A Zone celebrating Scotland's bard, Robert Burns. 
-
murder and adoption
Listener Mark Hirst from Abernethy got in touch with the programme. He became aware a number of years ago that there had been a murder in the family, but had very little detail due to the horrific circumstances surrounding the death of his great aunt.
Interested to find out more Mark went to the archives at Stirling Library where old newspaper reports provided tragic detail relating to the murder.
Mark has often wondered what happened to the two young children that were put up for adoption following the murder and contacted us for advice.
We speak to Dr Jennifer Speirs from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, who is also a volunteer intermediary with Norcap and Birthlink, organisations that help those separated by adoption. -
ancestors in the militia
It was the discovery of a 200 year old document that was the key to unlocking listener Ken Mathieson’s ancestor's past.
His great great great grandfather - also a Kenneth Mathieson - was from Rossshire but by 1804 Ken discovered he was further south signing up for the militia.
Andy Robertshaw from the Royal Logistic Corps Museum explains more about the militia and why his ancestor may have signed up.
(Image shows copy of Kenneth's discharge paper) -
losing touch
As a child Euphemia McGlen from New Zealand was told that her father had no living relatives back in Scotland. It wasn’t to be questioned although she never believed it.
Euphemia came to Britain in 1992 and made her first trip to New Register House. She started her research only knowing her father’s date and place of birth and where he was born, but what quickly unravelled was a complex story of illegitimacy, bigamy and early deaths that resulted in her father and his siblings losing touch.
Euphemia tells Digging Up Your Roots of her emotional journey through her family history. -
argentinian adventures
Listener Michael Rasmussen from Aboyne contacted us with an interesting query about his great grandmother Jessie Ewing. She was born and died in Aberdeen but, as Michael explains, she hadn’t always lived there.
As a young woman she travelled to Argentina and Michael would love to know why...
Broadcasts
-
BBC Radio ScotlandSun 27 Feb 2011 12:05 BBC Radio Scotland except MW
Podcast
-
Digging Up Your Roots
Inspirational Scottish family history stories and key genealogy advice. Bill Whiteford and his team...
