Code in a Non-Conformist Register

[Yellowbird]

Reviving this thread from many moons ago which I happened across trying to find information on the shorthand style characters used by Samuel Say Toms in the entry for William Hill (in the original post), who happens to be my 5 x gt grandfather.   A long shot I suspect but I did wonder if anyone had actually managed to transcribe the entry? 

YB

[stenog]

Had completely forgotten that the shorthand in the O.P.'s post was still a conundrum. Thank you for reviving it.

I have successfully tracked down the exact shorthand method used: Rich's Short-Hand, Improved by Dr. Doddridge, London 1830. Scan available at:

https://cdm15457.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15457coll1/id/50

The entry for William Hill reads as follows:

51. William Hill. Ditto. Received [sc. communion] once with the Methodists when Mr. Anderson in haste administered it. Did it as he told me last Friday without proper consideration and supposing that he might at the same time receive [sc. communion] with us but when he found that might not be the Cause and that they withdrew from hearing me [sc. preach], he went no more amongst them and desired Mr. Carr to cross his name out of the Class list. Died December 30. 1807. Aged. 81.

For the shorthand connoisseurs, I have marked up the O.P.'s image with a word-for-word transcription, attached herewith.

I'll post similar for the other snippets shortly.

S.

[stenog]

Here is the next most extensive fragment.

There may be a hint if innuendo in here if you squint really hard, but it would need an expert in biblical exegesis to confirm (or deny). At face value it appears nevertheless to be a ringing endorsement for the particular family.

... dead
May well be [?] the first fruit of it yet comelier and gracious hearted and all follow the Lamb whither so ever He goeth til they join Him on Mount Zion.
May. 2. 1796. Six members now living who were ...

Crib attached.

S.

[Yellowbird]

Stenog

Thank you very much for providing the transcription for Wm Hill's entry, I am very appreciative of your time in doing so.   

So it transpires that Wm hedged his bets by trying to attend both the Methodists and the Presbyterian dissenters which wasn't too well received and short lived....

I look forward to seeing how the other snippets within the register transcribe.

Thanks again

YB

[stenog]

The O.P.'s second page, containing entries 60 to 67. A couple of head-scratchers here which elude me, particularly entry 62. The shorthand notes are very telegrammatic.

A repeating phrase is "from the establishment", which I take  to mean someone who has come over from the established Church of England.

Anyway, for what it's worth, here's as far as I have been able to get:

61. Mrs. Groom (his Wife.) Ditto. from the establishment. 1800 removed ...

62. Elizabeth Burton. Ditto. t[...]r and farm it hope great change knew her of late. removed ...

63. Rebecca Cockerel Mar. 4. 1798. servant to my mother l[...]en. removed ...

64. Mary Masterson. 1799. servant to my sister l[...]en.

65. Sybilla Hill. 1798 from the establishment. died ...

...

67. Sarah Dawson. Mr Vagham Hill's servant. married ...

[Deirdre784]

What an incredible topic, fascinating to read

[stenog]

And finally... the O.P.'s last snippet containing entries 70 and 80. Again, a bit cryptic.

I take had it at the church in entry 70 to mean that he (naughtily) took communion at the (established) church. What the bread sing might mean I have no idea!

Entry 80's last two words defeat me. I can only guess that they are a person's name, in which case a someone Dale.

Here they are:

70. Mary Catermole. from the establishment. May. 3. left us on the [?]bread [?]sing
withdrawn because her husband had it at the church. died 1821.

80. Mrs. Barret. left us with [?]T[...]e [?]Dale.

S.