Blog Archives

The Scottish Naming Pattern

25/4/2015

Introduction

Graham Maxwell has been helping family history researchers on a professional basis since 1996 and in 2001 his wife Emma joined the team. Aside from their professional research service they are continually indexing and transcribing unique sets of records and bringing them into the public domain through their website Scottish Indexes. In this week's feature post Emma looks at how Scottish naming patterns can be a useful tool when searching for those elusive ancestors. Whilst this is a useful guide it is important to bear in mind it is not a panacea and there are always exceptions to the rule as Emma explains:-

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Have you ever wondered why so many people in your family tree have the same name? Is there a John in every generation and is searching the census really confusing because all the cousins of your family also have the same name? There is a simple explanation for this. It’s not that the parents were unimaginative when it came to choosing names but rather that they followed a ‘naming pattern’.

The Scottish naming pattern is as follows:

1st son named after father's father
2nd son named after mother's father
3rd son named after father

1st daughter named after mother's mother
2nd daughter named after father's mother
3rd daughter named after mother

Now the while the pattern can continue after the fourth son or daughter, it is our experience that few families consistently went that far. After six children there would almost always begin to be some duplication in names.

What does this mean?

If you have a couple called John and Elizabeth who name their eldest son William and their second daughter Janet you could hypothesise that John’s parents were called William and Janet.

Why do I say ‘hypothesise’? The naming pattern should not be used as evidence but rather as a guide. If the surname is very common, or at least very common in the area, you could use the pattern to predict what the parents may be called. Once you find parents with those forenames you will still need to prove your theory using other sources.

Pitfalls

There are a number of pitfalls. Firstly, do you have a list of all the children? If an older child died in infancy this could distort the pattern of names you have. When this happens you will often find a younger child is given the same forename. When you look at the list of children you have, is there a gap in the ages? Is one 10 in the census but the next child is aged 5? This can indicate that a child has died so look at the OPRs and gravestones.

If one of the parents was illegitimate this can also change the naming pattern. In the case of a son, sometimes a family will use the name of the stepfather, other times the eldest child is named after its father of the mother’s father.

A common issue is that both fathers have the same name (let's say John). As they would be very unlikely to name two children John (unless one had died) this can again add to the confusion.

Another reason the naming pattern would change is when a new minister came to the parish. It was a common practice to name the first child baptised by a new minister after him. So if the name doesn’t seem to ‘fit’ in your family at all, find out the name of the minister.

Summing up

The Scottish naming pattern can be a very useful tool. Some families used it right through to the mid-20th century. Use it with caution though, it’s not evidence in itself but it may help point you in the right direction.

Links

Keep up to date with the latest record additions to the Scottish Indexes website and take a minute to find out how you can help through their new Sponsor an Index Programme.

Website: www.scottishindexes.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/scottish.indexes
Blog: www.scottishgenealogyblog.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/scottishindexes
Flickr: www.flickr.com/maxwellancestry

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The "Tombstone Tourist"~ A Hundred Years of Funeral Costs.

18/4/2015

1 Comment

Introduction

Now here is one lady I would love to meet! Her knowledge and love of wine combined with her passion for cemeteries make her my ideal companion to while away a sunny afternoon. Add to the mix her skill as a trained Improv. Comedian and you have the perfect combination. Joy Neighbors is a Professional Freelance Writer and describes herself as an avowed "Tombstone Tourist" and in addition to her regular columns has been writing her blog "A Grave Interest" for in excess of five years. You can read Joy's full biography here.

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Mankind has held funeral ceremonies since ancient times. Every culture has had specific rites and customs that would be followed for the burying of their dead.

The Neanderthals decorated their graves with flowers and antlers as far back as 60,000 BC. Ancient Egyptians began a form of body preservation now known as mummification – the first embalming - in 3400 BC. Egyptians along with Native Americans buried their dead with tools, pots, jewelry and other items that might be needed in the next life.

Throughout the ages, a constant theme has emerged in regard to death: There was always a ritual or ceremony held when someone died. Then the remains were entombed, placed or scattered at a specific place considered sacred by the community. Then a memorial or some type of monument, rock or plant was placed on the grave as a way of showing remembrance and respect. We continue those traditions today.

Today is no different. We now have funerals at a funeral home or funeral “parlor” where, once again a ritual or funeral service is held before the body is consigned to a sacred space or place where the family erects a monument, plants a tree or marks the grave with a stone or token of remembrance.

