Harwood or Haywood?

[Tickettyboo]

These snippets are from the parish register entry of the marriage in 1845 at the Chapel of Medomsley, Co Durham.

The bride's surname has been read as Haywood, by GRO, FS and Durham Registrars search database.

Ever looking for a straw to clutch at, I think that its possible the down stroke of what has been read as a 'y'  may well be an 'r' followed by a sort of stylised upstroke of a 'w' .

If anyone has time to look and give an opinion I'd appreciate it. I've take screenshots of all instances of the surname and also any words that have a y in them. No other instances of a w on the image for comparison.



Boo

[Jebber]

I see HAYWOOD.

[Gadget]

Haywood - definitely a y 

[Tickettyboo]

Thanks Jebber and Gadget, its the very long curve at the tail of the y  where he's written Medomsley that's puzzled me as none of the 'Haywood's have it.
Though there is another marriage on the page its not in the same writing (next couple was married by the curate) I'll have to wait till the FHC re-opens - maybe 'next' year! to to be able to browse through the register to compare with other entries so see if they show how he usually formed the letter w.

Boo

[Gadget]

I see what you, mean. Have you got an example of an r written in that hand, Boo?  The other rs look different. 

[arthurk]

Is it just that he forms the 'y' differently in the middle and at the end of a word/name?

[Gadget]

Did he write it like this?


...and the first down stroke is very pale.

[Tickettyboo]

I see what you, mean. Have you got an example of an r written in that hand, Boo?  The other rs look different.

apologies for not getting back last night, I had a very long Facetime call.
I do see that it appears as Haywood,  If I'd been transcribing it I may well have gone for Haywood too.

As for the r
It seems to vary. The 'r' at the end of Taylor in the second screenshot differs from the r in Durham which I have attached on this post.

The y in the instances of the Haywoods differs from the y in Medomsley and the y in Taylor which though it isn't such a big loop does loop slightly to the left before going back up to form the next letter.

I think I am just feeling frustrated, because of circumstances I can't do as I normally would and go poke round the images of the register to get a feel for this man's writing. I do have other evidence that the Jane on this record is the lady I was looking for, Jane Harwood born in Swalwell to parents Taylor and Jane in 1825, so I'll just leave it at that till the FHC reopens.

Boo