Sorry for those of you only here for Wee Doctor, genealogy is that boyfriend I can never quite say goodbye to. One of the reasons why, other than the fact he’s metaphorically handsome, intriguing, intelligent,affectionate, a little risque and bookish (like a mixture of Stephen Fry, Steve McQueen and Martin Freeman.)

Also because I’m working on the Melton Mowbray pedigree project which encompasses the civil registration district of Melton Mowbray and all 51 of its parishes. A lot of the records I can order, but books I can’t, so I’ve been cramming all the old books. Today I explored the History of St.Peter Wymondham and then the Story of Melton Mowbray written by a man I’m not altogether certain knew women had names.

He did however detail the exciting lives of the Mowbray lords starting with Robert de Mowbray who went against King William Rufus and was banished to an Abbey, a few fellows who died in the crusades, someone who died of the plague and a couple of beheadings due to treason and someone who had an honorable mention in Shakespeare’s Richard II for getting into a duel and being banished to Italy. And then of course there was a black sheep who led a quiet life and died peacefully in bed of natural causes. The last in line was the first lady of Melton Mowbray and the last in the line, who died as a child and was engaged to the unfortunate Prince Richard, who also famously died as a child before he could inherit his title.

Now I’m going to go rest because that is tedious work.