new family history sources 16/4/09 10:58 Page 1

Aberdeen City Archives Aberdeen City Archives Aberdeen City Archives

Burgh register of sasines (Town House) only be consulted upon completion of an access request form. Introduction The register of sasines records transfers of land rights within A leaflet providing more detail about these records is available the old burgh boundary and is a valuable genealogical source on request and also on our website. Aberdeen City Archives holds a considerable amount of for earlier periods. The records begin in 1484 and continue genealogical source material and this leaflet aims to introduce until 1809 after which date sasine registers can be found at the School records (Old Aberdeen House) the main classes of records for the study of family history. National Archives of Scotland along with those for the north- Headteacher’s log books and pupil admission registers survive Advice of a more general nature on genealogy can be found in east counties. for several hundred north-east schools as a major source for the ‘Starting Your Family History’ leaflet. Please note that the family history research. A list of the schools collections, most- collections are split between two sites, the Town House and Burgh register of deeds (Town House) ly post-dating the Education (Scotland) Act of 1872, Old Aberdeen House, as indicated in the text. These are gen- From the 16th century onwards deeds other than titles to land can be found in the Catalogues section of our eral indications only, and we strongly advise you to contact us were often confirmed before burgh courts. A wide variety of website. Please note that access to certain in advance if you are at all unsure about where records are documents, such as marriage settlements, loans and mortgages, records in these collections is restricted held. can be found in these registers. under the Data Protection Act and they may only be consulted upon completion Burial records (Town House) Electoral rolls (Town House/Old Aberdeen House) of an access request form. A leaflet pro- The City Archives has interment records for a number of There are two series of electoral rolls; voters rolls for munici- viding more detail about these records cemeteries within the City boundary, notably for St Peter's, St pal elections to the Burgh Council, from 1832 to 1915; and is available on request and also on our Nicholas, St Clement's, John Knox, Nellfield and Old Machar rolls for parliamentary elections running from 1832 to 1913, website. burial grounds. Additional cemetery registers, along with more and (with gaps) from 1946 to the modern day. Electoral rolls recent records, are kept by the Council's Burials & Cremations also survive for the Counties of Aberdeen, Kincardine and Tax lists Office. Banff for much of the 20th century. An almost complete run (Town House/Old Aberdeen House) of parliamentary rolls from 1909 to the modern day is also Tax lists, or 'stent rolls', for the Burgh of Church of Scotland records (Town House) available at the Aberdeen Central Library. Aberdeen date back to the 15th century although Session records for St Nicholas, St Clement’s, John Knox and the first comprehensive series of property taxation is Greyfriars churches are housed in the City Archives. In addi- Valuation rolls (Old Aberdeen House) the Police Commissioners' rent rolls, which run from 1795 to tion to matters of church discipline, the records can contain In 1855 a uniform system of property valuation was established 1859/60. Similar lists of those liable to pay Assessed Taxes in the communion rolls, payments to the poor, baptisms, marriages in Scotland and its records give the names of proprietors and County of Aberdeen also survive for the period of 1799-1832. and some burials. Session records for other Church of Scotland occupiers along with the rateable value of each property. churches are located at the National Archives of Scotland These rolls are available for the City of Aberdeen from 1855 (NAS) in Edinburgh. and also survive (with gaps) for the counties of Aberdeen from Useful addresses 1859/60, Kincardine from 1862/63, Banff from 1877/78 and Burials & Cremations Office Aberdeen Central Library Other church records Moray from 1902/3. Bereavement Services Local Studies Department, (Town House/Old Aberdeen House) From 1990 they only list business addresses as rating of domes- 4th Floor Rosemount Viaduct, As well as records of the established church, the City Archives tic properties was abolished. Complete sets from 1855 are held St Nicholas House Aberdeen, AB25 1GW holds records for the congregational churches of Aberdeen, by the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh. Broad Street, Aberdeen tel 01224 652512 tel 01224 522770 email: such as Belmont Street Church. It also holds records for a email: [email protected] [email protected] number of Episcopalian churches, covering the City and Banff Poor relief records (Old Aberdeen House) www.aberdeencity.gov.uk County areas, and Methodist churches in the North of Prior to the introduction of the welfare state, responsibilityfor Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Circuit. the poorer sections of society was largely borne by charitable Scotland Family History Society Aberdeenshire Library & organisations and the parish. Dating from 1845 to 1929, the 164 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5BD Information Service tel 01224 646323 Meldrum Meg Way, The Meadows Burgh records (Town House/Old Aberdeen House) records of the parochial boards and parish councils cover the email: [email protected] Industrial Estate, Oldmeldrum, As well as holding a very comprehensive collection relating to counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine and Moray and www.anesfhs.org.uk Aberdeenshire, AB51 0GN the Burgh of Aberdeen, the City Archives also provides access include applications for relief, inspectors' records, minute tel 01651 872707 to collections of 19 Burghs in Aberdeenshire. Town Council books and registers of guardians. Indexes to many of these National Archives of Scotland email: [email protected] records are available in the Old Aberdeen House searchroom HM General Register House, www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/alis/index.htm minutes, accounts and papers contain a wealth of information Edinburgh, EH1 3YY relating to individuals living within burghs that is of interest to and the Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History tel 0131 535 1314 family historians. Ask the Duty Archivist for assistance in iden- Society shop. Please note that access to certain records is email: [email protected] tifying relevant sources for your investigation. restricted under the Data Protection Act and that they may www.nas.gov.uk new family history sources 16/4/09 10:58 Page 4

Aberdeen City Archives Aberdeen City Archives

Town House Old Aberdeen House Town House I Broad Street I Aberdeen I AB10 1AQ Old Aberdeen House I Dunbar Street I Aberdeen I AB24 3UJ Tel: 01224 522513 I Fax: 01224 638556 I Tel: 01224 481775 I Fax: 01224 495830 I e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Aberdeen www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives C ITY A RCHIVES Searchroom opening hours I Wednesday - Friday, Searchroom opening hours I Monday - Wednesday, 9.30am 9.30am - 4.30pm I Please telephone in advance to make an - 1pm, 2pm - 4.30pm I Please telephone in advance to make Family History Sources in the City Archives appointment I Pencils only may be used in the searchroom an appointment I Pencils only may be used in the searchroom

Town House Old Aberdeen House Facilities Facilities reference library I sources leaflets I photocopying car parking I reference library I sources leaflets I available I microfilm reader I e-mail, telephone & postal photocopying available I e-mail, telephone & postal enquiries answered I research service I internet access enquiries answered I research service I internet access A Guide

Published by Aberdeen City Archives, April 2009 www.aberdeencity.gov.uk www.aberdeencity.gov.uk