Intermediate Scottish Records

COURSE CONTENT

MODULE 1
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND AND REGISTER RECORD GUIDE
Organization of the Church of Scotland
Governing Structure of the Presbyterian Church
Historical Timeline
Background of Church Registers
Effects of the Registration Act of 1854
Roman Catholic Parish Registers
Other Church Registers
Key Factors in the Survival of Records
Imperfect Conditions of the Registers
Stamp Duties Act of 1783
Dissenters and Nonconformists
Illegibility
Mortcloths
Irregular Deaths
Understanding the Contents of Church Registers
Baptisms
Proclamation of Banns and Marriages
Burials and Deaths
Abbreviations and Unusual Words and Phrases
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 1 Course Assignments

MODULE 2
KIRK SESSIONS, PRESBYTERIES, SYNODS, AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Church Court Records
Kirk Session Records
Presbyteries
Synod
General Assembly
Ecclesiastical Parishes
Contents of Kirk Session Records
Heritors’ Records
Illegitimate Births
Seat Rent Registers
Communion Rolls
Testificates
Public Punishments
Stool of Repentance
Poor Relief Accounts
Witchcraft in Kirk Session Records
Locating Kirk Session Records
What is Available Online?
Local Access
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 2 Course Assignments

MODULE 3
NON-CONFORMISTS CHURCHES & OTHER RELIGIONS
History of Session Churches
Patronage
The First Session - The Secession Church
Other Presbyterian Dissenters
Burghers and Antiburghers
The Old and New Lights
Relief Church
United Associate Secession Church
Free Church
United Presbyterian Church & United Free Church
Final Unions
Other Religions
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Methodist Church
Episcopal Church
Secession Churches Record Keeping
What the Records Contain
National Records of Scotland
Parishes and Congregations - Registers in the Index
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 3 Course Assignments

MODULE 4
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Introduction to Catholic Parish Registers
Mission Stations
Catholic Parish Records Contents
Births / Baptisms
Confessions
Confirmations
Communicant Lists
Conversion Lists
Deaths, Burials, and Funerals
Marriages
Sick Call Register
Status Animarum
Roman Catholic Bishopric of the Forces: British Armed Forces Worldwide
Latin in Church Catholic Records
Available Catholic Parish Records
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 4 Course Assignments

MODULE 5
RESEARCHING ONLINE
Introduction
National Records of Scotland
Record Sets/Groups
NRS Online Catalogue
ScotlandsPeople
How to Search Church Registers
Kirk Session Records
Ancestry
Findmypast
Local Archive Access in Scotland
Record Agents for Remote Researchers
Remember…
Module 5 Course Assignments

APPENDIX
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Course Content

MODULE 1
UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOUR ANCESTORS LIVED
Introduction
Administrative Divisions in Scotland
Scotland: A Brief History
Identifying Where Your Ancestors Lived
Learning More about Where Your Ancestors Lived

MODULE 2
SEARCHING FOR YOUR ANCESTORS BY PLACE
Introduction
Scottish Archives & Libraries: A Brief Introduction
Searching for Ancestors by Place
Street, Trade and Post Office Directories
Telephone Directories
Electoral Registers and Voters Rolls
Valuation Rolls & Community Charge (Poll Tax) Records (1855- present)
Return of Owners of Land
Inland Revenue Survey
Pre-1855 Valuation Rolls and Property Tax Records
Other Tax Records
Heritors Records
Teind Records
Commissioners of Supply
Insurance Records
Newspapers
Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland

MODULE 3
INHERITING LAND AND BUILDINGS
Introduction
Property and Inheritance in Scotland
Inheritance Records

MODULE 4
RECORDS OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP
Introduction
Crown Grants of Land
Sasines: An Introduction
Sasine Registers from 1617
Structure of a Sasine
Using Sasines: Practical Tips

MODULE 5
RECORDS OF TENANTS
Introduction
Types of Tenants and Tenacies
Records of Tenants
Estate Records: An Introduction
Finding Estate Records

MODULE 6
CONCLUSION
Introduction
Additional Land and Property Sources
Property and Debt
Approaches to Land and Property Research
Practical Tips for Searching Scottish Land and Property Records
CASE STUDY

