December 1, 1997 Irish & Scot Newsletter Here's a special Irish wish You can hear it in Cork or Kerry - "God bless yourself, God bless your house, And may your days be merry!" Author Unknown SURNAMES OF THE MONTH - This month the Irish surnames taken from EDWARD MacLYSAGHT's book "IRISH FAMILIES Their Names, Arms & Origins", SciPrint Limited, Copyright Irish Academic Press Limited, ISBN # 0-7165-2364-7 are: O'COLMAN, Coleman, (Clifford) Though families called Coleman are known to have settled in Ireland as early as the thirteenth century, having come from England, where the name is numerous, Coleman in Ireland almost always denotes a Gaelic origin. The sept of O Colmain a branch of the Ui Fiachrach, was located in the barony of Tireragh, Co. Sligo, and representatives of it are still living in north Connacht. Colemans, however, are more numerous in Co. Cork. These are of a sept called O Clumhain in Irish which, like the foregoing, originated in Co. Sligo. The branch of it which migrated to Munster became numerically strong. Indeed they are even more numerous than would appear from statistics at first sight, because O Clumhain has also been anglicized Clifford and there are many Cliffords in Kerry and Cork. Clifford, like Coleman, is a well known indigenous surname in England, but only a small proportion of Irish Cliffords are of English origin. CONDON The north-eastern division of Co. Cork, close to the adjoining counties of Limerick and Tipperary, is called the barony of Condons. This was named after the family of Condon which was in possession of much of that area, their principal stronghold being the Castle of Cloghleagh near Kilworth, which however actually lies outside the boundary of the said barony. They may indeed be described as a sept rather than as a family. They are not, it is true, of native Gaelic stock, having come to Ireland at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion, but they always counted themselves as a sept, and as late as 1605, we find David Condon, in a letter to the Secretary of State, describing himself as "Chief of his Sept". Nevertheless, though often fighting side by side with the McCarthys and other native septs, they did not become thoroughly gaelicized like many of the Norman families, but were proud of their English descent, and this claim stood them in good stead at least up to the beginning of the seventeenth century. In 1641, however, they were as Irish as any. No less than 21 Condons were attainted at that time and several more suffered for their adhesion to James II in 1690. It was during this period that the Gaelic poet David Condon lived. Historical and religious causes and intermarriage with Gaelic Irish families have, of course, now made the Condons completely Irish. One of them was a well-known Fenian, Edward O'Meagher Condon (1835-1915), an emigrant who had become an American citizen a fact which saved him from the gallows, as he was condemned to death in 1867 for his part in the Manchester raid. He was from Co. Cork. That county and south Tipperary are, as might be expected, the homeland of the great majority of Condons to-day. There was formerly an Ulster family called O Con-dubhain whose name was anglicized Condon, but this is now very rare if not extinct. O'CONRY, CONROY, O'Mulconry, (King) Though the surnames Conry and Conroy are, properly speaking, quite distinct, they are dealt with together here because in modern times they have become almost interchangeable. To illustrate this we may refer to the list of synonyms issued by the Registrar-general of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the year 1901. At that comparatively recent date births in families usually called Conroy were also registered as Conary, Conrahy, Conree, Cunree, Cory, King and also Munconry and Conry; the synonyms for Conry were Connery, Mulconry and Conroy. All that can be done to elucidate the resultant confusion is to give a brief account of the background of the several Gaelic surnames which have assumed the various anglicized forms given above. The most important of these is O Maolconaire, i.e. descendant of the follower of Conaire, from which O'Mulconry and its abbreviation, Conry, naturally derive, though, as we have seen, Conroy is also used by modern descendants of this sept. However, it should be stated that in the homeland of the O Maolconaire sept, whose patrimony was the parish of Clooncraff in the neighbourhood of Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, they are usually called Conry not Conroy. The O'Mulconrys were hereditary poets and chroniclers to the Kings of Connacht, and many such are recorded in the "Annals of Connacht", the "Annals of the Four Masters" etc., the most notable of whom were Fearfasa O'Mulconry, who was himself one of the Four Masters (whose work was completed 1636), and Maurice O'Mulconry whose copy of the "Book of Fenagh", made in 1517, is an exceptionally beautiful manuscript. Most Rev. Florence Conry (1561-1629), Archbishop of Tuam, was also of this sept. His name is so spelt in the Franciscan records, but in some other contemporary documents he appears as Conroy, and also as O'Maolconaire. This most distinguished Franciscan