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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring
@acspring.bsky.social
1.1K followers 96 following 1.2K posts
Glasgow-ish based Qualified Genealogist @ RQG, specialising in Scottish research https://tinyurl.com/FrugalFH Speaker - see my talks listed at https://tinyurl.com/yb9cht29 Frugal Family Historian - http://scotsancestors.blogspot.com
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · Jun 18
I've just added some new presentations - if you're a family history society or heritage group looking for speakers, take a look at my list of topics at tinyurl.com/2s4jch96 and get in touch!
Leafy postcard with information on it as follows: Alison Spring family history speaker NEW PRESENTATIONS FOR 2025! Introduction to Scottish Church Records Dive Deeper into Scottish Church Records Researching Urban Ancestors in Scotland Plus many other talks including… Getting More Out of FamilySearch.org Glasgow Poor Law Application Records Tools for Your Graveyard Research Kit FULL LIST & DETAILS @ https://tinyurl.com/2s4jch96
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 10h
You were lucky indeed! Same issue here.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 21h
#31DaysofGenealogy #Day14 #Inside the former Govan Old Parish Church (now a museum containing Pictish & Viking sculptures), near where I grew up, sits a stone sarcophagus believed to have held the remains of Constantine of Strathclyde, ruler & later saint. More details at buff.ly/AgK4bZx
A sandstone sarcophagus, without a lid, showing a side with carvings of Celtic interlace on either side of a hunting scene showing a deer, a hunter on horseback, and a dog.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 1d
I'm looking forward to meeting with the Leicestershire & Rutland FHS lrfhs.org.uk this Wednesday where we'll be discussing how to kill off our ancestors. More details in the alt text. #FamilyHistory #Genealogy #AncestryHour
Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society Zoom Talk Wednesday 15th October 7.30pm Killing Off Your Ancestors by Alison Spring Even though your ancestors might have lived a long time ago, finding out about their deaths can teach you a lot about their lives. Discover the many sources of information which will shed light on this important point of their history. To book a place, please email Sue Lester on publicity@lrfhs.org.uk from 7 days before the talk (7th October). The talk is free to all LRFHS members. For non-members a small donation (suggested £3) is appreciated as a contribution. A collage of images shows a death certificate, a gravestone, a newspaper announcement of a death, and a graveyard.
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Reposted by Alison Spring
mikegalsworthy.bsky.social
Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 2d
This poll in The Times is still open.

Go to —> compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/ti...
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 1d
The obverse of a stone in Meigle churchyard (Perthshire). The dedication on the principal side is to Janet Edward, who died in 1737, age 49. Her husband was James Lesly. #31DaysofGraves #Day13 #Skeleton
This gravestone depicts a winged soul above a skeleton that stands between two trumpeting angels and holds an hourglass and an arrow. Other symbols on the stone are tools and a bell.
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Reposted by Alison Spring
tomjoscelyn.bsky.social
Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d
“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.
I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.
Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.
newsletter.ofthebrave.org
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 2d
Cats know nothing of this "dignity" of which you speak.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 2d
This is open to essays on women or gender in any area of the world and any time period.
womenshistscot.bsky.social
Women's History Scotland @womenshistscot.bsky.social · 2d
📣 NOW ACCEPTING ESSAYS! The Leah Leneman Prize for research on women’s or gender history is open to students & independent scholars. Submit your 8-10k word essay by 22 Dec 2025 📅

Full details: womenshistoryscotland.org/projects-and...
Front cover of Leah Leneman's 'The Scottish Suffragettes' featuring an image of an Ewardian woman in front of a 'Womens Freedom League' banner, and a second image of a busy suffrage march with banners that read 'Votes for Women'.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 2d
A distant relative by marriage, the landscape designer Gertrude Jekyll is buried at St John the Baptist's Church in Busbridge, Surrey. Her stone stands with other family members' in a grouping designed by her friend the eminent architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens. #31DaysofGraves #Day12 #NotableWoman
A simple grey headstone dedicated to Gertrude Jekyll, Artist, Gardener, Craftswoman. Photo credit: monoceros, Findagrave.com Three plain headstones placed in front of a stone exedra which is topped by a large bowl-shaped urn. They sit in a leafy graveyard. Photo credit: Carcharoth, Wikimedia Commons
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 3d
Smug mode engaged.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 3d
🤣🤣🤣
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 3d
#31DaysofGraves #Day11 #Military A sad end for an old soldier, married to a cousin of mine. Happily, the stonemason was more accurate in naming the deceased than the newspapers were (this wasn't the only article that got it wrong). William is buried in St Duthus graveyard, Tain, in Ross-shire.
