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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: malijibic on Monday 24 October 16 10:40 BST (UK)

Title: Need help to decipher a 1670 will
Post by: malijibic on Monday 24 October 16 10:40 BST (UK)

I have spent hours trying to decipher  a four page will, have not even manged the first paragraph.
Can anyone suggest where I should go to for help?
Thank you.

Title: Re: Need help to decipher a 1670 will
Post by: PrawnCocktail on Monday 24 October 16 11:02 BST (UK)

It's usually a matter of getting your eye in, and (if necessary) going letter by letter.

"h" is by this date a loop below the line, and what looks like an "r" is usually a "c". And liberally sprinkled with capitals, which are always the worst letter to transcribe.

And they often start the same way, with the name, place, and date, and then go on to bequeath their Soul to Almightie God in the Hope of Salvation through Jesus Christ. They will also say what state they're in - often "weake in bodye, but of sound and perfecte mind and memorie" or something similar.

Then, and only then, will they start, "Itm, I bequeath"

Hope I'm not teaching my granny to suck eggs!

Could you post a snip so that we can see?

Title: Re: Need help to decipher a 1670 will
Post by: malijibic on Monday 24 October 16 11:22 BST (UK)

I have  God Amen in first line, (there are 4 pages)  !!!!
Thank you for taking an interest.

Title: Re: Need help to decipher a 1670 will
Post by: PrawnCocktail on Monday 24 October 16 11:38 BST (UK)

OK, thanks.

If I start it off, to give you a better chance with the rest of it...

In the name of god amen  (notice the diagonal marks above and part of the a)
The seventeenth day of Sep[tember] (long s, and see the way he writes h in the and at the end of seventeenth)
of our Lord Christ 1670 (look at the r in Lord and the capital C in Christ being a circle with a line across it)
I Owen Hughes of Bodaden (see the O with two diagonal lines down into it)
in parish of llanwnda being sicke in body but of sound and (look at the c in sicke)
perfect dispossing memory prayse begiven to god for the (note the way he's written the e on the - that's another common letter that is transcribed wrong)
and knowing the Uncertentie of this life on earth and being
desirous to settel things in order, doe make this my last will
and testament in maner and forme foloweing that is to say

Does that help?

Title: Re: Need help to decipher a 1670 will
Post by: malijibic on Monday 24 October 16 11:52 BST (UK)

many thanks, may I please come back to you after I have had time to try to decipher some more. 

Title: Re: Need help to decipher a 1670 will
Post by: PrawnCocktail on Monday 24 October 16 11:54 BST (UK)

Yes, of course

 :)