@kawulf Really interesting about all the genealogical publications (I recently learned of Collins's peerage, first published in 1709 & being updated in #JaneAusten's day by #EgertonBrydges) - and of claims to authenticity based on "#manuscripts, records, old #wills".

Were many of those published? The only one with which I'm familiar is "A Collection of All the Wills..." by #JohnNichols in 1780: this came up in a recent conversation here:
https://h-net.social/@ClaireFromClare/109504700227224783
& fork:
https://h-net.social/@ClaireFromClare/109507607317440253

@Tony_Meredith Donald Greene noted that #JaneAusten used old English family names & also alluded to living characters. He explains that Sir #EgertonBrydges thought his name had evolved from Burgh, that he was expanding 'Collins's Peerage' (9 vols in his 1812 edition), & that his pretensions irritated Jane. Independent readers might not connect the name Bourgh with Brydges, but the man himself would. So would the Austen family, given some Brydges ancestry. 🧵

#CharacterNames #PrideAndPrejudice