Code in a Non-Conformist Register

[Greensleeves]

Netti, there appear to be numbers on the left of the centre line; I am wondering if it is written from right to left, in view of the lines on the left-hand side.

[Greensleeves]

I have indicated them here:

[netti]

I noticed those numbers as well, also random numbers in the code.

there is another short section of code in the flyleaf, which may help to solve it but isn't helping me so far!

Sorry for hijacking the thread sunnylew, shall I start another?

[sunnylew]

Hi Netti,

It's probably best that we leave both codes together in order to pool the minds of Rootschat's Bletchley Park.

To tell you the truth I hadn't actively tried to solve the code, but it would probably be well worth the effort.

I agree that those numbers appear to mean the script is right to left. Also, if you look at the left hand end of quite a few of the earlier lines there is a"  ___ . " which also pops up in the body. I wonder if this (reading r-l) is a full stop. At the end of lines it could also be similar to the stroke you'd put at the end of the amount on a cheque to stop someone altering what had been written.

Do you know of anything else that could link the two?

I know mine was written in Framlingham, Suffolk, and from the dated entries it was around 1810 or so.

It seems to be a list of members, as has been pointed out, - and from the new image below of the whole page (including the tale of Joseph Barker) - but it is a list of members who had joined since a particular minister had taken over.

I think they may have voted in ministers, and then this could be a little tally he made to prove his worth which had biographical details agglomerated onto it.

As far as I can see there are ciphers only in lists of church members made by one particular Pastor. So it may be a personal thing.

This still does not explain the cipher, but does any of this seem similar to your book?

P.S.
I don't want to get rootschat in copyright trouble by putting too many images online - does anyone know how much of this can be considered fair use?

[netti]

I only got a quick look at the book when a relative brought it over on Friday. It appears to be a religious poem with notes and was published in 1773. The relative said that they have another book inscribed John Squires which also has code under his name.

The original query was finding out more about John Squires who left his estate to a Mary Hartill but we don't know if they were related. Mary and her husband James Purser were non-conformists. I am hoping to get more details soon but the code intrigued me and I couldn't resist adding it to your thread!

I can't see a similarity and I also wonder if they were personal ciphers? When I have more time I am going to study it more closely. Having such a large chunk might make it a bit easier, although I wonder if it is just religious text, even copied from the book to practice the cipher???

[Storm™]

Only had a quick look and ufortunatly access is via my phone at the mo so proper searching through google is not possible. But I'm pagan. I have seen this type of script before. I think it may well be a type of Theban. It was the reference to zodiac symbols. The triangle in another part is man or earth. I'll have a propar look later this evening unless someone breaks it. But bare in mind direct substitutions of characters may not work as it may well be in Latin or another language also. Or may be written right to left and or down the page rather than across it. Good luck.

[Ruskie]

 
This is getting more and more intriguing!

I really hope someone can crack these.

Is this the kind of thing you mean Storm?:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0csu/

(some of the marks do look similar, but there appear to be more simple straight lines and dots in the images above)

[Storm™]

Like I said it's like some forms of Theban. But it's more like priest codes. I remember just off the top of my head. Like I said when I have a better larger screen in front of me I'll have a better idea. But look into "monk code" for a start.

[Wiggy]

No idea what I'm talking about - but couldn't be runes could it??

Wiggy