Kings and Queens, famous men and women and aristocratic families of the past are well-documented, and rightly continue to inspire authors. The history of ordinary families has received scant attention until recently. Most labourers and tradesmen were considered of little importance even in their own lifetimes and seldom worthy of mention afterwards in history books or biographies. Even though many of them may have been illiterate, usually through no fault of their own, they have nevertheless left behind many clues which may be painstakingly assembled to give us glimpses of the lives they led....