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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: nelly_leicester on Saturday 17 November 18 15:00 GMT (UK)
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I'm trying to transcribe the above Will from the National Library of Wales website and am really stuck on what Robert bequeathes to his wife Judith Jones. Can anyone help decipher it please?
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I can give you most of the text, but the placenames and a couple of words still escape me.
...Give and Devise unto my Loveing wife Judeth Jones all that my two [Loys?] [mat?] of
medow lieing and being in [traw?ell] in the township of [bardie?] and parish of...
As it is Wales, there's the chance that specialized language is involved.
With luck, someone more knowledgable about Wales will be along to help.
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Possibly " . . . all that my two leys mette of medow lieing and being in trawspwll in the township of barlar . . ."
Maybe "mette" = biblical "mete" meaning "measure", "ley = "a piece of ground put down to grass, clover etc". "trawspwll" just a guess, "barlar" possible spelling of Bala?
Drosybont
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On Tithe Maps of Wales, field number 1172 in Llandrillo, Merioneth, is called "Trwsbwll", so maybe "trawspwll". Still thinking about "barlar".
Drosybont
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township of Vardre
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Complete will here:
https://viewer.library.wales/121361#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-157%2C-156%2C2998%2C3110
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Vardre is better.
Drosybont
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I think it's Leys Math. The math is the first crop of grass after the seed is sown. The aftermath is the second crop.
(I can't easily find a reference right now, as I'm on a train with a dodgy connection, but will do so later if no-one else finds one sooner.)
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Sorry, ignore the above reply. I was misled by faulty memory.
I think it reads - my two days math of medow (a way of measuring land).
Oxford English Dictionary
day’s math, n.
An area of land that can be mown by one person in a day, often taken as approximating to an acre; a day's mowing; (more loosely) a small portion of land.
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Here is the transcript incorporating the excellent suggestions made by Drosybont, Raybistre & Bookbox:
...Give and Devise unto my Loveing wife Judeth Jones all that my two days math of
medow lieing and being in trawsbwll in the township of vardre and parish of...
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Many thanks to everyone who contributed. Not only do I have a transcription, but an explanation of the meaning too. What a knowledgeable group you are. Thank you so much.