Macro-Typography of Deeds - Annex: 1

Annex 1: An English probate record

Here is a demonstration of how semantic mark-up can illuminate the meaning of a handwritten document from the pre-computer age. Unlike many marking-up schemes, this one is designed with clear graphic presentation and simplicity as the two top priorities. The hierarchy below is one possible anatomy (intended for genealogists) of an English probate record, and demonstrates how each element can be appropriately styled in HTML.

The principal topic of interest in any testament will be the names of the beneficiaries.

DIV.deed	H2	testator	first name
			surname
		abode
	H4	deed type (will or administration)
		grant date
		jurisdiction
	DIV preamble	P deedsection (optional)	SPAN vanishing text
			SPAN testator's condition
	DIV disposition	UL legacies	LI person	UL extra person
	DIV executor	H5
		SPAN vanishing text
		SPAN executor
	DIV signature	H5 with date *
	DIV witnesses	H5
		UL the group	LI person
	DIV codicil	DIV preamble	H5 with date
		DIV disposition	UL legacies	LI person
		DIV signature
		DIV witnesses	UL present	LI person
	DIV grant	H5 with date
		SPAN grantee name
	DIV bond	H5 with value
		P deedsection (optional)
	DIV inventory	H5 with value
		UL property	LI article
		UL inventarizers	LI person
	DIV archive	H5

* Additionally it might be desirable to include an image of the autograph signature, or at least some meta-information about the testator's autogram (shaky— indicates infirmity; a cross— indicates illiteracy; etc.)

Note in this analysis how the bullet-list presentation that has already been recommended for legacy listings can also be employed in supplementary documents such as codicils (later additions to wills) and in inventories of estate property.

If you do not have access to dedicated software to mark up transcripts, it is possible to fashion your own tools using editor software such as NoteTab for MS operating systems. Fookes Software of Switzerland provides a free version, NoteTab Light, which you can download at www.notetab.com. Users can then fashion their own specialized tools, or "libraries", within NoteTab. To get you started, I have provided a free sample containing most of the tags from the table above. After you have installed NoteTab, download the library by right-clicking on the hyperlink to this file. Select "Save target as ..." Save it to the following directory on your computer: NoteTab Light\Libraries\. Now load a file in NoteTab to be marked up, click on the DeedMark library from the libraries bar, select the text snippet to be tagged and double-click on the appropriate "clip". The result: instant tagging as you go. You'll find it easy to modify such a library for your own purposes.