Branch out: brush up on family tree

Posted by Russell M, Stirling

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:57:45 GMT

On way for the majority to marginalize minorities is to belittle their belief systems. Because pedigree is important to the Gaels it's not surprising that "Britons" would find it unimportant. To give credibility to the heathen barbarians from the North would call into question many policies that have been issued by Whitehall over the centuries.

Posted by Calum Crubag

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:43:40 GMT

If you saw Coast last week you might have seen yon guy Calum from Barraigh who recited his 'sloinneadh' back to 1500s in a minute or two. A lot of Gaels can still do this. I met a 9yo boy in Lewis a few years ago who said, "Is mise Ruairidh mac Iain Sheumais ic Ruairidh ic Iain..." Impressive indeed.

Posted by Rubbersnap

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:03:44 GMT

The whole "research your family tree" industry is geared to charge you lots of cash!

There are other cheaper or free methods of doing it ...

But ultimately, how far can you go back? Unless your family kept meticulous records of their own, getting past 1700 is really difficult. Only the hereditary peerages or the Royal Family have definite proof available of their ancestry.

For the rest of us peasants ... it doesn't really matter. Our ancestors moved, migrated, changed nationalities, were conquered or were victors, moved from tribe to tribe, changed their names and allegiances ... may have been Celt or Roman, Syrian or Greek, Norse or African, Indian or Vietnamese, white or black or brown or yellow ... Through the centuries, we've been subsumed by racial movements and physical changes reflecting our ancestors choices. It makes us what we are.

Yes, it would be nice to know ... but I regret to say, you'll rarely get past 1500 at the earliest ... unless you do what the American sites do and make it up as you go along ... "proving your descent from Adam and Eve" ... it's laughable really.

It's what you are here and now that counts ... not where you came from or who your antecedents were.

Posted by grannie, Glasgow

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 09:42:25 GMT

Scotlands people site gives lots more info than it used to. It now has census info back to 1841. I have recently read that schools have free entry when studying history and can even view certificates. I wish this service could be extended to allow pensioners the same privilege as at £6 for 30 credits this amount can go almost it seems in moments when viewing certificates.

Posted by Nisbet

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 09:28:56 GMT

To complete this thinly veilled advert, you might like to know that membership of Ancestry.co.uk costs £69.95 a year (single payment) of £9.95 a month.