This booklet was written by the famous English genealogist, W.P.W Phillimore, as an introduction to the beginner embarking on their family history. It is full of very sensible advice and cautionary tales. He warns against the errors that exist in the pedigrees that had already been compiled, and makes the important point that this is rarely because of fabrication, but because of "inability to appreciate the rules of evidence". In other words those who are not trained in the work are inevitably going to make mistakes, and his aim in this little book is to help students identify and understand the nature of the evidence they use. "Verify your references" is a repeated maxim, as true then as it is today.

But the booklet has so much more, from how to layout and print your pedigree, to the principal sources and the problems attached to each. He looks in detail at English sources, while also addressing Scottish and Irish. Those familiar with Irish genealogy will be struck by his description of sources and options no longer available, his comment "Ireland is fortunate in preserving more of her census returns than England" reminds us how much has changed since 1914.

All in all, this is a great introduction to family history as well as the historical methods of the genealogist.

This title is a FREE DOWNLOAD title only. Just follow the link on the receipt after you have ordered to get the file. You will have 24 hours to download this item. 

Originally published between 1846 and 1858 and republished here on fully-searchable CD-Rom is the three-volume collection The Topographer and Genealogist. Edited by John Gough Nichols and printed in London by the editor's father, John Bowyer Nichols, in total this monumental collection of historical and genealogical material contains more than 1,800 printed pages.

John Gough Nichols was the third generation of renowned London printers, publishers and antiquaries. His grandfather, John Nichols (1745-1826), began life as a printer, but by 1788 was the editor of the Gentleman's Magazine and published in eight volumes (1795-1815) The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, the most comprehensive antiquarian survey until that time ever undertaken. Together with Abraham Farley, Nichols proofed and printed the 1783 edition of the Doomsday Book as well as other antiquarian publications. John Gough Nichols' father, John Bowyer Nichols continued the family printing business, while his eldest son, John Gough Nichols is seen as his grandfather's natural successor.

John Gough Nichols joined the family printing firm in 1824 and, though his prodigious editorial achievements and biographical studies, may be regarded as the natural successor of his grandfather, John Nichols. He began to attend meetings of the Society of Antiquaries with his father from the age of twelve and, in 1826, assisted John Nichols with his Progresses of James I, completing it alone in 1828. His indefatigable editorship of the Gentleman's Magazine lasted from 1826 to its sale in 1856 but, through his zeal to print original sources and biographical materials, he was also the founding editor of the Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica (1834-1843), the Topographer and Genealogist (1846-1858), the Herald and Genealogist (1863-1874) and the Register and Magazine of Biography (1869) and was also one of the founding members of the Camden Society. o these milestones of biography and local historical publication must be added his Annals and Antiquities of Lacock Abbey in 1834, his contributions to Sir Richard Hoare's History of Modern Wiltshire and his contributions to Archæologia and the publications of the Camden Society, Surtees Society and Shakespeare Society, all of which he had helped to found. When he died, in 1873, his library at Holmwood Park near Dorking in Surrey housed one of the largest collections of topographical and historical books of his time. It was also the home of many thousands of family, business and collected papers that he and his family had been accumulating for over a century. In the course of the next fifty years a succession of sales by Sotheby's began the dispersal of the Nichols archive to its many present locations in public repositories and private collections around the world.

As for the three-volume publication, The Topographer and Genealogist, this contains a plethora of material gathered from numerous sources, such as monumental inscription, estates records, parochial records, leases, family chronicles and wills, as well as work undertaken by much earlier genealogists such as the herald, Peter Le Neve as well as records from various shires and hundreds of England and Ireland. It was Nichols' express wish that The Topographer and Genealogist should be a forum for the publication of detached essays on topography and genealogy bringing to the public attention hitherto lost relics while at the same time preserving these for posterity and in this Nichols was surely successful. 


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Published in 1838 this is an immense four volume set of books with pedigrees of hundreds and hundreds of families, in some cases dating back to the early medieval period. 


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Rolls of arms is the generic name given to medieval manuscript records of armorial bearings, whether they be in the form of rolls or books. Surviving Rolls are incredibly rare, this book lists many of those that do, along with detailed descriptions and there whereabouts at the date of publication (1948). 


