Fragmenta Genealogica: Volume 4

This rare series is an outstanding compilation of English genealogical information drawn from many ancient sources, such as the Munimenta Antiqua, apprentice books, will books, church records, brass rubbings and historical documents from the author’s personal collection. Most of the data is from the 1600s and 1700s, but a few families have records going back to the 1500s and earlier. Included are descriptions of family coats of arms (with some illustrations), autographs, deeds, entries in Bibles, grants of arms, lists of rectors, monumental inscriptions, pedigrees, register extracts, seals and wills. The original volumes were beautifully printed on Crisp’s private press in limited editions of fifty. Crisp also collaborated with Joseph Jackson Howard on the distinguished series, Visitation of England and Wales. The information in Fragmenta Genealogica is every bit as significant as that found in Visitation, but is of a more random and sometimes more interesting variety. A sample of the contents, too extensive to list in full: abstracts of deeds relating to the families of Lettsom and Partridge; admissions to manors in Redenhall and Denton, Norfolk; entries in Bibles formerly belonging to the families of Bonamy, Cole, Gilson, Jones, Morgan and Perceval; grants of arms to Gall (1576), and Paltock (1612); monumental inscriptions at Alderton, Bawdsey, Felixstowe and Walton, Suffolk County, Birchington, Kent County (with facsimiles of brasses), and Stonehouse, Gloucester County; woodcuts of arms of Jeaffreson impaling Barthrop, and Woolnough; also wills and administrations of Dame Elizabeth Clifford (1526); and Jocelin-Joscelyne-Joslin-Josling-Josselin (etc.), 1525-1730.