Resarch in Dundee - where to start?

[Beavances]

Hi Next week I will be in Dundee for just two days ( Friday & Monday) and would like to use my time to research family history. Can anyone recommend the best places to go for research? I have never done any 'hands -on' research in Scotland before so really want to make best use of my time.

So far I have used 'Scotland's People' - which is different to the English records I am used too. I have managed some BMD records using this on-line facility but census records seems difficult ( and expensive!) to find if the name is one where the spelling is variable. This might sound naive but are there any advantages to visiting the records offices or is it still the same process as using Scotland's People?

I know the family originated in Dundee and at least one was involves in the Jute industry.
Thanks for reading!

[ev]

Hi ,

If you have downloaded records already it might be worth posting details here to see if we can identify the family on Census records.

Scotlandspeople online records are subject to limits(births - 100 years, marriages - 75 years , and deaths - 50 years) , family history centres will give you access to modern records.



ev

[scotmum]

Not for specific family member research, but if you want to get a feel for what your ancestor is likely to have experienced working in the jute industry, I can highly recommend a visit, if time allows, to Verdant Works:

 http://www.rrsdiscovery.com/index.php?pageID=130

[Beavances]

Thanks - The names I have are Henrietta  Nicoll (her maiden name) and Alexander Laurie. I know they married in 1877 in Dundee and that they had 4 children ( I have been able to find their births /marriages /deaths for these)
The only census returns I have for these is for 1901 when the couple and their 4 children ( aged 22 19 15 & 12) are living at 11 Nelson ? Dundee.
I also have an 1861 census for Henrietta family - living at 58 Rosebank Street Dundee.

Thankyou also for the details of the Verdant Works, will definitely make a visit there.

[jonn]

1881 census, Dundee, Forfar.

Address, 4 South George Street.

Alexander Lawrie, Head, Commercial Clerk, M. age 31 years, M. born Laurencekirk, Kincardine,
Henrietta Lawrie, Wife, M. age 30 years, F. born Dundee, Forfar,
Rosa May Lawrie, Daur, U. age 2 years, F. born Dundee, Forfar.

Regards,
Jonn.

[breaky]

Friends of Dundee Archives website, in their Dundee Directories section, has Alexander in 1882, a clerk with Alexander Low & Son, living at  3 South George Street and in 1896, same occupation, living at 11 Nelson Street.  (Haven't looked for the Nicoll family, though).

[Beavances]

Thanks everyone - I am creating a diagram to build up the picture of who was where and with whom! I have also seen on Google earth that Nelson Street looks is still there so shall also take a walk up to there to get a feel for the place.

[antiquesam]

You could try contacting the cemeteries dept in the library who gave me a plan of the cemetery with grave numbers for my relatives, which led to my finding an uncle I didn't know about from the grave stone.

[Beavances]

Thanks antiquesam Great advice - I shall do that.