was associated with the foundation of the Irish College at Louvain, and wrote many important works including a theological treatise in Irish. He was chaplain in the Spanish Armada and to Hugh O'Donnell at his death. Charles O'Mulconry (son of John O'Mulconry, who fought in the Cromwellian war and lost his estate in Co. Roscommon) was an ardent Jacobite and was killed at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Another John O'Mulconry, the famous Gaelic poet and chronicler, whose family had settled at Ardkyle in Co. Clare, was of this sept. He presided over a school of poets at Ardkyle from about 1440 to 1470. Hardiman's inclusion of the Mulconrys among the Dalcassian septs is an error. Other Gaelic surnames which are anglicized Conry and Conroy in Connacht are O Conraoi of Ui Maine or Hy Many, i.e. the territory known as O'Kelly's Country in east Galway and south Roscommon, and Mac Conraoi of Moycullen, called by the Four Masters Lord of Delvin of the Two Lakes (viz. Lough Corrib and Lough Lurgan an old name for the Bay of Galway). The "Books of Survey and Distribution", and other seventeenth century records, show that MacConrys or MacConroys were there at that period. Padraic O'Conaire (1883-1928), one of the best known of all the modern writers in Irish, was a Galway manÄhis statue is to be seen in Eyre Square in Galway City. He spelt his name O Conaire, though this form is usually found in Munster and anglicized Connery, and is quite distinct from the Galway sept just mentioned. O'Connery is included in Smith's History of County Waterford among the principal inhabitants of the county at the end of the sixteenth century. A further explanation is the use of the surname King as a synonym for MacConraoi, and even for O Conraoi and also for Mac Fhearadhaigh. This arose from the similarity in sound of these Mac names and Mac an Righ: the latter means son of the king, and so became King in English by a process of mistranslation very common in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In fact nearly all the MacConroys of Moycullen use the name King, and in the nineteenth century they called their ancestral seat of Ballymaconry Kingstown. King, of course, is a common English name, and it is also the anglicized form of the Gaelic surname O Cionga or O Cingeadh (first anglicized O'Kinga), a family which in medieval times were seated on the Island of Inismor in Lough Ree, and were influential in Co. Westmeath up to the end of the sixteenth century. Statistics of the modern distribution of population indicate that Conrys are found in considerable numbers in Leix and Offaly, as well as in Connacht. This might well be expected because, in addition to the septs referred to above, there was also a not unimportant sept called O Conratha, alias Mac Conratha, of the same stock as the MacCoughlans of Offaly. Their arms are quite different from those of O'Mulconry. This month the Scottish surnames taken from Roddy Martine's "SCOTTISH CLAN AND FAMILY NAMES Their Arms, Origins and Tartans", Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh and London, 1992, ISBN # 1-85158- 418-8 are: GUNN - Believed to be descended from Gunni, the grandson of Sweyn Asleifsson, the 'Ultimate Viking' who was killed in Dublin in 1171. A warlike clan who occupied the northern areas of Caithness and Sutherland, they were sworn enemies of the Keiths and in 1426, at Harpsdale, south of Thurso, a particularly bloody, but nevertheless indecisive, battle took place. Although the Gunn chiefs once held splendid court at their castle of Clyth, 2 miles east of Lybster, they were listed as one of the 'broken clans' of the north in 1594. At the time of the Highland Clearances in Sutherland, many clansfolk emigrated to New Zealand and Canada, where they founded a new Kildonan. There is a Clan Gunn Museum north of Latheron, not far from Helmsdale. GUTHRIE - From the barony of the name in Angus, which is near Forfar, although it is also said to derive from Guthrum, a Scandinavian prince. It was Squire Guthrie who brought Sir William Wallace back to Scotland from France in 1299. Sir David Guthrie was King's Treasurer in the fifteenth century and built Guthrie Castle, near Friockheim, in 1468. The existing house was built about 1760 and connected to the tower in 1848. HAIG - PETRUS DEL HAGE is recorded in the mid-twelfth century. The Haigs have lived at Bemersyde, near Dryburgh in Roxburghshire, since 1162, although the ancient prophecy attributed to Thomas the Rhymer: Tide, tide, whate'er betide, There'll aye be Haigs at Bemersyde was proved untrue in1867 when the direct line died out and the property was sold. In 1921, however, Bemersyde was purchased and presented to Field Marshal Sir Douglas, Earl Haig, as a gift from a grateful nation for his work in the First World War. Alexander Haig, who resigned from the Nixon Administration as Secretary of State, is a member of one of the American branches of the family. IRELAND/SCOTLAND Watch in this section each month for something to do with Ireland and Scotland. Some months it may be history, others geography or anything else we happen to think is useful. We hope you enjoy the variety of information we put