Many Scots left home in the great waves of emigration caused by the Highland clearances, but most prospered and a few even found immortality waiting on the other side of the ocean - for example, Alexander Graham Bell.

If you are interested in genealogy, Renfrewshire is where records still exist for many of our less famous ‘exports’ to America, Canada, Australia and elsewhere round the globe.

It may take some digging to find out where your Scottish forebears came from, but some of our visitors say that’s half the fun! For a start, we suggest:

• James Watt Library, Union Street, Greenock. Tel 01475 715 628. Librarian Lesley Couperwhite has pulled together the best archive in the West of Scotland, including the complete census for Renfrewshire (1841-91), parish records, name indexes for Inverclyde, and much more -plus, a record of local births, deaths and marriages between 1802-1913, with records of sailors who died at sea or in foreign ports, victims of the cholera epidemics of 1832 & 1849, etc - a real rarity.

• Paisley Library & Museum provide a joint facility, including a family history enquiry service (just write or phone) as well as self-service facilities. The focus is on Renfrewshire and in particular, the old county of Renfrew. Census material for 1841-91 on microfilm is the bedrock of the archive, which includes parish registers, the name index from the 1891 census, a partial index for Paisley from the 1841 census. Also the Family Search computer programme, the UK index compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, directories of business and tradesmen from 1782, a large photographic collection of houses and local newspapers from 1824 to present. Contact Trisha Burke or David Robertson (0141 889 2360).

• Mitchell Library, Glasgow. Reference library for all of Scotland. Their free leaflet has a comprehensive list of genealogical research sources and addresses. Telephone 0141 287 2938 or email to history_and_glasgow@gcl.glasgow.gov.uk.

• The Internet is a rich source of information. Genealogy Helplist United Kingdom offers hundreds of contacts. Many of the searches are to do with specific family names. Some of the more prominent local ones in Renfrewshire are Caird, Scott, Wallace, Lindsay, Shaw, Lamont, Maxwell and MacMillan.

Of particular relevance to Renfrewshire are:

• Jayne Paradis jparadis@mts.net for Renfrewshire Monumental Inscriptions, Volume 1, pre-1855, covering Arthurlis (Barrhead), Bridge of Weir (Freeland), Cathcart Old Churchyard, Eaglesham Old Churchyard, Eastwood (Pollok) Old Churchyard, Erskine Old Churchyard, Gourock, Greenock, Houston, Inchinnan, Inverkip, Johnstone, Kilbarchan East and West, Kilbarchan Burntshields, Killellan.

• Hilary Machan shmachan@scsinternet.com for Renfrewshire Scotland Monumental Inscriptions, Volume 2, pre-1855, covering Kilmacolm, Lochwinnoch Old Churchyard, Lochwinnoch Beltrees, Lochwinnoch Castle Semple, Mearns Churchyard, Neilston Churchyard, Neilston Cemetery, Paisley Abbey Interior, Paisley Abbey Churchyard, Paisley Laigh Churchyard, Paisley High Kirkyard, Paisley Gaelic Churchyard, Paisley (West) Oakshaw Street, Paisley Abbey Close, Paisley Canal Street, Paisley Oakshaw East, Paisley Thread Street, Paisley Trinity Church, Paisley Woodside Cemetery, Pollokshaws Kirk Lane, Port Glasgow Old Churchyard, Port Glasgow, Newark Church, Port Glasgow Blackstone Ground, Port Glasgow Cemetery, Renfrew Churchyard
  (Please note that Hilary does not live in Scotland and therefore is unable to answer questions regarding the local are. Thank you.)

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