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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Miriam on Friday 28 January 05 12:27 GMT (UK)

Title: help reading 16thC will
Post by: Miriam on Friday 28 January 05 12:27 GMT (UK)

Hello all!

I download a will from 1583 earlier, and unsurprisingly, it's terribly hard to read! The actual scan is very good, the handwriting is just.. well, I'm sure you can imagine. It's not a particularly long will but I'm desperate to see what it says, so if anyone would like to help me just say and I can send you the file!

Thank you!

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: legs11 on Friday 28 January 05 12:32 GMT (UK)

will be happy to oblige, will give it a go

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: JillJ on Friday 28 January 05 15:41 GMT (UK)

Hi Miriam,

I'll give it a go - without promises!  I'll p.m. you my email address.

Jill

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: JAP on Saturday 29 January 05 00:35 GMT (UK)

Deciphering old Wills (or other old documents) can be a fun challenge.

A good site for anyone who is interested in learning how to decipher old writing is:
http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/

While this is specifically geared towards deciphering old Scottish documents, I've found it just as useful for English Wills.  It really helps one to become familiar with the way in which letters were shaped, especially by users of Secretary Hand.

There's also an absolutely brilliant online course (if you really want to take it seriously) at:
http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/ceres/ehoc/

Judy

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: MarieC on Saturday 29 January 05 08:13 GMT (UK)

Miriam

I've recently been helped on Rootschat to decipher a will.  If you haven't got enough helpers, I'll have a look (with no promises!)  Put a message here if you would like this and I'll pm you my email address.

MarieC

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: Marc100 on Sunday 13 February 05 11:48 GMT (UK)

Dear all,

Sorry to gatecrash this thread but I have the same request as Miriam. I have 2 wills that I have 'attempted' to transcribe, 80% complete, dated 1548 & 1557.  Some sections don't make grammatical sense, which probably means I am at the stage where I am making words up.

If anybody would be willing to help then please contact me and I will email scanned copies plus my transcriptions.

Best wishes

Marc.

PS: What file size should the copies be?

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: JAP on Sunday 13 February 05 12:20 GMT (UK)

Hello Marc!

I'd love to try!

I feel a bit loth to offer to transcribe whole wills but this sounds like much more of an interesting challenge given that you have an already "near complete" transcription!

I'm currently battling on with a Scottish one from 1618 - such scrawly writing you never did see!  Even where I know what the words *must* be I can't actually see them.

My email address is (I'll put at for @ and dot for .):
japhilipatozemaildotcomdotau

If you send direct I don't think file sizes matter - I have broadband.

Best regards,

Judy
PS: I'm sorry but I won't be familiar with the region you are researching.

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: Marc100 on Sunday 13 February 05 12:26 GMT (UK)

Thanks.

I need to go and get them scanned as my scanners broke. I'll do this within an hour and send them off.

Thanks again.

Marc.

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: JAP on Sunday 13 February 05 12:44 GMT (UK)

Hiya Marc,

No hurry!

I'm in the Antipodes - so won't be looking again for at least another eight or so hours!

Judy
(it's currently about 23:15 Sunday 13th here in Adelaide)

Title: Re: help reading 16thC will
Post by: JillJ on Sunday 13 February 05 14:55 GMT (UK)

Hi Marc,

I'll give it a shot with no promises!   I'll p.m. my email address.

Jill