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Includes the Matthew Paris Shields c. 1244-59, Glover's Roll c. 1253-8 and Walford's Roll c. 1273.

From the preface:

'The Matthew Paris Shields are the work of a clerk, a keen, and accurate observer, but one who looked at heraldry from the outside. Glover's and Walford's Rolls, on the other hand, look like the work of heralds, or just possibly of knights, at all events of men personally and professionally involved in the subject.'

In the book ancient families arms are described and discussed and there are often biographical and genealogical notes to accompany them, for example:

From Walford's Roll:

BREUSE. John de Brusse d' or a treys chevrons de gules a une bordure d' azur endente. Cf 141, 111. CII (a) writes 'bod' for bordure. CII (b) makes the border argent, but C I, as also E 337 an F 406, both of which paint it engrailed, confirm azure.

Sir John de Breuse, s. and h. of Robert (d.1276), held lands in Hants., Glos., Surrey, Som., and Essex. (Cal. Inq. ii. 194.) He was dead by Whitsun 1284, when his heirs, minors, were found to be overlords of Spargrove manor, Som. (Ibid. 526)

The arms are evidently a differenced version of Clare, but how they were acquired does not appear.' 


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COLLINS PEERAGE OF ENGLAND

A Genealogical Account and Historical Account of all the Peers of England, now existing, either by tenure, summons or creation.

Their descendants and collateral lines.

Their births, marriages and issues.

Famous acts both in war and peace.

Religious and charitable donations.

Deaths, places of burial, monuments.

Many valuable memoirs never before published.

Also their coats of arms, crests and supporters engraved on copper plates. (about 100 plates in total).

By Arthur Collins. Printed for Innys and others in 1741. The work comprises around 2000 pages. (21cm by 13cm). In 4 volumes.

PLUS: A Supplement to the Peerage of England. 2 volumes by Arthur Collins. Printed for Innys, and others, in 1750.

This is a supplement to the original 4 volumes of the Peerage of England. Includes all the additional Peers from 1740. Gives all the details about them as listed for the original 4 volumes. The supplementary volumes total around 800 pages. There are about 12 pages of plates.

A superb and very rare reference!

Available Now 


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Published in five volumes by The Harleian Society this is an essential reference set for medieval historians and genealogists alike.

Although the title suggests that it contains the details only of those who were knights during the reign of Edward I, many of these men had been made Knights by his father and continued to serve his son, Edward II.

Of particular historical note are the infamous 'favourites' of Edward II, Piers de Gaveston and Hugh le Despenser, and John Balliol Edward's 'puppet king' of Scotland.

An intriguing book which details the lives and families of men from one of the most turbulent periods in British history.

Kindly loaned to the Project by The Harleain Society. 


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An excellent reference book with details of some of the very oldest families. It includes an extensive list of sources and indexes of names, Norman overlords and their under-tenants in England

This book was kindly loaned to the Project by The Harleian Society. 


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An index to the pedigrees in the genealogical manuscripts of Sir Ralph Bigland, Garter King of Arms.

This book was kindly loaned to The Archive CD Books Project by The Harleian Society. 


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Complied by the Rev. Joseph Hunter, transcribed and published in 1894-6 by The Harleian Society in four large volumes.

Completely filled with pedigrees of families, chiefly from Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Lancashire although the branches of these families extend to most parts of Britain and date from the 17th to 19th centuries.

The final volume contains a huge index of thousands of people.

These books were kindly loaned to the Project by The Harleian Society. 


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The Harleian Society published Familia Minorum Gentium in four volumes between 1894-6. This work was originally compiled by Joseph Hunter.

In 1931 there appeared on the market some folio volumes which upon inspection were obviously some of Hunter's loose sheets used in the preparation of his work. They contain many extra pedigrees, chiefly of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Lancashire families, although there are some from other counties.

This book was kindly loaned to The Archive CD Books Project by The Harleian Society. 


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Records of Grants of Arms, in some cases as early as 1450, upto the early nineteenth century.

