Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society

@anesfhs.bsky.social

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The Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society exists to assist and promote the study of genealogy and family history based on the North-East corner of Scotland.

Join us for our next Glasgow Group meeting on Saturday, 23rd May 2026 from 2 pm – 4 pm at the Renfield Saint Stephen's Church Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JP. Were you inspired by our January zoom-only meeting when Gavin Bell spoke about his family's rural exodus? (See Journal 178, May 2026). We are continuing on this theme, broadening it out to explore why your ancestors moved about, not necessarily from rural to town or city locations but perhaps flitting within a city, or even to the rest of the world. Why and when did they move on? How successful was their experience? What resources did you use beyond family lore and BMDs? On Members' Day we particularly encourage members to participate and no Members' Day would be complete without Graham Robertson's Famous Quiz which is always very popular – and challenging. This meeting is in-person-only so we kindly ask you to email your intentions to glasgow@anesfhs.org.uk to ensure we have sufficient chairs, refreshments and prizes.
Just a reminder that our Annual General Meeting takes place this Saturday (16th May) starting at 2 pm (BST) and we’d love to see you there. The AGM is a chance to hear about the work of the Society over the past year, find out what’s planned for the months ahead, and take part in the formal business of the afternoon. After the AGM, we’ll enjoy a talk by Hugh Falconer on Music Making in Aberdeenshire in the 1960s and 70s, a fascinating look back at the local music scene during a memorable era. The in-person meeting takes place at the Fountainhall (formerly Rubislaw) Church Centre, 1 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen, AB15 4AB. The meeting will also be broadcast live over Zoom. If you're planning on joining us from home, pre-registration is required. You can register for the meeting here: https://anesfhs.org/meetings-events/events/event/518-abd2026may
Graphic with information about our upcoming Moray/Banff Group meeting on Saturday, 2nd May 2026 from 2 pm – 4 pm (BST) online via Zoom. This is the second part of our DNA Matters session.
Graphic showing the cover for our latest publication, The Kirkyards of Monquhitter and St. Luke's, Cuminestown
Image advertising our next Moray/Banff Group meeting on Saturday, 4th April 2026 from 1:30 pm — 3:30 pm in the Activities Room of the Elgin Library, Cooper Park, Elgin, IV30 1HS. This will be an in-person meeting only. It’s a long time since we last met in the Activities Room at Elgin Library so we thought we would start with a chance to catch up with each other again. What has been happening in our family history worlds since we last met? Have we broken down some brick walls or, more likely, have we acquired some new ones? Come along to the new Activities Room on Saturday and bring us up to date. Please note the earlier start time, as the library closes promptly at 16:00. We’d love to see you there — whether you’ve got lots to share or just fancy a catch-up, you’ll be very welcome.
Graphic advertising our upcoming Edinburgh Group that will feature a recorded talk by Chris Paton entitled "Researching Your House". The meeting will be on Saturday, 28th March 2026 from 2 pm — 4 pm (GMT). The in-person meeting will take place at the Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh. The meeting will also be broadcast live over Zoom. More details can be found on our website: https://anesfhs.org/meetings-events/events/event/495-edi2026mar
Join us on Saturday, 21st March 2026 from 2 pm — 4 pm (GMT) for Graeme Nicol's talk, "Seven Incorporated Trades — A History". The Seven Incorporated Trades shaped far more than Aberdeen’s working life — they helped forge its character, its standards, and its civic conscience. Citizens understood this well into the mid-twentieth century. Aberdeen’s story is preserved with rare clarity in the craftsmen’s records, revealing values—duty, skill, fellowship, and civic responsibility—that continue to anchor their lasting influence. Our Aberdeen in-person meetings are held at the Fountainhall (formerly Rubislaw) Centre, 1 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen AB15 4AB. The talk will also be broadcast over Zoom. Watching from the comfort of home? If you're a member, please log in to our website and visit the following link to register: https://www.anesfhs.org.uk/meetings-events/aberdeen-meetings/event/487-abd2026mar If you're not a member of the Society, you can send an email to syllabus@anesfhs.org.uk to request an invitation link.
