This 4-week course is designed for genealogists who want to deepen their understanding of historical documents to extract vital information effectively. Using original records, you will learn about the formats of key documents and their essential elements and how to uncover the crucial genealogical details hidden within them. Each week there will be a brief introduction to the document type, its purpose and key features, examples of original records and tools and techniques for efficient interpretation.

Week 1: Wills and Inventories

Explore how wills and inventories provide invaluable insights into family relationships, property ownership and social status.

• The structure and typical language of wills.
• Tips on how to quickly identify heirs, property details and key dates.
• Using inventories to understand lifestyles, occupations and assets. 

Week 2: Quarter Sessions

Discover how Quarter Sessions records can reveal important details about your ancestors.

• Understanding formats of the records produced by the Quarter Sessions.
• Identifying family members through legal disputes, apprenticeships and settlements.
• Practical tips for navigating these wide-ranging records. 

Week 3: Manorial Records

Gain confidence about using these valuable but sometimes avoided resources.

• Types of manorial documents, including court rolls and rentals.
• Typical formats found within manorial documents.
• Extracting genealogical clues from property transfers and court sessions. 

Week 4: Deeds

Learn how to navigate deeds for tracing property ownership and familial connections.

• Common formats of deeds, including grants, mortgages, and leases.
• How to identify what is important in a deed and what to ignore.

By the end of the course, participants will have the skills to confidently analyse and extract genealogical information from these historical documents. 

Each class will be recorded and available to those that book a place until 14 August 2025.