GENEALOGY
Our Library
The case notes provide a great deal of information concerning medical care e.g., the diagnosis and definitions of diseases, symptoms, treatment and developing ideas in the medical field during the Enlightenment. In addition, it is possible to gather information with respect to occupations, military service, religious affiliations, immigration and emigration. Additionally, they provide a rare and valuable insight into the daily lives of ordinary people from Edinburgh seeking care and support at a time when medical care was usually only available to the wealthy.
| • | A primary resource for genealogists, family historians, biographers and other researchers seeking to gather information on individuals and families are vital records such as those relating to Birth/Baptism, Marriage and Death (BMDs). It is important to note that, prior to 1855 in Scotland, 1837 in England and Wales and 1864 in Ireland, there was no legal requirement for statutory and standardised recording of Birth/Baptism, Marriage and Death records. Records would have been kept by the parish and are referred to as Old Parish Records (OPRs). The ScotlandsPeople website has a collection of these OPRs for Scotland from the period 1553-1854. Other records for Scotland and elsewhere may be identified on other websites such as Ancestry, Findmypast and FamilySearch. |
| • | Another key primary resource for gathering information on individuals and their families is national censuses. Unfortunately, there were no national censuses recording names prior to 1841 in the United Kingdom, therefore, it is necessary to rely on other local records, often referred to as census substitutes, such as tax records e.g., house taxes, dog or horse ownership taxes. These records, where they survive, vary in the quality and type of data collected. |
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It may not be possible to identify family members or research subjects from dispensary case books and other records. The notes often do not provide enough information on which to base research. It is important to note that in the Georgian era very little information was recorded about poor people particularly women and children. Also, common naming practices in Scotland at the time where names were commonly passed onto the next generation can make it difficult to accurately identify an individual or their family even where information is available concerning the location of where they lived.
By contrast, it is more likely that it will be possible to identify wealthier individuals such as landowners and aristocrats whose names could be mentioned in sources such as newspapers or books such as the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. It may also be possible to identify those who attended university and professional people who may respectively appear in relevant university and professional publications as well as skilled tradesmen whose information may be recorded in such items as apprenticeship records, trade directories and/or other trade and guild records or publications. |
| • | When undertaking genealogical research, it is important to note that some websites must be paid for by subscription, although libraries often provide limited access to the sites e.g. Ancestry.co.uk, whilst other websites operate on a pay as you go basis where you pay for credits e.g. Scotlandspeople.gov.uk. |
| • | It is also important when undertaking any research to question the source and accuracy or provenance of the information provided. Do not assume, for example, that family tree information available on various websites are accurate. The information on these sites is subject to transcription errors and assumptions made by tree makers that may or may not be true. |
There are many research sources available which can be of value to researchers wanting to learn more about the Edinburgh dispensary patients and referenced medical practitioners et al. but some key sources and websites are referenced in different categories of interest here. Note most sites had a Scottish and/or UK/Ireland focus.
• ScotlandsPeople https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
• Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk
• Findmypast https://www.findmypast.co.uk
• FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org
• Deceasedonline https://www.deceasedonline.com
• Findagrave https://www.findagrave.com
• BillionGraves https://billiongraves.com
• Scottish Monumental Inscriptions https://www.scottish-monumental-inscriptions.com
• ScotlandsPeople https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
• ScotlandsPlaces https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk
Archives and libraries are tremendous resources for a wide variety of information and guidance for any researcher. There are many local libraries and archives. However, the primary UK and Ireland sources are as follows:
• National Records of Scotland https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk
• The National Archives https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
• National Archives of Ireland/ Cartlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann https://www.nationalarchives.ie
• Public Record Office of Northern Ireland https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/public-record-office-northern-ireland-proni
• Archives Wales/ Archifau Cymru https://archives.wales
• National Library of Scotland https://www.nls.uk
• National Library of Ireland https://www.nli.ie
• National Library of Wales / Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru https://www.library.wales
• The British Library https://www.bl.uk
Family history societies and genealogical societies are tremendous resources for a wide variety of information and guidance for any researcher. There are many local family history and genealogical groups but the primary Scottish, UK and Irish sources for research are as follows:
• Scottish Association of Family History Societies (S.A.F.H.S.) https://www.safhs.org.uk
• Family History Federation https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com
• Irish Family History Society https://ifhs.ie
• Northern Irish Family History Society https://www.nifhs.org
• Scottish Genealogical Society https://www.scotsgenealogy.com
• Society of Genealogists https://www.sog.org.uk
• National Library of Scotland https://www.nls.uk
• National Library of Scotland Old Maps https://maps.nls.uk
• British Newspapers Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
• FindMyPast -British Library’s Newspaper Archive https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers
• Irish Newspapers Archive https://www.irishnewsarchive.com
Note: British and Irish newspapers can be accessed at relevant local libraries. However, many have now been scanned and are available to search on the British Newspapers Archive, FindMyPast and/ or Irish Newspapers Archive websites all of which are subscriptions only sites.
• Newspapers Archive Online (1700s-2002) https://www.newspapers.com
or
• Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/np_newspapers/
Note: Worldwide newspapers (1700s-2002) can be accessed via the Newspapers Archive Online or the Ancestry website which are both subscriptions only sites.
There is a wealth of resources linked to a variety of occupations including records relating to apprenticeships, professional records and organisations and trade and guild records. A few general resources are listed below as well as some pertaining to the medical profession.
• Index of Old Occupations https://rmhh.co.uk/occup/index
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography https://oxforddnb.com
• Wellcome Library Catalogue https://wellcomecollection.org
Note: This catalogue can be searched by surname. The collection includes many published works, and these may contain some biographical information.
• Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/heritage/tracing-medical-ancestors
• List of Edinburgh University medical graduates https://archive.org/details/b21466373
• List of Edinburgh University medical matriculations https://collections.ed.ac.uk/alumni
