Confirmation on name.

[Taylor94]

Good morning
Am I correct in thinking this says ‘Henry Dudley Esq’?

His will in 1686 lists him as ,Henry Dudley, Gentleman of Odstone, Leic’

His list of inventory in 1688 looks to say ‘Henry Dudley Esq of Odstone, Leic’

I know gentleman and esq (Esquire) were interchangeable depending on who is recording and historically an Esquire was slightly above a Gentleman in terms of landed gentry.

[Rhododendron]

Looks like Dudley to me, too.

[horselydown86]

Am I correct in thinking this says ‘Henry Dudley Esq’?

Yes, although the small superscript wiggle at the edge of the image is part of the last word.

The wiggle usually signifies a contraction of which re or er is a part.

So the last word could be transcribed as:  Esq(ui)^er

I know gentleman and esq (Esquire) were interchangeable depending on who is recording and historically an Esquire was slightly above a Gentleman in terms of landed gentry.

There's a significant technical difference between Gentleman and Esquire.

An esquire had the right to bear a coat-of-arms.  In Latin, esquire is armiger.

These terms became less strictly applied as time wore on.

[felixlee]

Good morning
Am I correct in thinking this says ‘Henry Dudley Esq’?

His will in 1686 lists him as ,Henry Dudley, Gentleman of Odstone, Leic’

His list of inventory in 1688 looks to say ‘Henry Dudley Esq of Odstone, Leic’

I know gentleman and esq (Esquire) were interchangeable depending on who is recording and historically an Esquire was slightly above a Gentleman in terms of landed gentry.

Yes, I would read it as that as well.