My thanks to all who have responded. FYI, I have accessed the internet sites listed and have accounts at Ancestry.com and Scotlandspeople. I have collected all the available information, it seems, that is available from the Church of LDS site and the two previous sites. I just have run into a wall. Perhaps it would be best to spend our time in Edinburgh at the National Archives. We have done extensive family history seeking in Ireland for my wife's family and the National Archives there was our best source, along with certain National School records in her family's home community. I was kind of hoping that similar records might exist in Campbeltown. Again, thank you, Allison ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hardy Plants" <[email protected]> To: "Al Patrick" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 6:04 AM Subject: Re: [ARGYLL] Genealogy in Scotland > Al Patrick wrote: >> This summer my wife and I will be journeying to Scotland to do a >> little family research. As near as I can tell, my gg-grandfather, >> Thomas Patrick, was born in Campbeltown in 1780, of Jacob Patrick and >> Mary Taylor. That is as far as I can go. > > Have you harvested everything you can from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk and > of www.nas.gov.uk [www.ancestry.co.uk / www.freecen.org.uk] that you can? > Its a long way to come and takes a lot of time to transcribe the details > from records you could have got online when there might be goodies that > you can only get in the archives that you don't get time for! > > The National Archives in Edinburgh are the most comprehensive resource > The Mitchell Library in Glasgow has some more West Coast things > There is only the local archive in Lochgilphead with no archivist and its > hours are short. > [Jill kicks her soap box out of reach - but we should have a genealogical > centre for folks like yourself here - we don't and won't while our council > remains so blinkered and broke -- oops it did not go far enough ;)] > >> >> Would anyone be willing to provide me with some tips on genealogy >> research in the Argyll area? I have never done any research of any >> sort in Scotland, altho' we have visited several times. Should I >> start in the National Archieves? Is there a genealogy center for >> Argyll that would have data? There is so much I don't know it would >> fill a book. > > If you can let us know what you DO have then its easier for folks to guide > you to the most efficient resources > >> >> We will be flying into Glascow from Dubln, Ireland. What is the best >> mode of transport to the Argyll area? > > CAR !!!! - Easycar hire from the airport > Public transport is diabolical > > With the thought that research >> is my primary goal, where would be the best place to establish our >> "base camp"? We will only have a few days (maybe three or four) in >> which to do our studies. > > eeekk > > Urm -- difficult in such a short space of time > What is your real goal > -- getting as much information as possible? -- in which case go to > Edinburgh and spend all your time there > -- getting a feel of where your ancestors lived and worked but getting > little info in the time -- in which case go to Campbeltown and mooch > about. > > I know that sounds hard > > some places that might help > http://www.libcat.glasgow.gov.uk/cgi-bin/cat-contents.sh?enqtype=MITCHELL > http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Libraries/Collections/ArchivesandSpecialCollections/ > http://www.nas.gov.uk/doingResearch/default.asp > > It would be really helpful if others here lurking who have used the NAS > and the Mitchell recently could give us all some insights as to how to > make time there most efficient. > I too hope to get to NAS this spring [although its looking more doubtful > now ;( ] and I have only had a chance to spend a day in the Mitchell some > years ago > so any tales of peoples real experiences would be really really useful > >> >> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. And worth a pint or two >> if you would be willing to meet with us, my wife and me, during our >> stay. > > That would be wonderful but I fear you are going to be too far south or > east to get to us in such limited time > > regards > Jill Bowis > www.benderloch.org.uk/forum - Ardchattan history, geology, ecology, > genealogy, weather, webcam, local forum > www.kintaline.co.uk - where we are, what we do: Kintaline Plant and > Poultry Centre > >

On 31/01/07, Al Patrick <[email protected]> wrote: > > My thanks to all who have responded. FYI, I have accessed the internet > sites > listed and have accounts at Ancestry.com and Scotlandspeople. I have > collected all the available information, it seems, that is available from > the Church of LDS site and the two previous sites. I just have run into a > wall. Perhaps it would be best to spend our time in Edinburgh at the > National Archives. > > We have done extensive family history seeking in Ireland for my wife's > family and the National Archives there was our best source, along with > certain National School records in her family's home community. I was kind > of hoping that similar records might exist in Campbeltown. > > Again, thank you, > > Allison Do you know which estate your ancestors were working for or in? Do you know which places of worship they used? Do you know which parishes you are looking for? If might well be worth researching the archives for these resources before leaving. Some can be held in unexpected places There are almost no records for our Kirk Sessions here and, I gather, precious few in the CoS archives. This may well be because it was the estates here, who had most to do with the welfare of the parishioners - not the Kirk. So unlike elsewhere there are few of the really useful poor relief records. I gather this parish was pretty appaling at replying to any enquiries from other places too. They sort of let folks get on with it and the estates picked up most of the 'community care' that was dispensed. While much of the records for our estates is in NAS I believe -- there is alot that is not. They are in various places elsewhere. This would take time to find out -- so do it before you leave. It would be best to fire some places and names up here -- there are always clever folks with lots of knowledge around and that way lots more people get help in the future. regards Jill Bowis www.benderloch.org.uk/forum - Ardchattan history, geology, ecology, genealogy, weather, webcam, local forum www.kintaline.co.uk - where we are, what we do: Kintaline Plant and Poultry Centre