Grey granite headstone bearing the inscription: In loving memory of William Duncan McPhail Colour Sergeant A. & S. H who was accidentally killed at Edderton 23rd July 1915, aged 55 years Photo credit: IC and TC, Renfrewshire Newspaper article from Aberdeen Weekly News, 30 July 1915 - RAILWAY FATALITY AT EDDERTON. Driver’s Unheeded Warning. Sergeant Archibald M'Phail, 13th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was knocked down by a traln early on Friday morning near the churchyard at Edderton, and was instantaneously killed. The driver of the train had perceived the soldier on the line, whistled to attract his attention, and applied the brakes, but the soldier did not hear or get out of the way and was cut down, his head being severed. M'Phail, it appears, had taken the railway as a short cut to a shooting range at Edderton. He is said to have been slightly deaf, and this would account for the driver’s warning going unheeded. Deceased, who was 55 years of age, and belonged to Glasgow, was an old soldier, and rejoined his regiment on the outbreak of war. His remains were brought to Tain.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 4d
All very beautiful. I do love Maine Coons, my in-laws in Canada had one who was also the runt and she was soooo affectionate. Loved her to bits.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 4d
No such thing as CatSpam Catriona!! Is she a Maine Coon? Apologies if you already told me...
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 4d
To them, we're just some tiny islands off western Europe. Nobody actually lives here, it's only the ancestral homelands of a percentage of their customers.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 4d
It's proving almost inaccessible and seems to have cost me at least one client as I'm not in a position to travel regularly to Edinburgh, and the Mitchell is nigh-impossible to get appointments for.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 4d
They had tours of the kirkyard and church on Doors Open Day, very illuminating!
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 4d
Another week looms with no access to Kilmarnock's ScotlandsPeople service. Extremely disappointing that the IT upgrade is taking so long. #GenHour #AncestryHour
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 4d
A very thoughtful post, Janet. I agree wholeheartedly with what you say. On an individual level people are usually kind, but when considering a group of "others" they may be biased and display their ignorance. I witnessed this as a young person when observing the behaviour of an older relative. LLL.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 4d
#31DaysofGraves #Day10 #Urn Janet Kirkland's family are related by marriage to my maternal Muir line (my mystery Irishman who was probably a Moore). This memorial stands in the churchyard of Carmunnock Parish, near my present home. It's a lovely wee place and some relatives are buried there.
A grey granite headstone topped with a draped urn upon a pediment. The inscription reads: Erected by Robert Whyte in memory of Janet Kirkland, his wife who died 30th November 1898, aged 63 years. Also James Whyte, his father who died 6th August 1861, aged 74 years. Janet Park, his mother who died 20th June 1833, aged 37 years. The above Robert Whyte, who died 29th February 1916, aged 85 years. Photo credit: IC and TC, Renfrewshire
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 5d
I initially read that last word as "sticky" and absolutely concur.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 5d
I wouldn't give it house room, haven't even seen it in the wild, nor the Pepsi gingerbread flavour I'm hearing about.
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 5d
Bleugh! 🤢
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 5d
Some actual named places in Ireland for the first time in any form of evidence!!! 🎉
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acspring.bsky.social
Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 5d
#31DaysofGraves #Day9 #Hand Not a relative, & a slightly tenuous connection: Sir Jimmy Shand, a renowned & dexterous accordionist frequently heard during my childhood. Buried in his hometown of Auchtermuchty, Fife. Photo credit Mike Brown, FindaGrave. Recent names have been redacted.
A black marble headstone, with heather and white tulips left at its base, inscribed in gold as follows: In loving memory of Sir Jimmy Shand M.B.E. M.A. Died 23rd December 2000 Aged 92 years Beloved husband of Lady Anne Shand and a devoted Dad and Grandad Happy to meet sorry to part happy to meet again SHAND
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