Opening Hours Monday 9.00am-7.30pm Tuesday 9.00am-7.30pm Wednesday 9.00am-5.00pm Thursday 10.00am-7.30pm Friday 9.00am-7.30pm Saturday 9.00am-5.00pm The Scottish & Local History Library Genealogical Sources Carnegie Library, 12 Main St, Ayr, KA8 8EB Tel: (01292) 272231 email: localhistory@south-ayrshire.gov.uk Web: www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/libraries Left to right: J McKinnon, W Hastie, E Spence, Danny Wylie & Co Ayr Chemical Works, Newton on Ayr
The Library The Scottish and Local History Library is located on the first floor of the Carnegie Library in Ayr. The department houses a unique collection of books, pamphlets, directories, maps, plans, local newspapers and photographs. Disabled access is at the rear of building and there is a lift to the first floor. Members of the public who wish to conduct their own research are welcome to visit the library and use the resources. The most frequently used items are available on open access, for readers to browse through and select for themselves, but some of the stock is stored behind the scenes and is obtainable on request. Staff will help identify appropriate sources and give guidance on using the collection. The material is available for reference use only. We welcome visitors and staff are happy to assist customers with their enquiries. Indexes Whether you are thinking of looking at the Census, Old Parish Records or any other source it is worth asking if there is an index. More and more records are being indexed and they certainly help save time. Monumental Inscriptions Transcripts of headstones can be a good starting point for finding out where family members are buried as well as dates etc. Over the years a large number of graveyards have been indexed by many of the local Family History Societies. They also have a plan of the graveyard making it easier to pinpoint the location of the grave. Directories & Valuation Rolls Directories and valuation rolls are very helpful for tracing where a family was living at a given time. The valuation rolls not only give the owner of the property but the tenant and sub tenant. Directories list business as well as lists of alphabetical names and addresses. Newspapers Local newspapers give birth, death and marriage announcements as well as obituaries. The papers are also worth checking if a relative was in an accident or incident that was newsworthy at the time. This is often a good place to check when a death certificate gives an individual s cause of death as an accident. There are a great many other sources for family historians but these first steps will help you start your search. It is more than likely that once you have found your ancestors you will want to know more about their everyday life. Other sources in the library will help pad out your family s social history. Maps can help to locate exactly where they were living and photographic collections are useful too. This booklet is primarily for those wishing to start their family history and it is by no means a complete list of what the department has to offer. For more information or any queries please contact the department.
First Steps in Tracing your Family Tree There are a number of basic steps to take when embarking on your search: Certificates Talk to older members of your family and try to gather as much information and as many certificates as you can which will help to start you off. Registration was compulsory in Scotland from 1855 onwards. The information given in birth, marriage and death certificates can be a great stepping stone to earlier records. Family bibles, if available, are also a great source of information. Fill in a pedigree chart with as much information as you can gather up. The chart is an easy and simple way to help you to work out your next step. It is advisable to decide on one branch of the family to start with following it through as far as you can. Census Returns The census returns are available from 1841 to 1901 (the 1911 census will be available from 2011) and can be used in conjunction with certificates to provide further information on the household. The 1841 census gives the least information but from 1851 onwards the information given includes address, name, relationship to head of family, age, marital status, sex, occupation and place of birth which includes county. This information will allow you to trace back to other certificates or further back (if prior to 1855) to the Old Parish Records. Old Parish Records If the person you are looking for was born before 1855 then the place to check for a birth, baptism, proclamation, marriage or death (though sometimes very few deaths are listed) is the Old Parish Records. It must be remembered when using these records that they are for Church of Scotland only, that registration at this time was not compulsory and that there may also be gaps in the entries. The information given for a birth entry usually gives the child s name, names of parents, date of birth/ baptism and occasionally the father s occupation. It also states whether the child is born in wedlock lawful or out of wedlock natural. This information can be helpful as there may be an entry in the Kirk Session Records of any extramarital activity which in turn will give more information about the circumstances of the child and its parents. Genealogical Sources Old Parish Records Microfilm copies of the Parish Registers for all towns and villages in Ayrshire are available. 