here. IRELAND Irish Census Records and Substitutes for Missing Censuses Roberta Gaynor I. Background Religious census returns for certain places were taken in the 18th Century (c.1740-66). These were some of the first census returns in Ireland and some still survive today. However, the first complete census returns were taken in 1813. This enumeration was followed by others in 1821,1831, and every ten years thereafter until 1911. Most of these census returns have been destroyed. The 1901 census is the first complete census in existence today. Although many of the census records were destroyed, there are some substitutes that may be helpful. II. Content ( available censuses only) A. Religious censuses (1740-66) vary in their details, but may include the heads of households, parish by parish, and indicate their religion; or may give statistics only. Some returns are available for Dioceses such as Ardagh, Armagh, Clogher, Cloyne, Connor, Cork, Derry, Dromore, Down, Elphin, Ferns, Kildare, Kilmore, Ossory, Raphoe and Ross. B. 1821 Census gives names of inhabitants, relation to head, ages, occupations, and information about the house and property. Some returns are available for parishes A-M, County Cavan; A-D, County Offaly; A-R, Fermanagh; A-L, Galway; A-T, Meath. C. 1831 Census gives names of inhabitants, relation to head, ages, occupations, and information about the house and property. Some returns are available for the following parishes in Londonderry County: Agevey, Aghanloo, Arboe, Artrea, Banagher, Glendermot, Killowen, Macosquin, Tamlaght-Finlagen, Templemore, and Termoneeny. D. 1841 Census gives names of inhabitants, ages, sex, relation to head, marital condition, year of marriage, occupation and birthplace (country, county, or city). The only return available is for Killeshandra Parish, County Cavan. E. 1851 Census gives the same information as the 1841 plus a list of those people belonging to the family that are not present (including their names, ages, sex, relation to head, present occupation, and country, county, or city of current residence) and a list of those family members who died while residing with the family during the last 10 years (including names, age, sex, relation to head, occupation, season and year of death). Returns are available for Drumkeeran, County Fermanagh and the following parishes in County Antrim: Aghagallon, Aghalee, Ballinderry, Ballymoney, Carncartle, Craigs (Ahoghill), Dunaghy, Grange of Killyglen, Killead, Kilwaughter, Larne, Rasharkin, and Tickmacreevin. F. 1901 Census gives name of inhabitants, relation to head, religion, age, sex, occupation, marital condition, birthplace (country, county, or city), information on house and property including the name of the lease holder. This census is available in its entirety. G. 1911 census gives same information as the 1901 plus the number of years married, total number of children born alive, and number of children still living. This census is also entirely available. III. Availability A. Most of the existing census records are on film at the Genealogical Society up to 1901. For the 1911 census, only parts of County Antrim are at the Genealogical Society. B. In Ireland, these records are found at the Public Record Offices in Belfast and Dublin and the Genealogical Office in Dublin. IV. Substitutes A. "Old Age Pensioner's Claims" (1841-51). In 1908 the Old Age Pension Act was passed and with this act came the need for proof of age. In many instances, census returns of 1841 and 1851 were used. In some cases, actual extracts are available for these censuses. In most cases, Old Age Pension Search Forms are all that survive. These search forms ask for the claimant's name, father, mother, exact address when census was taken, age in census, age at claim, and census year for which the search is requested. These records exist primarily for Northern Ireland and most are on film at the Genealogical Society. B. "Tithe Applotment Books" (1823-38). This record provides a detailed account, parish by parish, of the land occupiers in each townland and includes the extent and value of their individual farms. Those in urban areas are not included. The Tithe Applotment Books for all of Ireland are on microfilm at the Genealogical Society. Indexes for these records are available at the Public Record Offices in Belfast and the National Library in Dublin. C. Griffith's Valuation (1848-64). This government survey of all privately held lands and buildings was taken to determine the amount of tax that each person should pay toward support of the poor and destitute in each Poor Law Union. All occupiers or tenants, and the immediate lessors of all lands, buildings, etc. for private or business use were liable for the tax. In some areas, these valuations start in 1839; but the majority exist from 1848-64. Such information as the name of tenants, lessor, townland, parish, and tax will be found on these records. They exist for all of Ireland and for the most part are available at the Genealogical Society. An index by surname by parish and county is available at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin. D. School Records (c. 1850-1920). These are primarily records