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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Braindead on Sunday 05 January 25 08:21 GMT (UK)

Title: Help with Edward Hilsden's will, 1558 please
Post by: Braindead on Sunday 05 January 25 08:21 GMT (UK)
Good morning all. I'm really struggling with reading a lot of the will of Edward Hilsden. In particular, I can make out very little of the section which I'm posting.

Edit: I'm continuing to work on this part of the will and as some becomes clearer, I'll add my interpretations for your perusal.

I'm not sure of anything on the first line
On the second line I can make out "...my body to be buryd in..."
On the third line "of hard wyk Itm I bequeth to..."
On the fourth "... Itm I bequeth..."
On the fifth line "I bequeth to my daughter Anne after the decease of my wife"

Thank you in advance for any help you can give.
Title: Re: Help with Edward Hilsden's will, 1558 please
Post by: mckha489 on Sunday 05 January 25 08:44 GMT (UK)
On the fifth line "I bequeth to my daughter Anne after the decease of my wife”
Title: Re: Help with Edward Hilsden's will, 1558 please
Post by: Braindead on Sunday 05 January 25 08:46 GMT (UK)
Quote from: mckha489 on Sunday 05 January 25 08:44 GMT (UK)
On the fifth line "I bequeth to my daughter Anne after the decease of my wife”

That looks good to me, thanks.
Title: Re: Help with Edward Hilsden's will, 1558 please
Post by: Bookbox on Sunday 05 January 25 10:35 GMT (UK)
… Lady sainte Marye and to al the celestiall company of

heven  my body to be buryd in the p(ar)ish cherche yard

of Hardwyk  It(e)m I beq(uea)th to the mother churche of […]*

– ijd  It(em) I beq(uea)th to the high alt(ar) of Hardwyk – ijd  It(em)

I beq(uea)th to my dought(er) Anne after the decease of my wife …

     * which county/diocese/jurisdiction are we in?
Title: Re: Help with Edward Hilsden's will, 1558 please
Post by: Braindead on Sunday 05 January 25 11:41 GMT (UK)
Many thanks Bookbox, that's brilliant!

Quote from: Bookbox on Sunday 05 January 25 10:35 GMT (UK)
* which county/diocese/jurisdiction are we in?

It's the Archdeaconry of Buckingham which, at the time, was in the Diocese of Lincoln. This will is a copy transcribed into the Archdeaconry's register of wills.

If it's any help, I have also been looking at the will of John Semans from 1543 in which he leaves a bequest to Lincoln Cathedral. In that will, also copied into the Archdeaconry's register, Lincoln is spelled "Lincoll".

Thanks again for your assistance.
Title: Re: Help with Edward Hilsden's will, 1558 please
Post by: Bookbox on Sunday 05 January 25 12:08 GMT (UK)
I don't think the 'mother church' here is Lincoln, sorry.
Title: Re: Help with Edward Hilsden's will, 1558 please
Post by: DRH123 on Sunday 05 January 25 14:11 GMT (UK)
Quote from: Bookbox on Sunday 05 January 25 12:08 GMT (UK)
I don't think the 'mother church' here is Lincoln, sorry.

I think it could be, compare the last letter with that of "heven".
Title: Re: Help with Edward Hilsden's will, 1558 please
Post by: Bookbox on Sunday 05 January 25 16:09 GMT (UK)
Quote from: DRH123 on Sunday 05 January 25 14:11 GMT (UK)
Quote from: Bookbox on Sunday 05 January 25 12:08 GMT (UK)
I don't think the 'mother church' here is Lincoln, sorry.

I think it could be, compare the last letter with that of "heven".

Perhaps you are right. I agree the last letter is n, but I was put off by a letter in the middle that appears to have a faint descending tail?