Find your castle of clan origin!

**frank_a** · 20th May 13, 09:33 AM

Just so you all know, there was an article in the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal about a new service offered in the British Isles that takes tourists to family heritage sites, such as clan castles and/or keeps in Scotland. I read it with great interest till I saw that such packages start at about $35,000USD. A bit out of my range, but possibly of interest to the rabble, er, diaspora!

Frank

**Chas** · 20th May 13, 10:20 AM

What could they possibly provide that a person could not obtain for themselves? I cannot see many serious genealogists using this 'service'.

Regards

Chas

**creagdhubh** · 20th May 13, 10:27 AM

I have already done all of that and more (many times over too) for the cost of a simple plane ticket to Edinburgh. For $35,000 US...sounds like a racket to me!

**frank_a** · 20th May 13, 10:27 AM

I'm still trying to find where my Campbell and Wallace ancestors came from in Scotland Chas, and I've been at it 45 years! Once I have a bit of time, I'll sign up for six months of Ancestry.com's Canadian service and see what I come up with there. My research on the ground in SE Ontario Canada was not fruitful. Of course, both Campbell and Wallace are popular names too. As the web gets more and more "stuff" maybe it will get easier and less expensive to find info like what I'm seeking. I can follow my Huguenot line back into France in the 1500's, but not the Scottish lines past North America.

Frank

**Nathan** · 26th May 13, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by frank_a

I'm still trying to find where my Campbell and Wallace ancestors came from in Scotland Chas, and I've been at it 45 years! Once I have a bit of time, I'll sign up for six months of Ancestry.com's Canadian service and see what I come up with there. My research on the ground in SE Ontario Canada was not fruitful. Of course, both Campbell and Wallace are popular names too. As the web gets more and more "stuff" maybe it will get easier and less expensive to find info like what I'm seeking. I can follow my Huguenot line back into France in the 1500's, but not the Scottish lines past North America.

Frank

Regardless where your particular ancestor lived though, the castles etc. were in particular Clan official seats and strongholds. For Campbell, start in Argyll. Inveraray Castle...

**frank_a** · 28th May 13, 06:55 AM

Thanks Nathan, but I am well aware of Inveraray Castle, and the MacCailein Mor (clan chief) who lives there with his wife and children. I can't very well track from there to here; it must be through my paternal lines to there. That is my problem, but someday soon when I am retired, I will doubly focus on my Scottish problem, i.e., where did these Scots I'm descended from come from in Scotland?!?

Retirement in early 2016.

Frank

**Chas** · 28th May 13, 07:20 AM

Hi Frank,

As well as Ancestry.com, there is also this:

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ - Parts are free.

Have you registered with Ancestry.com? You don't have to pay, you're just on their mailing list. Every few months they give a time limited freebie. This last weekend was all military records, total free access. I found the record of an ancestor's participation at the Battle of Waterloo (I knew that his regiment was there, but didn't know his involvement till Saturday). I downloaded 1.5 gigs from Friday to Monday.

In January it was passenger and crew records (emigration, immigration and cruises) and there have been 'Gold Rush' week ends and 'Railroad' weekends. I have never paid them a penny, but have found at least 20 relatives and a vast amount of data.

There is also:

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/ - for the rest of the UK
http://www.freecen.org.uk/ - census records, and
http://www.freereg.org.uk/ - parish records, but not Scotland.

Regards

Chas

**Chas** · 28th May 13, 07:22 AM

Almost forgot - It pays to 'Like' them on FaceBook.

Regards

Chas

**frank_a** · 28th May 13, 07:27 AM

My wife is registered with ancestry.com. We are essentially waiting for me to be retired, and get the 6 month world subscription so I can be completely focused and delve in. My current job takes up way too much time, and as a result the little free time I get goes into other things. I'm in very good shape from a genealogical perspective with all but my Scottish ancestry. It's been very frustrating, but I can't back out of North America on any of the Scottish lines.

Some good leads there, I will check them out as I can. Thanks!

I'm going to start participating with the Clan Campbell Association soon (help at their booths and tents at festivals and games) and hope to get more specific help there. We'll see.

Don't worry, this issue will not result in my hanging up my kilts!

Frank