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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: drhewitt on Wednesday 17 April 19 12:41 BST (UK)
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Can someone help me read this document please?
I had to split it into three parts as it was too big to upload.
It dates from 1708
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Part 2
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Part 3
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It's a long document and not very difficult to read, so I doubt anyone will be keen to transcribe the whole thing for you.
Please have a go at transcribing the first 8 lines for yourself. Format the transcript so that line breaks are in the same place in the text as the original. It's a long line so for clarity please double-break between lines.
Spell words as they are spelled in the original, rather than converting to modern spelling.
Post your transcript here and we will help with any difficulties.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
1. The long-s.
For example - the County of Essex is mentioned a few times.
2. The lowercase c.
For example, in line 1 - ...widdow and relict... In line 2 - Blacksmith.
3. Superscript contraction for re or er.
In line 1 - ...p(re)sents...
In line 4 - ...Sixth day of Decemb(er)...
4. First word of line 7 is estimac(i)on = estimation (in modern spelling).
The short line above the last two letters indicates a contraction (that is, omission); in this case, of the letter i.
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I've done the first few lines - as Horselydown says, it's a very long document and would take some time to do.
To all persons to whom these presents shall come Sarah Duke of Sabridgworth in the County of Hertford widdow and relict of Henry Duke late of Sheeringe in the County of Essex Yeoman deceased Edward Campe of Greate Parndon
in the said County of Essex Blacksmith and Elizabeth his wife Margaret Duke of Sheeringe aforesaid Spinster Ellianor Duke of Sabridgworth aforesaid Spinster and Francis Madell of Netterswell in the said County of
Essex husbandman and Sarah his wife (which said Elizabeth Margaret Ellianer and Sarah last named are the daughters of the said Henry Duke deceased) send greetings Whereas the said Henry Duke (in and
by his last Will and Testam(en)t in writing dated the sixth day of Decemb(e)r In the year of our Lord God One thousand Seaven hundred and four) Did (amongst other things) give bequeath and Devise All that his
Messuage or Tenem(en)t called Bushes (wherein he did then dwell) with the Barns Stables Outhouses buildings Yards gardens Orchards and appurten(an)ces thereunto belonging And alsoe all and Singular the freehold
and Coppyhold arrable meadow and pasture ground to the said Messuage belonginge or apperteyning or then or lately liefe (?) used and enjoyed as parte parcell or member
thereof conteyning altogether by
estimac(i)on twenty four Acres more or lesse Situate lyeing and being in Sheeringe aforesaid And Alsoe three Roods of Meadow more or lesse (being freehold) lyeing in a Common Meadow called Melfanns
in Sabridgworth aforesaid (which the said Henry Duke of and from Edward Waylett deceased) unto his Sonn John Duke his heires and Assignes To the onely use and behooffe of the said John Duke his
heires and Assignes for ever
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Thanks Horsley, I was actually going to start on this when I got home from work.
Goldie, appreciate the head start you gave me.
So do you think this document is a will?
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Francis Madell of Netteswell is my ancestor so trying to figure out his part in this document.
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So do you think this document is a will?
No, not a will.
Henry Duke's will was made 4 years before this.
From a very quick look at it, it looks as if his son John is going to sell the "three roods of Meadow", and all the other parties are agreeing to it - for a price.
Francis Madell is married to Henry Duke's daughter Sarah.
Where did you get the document? What was it classed as?
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The document is from Essex archives.
Registered as quitclaim of legacies
They concern Deeds of property in Little Hallingbury and Sheening and Sawbridgeworth and Pishobiury, Hertfordshire
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Registered as quitclaim of legacies
Yes, that is the essence of it.
To extend a little on what goldie has written, Henry Duke gave the properties mentioned above to John Duke, upon condition that an annuity be paid to John's mother Sarah during her lifetime; and after her death one time payments be made to John's four sisters.
Now John wants to sell the three Roods of Meadow.
The other parties are satisfied that the remaining lands are sufficient to secure their legacies under Henry Duke's will, so for 5 shillings apiece they are quitting their interest in the three Roods of Meadow.
That will allow John to sell the Meadow land.
Francis Madell doesn't play any part in the document beyond being the husband of Henry Duke's daughter Sarah.
By the way, the word queried in line 6 of goldie's transcript is held.
