Help needed with Testament Dative from 1687

[goldie61]

I obviously couldn't tell the difference between the scribe's 'w' and 'double ll'!

It can be very difficult and they are not always very consistent in how they form them. If you are familiar with the words it makes it easier. Four centuries on, I still speak about sa'in' seed, as opposed to shewin' with a needle

Do a lot of shewin do you GR? 

Ane steiche in tym saifis nyn. 

 

[goldie61]

                                       
In line 8, it is Rests (i.e. remains) of free geir rather that Debts of free geir.


In line 11, I think the first name is James Charter(i)s and the second one James Mairtine. I wonder if what follows James Charter(i)s is a filler, then Caur for Cautioner?

I did wonder if that was 'Rests' at the start of the line - it would normally have been that, but couldn't see the letters.

I also thought 'Cau/Caur' may have been 'Cautioner'. That would make sense. Funny little scribble between that and his name though.

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[Mojo47]

Hi,

Thank you all for an amazing job!! It gives an interesting insight to life (and death) in those days.I’d hoped that there would be links to other family members(other than husband and daughter) but I’m still over the moon at what I now have.You have talent to have made sense of these two pages!!

Thank you again

[goldie61]

Just to say that these Testament Datives don't often give any genealogical information.
But as you rightly say, they do give substance to our ancestors lives, and are fascinating.
A Testament Testamentar (as opposed to a Testament Dative), may give more named people, as this is more like what we would think of as a 'will', where the testator writes down his wishes regarding his goods etc.