Directory of Members

Natalie is a professional genealogist from County Antrim, Northern Ireland who specialises in genealogy research throughout Ireland with a particular interest in Ulster and Northern Ireland.

She provides genealogy evening courses for those who would like to learn how complete their own family history research and regularly delivers talks on Irish genealogy research on the international circuit.

With many years research experience, a Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogical Studies, membership of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild, Natalie is well placed to help family historians find their way with Irish ancestral research.

A sample of Natalie’s talks is provided here but if there is a particular subject you’re interested in that isn’t included, please get in touch to discuss further.

Talks can be delivered live on the online platform of your choice or delivered to you as a pre-recorded talk or delivered in-person.

Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies with the University of Strathclyde.

Natalie undertakes genealogical research throughout Ireland and is conversant with the records held in various archives and repositories.

She specialises in Irish genealogical research and in particular, research within Ulster and Northern Ireland including the Scots-Irish.

AN INTRODUCTION TO IRISH FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH
Irish ancestry research has the reputation of being tricky, but this talk will cover how you can get started with your Irish ancestral research. We will dispel the myths about which records were destroyed in 1922, which records are available and best of all which are free.
This will give you a good grounding to making a start on finding your Irish ancestors.

MY ANCESTORS WERE IRISH – OR WERE THEY? THE ORIGINS OF IRISH SURNAMES AND BUILDING YOUR FAMILY TREE USING IRISH NAMING PATTERNS.
The webinar examines the history and origins of Irish surnames – native Irish, Scottish, English, Welsh, Huguenot, Viking, Gallowglass and Jewish.

If you don’t know where in Ireland your ancestors originated, we’ll include tips to help you to narrow down the location.

First names often followed a traditional naming pattern and this can help to build your family tree. We’ll use case studies using traditional naming patterns to show how this worked.

There are some naming traditions that were used in particular by the Ulster Scots that again can help to expand your family tree and we’ll also cover the Latin names sometimes used in Roman Catholic records.

USING IRISH NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PRINTED MATERIAL
Newspapers are a great source of information about our ancestors, but how do we know what Irish newspapers are available and how can we access them?

This webinar will include finding aids for newspapers to track down our Irish ancestors including the major repositories where they may be found.

We’ll also cover a range of printed journals, gazetteers and street directories where you may find your Irish ancestors recorded.

TOWNLANDS, PARISHES AND BARONIES – UNDERSTANDING LAND ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS IN IRELAND
The townland, often with different and inconsistent spellings, is unique to Ireland and is a key feature of helping to tie down where your Irish ancestor came from. To confuse matters there are often townlands of the same name in different parts of the country, sometimes even in the same county. How do you know you have the right one and what does the name mean?

There are civil parishes and ecclesiastical parishes, both Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic. What's the difference and how do you know how to identify them and pinpoint their location?

Different record sets used different land administrative divisions that include Townlands, Parishes, Baronies, Poor Law Unions and District Electoral Divisions. Understanding these administrative divisions is essential for your Irish ancestor research.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE IRISH CENSUS
The National Census were undertaken in Ireland every ten years from 1821 although many only have fragments remaining. The webinar will examine what remains for those years where only fragments exist and look at examples that help to build a family tree, along with the differences in the information gathered.

We’ll examine the different type of returns for the Census of 1901 and 1911, such as for lunatic asylums, army barracks and prisons and examples of each of these will be shown. These records can be difficult to pin down and we will cover practical tips to help you find them.

The different census forms provided interesting additional background information about the type of home and outbuildings a householder had and help to build a picture of their lives.

Tips on search techniques will help to ensure you can find your ancestor and we’ll look at why you might struggle to find them or their place of residence in the census.

USING IRISH WILLS AND TESTAMENTARY RECORDS
Wills and Testamentary Records are a rich source of genealogical information that can help to build our family trees and also give us a glimpse of the character of the people named in the records.

Although many records were destroyed in 1922, there are still remaining records and this webinar will examine where you may find the wills themselves or transcripts and abstracts that will help to build your family tree.

FINDING YOUR ANCESTORS IN IRISH LAND VALUATION RECORDS
The Tithe records, the Townland Valuation and Griffith’s Primary Valuation records are used as Census substitutes for 19th century Ireland. Griffith’s Valuation was also updated on a regular basis up to the 1930’s and we’ll look at those records too.