Course Content

MODULE 1
CURRENCY, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Currency
Scots Coinage, to 1707
Sterling Currency, from 1707 to 1971
Converting From Scots Money to Sterling
Weights and Measures
Scottish Weights and Measures, to 1707
The Act of Union, 1707
Scottish Weights and Measures, from 1824 to 1969

MODULE 2
CALENDARS AND PALAEOGRAPHY
Calendars, Days and Dates
Scottish Calendar Changes & The Family Historian
Regnal Years & Scottish Family History Research
Palaeography
Scottish Handwriting: Printed Material

MODULE 3
LANGUAGES AND GLOSSARIES
Early Languages in Scotland
(Scottish) Gaelic: Language Tools and Resources
Scots: Language Tools and Resources
Latin: Language Tools and Resources
Glossaries: An Introduction
Online Glossaries for Local and Family Historians
Printed Glossaries for Local and Family Historians
National Archives of Scotland Glossaries
Legal Glossaries
Medical Glossaries
Online Lists of Occupations

MODULE 4
FORENAMES AND PLACE NAMES
(Scottish) Gaelic: Background
Scottish Forenames
Scottish Place Names

MODULE 5
CLANS, SEPTS AND SURNAMES
Surnames in Scotland
The Clans of Scotland
Septs of Scottish Clans
DNA Analysis and Scottish Family History Research
Clan and Surname DNA Projects
Genetic Roots of the People of the British Isles

MODULE 6
SPECIALISED TOPICS AND DIGITAL BOOKS
Compiled Genealogies
Scottish Biographical Dictionaries
Scots Peerage and Nobility
Scots Heraldry
Clans: Tartans, Badges and Mottoes etc.

Course Content

MODULE 1
BEGINNINGS AND NEED OF POOR RELIEF
Overview
History and Background of Poor Relief
Poor relief in earliest recorded times
Begging
Impact of the Reformation
The Poor Rate
The St. John’s Experiment
Women and Children
Migrants
Removal of paupers
Health
Assessing Needs
Church Support
What relief was given?
Other Means of Support
The End of the Poor Law system
Glossary
Reading and Websites
Module 1 Course Assignments

MODULE 2
THE POORHOUSE
History and Operation of the Poorhouse System
Why the Poorhouse?
Poorhouse Plans & Images
Rules of the Poorhouse
Parish Almshouses
Inspectors of the Poor
Module 2 Course Assignments

MODULE 3
POOR LAW FROM 1845
Background to the New Law
The process of applying for poor relief
Criteria for assessment of the poor
Case Studies
Widows: With or Without Dependants
Men Disabled for Work from Sickness or Infirmity
Deserted Wives with Dependants
Orphans and Deserted Children
Single Women with Illegitimate Children
Insanity
Disabled by Old Age
Responsibility of Relatives
Module 3 Course Assignments

MODULE 4
RECORDS OF THE POOR
National Records of Scotland
Visiting the Historical Search Room
Private Archives
Public Archives
Visiting Archives
General Principles in Poor Relief Searching
Learning about the Parish
Poor Rolls
Kirk Session Records
Kirk Session Poor Rolls
Heritors’, Burgh, and Town Council Records
Post-1845 Poor Law Application Records
Confidentiality & Closure Periods
Application Record
Particulars of Settlement
Medical Certificates
Birth or Marriage Records
Correspondence
Proof of Employment
Ephemera
General Register of Poor and Other Registers
Poorhouse Admission Records
Case Study
Parochial Board & Parish Council Records
Miscellaneous Poor Law Records
Other Sources of Poor Law Records
Online Access to Poor Law Records
Archive Indexes
Heritage Society Projects
Genealogy Websites
Case Study
Indexed Images
Unindexed Images
Module 4 Course Assignments

MODULE 5
FINDING THE POOR IN OTHER RECORDS
Other Records
House of Correction
Civil Registration
Census Returns
Asylum Records
Case Study
Health Board Records
Emigration Records
Destitution Records
Night Asylum Records
Burial Records
Friendly Societies and Fraternal Organisations
Trade Organisations
Case Study
Charitable Societies
Module 5 Course Assignments