From wills to letters—if it's legible, I can transcribe it. Specialising in British, Irish, and Scottish historical documents from the 17th-19th centuries. Based in England with expertise in UK archives—ideal for USA, Australian, and Canadian researchers tracing British ancestry. See how each document type comes to life in the Heritage Script Journal.
Last wills and testaments, probate inventories, letters of administration, executor accounts. I understand the legal language and can decode even the most complex bequests.
A plain English summary is available as an optional add-on — ideal if you want to understand the document at a glance without working through the original language. See Pricing for details.
Individual entries from diocesan probate act books, bishops' registers, and ecclesiastical court records — including grants of administration, probate acts, and institution entries. Though brief in length, these documents are written in heavily abbreviated Latin in secretary hand and require the same specialist expertise as full wills. Each entry is transcribed with full editorial notes, expanded abbreviations, and uncertain readings clearly flagged. Particularly valuable for pre-1600 research where the act book entry may be the only surviving probate record.
Indentures, conveyances, lease agreements, mortgage deeds, marriage settlements. These often contain crucial family information beyond just property transfers.
Quarter Sessions records, trial depositions, witness statements, bastardy bonds. Court documents can reveal fascinating family stories.
Baptism, marriage, and burial entries (when handwritten), churchwardens' accounts, vestry minutes, poor law records, settlement examinations and removal orders. Essential sources for early family history.
Letters, diaries, journals, family papers. Often the most intimate and revealing documents in your family history.
Apprenticeship indentures, guild records, account books, ledgers, receipts. Show how your ancestors made their living.
Service records, discharge papers, pension applications, medal citations. Track your ancestors' military service.
Handwritten census returns, prison registers, workhouse records, hospital admission books, school registers. Tabular records transcribed into clear spreadsheet format.
Manorial records, tithe maps and apportionments, enclosure awards, land tax assessments. Trace property ownership through generations.
Passenger lists, naturalisation papers, port records. Follow your ancestors' journeys.
20th century letters, notes, manuscripts, diaries. If you can't read someone's handwriting or just need it typed up, I can help.
If you have a historical document not listed here, contact me. I can usually help with any handwritten English-language document from the 17th century onwards.
Your transcription shared via a Google Docs link — clean, properly formatted, viewable on any device. No specialist software needed. Easy to copy, print, or share with family members.
Layout matches the original where helpful. Paragraphs, lists, and sections clearly indicated. Tabular records converted to readable table format.
Any word I'm not completely certain of is marked as [?uncertain]. You'll know exactly what's definite and what might need verification.
Archaic terms, unusual abbreviations, or legal phrases explained in footnotes or endnotes where helpful.
I keep the original spelling and punctuation so you have an accurate historical record—but I'll flag anything confusing.
For an additional fee, I'll explain what the document says in plain modern terms — highlighting the key people, relationships, bequests, and legal provisions. Ideal for clients who want to understand the document at a glance. Available for wills, deeds, and most legal records.
Please note: The plain English summary is provided for general reference and ease of understanding only. It should not be relied upon for any legal, financial, or genealogical purpose without reference to the full diplomatic transcription. Heritage Script accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of the summary alone.
For an additional fee, I can provide basic historical context where possible—identifying dates, legal officials, or place names mentioned. This is NOT professional genealogical research or family tree building, just contextual information to enhance completeness of the transcription. Additional research quoted separately.
If you spot something that needs clarification or have questions about the transcription, minor revisions are included in the price.
Each document type is best understood through a real example. These case studies show what a transcription can reveal — and where it can lead.
Palaeography Notes · Wills & Probate · Latin
A plain-English guide to every phrase in the Latin probate clause — the block of text most people ignore at the top and bottom of a PCC will.
Read the guide →
Wills & Probate
A 1760 will leads from a Kentish mercer's bequest into the heart of England's most notorious smuggling gang.
Read the case study →
Business & Occupational Records
Four generations on the Thames — and the extraordinary guild records that preserve a waterman dynasty in detail.
Read the case study →
Parish Records & Family Trees
How a single unfamiliar surname in a West Sussex register opened a connection to the Romantic poets.
Read the case study →
Parish Records & Surnames
750 years of a locational surname — and why the Kentish Weald registers are both the richest and the most demanding to read.
Read the case study →
Questions about how transcription works, timelines, what happens if a document is illegible, or whether I can help with a particular document type? All common questions are answered on the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Send me your document and I'll provide a free, no-obligation quote within 24 hours.
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