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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Scatt69 on Saturday 14 September 13 10:56 BST (UK)

Title: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: Scatt69 on Saturday 14 September 13 10:56 BST (UK)
Good morning all

i have a letter here written to my 3xgt grandfather. i think he was trying to convert his local Baptist congregation to Methodism. It didn't go down too well apparently.

It's the end of the first paragraph that i'm struggling with
"the ??? of the ??? of Methodism."

cheers, Paul
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: HannahB on Saturday 14 September 13 11:07 BST (UK)
Cannoy make out the first word but i believe the second is "the enemies of Methodism"
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: stevew101 on Saturday 14 September 13 11:13 BST (UK)
Not sure, but it looks like...

Friends of the enemies of methodism?

Steve
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: arthurk on Saturday 14 September 13 11:38 BST (UK)
I'd say "strengthening the hands of the enemies of Methodism".

You may know more about what your ancestor was up to, but on the face of it this reads to me like a charge of inciting dissent within the Methodist congregation/society, rather than anything to do with a different denomination. Or was he perhaps agitating for change within Methodism to make it more acceptable for Baptists who might wish to join?

Arthur
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: Scatt69 on Saturday 14 September 13 11:57 BST (UK)
thanks Hannah, Steve, Arthur

i think Arthur has it. actually i don't really know anything for fact except that he was still preaching Methodism way after this in 1876, i have a copy of a flyer for an event in that year, and he gives his occupation as Methodist Minister in later census'. i'd been told briefly about this incident some years ago but only found the letters that my relative passed on again recently. There are further letters that may throw further light on the situation but i just wanted to go transcribe them one at a time at the moment.

thanks, Paul
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: Scatt69 on Saturday 14 September 13 12:03 BST (UK)
can anyone decipher the second name?
Thos. Taylor & Thos. ???

Paul
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: arthurk on Saturday 14 September 13 13:57 BST (UK)
Ivens? Irons? I can almost see Green too, depending on how the initial capital is interpreted.

Arthur
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: gracie23 on Saturday 14 September 13 14:05 BST (UK)
I see it as "strengthening the bounds of the enemies" etc.
Deb
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: CarolA3 on Saturday 14 September 13 17:25 BST (UK)
I see it as 'strengthening the hands of the enemies', and the second signature could be 'INNES'.

Carol
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: jamcat95 on Saturday 14 September 13 17:42 BST (UK)
The name could be "Lewis" or "Innes" as CarolA3rd wrote.

Ian
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: HannahB on Saturday 14 September 13 20:46 BST (UK)
I think the name is Irwin.  HB
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: Scatt69 on Saturday 14 September 13 22:58 BST (UK)
many thanks for all your efforts. i don't think i'll get a definitive on the name, all the ones put forward look right  :-\   
but i think that last line is "strengthening the hands of the enemies" as mentioned

cheers, Paul
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: orkrad on Sunday 15 September 13 01:00 BST (UK)
 The first underlined word is publicly. I also agree with the folk who deciphered " strenthening the hands  of the enemies" etc.

I think the last signature might be Jones or Innes

Regards Orkrad
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 15 September 13 12:04 BST (UK)
The other letter you've posted appears to be signed by Thos Jones (one signature only, in a different hand - presumably Jones' own), so I now wonder if this one is Thos Jones too, but written by Thos Taylor on his behalf.

Arthur
Title: Re: help please on a fews words in an old letter
Post by: Scatt69 on Sunday 15 September 13 12:19 BST (UK)
i agree, that certainly seems logical Arthur, thank you.

Paul