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From: From: http://sophialambert.com/devon-documents-glossary
QUITCLAIM: to give up all claims to land or other asset. A quitclaim deed was one by which the owner of a piece of real estate transferred his rights in the property to another person, but without making any guarantee as to ownership (normal conveyances tended to contain a warranty that the person conveying the property had a freehold interst in it).
In my defence HD, in that word, the scribe's 'e' is exactly the same as his 'd'! :( :)
Just to make it interesting!
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Thank you!
Makes sense.
I'm going to attempt to transcribe parts 2 and 3.
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Part 1 continuation...
#6 and copyhold and arable meadow and [_____] and ground to the said [_____] belongings or apportioning? or thou? or [_____] released and enjoyed as [_____] [_____] or ___ber? those of buying? altogether by
#7 on [_____] [_____] four acres [_____] or [_____] [_____] ___ing? and in [_____] **eezings aforesaid and also three roods of meadow more or [_____] going freehold ___ing in a [_____] [_____] [_____] [_____] [_____] [_____]
#8 in Sawbridgeworth aforesaid while the said Henry Duke of and [_____] Edward [_____] deceased unto his son John Duke his [_____] and asigned? the only [_____] [_____] and [_____]of the said John Duke his
#9 [_____] and assigning forever upon [_____] [_____] [_____] [_____][_____] his son John Duke his heir and assigned should yearly pay oz? to be paid unto the said Sarah and her assign? for and [_____]
#10 the [_____] [_____] of [_____] [_____]all the [_____] success? of [_____] pounds of lawful money of England quarterly that is to say at the birth? of our Lord God the aunnication of the blessed virgin
#11 [_____] Saint John the baptist and ..........equal portions the first payment to[_____] at the first of the said [_____] which should [_____] of [_____] [_____] [_____] [_____]
#12 summary - something about further conditions?
#13 summary - a sum of money to his said daughter Elizabeth (the wife of the said Edward Campe) twenty pounds of lawful money of England? and to said daughter Margaret Duke
#14 summary - of lawful money of England to his said daughter Elinor Duke five? pounds of lawful money of England and to his said daughter Sarah the wife of Francis Madell
#15 summary - five pounds of lawful money of England with a clause? (upon default of payment of the said yearly sum of five pounds of the said? [_____]
I cannot read this unfortunately. My untrained eye can see various words here and there but
nothing I can write down that makes a coherent sentence.
I thank both of you for your time spent in helping me get the general gist of what is being said here.
had another bash at it but I don't understand the old fashioned language and that's getting in the way of trying to figure this out
part 3
"Sealed delivered by the above named Edward Campe and Elizabeth his wife and Francis Madell and Sarah his wife in the presence of [signatures to the right of the document]"
Can anyone tell me what the seven wax seals are for?
It's a long document and I don't mind paying one of you to translate this for me if either one of you are up for it.
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so this document has helped me to ascertain the following:
death of Henry Duke (I'd say going by the will a date of 1704)
I don't have a John Duke on my tree - now I do
Francis Madell's wife got five pounds (at least that's what it looks like)
It looks like everyone could read and write since they signed their name next to the wax seals. I don't see any x mark that would indicate anyone was illiterate.
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If you look back, I did lines 6,7, and 8 before. Because the lines on the document are so long, each one takes up 2 or 3 lines in this transcription.
