How to transcribe grantors index entries
Background
FamilySearch has been published the images from the microfilms of the grantors indexes in the Registry of Deeds. This is a tremendous boon for researchers as they can view indexes on line.
The grantors index is is in alphabetic order, noting that I and J were considered the same letter in the 18th century. The grantors given name is included in the index. Nobles are indexed under their title as are bishops in many cases.
Where to start
We have created a guide that helps you get into the virtual microfilms on FamilySearch. So start be going to the guide. Select an image by timeframe and beginning letter. If you are interested in a particular name you may have to find it using a bit of searching. The index is sorted by family name of the grantor (or in the case of a noble or bishop their title).
Below is a bit of a typical page from the 1708–29 part of the index. it is very clear and pretty easy to read.
The transcription of the ACKLAND entries would be the following:
| Grantor family | Oth | Forename | Residence | Grantee family | Oth | Forename | Residence | YYYY | MMDD | Film No | Volume | Page | Memorial No | Abs | MS | Reference/Notes | Indexer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACKLAND | Henry | ORSON | 1708-1729 | 0522810 | 37 | 495 | 23628 | A | Image 010 | nickred | |||||||
| ACKLAND | Henry | ORSON | 1708-1729 | 0461322 | 35 | 540 | 23629 | A | Image 010 | nickred | |||||||
| ACKLAND | Henry | LYNDON | 1708-1729 | 0522811 | 39 | 461 | 26429 | Image 010 | nickred | ||||||||
| ACKLAND | Henry | EWART | 1708-1729 | 0461325 | 45 | 403 | 29763 | Image 010 | nickred |
Do not worry that there are some links inside the table above. These are generated and you only need to enter the volume and memorial numbers. In addition, You do not need to enter anything in the columns with heading that have a grey background.
The two columns headed Oth are used to indicate where there are more than one grantor/grantee. "O" is used to indicate the index image has "&ors"
after a given or family name as here:
"H" is used where there is "husband" and "W" for when there is "wife".
The "MS" column is for indicating the memorial is a marriage settlement or will. "MS" for marriage settlement and "W" for will.
An excel template is here