 


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Published by The Harleian Society in three large books. Volume one contains the names of those granted the right to bear arms to the end of the seventeenth century. The second and third books cover the years 1687 to 1898.

The Heralds at the College of Arms consider these books to be one of the most important reference sources available to them and we consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be able to make them available on CD to historians and genealogists all over the world.

Kindly loaned to the Project by The Harleian Society. 


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Published in 1804 this contains the lives of all the Kings, Heralds and Pursuivants from the reign of King Richard III.

A very rare book with lots of fascinating information about the College of Arms, its function and the people who have performed its work throughout the centuries. 


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A superb 546 page volume, published by The Harleian Society in 1873, which describes Knights made during the reigns of King Charles II, James II, William III and Queen Mary, King William alone, and Queen Anne. It also gives each Knight's pedigree (their ancestors and their descendants) plus lots of other information and dates etc.

From the preface to the book:

'Among the descents given in the following pages, many names will be found of men whose actions render them remarkable in the annals of England. .... John Milton, William Penn, Sir Christopher Wren, Sir William Dugdale, Sir Isaac Newton, Archbishop Cranmer, Sir Walter Raleigh, are only a few culled at random from the illustrious names mentioned. 


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A wonderful little leather bound book published in 1790 that lists all of the Peerages of England Scotland & Ireland. Many coats of arms illustrated (mainly of the most important families). 


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2nd Edition 1841 - Coats of Arms (illustrated) and lineages of hundreds of families whose Baronetcies became extinct, often through the lack of a male heir.

Book loaned from the collection of Barney Tyrwhitt-Drake. 


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This well known Burkes Peerage is comprehensive and well indexed. Published in 1881 it follows a time when many changes occurred in the peerage.

It contains lists of Peers and Baronets, Family Surnames, Courtesy Titles, Daughters of Peers and Baronets married to commoners, Archbishops and Bishops, Foreign titles held by British subjects, Privy Councillors, Knights of various orders and those who received the Victoria Cross.

Also listed are the person's genealogy and where applicable an illustration of their coat of arms.

 


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A huge book with more than 2,000 pages of biographical details. Not just the very highest echelons of society, there are a great number of middle-class folk included who received honours during the both the Anglo-Boer and Great wars. 


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During the 1500s and 1600s, the Heralds visited each county and recorded the pedigrees of families. In many cases the pedigrees date back to Norman times (the 11th century).

These records form an extremely important source of information for family historians. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Harleian Society published a large series of books containing transcripts of these ancient documents. The books also include descriptions or illustrations of the coats of arms of these people.

We are very pleased indeed to have set up a project of co-operation with the Harleian Society to digitise this very important collection of books, which are now extremely rare and almost impossible to obtain. 

The contents of this book includes the Visitation of Staffordshire made in 1663-1664 plus a series of additions by William Dugdale, Norroy King of Arms.

This book was kindly loaned to The Archive CD Books Project by The Harleian Society. 


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Pedigrees of Yorkshire families compiled from twelve manuscript volumes by The Harleian Society. The principal family names are organised alphabetically and there is an excellent index which makes the finding of other names very easy indeed.

Kindly loaned to The Archive CD Books Project by The Harleian Society.

 


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COUNTY VISITATIONS OF THE HERALDS IN THE 1500S AND 1600s

During the 1500s and 1600s, the Heralds visited each county and recorded the pedigrees of families. In many cases the pedigrees date back to Norman times (the 11th century).

These records form an extremely important source of information for family historians. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Harleian Society published a large series of books containing transcripts of these ancient documents. The books also include descriptions or illustrations of the coats of arms of these people.

We are very pleased indeed to have set up a project of co-operation with the Harleian Society to digitise this very important collection of books, which are now extremely rare and almost impossible to obtain.

This set contains the equivalent of 58 (yes, fifty eight!) currently produced CDs (some of which contain more than one volume). They are all from the same series, and on the same topic, forming a full and comprehensive library of resources. - 1500s and 1600s period pedigrees. The individual titles would normnally cost more than €700 (£750) ex VAT, so this is a remarkable saving of more than €500. 


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