Vivienne S Dunstan (vivienne@dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) Last updated 6/6/1995 AND ANOTHER Roxburghshire Archives and Libraries A good source of archives and local records is held at Borders Regional Library HQ in Selkirk. Bibliography "List of books relating to, or published in, the counties of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles" James Sinton Published Edinburgh, 1899 Cemeteries The Borders Family History Society has printed a number of monumental inscription books for Roxburghshire. This is an ongoing project. Contact them for further details (prices etc.) Church Records Here is a list of parishes in Roxburghshire, together with the date of the earliest surviving baptism or marriage record for that parish, if known. * Abbotrule 1755 * Ancrum 1703 * Ashkirk 1630 * Castleton 1749 * Crailing 1708 * Eckford 1694 * Edgerston (see Jedburgh, Oxnam & Southdean) * Ednam 1666 * Hawick 1634 * Hownam 1689 * Jedburgh 1639 * Kelso 1598 * Kirktown 1707 * Lessudden (see St Boswells) * Lilliesleaf 1737 * Linton 1732 * Makerston 1692 * Maxton 1689 * Melrose 1642 * Minto 1703 * Morebattle 1726 * Oxnam 1700 * Roxburgh 1624 * St Boswells 1692 * Smailholm 1648 * Southdean 1696 * Sprouston 1635 * Stitchel & Hume 1640 * Teviothead 1824 * Wilton 1694 Court Records Records of testaments, inventories etc. are held at the Scottish Record Office, in the records of the Peebles Commisariot Court (before 1823) and the Jedburgh Sheriff Court (after 1823). (Monumental Inscriptions - see Cemeteries) Societies * Borders Family History Society. * Hawick Archaeological Society. * Liddesdale Heritage Association. Printed with thanks to Vivienne S Dunstan (vivienne@dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) Last updated 15/6/1995 THE SCOTTISH GENEALOGIST Correspondence The Scottish Genealogist is a Quarterly publication published by The Scottish Genealogical Society. The Society's address is Scottish Genealogical Society 15 Victoria Terrace Edinburgh Quite a number of public libraries in Scotland hold back volumes of The Scottish Genealogist. In London, I would think that the Society of Genealogists would probably hold it as well. Andrew Armstrong (Ayr, Scotland) Irish Civil Registration Corrections I have noticed incorrect information being distributed related to the civil registrations of Ireland and their availability through the FHL. I double checked my information with printed material from the FHL and with the Family History Library Catalog to be certain I didn't do the same. Presbyterian Marriage Registration from 1845 It is generally true that civil registration records date from 1864. However, Presbyterian marriage registration began in 1845 and both indexes and registrations are available on those through FHCs and the FHL.. Registration Prior to 1921 Indexes for births, marriages and deaths are available up to the division of the country in 1921. Copies of birth registration records are available up to March 1881, and from 1900-1913. Copies of marriages and death registrations are available to 1870. Registration After 1921 Republic of Ireland Indexes for the Republic of Ireland are available from 1922-1958 but copies of birth registrations are available only from 1930-1955. Neither marriages or deaths registrations are available from SLC. You would have to contact the General Register Office in Belfast for certificates. Northern Ireland Indexes and copies of birth, marriage and death registrations for Northern Ireland are available from 1922-1959 Obtaining Copies of Certificates from the Family History Library The procedure for obtaining a copy of a certificate from the FHL is first to locate the event on the indexes available. Using the reference numbers provided on the index complete the "Request for Photocopies Form --#31768" You will have to identify the film number on which the certificate would be found. This comes from the FHLC listing. Mail the form to the address provide complete with $2 US for up to eight certificates (that's 25 cents each!). The forms are available at FHCs but not all FHC will have the full set up indexes. Gord Hillman (gordhill@village.ca) Sarnia, Ontario, Canada The NATIONAL LIBRARY of IRELAND (Kildare Street, Dublin 2) Tel. +353 1 6618811 Fax: +353 1 6766690 Opening hours: Main Reading Room Manuscript Reading Room Mon. 10.00-9.00 Mon. 10.00-12.30, 2.00-4.30, 6.00-8.30 Tues-Wed. 2.00-9.00 Tues-Wed. 2.00-4.30, 6.00-8.30 Thurs-Fri. 10.00-5.00 Thurs-Fri. 10.00-12.30, 2.00-4.30 Sat. 10.00-1.00 Sat. 10.00-12.30 Founded in 1877 and situated next door to the Dail or Parliament building, this institution has one of the best collections in Ireland. Users must have a separate reader's ticket for each reading room. The ticket for the main library is a photo ID card available (free) from the assistant on duty at the main entrance, on production of personal ID. A temporary name tag is issued for day visitors. An interview on the purpose for which you intend to use the library is usual. The manuscript readers's ticket is also free, but you must apply to the Librarian on duty for this, usually during the opening hours of the Manuscript Reading Room (however, you apply at the main desk in the main Reading Room). There is wheelchair access to the main hall, where exhibitions are presented from time to time. Bags and coats are not allowed in the reading rooms. There are coat racks and a locker room provided for storage. You can use a portable computer, but there are no power points provided. There are two exhibition/lecture rooms - look out for exhibitions of interest! The main reading room is a domed circular room, very traditional and Victorian in decor, with open access shelving containing items such as State Paper Indexes and catalogues around the walls. Reading desks: 65 standard desks, 10 large for newspapers, etc. Microform readers: 22 microfilm (5@16mm and 17@35mm), 6 microfiche. Catalogues are available at or near the desk. First sign the book at the information desk to your right as you enter, then you find a seat at a reading desk or at a machine