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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Ronda231 on Saturday 27 July 24 18:10 BST (UK)

Title: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: Ronda231 on Saturday 27 July 24 18:10 BST (UK)
Help requested to check over & fill out the missing info in this 1704 will:
 (http://)
My attempt so far:

         In the name of God Amen, I Robert Drysdall of Baltemore County in the Province of
         Maryland, planter doth  ………….             and make my last will and testament………..to
         almighty God…..first I bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty God in hopes of a ………
         and ……………….of the ……… ……..life to come.

I……. I give and bequeath unto my son in law John Fisher …………….……………..
   ……………two years old and half and a heifer calf of ………………………………………………………..
   ..old and one young mare two years old……………….. two………………two
        ..and three years old and one pott and a frying pan to him and his………….
        …………………
I…….   I do hereby………….and make my son in law Thomas Jackson my sole executor of all my ……..
        goods and chattels to him and his heirs for ……. of this my last will and testament as witnessed
        by him and ……….this twenty third day of May Anno Dom 1704

…………….                  19th June 1704
Thos. Newsone,    Then came the above named Thomas Newsone and John
Thos. Bucknall,     Kembell the younger, two of the witnesses to the above
 Jno. Kembell       written will and proved ………..comon forms before me
      
                                                 ……………………………
                                                 Baltimore County   


Many thanks and best regards
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: horselydown86 on Saturday 27 July 24 19:08 BST (UK)
I've made a start but can't do more than this tonight:

...planter Doth hear

Ordaine and Make......being in perfect Memory

blessed bee to allmighty God first I...

...In hopes of a Pure and [Certaine?] Resurrection of the...
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: horselydown86 on Sunday 28 July 24 05:59 BST (UK)
Second para:

Imp(rimi)s  .....Fisher two Cows and

a [hiffer?] two yeares old and halfe and a heiffer Calfe of [Eighteen?] months

old and one young mare Two yeares old and Two breding [cows?] betwixt Two

and three......to him and his heires

for ever


More to come.
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: horselydown86 on Sunday 28 July 24 06:16 BST (UK)
Third para:

Item   I Doe hereby ordaine and make...

...of all my singeler Goods
     [I'm not sure of this one.  If correct it means singular.]

...his heirs for
ever of......as wittness my hand and seale
this Twenty third...
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: horselydown86 on Sunday 28 July 24 06:44 BST (UK)
In the witness list:

Thos hisTh:marke Newsom

...Two of the wittness
to the above written will and proved the same in
Comon forme...


I think the word in the margin is a contracted form taken from the declension of the Latin testes, which is the plural of witness.

The second last line probably ends Dep(u)ty Com(missioner).

Before that looks like:  ____thesley
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: Ronda231 on Sunday 28 July 24 14:26 BST (UK)
Dear horselydown86,

Thank you very much for your prompt and concise help on this item!

Your rapid and skillful decryption of this old and difficult document is very much appreciated.

I've put the finished document together below for those who may have an interest in this matter, in particular the names Robert Drysdall Thomas Newsom, John Fisher, Thomas Jackson, Thomas Bucknall & John Kembell [Campbell] have now been established with date and place for those with a genealogical interest in early American Settlers.

In the name of God Amen, I Robert Drysdall of Baltemore County in the Province of Maryland, planter, doth  hear ordain and make my last will and testament being in perfect Memory blessed be to almighty God, first I bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty God in hopes of a pure and [Certaine?] Resurrection of the life to come.

Imprimis 
I give and bequeath unto my son in law John Fisher two cows and a hiffer two years old and half and a heifer calfe of eighteen months old and one young mare two years old and two breding cows betwixt two and three years old and one pott and a frying pan to him and his heires for ever.

Item   
I doe hereby ordaine and make my son in law Thomas Jackson my sole executor of all my singeler goods and chattels to him and his heirs for ever of this my last will and testament as wittness my hand and seale this twenty third day of May Anno Dom 1704

Testes   His
Thos    Th.    Newsom         19th June 1704
      Mark               
Thos. Bucknall,              Then came the above named Thomas Newsom and John
Jno. Kembell                Kembell the younger, two of the witnesses to the above
                          written will and proved the same in comon forme before me
      
   [____thesley]  Dep(u)ty Com(missioner).
   Baltimore County


Thanks again & Best regards
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: franh1946 on Monday 29 July 24 03:59 BST (UK)
ronda231.

Just one comment. That would be in hopes of a sure (not pure) and certain resurrection. Fran
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: goldie61 on Monday 29 July 24 04:04 BST (UK)
ronda231.

Just one comment. That would be in hopes of a sure (not pure) and certain resurrection. Fran

I think you're right fran.
It's a very oddly written letter 's', but you can see the same letter further down the piece where the scribe writes 'sonn in law.
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: horselydown86 on Monday 29 July 24 06:25 BST (UK)
I've taken a hard look at this today.

It probably is sure but it's not as clear as may at first appear.

The S in Soul, Sonn (two instances) and Sole is different in having a loop at the bottom.

I think this one is his capital S.

He also frequently uses a traditional long-s.  In the introduction, last, testament and blessed are examples.

Then, occasionally, to keep us on our toes, he throws in a shorter long-s.

This is found in Resurrection, Jackson, singeler and probably sure and seale.
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: franh1946 on Monday 29 July 24 08:16 BST (UK)
Also, the phrase is part of the funeral service from the "Book of Common Prayer". Fran
Title: Re: Help requested - transcription 1704 Testament Baltimore Maryland Robert Drysdall
Post by: Ronda231 on Monday 29 July 24 12:28 BST (UK)
Hi all,

I've checked this out with the great arbiter (Google) and the phrase "sure and certain resurrection" gets an abundance of hits, while the the phrase "pure and certain resurrection" gets none.

So it looks like "sure" is the one to go for.

Thank you very much horselydown86, franh1946 and goldie61 for this additional input.

Best regards