of public schools and include names of pupils, ages, religion, days absent or present, occupation of parents, residence of family, and the name of the school. Sometime the name of the county and school last attended may be given or the cause of withdrawal and destination of the pupil. Most of these records are indexed and are at the Public Record Office in Dublin and Belfast or the Genealogical Office in Dublin. The Genealogical Society has microfilmed many of those available from Northern Ireland. SCOTLAND BANNOCKBURN For 18 years war had flared over Scotland but now it would end; it had to. With such forces arrayed against them, the tiny Scottish army could not win. Rank after rank, the might of England uncoiled along the high road to Stirling. Three thousand heavy cavalry led the way. They were the elite, the prime fighting force who would smash their way through any defence. Feudal warfare was built around the armoured knight with his great Charger, his sword and his head-crushing lance. These men had been trained to fight since boyhood; it was heir purpose in life. Behind the knights marched 15000 footmen. To most medieval armies the infantry merely made up the numbers, but the English were different. Much more important than either spearmen or men-at-arms, the longbowmen moved with an arrogant knowledge of their own skill. Already the Scots knew that they should be wary of them; Wallace's spear rings at Falkirk had been destroyed by the hail of yard-long arrows. Not only English archers, but also Welsh, boasted of carrying twelve men's lives in their belts; watching their inexorable progress, the Scots knew this to be true. Scotland had nothing to match the range and penetrating power of Edward's archers. What the Scots did have was experience and leadership. Experience gained in nearly two decades of unremitting warfare, the leadership of Robert Bruce who had risen to be King, of James Douglas, the Good Sir James who was victor of a dozen encounters, of Randolph Moray who had recently captured Edinburgh Castle, of fiery Edward Bruce who once won a battle by leading 50 men in a charge on 1500. The Scots also knew they were fighting for their own country, not on feudal demand. They fought because they wanted to fight. There were few armoured knights in the Scottish host and perhaps 500 mounted men all told; few could compare on level terms with heavy cavalry. The remainder of the Scots were infantry: Lowland spearmen or Highland sworders, men of Galloway or part-Norse Hebrideans. With their short bows, the archers from the Ettrick Forest could not fire as far as the English, but in a close fight they could be just as accurate. In all there were maybe 5000 Scots At their head was Robert Bruce, crowned King at Scone seven years before and a fugitive shortly after. An Intelligent fighting man, he hacked his way to pal with his sword. Bruce would be a worried man, for pece attes were not his style. Lacking both the equipment and numbers of the English, Bruce preferred his Scots to fight as guerrillas, a method of warfare their temperament and the nature of the country favoured. Now a rash challenge had forced him into conventional In medieval warfare, castles were all-important. They held garrisons, subdued the surrounding area, provided bases for armies and a bastion for defence. Scotland was studded with strategic strongholds, and Stirling was central to the state. Situated at the lowest bridging point of the Forth, and where the Lowland plain was joined to the Highlands, Stirling was the padlock which held Scotland secure. The key to this lock was the castle, hold the castle and hazard all north-south communication lines. This was no secret: Scots and English had battled for years to keep Stirling Castle. There had been a siege of the English-held castle, but the Scots had made no impression on the rock-set for-tress, so they made an agreement instead Unless the castle was relieved by midsummer's day 1314 - in year's time - the garrison would surrender. As this was not an uncommon arrangement for this period, and gave them twelve months' grace, the English agreed Now it was the eve of midsummer 1314 and Edward II had brought his army to relieve Stirling. To keep his prestige and Scots morale, Bruce had to meet and defeat the English. No fool, Bruce attempted to equalize the odds. He chose a battlefield with ground too soft for the angles cavalry, with a wood - Torwood - at his back In case of retreat, with the New Park for closer cover and the Bannock Burn trickling between formidable banks In the Between the foliage of the New Park and the Bannock Burn, Bruce made his men hack pits. Camouflaging them with branches, Bruce had made a trap for cavalry. Added to this were caltrops, four pronged spikes which could impale the hooves of horses or the feet of careless. The Scots were formed into four spear rings between the boggy Carse of Stirling and Torwood. Cavalry could not penetrate the spears, but the closely packed Infantry provided a perfect target for archers. Randolph commanded the extreme left, then Walter he Steward and Douglas; Edward Bruce led the third and Robert Bruce stood firm on the banks of the burn. Keith, the