Open Afternoon at Coldingham Priory

Borders Heritage Week (Sep 10 – 18, 2011) celebrates the rivers and coast with talks and walks on the rivers Tweed and Teviot, all the way down to St Abbs, Coldingham and Eyemouth. More information at www.doorsopenday.org.uk and www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk.

On Wednesday the 14th, there will be an open afternoon (2.00pm to 4.00pm) at the church, ruins and new garden at Coldingham Priory with informed guides at the medieval priory and the modern church (More information from Julia Carter 01890 771420).

Last year, Borders Family History Society and the Friends of Coldingham Priory recorded the Monumental Inscriptions in the graveyard which surrounds the Priory. The MI is still a work in progress but we will be at the church during the open afternoon. As well as having the draft MI, we will have transcriptions of the names recorded in the Hearth Tax of 1694 and the Militia Lists of the 1801 for the parish. If you are researching your family history in Coldingham, please come along.

If you can’t visit Coldingham on the 14th, there will be two more events on Saturday the 17th. The Priory will be open from 10.00am to 12.00noon. Contact www.stebba-coldinghampriory.org.uk for more info about the Priory opening. Scottish Borders Council Ranger Service (Tel 01835 826750) will lead a guided walk around St Abbs and Coldingham (11.00am to 4.00pm).

Transcribing at Lilliesleaf

This week-end (27^th. and 28^th.) August we shall be transcribing the stones at Lilliesleaf.

Lilliesleaf is a very old Church which can trace its history back to 1116 although perhaps fortunately from our point of view we shall not be called upon to transcribe stones quite so far back although there will certainly be a number going back to the 18th. and 19th. centuries which will no doubt prove challenging.

The transcribing of these stone is a vital service for family research as often information contained on the stones is simply not available from any other source and if not recorded is in real danger of being lost. Once transcribed the information with photographs of every stone and also other information pertinent to the parish such as the Hearth Tax, Militia Lists, lists of Ministers etc. is produced on C.D. and is available both to purchase and to view within our Archive. For a full list of the parishes/graveyards which we have transcribed to date see our Sales List.

We shall be transcribing on Saturday between 10 and 4 p.m. and on Sunday between 1 and 4 and we invite anyone interested in helping to come along even for a brief period during these hours. Don’t worry if you have no previous experience in transcribing as full training will be given. Bring though a notebook and pen/pencil and also a soft brush and also optionally chalk, water and a kneeling pad.

This is an opportunity to meet with other members of the Society who usually bring along a picnic so it becomes quite a social occasion.

Lilliesleaf is situated about 7 miles north-east of Hawick, 7 miles south-east of Selkirk, 7 miles north-west of Ancrum, and 7 miles south-west of Melrose so very central for all these places. The Church is situated on the left hand side of the village approaching from Melrose.

If you can manage let me know as this helps with organizing or if you wish further information please contact.

Looking forward to a successful week-end and fingers crossed the weather holds.

Ronald Morrison

Scottish World War 1 Pension Application and Appeal Records

The National Records of Scotland holds pension application and appeal records covering the period from November 1919 to December 1932 relating to Scottish soldiers and their next of kin who suffered from injuries sustained in the war, or died after the war due to injuries.

Apparently, most World War 1 service records were burnt during World War 2 and it can be difficult tracing your ancestor's service during World War 1. If your ancestor suffered from a war wound, or died soon afterwards, then these records may be useful. Many of the applications were rejected, so even if your ancestor didn't receive a disability pension, it's still possible there's a record of him applying for one.

Typical information comprises the name of the soldier, and the applicant's name, relationship to soldier, address, age, occupation, employers, rank, unit, date discharged, reason for discharge, pre-war service, service history from 1914 to 1921, date of the pension hearing, disability, appeal outcome, and pension amount, soldier's medical history. More information.

(with thanks to Tunji Lees and Chris Paton).