For 2018, a friend and I are going to Belfast for a few days before or after the RS 10 Days in Scotland tour. I am interested in researching my family roots. My relatives left County Tyrone in 1822 and settled in New Brunswick, Canada. Where do you suggest we go?
Thanks,
Judy B
The Mellon Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster-American Folk Park is a good repository for records that document the out-migration from Ulster beginning around 1715. They may be able to help you directly or at least direct you to somewhere in Belfast that can help with your search: http://nmni.com/uafp/Collections/Emigration/Centre-for-Migration-Studies.
Good luck.
Try to do as much research as you can before you go or you may not have any luck if you don't have some information. Also, take copies of any records or information you have. I was in Belfast many years ago, and attempted to find some information on my great grandfather, but had no luck with the information I had. I spent a whole day at the PRONI building to no avail. Many years later I have found out it appears my great-grandfather lied about his birth year which may explain the lack of results I got. When you go to PRONI you will have to register in order to do any searching, but there is no charge. If you want copies they will charge you for those. Check out the web site: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
Hey Judy - when are you going to go on the Scotland tour in 2018..... We are going to do that one too next year. My ancestors are from Scotland (Shetland Islands). My 2nd great grandfather came over from Shetland and founded Inkster, MI.... We traced our ancestors and actually met my 5th cousins there (In Shetland)
ALso have ancestors from Ireland, but I can't find valid info like I have done for Scotland
Kim
Robert and Anita, thanks for the information.
Kim, we have not decided when we will go on the Scotland tour but I'm thinking the last one in August for the Edinburgh Festival and Military Tattoo. I believe the 2018 tours will be introduced in August so we plan to sign up soon after that. I've noticed the UK tours tend to fill up pretty quickly.
Interesting about your Scottish ancestors and that you met your 5th cousins! My Irish family settled Mars Hill, Maine. I'm sure there are Scottish family as well but we haven't looked that far back.
Kim, are you planning to do the 8 Day Ireland and 10 Day Scotland tours back to back in 2018?
Judy B
Judy - Yes .... I am doing those two back to back. I thought about the end of April/May because they were the cheapest. I like cooler weather too. We were in Edinburgh in 2010 when they were getting ready for the military tattooing. When they come out in August, I too will sign up. Also, noticed the UK ones fill quickly.
Oh, I emailed my friend in Atlanta about your travel group.
I've been down this road online and it's difficult to get Irish records since they are not immediately available to view - you have to order the image. And to order the image it means you have have to spend money ordering something that may or may not pertain to your relative. It's a guessing game sometimes. I found it to be a better use of my time and money to hire a genealogist to do the initial searching for me. That way, when I finally showed up at PRONI for a day of research, I had some information to go on.
They are super helpful at PRONI, but I'm glad I did some info gathering ahead of time as it made the experience much more fruitful.
The 1901 and 1911 census are available and I accessed them through Ancestry.com. For earlier records, it's helpful to have someone there who knows how to access information.
Hilary, thank you for that information. I will certainly check the census on Ancestry.com.
Kim,
My friend and I have not definitely decided the dates for our Scotland/No. Ireland trip.
Thanks for telling your tourmate about our Atlanta Travel group meetings. I have already posted the next one: Sat., May 13, 11 a.m. It will be under the category for Travel Group meetings.
Thanks,
Judy B
If August timing doesn't work for you there is still a chance to see a military tattoo. We did this prior to joining our Scotland tour in September 2016. We flew into Edinburgh and then took the train to Inverness. There is an annual Highlands Military Tattoo every year at Fort George, and they provide bus transportation from Inverness. That doesn't help you with the Fringe Festival, but might be an alternative for a tattoo experience. PM me if you want any more information.
We really loved the Scotland tour. Not only is there variety between big city, seaside and highlands but there are many special activities like nature hikes, sheepdog demonstration, boat and ferry rides, etc. Good luck with the genealogy research.
Will just add to go to FamilySearch.org which is free as well as Ancestry. I have been able to access some things there that are not in Ancestry(and I have a paid subscription to Ancestry which includes international records).
If you use the search function on FamilySearch and there are records in the repository at the Family History Library in SLC your local LDS genealogy library can order them for you, including microfilm.
I will tell you I have not searched Northern Ireland ancestry.
Hi TravelingMom,
Thanks for this information but my friend and I plan to go to Northern Ireland first before the Scotland tour so we do not have the time to do what you suggest. I still work which means my vacation days are limited. And, so glad to hear you loved the Scotland tour!
Pam,
thanks for the information on Family Search. My brother does research there, too.
Happy travels,
Judy
