I have just discovered a rich resource for those studying/using colonial 
records. It is from the University of Nottingham  
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mss/learning/skills/index.phtml

The following introduction briefly describes  the coverage. While the 
focus is on English records, many of the examples and practices 
described will be found in colonial records in the U.S.
While many on this list are already familiar with the material, it is a 
source that can be recommended to those who are still learning.


 Introduction to Skills Resources

The purpose of this resource is to provide guidance and assistance for 
researchers. Using original records for the first time can be quite 
daunting. The handwriting can be hard to read; unfamiliar words and 
phrases are often used; and it can be difficult to know which documents 
to use in order to find relevant information.

These web pages are divided into two sections:

   * 'Historical Skills' units give advice relating to using and
     understanding old records.
   * 'Document Skills' units provide explanations and examples of
     particular kinds of records.

Each unit uses examples from the collections held by Manuscripts and 
Special Collections at the University of Nottingham. The images within 
each unit are illustrative, and the examples are not intended to be 
exhaustive. Each unit includes a bibliography listing further reading 
for researchers who need a more comprehensive approach. Researchers 
wishing to search the material held by Manuscripts and Special 
Collections to find further examples will need to use the Manuscripts 
Online Catalogue <http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mss/catalogue>.

-- 
Barbara Vines Little, CG
Dominion Research Services
PO Box 1273
Orange, VA 22960

540-832-3473 
[log in to unmask]

CG, Certified Genealogist, is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under
license by board certified genealogists after periodic evaluation, and the board name is registered in the
US Patent & Trademark Office. 

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