Testimonials

 

"I was immediately impressed with your accessability, and your prompt and detailed responses to my questions.  Within an hour or two of each message sent off, you would respond with helpful information, and I really enjoyed reading the information you unearthed for me."
 
Michael McQuary, Washington State, USA 

 Testimonials

 

"Thanks for everything so far.  I've enjoyed hearing from you.  Your reports are intelligent and informative – a rare combination today when most people seem to have forgotten how to write!"

 

Carol Fritz, Alabama, USA

 
 
 
 
 

"Outstanding is the least I can say... thanks very much!"

David Ronaldson, Rochester, Washington, USA

 

 
Just a wee note to thank you so much for all of your hard work on our behalf in
connecting my husband to the 18th Century poet James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd. We had always suspected there was a link but could never get through our brick wall. Now that we have all your information we intend to visit the area to look at the places you have found where our family once lived. Thank you so much.
 
Janet McQueen, Clackmannanshire, Scotland.
 

PROFESSIONAL FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH
& Genealogical Problem Solving Service

Family Records and Archives

   The starting point for your Scottish family history research will usually be found within the country's two foremost archival repositories - the ScotlandsPeople Centre and the National Archives of Scotland. Both are situated within adjacent buildings on Edinburgh's Princes Street.

The ScotlandsPeople Centre

The ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh holds a vast amount of records, many of them indexed and digitised, which can get you started on your research. recpords include:

Statutory birth, marriage and death records from 1855 to the present day

Pre-1855 Church of Scotland baptismal, marriage and mortcloth (burial) records 

The decennial census from 1841 to 1901

The Public Register of All Arms and Bearings

Monumental Inscriptions

Published family histories

Debrett's and Burke's Peerages

Many other major genealogical assets

 

The ScotlandsPeople Centre is open Mondays to Fridays from 9.00am to 4.30pm. here's a few words from the centre's head, Dee Williams:

 

The National Archives of Scotland

There are two main NAS buildings storing the Scottish nation's archives, the main being situated beside GROS, and the other a ten minute walk away at West Register House. Between them they hold an impressive collection of archive material that can help bring your family history to life:

 

Records of the Dissenting Presbyterian Churches (Free Church of Scotland etc)

 

Roman Catholic Baptism and Marriage Registers

 

Kirk Session Registers (Established and Non-Established Churches)

 

Court Records in Scotland including Criminal Trial Papers

 

Wills, Testaments, Inventories and Sasines (land transfer records)

 

Maps & Plans

 

Government Papers (Pre & Post the Union with England)

 

Valuation Rolls and Tax Records

 

Family & Estate Papers

 

If you live overseas, the NAS have very helpfully put their entire catalogue online at

www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue.

 

 

The buildings are open between 9.00am and 4.45pm, and access is free.

 

Copies can be purchased of many records, subject to their condition.

 

 
THE MITCHELL LIBRARY
 
 
Glasgow's Mitchell Library holds an Archive and Special Collections department containing thousands of records relating to Glasgow and the surrounding area. The building houses local church records, local poorhouse records, shipbuilding archives, family and estate papers, business archives, the Strathclyde Regional Archives, the Glasgow Corporation Archives, archives of the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen, special collections, sasines, and the unique Glasgow Collection, including newspapers going back to 1741.
 
For more on the Mitchell's holdings, visit