Caledonian Connections have been around for over 15 years .Although based in the heart of Scotland in Crieff  we carry out research throughout the British Isles . Most of our communications are by e mail and we pride ourselves in providing a quick efficient resonse to your genealogical queries . . Be you in in down town San Francisco our our on the Gold Coast of Queensland we will get your info to you as soon as possible

Remember that the basis of our service is to  use our expertise to provide that piece of vital information . Many of you will wish to carry oyut  your own research and enjoy the thrill of ancestral discovery . You may have  however hit that " brick wall " . We may be able to find out what you have not . Give us a go !

Before we start we will give you a quote . If you wish to advance your research we  will be available at any time to advise a nd provide .

Fees can be paid be using Pay Pal or by personal check /cheque . The Pay Pal method is probably the easiest if you live outwith the UK . We will send you a copy invoice for the  deposit or research payment. If  incorrect please  e mail by return otherwise you will receive the formal invoice shortly after from Pay Pal This should be paid  directly to them on their secure secure page .  If you wishto pay directly to us please note that if the payment is NOT  in sterling there is a surcharge to cover Bank charges on each transaction . This amounts to £7 or $14 US .

Where is Crieff ???

I live in the heart of Strathearn in picturesque Perthshire . We are equidistant from both Glasgow and Edinburgh which are about an hours drive away . Strathearn was the ancient Pictish Kingdom of Fortren and Kenneth McAlpin established the first capital of Scotland at Forteviot some few miles from Crieff .

We are both Highland and Lowland ! Strange but true . The Highland Boundary fault line  ( a geological fact ) bisects the province . Above ( north ) is Gaelic  in heritage  and below is Lowland where English , Scots or Lallans was the spoken word in olden days .

I carried out a fascinating study some years back in Glen Beigh some 20 miles west of Crieff and lying above Loch Earn . This Gaelic speaking area  was home to a number of small communities whose basic existance was  hand loom weaving of wool and flax ,With the economic decline of the 1850s these people virtually to a person abandoned their homes and sailed across the sea to Ontario in Canada where even now you will find Crambs and Carmichaels in comparitive abundance ! Sadly the  picture below depicts all that remains of the home of one family who made that trip .

Abandoned cottage in Glen Beigh

Scottish Records - a brief explanation

Statutory records , that is the compulsory and legal requirement to register did not  commence in Scotland until January 1855 . In England and Wales it was earlier in July 1837 . Scottish certificates are generally more informativre than their Sassenach equivalents . A Scottish birth cert  shows where and when the  parents married  whilst the southern version does not . In Britain , censuses were carried out from 1841 at ten yearly intervals . Unfortunately 1841  does not give relatioship info or exact age . Ages in adults were rounded down . Birth places are not given only whether or not the individual was born in the County of the census . We can access 1841 , 1851 , 1861 , 1871 , 1881 , 1891 and 1901 . Because of the 100 years rule access to the records of the 1911 census will not be available ( generally) until 2012 !

There are some 900 + Parishes in Scotland and they were instructed by the Stewart Kings in the 16th century to maintain Parish Registers . The oldest ( Errol between Dundee and Perth ) is pre Reformation . Sadly if you ancestors came from one of the Western Isles like Islay or Mull you will find records did not start until about 1820 - nearly three hundred years after those in Errol !

Parish Records ( or OPRs ) detail marriages  , births and baptisms  ( not christenings that is terrminology used by the Mormons (LDS) and churches outwith Scotland ) . Deaths and burials are  not often listed . Afraid in a Presbyterian society that was secondary to birth and marriage !! If you wish more info on Scottish registration and other sources contact Colin on CaledonC@aol.com .

Electoral Roll for Strathearn Parishes

More and more records are appearing on the net . I have transcribed the electoral rolls for a number of Strathearn Parishes for the year 1832 . Strathearn is the valley of the Earn and is the ancient Pictish Kindom of Fortren . It stretches from modern Lochearnhead (Balquhidder Parish ) to where the river meets the Tay near Abernethy - a large area .

1832 was the year when the Reform Act came in and many people were added to the list . This is a useful addition to the more normal sources of research such as the Parish Registers used up until 1855.  For example in Crieff  , lot of the names are still found in the town and round about . Trust you find it of interest . Click on the web page list opposite .

Poor Law List for Crieff in 1899

I have included the Poor Law List for Crieff for 1899 . Another example of sources of information that may just provide a break through in your researches apart from the OPRs , Census and Statutory Records .