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Date: 28 September 2009
On Monday, September 28, hundreds of family history researchers attended the first major event of the 2009 Angus & Dundee Roots Festival - the Genealogy Workshop at Dundee Central Library.
People travelled to the workshop from all over Britain and further afield, including Australia and New Zealand to find out more about their family's history from local and national genealogical experts, such as historian Nick Barratt of 'Who Do You Think You Are?', who also opened the event. In addition, experts from Angus Archives, Deceased On Line, Dundee University Archives, Fife Family History Services, LDS Family History Centre, ScotlandsPeople and Tay Valley Family History Society all provided delegates with invaluable information and advice.
Many of the delegates were looking for advice on how to solve an ancestral mystery, such as Bill McKay from Kingennie. "I knew of my great-great grandfather but I didn't know how he died or where he was buried," explained Bill. "As a result of coming along to the Genealogy Workshop, I now know he was killed in 1896 while cutting down a dead tree which he was worried was going to fall on his children.
"Thanks to Deceased On Line, I was also able to access the Angus burial records, where I discovered that my great-great grandfather is buried in Barry graveyard, alongside his wife, my great-great grandmother."
Many of those attending the workshop uncovered something new about their family, including Valona Gouck from Forfar, who discovered that the Dundee building where she works is on the site of her great grandparent's 1871 home!
Canadian Margaret Purvis explained that she is currently tracing her Scottish ancestors and is ever hopeful of finding a Dundee or Angus connection to her family. "I didn't manage to find any Angus or Dundee ancestors today but, as my family love to tease me about my fascination with my dead relatives, it was good to spend the day with so many people who are equally interested in their family's past."
The Roots Festival continues all week, with events happening across Angus and Dundee, including a family and local history fair at the WebsterTheatre in Arbroath on Friday. For more information about the Angus & Dundee Roots Festival including the full programme and how to reserve places on tours and book tickets for events visit our Roots Festival section.