Cow Gate? - 1716 Will, West Riding

[karen58]

Hi
I think the word is cow? However it doesn't look like a c compared to other letters c in the will.

The word appears twice within a line text. Firstly as as an insert within the main body of the will.
Secondly it is repeated as an insert at the side margin of the will.

The text on the side margin reads: 'The words enterlined before the second line of sealing (That is) Granting her some roome to dwell in during her life within the said houseing and a cow gate in summer'

I've attached examples of the letter b and letter c for comparison.

Don't know what a cow gate is but have seen it in wills before.

Cheers
Karen

[maddys52]

I'm no expert! but I think it is Cow. If I look at my handy guide for old letters - it is the 5th one of the "C"
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~oel/lawhandslg.html

[mckha489]

I think it could be a right to graze her cow.

https://yorkshiredictionary.york.ac.uk/words/gate

[goldie61]

I'd agree it's Cowgate.
It's a typical capital letter 'C'.
Cow gate (Cowgate)
Right of pasture on the common for one animal (of cattle) (Bristow, 2001). In Marsden the terms 'cow gate', 'cattle gate' and 'beast gate' seem to have been synonymous, and applied to cows; such 'gates' were attached to holdings of copyhold land adjacent to the moorland pasture concerned. This was a method of 'stinting' i.e. limiting the grazing to preserve the pasturage.

[karen58]

Thank you goldie61, mckha489 & maddys52