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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: jma09 on Wednesday 05 July 23 07:16 BST (UK)

Title: Deciphering Date please
Post by: jma09 on Wednesday 05 July 23 07:16 BST (UK)
Could someone please help me decipher the data in the attached Scottish testament dated the 14 Aug 1684.

The part underlined in green, has his data of death <blank>  jajxxxx fourscore years but I can't work it out.
Thanks  Janine

Title: Re: Deciphering Date please
Post by: manukarik on Wednesday 05 July 23 08:10 BST (UK)
Think it's 1680.

See link below:

https://www.isbgfh.com/resources/Documents/Understanding%20Old%20Scottish%20Handwriting%20handout%20Mar%20'22[20925].pdf

Page 3

Can't get url to work on here or shrink link to work. Try copying and pasting the web address into your browser.  Couldn't upload pdf as too large.
Title: Re: Deciphering Date please
Post by: jma09 on Wednesday 05 July 23 08:31 BST (UK)
manukarik

Thanks very much for the link. I see the example for 1690 is very similar (minus the ten).

For a death in 1680, do you know why they would have waited until 1684 to do the legals?
Janine
Title: Re: Deciphering Date please
Post by: GR2 on Wednesday 05 July 23 09:11 BST (UK)
The testa[ment] dative and inventer (= inventory) of the goods gear sowmes of mo[ne]y
and debts q[uhi]lks (= which) justly p[e]rteined belonged and wer addebted and rest-
and awand (= remained owing) to umq[uhi]ll (= the late) david murray of balriddine the tyme of his
deceas q(u)ha (= who) deceast in the moneth of [blank] jajvic foirscore
years (= 1680) ffaithfullie made and given up be (= by) jean murray [---]
of the s[ai]d defunct only exec[utr]ix dative surrogat to the said
defunct in place of the pro[curato]r fiscall as ane (= an) act of surrog-
ation of the Comissars prin[cipa]ll of the Comissariat of dumfreis
of the date the  [blank] day of [blank] 1684 years in maner
underwr[iti]ne in .......

In margin:

testa[ment] umq[uhi]ll david murray of
balridden dated aug 14
1684

jaj is a way of writing m = 1,000
vi c = 6 x 100 = 600
ignore the symbol after c
foirscore = four score = 80
= 1680

It is a testament dative, so does not contain a will (that kind of document is a testament testamentar). It is quite common for these to be dated some time after the decease of the individual as someone is appointed by the commissary court to act as executor and recover/pay debts.
Title: Re: Deciphering Date please
Post by: jma09 on Wednesday 05 July 23 09:25 BST (UK)
Thank you all  :)

Now I can find out where he died...
Janine