Scottish Genealogy Society

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:12 pm

Hi Eileen
See http://www.nas.gov.uk/searchRooms/preparing.asp
and also http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/default.asp for the sort of things NAS have. Their online catalogue is usually a good place to start, but it is playing up just now.

Depends what you are looking for - if it is all births marriages and deaths before and after 1855, and census details (to sort out one Paterson from another!) then NRH would be your best bet - you could get a lot done in a day, though your your brain will be in meltdown by the end of it! But if you are looking for other items (Kirk Sessions for example) NAS is great, or to look through a whole batch of OPR pages then SGS is well worth a visit.
I usually take notes from here http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/famrec/h ... r-cov.html
(scroll down for counties) before I go to SGS, so I have the OPR film numbers I need. They have a copy at SGS I think, but I like to go prepared!

With NAS your progress can be quite slow as half the time on your first visit is taken up just trying to get to grips with the vastness what they have, the cataloguing system and ordering an item. Kirk Session records (all able to be viewed on the PCs there) would be well worth having a look at if you have any scandals (!) or families in the one parish for a long time., though it can be a bit of a lucky dip - sometimes you hit the jackpot, other times you read a lot of very interesting stuff, all great background info and setting the scene, but no "direct hits".

Best wishes
Lesley

Eileen · Post by **Eileen** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:24 pm

Hi Lesley
I did try the NAS online catalogue but as you say playing up just now.
I will have a look at other site now
Thanks again
Eileen

Post by **AndrewP** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:52 am

Hi Eileen,

I hope you and your friend are both fit and mobile. The normal route to the SGS Library from George IV Bridge is closed to allow construction work on the corner of George IV Bridge. Access to Victoria Terrace is via a stairway that leads up from Victoria Street, or less directly without the stairs from the Upper Bow (steep-downhill cobbled cul-de-sac from the top of The Lawnmarket).

On another matter, when I first started researching my Paterson line, I had to wade through what seemed like multitudes of Clackmannanshire Patersons to find my lot in Midlothian and West Lothian.

All the best,

AndrewP

Eileen · Post by **Eileen** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:39 am

Hi Andrew
Thank you for info, SGS might have to wait as I am not very mobile.
Eileen

Eileen · Post by **Eileen** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:43 am

Hello Everyone
I've had my trip to Edinburgh, went to NAS, what a place, got to look at some wills, we then took a taxi to SGS had a look at MI's and microfiche,
not really sure if I achieved anything as I get going of track. There is so much information and I found myself reading about things that had nothing to do with my tree. Never mind had a good day out, maybe next time I'll stay focused on my task.
Thanks again for all your help and no doubt I'll be back for more help or who knows I might be able to help someone.

Eileen