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This book and the accompanying Volume A (Aberdeen-Kirkcudbright) are composed from the three volumes together called Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae Adhuc Servantur (Inquiries Retourned to the Chancery of our Lord the King which are Held in the Archives of Scotland) from 1544 to 1699). These records, informally known as Retours of Services of Heirs, represent possibly the greatest unused resource for Scottish genealogy and land history, but are not widely available and thus are largely unknown.
Essentially, they are abbreviated abstracts of the records of inheritance, the continuity of heritable possession of land and certain associated rights and responsibilities. The original Retours themselves are often long and complicated, and mostly in Latin, but they were indexed and abbreviated into the form presented here.
The Retours can be searched by County, then by surname and placename.
With additional material and a Latin glossary by Dr. Bruce Durie
About the author
Dr Bruce Durie is a Scottish genealogist, heraldist and historian. Originally a scientist, he has an additional doctorate in history and education. Author of over 30 books on a wide variety of subjects, he is best known for his many BBC broadcasts, his talks and lectures, and as the founder of the renowned Masters programme in Genealogical Studies at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. Dr Durie is also Shennachie to the Chief of Durie, a Freeman and Burgess of the City of Glasgow, and an Academician of the Académie Internationale de Généalogie.
website: www.brucedurie.co.uk/books.html
email: ordinary@brucedurie.co.uk
