Bringing Latin back to life.....

The brief:

In late 2005 we were contacted by Michael & Penny Ostocke with an unusual, perhaps even quirky, but fascinating job....

The Ostocke family had been researching their family history - not an easy job, as it turned out, because the Ostocke  antecedents were a peripatetic bunch. Great Grandfather moved from Hungary to India, and his descendants spread to Africa and the U.K. So tracking them down became more than somewhat complicated 

During the research, an important document turned up in the Vienna Archive. It was handwritten in Latin, dated February 27th 1834 and referred to a "most humble supplication and application" to Francis the First of Austria, Jerusalem, Hungary, Bohemia (and a further 9 lines of titles...)  Specifically, the document represented the Granting of Nobility by Francis to one Basil Osstoich, and his sons Constantine and John.

Basil (who was Michael Ostocke's great-great-great-grandfather)  was High Prefect of the Guard of a border Infantry Legion, and was honoured for his "merits, constant loyalty and fidelity, and faithful and useful services". He, his sons and all "his Heirs and Descendants of either sex...already born...and those who will be born" were admitted to the "assembly and number of indubitably true ancients of the Kingdom of Hungary" and further, "registered, co-opted and ascribed into the noble section of the same - the House of Magnates".

The document then described in minute detail, the Coat of Arms that the Osstoich family and their heirs should bear, and where it could be represented. Ideally, what we needed for this was an experienced Latin translator, able to read somewhat flowery copperplate handwriting, who also had an interest in/knowledge of ancient heraldry.

Not much to ask, was it?  

We needn't have worried: riding over the hill to our rescue came Louise Riley-Smith. Louise, a member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, took to the task with delighted enthusiasm, and we soon had a full and flowing translation ready to return to Michael and his family.  

It was one of those jobs that just strike home - nice to think that among all the Technical Manuals and business documents and product sheets, we can still fulfil the extraordinary request. And nice to think as well that there is still the talent out there to  help us.