Research
BORDERS FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
We are very happy to help with your research at 52 Overhaugh Street, Galashiels, or remotely by email.
This page gives you more details about our Research services, both in house at Overhaugh Street, and remotely by email. Eventually, this page will also incorporate the research tools and databases from our old website. If you have any Research queries at all, please do not hesitate to contact us via the Contact page.
DISCOVER YOUR BORDERS PAST
Our Volunteers
Our volunteer researchers have extensive local and national knowledge, and can help you get started on your family tree, assist you in overcoming any brick walls you have come up against, or indeed help you right through the process as far back as you can go.
Our Records
We have census records and monumental inscriptions for most of our local parishes, and many local books. Border FHS magazine articles and a large library of reference books can be a rich source. Electronic access to local and national records is increasing. We can guide you through.
Research Costs And Donations
We don't charge for helping you initially, but do appreciate donations as we are all volunteers. Our society needs help to find and transcribe information for our Members and Non-Members. We ask that you stay for a maximum of two hours, unless you are willing to pay a set fee per hour. We do want to be able to help as many people as possible.
Remote Research Service
If you are not able to visit, we also have a remote research service. The cost is cheaper for Members at £15 an hour, but £20 an hour for Non-Members. We can't always promise to find what you are looking for - especially if looking for Thomas Scott 1602! But, clear instructions letting us know what you already know can really help, so as we are not repeating work already done. This will speed up the process. A maximum of two hours to start with is preferred and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. Sometimes we may incur additional expenses to clarify or confirm our research findings, which we will add to the cost.
Let Us Help You Discover Your Past
We are a friendly welcoming group and very happy to chat and listen to your family stories. We understand that each family is unique, and the research process can be different for each family. So, you can pop in to Overhaugh Street, or just Contact Us, to make an appointment so we can make sure that we make time for you.
Monumental Inscriptions Surnames Search
Use our database of monumental inscriptions surnames in the Scottish Borders to help find your Borders Ancestors
Borders Family History Society volunteers continue to visit burial places around parishes of the Scottish Borders to record monumental inscriptions. If you are looking for your family name or burial place but it's not in this list, please contact our Research team. Please check our Shop (link) if you wish to purchase the Monumental Inscriptions for any of the parishes.