Category Archives: Uncategorized

We came across this piece in the Summer 2020 issue of the magazine ‘Who do you think you are?’. It is on page 46, in an article titled ‘The Lasting Value of Vouchers’. This magazine is free to read for … Continue reading →

This is a recent example of the kind of transcription that takes so many hours of painstaking work. It is a tiny part of the will of Richard Squybbe 1591. At least it is in English! Some wills of this … Continue reading →

For those exploring their house histories we have just transcribed the 1920 Electoral Register, and are transcribing all of the available Registers. We have saved the electoral rolls using the Dorset Library free access to Ancestry. There seems to be … Continue reading →

We have been watching David Olusoga’s third series on ‘A House Through Time’ broadcast on BBC2 This is a fascinating programme showing how good research can bring to life ordinary people and how they faced tragedies in a particular household. … Continue reading →

During Covid19 Libraries West are giving free access to the library edition of Ancestry to members at home, (previously only available at the library). If you have a Dorset Libraries card you first need to log in to your Libraries … Continue reading →

TNA are providing free downloads of some of their digitised documents. These are mostly probates of wills. These were previously £3.50. Go to their website to find out more. The downloads are pdf. We have taken advantage of this to … Continue reading →

I am so excited by the fantastic progress one of our translators is making on this strange, but interesting document. It gives the terms of the tenancies for the villeins on the estates of Milton Abbey in 1317. These were … Continue reading →

There are four books in all which cover the period 1771 – 1836. No others exist. One of our transcribers has single handedly just completed the transcription of all 229 pages of the third book in this series which covers … Continue reading →

The Milton Abbey Priory Archive is a roll of parchment in the Dorset History Centre which contains twenty separate documents all written in Medieval Latin. The first document is the Metes and Bounds of Milton Abbas with Woolland, dated 1384/5. … Continue reading →

Although our meetings and exhibition have been postponed, monthly updates will continue to be emailed to members, and research is continuing as follows: Ham family of Milton Abbas research – all wills and other documents have been transcribed and searched. … Continue reading →