On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:54:15 -0400, "Sharon" <queenbee_44@hotmail.com> wrote: >I was able to find on scotlandspeople.gov a birth of my grt grandmother >Catherine Molloy. It had listed Surname, Forename, Sex, District, County, >GrosDATa >My question is, what is gross data and it this information enough to send >away for the offical documentation? Where would one write? >Sharon Stamis >Philadelphia, USA Hi Sharon "GROS" data is "General Register Office for Scotland" data. Here's an explanation from the Scotlands People Help pages: "The numbers in the column "GROS Data" provide additional reference points for locating the records at New Register House and can aid the General Register staff if you need help with a particular record. The numbers refer to: - Registration District or Parish Code: equivalent to the Registration District Name or Parish Name shown in the index register (followed by a "/") - Registration District Suffix or Parish Suffix: additional index term for locating the relevant register (followed by a space) - Registration District Entry: the index to the actual entry in the register itself" While that info could be used to ask someone to go to New Register House in Edinburgh and look up and photocopy the original record, you can also order a copy online on the Scotlands People website. Many records have been scanned and these images can be viewed online (at a cost of 5 credits) and then saved onto your hard disk for future reference or printing. For those records where a scanned image isn't yet available, there is the option of ordering an official extract from the register which will be posted to you - I believe each extract costs 10 GBP. In the search results listing, to the right of the column headed "GROS Data", there should be two more columns. The first of these, headed "Image", should either say "No image" (if no scanned image of that record is available yet) or have a link saying "View (5 credits)", and the second of these columns, headed "Extract" should have a link saying "Order". If the "Image" column contains the "View (5 credits)" link, you can use that link to download a copy of the scanned image of that record (5 credits will be deducted from your current total). Once the image has finished loading and is displayed on the screen, you can then, if you want, save it onto your PC. Alternatively, if no image is available, you could select the "Order" link in the "Extract" column to add an order for a printed extract of that record to your shopping basket. Once you've selected all of the extracts you want to buy, you can then go to the checkout to complete the purchase and provide online payment details. These extracts will then be posted to you. There's lots more useful info about how to use the Scotlands People site in the "Help & Other Resources" section - you'll find the link to that section in the menu on the left of every page. HTH... Regards, Donna