RootsChat.Com

Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: antiqueone on Thursday 23 July 20 13:56 BST (UK)

Title: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: antiqueone on Thursday 23 July 20 13:56 BST (UK)
Just one word I can't make out on 5th line. Hope someone can help.
"Produce in all Kinds of Corn
wheat average 7 quaters To
the Acre Barley from 8 To 9
quaters and all other Corn in
Proportion Dourin the []
they had from 10 to 12 quaters
of wheat to the Acre and all
other Corn in addition Our"
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: Karen McDonald on Thursday 23 July 20 15:12 BST (UK)
Hmmm...

Comparing letters, it looks like fer--. In fact, it looks like ferm, but that doesn't help...

Can we assume that Dourin is during? So During the (xxxx) they had...

I'll keep looking. Let's see what the experts say.  ;D
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 23 July 20 15:22 BST (UK)
Could it be a misspelling of Durum ( wheat)

Add-  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durum
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: Milliepede on Thursday 23 July 20 16:27 BST (UK)
during the season?
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: ShaunJ on Thursday 23 July 20 16:28 BST (UK)
I read it as femn (famine? )
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 23 July 20 16:52 BST (UK)
Oops!  I looked at the wrong word.  I think it's ferm = farm

(those squiggly rs)
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: JenB on Thursday 23 July 20 18:08 BST (UK)
I wonder if the dot over the word transcribed as 'Dourin' is actually just an ink mark rather that a dot over an 'i'?
Could that word actually be 'Down' ?
i.e. Down the ferm/farm they had 10 to 12.....
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: Bookbox on Thursday 23 July 20 19:31 BST (UK)
I wonder if the dot over the word transcribed as 'Dourin' is actually just an ink mark rather that a dot over an 'i'?
Could that word actually be 'Down' ?
i.e. Down the ferm/farm they had 10 to 12.....

I agree with this in principle. Compare the w with wheat above. It seems to be the first word of a new sentence. But I think it's probably written Dowin, meaning 'down'. We know from other extracts that the spelling of this letter is a bit quirky.
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: Norfolkman47 on Thursday 23 July 20 19:48 BST (UK)
Obviously a part of the farmed land where yields were 50% or more above normal, on the figures given.

I have to say my first reading was "Down the fenn". Is that possible terminology in the area to which this document relates?
Title: Re: 1863 letter - One word I can't decipher
Post by: antiqueone on Friday 24 July 20 10:25 BST (UK)
Thank you all for your help. The writer lived in Kettering, Northamptonshire and he kept 4 cows and delivered milk around the town. 1863 was an exceptionally good harvest. I think he must have got his information from newspapers. I think down in the Fen is the only solution that makes sense to me.. Has anyone else got any thoughts on this?