Graphic advertising our upcoming Moray/Banff Group meeting on Saturdday, 7th March 2026 from 2 pm — 4 pm (GMT). This is an online only meeting and this is the first part of our DNA Matters meetings. For this March meeting, Helen Taylor, always a popular speaker on DNA matters, is going to help us get a better understanding of what our DNA tells us and how we can use it. There will be DNA hints and Ancestry tree tips together with handouts. In the course of her talk she will be giving us a live demonstration and also a quick demonstration to show us how the Leeds Method can help us find a person on a missing line. For more info: https://bit.ly/40r2JY9
Graphic advertising our upcoming Australia/New Zealand Group meeting on Saturday, 7th March 2026 from 4 pm — 6 pm (AEDT) / 6 am - 8 am (GMT). Most of us use it. Many of us rely on it. But are we really making the most of everything that ScotlandsPeople offers? If you're struggling to find ancestors or relatives on Scotland’s People then David Stephen’s session will will share practical tips and tricks to help you search smarter and avoid some of the common pitfalls that can waste both time and credits. David has been researching his family history for 35 years and has done a lot of his research using Scotland’s People. Having grown up in Cowie, near Stonehaven, and his father’s line being primarily fisherfolk from the coastal villages between Aberdeen & Montrose using Scotland’s People has helped him find a lot of his forebears. More details: https://bit.ly/3OCLL6r
A graphic announcing that the February issue of our Journal is now available on our website. It includes the following articles: The Lonely Grave of May Mowatt, Cholera Victim The Schoolmaster's Children The Sangsters of Cruden The Thom Family of Dunnottar A Recipe for Haggis Raspberry Brandy From North-East Scotland to New Jersey The Sleighs of Aberdeenshire—and elsewhere Family Legends: Fyvie Castle, Gerrards and Florences A Spooky Coincidence: Ingrams and Thirds Lion Tamers and Polar Bear Ticklers Loss of the Watt Family and the Fishing Boat, Rose, 1899 Illness and Home Cures of Henrietta Mackenzie North-East Scotland Fishing Villages and the Great Shetland Fishing Notes on Using the British Newspaper Archive
This Saturday (24th January 2026), Ken Nisbet, whose many hats include Chairman of the South of Scotland Branch of the Western Front Association, will show what sources can be used to research your relative taken prisoner during the two major conflicts of the 20th century. The situation prior to the Great War, and the role of the Hague and Geneva Conventions, will also be covered. A consistently popular and engaging speaker, Ken is well regarded for sharing practical insights into a wide range of research resources, along with guidance on how best to access and use them. His talks are informative, accessible, and full of ideas that members can apply immediately to their own family-history research. Our Edinburgh Group in-person meetings take place from 2 pm —4 pm (GMT) at the Royal Scots Club, 29 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh EH3 6QE. We’ll be in the ground-floor Ellesmere Room, as is now usual. If you're planning on attending the in-person meeting, please drop us a quick note at edinburgh@anesfhs.org.uk. The meeting will also be available via Zoom. For the online meeting, pre-registration is required. Members can log on to the website and visit the following link: https://www.anesfhs.org.uk/.../edinb.../event/494-edi2026jan If you're not (yet!) a member and would like to attend, please send a message to edinburgh@anesfhs.org.uk to request an invitation link.
A graphic advertising our upcoming course entitled "A Beginner's Course to Researching Your Family's Story and History". This is a six-week online course tutored by Ken Nisbet. The course will be on Thursday nights from 7 pm to 9 pm (GMT) from Thursday, 29th January 2026 to Thursday, 5th March 2026 (inclusive). The cost for the course is £46.00 / £42.00 (concession). To register your interest, please contact us at syllabus@anesfhs.org.uk.
Graphic advertising our London Group Meeting on Saturday, 22nd November 2025 from 12 pm—2pm (GMT) at the Crown Court Church of Scotland Hall, London WC2 5EZ. This is an in-person meeting where we'll discuss brick walls and have a general genealogy chat.
Graphic advertising talk on Saturday, 22nd November from 2 pm—4 pm (GMT) at the Fountainhall (formerly Rubislaw) Church Centre, Aberdeen and online via Zoom. Karen Shaw will give a talk on Aberdeen artist and explorer, William Smith.
Poster advertising an open day at St. Fittick's Church (Coast Road, AB11 8TJ) on Friday, 28 November 2025 Come along between 11 am and 3 pm to find out about the history of this fascinating little medieval church and learn to read memorial inscriptions on the gravestones in the kirkyard with volunteers from Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society.
Graphic advertising upcoming course "Researching your Relatives' Service in WWII", tutored by Ken Nisbet (SGS/SAFHS). This is a five-week online course from Thursday, 6th November 2025—Thursday, 4th December 2025 from 7 pm—9 pm (GMT). The course costs £46 / £42 (concession). To register your interest, contact us at syllabus@anesfhs.org.uk.
Graphic advertising our upcoming Southern Ontario Group meeting on Saturday, 20th September 2025 from 1 pm to 3 pm (EST) / 6 pm to 8 pm (BST). Presenter Jamie Lees will share the remarkable true story behind Left at The Wellgate: The Untold Story of Mary Petrie Smith. It begins in Dundee, Scotland in 1911, when a young woman left two small boys in a pram at the Wellgate before disappearing from their lives. Through historical records, photographs, and personal archives, Jamie traces the path of this woman across continents and generations, uncovering the hidden threads that connect past to present. This talk follows the acclaimed Left at The Wellgate exhibition in Dundee and precedes an upcoming book and theatrical production based on the story.
Image of the cover of Journal 175 featuring a sailing ship and the title "Drama on the High Seas"
Graphic advertising ANESFHS' Southern Ontario Group Meeting about "Ancestral Mapping Using Google Earth Pro". This is an online meeting held on Saturday, 26th April 2025 from 1 pm to 3 pm (EDT). For those in the UK, it's 6 pm to 8 pm (BST). This is an open meeting - all are welcome. Pre-registration is required. Visit our website at www.anesfhs.org.uk and click on the Events tab to register.