Here's the rest of clip A
Line 6. and Coppyhold arrable meadow and pasture ground to the said Messuage belonginge or apperteyning or then or lately held used and enjoyed as parte parcell or member
thereof conteyning altogether by
7. estimac(i)on twenty four Acres more or lesse Situate lyeing and being in Sheeringe aforesaid And Alsoe three Roods of Meadow more or lesse (being freehold) lyeing in a Common Meadow called Melfanns
8. in Sabridgworth aforesaid (which the said Henry Duke of and from Edward Waylett deceased) unto his Sonn John Duke his heires and Assignes To the onely use and behooffe of the said John Duke his
9. heires and Assignes for everupon condicion nevertheless That his said Sonn John Duke his heires and Assignes should yearly pay or casuse to be paid unto the said Sarah his wife and her assignes for and dureinge
10. the terme of her naturall Life the yearly Sum(m)e of tenn pounds of lawfull money of England quarterly (that is to say) Att the feast of the birth of our lord God, The Annunciaci()on of the blessed Virgin
11. Mary, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Michaell the ArchAngell by even and equall porc(i)ons The first payment to comence att the first of the said feasts which should next happen after the
12. decease of the said Henry Duke And upon this further condic(i)on That his said sonn John Duke his heires and Assignes shall within two yeares next after the decease of the said Sarah his wife
13. pay or cause to be paid unto his said Daughter Elizabeth (the wife of the said Edward Camper) twenty pounds of lawfull money of England and to his said Daughter Margarett Duke
14. of like lawfull money of England to his said Daughter Ellianer Duke twenty pounds of like lawfull money of England and to his said duaghter Sarah (the wife of the said Francis Madell)
15. five pounds of like lawfull money of England with a Clause or power therein conteyned (upon default of payment of the said yearly Sum(m) of tenn pounds or the said other Sum(mes) of money) to
16. enter into and upon all and every the said Lands & p(re)misses and to hold and enjoy the same untill paid and satisfied with all costs and Damages susteyned by reason of the non payment thereof as in
17. and by the said recited will (relac(i)on being thereunto had) doth more fully appeare And Whereas the said John Duke is desirous to sell the said three Roods of Meadow more or less lyeing in
18. the said Common Mead called Melfanne and the said Sarah Duke his mother Edward Camper and Elizabeth his wife Margaret Duke Ellianor Duke and Francis Madell and Sarah his wife are all
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The last line of Clip 2 says all the parties have sett their hands and seals
This was the way to literally ‘seal the deal’.
It’s hard to tell after 300 years whether the seals are all different, or all the same.
Sometimes each person had their own individual seal, but I think sometimes if they didn’t have one, the seal of the whoever wrote the document, or within whatever office they were signing it, was used.
What strikes me that above each signature it reads ‘signed’ (some of them ‘singed’!).
This would seem to indicate those are all the actual signatures of the people, otherwise it would say ‘the mark of’.
That’s pretty impressive for 1708 if they can all write their names - especially for all those women.
The clause about 'default' is a pretty common one - making sure his wife was provided for.
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Goldie, while I take your point about the word signed written above each persons entry in the list at the bottom, I believe that only Edward Camp has actually signed in his own hand.
Their marks are:
Sarah Duke: a reversed crescent moon
Francis Madell: a large letter f (He probably can write but hasn't done so here.)
Sarah Madell: a reversed 3
Margaret Duke: a letter m (She also probably can write a bit.)
Ellianor Duke: a curly mark somewhat like an E lying on its back
Elizabeth Camp: a rough E
In my defence HD, in that word, the scribe's 'e' is exactly the same as his 'd'!
I can assure you I also have been caught out by that little d he throws in every now & then to keep us on our toes.
ADDED:
I will transcribe a few more lines when I have spare time time over Easter.
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19. well Satisfyed that the other Lands and p(re)misses charged by the said will with the paym(en)t of the said yearly Sum(m)e of tenn pounds and the other Sumes aforesaid are a Sufficient and ample
20. Security for the due payment of the Same (without the said three Roods of Meadow ground) Now therefore Know yee That the said Sarah Duke Edward Campe and Elizabeth his wife Margarett Duke
21. Ellian(or) Duke and ffrancis Madell and Sarah his wife for and in considerac(i)on of five Shillings apeice of lawfull money of great Brittaine to them respectively in hand paid by the said John
22. Duke att or before the ensealinge and Deliv(er)y of these p(re)sents The receipt and paym(en)t whereof is hereby accordingly acknowledged And as well for quietting & dischargeing of the said parcell of
23. Meadow of and from any demand in respect of any Sum(m)e or Sum(m)es of money charged thereon or payable thereout to them or either of them by vertue of the said recited will As alsoe
24. for diverse other good causes...
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Goldie, while I take your point about the word signed written above each persons entry in the list at the bottom, I believe that only Edward Camp has actually signed in his own hand.
Their marks are:
Sarah Duke: a reversed crescent moon
Francis Madell: a large letter f (He probably can write but hasn't done so here.)
Sarah Madell: a reversed 3
Margaret Duke: a letter m (She also probably can write a bit.)
Ellianor Duke: a curly mark somewhat like an E lying on its back
Elizabeth Camp: a rough E
I had started to write at the end of my last post 'I am a little concerned that many of the signatures look to be written in a very similar, if not the same, hand' - but then erased it and thought I wouldn't. It looked as though the scribe had written most the 'signatures'.
