RHEA-L Archives

From: EFoley1 <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] "Origins"
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 09:35:04 EDT

For anyone else who would like to try their hand at some research in Scotland,
here is some information from the web site "ORIGINS".

ED

Scots Origins is an online pay-per-view database of indexes from the
genealogical records of the GRO(S). It costs 6 (sterling) for 30 page
credits. Each page consists of a maximum of 15 search results. Further credits
can be bought in 30 page increments for a further 6 charge each time.

About the index The Scots Origins database contains fully searchable indexes
of the GRO(S) index to births/baptisms and banns/marriages from the Old Parish
Registers dating from 1553 to 1854, plus the indexes to births, deaths and
marriages from 1855 to 1897. One additional year will be added per annum
(1898,1899 etc.) to protect the privacy of living persons. An index to census
records for 1891 will be provided in the near future; 1881 census data will
provided later this year.

Searching is possible on the following fields:
Surname
Event type (birth/christening, marriage, death)
Sex
Forename (or first initial)
Year of registration (or range of years)
Age (or age range) - deaths only
Registration District (Statutory Index)
County (Old Parish Register)

Searching is also possible on other names which are mentioned within a
particular record. This includes spouse's name, father's name, mother's name
and mother's maiden surname, depending on the entry.

Extract Ordering
An extract is a transcription of all the information held as an entry in the
original records held by GRO(S). Entries themselves often contain additional
information that is not held within the indexes and can be of historical
interest. Extracts of the original entries in the GRO(S) records can be
ordered directly from the database. Extract orders are processed by GRO(S) and
sent
via ordinary mail as paper documents. For details of what extracts are and
what they look like click here. The cost of each extract is 10.
Extracts of entries not accessible via the online database (that is those
which are less than one hundred years old) can be ordered directly from the
GRO(S) website by printing off a form and either faxing or mailing it.
For further details about the GRO(S), visit their website.
http://www.open.gov.uk/gros/groshome.htm

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

How many searches can I do for my one off fee?
You can perform as many searches as you wish for no extra fee. The number of
results returned
from each search will be indicated but not the results themselves. Only when
you choose to view
results will any charges be incurred. This facility is to avoid charging for
searches which return no results and searches which return too many results
which you may wish to narrow with a new
search.

How many results can I view for my one off fee?
The 6 fee allows you to view 30 pages of results. Each page may contain a
maximum of 15
names. If there are fewer than 15 names on a page this still counts as one
page.

How much do extracts cost?
Extracts ordered from the index cost 10 each including postage and packaging
.

What about the fees for viewing additional results?
Additional results can be viewed once the original limit for 6 has been
reached. A warning
indicating that your limit has been reached will appear allowing you to
proceed or not. Additional
access is charged at exactly the same rate as initially, but you will not
need to fill in your details
again. A new 24 hour period will commence for access to the database.

Can I set up an account?
Although no account facility exists at the moment it may be possible to
introduce this at a later
date.

What happens if my connection drops or I am unable to access to the site
once I have
paid?
Your chosen password and user ID which you receive once your credit card is
authorised, allows
access to the database at any time within a 24 hour period. Any search
results requested may be
re-requested for no additional fee so you will not have to pay for results
not received.

Can you help me trace my family history?
We do not offer any genealogical services ourselves, other than online
databases, but the Origins
resources page lists other sources that may be able to help you.

Is it safe to pay by credit card over the Internet?
All credit card details are transferred encrypted via SSL to prevent
fraudulent misuse. Technically
this is safer than paying in a restaurant where credit card details may be
copied.

Why can't I access records less than 100 years old?
Although held in Edinburgh by the GRO(S), records less than 100 years are not
published online,
in order to respect the privacy of those who are still alive.

Why does one of my searches return data which is incomplete?
Particularly for older Parish Register entries where data has been
transcribed from manuscript
originals and then converted into electronic form, difficulty in reading the
original may produce an entry which is partially incomplete. Despite this,
however, the number of entries in which this
occurs is very small amongst the tens of millions of records which are
contained within the
database.

Can I find out a record of parents for a birth record?
This facility exists within searches to the Parish Registers but not within
the Statutory Index.

Can I find out a spouse's maiden name from a marriage record?
Again this facility only exists for the Parish Records. A search result for
returning a record for
either partner in a marriage will allow searching the appropriate record for
the other partner.

Are there any deaths records in the Parish registers?
The original Parish Registers recorded deaths but these have not been
transferred into electronic
form.

