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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Kiwicol on Monday 26 October 20 06:57 GMT (UK)
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I have a will from Haddington of Agnes Gray wife of John Sleich Provost of Haddington, tried to post it here but it was too large a file didn't know how to cut it down size wise
but put it on face book
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3066468713457762&set=pcb.3066469610124339
Hoping that link works
Thanks in advance Colin
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It is probably better if you cut the will document into small parts and enlarge them. Also transcribe it on here indicating which words that you cannot read
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The first part:
The testament dative and Inventar of the
goodes geer sowmes of money and debts per-
tening to umqll Agnes Gray spous to Jon
Sleich bailzie of Haddingtoun the tyme
of her deceis quha deceist wpone the second day
of febry 1663 zeirs Instant ffaithfullie
maid & given up be the sd Jon Sleich only exr
dative surrogat to the sd umqll defunct In place
of the pror fiscall Be det of the comissrs of edr
as the samyne of the daitt the sext day of
may 1663 zeirs beirs
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The second part:
In the first the sd umqll Agnes Gray and her sd husband
had the goodes geer following of the availls & prices
eftermentionat perteaning to ym the tyme of the de-
ceiss forsd viz. Imprimis lyand besyde of ym of bere
xxx bolls at ten marks the boll Inde ij c lib Item
of malt fourtie bolls at viij lib the boll Inde iij c
xx lib Item moir thair x bolls quheitt at viij lib the
boll suma lxxx lib Item the Insyt and plennishing
of thare duelling house with the abulzements of hir
bodie by the airschipe estimat all in cumulo to ye sowme
of ij c marks money foirsd
Suma of the Inventar vij c xxxiij lib vj s viij d
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To the end of the first page:
ffollowes the debts awand to ye deid
Item yr wes restand awand to the sd umqll defunct and
her husband the tyme of her deceiss foirsd Be the per-
sones following the debts & sowmes of money wnder=
wrin To witt Be the viscount of Kingstoune con-
forme to his band of prinll an @rent the sowme of ix c
xlvj lib Item be the Laird of hermiestoune Be Band
ij aj marks Be George forrest conforme to his band
the sowme of v c marks Item be Mr Jon Hay of
Abirladye the sowme of ij c lib Item be James [Fryth?]
In dirltoune the sowme of uther ij c lib Item be James
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It is probably better if you cut the will document into small parts and enlarge them. Also transcribe it on here indicating which words that you cannot read
Also not everyone has an account with facebook!!
Well done GR2.
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Beginning of the second page:
Hoome of the sowme of j c xxix lib Item be
Jon Warrender j c xxxiij lib vj s viij d Be
Andrew Gray lxvj lib xiij s iiij d Item be Georg
dicksone of Hedderweik xl lib Be David
Cowing In fernegaitt the sowme of lxvj lib xiij s
iiij d Be James Ridingtoune be Band ij c lxvj lib
xiij s iiij d Be Alexr Smyth In Wauchtoune
ij c lib Be Alexr Miller In the Grainge vther
ij c lib
Suma of the debts awine to ye deid iiij aj ij c lxxv lib 13s
Suma of the Inr with the debts v aj viij lib vj s 8d
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Last bit:
ffollowes the debts awine be ye deid
Item yr wes resting awing be the sd umqll Agnes
Gray and her husband the tyme of her deceiss
foirsd To Jon Sleich his eldest sone the sowme
of v aj marks Scottes money foirsd To George
Sleich his sd second sone j aj mark money foirsd
To Williame Lamb his sone In Law the sowme of
ane vther j aj mark money above speit
Suma of the debts awaine be ye deid iiij aj vj c lxvj lib 13 s 4 d
Rests of frie geir the debts deduced iij c xxxvj lib 13 s 4 d
To be divydit In exts deids ptis i c lxviij lib 6 s 8 d
Sir Jon Nisbitt Wnderstanding we decerned
conforme to ye qlk Jon Sleich younger bur-
ges of Hadding Become cautioner as ane act
beirs
In the margin is written:
Quota 8 lib 8 s
The quot or quota was the sum due to the commissary, a twentieth of the free money after the payment of debts etc., in this case £8 8/-
Let me know if there is anything you don't understand. Some words are abbreviated and most of the money is given in Roman numerals e.g. v aj marks = 5,000 marks (a mark or merk = 13/4d Scots). The money is in Scots currency. At that time the £Scots was worth about a twelfth of the value of the £Sterling.
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GR2, marvellous! ;D
Skoosh.
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In modern English:
The testament dative and inventory of the goods and gear, sums of money and debts pertaining to the late Agnes Gray, spouse to John Sleigh, bailie of Haddington, the time of her decease, who deceased upon the second day of February 1663 years instant, faithfully made and given up by the said John Sleigh only executor dative surrogate to the said late deceased in place of the procurator fiscal by decree of the commissary of Edinburgh as the same of the date the 6th day of May 1663 years bears.
In the first, the said late Agnes Gray and her said husband had the goods and gear following, of the values and prices aftermentioned pertaining to them the time of the decease foresaid viz. Firstly lying beside of them of bere (a kind of barley) 20 bolls at ten marks the boll, hence £200; Item, of malt forty bolls at £8 the boll, hence £320; Item, more there, 10 bolls wheat at £8 the boll, total £80; Item the insicht and plenishing (= contents and furnishings) of their dwelling house with the abulziements (= clothing) of her body by the heirship estimated all in total to the sum of 200 marks money foresaid.
Total of the Inventory £733 6/8d
Follows the debts owing to the dead.
Item, there was resting owing to the said late deceased and her husband the time of her decease foresaid by the persons following the debts and sums of money underwritten, to wit, by the Viscount of Kingston in conformance with his bond of principal an annualrent the sum of £946; Item, by the laird of Hermiston by bond 2,000 marks; by George Forrest in conformance with his bond the sum of 500 marks; Item, by Mr John Hay of Aberlady the sum of £200; Item, by James [Fryth?] in Dirleton the sum of another £200; Item, by James Home of the sum of £129; Item, by John Warrender £133 6/8d; by Andrew Gray £66 13/4d; Item, by George Cowing in Ferniegate the sum of £66 13/4d; by James Ridington, by bond, £266 13/4d; by Alexander Smith in Wauchton £200; by Alexander Miller in the Grange other £200.
Total of the debts owing to the deceased £4,275 13/-
Total of the inventory with the debts £5,008 6/8d
Follows the debts owing by the deceased.
Item, there was resting owing by the said late Agnes Gray and her said husband the time of her decease foresaid; to John Sleigh his eldest son the sum of 5,000 marks Scots money foresaid; to George Sleigh his said second son 1,000 marks money foresaid; to William Lamb, his son-in-law, the sum of another 1,000 marks money above-specified.
Total of the debts owing by the deceased £4,666 13/4d
Rests of free gear, the debts deducted, £336 13/4d
To be divided in deid’s pairts (dead’s part = the third part of an estate, which the deceased can leave as they will) £168 6/8d
Sir John Nisbet understanding we decerned in conformance with which John Sleigh younger, burgess of Haddington becomes cautioner as an act bears
This is a testament dative, i.e. Agnes Gray died without making a will and the commissary has confirmed her husband as executor. If you make a will and nominate your own executor, the document is called a testament testamentar. Agnes's son, John Sleigh younger, is cautioner, i.e. is financially responsible if his father, the executor, mishandles affairs. Genealogically, you have the exact date of Agnes's death, the name of her husband, two sons, and her son-in-law.
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Many thanks much appreciated