But I do agree. It would be very unlikely all those people, especially the women, could sign their names.
I wonder why the scribe wrote 'signed' instead of 'makes their mark'?
Perhaps in their eyes that was the same thing.
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24. for diverse other good causes and considerac(i)ons them hereunto especially moveing Hav(e) & every one of them Hath remised & released for ever quitt claymed and by these p(re)sents Doe and every of
25. them Doth remise release and forever quitt claymed unto the said John Duke (in his actuall & peaceable pos(sessi)on now being) and to his heires and Assignes forever All and all manner of provisoe and
26. provisoes Condic(i)on and Condic(i)ons Entryes recoveryes forfeitures right title Estate interest property Clayme and Demand whatsoever in Law or Equity of them the said Sarah Duke Edward Campe
27. and Elizabeth his wife Margaret Duke Ellianor Duke and Francis Madell and Sarah his wife or any or either of them or any or either of their heires Executors or Administrators
28. of in to or out of the said parcell of Meadow ground herein before menc(i)oned or any parte thereof by force and vertue of the said last Will and Testam(en)t of the said Henry Duke or otherwise
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29. howsoever Soe that neither they or any of them their heires Executors or Administrators or any other person or p(er)sons for him her or their or in his her or their right or names shall
30. or may att any time or times hereafter have or p(re)tend to have clayme challenge or demand any estate right title or interest in or to the said parcell of the Meadow or any parte thereof but of
31. and from all and every Acc(i)on right estate title interest or demand of in or to the said parcell of Meadow and every parte thereof they and every of them shall be utterly excluded and barred for ever
32. by these presents In Wittnesse whereof the said Sarah Duke Edward Campe and Elizabeth his wife Margaret Duke Ellianor Duke and Francis Madell and Sarah his wife have hereunto
33. sett their hands and seals this eight day of Aprill In the Seaventh Yeare of the Reign of our Soveraigne Lady Ann by the grace of God of great Brittaine France and Ireland Queen
Clip 3
Defender of the faith etc Annoq dui 1708
Sorry HD. Hate to leave things half done come the end of the day!
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I wonder why the scribe wrote 'signed' instead of 'makes their mark'?
Perhaps in their eyes that was the same thing.
This document would have been prepared by a professional legal clerk and was probably signed in a lawyers' chambers. It may just reflect that professional environment.
It appears that in the eyes of the law there was no difference.
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Horsleydown and Goldie,
Thank you so much for translating and interpreting this document. Words cannot express my appreciation. There's no way I could have done this without your help.
Daniel
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On closer examination of what you've both transcribed...
The three roods of Meadows - I looked up this word and it is an obsolete unit of British measurement according to Wikipedia: "A rood is a...unit of linear measure between 16 1⁄2 and 24 feet (5.0–7.3 m). It is related to the German Rute and the Danish rode.[4][5] The original OED of 1914 said this sense was "now only in local use, and varying from 6 to 8 yards" (or 18 to 24 ft, "Rood", II.7).
A rood is equal to one quarter of an acre so three roods is 0.75 acres of "Meadows".
The document describes this as a common meadow called Melfanns.
It seems that in his lifetime, Henry Duke owned quite a bit of property.
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I thought this was an interesting find.
https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/All_Results.aspx?intSearchType=12
Looks like John Duke sold the three roods of Meadow to John Gibson of London for 25 pounds.
Level: Fonds
DEEDS OF ESTATES OF ROYAL WANSTEAD SCHOOL
Level: Series
Deeds of property in Little Hallingbury and Sheening and Sawbridgeworth and Pishobiury, Hertfordshire
Scope and Content:
Conveyance (Lease and Release) for £25, and Bond John Duke of Sheering, yeo., s. and h. of Henry Duke of Sheering, yeo., decd., to John Gibson of London, citizen and baker
Parcel of meadow ground (3r.) in Millfanns, Sawbeidgeworth, co. Herts, abutting S. upon land late of Henry Carter, now of George Payne, N. upon land late of William Burton, now of Baronet Tisley, mother upon land of Sir Robert Jocelyn, W. upon land of Ralph Curtis
Dates of Creation:
22, 23 April 1708