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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: DozyDora on Thursday 06 September 12 11:50 BST (UK)
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This Will is a nightmare to decipher but it's amazing how you can recognise words if you return to it time and time again. The trouble is the scan of the Will is too big to attach to it. I have tried going into Adobe.com and uploading it there but then I don't know where to go from there. It is over 900 KB and this site requires 500 KB or less. Any suggestions please?
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost I, Charles William Stocker D.D. Rector of Draycott-le-Moors in the Diocese of Stafford being at this present time by the ... of God in sound health both of mind and body make this my last Will and Testament. I appoint as my Executors Richard Stocker of ... Street Surgeon Harry Dupuis c/o ... ... of ... and Edward Seymour Stocker c/o ... Rector of Titchwell ... ... I wish to be buried as simple as may be and forbid any eulogy whatever to be placed on my grave beside my dear wife. After payment of all my ... debts I ... ... ... of my property of every description to my youngest daughter Harriet ... with the options here following, namely, to my older daughter Frances Harriet one hundred pounds ... ... of ... ... To my don Edward Seymour the following books and ... of ... ... ... ... the ... up the saviour ... ... ... the ... with ... and the ... ... ... (for ... the prize books stamped with the ... of ... ... College the Civic and ... ... prosecuted on the sixth of July 1855. The manuscript books (proof) of my grandfather John Stocker and those of ... ... ... ... and all my ... books in Greek and Latin ... and pray our ... Stocker ....................... hereafter survive me. Signed by me the testator this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three – Charles William Stocker in the presence of the ... witnesses who have also signed their names ... at the same time in attestation thereof in each other’s presence and in that of the testator – Clement Braughton (York ... ... ... ... ...) William ... ... ... ... ...
In Her Majesty’s Court of Probate the ... Registry in the Estate of the Reverend Charles William Stocker deceased
I, the Reverend William ... of ... ... in the County of Stafford ... Doctor of Civil Law make oath that I am one of the surviving witnesses to the last Will and Testament of the said ... Reverend Charles William Stocker ... of the Rectory Draycott ... in the county of Stafford ... Doctor of Divinity ... the said Will being ... hereunto annexed bearing date the fourth day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixty tree and that the said testator on the day of the ... therein on signing his name at the foot or ... of the date of the said Will meaning and ... the same for his final signature to this Will as the same now as the same now appears therein in the presence of him and of the Reverend Clement ... Braughton ... is the other surviving witness thereto both of us being present at the same time and have thereupon attested and witnessed the said Will in the presence of the said testator and that there was no writing on the ... side of the ... of ... whereupon the said Will is ... at the time of the said execution – William ... ... D.C.L. in the city of London this ... day of July 1870 before me ... ... Clarke Commissioner of the ... of Probate.
Proved at London 7th July 1870 by the oaths of Richard Stocker the brother and the Reverend Edward Seymour ... therein ... the surviving Executors ... ... was granted.
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I am going to try and post part of the said Will as the whole is too large.
Dora
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I think the last line says 'and to my son Edward Seymour the following books and articles of plate...'
it's tricky, I agree.
Hugs
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third line I think is
'payment of all my just debts I leave the whole of my property'
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Thank you for your help.
I have worked out quite a bit this moring.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost I, Charles William Stocker D.D. Rector of Draycott-le-Moors in the Diocese of Stafford being at this present time by the ... of God in sound health both of mind and body make this my last Will and Testament. I appoint as my Executors Richard Stocker of ... Street Surgeon Harry Dupuis c/o ... ... of ... and Edward Seymour Stocker c/o ... Rector of Titchwell ... ... I wish to be buried as simple as may be and forbid any eulogy whatever to be placed on my grave beside my dear wife. After payment of all my just debts I leave the whole of my property of every description to my youngest daughter Harriet Julin with the options here following, namely, to my older daughter Frances Harriet one hundred pounds ... free of ... ... To my son Edward Seymour the following books and articles of plate ... ... ... the ... cup the saviour ... ... ... the ... with ... and the ... ... ... (for ... the prize books stamped with the ... of ... ... College the Civic and ... ... prosecuted on the sixth of July 1855. The manuscript books (proofs) of my grandfather John Stocker and those of ... ... ... ... and all my ... books in Greek and Latin ... and pray our Gracious Saviour to have mercy on my sinful soul for ... ... ... and to reunite in ... ... me his unworthy servant with those beloved ones whom I have ... survives or who shall hereafter survive me. Signed by me the testator this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three – Charles William Stocker in the presence of the ... witnesses who have also signed their names ... at the same time in attestation thereof in each other’s presence and in that of the testator – Clement Braughton (York ... ... ... ... ...) William ... ... ... ... ...
