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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Wiggy on Tuesday 06 March 18 23:43 GMT (UK)
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Hello - about a year ago I was on Norfolk Island and brought home these records - trouble is I now can't read them.
These folk don't belong to me but have to post them to show column headings. Might then be able to decipher mine - or post again. I know the writing is tiny - so I have scanned them at very high recolution just in case that helps. They were only photocopies though so . . . . :-\ :-\
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What intrigues me is that in the last column the date 1821 appears - I think. but the Island was evacuated in 1814 and not repolulated until 1825. so . . . . . . maybe these documents apply to what was parcelled out at the Derwent when the settlers arrived there??
I think the 3rd last column is a description of land in Chains and links with description of features to assist.
I know the 2nd last column is signatures of the two men Certifying - Mr (or Lieutenant?) Shortland and Mr William Hutchinson.
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Norfolk Island was still administered by NSW and so the F Goulburn signing off on second image would be the NSW Colonial Secretary, Frederick GOULBURN.
JM
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Correct! ;)
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Could be to do with land grants on Norfolk Island as the column "When Granted" has dates 1796 and 1797 which fits with this page Settlers' Blocks on Norfolk Island 1796
http://oa.anu.edu.au/entity/12455?pid=1545
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Yes these are land grant records .. the NSW governors in Penal times had authority to grant parcels of land.
John HUNTER was governor 1796ish.
Are you unsure of the column headings?
JM
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NSW col sec papers index 1788-1825 has Lieut. John SHORTLAND receiving land grants 1797, 1801 etc. Ancestry should have digitised images as part of its partnership arrangement with NSW archives. Fingers crossed clearer images of typical records are found there
JM
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Yes - quite possibly . . . . but I think the signing off date by the colonial secretary in 1821 might mean grants being granted in Hobart/Van Diemans land in lieu of those grants on Norfolk.
. . . . that's what I am trying to ascertain I think.
I have that map with all the land parcelled out to all my Norfolk peopl makred on it - the researcher and archives person on Norfolk marked them all in for me. ;)
I have Edward Kimberley, Daniel Stanfield Snr and Jnr and Thomas Ransom all holding land there. Also an interest in William Shurburd who was convicted at the same time as Thomas Ransom. Lots of interest and lots of research done on Norfolk.
Just wish I could read these entries.
I can see this bit says (Second snip last column.)
Sold in various parcels the grand endorsed. The Grant
by Governor Phillip to be cancelled. Torn? up
this 5th October 1821
signed F Goulburn
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I am unsure of last three headings on first snip!
Also 6th from right in first snip.
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Torn up 1821 .. yes, that is right ...the paper record of the original grant was torn up in 1821 by the governors Secretary.
By tearing it up he had effectively cancelled the actual grant to which it referred.... it was usual practice in that era. Probably involves obeying one of the outcomes of the Bigge Commission .....
JM
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So I am correct thinking the grants now refer to the 'in lieu of' grants being dished out in Van Diemands land?
Or just acknowledgement** of those grants so the authorities in VDL can get about their business of reinstating these men into 'landed gentry'!! ;) ;)
It is the headings mentioned,
and the deciphering of the second last column I am really interested in!
- then having one known, I will be able to work out the other hopefully! ;)
Edit to add
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'Surrendering of land on Norfolk' That's the phrase I was trying to say
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I am on e-reader at present so cannot effectively enlarge images without blurring. BUT ... those who were transferred off NI to VDL were to receive land grants in VDL .... although Bigge was no friend of emancipated settlers.
JM
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Have you considered checking John SHORTLAND's digitised land grant images from Ancestry for May 1797 .... to compare with the description on your document to give you clues as like with like (or otherwise) replacement VDL...
JM
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I am on e-reader at present so cannot effectively enlarge images without blurring. BUT ... those who were transferred off NI to VDL were to receive land grants in VDL .... although Bigge was no friend of emancipated settlers.
JM
And they did indeed receive lots of land in VDL - Twice what they had had on Norfolk I believe. They were doing alright for themselves.
No haven't checked Shortlands digitised land grants images - didn't know about them. Will try and access them.
If I could read my document first that would be a starter I believe! ;)
Wiggy
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.....
Also 6th from right in first snip.
District.
JM
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3rd from right ..... well the entry immediately below reads L s d as in pounds/shillings/pence IF that helps as it may refer to a money valuation.
ADD
Annual
Rent
(Yet to determine 3rd word)
I hope others will be along soon as I have 'run out' of spare moments on this e reader... sorry.
JM
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Wiggy, take your high-res scans. Zoom the scans to the point where the writing is as large as it will go before the resolution becomes blurred and pixelated. Back the zoom down a touch to the best compromise of size and sharpness.
Then make a snip of just the box (or boxes) you need.
Writing in the snips posted initially is too small and blurs when zoomed.
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Thanks HD - am sitting here peering at zoomed images and goingquietly mad - but I am getting there. Slowly still some bits I can't manage - but here is the box I am really interested in.
Column headings first.
When Granted ? ? Name of farm.
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:)
98 year old rellie phoned to say
Column heading reads
'When grant first promised'
JM
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Annual
Quit
Rent
As per same 98 yr old. ....
3rd from right ..... well the entry immediately below reads L s d as in pounds/shillings/pence IF that helps as it may refer to a money valuation.
ADD
Annual
Rent
(Yet to determine 3rd word)
I hope others will be along soon as I have 'run out' of spare moments on this e reader... sorry.
JM
JM
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The land description I think. This is how far I have got with it.
The ? on the S side of the ??
branch of W?ilkins? vale and extend
-ing N 22? & 3 chains 50? links
the S side line running E 5? 37
chains and the N? side ? ? ? 36?
chains bounded on the N side
by the allotment ? K(H)olddington ?
Thing is I know where the land is on the map, (- right at the end of the current runway!! ;D) but the 'vales' aren't named on the map.
Edit to add . . . is it Roods chains and links? Can't remember my old maths measurements
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How about Arthurs Vale?
ADDED: Not sure about Vale?
ADDED 2: Arthurs Vale, well known historical sire.
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Thanks JM - just got back from trying to read land description. Didn't see your deciphering.
Aahh understanding this document a little better - Norfolk Island Archives are holding it as a memory of who was farming what, but these grants now obsolete as signed off by F Goulburn in 1821!
Right - but still interesting to see what holdings various family members held.
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Last line - the name is Thos Eddington or similar. Maybe Iddington?
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Of course Arthurs Vale - yes the Vale is correct - - specially now you mention Arthurs vale - we travelled up and down that road every day - Silly me.
Thos Eddington sounds fine too - Believe I've seen that name around! Easy once it is pointed out - as with JM's rellie's (with the good eyes) decipherings.
Thanks very much. ;)
Edit Thos Headington/Eddington - will that do? Just looked him up he died in 1798
aged 40.
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Yes, Wiggy, just Googled it myself.
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;) ;)
There is one little cottage in Arthurs Vale which looks just like the places the first settlement would have built - very interesting - only sign left of first settlement as Thomas Ransom (2 IC during evacuation in 1814) and co were ordered to destroy everything the 'French' might see if they sailed past and wondered about settling.