Advertisement for the upcoming ANESFHS Aberdeen meeting. This month's talk by Nicolas Le Bigre is entitled "An Introduction to the Work of the Elphinstone Institute". The meeting will be on Saturday, 12th April 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Fountainhall Church Centre, 1 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen AB15 4AB and online via Zoom. To register, visit our website: www.anesfhs.org.uk and click on the Events link.
Graphic advertising our next Edinburgh Group Meeting on Saturday, 22nd March 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm (GMT) at the Royal Scots Club, 29 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh EH3 6QE. This meeting will also be broadcast live over Zoom. Louise Williams will give a talk entitled "Family History Resources in Lothian Health Board."
A graphic advertising the next Aberdeen meeting of the Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society on Saturday, 15th March 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm (GMT) at the Fountainhall Church Centre, 1 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen AB15 4AB. The meeting will also be available online via Zoom. For more details: https://anesfhs.org.uk/meetings-events/events/event/454-abd2025mar
Graphic advertising our next Australia/New Zealand Group meeting on Saturday, 1st March 2025.
Graphic advertising our next Moray/Banff Group Meeting on Saturday, 1st March 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm (GMT). More details: https://www.anesfhs.org.uk/meetings-events/events/event/474-mbf2025mar
Graphic advertising our next Glasgow Group meeting on Saturday, 22 February 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JP. We are delighted to welcome Glasgow University students from the prestigious postgraduate course on Textile Conservation. They will facilitate a number of hands-on workshops, such as "how to roll flat textiles," "how to clean a delicate surface" and "how to pack historic costumes for storage." In addition, there may be a chance for you to consult the students on your precious textiles. This meeting will be held in person only in the Renfield Centre as usual, but in the Cowcaddens Room rather than next door in our usual Kirk Lounge. From the ground floor, turn right and go past the former Oasis Cafe to the back stairs. There is no life access to this part of the building. Toilet facilities are nearby. As always, our meetings are free to attend, but we would be most grateful if you would kindly signify your likely attendance by e-mailing glasgow@anesfhs.org.uk so that we can organise the space (and tea and biscuits).
Graphic showing information about our next Southern Ontario Group meeting on Saturday 22 February 2025 from 1 pm to 3 pm EST/ 6 pm to 8 pm GMT. Sally Low will give a talk entitled "Slavery and its impact on family history". For more details and to pre-register, go to www.anesfhs.org.uk and click on the Events tab. This is an open meeting, you don't need to be a member of the Society in order to attend, everyone is welcome.
Graphic showing information about our next Aberdeen meeting on Saturday, 15th February 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm (GMT). Joe McLeod will give a talk entitled "Three Hall Russell Ships". The in-person meeting will be at the Fountainhall (formerly Rubislaw) Centre, 1 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen, AB15 4AB. The online meeting will be via Zoom and pre-registration is required. Visit www.anesfhs.org.uk and click on the Events tab to register.
Graphic advertising our next London Group Meeting this Saturday, 8th February 2025 from 12 pm to 2 pm at the Crown Court Church of Scotland Hall, Russell Street, London, WC2 5EZ. Nick Hide will give a talk entitled "A Snapshot of Davidsons from Aberdeen & North-East Scotland." This is an open meeting - you don't have to be a member in order to attend. Everyone is welcome.
Informational graphic about the Aberdeen & North-East Family History Society's upcoming Moray/Banff Group meeting. The meeting will be held on Saturday, 1st February 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm (GMT). This is an online only meeting and pre-booking is required. Go to the Society's website: www.anesfhs.org.uk and click on the Events tab to pre-register. This is an open meeting. You don't need to be a member of the Society in order to attend. Everyone is welcome.
"Commemoration and Remembrance" is the subject of our next Edinburgh meeting on Saturday, 25th January 2025 from 2 pm to 4 pm (GMT). This is an online only meeting and you can join us from anywhere in the world. Full details can be found on our website by clicking the Events tab. This is an open meeting - you don't need to be a member in order to attend - everyone is welcome!
"How to make best use of the updated Scotland's People website" a talk by Ken Nisbet, SGS/SAFHS. Saturday, 23rd November 2024 from 2 pm to 4 pm (GMT) Online only, pre-booking required. Go to www.anesfhs.org.uk and click the Events tab for more information
An advertisement for the Southern Ontario ANESFHS Group. Anne Park will give a talk, "Roll of Honour: Stories of Local Heroes" on 23rd November 2024 from 1 pm - 3 pm (EST)/ 6 pm - 8 pm (GMT). Online via Zoom. Visit www.anesfhs.org.uk and click on Events. If you're not a member of the Society, email the contact address on that page for an invitation link.
Mr. Horace Walpole, writing to the Rev. Mr. Cole, 5th June 1775 says, "People don't know how entertaining a study it (genealogy) is. Who begot whom is a most amusing kind of hunting; one recovers a grandfather instead of breaking one's own neck - and then one grows so pious to the memory of a thousand persons one never heard of before." - R. Murdoch Lawrance