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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Designer Jeans on Wednesday 09 August 23 18:59 BST (UK)

Title: Will of Thomas Stones 1602 Alstonefield, Staffs
Post by: Designer Jeans on Wednesday 09 August 23 18:59 BST (UK)

Is there a kind person out there please who can help transcribe Thomas' will?  Also, what is the thinking on whether daughter Joane is married or not and what sons Laurence and William are to have?

Very many thanks

Title: Re: Will of Thomas Stones 1602 Alstonefield, Staffs
Post by: clayton bradley on Wednesday 09 August 23 19:39 BST (UK)

unto my other two sonnes William and Lawrence eather of them tenne pounds after this maner followinge, that is to say, payinge unto my sonne Lawrence tenne pounds at the feast of S. John Baptist next after my decease and unto my sonne William tenne pounds at the feast of S. Michaell next after my decease ..
No husband seems to be mentioned for Joane and the amount looks like a dowry.

Title: Re: Will of Thomas Stones 1602 Alstonefield, Staffs
Post by: Designer Jeans on Wednesday 09 August 23 20:52 BST (UK)

That's great thank you Clayton.  Any ideas on what the other daughter's name and her son's name is in the top portion?

Again, many thanks

Title: Re: Will of Thomas Stones 1602 Alstonefield, Staffs
Post by: goldie61 on Wednesday 09 August 23 23:03 BST (UK)

First clip:

I geve unto Mathew Walter, my daughter Anne
his sonne, tow ewes. Ite(m) I geve unto my daughter
Joanne twentie poundes of good and lawfull mone
of England Ite(m) I geve unto my sonne John all
my waynes, ploughes, yockes, harrowes, and other hu-
sbandrye wear, and all bordes, formes, tressels, bedstides
and all chamber bordes, so that my wyffe have the
occupation of the(m) with him so longe as she liveth


Just note the scribe also spells 'two' as 'tow' in the next clip - "unto my other tow sonnes William and Lawrence...."

Title: Re: Will of Thomas Stones 1602 Alstonefield, Staffs
Post by: Designer Jeans on Thursday 10 August 23 13:33 BST (UK)

Wonderful thank you, it all makes much more sense now apart from Mathew Walter who doesn't quite fit timewise.  I wonder whether two/tow is a spelling or pronunciation issue!

Your help is very much appreciated

Title: Re: Will of Thomas Stones 1602 Alstonefield, Staffs
Post by: goldie61 on Friday 11 August 23 02:16 BST (UK)

I'm not sure about the two/tow debate, but I have seen it written 'tow' many times.
If you think about it, we actually say 'to -w', and not 'tw -o'.............

Do you know if the  name Walter is a surname or a second Christian name for Mathew?

Title: Re: Will of Thomas Stones 1602 Alstonefield, Staffs
Post by: Designer Jeans on Friday 11 August 23 11:18 BST (UK)

Hi, no idea about Matthew Walter/Walter Matthew I'm afraid.

Yes, two is an oddity when you think of twin, twice, twenty and 2 is twa in Scottish dialect!