Civil War Embalming

But during the 19th and early 20th centuries, the process of burying the dead changed. Embalming became accepted during the Civil War as a manner in which soldier’s bodies could be preserved long enough to send them back home to their families for burial. The deceased was usually wrapped in a shroud or blanket and buried in a homemade wooden coffin.

But then caskets began to replace these burial ampules. At first these were made of wood or cloth-covered cardboard but by the 1960s metal caskets were gaining popularity. By the turn of this century only two casket makers remained; accounting for over 60% of all caskets made in the U.S.

Steel Casket

And there are other ways which we have changed our burial methods as this comparison listing shows for the past 100 years.

Average Cost of Adult Funeral & Burial in 1915

Burial Details Prices USD         GBP

Casket with handles & plate $45           £30.33
Painted pine box $ 8            £ 5.39
Embalming $10           £ 6.74
Laying out, shaving, dressing $ 3            £ 2.02
Delivering box to cemetery $ 1.50       £ 1.01
Four pairs of grey gloves $ 1            £   .67
Three dozen chairs $ 1.50       £ 1.01
Four newspaper notices $ 2            £ 1.35
Opening grave $ 3            £ 2.02
Shirt, tie, collar, cuffs $ 1            £ .67
Hearse to cemetery $ 8            £ 5.39
Four coaches to cemetery $24           £16.18
Attendance, assistance
and removal of remains   $ 5            £ 3.37

Total Amount                              $113         £ 76.17

Average Cost of Adult Funeral & Burial in 2015

Burial Details Prices USD                 GBP

Non-declinable basic service fee $1,975               £1,331.27
Casket (metal) $2,300 £1,550.34
Embalming $700 £   471.84
Preparing the body $225 £   151.66
Refrigeration $50 per day £     33.70
Use of funeral home for visitation $400 £ 269.62
Use of funeral home for service $495 £ 333.66
Media notices $300 £   202.22
Printed memorial cards $150 £   101.11
Grave site/plot $1,000               £   674.06
Opening grave $600 £   404.44
Grave liner or vault $1,300 £   876.28
Headstone $1,500 £1,011.09
Hearse to cemetery $295 £   198.85
Family cars to cemetery $225 £   151.66
Visitation Attendance $325 £   219.07
Removal of remains   $285 £   192.11

Total Amount $12,125*             £8,172.98
*Per National Funeral Directors Assoc. (NFDA) and The Funeral Site

And, there could also be additional costs including burial clothing ($210/£141.55) flowers ($260/£175.26), flower car ($225/£151.66), clergy ($200/£134.81), death certificate ($12/£8.09 each), musician ($150/£101.11), guest book ($50/£33.70), etc.

Where 100 years ago an average funeral and burial for an adult could run between $100/£67.41 and $200/£134.81. Today that number can easily range from $9,000/£6066.54 and up. Statistics given for an adult funeral usually average around $7,300/£4920.64 but this does not include the gravesite, vault, opening and closing fees, gravestone and other cemetery-related expenses which must be considered if the remains are to be buried.

Gravesite & Headstone NOT included!

The days of the $100/£67.41 funeral have gone the way of the horse and carriage. But you can still control how much you want to spend by pre-planning, and shopping around. This could be the perfect way to save your family from the sticker shock of an at-need funeral.

Links

Keep up to speed with Joy and her various interests by following her at the following:-

A Grave Interest on
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aGraveInterest
Twitter @ https://twitter.com/#!/aGraveInterest

Joy’s JOY of Wine on
Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/JoysJoyofWine?fref=ts
Twitter @ https://twitter.com/#!/vnogrl

And on Google+ @ https://plus.google.com/+JoyNeighbors

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The hunt for heirs is on…

11/4/2015

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Introduction

Many of us will have sat eyes glued to the BBC TV Series "Heir Hunters" and marvelled in admiration at the frenetic pace at which the probate detectives seek out the living relatives of an intestate estate. Whilst this is true and the competition can be fierce, there are also many cases which go unsolved for weeks, months and even years.

This weeks feature blog comes from Maurice Clarke, founder of the "Heir Hunters Association" (HHA), whose long term interest in genealogy was piqued when he himself became a beneficiary of such a case.