1553-1854 There is an index to births and marriages on fiche. Census Returns Microfilm copies for Ayrshire 1841-1901 are available for consultation. There are indexes to 1841, 1851, 1861, 1881(whole of Great Britain) on computer and the 1891 is on fiche. International Genealogical Index The IGI is available on microfiche Voters Rolls (Electoral Registers) Ayr Burgh 1892-1974 Kyle & Carrick District Council 1975-1996 South Ayrshire Council from 1997 Valuation Rolls Ayr Burgh from 1906-1974 Kyle & Carrick District Council 1975-1996 South Ayrshire Council from 1997 County of Ayrshire 1899-1942 (excluding Ayr Irvine and Kilmarnock Burghs) Old Nell stamped sacks at Ayr Chemical Works Confirmations of Wills These volumes cover the whole of Scotland and are the most complete out with Edinburgh. 1876-1936 1948-1959
Directories Directories for some Ayrshire towns are available but the collection particularly relates to Ayr. McCarter s Directory for Ayr, Newton & Wallacetown 1830 Pigot 1837 (Ayr section) Ayrshire Directory 1851-52 Ayr Newton & Wallacetown Directory 1845-46 1849-50 1851-52 1858-59 1861-62 1864-65 1867-68 1870-71 1873-74 1876-77 1878-79 1880-81 1882-83 1884-85 1886-87 1888-89 1890-91 1892-93 1894-95 1896-97 1898-99 1900-01 1902-03 1904-05 1906-07 1907-08 1908-09 1909-10 1910-11 1911-12 1912-13 1913-14 1914-15 1915-16 1918-19 1920-21 1922-23 1924-25 1926-27 1928-29 Ayr & District Directory 1930-31 1934-35 1936-37 1938-39 1940-41 1949 1952-53 1955-56 1968 Carrick Directory 1883 Kilmarnock Directory 1868 1879 1813-15 Kilmarnock & District Directory 1923-25 1928-29 1930-31 1933-36 1936-39 Commercial Directory of Scotland Ireland & four most North Counties of England 1820-22 Directory to Gentlemen s Seats etc in Scotland 1843 Directory to Noblemen and Gentlemen s Seats etc in Scotland 1857 National Commercial Directory of the whole of Scotland & the Isle of Man Pigot & Co 1837 Royal National Commercial Directory and Topography of Scotland Slater 1867 Edinburgh Almanack 1815 Oliver & Boyd s Edinburgh Almanack & National Repository 1908 County Directory of Scotland 1912 Computer & Internet access The department currently has two PCs available for Local and Family History research. Internet access is available and our Web site includes many useful links to sites of interest to the family and local historian. If you are not a library member please bring along proof of identity if you require internet access. ScotlandsPeople Vouchers Scotlandspeople vouchers are available to buy in the library. Starter vouchers 6.00 for 60 credits Top ups 4.80 for 30 credits These vouchers can be used in the library and at home. This enables users to access records for the whole of Scotland online. Findmypast.co.uk The library has taken out a subscription to Find my Past which enables users to have FREE access to English records using the PCs in the department. Copying Service Copies of material may be obtained in the form of photocopies subject to copyright restrictions and the condition of the material. Booking Although it is not necessary it is advisable to book a microfilm reader or computer. Bookings can be made by phone or email. Computers can be booked for two hour sessions, longer if they are still free after the two hour session. There is no limit to the time booked for microfilm readers.
Sasines The department has the following indexes to the Register of Sasines for Ayrshire. 1599-1609 1821-1830 1865-1868 1617-1634 1831-1840 1635-1660 1841-1845 1781-1806 1846-1860 1806-1820 1861-1864 Maps An extensive collection of maps covering Ayrshire is held in the library Photographic Collection Over the years the department has amassed a collection of photographs, images and postcards which give a valuable insight into the Ayrshire towns and villages in the past and present. Local Newspapers The library holds microfilm copies of the local Ayr newspapers Ayr Advertiser from 1803 Ayr Observer from 1832-1899 Ayrshire Post from 1880 The department also holds papers for other towns in South Ayrshire (various dates) Argus & Express Carrick Gazette Carrick Herald Girvan Courier Girvan Courier Troon & Prestwick Times Troon Herald Troon Times It is advisable to check with the department the availability of papers/ microfilm readers in advance. Monumental Inscriptions The department holds Monumental Inscriptions for a large number of graveyards in Ayrshire.