Chapter VIII: 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 All such registers, however, are now superseded by the General Register of Sasines, which commenced in 1869.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.