Edinburgh's Family History Centre
If you're looking to engage further, the Society hosts various events, classes, and talks, many of which are available on zoom.
Our full list of classes, talks and events can be found on our Calendar
The Library will close at the end of the day on Saturday 6th December 2025 and we hope to reopen end of January 2026 date to be confirmed.
Daisy Cunynghame is the Heritage Manager and Librarian at the Royal College of Physicians.
15 Victoria Terrace Edinburgh United Kingdom
‘East Jersey Bound: Scots migrants to America in the 1680s’
In the early 1680s, several hundred Scots emigrated from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Montrose to establish colonial settlement in New Jersey. This was backed at the highest level and sought to ensure that Scotland had a stake in the development of the American colonies. It brought together Quakers, Episcopalians and Presbyterians, a tense mix of religious affiliations. Many of the Presbyterians were transported Covenanters and the Quakers too had had their share of persecution.
This talk by Derrick Johnstone will set out the background to the venture and consider the questions: Who were the immigrants, why did they leave and what became of them?
Derrick will introduce his website East Jersey Bound and reflect on some of the challenges in conducting genealogical research at such a distance in time. The site contains a genealogical database of 600 emigrants and over 2,000 of their kin and associates.
Derrick Johnstone is a Research Affiliate in the Department of History at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, having completed his dissertation on the Scots emigrants in 2025. He has been a member of the Scottish Genealogical Society for 10 years and is Secretary of the Old Edinburgh Club, the city’s history society. https://eastjerseybound.scot
Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh Edinburgh United Kingdom
4-6 Newhaven Main Street United Kingdom
Monday 10.30am to 4pm
Tuesday 10.30am to 4pm
Wednesday 2.30pm to 7.00pm
Thursday 10.30am to 4pm
Saturday 10am to 2pm
Visit our online shop to purchase a membership or one of our many publications.
We run a programme of Classes throughout the year. Many of our Classes are held on zoom. The Classes can be booked through our Shop.
© 2026 Scottish Genealogy Society (SCIO)
Phone:
0131 220 3677
Email address:
enquiries@scotsgenealogy.com
Address:15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL