History

Every so often I do a bit of family history research. I do it till I have to stop and take a break because it becomes so fascinating and also frustrating. Here are some of the records pertaining to my great, great grandmother, Leah, who was born in Kirriemuir in 1809. I also have details of her parents but the records are even less clear than these. I  have census returns and Leah's death certificate in 1881, at the age of 72 and still living in Kirriemuir. Leah's family were linen weavers, presumably connected to the jute trade in Dundee.

I'm very much an amateur family historian. I'm too scattergun in my approach and I get sidetracked into, for example , researching 19th century mills in Kirriemuir and their tied houses. The thing I find so astonishing is that I can access all this information at the click of a mouse (and the payment of some ££££s). All those old records digitised for me to see, download, save and try to fit into a complex jigsaw. It's such a rich mine of social history as well as making personal connections with the past.

The rain has stopped, there is blue sky and I'm about to hang some washing on the line. Then I'm going out for a walk. My step count has been woeful this week and I need to get a move on. I also need to tear myself away from the National Records of Scotland online and enjoy the fresh air.