BBC Radio Scotland Highlands and Islands

Digging Up Your Roots

Factual: Families & Relationships

Factual: History

BBC Radio Scotland's genealogy programme, packed with advice and stories

Digging Up Your Roots: Series 6

Digging Up Your Roots: Series 6: Episode 2

Episode 2

Series 6

BBC Radio Scotland - Digging Up Your Roots, Series 6, Episode 2

Family histories and genealogy advice, presented by Bill Whiteford.

EPISODE 2

This week presenter Bill Whiteford and resident genealogist Professor Bruce Durie step back in to the depths of time to as they hear of ancestors who lived long before the statutory recording of births, deaths and marriages began. 

MASSACRE OF GLENCOE 

Meredith Sellers lives near Chicago, Illinois but her family history research quickly which took her back here to Scotland. Meredith discovered that she was a direct descendant of a Thomas Jack who was born in 1710 in Alyth, Perthshire. In researching this Jack family further her research took an intriguing twist when she discovered that Thomas' father may have had an alternate identity that linked the family to a pivotal event in Scottish history. 

THE ORKNEY DONS

Our next historical tale takes us on a journey back to 1588 and the Spanish Armada. Rachel Lloyd's family history research led her to the island of Westray in Orkney and the fascinating story of "The Westray Dons". 

GUIDMAN OF BALLENGEICH

Margaret Love lives near Elgin and was inspired by a 4 week genealogy course at her local library to dig deeper into her family roots. She successfully managed to track down family members through the internet and was intrigued when one particular contact told of a legend in the family that took them way back in time when King James V was said to travel the country incognito as "The Guidman o' Ballengeich".

NATIONAL RECORDS OF SCOTLAND

Bill takes a trip to the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh to meet archivist Peter Wadley. He explains the wealth of historical records held there. These are just some:

1. Militia records
2. Clubs and societies
3. Estate papers/Land grants
4. Register of Deeds
5. Register of Sasines/Notary Public records
6. Retours

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Digging Up Your Roots

Series 6

Episode 2

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