Hello Colin and listers I have just spoken to someone at the Signet Libary and they have kindly agreed that I can put this info on the mailing list as long as I make one thing clear: Scottish lawyers in the 19thC often put their occupation as 'writer', but that does not mean that they were necessarily Writers to the Signet which was in fact quite a small grouping. Listers PLEASE respect this and don't get me into trouble by sending all your lawyer queries to the library. Please only do this if there is strong evidence (as in this case) that the person in question was actually a member ie a lawyer who put W.S. after his name. And please, no surname trawls, this is not a public library but a resource for their own members. So, Colin, you are welcome to drop a line to: The Signet Library Parliament Square Edinburgh EH1 1RF or send an email to: signet.lib@dial.pipex.com Altho they are not technically open to the public they are willing to check their records and send you a photocopy of your ancestor's entry (if there is one) good luck with this Judy Copywriter@tesco.net searching BRIGHT, CRUMP, WHITEHEAD, WATKISS, SHORE, HOPE EDWARDS, WRIGHT (all Salop) INSKIP (Salop/Staffs), MARTIN (Staffs), MITCHELL (SCT and CHS/Lancs), SMITH, AITCHISON, THORBURN (all DFS), McRAE (Lewis/L'pool), HOWARTH (Lancs), OLSEN (N'way,L'pool), WESTON (Salop/L'pool), EDWARDS(Flint), and VIGGOR (CHS/L'pool/Salop) ---------- >From: "Colin Darby" <colnet@optusnet.com.au> snip.... David and > Catharina had a son David Ogilvy born 1804 who did his apprenticeship at > The Signet Law Firm Edinburgh starting on 26th July 1832, graduated to > Solicitor and in 1839 was appointed by the British Government as Crown > Solicitor in Australia..All we have on Catharina's father John SPENCE of ....snip