Old documents - what info ?

[genie60]

Hi,

I had a professional genealogist who did some work on my Shaw family from Staffordshire. At the end of her report she listed some documents that may be of use to me.

Apprenticeship Documents for Tamworth
Probate Calenders
Settlement documents for Elford and /or Tamworth

What information can be obtained from these documents? Are they easily accessible?

Thanks Genie60

[Jan1954]

Hello genie60,

Apprenticeship records: have a read of this research guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=295&j=1) from TNA

Probate Calendars: Have a read of this thread (http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39859&highlight=probate)

Settlement documents: Although on the Devon County Council webpage, there is a good explanation about Settlement records here (http://www.devon.gov.uk/text/index/democracycommunities/people/family_history/family_history_3/poor_relief/poor_law_records.htm). Scroll down the page a bit until you hit the heading The Settlement Act of 1662.

I hope that these links help.

A good starting point would be the Staffordshire Acrchives: http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/

[janbooth]

You could also have a look at the Access to Archives website (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/advanced-search.aspx?tab=1) and search on the names you are interested in. If you do find any appropriate documents, an email to Staffordshire Archives might be worth your while - I have found them very helpful in the past.

Janet

[Vance Mead]

Here are a couple of examples of apprenticeship records:

Meade Mathew, son of Mathew, Enfield, Middlesex, husbandman (deceased), to James Bryan snr., 24 Jun 1677, Masons' Company

Mead George, son of George, Billericay, Essex, grocer, to Joshua Channing, 5 Dec 1746, Glovers' Company

So in addition to the name of the father, they also give a probable place of birth and approximate date of birth, since most people became apprenticed between the ages of about 13 and 18. (Matthew Meade was christened in 1663.)

Staffs is in the diocese of Lichfield and Coventry. Wills are the best records I know of. Once you have the name of the testator and the reference number, you can find the original or microfilm, or order them from the Record Office. These calendars have been published:

A calendar of wills and administrations at Lichfield : relating to the county of Stafford and other portions of the ancient diocese of Lichfield and Coventry /, Edited by W.P.W. Phillimore. [S.l.] : Staffordshire Record Society, [n.d.] 3 v. ; 25 cm. Related titles: Lichfield wills and administrations

Calendars of wills & administrations in the Consistory Court of the bishop of Lichfield and Conventry, 1516 to 1652 also those in the "Peculiars" now deposited in the probate registries at Lichfield, Birmingham and Derby, 1529-1652, 1675-1790, 1753-1790 /, edited by W.P.W. Phillimore. London : British Record Society, 1892. x, 687 p. Series title: Index library (British Record Society) ; 7, Genealogy & local history ; LH12290. 4006802261

[genie60]

Hi to Jan,Janet and Vance,

Thank you for your replies, I will look into all the info in more detail when I get chance - very busy at the moment.

Cheers

Genie60