In Her Majesty’s Court of Probate the ... Registry in the Estate of the Reverend Charles William Stocker deceased
I, the Reverend William ... of ... ... in the County of Stafford ... Doctor of Civil Law make oath that I am one of the surviving witnesses to the last Will and Testament of the said ... Reverend Charles William Stocker ... of the Rectory Draycott ... in the county of Stafford ... Doctor of Divinity ... the said Will being ... hereunto annexed bearing date the fourth day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixty tree and that the said testator on the day of the ... therein on signing his name at the foot or ... of the date of the said Will meaning and ... the same for his final signature to this Will as the same now as the same now appears therein in the presence of him and of the Reverend Clement ... Braughton ... is the other surviving witness thereto both of us being present at the same time and have thereupon attested and witnessed the said Will in the presence of the said testator and that there was no writing on the ... side of the ... of ... whereupon the said Will is ... at the time of the said execution – William ... ... D.C.L. in the city of London this ... day of July 1870 before me ... ... Clarke Commissioner of the ... of Probate.
Proved at London 7th July 1870 by the oaths of Richard Stocker the brother and the Reverend Edward Seymour ... therein ... the surviving Executors ... ... was granted.
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Hi..... this is my guess of the bit you have posted.
Stocker …. A Rector of …… I wish to be buried as simply as may be and I forbid any eulogy whatever to be placed on my grave beside my dear wife after payment of all my just debts I leave the whole of my property of every description to my younger daughter Harriet Julia, with the exceptions here following namely to my older daughter Frances Harriet if she survive me one hundred pounds sterling free of …… duties, to my son Edward Seymour the following books and articles of plate: the Guernsey inkstand the ?Barrow or ?Barton cup the Savios.. (plain) bread basket the books with ……. and the Winchester gold medal (for …..) the prize books stamped with the arms of St S….. College the Bible and Prayer book presented on the sixth of July 1863, the manuscript books of my grandfather John Stocker and those of ?Gaynsford Smith BA and all my ?classical books in Greek and Latin. Finally I pray our Saviour, Father
Any help?
Veron
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Hi Dora,
I think the reason you've had a bit of a slow response with this is because it is a bit confusing the way the entire transcript was posted, but just parts of the document posted. Anyway, I had a go with the bits you posted.
Cheers,
Alexander
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Stocker M.A. Rector of Titchwell. I wish to be buried as simpley as may
be and I forbid any eulogy whatever to be placed on my grave beside
my dear wife. After payment of all my just debts I leave the whole of
my property of every description to my younger daughter Harriett Julia
with the exceptions here following, namely, to my elder daughter Frances
Harriet if she survive me one hundred pounds sterling free of legacy duty
To my son Edward Seymour the following books and articles of plate the
Guernsey inkstand the Barton cup the Davies (plain) bread basket the forks
with Speidells crest and the Winchester gold medal (for Basil(?)) the prize books
stamped with the arms of St Johns College the Bible and Prayer book
presented on the sixth of July 1863 the manuscript books of my grand-
father John Stocker and those of Gaynsford Smith B.D. and all my
classical books in Greek and Latin Finally I pray our heavenly father
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Gosh you are good!! Thank you very much. I will keep you in mind next time I want anything deciphered. I tried every which way to make the scan of the Will smaller in order to come within the 500 KB but couldn't work out a way.
If I may be so cheeky, I attach the next part of the Will for your kind transcription, most of which I have been able to read. In a separate post, I will also post the beginning of the Will because I can't work out what he says after "Stafford" and after "Tichwell".
Thank you in anticipation.
Dora
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I am restating the Will with your kind submissions inserted. I am now posting the first 6 lines of the Will (that is the amount I am able to post within the 500 KB) for your kind suggestions as to the missing words there.
Thank you
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost I, Charles William Stocker D.D. Rector of Draycott-le-Moors in the Diocese of Stafford being at this present time by the ... of God in sound health both of mind and body make this my last Will and Testament. I appoint as my Executors Richard Stocker of ... Street Surgeon Harry Dupuis c/o ... ... of ... and Edward Seymour Stocker c/o ... Rector of Titchwell ... ... I wish to be buried as simple as may be and forbid any eulogy whatever to be placed on my grave beside my dear wife. After payment of all my just debts I leave the whole of my property of every description to my youngest daughter Harriet Julin with the exceptions here following, namely, to my older daughter Frances Harriet one hundred pounds Sterling free of legacy duty. To my son Edward Seymour the following books and articles of plate, the Guernsey inkstand the Barton cup, the Davies (plain) bread basket, the forks with Speidells crest and the Winchester gold medal (for Basil) the prize books stamped with the Arms of St John’s College the bible and prayer book presented on the sixth of July 1863. The manuscript books of my grandfather John Stocker and those of Gaynsford Smith B.D. and all my classical books in Greek and Latin. Finally I pray our Gracious Saviour to have mercy on my sinful soul for ... ... ... and to reunite in ... ... me his unworthy servant with those beloved ones whom I have ... survives or who shall hereafter survive me. Signed by me the testator this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three – Charles William Stocker in the presence of the ... witnesses who have also signed their names ... at the same time in attestation thereof in each other’s presence and in that of the testator – Clement Braughton (York ... ... ... ... ...) William ... ... ... ... ...
