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Hi all

I wonder if anyone here can help identify this woman.

My ancestor, John Darby married a woman named Mary Butcher on 21 April 1766 at Hackington (St Stephen), Kent. At the time both he, and Mary, were widowed.

So far I have not been able to identify Mary's maiden name or find a first marriage for her. Ancestry shows 23 marriages for the name "Butcher" to women with the first name "Mary" between 1755 and 1756 but I can't see any in the Hackington area.

John and Mary had four children between 1767 and 1770 so if she was in her 20s when they married then I am guessing she was possibly born in 1740s or maybe late 1730s. John himself was born in 1735 in Birchington.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has any suggestions or ideas here.

Matt

The following is an extract from a transcription of the 1542 will of Clement A'Court of Waltham, Kent.

"Also I geve to Mathewe my sonne my tene[me]nt yn Shythcowrt att the fowthesyd? of the Streate wt all the lands att the south syde from Pedlynge [Pedlinge] unto Northeley yn Walthm and Elmested"

I can read the majority of it but can anyone translate/decipher the following parts for me?

"Shythcowrt att the fowthesyd? of the Streate wt all the lands att the south syde from Pedlynge [Pedlinge] unto Northeley"

I am guessing "fowthesyd of the Streate" is "southside of the street" but that's only a guess.

"Shythowrt" is written as "Shithcourt" further on in the will where Clement leaves his son Peter his "tenent and mansyon place at Shithcort".

I presume "wt" is short for "with"

Thanks for any suggestions or corrections

Matt

Hi all

I am hoping someone can help me decipher some of the names or bequests in this will from 1617. I can read most of it fairly well and the names are pretty much all decipherable apart from one or two.

I am stuck, however, with a few bits and odd words here and there so I hope people can help here.

In the first image here Richard leaves to his wife Elizabeth XXb now I know that's not pence as it would be XXd so what value would that be? 20 shillings?

He leaves to the poor of the parish iiib iiiid which seems to be 3 shillings 4 pence so on this basis I presume his bequest to Elizabeth is in shillings. Correct me if wrong.

In the second image here at the top line he mentions his goddaughter Susan. Can anyone work out her surname? I think it begins with "A" but I am struggling with it.

Lastly in the final image he appoints two friends as overseers. The second name is William Stenning [you can only see "Stenn" but I suspect that's the full name] but can anyone work out the first one? It looks like Lorraine something but I don't think that is right.

Thank you in advance for any help here

Matt

Is anyone here able to help translate this record which I believe relates to case in Chancery.

I believe it is a legal ispute between Thomas Searles and Thomas Stransham [executors of J Dryland?] [Defendants] and Francis Swain [Plaintiff]. It probably relates to case in the Court of Chancery from what I can tell.

Beyond that I can read a few words and the names but I am a little stuck given the legal language used.

Thank you all for any help.

Matt