Hard to read will

[Top-of-the-hill]

   I downloaded this will from the PRO. It dates from the 1850s, and there are pages of it! Is this a style of writing used for this type of will at that time? I rather doubt that I shall ever be able to plough through it all, which is a pity.

[rutht22000]

Hi

I'd happily have a shot at transcribing that Will if you want me to?  That writing (or variations thereon) is certainly interesting and one I have from then is even worse.  just sends you a bit cross eyed but most of what you have posted makes sense to me...

"pounds sterling to be paid immediately after (my demise?) for his own use (and I?) give and devise all that my cottage and garden with the app(something) situate and being in the parish of Kingston in the said county of Kent adjoining my (oast?) there and now in the occupation of William Moors unto and to the (use?) of my Bailiff Thomas Bousfield and Elizabeth his wife for their...."

[YatesJones]

Weird, I had two delivered today from the same period which is much easier to read. 

[Top-of-the-hill]

   Thanks for the offer Ruth. I posted in the Common Room and it has been moved to here. I was really only asking for comments on the style, rather than deciphering. I can just about read it, but you are right about it sending you cross-eyed. There are 13 pages of it.

[goldie61]

Not too difficult Top-of-the-hill. Pretty standard for this period - though it is one of those that makes you go a little cross-eyed!

Following on from Ruth:
'after my decease...'
'cottage and garden with the appurtenances....'
I'd say the word IS 'use' in the couple of instances queried.

Why don't you post some more bits on here on this Handwriting and Deciphering Board?
You could start with the first bit, unless you can make out enough of that, or find sections that mention names etc if you want family information.
Good luck!

[goldie61]

By the way, I see you have downloaded this from The National Archives, (and paid for it presumably!).
Are you aware that the wills on TNA up to 1858 from the PCC, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, (which I'm guessing this came from), are available on Ancestry? So if you have a sub, in effect free to download. Also free if your local library (like mine on the other side of the world), pays to have 'Library Edition' of Ancestry, which includes these wills - so you can download them for free from there too.
Just an idea. 

[Top-of-the-hill]

   I am slightly hazy on wills - this man died in 1856 in Kent, but his will is not listed in the Canterbury Probate database, which goes up to 1858. Few of my ancestors left wills - this man was a rich farmer - not one of mine!
   But I am interested to know this is standard style for the period.

[mckha489]

the wills on ancestry and the same ones readily available from NA are written by clerks in some special script they developed.

The first time I had to read a will like this it was one from 1823, and it took me ages to decipher it - now it seems quite straight forward as have obviously become accustomed. Anyway - as a result of some very unexpected information in the will I had to employ a researcher to go to National Archives for me. The first thing she said was " I'll just order in the original will (also from NA) so we can be sure you have correctly transcribed it" 

What a difference!  I attach a snippet from both.