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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: RayDen on Friday 08 January 21 15:49 GMT (UK)
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I have a book that was presented to a Miss ?? in 1879. I can read that it was presented to a Miss ?? by Miss Jarman for general good conduct at Montague Villa's Salisbury in 1879.
I know that Miss Jarman ran a school at Salisbury so don't require any info about that, but I just can't make out the girls surname.
Ray
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Perhaps Sidford??
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Sidford ? The first letter appears the same as the S in Salisbury.
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Thanks both, when looking at it I can now see the "d" as well. Thanks for the quick response can now while away a few isolation hours looking for Miss Sidford.
Ray
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Maybe Sissford/Sessford...He uses the long "S" in Miss
Carol
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Thanks for the reply Treetotal, but I do believe it is Sidford and here is the reason why. The book belonged to my wifes great aunt Sarah Jane Down born in Somerset (1862) and died in Payette Idaho in 1951. Sarah Janes grandson sent the book (The Poetical Works of HD Longfellow) to my wife 8 years ago, and said that Sarah Jane had brought the book with her from the UK to the USA.
Looking back over past research (due to being locked down!!!) I picked up the book again, saw the inscription and decided to look for Miss ??. Following the earlier posts I looked for a Miss Sidford in the vicinity of Miss Jarmans School. I came across 2 sister on 1881 census, Mary (16) and Ethel (14) Sidford. Long story short both girls had emigrated with their parents to the US in 1905 and lived in "PAYETTE IDAHO".
So it looks likely that Sarah Jane did not take the book with her from the UK (she lived in Somerset until 1900, and then in London until she emigrated in 1902). She either knew the Sidford girls or picked up the book in yard sale or charity shop.
Sorry about the long reply - but is'nt family history great!!
Ray