Mary my younger daughter

[witchetty]

I have found a will written in 1703 by a man who had been married twice. His first wife died in 1684.

He had three daughters by the first wife, at least two of whom are married, but I can't quite make out what he says about the third daughter. For some reason she gets only half of what her sisters are to receive.

Mary was born in 1673, so was about 30 years old by April 1703.

I have not been able to find a marriage record to fit a possible surname (but I also haven't found a marriage record for another daughter whose surname is easy to read).

The will says "… Mary ?? my younger daughter".

Is there any other word that might have been meant other than perhaps LOUNDS or SOUNDS?

[sparrett]

I am far from expert.

But could the descriptive word be younger, rather than youngest.

That strictly speaking means there were only two, while youngest means of more than two.

Sue

[witchetty]

I also read it as 'younger' (see post title), but what they meant by younger and youngest in the early 1700s is anyone's guess.

He had two daughters named Mary, one by each wife, who both were still alive in 1703, and are both mentioned in the will.

Mary daughter of the first wife was about 20 years old when her half-sister Mary was born.

I have seen that happen in other families as well. They seem to have figured that since the older child was an adult (or nearly) then the name could be recycled and used for children of the second wife.

I have also seen Mary Ann and Maria in the same family (and same mother), Elizabeth and ELiza, and so on — and all survived to adulthood and married, etc.

[Neale1961]

Witchetty, It is not clear what word you are trying to decipher. Is it the word after "Mary"?

If so, I understood it to be her surname "SONNDS" or "SOUNDS".  It could be a second Christian name.
However you have not provided enough of the script to really see how the author typically forms his letters.

[witchetty]

Apologies. I have made it a little more clear now. But considering she was about 30 when the will was written, it probably is her married name after "Mary".

Not to worry. Just thought I'd ask, in case I was missing something.

[trish1120]

When where was Mary born (surname name also)

Then maybe a Marriage can be found