Course Enrollment: EN-304 English: Court Records-Criminal, Civil and Ecclesiastical

Optional Print Course Material: English: Court Records - Criminal, Civil and Ecclesiastical

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

This course deals with records of use by genealogists and family historians from the many English courts that controlled our ancestors’ lives—canon law, feudal law, customary law, common law and equity.

The former importance of ecclesiastical courts is emphasized. Civil ones comprising manor courts, petty, borough and quarter sessions as well as chancery and exchequer courts are covered. Criminal assizes and records of prisoners and convicts, gaols and transportation are discussed. The availability of original records and indexes to the researcher situated anywhere in the world and their relevance to genealogical investigations is explained. 

Course Length: 6 weeks