Will of Dorothy Sloggett 1705

[Trevellian]

Thank you both for your research!! I never would have worked that out on my own, and such a detail really helps bring her to life a bit

[Trevellian]

In the next item:  ...Time of her death despret & others

Not sure of this one.  despret may be desperate?

Though it is a bit of a stretch as there aren't enough letters, is there any chance 'despret' says 'dependents' ('& others)'. Would make sense in the context maybe?

[goldie61]

In the next item:  ...Time of her death despret & others

Not sure of this one.  despret may be desperate?

Though it is a bit of a stretch as there aren't enough letters, is there any chance 'despret' says 'dependents' ('& others)'. Would make sense in the context maybe?

I have seen the word 'desperate', or 'despearate', used to describe debts.
It looks like this is this writer's spelling of that.
Meaning 'in despair', that is, those debts which were unlikely to be paid.
So 'bad' debts '& others'.

[Trevellian]

Ah interesting - it must be that then! However much you try and make it say something else the word definitely begins des not dep, and especially with your explanation, 'despret' makes complete sense. I am very grateful as always