"In 2002 he inherited a substantial sum from an (unknown) relative whose estate was distributed under the terms of intestacy. The ensuing maternal and paternal family trees became an interesting revelation and at this point Maurice's interest started which lead eventually to the formation of the HHA several years later"

For those of you that think "I would like to try that" the HHA, established by Maurice in 2009 was set up specifically to help:-

"Prospective, new and fledgling probate detectives form and establish their own beneficiary tracing business, full or part time.

Beneficiaries who have been approached by Heir Hunters and are confused over their rights and the risks involved especially in view of fraudulent emails circulating worldwide.

The general public who wish to seek out potential unclaimed estates in case they are related to the deceased. Each week new cases are posted and some claims remain open for many years, many eventually are paid over to the state under intestacy laws.

Plus the HHA provides ongoing support, knowledge and contacts worldwide with a regular free newsletter".

First, let us get to grips with what an "intestate estate" actually is, learn a little bit more about the role of an "Heir Hunter" and the potential obstacles they may need to overcome.

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If you’re interested in genealogy, you’ve most likely been following the BBC's Heir Hunters series in which probate researchers locate missing beneficiaries to unclaimed estates.

Unlike traditional genealogy – which traces family lines into the distant past – heir tracing involves seeking living descendant relatives who often have lost touch with their distant kin.

Where there’s a will

A will or testament serves as a legal instruction as to who should inherit your assets, such as money, property, businesses and personal belongings, after your death.

But it’s not compulsory to make a will. Every year, millions of people worldwide die without a will – called dying intestate – often leaving substantial cash and property estates.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In these cases, the law takes over to make sure the deceased's assets are distributed to their next of kin, whom they may not even be aware of or have ever met. But all too often there is no obvious heir under the rules of intestacy.

If no kin is traced or comes forward to claim within the statutory claim period, the state inherits the estate – with billions of pounds going into the Treasury’s coffers every year. Claims may be considered up to 30 years later, but interest is only paid on claims that are made within 12 years.

All change in society

It’s hardly surprising that a large number of estates remain untraced: society has changed significantly over the last few decades, becoming more mobile and increasingly fragmented.

Think about it. Families used to spend their entire lives in a small geographical area, as did their descendants. These days, however, people don’t just move to different parts of the same county or country, but many emigrate abroad to live. Marriage is less common, divorce more frequent and people often live with ‘partners’ without any legal ties.

If couples split, the chances are that they’ll go on to form new relationships with partners who themselves have had previous relationships or marriages. As a result, children within a typical modern family unit may have different parents.

The result: a potential nightmare for anyone trying to trace beneficiaries across the globe to a deceased person’s estate. The role of such people or firms – widely known as “heir hunters” – is to track down and prove the family link with the deceased and thus claim a share of the estate on behalf of their beneficiary client.

There are no guarantees…

Informing family members that they may be in for a windfall not only comes as a pleasant financial surprise, but also unlocks family history and knowledge. This proves to be an added bonus for many beneficiaries who have no idea of their family link.

However, many beneficiaries are rightly suspicious when first contacted out of the blue by an heir hunter, as they often think it’s some sort of identity scam or fraud. Even once they’ve been convinced of the heir hunter’s credentials, and assuming that the link to the estate is successful, it can take months – sometimes years – to tie up the case.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The eventual amount received depends upon the size and complexity of the estate, as well as the number of beneficiaries. Moreover, further research can sometimes throw up other family members who inherit instead due to their priority within the family tree.

… but there’s also nothing to lose

This risk is borne by the heir hunters, who typically work on a "no win, no fee" basis.

They generally charge a contingency commission ranging from 10 to 30% (often +VAT) of the estate’s value, sometimes with a minimum or maximum fee limit.

But they may fail to find any beneficiaries to a particular estate or discover that the estate is too small to cover their search costs. It’s also not uncommon for them to solve the case, only to discover that another heir hunter has pipped them to the post and signed up the beneficiary first. In any of these scenarios, it’s the heir hunter who’ll be out of pocket.

So, if you think you may be entitled to a share of an unclaimed estate, it’s worth keeping an open mind and having realistic expectations. As the old adage goes, "anything is better than nothing". And this is never truer than with unexpected inheritances.