This webinar will cover the key elements of each record, teasing out valuable information, along with where you can access these records.

We’ll include search tips and techniques and use a case study to trace a family home from the early 19th century up to the present day, including how to pinpoint your ancestors house on a map and discover if it is still standing today.

THE IRISH WORKHOUSE AND FINDING YOUR POOR IRISH ANCESTORS
The Irish Workhouse was a hated and feared institution and following the partition of Ireland in 1921 the newly formed Free State closed them down although they remained in existence in Northern Ireland until the 1940’s. Following the introduction of the Poor Law in Ireland in 1838, workhouses were built throughout Ireland and then in 1845, the Great Famine struck.

We will look at the brutal regime in the workhouses and why going into them was a last resort. Eventually outdoor relief, building works and emigration schemes were introduced to reduce the burden on the overcrowded workhouses.

Of course, the workhouses had to be staffed by masters, nurses, porters, cooks, etc and they were managed by Boards of Guardians.

The webinar will cover the range of records that were produced by the workhouses and they cover inmates and staff.

We will also cover the Poverty Relief Loans that were in existence in the 19th century. They name both the lender and the guarantor and often provide additional information about the fate of the lender.

WHO WERE THE SCOTS-IRISH?
Known in their homeland as Ulster-Scots, these mainly Lowland Scots left their homeland and settled in Ulster during the Plantation, sometimes staying only for a few generations and then many made their way to the New World.

Why did these Scots come to Ulster and why did they then subsequently leave? What were the push and pull factors? Why did Presbyterian ministers have such sway over these people?

We will look at the perils they faced on their transatlantic journey and what they found when they arrived in the new world.

We will examine the range of records and sources where you may find your Ulster-Scots ancestors and that can tell you more about this pioneering ethnic group that produced a number of US Presidents and millions of descendants worldwide today.

UNEARTHING THE TREASURES IN THE REGISTRY OF DEEDS
The Registry of Deeds based in Dublin has been in existence since 1704 and manages the legal registration of property. Less well known is that it is also a repository for genealogical treasures such as wills, property leases and marriage agreements. People named in these records include the principal parties and also wider family members and witnesses. It is also possible to find records by location.

These records are available as microfilms on the Family Search website although they are not indexed there.

This webinar will cover different methods of searching within and accessing these valuable records.

Talks can be delivered on the online platform of your choice, as a pre-recorded talk or in person.

2023

30 May 2023 – Wills and Testamentary Records for Berkshire Family History Society

28 March 2023 – Irish Land Commission Records for Causeway Coast and Glens Branch of NIFHS

23 February 2023 – Unearthing the Treasures in the Registry of Deeds for the Foyle Branch of NIFHS

09 February 2023 - An Introduction to Irish Genealogy Research for Harrogate U3A

16 January 2023 – An Introduction to Irish Genealogy Research for Bradford Family History Society

2022

30 November 2022 - My Ancestors were Irish or Were They? For Slemish Probus Club

12 November 2022 – An Introduction to Irish Family History Research Workshop for the Really Useful Family History Show

15 October 2022 – Getting a Grip on Irish and Scots-Irish Research Workshop for Rogue Valley, Oregon Genealogical Society

08 October 2022 – My Ancestors were Irish or Were They? For Lancashire Family History Society and Heraldry Society

29 September 2022 – The History of Surnames and Naming Traditions in Ireland for Ballymena Branch of NIFHS

07 June 2022 - An Introduction to Irish Family History Research for Cardiff and Vale Branch of Glamorgan Family History Society

24 May 2022 – Leaving Hearth and Home – 18th century migration from Ulster for Belfast Branch of NIFHS

08 April 2022 – Who Were the Scots-Irish? For Legacy Family Tree Webinars

07 April 2022 - The History of Surnames and Naming Traditions in Ireland for Randalstown Historical Society

25 March 2022 – Finding Your Ancestor in Irish Land Valuation Records for Legacy Family Tree Webinars

16 February 2022 - An Introduction to Irish Family History Research for Cheshire Family History Society

10 February 2022 - The History of Surnames and Naming Traditions in Ireland for Ballyclare Probus Club