"old scots "help needed. Completed. Thank you

[demented]

I'm having trouble understanding something in an old booklet about the Paisley society of weavers.
It would seem to be to do with a date but I can't quite work it out.

                            Imvij

The context is
On 20th day of October Imvij and Two years.

Any help gratefully received. Thanks.
Margaret

[Ruskie]

First thing that comes to mind is, perhaps it is the year in Roman numerals? But as far as I know there's no I or J in Roman numerals. And adding the "and two years" doesn't make much sense ... 

Are you able to post the image for us to see?

[Koromo]

Could it be:

m = 1000
vij or vii = 7   (the last  i  was often given a 'tail' in old handwriting)
and two years ...

Makes it 1702

[demented]

Sorry Ruskie am unable to post an image.I thought of Roman numerals but couldn't work it out.
Koromo I think you've solved it for me. The tail on the last i makes sense.
Thank you for your help

Margaret

[Ruskie]

I think Koromo's reasoning is probably right.

But:
M = 1000 (so what is the "I" before the M for?)
V = 5
i = 1
j or a second i = 1 (makes sense about the tail)

So doesn't the total add up to 1000 + 5 + 1 +1 which equals 1007? Then "and two years" which would mean 1009? And why also write the words "and two years" rather than use Roman numerals?

Wouldn't 1702 be
MDCCll
?
 

Margaret, I'm sure it would really help if you could post an image for us to see. Could you perhaps ask someone to help you to do this? Perhaps you could let us know a bit more about the context in which this was written. And, for example, are there other mentions of similar 'dates' on the same page.

This has really got me curious. 

[still_looking]

this may help clarify

http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/cmDat.asp

[Ruskie]

Yes, that does help with the IM at least. 

Margaret, do you know what year the information in the booklet is referring to?

[waiteohman]

Hello Margaret

Seems this form was used with dates. The m being in superscript and what looks to me to be a c in superscript after the j. An example is found on Google Books site for "The Sessional Papers printed by Order of the House of Lords or presented by Royal Command in the Session 1867 (30th and 31st Victoria) arranged in volumes. Vol. XXVI. Evidence before Lords Committees  for Priviledges and before the House &c"

Example:
In West Fernie the Ninth day of November I^m vij^c and sixty one years it is contracted agreed ...
http://books.google.ca/books?id=I-pbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA435&dq=Imvij&cd=3#v=onepage&q=Imvij&f=false

I think I see after the j, a letter c; however, could be an e. Could portions be some form of latin being used in the date. A guess on my part

Linda

[Ruskie]

The link provided by sl helps. This is on another page of the same link:
http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/cmNul.asp