As Hilary says, it is a marvelous feeling, being able to see and touch these very old documents. It is very hard to convey the thrill one gets on such rare occasions, and we must all feel sorry for those people too far away to be able to have the same experience. One man I was researching was a Naval officer transferred to HMS Beagle in 1836, and I recall the feelings so vividly, of holding the actual ship's muster in my hand, opening it at the page for Supernumeries, and seeing five names there, headed by Charles Darwin, naturalist, and ending with my subject, John Edward Davis, assistant master. Incidentally, a later find was a testimonial to John E Davis written by Captain Fitzroy, which landed John Davis with a plum job on James Clark Ross's expedition to the Antarctic. Such glamorous finds have unfortunately so far eluded me in researching my own humble family! Dave Jacobs ========= At 17:01 12/10/2004, hilary gadsby wrote: >Regarding using original documents. I recently visited HRO and because we >could not find the relevant microfiche for what I suspected was a will of >one of my ancestors I was permitted to see the original. >I now have a copy of that will and it is much clearer than those I copied >from the fiche. >It was a great thrill seeing the original of a will written in 1719 almost >300 years ago. >Well worth the 500 mile round trip. >one happy researcher >Hilary