Links

Twitter @HeirHunterUK

Other websites under the HHA (www.hha-uk.com) umbrella include:
http://hha-peopletrace.org.uk/ – an online service that helps people trace just about anyone on a ‘no trace, no fee’ basis.
www.unclaimed-estates.org.uk – regularly updated list of all 14,000+ unclaimed UK estates.
www.hha-research.org.uk – in-house team of professional researchers who trace missing beneficiaries to unclaimed estates and financial assets.
www.hha-bmd.com – an innovative online platform where people with an interest in family history can exchange information.

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Findmypast introduces the 1939 Register

4/4/2015

39 Comments

Introduction

Findmypast needs no introduction. As the flagship of the Findmypast (previously DC Thomson Family History) group of companies it constantly strives to make new sources of information available to aid us in our family history research, and the release of the 1939 Register later this year will be truly ground-breaking!

It brings the ability to view records in the public domain, which following normal protocol, some of us may not have lived to see. As with all records that potentially disclose details of living people, they are governed by the strict government laws of data protection. In his introduction to the 1939 Register, Jim Shaughnessy explains how this data protection works, and how in some cases it can be overcome.

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In September 1939, Britain had declared war on Germany and the government urgently needed to take stock of the civil population. They needed to capture as much information as possible in order to make provisions for the impending hostilities - everything from evacuation to rationing. The result was the National Register, a comprehensive overview of the civil population of England and Wales in 1939.

Now, for the first time, Findmypast – in partnership with The National Archives – is making the 1939 Register available to the public online. This landmark project, which will be launching later this year, is the most significant release in family history in England and Wales since the release of the 1911 Census. The Register contains names, addresses, dates of birth, marital status, occupation and whether the individual was a member of the armed services or reserves.

Not only does the 1939 Register offer a unique insight into England and Wales on the verge of global conflict, it’s also incredibly important for family historians – and anyone with an interest in modern history. Legislation, the Freedom of Information Act and government policy all impose conditions around when UK census data can be opened to the public.

At present, this means that the most recent record of the population available to use in research is the 1911 census, with the 1921 census being made available in 2022.

The 1931 census was destroyed during the war, and the 1941 census was never taken. This means that there will be a thirty-year gap between surviving censuses, an enormous missing piece for family historians. The 1939 Register will bridge this gap, offering information that these missing censuses obviously can’t provide.

Redaction and the 1939 Register

When you are able to explore the 1939 Register later this year, you’ll probably notice that a number of individuals’ information has been redacted from the records, meaning that when viewing a household, there may be one or more members whose information is unavailable to view.

Although the Register isn’t a census, and therefore isn’t subject to the rules and restrictions that censuses are, personal information about living people is protected under Data Protection Regulations. This means that some redaction has to take place before we can make the details of the Register public online.

In the case of censuses, restrictions over the release of sensitive data are enshrined in law, meaning that all of the individuals listed are unavailable to view for a set period after the census being taken. In the case of the 1939 Register, however, advances in how we redact have meant that rather than a blanket blackout on all the records, we’re able to show you the records of people born 100 years and one day ago or more.

As well as giving you access to the records of these individuals, we’ve set up a system that will scan the Register at regular intervals, opening the records of each individual as their date of birth becomes longer than 100 years ago. This means that new records will become available to explore, as more and more people pass this threshold.

If someone on the record was born within 100 years and a day but has passed away, there will be a mechanism for us to unredact the information for that individual. To do that, we’ll need proof of death, and from there we can work on opening that person’s entry to the Register. We’ll have more information on this in the near future, so stay tuned.

You can keep up to date with developments regarding the 1939 Register on the Findmypast website, Facebook & Twitter pages, and of course keep your eye on #AncestryHour where we’ll be announcing more soon, with a live Q&A, and more to come.

Links

Findmypast 1939 Register - http://www.findmypast.co.uk/1939register
Findmypast - Home http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/findmypast
Twitter - @findmypast

39 Comments

The Scottish Naming Pattern

Introduction

Blog

What does this mean?

Pitfalls

Summing up

Links

The "Tombstone Tourist"~ A Hundred Years of Funeral Costs.

Introduction

Blog

Average Cost of Adult Funeral & Burial in 1915

Average Cost of Adult Funeral & Burial in 2015

Links

The hunt for heirs is on…

Introduction

Blog

Findmypast introduces the 1939 Register

Introduction

Blog

Redaction and the 1939 Register

Links

Author

Archives