In Her Majesty’s Court of Probate the ... Registry in the Estate of the Reverend Charles William Stocker deceased
I, the Reverend William ... of ... ... in the County of Stafford ... Doctor of Civil Law make oath that I am one of the surviving witnesses to the last Will and Testament of the said ... Reverend Charles William Stocker ... of the Rectory Draycott ... in the county of Stafford ... Doctor of Divinity ... the said Will being ... hereunto annexed bearing date the fourth day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixty tree and that the said testator on the day of the ... therein on signing his name at the foot or ... of the date of the said Will meaning and ... the same for his final signature to this Will as the same now as the same now appears therein in the presence of him and of the Reverend Clement ... Braughton ... is the other surviving witness thereto both of us being present at the same time and have thereupon attested and witnessed the said Will in the presence of the said testator and that there was no writing on the ... side of the ... of ... whereupon the said Will is ... at the time of the said execution – William ... ... D.C.L. in the city of London this ... day of July 1870 before me ... ... Clarke Commissioner of the ... of Probate.
Proved at London 7th July 1870 by the oaths of Richard Stocker the brother and the Reverend Edward Seymour ... therein ... the surviving Executors ... ... was granted.
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Hi Dora,
The next excerpt you posted -
classical books in Greek and Latin Finally I pray our heavenly father
to have mercy on my sinful soul for Jesus Christs sake and to reunite
in endless bliss me his unworthy servant with those beloved ones whom
I have already survived or who shall hereafter survive me Signed by
me the testator this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty three - Charles William Stocker
Alexander
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And the next one (first part) -
In the Name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, I Charles
William Stocker D.D. Rector of Draycot-le-Moors in the Diocese of
Lichfield being at this present time by the blessing of God in sound
health both of mind and body make this my last Will and Testament
I appoint as my Executors Richard Stocker of Cumberland Street
Surgeon Harry Dupuis M.A. Vicar of Richmond and Edward Seymour
Cheers,
Alexander
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Alexander you are brilliant!! How come you're so good at these translations?
Thank you very much.
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However, I do think that Draycott le Moors is in Staffordshire, Stafford.
Dora
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That may be, but the will definitely reads "in the Diocese of Lichfield" -- that was my reading also, even before I saw Alexander's rendition. (And I agree, he is absolutely brilliant at deciphering these old documents :o )
Mike.
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What I would like to do now is try and find out where Charles William Stocker was buried to find out what was put on his grave.
Maurice Stocker married Augusta Theadora Jenkins and his father was the Rector of Lyminge. We went near there for a holiday and called upon the present Rector to get the keys of the church. It was simply amazing because her father the Rev Robert Charles Jenkins had left eulogies on plackardes all around the altar for all his sons who had died before him. I have photographs of all these eulogies.
It may be that a similar plackard has been left in the church (if it still stands) for Charles William Stocker.
Like I stated before, if I try and attach the pdf version of the whole Will, it is over 900 KB and can't be posted. Likewise for the Picasso version as well.
Alexander, Thank you very much for what you have done for me so far ... if I may call upon your kind services again in a separate posting. This time it is when the Will was proved.
Dora
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This is what the Rev Charles William Stocker looked like as per a painting I was sent by a cousin.
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Before I clear up the Proved ... bit, let me clear up where the witnesses signed first ...
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This is starting from where he signed the Will ...
"Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three – Charles William Stocker in the presence of the undersigned witnesses who have also signed their names ... at the same time in attestation thereof in each other’s presence and in that of the testator – Clement Braughton (York ... ... ... ... ...) William ... ... ... ... ...
