I am transcribing a document I found and had copied by the National Archives. Ref is C 12/2173/10 It concerns a complaint regarding a Will to the Right Honourable Alexander Lord Loughborough Baron of Loughborough in the County of Leicester. I am not sure if the date is 22 Feby or 22 July 1794 after which it says >>>>>>>>>>> by Winter. I am hoping it is a standard phrase? Also. in the body of the document is the phrase "Edward Williams in the said Bill named died seized and ............." and "said real estates of which the said Edward Williams died seized and which had been sold" What does seized mean in this context? regards Lyn Nunn Brisbane Australia

> >Also. in the body of the document is the phrase "Edward Williams in the said >Bill named died seized and ............." and "said real estates of which the >said Edward Williams died seized and which had been sold" What does seized mean >in this context? He held legal possession of (at the time of his death), having taken formal seizin in the past. Orignally, 'taking seizin' of land involved being physically handed a lump of earth. Hence when William the Conqueror tripped when disembarking from his invasion boat and ended up face down in the mud, his men shuddered at the bad omen. But he was bright enough to get up, with a fist full of Sussex mud, and say 'I am taking seizin of my new [email protected] -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society