RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Maggie1895 on Saturday 07 February 15 14:02 GMT (UK)
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All help gratefully received. This is the note of the groom's father in the record of an 1873 marriage in Hawick, Roxburghshire.
Everyone else on the page has a mill related job, but this one I can't work out. The gentleman's name is Michael Murphy. Can anyone read his occupation?
Thanks!
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Something Merchant.
The first word looks like it might start with a C, but I'm wondering if the loop before that is part of that word or the previous word. Would you be able to take a slightly larger snip please?
You can request a clearer copy from SP.
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On the second line the last word looks like merchant
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Thanks both, I totally agree on Merchant, in that now you've said it it's blindingly obvious!
The first word is confusing me as well though - larger extract as requested
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Thanks Maggie - so it is part of a d from the end of another word.
I still can't make sense of what kind of merchant Michael was though I'm afraid.
Chi..r ?
Cl..e?
:-\
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Could it just be Merchant, and the other word belongs to the bit before?
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Could it just be Merchant, and the other word belongs to the bit before?
Yes, that crossed my mind too. I've never seen that much 'overlap' on a Scottish certificate though ... :-\ The other word appears to be Kirkwynd?
I would be looking at his occupation on the 1871 census to see if that gives any clues ...
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Good thinking Ruskie, I'm plodding backwards, as you do, and sometimes get so you can't see the wood for the trees. I don't mean the handwriting, it's just that I'm trying to decipher the wretched thing and never though that if I go to the next step back, the 1871 census, it will probably answer the question.
Thanks everyone I'll take and look and let you know...
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Let us know what you find Maggie. His occupation may be different, but with a bit of luck it will give us a clue.
If not, do contact SP.
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It appears that Chince may be a fabric. Whether or not it is simply an alternative spelling of Chintz, I've no idea.
:)
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Wondered if it could be - Chair Merchant
.....the 'h' in Chair is not connected properly.
sami
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I can see both Chintz and Chair now you mention those suggestions.
Maybe a misspelling/alternative - "Chinz" as there does not appear to be a t in the word? Maggie suspected it may be a mill related job, so depending what kind of mill, then Chinz might fit it with that?
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Could it be CHEESE Merchant?
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Picking it apart I get China Merchant
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Could it be CHEESE Merchant?
I agree-but-it's that one dot that throws me off.
Maureen
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Picking it apart I get China Merchant
I agree -- China Merchant.
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But where's the "a" on the end? Those swirly bits belong to the next capital letter- "M" in most cases
don't they?
Would be funny if that isn't a "C". ;)
Maureen
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But where's the "a" on the end?
If you trace each letter out carefully, I think you'll find the 'a' is there, though the bottom is missing (broken penstroke). The rest of its shape compares well with the 'a' in Merchant. Just my view ;)
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Maggie,
Have you managed to trace Michael in the 1871 census yet? I had a quick look but the only Michael Murphy I found in 1871 in Roxburghshire was a three year old. Lead me to wonder if your Michael was Irish and living in Ireland. :( (but I just as easily may have missed him ;))
The curiosity would get the better of me and I would probably purchase the child's birth or death certificate to see what it says about Michael's occupation, or perhaps even better still, the marriage certificate of a sibling - if one married around the similar time, Michael is more likely to have the same occupation.
Curious about this one as there are quite a lot of differing ideas.
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Before I read earlier posts, I had decided that it looked more like China Merchant than anything else.
Gadgt
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I still can't figure it out - but along with the previous suggestions of China / Cheese / Chair / Chince
....what about: Chain
sami
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It could be China Merchant