Tracing Your Servant Ancestors (Paperback) by Michelle Higgs

Tracing Your Servant Ancestors by Michelle Higgs is a richly detailed and accessible guide for family historians seeking to uncover the lives of domestic servants in their ancestry. Spanning from the 18th century to the Second World War, the book offers both a social history of domestic service and a practical research manual.

Key features include:

• Insight into servant life: Learn about the daily routines, working conditions, social hierarchy, and expectations placed on domestic servants, including fascinating facts like footmen being paid more for good calves or specific heights.
• Historical context: Chapters explore the roles of employers, recruitment practices, training, and the responsibilities of various servant roles.
• Research guidance: Higgs provides a comprehensive overview of sources such as census records, wills, directories, household accounts, tax and union records, diaries, and online databases—all essential for tracing servant ancestors.
• Illustrations and examples: The book includes 40 images and real-life examples from historical documents to show how to use these sources effectively.
• Appeal to social historians: Beyond genealogy, it’s a valuable read for anyone interested in Victorian and Edwardian social history, especially the world "below stairs" popularised by shows like Downton Abbey.

ISBN : 9781848846111

£12.99

Add to basket