Visiting NAS

[JustJean]

Now it's my turn to need some advice. I have a mystery connection in my family that I would like to chip away at when I visit Edinburgh. A birth that likely occured just prior to statutory registration and may have been illegitimate and a death that may have occured between 1851 and 1855. So basically I'm looking for mortcloth reporting and/or a parish reprimand So this is where I need advice. I understand the Kirk Session records are kept at NAS. So in order to access them for a certain time period and certain parish do I need to make a reservation? How much time should I allow to read them? Are they on microfilm or original documents? How about legibility? Can I get photocopies of any pertinent data or would I have to transcribe it? Hope someone out there can offer some helplful hints.

Best wishes
Jean

[AndrewP]

Hi Jean,

For the mortcloth dues, see if they are on the OPRs (they often are). There is a list on the GROS website showing the contents of the OPR for each parish. If it lists deaths, then that is either death records (unusual) or mortcloth records (more likely). If so, then these can be found in NRH or the SGS library; or Edinburgh Central Library (not available for all counties - check availability first).

To visit the NAS, have identification with you, so that you can obtain a Reader's Ticket.

NAS has a mixture of digital images (new since I was last there), microfilm and the original books. The microfilms are self-service, but the books have to be ordered when you are there and somebody goes to get the book from the back-shop.

Confirm on the NAS online index that they have the Kirk Session records you are looking for. Some are not held at NAS, but are with local archives around the country.

I've never seen it busy at NAS, so I doubt you would need any reservation. I've never sought copies at NAS. I believe they are available and the cost depends on the medium they are on to start with - book, film or digital.

http://www.nas.gov.uk/searchRooms/copyingServices.asp

All the best,

AndrewP

[JustJean]

Hi Andrew

Thanks!

Best wishes
Jean

[DavidWW]

Now it's my turn to need some advice. I have a mystery connection in my family that I would like to chip away at when I visit Edinburgh. A birth that likely occured just prior to statutory registration and may have been illegitimate and a death that may have occured between 1851 and 1855. So basically I'm looking for mortcloth reporting and/or a parish reprimand So this is where I need advice. I understand the Kirk Session records are kept at NAS. So in order to access them for a certain time period and certain parish do I need to make a reservation?

No, as access to the records at NAS is free of charge, but you need to obtain a reader's ticket on your first visit, and, to that end, you need to have with you proof of identity, and be prepared to be "interviewed" by an NAS Family History Room staff member, - basically filling out a simple form, before you are permitted access to NAS's records.

How much time should I allow to read them?

Gizzabrek , - this falls into the "how long is a piece of string" category , see later ...........

Are they on microfilm or original documents?

All CH2 and CH3 records held by NAS have now been digitised, and can be readily accessed at a NAS computer workstation, but work on an index is ongoing and will take several years.

But note also that NAS do not hold 100% of the sessional records, - approx 60 to 80 churches elected to retain and administer their own records (any church that subsequently decides that it doesn't want to take on this responsibility is required by law to offer their records to NAS...)

"Murphy's Law" dictates that your particular sessional records of interest will belong to this group, - the solution is easy, - consult the NAS on-line index well in advance of your visit, and, where the records are held locally, make contact with the current Session Clerk or Minister .........

How about legibility?

The quality, understandably, varies greatly, but a probable more important factor is your ability to interpret the hand, both in terms of the vocabularly and standard terminology, peculiar to Scotland, as well as your ability to read Secretary Hand in the earlier records.

Can I get photocopies of any pertinent data

Mostly, yes, at reasonable cost.

....or would I have to transcribe it/

It all depends on the record involved ................. in which context, note that many NAS records are held at a location other than Register House in the centre of Edinburgh, and it can take a couple of days for such "outhoused" records to be "produced" at Register House, - so that this situation also needs to be researched in advance of your visit to Edinburgh.

David

[JustJean]

Thanks for the input but now I've had a look around it appears that what I wished and hoped existed does not.

Best wishes
Jean

[scooter]

Hi Jean,

I had a look through the digitised Kirk Sessions at NAS last November, I didn't find what I was looking for, however in places, they were a rather good read (think Jerry Springer 1800's style) One thing I noticed was that surnames were written in the margins, which helped when scanning through the images. I don't know if this runs across the board, if it does then it's useful in absence of any indexes. Unfortunately the records on my list weren't at the NAS, however I was given the names, postal and email addresses of the relevent folk in the local churches who might be able to help out. I found these people very helpful and in one instance a little more information came to light.

When I was there only one other researcher was using the computers (whose surname just happened to be Wishart!) and I recollect that the image viewer was very good, especially when it came to enlarging images.

Anyway, that's my experience....

Cheers,

Scott

[CatrionaL]

Hi Jean

When I went to NAS Kirk Session records searching, I discovered that the records for the required dates were inexistant. Decided to have a look at the later records for the parish in question anyway. There on the first page was my second ggrandmother, married, but still in trouble with the Kirk Session, 20 years after the birth of her illegitimate son.

Regards

Catriona

[JustJean]

Hi Scott and Cat

Thanks for your personal experiences! I guess like you've both proven you never know until you try...... and even then you might not find what you hoped...... but instead you might find something else If time permits me I still might try to fit in the Archives just to say I've been there even though they don't seem to have what I want.

Best wishes
Jean

[LesleyB]

Hi Jean
NAS is a goldmine - but it is not always obvious what is there, even using the online catalogue or indexes held there....a bit of diging about is required. I almost always go with an objective or two, and end up looking at something else entirely! Which leads to something else...and then something else.... Everytime I go I find records I was not familiar with, or didn't know existed, or was not aware how much info they held or what type of info they held - recent major exciting find being the sasines - and then all sorts of new research areas just open up. Allow a whole day! (hmm, make that several... ) Even then, you will not want to leave when the 4.30 bell goes! For me, it is a far more fulfilling experience than NRH.

If they provided camp beds, I'd move in!

Best wishes
Lesley

[JustJean]

Hi Lesley

Ok ok you've convinced me It's just the time factor that concerns me. Being the curious type I'm sure I'd be fascinated to visit regardless of what they had for records.....but also being limited to 3 days for research...how does one choose???

Best wishes
Jean