Index Register to Next of Kin, Heirs at Law, Legatees, &c. &c. Containing the names of persons deceased, whose next of kin, heirs at law, and personal representatives are wanted; also persons who have been advertised for to claim vast sums of momney and property in Great Britain and all parts of the world, since 1650;.

DOUGAL Frederick Henry.

Published by F. H. Dougal & Co., 67, Strand. [1886], 1886

About this Item

6 inserts printed on colour paper, 2 facsimile inserts, one folding. Orig. red cloth, spine faded, dec. in black and blind, lettered in gilt. Undated, but references in text to events in 1885. The nineteenth century version of the modern online 'next of kin' scam. Dougal, born in 1850, claimed that the 'Unclaimed Money Register and Next-of-Kin Advertisement Office' was established in 1844, but the earliest recorded version of the Index appears to be the 5th edition of 1880; the last is the 12th edition of 1910. Dougal made his money by asking his customers to pay 1s. 6d. for this book and then £1 for a 'full authentic copy of the original advertisement. very valuable information at a trifling cost.' Likely names would be extracted from the lists in the hope of winning unclaimed fortunes, but no dates are included and the original advertisements could be as early as 1650 - as indicated on the titlepage. Dougal, who lived in Merton Road, Wandsworth, south London, spent his own 'winnings' on buying the Aperfield Court Estate, Biggin Hill, Kent, in 1895 - and proceeded to break up the land into 250 small building plots, for sale. He died in 1904. His brother, Samuel Herbert Dougal, was a career criminal who aspired to be the public executioner.

Seller Inventory # 101987

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Index Register to Next of Kin, Heirs at Law, Legatees, &c. &c. Containing the names of persons deceased, whose next of kin, heirs at law, and personal representatives are wanted; also persons who have been advertised for to claim vast sums of momney and property in Great Britain and all parts of the world, since 1650;.
• Publisher: F. H. Dougal & Co., 67, Strand. [1886]
• Publication Date: 1886
• Binding: Hardcover