Can't decipher the first letter, 1642 document

[Bookbox]

I was thinking of the parallel strokes plus the top and bottom wiggles together as constituting the vertical part of an H.

Thanks for that further explanation. I see what you mean, but from this admittedly very small sample I feel the hand may not be florid enough to accommodate that sort of H.

However, if one considers the top wiggle as an extension of the main curved element at its top and the bottom wiggle similarly for its bottom, then it looks more like an S.

Those were my thoughts too.

Let’s see if tamarakel can come up with any other capitals from the document.

[tamarakel]

Here are more of the document that I am trying to decipher as well as another example of that letter, I have found a document that says that the little w on top of a letter could mean ra or re, I will try to find that info..

Please let me know if you need me to find an example of an H or an S after seeing what I posted today... and thank you so much for your help!

[tamarakel]

this is another example, that I believe the first letter is an S? for Susanna?

[horselydown86]

Thanks tamarakel.  They are all the letter S.

With the benefit of seeing the Elizabeth Streete extract one can discern on the original that the lower part of the curved element does - very faintly - loop around and join what we have been calling the lower wiggle.

Here is Elizabeth's record:

Elizabeth Streete daught(er) of Leonard Streete

[Inholder?] and of Martha his wife borne in his house

at the Red Lyon in High Holborne bapt the 8


The last record is:  Shusanna

The Mary Sutton record coming soon.

[horselydown86]

Here is Mary Sutton:

Mary Sutton daught(er) of John Sutton Tayler

(deceasd) and of Katheirne his wife borne in John

Penns house in Angell Ally in Grays Inn Lane bapt: 7:

...I have found a document that says that the little w on top of a letter could mean ra or re, I will try to find that info..

I know the wiggle you mean.  It's slightly different to the one here.  I will try to find an example.

The one here is just a part of the S.

[horselydown86]

Here is an example of the brevigraph you mentioned; here standing in for the letters re.

The word is Crop(re)dy - the village in Oxfordshire.

[Bookbox]

I agree with horselydown86's readings in every respect, except that I wonder if it is John Venns house (rather than Penns).

[horselydown86]

I agree with horselydown86's readings in every respect, except that I wonder if it is John Venns house (rather than Penns).

I based the reading on the last example here:

https://www.english.cam.ac.uk/ceres/ehoc/alphabets/majuscules/P.html

After looking at the V page of the site, I still think P.  However, no harm in tamarakel having the alternative.

[Bookbox]

I agree with horselydown86's readings in every respect, except that I wonder if it is John Venns house (rather than Penns).

I based the reading on the last example here:

https://www.english.cam.ac.uk/ceres/ehoc/alphabets/majuscules/P.html

After looking at the V page of the site, I still think P.  However, no harm in tamarakel having the alternative.

Yes, the P is a good match too.