Understanding Documents For Genealogy & Local History

Genealogists and local historians have probably seen every birth marriage death and census record available and are adept at using the internet for research. However once they have learnt everything they can from them the next step is reading and understanding older documents. These can be hard to find (not many are online) are often written in challenging handwriting and use legal and other unfamiliar terms. Some will be in Latin antiquated English or Scots. Readers need to be able to understand the nature and intent of a range of documents as well as the palaeography (the handwriting) and orthography (the 'shape' of the contents). In Understanding Documents for Genealogy and Local History Dr Bruce Durie the celebrated author of Scottish Genealogy details how to find and comprehend
documents from 1560 to the 1860s - wills testaments contracts indentures and charters land records (retours sasines and manorial custumals) personal letters official records Church papers trust dispositions deeds and others. Also covered are the complexities of dates numbers calendars measurements and money abbreviations transcription conventions letter-forms and glossaries. A Latin primer completes the tool kit the genealogist and family historian will need to further their research.