Marischal, commanded the cavalry while a few archers were in the New Park. As rumours of the English advance reached the ranks, Bruce stated that any man could leave at that time and not be thought a coward. None left; there were old scores to settle with the English. The English advanced with the Earls of Gloucester and Hereford in the vanguard. Unable to hold them, the Ettrick archers withdrew, encouraging the English knights into a galloping charge. Lances thrust out, helmeted heads forward and hooves thudding the sodden ground, the leading knights would hardly see the lone horseman in their path. It was Robert Bruce. On a pony and with a light axe for defence, Bruce faced the leading knight, one Henry de Bohun Heavily armoured, Bohun could charge only In a straight fine, and Bruce outmanoeuvred him, hefted his battle-axe and clove the Englishman's skull. First blood to the Scots, and the English were among the pits and caltrops, taking casualties among the screaming fury of shattered horses. The English withdrew but another, potentially more dangerous, movement began. Sir Robert Clifford led 300 knights over the Carse, but Randolph's spearmen were sent to block their road to the castle. A stubborn melee ensued, cavalry against spearmen and the cavalry were forced to withdraw. Elated but exhausted, the spearmen rested on their weapons; for the day's fighting had ended. There was nowhere for the English to camp but on the Carse. There was water, and the cheering sight of the leopard banner above Stirling Castle. Unfortunately, the soft ground was unsuitable for heavy cavalry. It would be a tense night with the Scots outnumbered, the English crowded and wet. An early mass followed by a bread and water breakfast and the Scots advanced on the bogjuggling English. Spears and leather against plate armour and packed thousands; the Scots looked too puny to fight. They advanced across the Carse but halted, perhaps to dress their ranks, maybe to receive a final blessing but Edward II thought they pleaded for mercy. There was to be little mercy that day. With limited space, the English could not gather sufficient momentum for a proper charge; their cavalry failed on the Scottish spears. Gloucester died here and hundreds more as the Scots pressed forward their spears. Compressed into an ever more restricted area the battle became a squalid, muddy killing match with frustrated knights hurling lances and ragged Scots soldiers probing long spears into man and horse alike. For a minute Edward of England broke the deadlock as his archers found high ground and hissing shafts plunged into unprotected spearmen, but Keith had the answer. Scots chivalry had no reputation at all before this battle and very little in fights to come, but here the Marischal led them into a slashing charge which scattered the archers it did not kill. With that threat removed, Bruce threw in his Highland reserve and the claymore and dirk sliced into English armour. But the fight could still go either way: the Scots were tiring and if they broke the English cavalry would roll them up. There were no reserves left to cad' on, but the massed English foot could not get into contact for their own knights; they began to drift away. With more room to move, the cavalry turned their horses, the whole line shivered and 'On them!' the Scots are said to have yelled, 'On them, they fail!' With that, the camp followers joined in. 'Upon them now! They shall all die!' and perhaps this little reinforcement helped for the English broke and ran. Edward II, with an escort of 500, was one of the first away. He fled to Dunbar, took a ship to safety and let his escort hack their own way clear. Knights and lords were captured for ransom, though 35 English nobles were dead, with over 200 knights and 700 lesser gentry. The common English dead were never counted -nor the Scots, although only three Scots knights died. Stirling fell to Robert Bruce but the war continued. USEFUL WEB PAGES Below are some Web pages you may want to visit to help with your research. They contain a lot of useful information as well as links to other Web pages you can visit. If you like what you see here and want to go back, make sure you add them to your Favorite Places before you leave. The North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS) page is back up. The URL is http://www.mni.co.uk/nifhs On a province of Ulster related note, I have put up a chart that people with Tyrone roots may find useful. It is accessible from my home page http://members.aol.com/lawlerc It is listed as Tyrone parishes . . . & is found on my main page under the heading of "Tyrone Information." ON THE WEB Subject: Re: Census Hi all, This question has probably been answered many times, but.... Are there parts of an 1831 or 1841 census in existence? If so, are they on any web site? Broderbund publish a CD-ROM misleadingly titled Ireland Census: 1831 & 1841. When you read the small print on the back you discover that what it includes is part of the names for Co Londonderry in 1831 and Co Cavan in 1841, and that in total there are only about 77,000 names on it. Just over 14,000 names for Co Cavan in 1841, whereas the total