Seeking Understanding of Latin Will/Legal Document

[Buffnut453]

I have an image of a document written in Latin that I believe pertains to the last will and testament of Ellis Ambrose who died in February 1724.  The document dates from December 1725 and appears to reference Ellis' wife, Mary.

Rather than being a will, I'm wondering if it's a legal note contesting part of the will.  Unfortunately, the 2 years of Latin that I took as a teenager did not prepare me for such a complicated document.

Are there any experts out there who can read Latin legal texts? 

[Buffnut453]

I vacillated on whether to upload an image of the document but I decided it was hard for anyone to help me without seeing the actual information...so here it is.

The first attachment is the actual document in Latin.  The second is a close-up of the exterior of the document which is in English...but still really hard for me to decypher. 

Any help would be hugely appreciated. 

[goldie61]

This is the part in English.
One or two words tricky to make out.

This may Certifie All whom it
may Concern that I personally
Cited? Mary Ambrose of Rainford
viz at her own house on Monday
the Twenty Seventh day of xber
instant by G?ing her A Tickett? of
the time & place of her appearance
And showing her the seale hereof
As witness my hand
     Henry Topping


You'll need to wait for a Latin expert for the other piece.

[Buffnut453]

Many thanks goldie61.  That's a fantastic start.  I really struggled to understand even the English part of this document, let alone the Latin.

My rough attempts at transcribing and using GoogleTranslate on the Latin text indicated Ellis Ambrose and Mary Ambrose were husband and wife.  Your transcription of the English text portion does at least confirm that Mary Ambrose was target of the document. 

I have a hunch that Ellis Ambrose was the son of William Ambrose, whose will is covered in another thread here.  William's will mentions a £10 "debt owing by a bill from his son Ellis/Elias Ambrose."  My problem is that Ellis/Elias died in February 1724 but William died in August 1727.  I'm wondering if there was a disagreement and that, even at his death, William was still expecting the estate of his son, Ellis, to pay the £10 debt?

[Bookbox]

Afraid I don’t have time to do a word-for-word transcription/translation of the Latin.

It's a standard document issued by the church courts. Basically, it’s just an order from the Bishop’s Court in Chester to the court apparitor, Henry Topping, given on 22 December 1725. Topping is to deliver a citation to Mary Ambrose, as the widow and executrix of the will of Ellis Ambrose of Bickersteth, summoning her to attend the court on Thursday 20 January next. She is being called to account for delay in completing the administration of her late husband’s estate.

Topping is then to certify to the court that the citation has been delivered (as reported in the English section, already transcribed for you).

No-one else is mentioned, and there is nothing about any dispute.

[Buffnut453]

Afraid I don’t have time to do a word-for-word transcription/translation of the Latin.

It's a standard document issued by the church courts. Basically, it’s just an order from the Bishop’s Court in Chester to the court apparitor, Henry Topping, given on 22 December 1725. Topping is to deliver a citation to Mary Ambrose, as the widow and executrix of the will of Ellis Ambrose of Bickersteth, summoning her to attend the court on Thursday 20 January next. She is being called to account for delay in completing the administration of her late husband’s estate.

Topping is then to certify to the court that the citation has been delivered (as reported in the English section, already transcribed for you).

No-one else is mentioned, and there is nothing about any dispute.

Hi Bookbox,

Many, MANY thanks for providing these details.  The info is hugely helpful. 

I suppose the reference to a bill from a son Ellis in the will of William Ambrose could just be a leftover discovered in his papers that was no longer relevant.  I'm pretty certain William was Ellis' father. 

At least I now know that there isn't a real connection between this document and the bill owed to William Ambrose.  Appreciate the insights!!!