in the microform reading room. Next consult the catalogue(s) and fill out your call docket(s) which you hand up at the main desk. You can order up to 3 items, but can only consult one microform item at a time (the other two are held at the desk). The docket contains your name and signature, your seat number and the details of the item(s) you request, as well as the call number and your reader's ticket number. It is unusual for you to have to wait any longer than 15 minutes for the requested items to be brought to your desk. There are usually 3 security staff on duty in the main foyer, and 5 at the main desk. Photocopies and microform printouts can be ordered from the Librarian on duty. Application forms are available at the main desk. A small deposit is requested, but most people pay in advance and collect the copies later (or have them sent in the mail). The main catalogues are: the Author/Subject or Guard Book Catalogue in 521 volumes - for acquisitions prior to 1970, the Card Index Catalogue- for acquisitions 1970 to 1989, and the Online Catalogue (accessed via half a dozen IBM PS/1 machines) - for acquisitions since 1990.Other catalogues include: Manuscripts, Maps, Music, Newspapers, Official Publications, Articles in Periodicals, Photographs, Portraits, Prints and Drawings. There is also a Parish Records catalogue of available microfilm copies. However, some records are not open to the public except by prior written permission of the bishop. A sheet is supplied with names and addresses and fax numbers, and the permit can be faxed to the library on your behalf. There is also a catalogue of Genealogical Office manuscripts in micro format. The Manuscript Reading Room is in an adjacent building, on a separate floor over the Heraldic Museum in the Genealogical Office building. There is no wheelchair access. You will have to show your reader's ticket to the security staff in the museum to get access to the lift (elevator) which carries you to the reading room floor. Lockers are available for coats and bags. There are 30 reading desks. Only pencils are allowed for making notes in the manuscript reading room, bring your own - plenty of them, and don't forget your notebook!! You may also use a portable computer. You may request up to three items but will be issued only one at a time. There are open access shelves with various printed volumes of State Papers, etc. Some Genealogical Office and other manuscripts have been microfilmed, and are available in this format in the microform room of the main library. Ask the assistant at the desk about this. IRISH LAND AND PROBATE RECORDS LAND RECORDS A. Registry of Deeds 1. It was established for the protection of the purchases of land. It began recording deeds 25 March 1708 and continues to the present. The Registry is housed at: Registry of Deeds; Henrietta Street; Dublin Ireland. 2. The records contain deeds of sale, mortgages, transfer leases, conveyances, and sometimes wills. 3. There are two index series to these records. The Names Index to Grantors (Seller) and the Lands Index. The LDS Genealogical Society has both of these on microfilm. 4. The LDS Genealogical Society also has what is called "Transcript of Memorials of Deeds" on microfilm. These are detailed abstracts of the original documents. B. Estate Records 1. Most of the land in Ireland was held by large land owners. The records of their estates can be very helpful. 2. These records contain the following typed documents: Rent Rolls, leases, rent ledgers, maps, wage books, land agents, notebooks, etc. 3. A few estate records are available at LDS Genealogical Society. Many at Public Record Offices in Dublin and Belfast. Many are still in local custody. "Analecta Hibernica" Volumes 15, 20, and 25 (941.5 B2ah) contains a "Survey of Documents in Private Keeping". C. Griffith's Valuation (1848-68). This was a survey made by the government to determine the amount of tax that each rate should pay to support the upkeep of the poor. Arranged by Poor Law Union it lists the following information: name of lessor, each occupies or tenant, townland or city, parish, holdings and tax. These are all available at LDS Genealogical Society. The National Library of Ireland has prepared a surname index arranged by parish and county. PROBATE RECORDS (from Paul F. Smart) I. 1536 to 1858 Wills were probated in one of two ecclesiastical jurisdictions: Perogative (covers all Ireland) or Diocesan (one for each of the 28 dioceses). Many of these wills were destroyed, but some useful material is still extant. A. Perogative Court of Armagh 1. Original and printed indexes 1536-1858 (LDS-GS) 2. Scattered few original wills, 18th century (LDS-GS) 3. Betham's Abstracts of Wills, pre-1800 (LDS-GS) 4. Betham & Burke's Will Pedigrees, pre-1800 (LDS-GS) B. Diocesan Courts (Consistory Courts) 1. Original and printed indexes, 1536-1858 (LDS-GS) 2. Some few original wills, late 18th century (LDS-GS) 3. Various types of copies of wills are being collected by the Public Record Office in Dublin. They have a card index to these copies and have a large collection of substitutes for the missing wills. If a will is found in a diocesan index, an inquiry should be sent to the Public Record Office, Front Courts, Dublin, Eire. II. 1858 onwards -- these wills are probated by civil courts. There were twelve of these courts. These courts turned in copies of their wills to the Public Record Office; and, thus, most of them were destroyed up to about 1904. In many cases, however, the district registries kept copies and these exist today. There is a general index to wills and administrations proved in the "Principal Probate Registry" and in the "Several District Registries," 1858-1920 at the LDS Genealogical Society. Most of the original wills before 1904 were destroyed, especially for the Principal Registry in Dublin. Copies exist for the eleven District Registries, 1858 to about 1890 at the LDS Genealogical Society. In cases where it appears no wills exist, inquiries should be made to the Public Record Office in Dublin as in the case of the Diocesan Courts above.