THE PEDIGREE-HUNTER IN SCOTLAND AND THE PROVINCES
The genealogist in Scotland will naturally direct his steps to
Edinburgh, where his happy hunting-ground will be the Old Register
House.
This, however, is not thrown open to all comers in the hospitable
manner experienced at the London Record Office, and application must
be made by the genealogist for a special permit allowing him to make
investigations in the Historical Search Department.
The General Register House consists of three buildings, and is divided
into the Old Register House and the New Register House.
Amongst the important records kept there, the following may be
especially mentioned:--
_Crown Writs._--These are similar to English Letters-Patent. An earlier
series of these are known as Privy Seals, and date from 1498.
_The Register of the Great Seal_, containing various records from 1315.
_Exchequer Records_, dating from 1474, deal with matters relating
to revenue, rentals of townlands, etc., and may disclose points of
interest to the pedigree-hunter.
_Privy Council Records._--These are of varied character and importance.
They consist of Acts, Warrants, State Papers, Royal Letters, etc.
Last, though possibly to the genealogist they may be the most important
of all, we must mention:--
_The Sasine Records._--By means of these the history of real property
in Scotland can be traced much more fully than is generally possible in
England or Ireland. The name “Sasine” is the Scottish equivalent of the
word “seizin”--the possession of land.
_The Sasine Writs_ commence at different dates for various districts
and for the several shires in Scotland. All such registers, however,
are now superseded by the General Register of Sasines, which commenced
in 1869.
_Wills_, which are such an essential item in English and Irish
pedigree-hunting, are not quite so important in connection with
Scottish families, for up to 1874 a Scotsman could not devise land, so
his will could only deal with personalty. Still, of course, wills must
be looked up and noted in Scotland as they would be elsewhere.
Neither are _Parish Registers_ so important a feature of genealogical
research in that country as in England. The reason of this is that
there was no early enactment there on the subject. So register-keeping
by the parochial authorities was, up to 1854, a purely voluntary
undertaking. Since this date a regular system of registration, like
that in vogue in England, has been carried out.
Scotland has, like its sister countries, its own _Office of Arms_. This
is known as the _Lyon’s Office_.
But, apart from the General Registry House, there are certain local
records in Scotland which might be consulted.
The principal of these are: _The Books of the Sheriffs’ Courts_, _The
Books of the Royal Burghs_, _Ancient Episcopal Records_.
There were no Herald’s Visitations for Scotland, but their Sasines
affect all the landed classes.
The records of the Scottish _Universities_ supply information which
may be very valuable to the genealogist, in much the same way as those
in England and Ireland. These Scottish Universities are St. Andrews,
Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh.
_The Advocates’ Library_, Edinburgh, is a very celebrated one, and of
printed books, such as have been recommended, the genealogist should
find a plentiful supply in any large library in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Perhaps our pedigree-hunter, when looking up a Scottish family, may
rejoice in the existence of the Clan system in Scotland.
Even if this is regarded as a mixed benefit, it has the advantage of
giving the genealogist a more limited nomenclature through which to
search.
WALES.--_Welsh Families._--If by any chance our pedigree-hunter is
looking up a family of purely Welsh origin, he may be somewhat puzzled
by the family nomenclature, which is almost entirely patronymic, and
until rather lately the baptismal name of the father often became the
son’s surname!
_Parish Registers_ exist in Wales just as in England and Ireland, but
very few of them have been printed.
There are also various _Episcopal Diocesan Registers_ to be consulted
there.
Welsh _Chancery Records_ were until lately kept distinct from the
various series in England.
Reference should be made to those of the _Deputy-Keeper’s Reports_
(these can be consulted in most good libraries) which concern Wales.
According to what district is required, they will give particulars
as to what documents should be searched and where to find them.
There are, for instance, Welsh Pedigrees and genealogical manuscripts
deposited in various libraries.
_The Provinces._--The pedigree-hunter who is located in any country
part of England will almost certainly have to pay a visit to the
metropolis, either in person or by proxy, to ensure a successful
search. Still, while he is at home, some most important records may be
close beside him.
As has already been mentioned, _Wills_, which are not stored at
Somerset House, are kept in numerous depositories all over the land,
principally in the Episcopal Courts.
The country searcher may find that his Diocesan Registry, which perhaps
is close at hand, is just the place where he hopes to discover the most
promising wills.
Then as to _Parochial Registers_, he may find he is in a better
position to come across those he wants (should they date before 1837)
than if he were in London.
_Register Bills_, transcripts of parochial registers, should be sent
annually to the Bishop’s Registries, and may be found there.
However, there is no law enforcing this, so the duty is regarded, more
or less, as a voluntary one.
Consequently the searcher will probably have to visit the various
parishes or write to the vicars, and much may be discovered in this way.
In 1538, a decree was issued by Henry VIII.’s minister, Cromwell,
enacting that parish registers should be regularly kept. This order, if
carried out as it was intended, would have filled with joy the heart of
many a genealogist; but, alas, in early days especially, the rule was
often more honoured in the breach than in the observance. Still, the
pedigree-hunter should discover much valuable information at the parish
registries.
But besides the Probate, Diocesan, and Parochial Registers, if his
object is to find out particulars about a country family, he might
consult _Municipal Documents_, _County Records_, and should refer
to the _Old Record Commission Reports_ of 1800 and 1837; these are
compiled from the returns made by custodians of records throughout the
country, and supply ample information in various miscellaneous matters.
They have been already mentioned.
_Marriage Licences_ are sometimes a fruitful field for discoveries. In
the country these should be obtainable at the Episcopal Registries.
If those required are not to be found there, they may probably be
discovered at the Archdeacon’s Courts.
Of course, the searcher in the counties cannot have access to such
libraries as those in London and Dublin, unless, indeed, he happens
to be near Oxford, where the _Bodleian Library_ is a storehouse of
antiquarian information.
_The University Library_, Cambridge, might also be of great value, but
it is not easy to get access within its precincts.
And, while in that neighbourhood, _Caius College Library_, Cambridge,
should not be overlooked, as it might supply some desirable information.
Sundry genealogical details might also be obtained from the _Officers
of the Clerks of the Peace_, for counties, and from the _Officers of
the Town Clerks_, for boroughs.