RootsChat.Com

Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: J Wall on Sunday 16 June 13 00:37 BST (UK)

Title: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: J Wall on Sunday 16 June 13 00:37 BST (UK)
Hello all,
I have an indenture document (please see attached), which might contain a very useful block of information (area in red in image). However, I am having a hard time deciphering all of it. The last two lines seem to read:

Emma Wall in the presence of
James Hobbs Soap Boiler


Could anyone help me with the lines above that within the red box?
Thank you,
J Wall
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: sami on Sunday 16 June 13 00:53 BST (UK)
I can't get all the words but here's my try:

? Signed Sealed and delivered by the said
John Wall and John Mabyn in the presence of
                                       Henry Britton ? ?
    Signed Sealed and deliveried by the said
Emma Wall in the presence of
                                           James Hobbs  Soap Boiler
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: susan hemmings on Sunday 16 June 13 01:00 BST (UK)
...... Signed sealed and delívered by  the said John Wall and John Mabyn in the presence of (looks like) Henry Brittan  ..........
Signed sealed and delivered by the said Emma Wall in the presence of James Hobbs Soap Boiler

(the dots are what I cannot make out)

Susan
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: orkrad on Sunday 16 June 13 01:13 BST (UK)
 I agree with sami as to the wording and names. I think the wording after Henry Britton is Sol (solicitor?) and Bristol. The document has an  official stamp  with the  city of Bristol named.

Regards Orkrad
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: sami on Sunday 16 June 13 01:36 BST (UK)
Wondering if the first word is - Contract

sami
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: susan hemmings on Sunday 16 June 13 02:11 BST (UK)
First word looks a bit like book ap  ,, would they have signed a book.

Agree looks like Sol.  Bristol

Well spotted.
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 16 June 13 11:30 BST (UK)
The first word looks to me a bit like "Witness", which has then been crossed out with a squiggly line. Off the top of my head I can't think of any form of words that might logically go in front of "Signed, sealed..." etc, so I'm wondering if maybe the clerk started off writing the wrong form of words and then had to begin again.

Arthur
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: veeblevort on Sunday 16 June 13 16:58 BST (UK)
Agree the word 'Witness', but cannot see that it has been crossed out.

vv.
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 16 June 13 17:09 BST (UK)
Agree the word 'Witness', but cannot see that it has been crossed out.

You may be right, but it looked darker to me, as though perhaps someone had gone over it a second time. I also thought the "ne" didn't quite look right, and that there might be a crossing-out in there somewhere.

Would we also expect to see "Witnesses" if it was meant to be there?

Arthur
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: Geoff-E on Sunday 16 June 13 17:45 BST (UK)
It would make no sense before "Signed sealed and delívered" would it?  :-\
Title: Re: John Wall - Indenture Document
Post by: J Wall on Sunday 23 June 13 04:24 BST (UK)
Hello everyone,
Thank you very much for your responses and sorry for the delay in saying thank you (I've been busy with school work)!

This has been really interesting. Now I have what appears to be a Bristol official, Henry Britton, to tie to the document. When I initially talked to genealogy researchers in Bristol they told me that indenture of apprenticeship was falling into disuse by this time and therefore mentioned that official recording would be unlikely. I am guessing having Henry's name on the document means that it was official recorded somewhere.

Thank you all, again.