Page 130 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects

INTRODUCTION
THE REASON for adding a section on Genealogical Research to a book
prirnarily dealing with heraldry is because heraldry and genealogy are so
completeIy bound up in eacli other. Without genealogy and its relevant
family histories true heraldry cannor exist and wilhout some knowledge
of l~eraldry no genealogist can proceed very Ear, as armorial bearings are
bound fo crop up in much of the researcli that he will carry out.
GeneaIogy can be a most fascinating subject if it is handled properly,
conversely il can be extremely dry and du11 if one does flot take the neces-
sary ' one step further ' and follow, in some measure, the persona1 histories
of the people who crop up in the various pedigrees.
A matter of vital importance that the genealogist must always bear in
mind is accuracy. Each step that he undertakes must be proven and If
possible a second proof sbould be found confirming the firsc. Human error
will aIways creep in and even such documents as birth, marriage and death
certificates provided by the appropriate authorities are occasionally at
fault. For example, an old man may die, who has been living on his own,
with his relatives many miles away. His death has to be registered and the
information given, possibly by his landlady or his Doctor or one of his
friends is given in al1 good faith, but it rnay be very wide of the mark.
His age maye be regisiered as 65 when in fact he is over 70. His wife's
name rnay be put down on the death certificate as ' Bessie', which was
the name the old man referred îo her by, when in fact her real name
was Margaret. It js in ways like this thar errors arise and which makes
rnatters more complicated for the genealogist.
This dictionary of genealogy does not aspire to tell the searcher how to
proceed but rather to tell him where information can be obtained and the
sort of things that Ile can look for.
A final word of warning to the would-be Genealogist. Information cornes
from the most unljkely sources, and I have found from experience that:
nlost bodies whether they be institutions, or even industrial companies. if
appcaled to, will always send a courteous and frequently IieIpEul reply, and
as an example 1 have obtained information from tlie follo\ving: The Post
Office Museum, British Railways, Lloyds, Institute of Merchant Seamen,
and rnany others. far too numerous to list in full.