Services and charges
Transcription
You might not need a complete transcription of a document in the first instance, especially if you are unsure about whether the information in the document will be any use to you in your research. I recommend having a summary in modern English done first. Then decide whether you want to pay for a complete transcription of the document.
Wills and testaments
For testaments I can provide a summary in modern English, giving the names and designations of the people mentioned (the deceased, executor, cautioner, and any beneficiaries, debtors and creditors) with a brief summary of the inventory of the movable estate and the will (if there is one). You can then decide whether to have the whole testament transcribed. Or I can provide the transcription only, or the transcription and summary together.
Testaments consisting of one or two pages:
Summary in modern English - 15 GBP
Full transcription - 20 GBP
Full transcription plus summary - 30 GBP
(If you opt for either the summary or the transcription first, then decide to have both done, the total will be 30 GBP, either way).
Longer testaments:
For transcription of longer testaments, I charge between 14 GBP and 20 GBP per page, depending on the quality of the copy, the nature of the handwriting and whether a full transcription is required or only a summary in modern English.
Other manuscript records
For transcription of other manuscript records, such as marriage contracts and other deeds, kirk session and presbytery minutes, correspondence, and court precognitions, I generally charge between 14 GBP and 25 GBP per hour, depending on the nature of the record, the quality of the copy, and the purpose of the research, plus any travelling expenses incurred.
Learning Services
Palaeography coaching
If you want to improve your skills at reading sources such as wills and testaments or kirk session records and can send me copies of documents you have, I can prepare a bespoke coaching session, using the specific documents and can offer this one-to-one coaching service online or to small groups online, and in some circumstances on-site.
Or I can proof-read a transcription you have made, suggest corrections and explain terminology and the meanings of older words and phrases.
My fee for these services is normally between 15 GBP and 50 GBP per hour, depending on the type of record and whether the consultation is for an individual person or small group.
Talks and training events
I can offer talks and training events to historical and other societies on the following topics:
Early-modern Scottish Palaeography: first steps (2 hour class for small groups)
Wills and Testaments: a practical guide to reading and understanding them (1 hour class)
Wills and Testaments: understanding inventories and other testament components (several 1-2 hour classes)
Kirk Session Records: a practical guide (1 hour talk)
Parishes and Districts: a guide to civil, ecclesiastical, registration and other parishes and districts (1-2 hour class)
Fees on request.
Research
Please note that I do not, as a rule, carry out family history research, but am prepared to carry out research in the search rooms of the National Records of Scotland and other archives, usually involving early-modern records. In certain cases I can recommend appropriate commercial researchers or sub-contract work to them.
Payment methods
If I accept a commission, I will normally invoice for payment, giving payment method details. I accept payment by bank transfer (BAC), PayPal and by Sterling cheque. For payments using PayPal or a bank transfer involving a currency conversion, I may have to add a 5% charge to partially cover bank/PayPal service charges.