Sara Douglass.
Collection of London 16th-20th century indentures and other legal documents

MSS 0139

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Biographical note

Sara Douglass was born in Penola, South Australia and attended Annesley College in Adelaide. She studied for her BA while working as a Registered Nurse, and later completed her PhD in early modern English History before being appointed as lecturer in medieval history at La Trobe University, Bendigo. Whilst there she completed her first novel, BattleAxe, which launched her as a popular fantasy author in Australia and later as an international success.
The Collection

The collection comprises approximately 350 legal documents, mainly London indentures and deeds related to the sale and rent of property dated from 1591 to 1942. Most are handwritten manuscripts on vellum (sheepskin) with some written on vellum-like paper and some typewritten.

The majority of items are from the 19th century, with one from the 16th, 20 from the 17th, 30 from the 18th and 64 from the 20th centuries.

The collection also includes assorted wills, marriage settlements, certificates of death and burial, warrants of attorney, letters of administration and transfer of titles and responsibilities and various loose and unidentified pages.

These items were used as source materials for Douglass’ The Troy Game quartet centred around a group of London characters who are reincarnated at the end of each book and take the form of renowned historical figures from different ages.

A detailed list is available (PDF)