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Author Topic: Wills - can anybody read this????  (Read 1304 times)

Offline Biker

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Wills - can anybody read this????
« on: Friday 04 February 05 16:29 GMT (UK) »
Hello,

I have had a copy of a family will for some time and keep trying on and off to read it (or at least make some sense of it) but I don't seem to have the knack of deciphering the writing and am getting truly frustrated.

I'll attach the first section of it (there is another page and a bit) to see what you think it's decipherable or not.

Thanks and Regards
Jonathan
Census information is Crown Copyright http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Little Nell

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Re: Wills - can anybody read this????
« Reply #1 on: Friday 04 February 05 17:26 GMT (UK) »
Hi Jonathan,

Yes I can decipher it if you want me to.  I have done lots of these.  Provided the quality of the scanned image is good (not too many shadows or blots) I can usually do most of it.

Nell
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Offline Biker

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Re: Wills - can anybody read this????
« Reply #2 on: Friday 04 February 05 17:32 GMT (UK) »
Hi Nell,

That is a great and unexpected offer!, but I must warn you that the image that I posted is as good as it gets.  The original (downloaded online) is in a pdf format and is just the same quality.

Is the quality that I've posted good enough?

Regards
Jonathan
Census information is Crown Copyright http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Biker

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Re: Wills - can anybody read this????
« Reply #3 on: Friday 04 February 05 23:02 GMT (UK) »
Thanks everyone.  Nell has kindly transcribed this for me, for which many thanks!!

Regards
Jonathan
Census information is Crown Copyright http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Paul J Ballard

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Re: Wills - can anybody read this????
« Reply #4 on: Friday 04 February 05 23:13 GMT (UK) »
Just a thought but maybe we could have somewhere for volunteers to post their names if they are willing and able to do this sort of transcription? I have a fair amount of experience with wills back to the mid 1500's etc and wouldn't mind helping out if I can.

Paul
Ballard in UK all locations and dates.
Other lines of interest - Wills, Bishop, Samuels, Dunnell, Easey, Wes(t)comb(e), Richarson, Jarvis, Mathews, Stoneham, Jarvis, Ingram, Edwards, Catt, Moore, Lintott, Tee, Lee, Phillips, Davies, Drew, and a few more!

Offline muvva

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Re: Wills - can anybody read this????
« Reply #5 on: Friday 04 February 05 23:44 GMT (UK) »
I have a family will, dated 1854, which I downloaded from the National Archives. I knew it wouldn't be easy to read, but even though the quality seems good I am having great difficulty in transcribing it. It would be wonderful if there was such a forum where I and others could ask for help. I'm sure there are many like me who have squinted and stared and still not made much sense of things!
Chris
Sussex: Kemp, Harding, Ticehurst, Baker, Elphick
Derbyshire: Howard, Boden, Holmes
Lincolnshire: Boughton, . Atterton, Howard, Portess
Lancashire: Thompson, Hughes, Jardine

Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright  - www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline JAP

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Re: Wills - can anybody read this????
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 06 February 05 02:54 GMT (UK) »
Well, if there are any masochists out there who would like to have a go at a 1618 Scottish Will I'm struggling with, don't all raise your hands at once!

3 pages, very scrawly writing (sometimes I can't make out the words even when I *know* what they must be!).

My very rough (and incredibly incomplete) transcription to date, line by line, available too ...  But, if anyone volunteers, do try a bit of it from scratch first ...

And to think that I thought that I wasn't all that bad at this old handwriting ...

Cheers,

JudyP

Offline MarieC

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Re: Wills - can anybody read this????
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 06 February 05 08:36 GMT (UK) »
Hi JudyP

Happy to try to help - can't guarantee much but will try!

Send it to me if you like and I'll have a go.

MarieC
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Offline JAP

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Re: Wills - can anybody read this????
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 06 February 05 10:09 GMT (UK) »
MarieC,

I'd be happy to but am unsure how to do so!

Can one attach attachments to PMs?

If you like to email me at:
japhilip(at)ozemail(dot)com(dot)au
making the obvious substitutions, I'd be happy to.

I'd probably first forward one page of THE WILL so you can decide whether or not to continue with your kind offer!

Regards,

Judy
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