Scotland Parish Records not indexed, but cant volunteer to help?
I've been going through parish records in Scotland trying to find and connect people, and while I can see the digitalized/film records, these potential family members can not be found in the searchable database. If they haven't been indexed yet, are they going to be? I would love to volunteer for that since I'm going through them anyway!! (The particular archives/records I'm currently researching are for St Fergus Parish Records and Peterhead Parish Records)
Best Answer
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Records can only be indexed with the permission of the record custodian. If these are records of the Church of Scotland (Old Parish Registers or OPRs), these records have already been indexed by the custodian, National Records of Scotland. After making a free account you can search the index at scotlandspeople.gov.uk
I highly doubt that NRS would let FamilySearch index their records. They want people to use their own website and then hopefully pay for a copy of the original record (I am frankly surprised that NRS allows access to the records through FamilySearch, albeit with restrictions. That right could be taken away at any moment without warning)
If these are records are from another denomination, it probably depends on whether these records are also on ScotlandsPeople. If they are, it's most unlikely. If they're not, FS would need to negotiate with the congregation involved, and if the congregation is small it will be low down their priority list. The congregation is perfectly entitled to say no.
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Yes unfortunately, they are Old Scotland archives. Well that’s incredibly frustrating on their part! The reason I reached out here is because they haven’t indexed this information either. I already utilize ScotlandsPeople to cross reference and corroborate and none of these names come up there. I reached out to them too, so hopefully I’ll find out why soon. Thanks anyway!
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Scotlands People has been experiencing various technical differences over the last year, which are gradually being repaired following the resignation and replacement of the CEO. I suggest using the advanced search and restricting your search to a parish. I tried searching for all baptisms from St Fergus in Banffshire and there were 4,606 results.
Otherwise you'll need to contact Scotlands People and ask why specific individual parishes are not indexed.
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Oh my goodness. I should’nt have even mentioned FS in my email to them. I’ve tried to explain twice now and they seem determined to misunderstand me and short of saying to them I’m looking at actual handwriting in a book I’m hesitant on how to proceed now. Twice now they’ve laid the blame at FS or assumed my incompetence. (I’m certain I’m not looking at the IGI or family trees🤦♀️) Now, I don’t wish to have the access to this particular record removed so I probably shouldn’t send them a picture of it next time I’m at a Center right? I’m wondering if calling the library archives or the actual parish might help me here?
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