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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: natp_70 on Tuesday 19 March 13 15:21 GMT (UK)
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Hi
I am transcribing a will from 1804 and am stumped by a word in the attached section - hoping someone can help :)
I have:
"of household plate linen china money and securities for money wages XXX money debts and all other my ..."
I think I can recognise the letters 'pr' then not sure and ending with 'e'
Thank you for any help!
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Other?
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Prize money, I believe.
Was the testator in the navy?
Alexander
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Thank you Alexander!!! It must be prize ... I've just done a search on the word connected to naval history and it makes perfect sense in the context. He was a Shipwright (and a rather successful one at that it would appear).
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Prize money was the sum shared between the crew of a fighting ship when they captured enemy vessels and these were then bought into the navy. I don't know that a shipwright would have shared in the loot, unless of course he was on board at the time that the prize was captured.
Mike