This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: maryschacht Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.ans.general/5578.1.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: If you have names that have more than one spelling, you can use soundex, OR a Wildcard. For instance: I search only one surname, as I'm doing a one-name study. Powrie, was often spelled Pourie, so I can use soundex which ends in lots of Pirie (, or Poore, another surname entirely) so I can use Po*rie, which gets me both Powrie and Pourie without a lot of "false positives" (wrong surnames) But you will find which works for you. Doing one spelling at a time may work better for your particular research. Military deaths are in their own parish, "military returns" during WWI and WWII. Census, wills and what burials there are, you'll also find on Scotlandspeople. They hold the online contract for the General Registrar of Scotland, in Edinburgh. You won't be able to see military marriages & births, (they're on Find My past) or the PRO http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/. You also need someone to search for foreign births of Scottish citizens.Those are not online. But if there in person, you can see everything to 2008...no restrictions. http://www.findmypast.com/ is another subscription service for U.K. records It's a great website, but you'll get more if you write an outline of attack, and stay organized, look for births or marriages in 10 year spans for common names, or search one parish, if you know about where the records "should be". A little practice, like anything helps. Ask for help again for terms you don't understand or if you hit a brick wall. Remember the IGI and Scotlandspeople are based on mainly Presbyterian records. If you don't find what you want your family may have been Catholic or Methodists... Don't give up!! Until your walls fall... Don't order extracts, as someone to help look something up, or if there is an IGI films, look on those. They are expensive, and there are other ways to get them. Coat of Arms are also online at Scotlandspeople website. They don't always have artwork with them, but if you have gentry, they are interesting to download them. Join a rootsweb list, after you have done enough work to find which Shire or County. I'm still learning a great amount from My two lists. Live and Learn...try yourself but keep in mind "there are groups out there who would love to help you! Mary in Oregon Bruinswood@aol.com Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.