Tracing Your Legal Ancestors:
A Guide for Family Historians.
By Stephen Wade, Family
Tree Books, 2010, 177 p.
Were your U.K. ancestors employed in the legal
profession? Do you know the difference between a Scrivener and Barrister’s
Clerk? Have you been baffled by the jargon
you’ve found in legal documents? Maybe you just want to know where you can find
records pertaining to your judge ancestor. If so, you’ll want to delve into
Stephen Wade’s guide to researching law occupations to find the answers.
To
begin researching and understanding the lives of your legal ancestors, a review
of the basic workings of the legal system is in order. Wade provides the
history surrounding the development of the legal system in England, including
the evolution of various types of courts, as well as the occupations of those
who were engaged in their operations. The author doesn’t limit his discussion
to the high-profile occupations, such as judges, magistrates, and barristers,
but also provides insight into the lives of the clerks, administrators, town
clerks, legal secretaries and other ancillary legal workers. While most of the
examples and discussion surround the judicial system in England and Wales, the
author also includes a chapter describing the systems in use in Ireland and
Scotland.
Almost
half of the book is devoted to a survey of resources researchers can use to
locate documents pertaining to their legal ancestors. Some of these resources
can be accessed online. Wade includes a handy glossary of legal terms, a
comprehensive bibliography for further reading, and association addresses where
one might seek additional information. This guidebook is essential for those
wishing to learn more about the law in England, and about those who were
involved in its professions.
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