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Scottish based professional genealogist, originally from Northern Ireland, specialising in Scottish and Irish family history, and Scottish house history.

Editor of the APG eNews. Tutor of 5-week long Scottish and Irish family history courses for Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd (www.pharostutors.com). Prolific speaker who has lectured extensively in Scotland, Ireland, England, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, and on three genealogy cruises. Regular contributor to various UK genealogy magazines, as well as British Connections for the ISBGFH. Author of 22 published genealogy books in the UK and Australia. Talks host for UK Family Tree magazine webinars. Former BBC Television documentary maker (1995-2006).

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) advanced learner/speaker. Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thàinig sibh...

Geographic Specialities
Scotland and Ireland

Testimonials
I commissioned Chris to provide us with a history of our house as a Christmas present for my husband, we received an amazing book filled with information going back around 400 years. We are absolutely delighted and would highly recommend Chris. (Diane Thomson, Maybole)

Just a wee note to thank you so much for all of your hard work on our behalf in connecting my husband to the 18th Century poet James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd. We had always suspected there was a link but could never get through our brick wall. Thank you so much (Janet McQueen, Clackmannan, Scotland)

I met Chris at a Canadian genealogical conference and quickly knew that his expertise was what I needed for my family research. I was stumped! Sure enough, he did extensive research, identifying documents that I would never have been able to access and drew a complete picture of our family history in Scotland. I highly recommend him! (Barbara Bowes, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)

If you are looking to hire someone to do some work on your family tree, I highly recommend Chris Paton who finished a great report for me! (Colin MacDonald, Greenock, Scotland);

Hi Chris, I just can't thank you enough for all the wonderful work you have done on the Rose Family. I am absolutely delighted!! You so obviously know just where to find everything and it is a pleasure to read (Bronwen Tickner, England)

The package arrived on Christmas Eve and was a great hit with my nephews who are interested in their forbears. They were fascinated when I handed them the folder and said, this is your family tree on your Playfair side, and you're in it! Two hours later and all I heard was look, we were here, and we were there, and I didn't know?! it was great! (Susan Playfair, Cairo, Egypt)

Thanks for everything so far. I've enjoyed hearing from you. Your reports are intelligent and informative a rare combination today when most people seem to have forgotten how to write! (Carol Fritz, Alabama, USA)

You are worth your weight in Laphroaig and dark chocolate!! I can't believe you found those baptisms, I really wasn't holding out much hope. Thank you once again I havent stopped smiling yet. My husband says he will toast you tonight with a large dram of 10 year Laphroaig (duty free)! (Ruth Blair, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

That was definitely an entertaining read!! (Scott Fleck, Nova Scotia, Canada)

I was immediately impressed with your accessability, and your prompt and detailed responses to my questions. Within an hour or two of each message sent off, you would respond with helpful information, and I really enjoyed reading the information you unearthed for me (Michael McQuary, Washington State, USA)

A wonderful research team, leaving no stone unturned. I recommend them highly to anyone who is looking for family in Scotland. Some things have been answered and as in Genealogy, some new questions have arisen. It's what makes this adventure so much fun (Maureen Marella, Las Vegas)

Publications/Media

1) Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland: A Guide for Family Historians (Coming 2025)
2) Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians
3) A Beginner's Guide to British and Irish Genealogy (2nd ed)
4) Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records: A Guide for Family Historians
5) Sharing Your Family History Online: A Guide for Family Historians
6) Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians
7) Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records: A Guide for Family Historians
8) The Mount Stewart Murder: A Re-Examination of the UK's Oldest Unsolved Murder
9) Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed): A Guide for Family Historians
10) Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet
11) Tracing Your Family History on the Internet (2nd edition): A Guide for Family Historians
12) Tracing Your Family History on the Internet
13) Irish Family History Resources Online (2nd edition)
14) Irish Family History Resources Online
15) Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis
16) Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records
17) Discover Scottish Land Records (2nd edition)
18) Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition)
19) Discover Irish Land Records
20) British and Irish Newspapers
21) A Decade of Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-23
22) A Beginner's Guide to British and Irish Genealogy
23) Researching Scottish Family History

Lectures
Scotland:
1) The Godly Commonwealth - Discover Scottish Church Records
2) Scottish Kirk Session Records
3) Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records
4) Instantly Buckled for Life - Scottish Marriage Records
5) Discover Scottish Land Records
6) Discover Your Scottish Ancestors
7) Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis
8) Scottish Burgh and Trade Incorporation Records
9) Scottish Research Resources Before 1800
10) Understanding Scottish Inheritance Records
11) There's Been a Murder - The Mount Stewart Murder of 1866
12) The Weavers of Perth
13) Tracing the Irish in Scotland
14) Finding Ancestors with Scottish Censuses
15) Scottish Church and State Records
16) British and Irish Newspapers
17) What's New and Exciting in Scottish Family History

Ireland / Northern Ireland:
1) Irish Family History Resources Online
2) Discover Irish Land Records
3) A Beginner's Guide to British and Irish Genealogy
4) A Decade of Remembrance: Researching Ireland 1912-1923
5) An Irish Farm History
6) Using the internet and PRONI for Northern Irish research
7) Tracing the Irish in Scotland
8) British and Irish Newspapers
9) Civil Registration in the British Isles
10) What is Ireland? Understanding the Lay of the Land
11) Discover Ireland's Vital Records
12) Researching Irish Occupations
13) Records of Daily Life in Ireland
14) Finding the Irish in British Records
13) Tracing the Irish in Scotland
14) What's New and Exciting in Irish Family History

UK / General:
1) A Beginner's Guide to British and Irish Genealogy
2) British Censuses and Substitutes
3) British Civilian POWs in the First World War
4) Genealogy Without Borders
5) Writing Family History Articles
6) Sharing Your Family History Online
7) More Than Just Doing Research! The Many Ways a Genealogist Can Work
8) Reimagining Genealogy
9) Using DNA for Family History Research

Repositories
National Records of Scotland.
National Library of Scotland.
Glasgow City Archives/Glasgow Genealogy Centre.
University of Glasgow Archives.
The Burns Monument Centre, Kilmarnock.
Ayrshire Archives.
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast.
Other repositories on request.

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century
• 17th Century

Languages
Scottish Gaelic, French (basic) and Irish (basic)

Certificates
2023-24 SQA Advanced Higher in Gaelic for Learners (University of the Highlands and Islands/e-Sgoil). Grade A (A1).
2022-23 SQA Higher in Gaelic for Learners (University of the Highlands and Islands/e-Sgoil). Grade A (A1).

From Sept 2024-May 2025 I will be studying for a Certificate of Higher Education in Gaelic with Immersion at the University of Glasgow.

Affiliations
Member of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland stakeholder forum.
Member of the Scottish Genealogy Network.
Member of the North of Ireland FHS.
Member of the Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS.

Degrees
Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies (University of Strathclyde).
Postgraduate Certificate in Genealogical Studies (University of Strathclyde).
HND Design/Communication (University of Ulster).
BA Hons Time-Based Media (University of the West of England).