Can I access this information anywhere else on the Internet?
This will continue to be the only location on the Internet where you are able
to search the GRO
indexes

Can I access the database 24 hours a day?
Yes, access can be paid for and the database searched 24 hours a day 365 days
a year.

Why can't I find the Surname I'm looking for in the index?
Two factors may influence this: In older records there was no consensus for
Surname spelling so
multiple variations may exist within the same family.

Can I search for different spellings of the same name at the same time?
Soundex capability is built in to the database. This means that similar
sounding names can be
optionally returned. Although this sounds marvellous, Soundex is not always
accurate for Scottish
names and pronunciations. For example the surname 'White' can be spelt
'Quihte' in Scotland in
historical cases. Often spellings of surnames were changed when families
emigrated and this may
mean that spellings of surnames may appear different in some cases for
relatives within the same
family that have since emigrated. Over time it is our intention to build up a
list of alternative
surname spellings which can be separately searched.

What is the difference between the Statutory Index and the Parish Registers?
Before it became a government task in 1855 to collate Birth, Marriage and
Death records such
records were collected locally by individual Parishes. Parish records for
Births and Marriages
only, were transcribed from manuscript originals by members of the Church of
the Latter Day
Saints. Information from these transcriptions was subsequently transferred
into electronic form to
create a searchable index and has now been made accessible via the Internet.

Can I access a demo of the database?
A demo of the database is accessible here
http://www.origins.net/GRO/demo.html

How long does it take to authorise my credit card?
Credit card authorisations are performed in real-time and usually take
between 7 and 10 seconds
although this can be 15 seconds during busy periods.

What currency am I charged in?
All charges are in GB pounds.

Can I output the results of a search in GEDCOM?
Through our work on database standards for the web we have designed a
'metadata' standard
which includes a description of GEDCOM for use within online databases, see
http://www.edml.com for a technical description. At the moment results from
the online GRO(S)
database are not available in GEDCOM format, however.

What happens if the server is taken down for maintenance during my 24 hour
period?
Should this happen your 24 hour period will not include any time during which
the server is not
accessible.

Are there any other genealogical data which you plan on hosting?
At the moment we are looking at other genealogical sources and are interested
in anyone who
owns such material who is interested in placing it on the web. Any other
databases will appear as
separate links off the Origins home page, http://www.origins.net. We have
designed a unique
database system that may allow simultaneous searching across multiple
databases via the Internet
and it may be that further databases may be accessed via a single search
form.

Can I order an extract for a date after 1897, for example, my own birth
certificate?
At present orders for such extracts may be made via the GRO(S) website where
forms can be
printed off and mailed or faxed directly to them.

Name: Robert Fenwick BA(Hons) ASGRA AGRA
Address: St Leonards Manse, 112 Dundee Road, Perth PH2 7BB, Scotland
Telephone: 01738-627975
Description: All modern and ancient records searched, especially for
families and
sources located in regional archives. Main period of interest
1550 -1750.

Name: Gary Young
Address: 176 Faifley Road, Faifley, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire G81 5BH,
Scotland
Telephone: 01389-877540
Email:
Web: http://website.lineone.net/~gary.young
Description: Research into Scottish ancestry from statutory and parish
registers,
census returns and other record sources. Specialize in West of
Scotland
research. Adoption searches and living relative traces
undertaken.

Name: A King
Address: Scottish Ancestral Research, 4 Esplanade Terrace, Edinburgh EH15
2ES,
Scotland
Telephone: 0131-669 3727
Email:
Description: Free sample of prospective client's own family research
offered. No
result no fee. All received enquiries answered.

Name: Angus M Coutts - Scottish Family Research
Address: PO Box 12760, Edinburgh EH8 7TZ, Scotland
Telephone: 0131-659 6249
Email:
Web: http://www.linnet.co.uk/linnet/tour/67015.htm
Description: Family history research from census, statutory and old parish
records.

Name: Scottish Roots
Address: 16 Forth Street, Edinburgh EH1 3LH, Scotland
Telephone: 0131-477 8214
Fax: 0131-550 3701
Email:
Web: http://www.scottish-roots.co.uk
Description: For professional results contact Scottish Roots (est.1984).
Send known
details for a free estimate and brochure. Visa & Mastercard
facilities
available.

Name: J Poole MA AGRA ASGRA
Address: 9 Queens Gardens, St Andrews KY16 9TA, Scotland
Tel/Fax: 01334-474887 (24 hours)
Email:
Description: Research all dates, esp pre-1800; legal and living relative
relative
specialist; Latin. Established 1981; leaflet available.

