Geneology

[Honeystar120608]

I have been tracing back our ancestory on both my side and DH family. We both root back to Scotland (not shocking...McIntosh and MacBeath)
But all I can do is get to where the families came from (luckily close to one another at that!)

We come from the Highlands, McIntosh east of Inverness, MacBeaths in the Highlands north of Inverness.

I am at a point now where I figure I want to hire someone to do the searching for me (in Scotland). But I am sceptical where I don't know these people. Anybody have any experience, suggestions?

We are planning on going over in the next couple years, but I want to have all this info beforehand.

 

[Muddypaws]

I have done a ton of genealogy in the past. Scotland has very, very good records and a lot of information should be available on line. Just be very wary of personal sites where they don't document their information.

A really good place to start is familysearch.org. It is a site set up by the Latter Day Saints where they have compiled all the birth/death/marriage (and a few others, but those are the main records) from everywhere they could from all over the world. It is very easily searchable.

Another site to check out would be http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/famrec/leaflet7.html. This the the government public records site for Scotland.

Cyndi's List (http://www.cyndislist.com/) is a very well-established site that lists resources for genealogy. There is a ton of information here.

Hiring someone to do your genealogy is certainly an option, but not one that I have really used. They only time I have hired someone is when I was interested in some records that weren't available online so I had someone local look for me. There are a lot of companies and individuals who you can hire, but unfortunately I can't recommend any personally. It can be very expensive, though, and generally any information that they provide you with can also be found for free or very cheaply yourself. And a general rule of thumb in genealogy is that any data that you find has to be corroborated by 3 different sources before you can start taking it as fact.

Genealogy can be a very rewarding pastime. I compare it to one great big jig saw puzzle - once you find one piece then you can start to look for the next. Have fun!

 

[I married a king]

I personally like familysearch.org also. I was able to find information about my great great grandparents on that site when Ancestery.com was no help at all and said they did not exist. Anyway good luck on your searches.

 

[Honeystar120608]

thanks!! I have done a lot of searching, but most of what I find is post the move (or exile as it seemed to be in the Highlands). Usually I start in late fall and spend my winters hacking away, like non melting ice and I have to unburry the facts. But, yes, I LOVE researching, I just have found nowhere to look after last fall. So I will definitely favorite those sites and after our DW trip that will give me something to do. I sure hope I can find some info! I want to be in Scotland so badly, but not until I know where my family is from so I can stand where they once stood.

 

[Muddypaws]

About what time era are you looking in?

 

[Honeystar120608]

About what time era are you looking in?

I know for the Mcintosh side, they came over in 1860 via Liverpool to Boston and came directly up to NB. They are from the Elgin area.

The MacBeaths (MacBeths as we were known then. Funny great grandma changed it somehow for whatever reason) are from the Kildonan (Helmsdale) area. Year, unsure. Can't find records to show where they came out of or on which ship. this is where it gets tricky. I know that my great great great Uncles and their mother came by boat to Ontario and had a bad go there for a winter). Now, my kin followed a couple years later (i do believe) but came to NB. No proof to show of, but wondered about a ship crashing on the coast of the Miramichi NB, no records to prove this crash. But the 2 brothers did settle in that area as I have the land records there. My docs aren't on hand at the moment, but Im pretty certain their names were Alexander, the other Donald. Which names have followed down through the time (Grandfather was Don Alexander, uncle, Cousin. These names were SO common makes it almost impossible to dig for info)
My guess at teh year is around 1850-1860. Again, I do have some docs recorded, I'd have to dig up the exact dates I speculated on.

Also, my guess is they were aboard a cargo ship and not a passenger one only because I can't find that documentation. Something tells me their siblings and mother docked out of Inverness, but that I could be false.

 

[Muddypaws]

Household:
Could this possibly be your Donald McBeath in 1881?

Name Marital Status Gender Ethnic Origin Age Birthplace Occupation Religion
Donald MCBEATH M Male Scottish 63 Scotland Farmer Presbyterian Canada
Elizabeth MCBEATH M Female Scottish 67 Scotland Presbyterian Canada
Elizabeth MCBEATH Female Scottish 31 New Brunswick Presbyterian Canada
James CONWAY Male Irish 14 New Brunswick Not Given Presbyterian Canada

Source Information:
Census Place Glenelg, Northumberland, New Brunswick

 

[lizabu]

Have you tried ancestry.com? They even use that on "who do you think you are?" I've looked up my family on there and you can look at actual census record and boat manifests etc. If you get lucky your tree will cross someone elses and you will fill in a few missing pieces. Sometimes it only takes one missing name to open up a whole line you didn't even know about

 

[Honeystar120608]

Household:
Could this possibly be your Donald McBeath in 1881?

Name Marital Status Gender Ethnic Origin Age Birthplace Occupation Religion
Donald MCBEATH M Male Scottish 63 Scotland Farmer Presbyterian Canada
Elizabeth MCBEATH M Female Scottish 67 Scotland Presbyterian Canada
Elizabeth MCBEATH Female Scottish 31 New Brunswick Presbyterian Canada
James CONWAY Male Irish 14 New Brunswick Not Given Presbyterian Canada

Source Information:
Census Place Glenelg, Northumberland, New Brunswick

I can quite remember, but something is telling me no. The only reason I say this is because at those ages, if the Donald and Alexander that came over were adults and the father had died at that point in time. Also, I am almost positive that there were no Elizabeths at that time, but I will most definitely cross reference this with my research book..once I dig it out.

 

[Honeystar120608]

Have you tried ancestry.com? They even use that on "who do you think you are?" I've looked up my family on there and you can look at actual census record and boat manifests etc. If you get lucky your tree will cross someone elses and you will fill in a few missing pieces. Sometimes it only takes one missing name to open up a whole line you didn't even know about

Absolutely. This is where I have gotten about 50% of my info, the other half was from my uncle who has been to Scotland, to the Highlands to kildonan. He has researched as far as there....but no solid info saying that is where they were from, but for whatever reason, everything points to there (not sure why, this is the info he gives me)

 

[nepean]

There is a conference Sept 16-17 at the National Library in Ottawa on Wales/Scotland geneaology.

My sister who has researched our family from Scotland used their government service and found a lot of info and further leads.

Nepean

 

[tink1969]

I have traced my father's direct lineage back to 1736. It was absolutely fascinating finding all the handwritten records. I used http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk to find all this information.
I really enjoyed alll the searching.....it's addicitve! Another website that may be of interest is www.talkingscot.com This website has a chat forum with so many people living in Scotland who will help you find your ancestors. Very nice people!