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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Dom1 on Tuesday 28 January 14 17:43 GMT (UK)

Title: Help
Post by: Dom1 on Tuesday 28 January 14 17:43 GMT (UK)

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone could make an informed guess at this relative's first name. I can tell you that her second name is Nathan; she is Jewish, of unknown origin but likely Dutch,  and was alive in 1844 when this will was proved. Her name appears 3 times.  I've included a portion of the will to compare. It looks like *inah to me but I have no idea what the first character could be.

thanks
Dom1

Title: Re: Help
Post by: Kay99 on Tuesday 28 January 14 17:47 GMT (UK)

Dinah?

Kay

Title: Re: Help
Post by: KGarrad on Tuesday 28 January 14 17:48 GMT (UK)

Looks like Dinah to me?

Title: Re: Help
Post by: Dom1 on Tuesday 28 January 14 17:53 GMT (UK)

thanks guys, it's what I thought but it does not look like a 'D'. 

Title: Re: Help
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 28 January 14 18:32 GMT (UK)

I agree with Dinah - looks clear to me.

Title: Re: Help
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 28 January 14 18:36 GMT (UK)

Perhaps this is her will 11 years later?

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0xt8/

Was the first will for Nathaniel (also of St John Wapping)? It seems so as the date matches your extract:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D79798

Title: Re: Help
Post by: Dom1 on Tuesday 28 January 14 19:13 GMT (UK)

I just found the will in full on Ancestry when I saw your reply...yes, I believe it is, thank you. I don't quite know how Nat & Di relate to my Nathan branch but one of the executors named  in  Nathaniel's will is  my great x3 grand uncle and the others are his brother in-laws. I'm very excited by this because my family has been so well researched down the years that I never thought to find any other ancestry of this vintage.   

Title: Re: Help
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 28 January 14 23:36 GMT (UK)

Nathaniel (66) and Dinah (59) Nathan were both born in Middlesex according to the 1841 census when they were at Upper East Smithfield, St John Wapping, the same address as appears on his probate.  He obviously did not make it to 1851, but that census shows Dinah as aged 66 & born Wapping.

NB Dinah was the sole executrix of Nathaniel's will. Jacob Nathan and David and Henry Moses were the witnesses.

Title: Re: Help
Post by: Dom1 on Wednesday 29 January 14 01:51 GMT (UK)

Quote

NB Dinah was the sole executrix of Nathaniel's will. Jacob Nathan and David and Henry Moses were the witnesses

Thank you for pointing that out. I need a new pair of specs! I am, however, fairly confident, for several reasons, this couple belong to my tree.

Many thanks for everyone's help.