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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Falleneagle on Saturday 15 October 16 01:12 BST (UK)

Title: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Falleneagle on Saturday 15 October 16 01:12 BST (UK)
If you could tell me what this reads and what his occupation means please.
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Rosinish on Saturday 15 October 16 01:50 BST (UK)
Is this Latin?

It looks like it's meant to be Writer?

Annie
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Rosinish on Saturday 15 October 16 01:54 BST (UK)
I think 26 November?

Edit, although there's a line below the 'N' which looks to be an error?
Possibly going to write December in error?

Annie
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: horselydown86 on Saturday 15 October 16 03:39 BST (UK)
26 Decembris 1672.

James Lockheart Writter. Margaret Burnet

Decembris (Latin) = December

I understand that in Scotland a Writter/Writer is a lawyer.
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: crowsfeet on Saturday 15 October 16 03:52 BST (UK)
I agree with Horselydown86

Regards Crowsfeet
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Rosinish on Saturday 15 October 16 03:56 BST (UK)
H86,

I am looking at the formation of the 3rd letter which doesn't look like a 'c' hence my wondering whether the 1st letter was an error.

A bit more of the document would have helped though.

Annie

Added, I saw no reference to Scotland in the post?
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: horselydown86 on Saturday 15 October 16 04:12 BST (UK)
Annie,

The third letter is indeed a c, albeit of the style commonly used in the C17th and earlier.  That c doesn't look like modern c.  To modern eyes it's more like an r.

(See the example of the word concerning from 1698 below.)

It's identical to the third letter of Lockheart.

While the post doesn't explicitly mention Scotland, I'm fairly sure that these Lockhearts are from north of the Wall.
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Rosinish on Saturday 15 October 16 04:19 BST (UK)
Thanks H86,

Yes, easy when you have something to compare it with  ::)

As I mentioned earlier, a bit more from the OP on the doc. would have helped.

Annie
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: janetmp on Saturday 15 October 16 06:33 BST (UK)
Have found a reference to a James Lockhart writer in OUP Oxford History of Historical Writing
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-history-of-historical-writing-9780199219179?cc=gb&lang=en&
Google James Lockhart
The Oxford History of Historical Writing: Volume 3: 1400-1800
https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=0199219176
Masayuki Sato, ‎Daniel Woolf, ‎Edoardo Tortarolo - 2012 - ‎History
... 310 Le Clerc, Jean (1657–1736) 272 Le Moyne, Pierre (1602–71) 485 Lę Qu ́y ... John (1632–1704) 274, 275, 670 Lockhart, James 600, 601, 603 Lombardi, ...
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: JleeM on Saturday 15 October 16 14:34 BST (UK)
oh what lovely script.. I think the top one might read out ''Doromvis'' which may be a possible surname? 
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: JleeM on Saturday 15 October 16 14:39 BST (UK)
James Lorkluart or Lorkheart Wriltor or Writtor, I think is next.  I've seen J's, s's and h's written that way before but I'll have a look for some proof... 
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: josey on Saturday 15 October 16 14:44 BST (UK)
I would say definitely a Scottish lawyer rather than a historical writer. All the big old firms of solicitors in Scotland used to have the letters WS after their names meaning one or more of their partners were a 'Writer to the Signet'.

More information here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Writers_to_Her_Majesty%27s_Signet
Title: Completed Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Falleneagle on Monday 17 October 16 03:46 BST (UK)
Thank you all for your assistance. I appreciate it very much.

Kevin
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Archivos on Monday 17 October 16 13:51 BST (UK)
26 Decembris 1672.

James Lockheart Writter. Margaret Burnet

Decembris (Latin) = December

I understand that in Scotland a Writter/Writer is a lawyer.
Spot on! The mark above the 'u' in Burnet is to designate it's a 'u'.

For those interested in letter forms, and Scottish handwriting, the website www.scottishhandwriting.com has some great examples and tutorials you can work on. 
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Rosinish on Monday 17 October 16 14:09 BST (UK)
Archivos,

Thanks for link.

Annie
Title: Re: Need help decyphering this please
Post by: Archivos on Monday 17 October 16 14:29 BST (UK)
Archivos,

Thanks for link.

Annie
Just make sure you have plenty of time to spare, as you can get properly sucked in!  I've lost days sometimes.