Notes in pedigrees - Genealogists' Forum

Pinefamily · #1 03-11-20, 22:42

Hello all,
I hope eveyone is staying safe in these difficult times.

In various pedigrees, visitations, etc, sometimes there is a note with an individual such as 9 Hen. IV. Sometimes there is a year as well, but not always. I understand it refers to the year of the reign. Can anyone please tell me what it refers to? I have an individual with such a date attached, and have not found any reference in IM records, or others that can be found online. In this instance I don't believe it refers to a death/burial, as there is another individual with a similar reference, but a separate, later death year.
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can enlighten me.
Thanks.

kiterunner · #2 03-11-20, 23:04

You can convert the regnal years on this site:
https://aulis.org/Calendar/Regnal_Years.html

I think those dates in pedigrees, whether in regnal years or years AD, usually refer to the date when a pedigree was drawn up or when some document was written which mentions the person, so it usually means they were living at that date.

What are IM records, please?

Pinefamily · #3 03-11-20, 23:20

Sorry Kiterunner, I think I used the wrong abbreviation.
Inquisitions post mortem.
I have also looked at chancery records and feet of fines online.
So basically it could be any document that refers to the individual? That isn't overly helpful then, lol. I guess it just lets you know when an individual WAS alive.
It would be more helpful if the documents were referenced too.

Phoenix · #4 04-11-20, 08:39

In an IPM, you get the writ, which has just a regnal year and the ipm which, depending on how complex the landholdings and the practical difficulties of forming a jury, might be the same or the following year. But you should get an actual date of death.

In a reasonably well researched pedigree eg Vivian you would usually get an abbreviated explanation of the source used. However, the abbreviations used are often not the same as modern abbreviations.

Usually the resources used were those held in the then Public Record Office. It's worth searching TNA's Discovery catalogue, but use lots wild cards for variant spellings.