Investigating our ancestors' wills

Whenever we start our family history research we can be quite excited at the speed of our initial discoveries, as they come at us thick and fast. Across time, as we push further back, challenges incre

This is one in a series of articles; the intention of which is to provide an overview of useful family and local history records in existence, covering the period 1066-1485. Each article can be enjoye

This is one in a series of articles; the intention is to provide an overview of useful family and local history records in existence, covering the period 1066-1485. Each article can be enjoyed as a st

Following an individual’s death in Scotland, the civil courts had a process known as ‘confirmation’, the equivalent of ‘probate’ in England, Wales and Ireland, through which an executor could be appoi

The history of the aristocracy is intertwined with the fascinating history of hunting, Eleanor Doughty discovered while researching her most recent book

Q My great great grandfather, Enoch Coates, was wounded in the Crimean War at Sebastopol. His death notice in the Lichfield Mercury, on Friday 9 December 1910, describes him as a “Crimean Veteran” and