Back to School

Members of the Fenland Family History Society went back to school at our July meeting, which found us lined up in front of our teacher, reading aloud from copies 16th and 17th century documents. Elizabeth Stazicker, Cambridgeshire Head of Heritage and County Archivist gave us full marks for effort before we broke up for the summer. We worked from five documents ranging in date from 1571 to 1691 and from a parish register to a petition from the people of Manea. Elizabeth showed us how to use sample alphabets and words already deciphered as reference points as well as explaining how to cope with non-standardised spelling. In an incredibly short time we had began to read more fluidly and were told that it was like riding a bike – once you have mastered it, you will always be able to do it but you may be a little wobbly if you haven’t done it for some time. I had been looking forward to this workshop for some time and it fully lived up to my expectations. Everyone appeared to have as good a time as I did and can look forward to a summer break deciphering those old documents that have previously seemed impenetrable. Let the weather do it worst!
[Sue Paul]