During my second week in Scotland, I decided to change (and extend) my travel itinerary to accommodate a return trip to Ireland. I needed to secure some more family information during regular business hours of some government and church offices that I had missed on my first trip through Dublin. (FYI - don't trust that the out-of-country, toll-free customer support number that Expedia provides will actually work overseas!)
I had one day, traveling by a "Rambler" bus pass from my airport complex hotel to visit the General Register House and the Representative Church Body Library; in addition to return trips to the National Library and the National Archives in Dublin. I found birth records for Sophia (and her brothers), her older sister's death and burial records, and her youngest brother's baptismal record. I'd have to say that the most amazing records have been preserved by Ireland's RCB, with parish records I consulted (for Clonsilla) dating back to 1830! The information gleaned from civil and church records was most useful to me in terms of establishing addresses and the father's occupation. Sophia's father was, indeed, a jack of all trades.
On my first visit to the National Library I had not searched the Dublin reference resource, Thom's Directory back far enough in time (because I was unsure how long the family lived in Ireland). This time I hit pay dirt! All in all - even though a whirlwind tour back through Dublin, a much more successful one. It's a good thing I knew where some of the government offices were - otherwise I might have run out of time (and had to stay longer)! Awww...
Friday, September 14, 2007
Fulbright Reunion in Carlisle
My last weekend in the U.K. was spent in Carlisle (Cumbria), rekindling a friendship initiated last December during an exchange trip to England.
Cath and Katy picked me up from the train station and we went to the Continental Market in the Carlisle square. We visited her dear neighbors, who live in a quaint English countryside cottage; enjoying some afternoon tea and biscuits. We had a delicious gourmet meal that evening in Cath's lovely hilltop home prepared by her husband, Nigel. We took a walk the next morning by Jockey Shields overlooking the northern Pennines; and visited the stained glass windows at St. Martin's church in Brampton, as well as the Lanercost Priory.
A quick but worthwhile trip, since neither of us will be in place for the return exchange between Cumbria and Hellgate this fall.
Cath and Katy picked me up from the train station and we went to the Continental Market in the Carlisle square. We visited her dear neighbors, who live in a quaint English countryside cottage; enjoying some afternoon tea and biscuits. We had a delicious gourmet meal that evening in Cath's lovely hilltop home prepared by her husband, Nigel. We took a walk the next morning by Jockey Shields overlooking the northern Pennines; and visited the stained glass windows at St. Martin's church in Brampton, as well as the Lanercost Priory.
A quick but worthwhile trip, since neither of us will be in place for the return exchange between Cumbria and Hellgate this fall.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Family Background Research
I flew to Edinburgh, Scotland on Aug. 6th - and stayed through August 27th. And although my primary purpose was to conduct family background research, the Edinburgh and Fringe festivals were in full swing, so I did attend quite a few music, dance, and comedy events while I was there. As a matter of fact I was drawn into Fred MacCauley's comedy act from the balconey in Queen's Hall during my visit, where I became known as the "Montana Lady." It was high tourist season even though the weather (during my whole trip across the pond I might add) was "soft" and cool. Temperatures hovered around 59 or 60 degrees, and I saw at most (during nearly six weeks of travel) four days of sunshine. However, what the weather lacked, the research made up for...
During my first week I transcribed letters, scanned photographs and other family documents, and visited places important to the family history. Most noteable among my travels was a short bus trip to the "borders" area of Scotland, in particular a place called Jedburgh, where Sophia's (the subject of my study) mother's family resided. I stayed with my friend's sister, whose husband is the farm manager on the Mellerstain estate. Jedburgh was a quaint little town, and I was able to discover (and photograph) the house where the family lived according to the 1861 census. There are also references in the letters to shopping for suits at the tailor shop there.
Among the places where I conducted research during my second week were: the General Register House, the National Archives, the National Library (including the Map Division), the City Library, and the Grange Cemetery (with telephone help from the Mortonhall Crematorium).
Scotland has the most amazing archival and civil records! Most of the librarians, curators, and civil servants were friendly, helpful, and accommodating. I was lucky enough to document most of the family background history, including locating and printing the will of Sophia's grandfather (circa 1883), which verified a reference to an inheritance in the letters. The most surprising discovery was that Sophia's family lived in Ireland for over twenty years, instead of the two or three years that I had earlier surmised - so that led to a brief return trip to Ireland when I left Scotland. (See next post.)
There are still a few questions left unanswered, but I'm hoping that future research among the places in my work plan will lead me to the answers. Worst case scenario - I may have to fly to London to research the archives there. :-)
During my first week I transcribed letters, scanned photographs and other family documents, and visited places important to the family history. Most noteable among my travels was a short bus trip to the "borders" area of Scotland, in particular a place called Jedburgh, where Sophia's (the subject of my study) mother's family resided. I stayed with my friend's sister, whose husband is the farm manager on the Mellerstain estate. Jedburgh was a quaint little town, and I was able to discover (and photograph) the house where the family lived according to the 1861 census. There are also references in the letters to shopping for suits at the tailor shop there.
Among the places where I conducted research during my second week were: the General Register House, the National Archives, the National Library (including the Map Division), the City Library, and the Grange Cemetery (with telephone help from the Mortonhall Crematorium).
Scotland has the most amazing archival and civil records! Most of the librarians, curators, and civil servants were friendly, helpful, and accommodating. I was lucky enough to document most of the family background history, including locating and printing the will of Sophia's grandfather (circa 1883), which verified a reference to an inheritance in the letters. The most surprising discovery was that Sophia's family lived in Ireland for over twenty years, instead of the two or three years that I had earlier surmised - so that led to a brief return trip to Ireland when I left Scotland. (See next post.)
There are still a few questions left unanswered, but I'm hoping that future research among the places in my work plan will lead me to the answers. Worst case scenario - I may have to fly to London to research the archives there. :-)
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