Acta
Latin: an officical record of proceedings
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The world of probate records
Wills serve as vital resources for family historians, revealing intricate relationships and social structures across generations. They detail familial connections, property inheritance, and can even highlight wider community links. While… Read more ⇢
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Making the Most of a Sunny Easter
This week, we embraced the sunny weather during the Easter holidays, prioritising family time over work. Our adventures included exploring Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Mary Rose Museum, as well… Read more ⇢
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Is the Meaning of Easter Lost to Chocolate Eggs?
The article explores whether children’s understanding of Easter’s meaning is overshadowed by their excitement for chocolate eggs. It traces the origin of the egg as a symbol of renewal, linking… Read more ⇢
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Poor law records for C18th and C19th Research
This week took me into parich chest records to try and identify the ancestors in a project i am working. These can be some of the most valuable records when… Read more ⇢
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Tracing Family Connections in the Early Modern Period (1500–1600)
Researching family history in the early modern period (c.1500–1600) can be challenging. Parish registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials—often the foundation of genealogical research—frequently do not survive from this period.… Read more ⇢
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The Story of Mary Jones
In 1859, nineteen-year-old Mary Jones of Hambledon, Surrey, was convicted of the murder of her newborn child and sentenced to death. But her case was clearly one of seduction with… Read more ⇢
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Lodging House Keepers and Survival in Victorian London
This week has been a bit varied, but one theme coming out of my research and talk preparations over the last couple of weeks, which I thought I would explore… Read more ⇢
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Hidden lives, Industrial Change and Historic Walls
This week’s research focused on three distinct projects involving family genealogy and local history. The challenges ranged from tracing an elusive ancestor with ambiguous marital status to investigating a historical… Read more ⇢
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A week of Wildlife, History & Adventure
With half term this week, little work has been done but the children and I packed our days with adventure, learning, fresh air, and just a little bit of time… Read more ⇢
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One parchment at a time
This week, I have been engaged in writing about manorial records, exploring their depth regarding landholding and community life from medieval England to the twentieth century. The process includes transcription,… Read more ⇢
Sarah Pettyfer 