Ah yes, titles and other such wonderful things we seize upon today. My rabble of ancestors had some which included Maitre des Requetes de l'Hotel du Roi and Maitre d'Hoptel de Jean de France Duc de Berry, Conseiller du Roi, Maitre des Requetes du Roi and a whole boar load of other nifty titles. Oh yes, and thief, highwayman, smuggler, prostitute, farmer etc. How did they get them one might be asking ? Bought most of them or simply poked a local duc in the ribs with a sword or even made horrible threats such as "title or we blow up your chateau". The there was the really neat way to gain a title. Humungous donation to the local church. Still works today in some places. So, to me it very much depends when the document you are reading was actually written. If for instance it was written during the lifetime of the said ancestor then much of the above ways of gaining titles can be used. If, as is often the case, these little extra bits were added after the death, then one may find that, well, you know.. makes really neat story for the grandkids to say that ancestor was a captain of the guard or ship or boss cocky of the farm. All the time ancestor had a falling out with the local authorities, maybe he pinched money while doing the books and so left in a hurry, bought a fishing boat etc. So folks come along later and, well you know, mess with the oral family history so much that when it is written down for posterity, it now turns out that the fishing boat used to sustain ancestor and his family has now become a big fishing boat and he is now captain. Just a reminder to many of us that before we go recording things for those in the future, that we do actually know what the passed was in actuality. If you don't know, or are unsure, then say so in your records. Your descendents will not call you names if you don't know. They surely will if they discover that you continued the enhanced story of the ancestor. Just my waffle for now. Kind Regards, Peter Leroy