population of the county then was just over 240,000. This is one to look at in a library rather than splashing out your hard-earned dollars, punts or pounds. :) -- Barney Tyrwhitt-Drake Drake Software web site at http://www.tdrake.demon.co.uk/ Subject: TV Program for Irish From Eastman's Genealogy Letter (a great source of infromation) - The Irish in America: Long Journey Home An historic new film will have its world premiere on PBS in the United States soon. "The Irish in America: Long Journey Home" is billed as an epic six-hour television and video event from Academy Award winning filmmaker Thomas Lennon in association with WGBH Television in Boston. This film chronicles the role the Irish have played in shaping America. It makes its world premiere on PBS over three nights: January 26-28, 1998. The film reportedly spans the 100-year journey from the potato famine to the White House, tracing the fascinating struggles and successes of the millions of immigrants who left their beloved Ireland and arrived on the shores of America. The film includes music from some of today's biggest Irish talents, including Elvis Costello, Sinead O'Connor, Van Morrison, The Chieftains with Paddy Moloney (who also serves as the film's executive music producer) and more. Quoting from the press release: "More than two years in the making, the film weaves stories of families, workers, churches, athletes, entertainers, and many more into a compelling portrait of Irish achievement. Its detailed historic tapestry is painted through powerful Irish music and authentic folk rhythms, rare black-and-white photos and film footage, drawings, and interviews with Irish- Americans who provide the film's narrative voices. Spanning six hours, the PBS special (airing 1/26-28) and Deluxe Collector's Video Set (available 1/27) is packed with dramatic stories and images that will have significance for all Americans, including the 40 million of Irish descent, and every American whose ancestors were immigrants to this country." Subject: Re: online indexes, Scotland Quote from the GRO webpage: "From early 1998 a fully searchable index of Scottish birth and marriage records from 1553 to 1897, and death records from 1855 to 1897 will be available on the Web." You can read more about it at: http://www.open.gov.uk/gros/groshome.htm I was ecstatic in the Spring when I read in the newspaper that Scotland was going on-line with her births, marriage and deaths indexes (I believe it was to be up to 1850 or so). It was reported that this would start in September of this year, but I have seen nothing yet and no wave of excited comment from anyone else. Has anyone heard anything further? Buckie in Barrie, Ontario I don't know where Buckie discovered this information but I hope that when the database is available on-line the news and address etc will be posted here by some kind soul. FROM OUR MEMBERS Subj: Re: census index The Lanarkshire (Scotland) Family History Society has just completed the indexing of the 1851 census for Old Monkland and New Monkland on microfiche and is available for sale. The information consists of Surname, Forenames(s), in some instances maiden surname, Age, Birthplace, Parish number, District and Page. This is very helpful for anyone searching for people in these areas of Glasgow. More information can be found at: http://wkweb4.cableinet.co.uk/garrity/1851census.htm Hope this will get the word out to anyone interested. They are in the process of completing other indexing in the Glasgow area which will be available soon. Subj: Fwd: Jura Research Newsletter #17 JURA RESEARCH NEWSLETTER #17; October 28, 1997 The first part of this newsletter pertains to announcements of exciting educational and research opportunities. The director of the Texas Scottish Festival, Ray McDonald, and I have invited David Dobson, a leading authority on Scottish emigration to North America, to give a seminar on Scottish genealogical research on June 5, 1998 in Arlington, Texas. David has accepted the invitation and his proposed discussion subjects are Scottish emigration 1607-1707, Scottish emigration 1707-1820, research facilities in Scotland, the meanings and significance of Scottish surnames, and Highland emigration. I will keep everyone posted on the progress of the planning and more details. David currently teaches at St. Andrew's University in Scotland. Sherry Irvine, author of the exciting new book Your Scottish Ancestry - A Guide for North Americans, will be leading a genealogical research trip to Edinburgh sponsored by Samford University Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Birmingham, Alabama. The trip to Scotland will be July 19-26, 1998 and will include how to lectures, visits to General Register Office, Edinburgh City Library, Scottish Record Office, West Register House, National Library, Scottish Genealogical Society and time for your own research. The price of $1400 includes Edinburgh lodging with full Scottish breakfast, consultations with Ms. Irvine, and entrance fees to research institutions, Airfare is not included. For additional information you may contact Jean Thomason, Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229 phone (205) 870-2846. >>