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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: AnnieP on Wednesday 23 January 13 11:53 GMT (UK)

Title: 17th century will
Post by: AnnieP on Wednesday 23 January 13 11:53 GMT (UK)
Can anyone please help to decipher the extract below on a will.  ' hoping steadfastly through the merits of my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ to  ?   remission of all my sins and to ?   life everlasting among the  ?     God. And my body to be decently interred at the discretion' etc. etc.
Fingers crossed
Annie P
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: Mike in Cumbria on Wednesday 23 January 13 11:56 GMT (UK)
enjoy life everlasting...
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: JenB on Wednesday 23 January 13 12:05 GMT (UK)
......my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ to receave remission of all my sins.....
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: veeblevort on Wednesday 23 January 13 12:17 GMT (UK)

among the Elect of God

vv.
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: AnnieP on Wednesday 23 January 13 12:55 GMT (UK)
Many thanks to you all but I do have more if you don't mind. 'in manner & form following first I give to the high ------ of Chichester ( this is the county city) ------ Item. I give to the poor etc. etc.'
 I do have some actual names of fields etc which are quite important as I want to identify them on a map but I may have to attach this on another reply, but I'll try. The names are --- Croft, ---- Rife and -----meade?
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: veeblevort on Wednesday 23 January 13 13:09 GMT (UK)
high Church of Chichister iiijd (four pence)

Hand Rise? First letters could equally be L on these two.
Holemeade?

vv.




Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: JenB on Wednesday 23 January 13 13:30 GMT (UK)
I also think it's Holemeade
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: stonechat on Wednesday 23 January 13 15:02 GMT (UK)
Dirse Croft (The D is most uncertain)
Hand Rise (or Rife)

Holemeade in the parish of Tillington
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: veeblevort on Wednesday 23 January 13 15:42 GMT (UK)
Rise (or Rife)

'Rife' looks good.  :)

I first saw a long 's', but it's nothing like the one in 'Testament' and now I
see an 'f'. I can't seem to lose the habit of reading the whole word, instead
of looking at each individual letter.

vv.

Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: TurnedtoElijah on Wednesday 23 January 13 17:06 GMT (UK)
The first image of your second post reads (to my best ability)... "and Testament in manner and forme following first I give  to the high Church of Chrichester 4(th) Item I give to the poore of the parish of   Tillington fortie...  I will attempt the others too  :)
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: stonechat on Wednesday 23 January 13 22:25 GMT (UK)
The first image of your second post reads (to my best ability)... "and Testament in manner and forme following first I give  to the high Church of Chrichester 4(th) Item I give to the poore of the parish of   Tillington fortie...  I will attempt the others too  :)

I do believe the 4 (iiij d) refers to 4d as suggested earlier
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: JenB on Wednesday 23 January 13 22:41 GMT (UK)
I do believe the 4 (iiij d) refers to 4d as suggested earlier

Agreed  :)  The word 'Item' implies the start of a new sentence.

The name of the church is Chichister  :)
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: TurnedtoElijah on Wednesday 23 January 13 22:44 GMT (UK)
I just realized the poster wasn't looking for exact translation but names...
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: AnnieP on Thursday 24 January 13 14:51 GMT (UK)
Hopefully this will be the last time I shall have to ask for help in transcribing the attached.
'And if it shall happen that any of my said daughters Barbara, Mary and Elizabeth shall die before they shall --------------- age of three and twenty years that then the -------------- of them happening to die shall be equally divided between them that shall be living. Item, I give unto ---------- of my godchildren ------- And I do make & ordain Agnes my loving wife to be executor of this my last Will & testament and I do ----------- my loving friends Walter King of Rothenbury and Edmond King of River to be --------------- and I do give to each of them five shillings apiece.'
I think I'll have to put the attachment on a separate post.
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: AnnieP on Thursday 24 January 13 15:28 GMT (UK)
attachments hopefully
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: AnnieP on Thursday 24 January 13 15:30 GMT (UK)
And one more
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: Koromo on Thursday 24 January 13 16:09 GMT (UK)

shall die before they shall atteyne theire several and respective age of three and twenty years that then the porcon [portion] of them happening to die shall be equally divided between them that shall be living. Item, I give unto everie one of my godchildren xijd [12 d]
 

:)
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: JenB on Thursday 24 January 13 16:12 GMT (UK)
Item, I give unto everie one of my godchildren xijd
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: Koromo on Thursday 24 January 13 16:14 GMT (UK)

Item, I give unto everie one of my godchildren xijd

(Heh, I was just adding it to my post!)  ;)
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: Koromo on Thursday 24 January 13 16:18 GMT (UK)

I do desire my loving friends Walter King of Rothenbury and Edmond King of River to be overseers of the same

:)
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: veeblevort on Thursday 24 January 13 17:54 GMT (UK)
My suggestions are generally in agreement with others, except for 'Rothenbury'
and minor spelling variations:

Barbara, Mary and Elizabeth shall dye before they shall atteyne to there severall
and respective age of Three and Twentie yeares That then the porc(i)on of such of

Item I give unto everie one of my godchildren xijd a peece

Testament And I doe desire my loving freinds Walter Kinge of Rotherbridge
and Edmund Kinge of River to be overseers of the same  and I doe give unto either of

vv.


Title: Re: 17th century will (completed)
Post by: AnnieP on Thursday 24 January 13 19:10 GMT (UK)
I'm so very grateful to everyone for all the help you have given me, you're absolutely brilliant and I have now completed this will thank goodness. My research lately has brought up a number of wills through the generations but this 17th century example was the hardest to make out. Of course I have noticed that it's a lot to do with the actual writing, some are much clearer than others. It's all fascinating stuff!
Thanks again
AnnieP
Title: Re: 17th century will
Post by: DickEd on Friday 25 January 13 09:46 GMT (UK)
"to receave"    "to enioye"  "elect of God"  "in the discretion etc"