Help reading document - dated 1708

[drhewitt]

Can someone help me read this document please?

I had to split it into three parts as it was too big to upload.

It dates from 1708

[drhewitt]

Part 2

[drhewitt]

Part 3

[horselydown86]

It's a long document and not very difficult to read, so I doubt anyone will be keen to transcribe the whole thing for you.

Please have a go at transcribing the first 8 lines for yourself.  Format the transcript so that line breaks are in the same place in the text as the original.  It's a long line so for clarity please double-break between lines.

Spell words as they are spelled in the original, rather than converting to modern spelling.

Post your transcript here and we will help with any difficulties.

Here are a few things to watch out for:

1.  The long-s.

For example - the County of Essex is mentioned a few times.

2.  The lowercase c.

For example, in line 1 - ...widdow and relict...  In line 2 - Blacksmith.

3.  Superscript contraction for re or er.

In line 1 - ...p^(re)sents...

In line 4 - ...Sixth day of Decemb^(er)...

4.  First word of line 7 is estimac(i)on = estimation (in modern spelling).

The short line above the last two letters indicates a contraction (that is, omission); in this case, of the letter i.

[goldie61]

I've done the first few lines - as Horselydown says, it's a very long document and would take some time to do.

To all persons to whom these presents shall come Sarah Duke of Sabridgworth in the County of Hertford widdow and relict of Henry Duke late of Sheeringe in the County of Essex Yeoman deceased Edward Campe of Greate Parndon

in the said County of Essex Blacksmith and Elizabeth his wife Margaret Duke of Sheeringe aforesaid Spinster Ellianor Duke of Sabridgworth aforesaid Spinster and Francis Madell of Netterswell in the said County of

Essex husbandman and Sarah his wife (which said Elizabeth Margaret Ellianer and Sarah last named are the daughters of the said Henry Duke deceased) send greetings Whereas the said Henry Duke (in and

by his last Will and Testam(en)t in writing dated the sixth day of Decemb(e)r In the year of our Lord God One thousand Seaven hundred and four) Did (amongst other things) give bequeath and Devise All that his

Messuage or Tenem(en)t called Bushes (wherein he did then dwell) with the Barns Stables Outhouses buildings Yards gardens Orchards and appurten(an)ces thereunto belonging And alsoe all and Singular the freehold

and Coppyhold arrable meadow and pasture ground to the said Messuage belonginge or apperteyning or then or lately liefe (?) used and enjoyed as parte parcell or member
thereof conteyning altogether by

estimac(i)on twenty four Acres more or lesse Situate lyeing and being in Sheeringe aforesaid And Alsoe three Roods of Meadow more or lesse (being freehold) lyeing in a Common Meadow called Melfanns

in Sabridgworth aforesaid (which the said Henry Duke of and from Edward Waylett deceased) unto his Sonn John Duke his heires and Assignes To the onely use and behooffe of the said John Duke his

heires and Assignes for ever

[drhewitt]

Thanks Horsley, I was actually going to start on this when I got home from work.

Goldie, appreciate the head start you gave me.

So do you think this document is a will?

[drhewitt]

Francis Madell of Netteswell is my ancestor so trying to figure out his part in this document.

[goldie61]

So do you think this document is a will?

No, not a will.
Henry Duke's will was made 4 years before this.
From a very quick look at it, it looks as if his son John is going to sell the "three roods of Meadow", and all the other parties are agreeing to it - for a price.
Francis Madell is married to Henry Duke's daughter Sarah.

Where did you get the document? What was it classed as?

[drhewitt]

The document is from Essex archives.

Registered as quitclaim of legacies

They concern Deeds of property in Little Hallingbury and Sheening and Sawbridgeworth and Pishobiury, Hertfordshire