I am reading the Norton Critical edition, but a point in another thread made me look at the other critical edition of Persuasion I own--The Broadview Literary edition.

There is a note there that reads:

Dugdale: Sir William Dugdale, The Ancient Usage in bearing of such Ensigns of Honour as are commonly called Arms With a Catalogue of the present Nobility of England ... (1682) Its preface states that a volume listing the current holders of the title of baronet-"this Title of dignity"-is particuarly necessary "to the end that those of whom no memorial upon Record is to be found, to justifie their right to this Title, may be known..." As a main purpose of the volume, therefore, was to determine who was and who was not entitled to call themselves baronet--with a strong implication that false claims were being made at the time--it would be particularly signifcant to any bona fide baronet to be "mentioned in the Dugdale"