Name: Alan J L MacLeod FSAScot, ASGRA
Address: 51/3 Mortonhall Road, Edinburgh EH9 2HN, Scotland
Telephone: 0131-667 0437
Fax: 0131-667 0437
Email:
Description: Family history / living relative research / sightings of parish
and
statutory registers and census records.

Name: Bob MacDougall LL.B.
Address: Oxhill, Kippen, Stirlingshire FK8 3DT, Scotland
Telephone: 01786-870363
Fax: 01786-870363
Email:
Description:
Based in 'Braveheart' country offering a comprehensive family
history
research service covering the whole of Scotland. Includes
examination of
census, statutory & parish registers, national & local archive
sources,
living relative & legal searches, graveyard visits, photographs,
etc.

Name: Moira Murray McPherson, Cert.SFHS
Address: Chartershall House, Chartershall, Stirling FK7 8HF, Scotland
Telephone: +44-(0)1786-812257
Fax: +44-(0)1786-811773
Email:
Description:
Find out about your Scottish Ancestors, where they lived, what
they did
for a living, solve that riddle in the family, or as a present
for a special
occasion. Family History, Historical and Archival Records
researched
throughout Scotland, with particular interest in Perthshire,
Stirlingshire
and Morayshire.

Name: Rosemary Bigwood, MA, MLitt, ASGRA
Address: Flat B, The Lodge, 2 East Road, North Berwick EH39 4HN, Scotland
Telephone: 01620-894672
Fax: 01620-894672
Email:
Description: Scottish family and historical research including pre-18th
century records
in Edinburgh and other Scottish archives. Transcriptions and
Latin
translations. Help with old Scots.

Name: Mrs Anna Frackiewicz, MA (St Andrews)
Address: Ancestry Research (Scotland), 87/4 Craiglockhart Terrace,
Edinburgh
EH14 1AJ, Scotland
Telephone: 0131-443 1108
Description: Family histories researched from the following sources:
Statutory (1855
onwards), Old Parish (pre-1855) and miscellaneous (consular,
service,
etc) records; census returns 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891;
legal
documents: wills, deeds, sasines, historical references, old
maps,
tombstones. Information sheet on request.

Name: M Findlay & V Stephenson
Address: 49 Almondbank Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 1SR, Scotland
Telephone: +44-(0)131-337 4749
Fax: +44-(0)131-337 4749
Email:
Web: http:// www.scottish-forebears.co.uk
Description: SCOTTISH FOREBEARS - experienced family historians. We've got
the
enthusiasm and the "nose" to follow your family's trail. Full or
partial
searches offered - quality report guaranteed.
You can contact us regarding problems or general enquiries about the Scots
Origins database at the addresses below. Please note that we are unable to
help with specific enquiries regarding tracing your family history, however,
you may wish to contact one of the genealogists mentioned in the resources
section.

General enquiries:

Problems:

Please refer to the GRO(S) website for extract related
enquiries and problems:
http://www.open.gov.uk/gros/groshome.htm

Notes on Search Fields:

The OPR are the Old Parish Records, these were replaced by the SI or Statutory
Index in 1855.
Death * - deaths entries only appear in the Satutory Index (SI) and therefore
only show for searches after 1854.
Unknown ** - This refers to enries where the gender or event is listed as
unknown within the
index, and occurs mainly where the original manuscripts have been hard to
read in the Old
Parish Records (OPR). If the criteria which you wish to search on are unknown
then leaving all
boxes checked for gender and event will return relevant results.
Name 2 - This refers to the father's name in Births/Christening entries in the
Old Parish records
(OPR) or Spouse's name for Marriage entries in Both the OPR and SI.
Name 3 - This refers to the mother's name in Births/Christening entries in the
OPR or maiden
name in death records for female entries in the SI.

General Search Notes:

1. Wildcards (searches for unknown characters) can be used in the text search
boxes - '*' to
represent multiple characters and '?' to represent a single character.
2. It is always worthwhile finishing any forename search box entry with the
'*' wildcard as
often the records contain more than one forename e.g. 'JOHN*'.
3. If you are timed out when waiting for a search return; it most probably
means that the
search that you have entered is too broad and the number of records to be
returned is
unfeasible. You should then restrict your search and try again.
4. The Soundex function returns names which are phonetically similar to that
which you are
looking for. The numbers 2 to 32 represent how similar the range of names to
be returned
should be, with 32 being the broadest range. Soundex is not always accurate
for Scottish
names and pronunciations. For example the surname 'White' can be spelt
'Quihte' in Scotland
in historical cases.

This thread:

• [RHEA-L] "Origins" by EFoley1 <>