In Her Majesty’s Court of Probate the ... Registry in the Estate of the Reverend Charles William Stocker deceased
I, the Reverend William ... of ... ... in the County of Stafford ... Doctor of Civil Law make oath that I am one of the surviving witnesses to the last Will and Testament of the said ... Reverend Charles William Stocker ... of the Rectory Draycott ... in the county of Stafford ... Doctor of Divinity ... the said Will being ... hereunto annexed bearing date the fourth day of August one thousand eight hundred and sixty tree and that the said testator on the day of the ... therein on signing his name at the foot or ... of the date of the said Will meaning and ... the same for his final signature to this Will as the same now as the same now appears therein in the presence of him and of the Reverend Clement ... Braughton ... is the other surviving witness thereto both of us being present at the same time and have thereupon attested and witnessed the said Will in the presence of the said testator and that there was no writing on the ... side of the ... of ... whereupon the said Will is ... at the time of the said execution – William ... ... D.C.L. in the city of London this ... day of July 1870 before me ... ... Clarke Commissioner of the ... of Probate.
Proved at London 7th July 1870 by the oaths of Richard Stocker the brother and the Reverend Edward Seymour ... therein ... the surviving Executors ... ... was granted.
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Hello Dora,
The witnesses look like:
Clement F. Braughton, Clerk Rector of Norbury cum Snelston
William Fraser, Clerk Vicar of Alton
And the beginning of the probate bit....
In Her Majesty's Court of Probate the Principal Registry
In the Goods of the Reverend Charles William Stocker deceased
I the Reverend William Fraser of Alton Vicarage in the
County of Stafford Clerk Doctor of Civil Law make oath that I am one of
the subscribing Witnesses to the last Will and Testament of the said the
Reverend Charles William Stocker late of the Rectory Draycott-le-Moors
Cheers,
Alexander
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This is the next bit, repeating the last line from the previous posting. Many thanks for your hard work.
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You were only missing a couple words, but it was easier to post the whole section -
Reverend Charles William Stocker late of the Rectory Draycott-le-Moors in
the County of Stafford Clerk Doctor of Divinity deceased the said Will
being now hereunto annexed bearing date the fourth day of August one
thousand eight hundred and sixty three and that the said testator executed
the said Will on the day of the date thereof by signing his name at
the foot or end of the date of the said Will meaning and intending the same
for his final signature to this Will at the same now appear thereon in
Alexander
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Alexander, if I may ask for your kind assistance once again ... the last two parts of the Will.
I have managed to get in touch with the present Rector of Draycott and am hoping that he will be able to find the grave of The Reverend Charles William Stocker and let me know what is actually engraved on it (if anything).
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for his final signature to his Will as the same now appears thereon in
the presence of me and of the Reverend Clement Francis Broughton
the other subscriber witness thereto both of us being present at the same
time and we thereupon attested and subscribed the said Will in the
presence of the said testator and that there was no writing on the
fourth side of the sheet of Paper whereon the said Will is written
Sworn at Doctors Commons in the City of London this fifth day of
July 1870 Before me - H. P. Clarke a Commissioner of H. M. Court of Probate
PROVED at London 7th July 1870 by the Oaths of Richard
Stocker the Brother and the Reverend Edward Seymour Stocker Clerk the
Son the surviving Executors to whom admon was granted.
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Hope that you are able to find Reverend Stocker's gravestone, and that it is well kept and in good condition. :)
Alexander
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Thank you very much Alexander - you have made me very :)
Dora
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No problem, glad to be of assistance. If you need help with any other wills just shout. :D
Alexander
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"for his final signature to his Will as the same now appears thereon in
the presence of me and of the Reverend Clement Francis Broughton
the other subscriber witness thereto both of us being present at the same
time and we thereupon attested and subscribed the said Will in the
presence of the said testator and that there was no writing on the
fourth side of the sheet of Paper whereon the said Will is written
... ?
Sworn at Doctors Commons in the City of London this fifth day of
July 1870 Before me - H. P. Clarke a Commissioner of H. M. Court of Probate
PROVED at London 7th July 1870 by the Oaths of Richard
Stocker the Brother and the Reverend Edward Seymour Stocker Clerk the
Son the surviving Executors to whom admon was granted."
There is one line missing - which I read as:
"at the time of the said execution - William Fraser ... ... ... (3 initials after his name) -
Also there is one word missing further back:
"Charles William Stocker in the presence of the undersigned witnesses who have also signed their names ... [simultaneously?] at the same time in attestation thereof in each other’s presence and in that of the testator – Clement F Braughton (Clerk Rector of Norbury cum Snelston) William Fraser Clerk Vicar of Alton."
I have hears back from the present Reverend, who passed my email to the Warden of St Margaret's Church of Draycott la Moors and the wording on the grave reads as follows:
"To The Loved Memory of Charles William Stocker D D
28 Years Rector Of This Parish
Who Departed This Life May 20 1870 Aged 76 Years
And Of Frances Ann His Wife Departed This Life September 21 1860"
The local WI have recorded all the wording of the graves and he extracted this information from their records. However, he is now curious and has offered to look for the actual grave and report back to me.
Dora