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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: Sarah Stone on Wednesday 14 April 10 00:40 BST (UK)

Title: Reading old testaments/wills etc
Post by: Sarah Stone on Wednesday 14 April 10 00:40 BST (UK)

Hi All.
I hope somebody out there can point me in the right direction. I have found a testament from an ancestor in the early 1600's. Having paid Scotlands People to download it is, as I half expected, impossable to read. Not their fault the image is good as they usually are but I can't understand the script.
Does anybody know where I could get a " translation

Thanks

Title: Re: Reading old testaments/wills etc
Post by: PrueM on Wednesday 14 April 10 02:21 BST (UK)

Hi Sarah  :)

Why not give it a try yourself first - there is a good tutorial online at http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/

If, after having a go, you are still not able to understand bits of it, you could post the difficult sections on our Deciphering Board:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,425.0.html

Cheers
Prue

Title: Re: Reading old testaments/wills etc
Post by: behindthefrogs on Wednesday 14 April 10 10:43 BST (UK)

The critical step when you are in real difficulty is to establish the handwriting being used in your particular example from the bits that you can read.

I use a number a photocopy of a list of the various letter forms and highlight the form used for each letter and abbreviation.  I use three colours of highlight pen for the beginning, middle and end of words.

David

Title: Offer to try on: Reading old testaments/wills etc
Post by: KinMapper on Sunday 10 July 11 22:02 BST (UK)

Sarah, I have no ancient Scots handwriting expertise although I have Wylie kin probably from Ayrshire and certainly from Moylarg, County Antrim later.

I am most knowledgeable though in wills and probate.

If you would send my a copy at my gmail under my screenname KinMapper, I would strive to give you some assistance.

Even if you have it translated, I would love to see it.  [I have transcribed many documents others claim they cannot read, but if you have read Tom Sawyer, that might be the primary cause.]

Genealogically yours, a 30th cousin or closer,

KinMapper

Title: Re: Reading old testaments/wills etc
Post by: Sarah Stone on Sunday 10 July 11 23:26 BST (UK)

Thanks for the offer of help. Posted the request last year and at the moment not doing anything on the tree as sorting prior to moving. Hope to get back to it one day but thanks anyway

Title: Re: Reading old testaments/wills etc
Post by: KinMapper on Monday 11 July 11 03:48 BST (UK)

Oh well, life stops and with luck, restarts. :-\

Thanks for the speedy response, even though negative. :)