Introducing Manorial Records: Unlocking The Mysteries Of The Manor For Family Historians

For centuries, the lives of our ancestors were controlled by the lord of the manor which continued until their final demise in 1922. For many family historians any mention of the manor makes them tremble because they think it leads back into the strange world of medieval history where only faint ghosts of our anonymous ancestors exist. Manorial records are an important source of information providing a fascinating insight of the day-to-day life of most of our ancestors.

Manors had countless officials, rules and regulations and held courts to deal with transgressions and uphold the local laws. The records generated mean you would be able to find family name in the wealth of manorial documents. Every person associated with the manor – urban or rural – will likely be named.

This introductory guide to manorial documents will unlock the mysteries of the manor and all its records leading you through the process, explaining what you need to know and when you need to know it; where the documents can be found and how to interpret them so that you can use manorial documents to develop the history of your family. With a little patience and this book by your side, you will be pleasantly surprised at what you can do and what you do find!

Do not ignore these records but embrace them and make them work for you.