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THE GENCLASS NEWSLETTER - April 2008
http://www.genclass.com
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TOPICS:
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Tip of the Month: The bigger picture.
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Mobility and Myths in Scotland
By David W. Webster, FSA Scot
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Upcoming classes: April and May
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Welcome
to the latest issue of the GenClass newsletter.
If
this is your first time reading this newsletter, welcome!
Our
monthly newsletter includes a featured article by
an expert GenClass instructor, a tip of the month,
and a list of upcoming courses.
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Mobility and Myths in Scotland
by David W. Webster, FSA Scot
Introduction
The
myth? Simply that, back in the 1800s, 1700s and earlier,
all Scottish ancestors hardly ever set foot out of the parish
of their birth.
While that was undoubtedly true in relation to many families,
even up until recent times, there were efficient methods of travel
historically by boat around the coasts and the isles, and, from
the
early 1700s onwards, by road as, for the first time in Europe
since
the days of the Romans, Scotland led the way in terms of a system
of well built roads that were open all year round.
Once
you have the correct location for your Scottish ancestors then
it is recommended that you invest some time and effort in developing
a better understanding of the local geography both in the sense
of
how the location fits into the larger Scottish picture, but also
the more
local situation. Travel was always more likely in the direction
of the lie
of the land, i.e. up and down the strath, - Scottish for valley,
- for many
miles in both directions, rather than over the local mountains
and hills.
That’s not to say that there weren’t age old drove roads
and coffin roads
that overcame even those obstacles.
While
one generation may have come from one parish, other generations
may have come from neighbouring parishes, never mind the fact
that your
ancestors may have lived close to the border of a parish so that
they
appear in the records of that parish and the neighbouring parish
with equal frequency.
Precise
parish boundaries have varied over the centuries so that
a family who have actually remained in the same place appear to
have moved! Historically many parishes were not contiguous, with
parts of the parish separated by quite some distance. You need
to
invest time in developing a knowledge of this situation.
Over
the centuries such “anomalies” have been progressively
resolved.
You
will find that it is impossible to divorce the geography from
the history and vice versa.
You
will learn to appreciate the lie of the land in terms of
natural directions of local movement and travel.
Together
with a knowledge of history this will allow you to understand
better the likely movements of ancestors, and the development
of roads, canals, and railways.
Until
the eighteenth century, it took ten days to travel from Inverness
to Edinburgh. The Government's need to police Jacobite areas led
to
General Wade's programme of military road building from the 1720s,
which the Jacobite's used to hasten their successful advance in
1745.
An interesting thought that, - that but for the availability of
the Wade roads,
Bonnie Prince Charlie could not have advanced south from Glenfinnan
so quickly, possible the ’45 rebellion would not have happened
with
all that ensued in terms of Culloden and the English, and, let’s
admit it,
the Lowland Scottish use of the situation to extirpate the Highland
way of life. But that’s another story, with the reality being
that the
outcome for Highland society would probably eventually have been
the same anyway.
The
“General Wade” military roads vastly improved communication.
In parallel with that private 'turnpike' companies improved main
roads
in the Lowlands and were allowed to charge users tolls, although
this limited their use due to the expense, but hence the name
of
so many places in towns and cities in Lowland Scotland ending
in “toll”, as that’s exactly what it was originally.
Canals,
beginning with the Forth-Clyde Canal in 1790, provided
a cheaper alternative for heavy goods. The Highland Canals
(Caledonian – 1822, and Crinan - 1801) shortened sea routes
but their many locks meant later, new, bigger steam powered ships
still found the old route faster. In both cases, however, new
and
much faster opportunities were opened up for personal travel.
In
Scotland it was coal and iron stone mining that stimulated the
first railway or waggonway building. In the eighteenth century
tracks
existed in East Lothian between Tranent and Cockenzie and at
Inveresk near Musselburgh. Indeed part of the land upon which
the
Battle of Prestonpans took place in 1745 was taken up by one of
these early tracks. These waggonways also connected canals with
collieries. The first line in Scotland to experiment with steam
power
was the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway in Ayrshire in 1816 or 1817.
The
full article, available at <www.genclass.com/teachers-DW.htm>,
contains further detailed info under the headings:
-Roads
-The Canals
-Railways
-Occupational Movements
-The Emigrant Myth
Plus a detailed listing of websites for Scottish gazetteers,
general maps, and county maps.
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TIP OF THE MONTH ----------------------+
Tip
of the Month: If an ancestor isn’t where he or she is
“supposed to be” during a particular timeframe, try
to look
beyond direct family lines at the bigger picture.
Where did the siblings move to? Did their neighbors move?
Where to? This may solve your problem of missing relatives.
+----------------
UPCOMING CLASSES -------------------+
Register
for a class at http://www.genclass.com
or at http://classes.genclass.com
APRIL
2008: Classes start April 1, 2008
...............................................................
*Adoption
Investigative Class
Detailed search advice and assistance for successfully locating
and
reuniting adoptees and birth families.
*Canadian
Research - Internet Resources - Part 2
Part 2 builds on Part 1 and advances your research using
the most helpful records – with lots of practical search
tips, tricks,and advice.
*Lost
Friends and Family Investigative Class
Detailed search advice and assistance on the methods
to use for successfully tracing "lost" relatives and
friends.
*Salt Lake City: Part 2 - the Largest Genealogical Library in
the World!
Access the largest genealogical library in the world.
Continuing on from Part 1, this course takes you into the sections
that
most people never use - and what a mistake that is!
*Scottish
Genealogy
This extensive class will provide a detailed description of
what you need to know to track your Scottish ancestry.
MAY 2008: Classes start May 1, 2008
...............................................................
*Adoption
Investigative Class
Detailed search advice and assistance for successfully
locating and reuniting adoptees and birth families.
*
Basic English Research
Learn how to start researching your English ancestors -
historical background, geography, finding the "bones"
of your family.
*Canadian
Research - Part 2
Part 2 builds on Part 1 and advances your research using the most
helpful records – with lots of practical search tips, tricks,and
advice.
*
Eastern European Genealogy Research: Part 1 (Basic)
This class will show you how to begin researching your Central
and Eastern European roots using both traditional and online sources.
*
Family Tree Maker 2008 - Advanced
Advanced features, like books, trees, reports and web sites.
*
Genealogy for Kids
Introducing our children to family history through hands-on projects
and joint investigations online and off-line.
* Jewish Genealogy: Basic Introduction (Part 1)
A step-by-step overview of what you need to know to track your
family.
*
Jump Start your Genealogy!
Just where do you start if you are interested in your family tree?
- detailed instructions
*Lost
Friends and Family Investigative Class
Detailed search advice and assistance on the methods to use
for successfully tracing "lost" relatives and friends.
*
Native American Genealogy
Learn how to start your research for your Native American Ancestors.
*
Salt Lake City: Part 1
Access the largest genealogical library in the world. Perform
searches,
knowledgeably; and understand what you've found.
Learn more at http://www.genclass.com
Register for a class at http://classes.genclass.com
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That's
all for now, until next month!
-- LISA ALZO, Newsletter Editor
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