Resolution to Find Roots:
Local MSP discovered links to West Lothian in Family History Papers
Many people make a resolution in the New Year to search through their family history. Anyone wishing to explore the fascinating world of Scottish family history over the New Year can access digitised sources – birth, marriage and death records, wills, census records and coats of arms – going back almost 500 years from the Scotland’s People Website:
(http://www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk/) or visit Register House in Edinburgh or the local History Library in Linlithgow.
Local MSP for Linlithgow Constituency Fiona Hyslop has discovered from searching that her Great Great Great Grandparents resided in Armadale and Broxburn, and her Great Great Grandmother was from Bathgate. Her Great Great Grandmother Mary Neish from Jeffrey’s Land in Bathgate was born in 1862, Great Great Great Grandfather Andrew Neil was a joiner born in Broxburn in 1820 and Great Great Great Grandfather John Neish was a miner born in Armadale in 1843.
Commenting on the results, Fiona said,
“Having grown up in Ayrshire, but lived in Linlithgow now for 14 years, I am delighted to have discovered that my roots come from West Lothian.
“The variety of information displayed on the website and in the buildings themselves is remarkable and well worth visiting this January.
“As always at New Year we are looking ahead to where we are going but perhaps this year we can also look back to where we and our familesi have been in the past.”
To find out more about your family history, you can visit West Lothian’s Local History Library at the Heritage and Information Centre, County Buildings, High St, Linlithgow, EH49 7EZ, or to find out more information contact: 01506 282491 or email sybil.cavanagh@westlothian.gov.uk