Online family history event is a global success
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A person trying to trace their roots had a surprise introduction to a cousin during an online question and answer session organised by the Caithness Family History Society (CFHS).
The event was a great success with 35 people logging on, including participants from Australia, America and Canada who have found the online meetings very beneficial. One man in Australia got up at seven o'clock in the morning to log on.
Around 12 pre-submitted questions were answered by committee members, with help from staff from Nucleus – the Nuclear and Caithness Archive.
Unsurprisingly, the John O’ Groat Journal, Caithness Courier and the now defunct Northern Ensign newspapers were mentioned many times as wonderful resources for family historians. These can be read in their original newspaper form at Nucleus, on microfiche at the local libraries and on two online websites.
One member knew that her ancestors, George Brotchie and his wife Christian Shearer, lived in Dunnet Parish in the 19th century, but wanted to know exactly where.
A CFHS committee member was able to tell her that they had lived at Kirkstyle, Dunnet, and that their cottage was situated on a slope adjacent to the west wall of Dunnet kirkyard.
To her delight, she was given a link to an archaeology report written after an excavation of the building, Brotchie’s Steading, had been carried out in 2001 and 2003.
Census records sometimes give place names which are unfamiliar to us – place names may have changed over the years and can cause confusion but a comparison of maps can clarify things. Attendees were shown how to find Caithness places on the map section of the National Library of Scotland website.
CFHS member Neil Buchan, wearing his Castletown Heritage Society hat, answered an enquiry about the ship Flower of Olrig. He offered
to pass on all the relevant information held in the museum to the enquirer.
Alan MacIvor, of Thurso Heritage, gave some useful information about graves in Old St Peter’s churchyard. Many of those present had found
gravestone inscriptions very useful in their family research.
Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the response to a question from Sharon, whose granny had told her that a relative and her husband had moved north from Edinburgh around 1900.
It was said that the family may have gone on to have a shop in Wick. A CFHS committee member who recognised the name, had arranged
for a Wick cousin to be present. She was amazed to be introduced to him and have him confirm the story. Emails will, no doubt, be
travelling back and fore with exchanges of information for some time.
The CFHS sessions are open to anyone.
