Reading Old Handwriting

Transcription

1 Reading Old Handwriting requires patience and persistence. It is a tedious process, but it is of utmost importance to transcribe the original documents. Reading Early American Handwriting by Kip Sperry (1998) 289 pages Practice makes perfect Several handwriting examples with transcriptions Learn the old alphabets The English Alphabet Upper Case Lower Case I=J, i=j U=V (upper) Upper = Lower: E g m n x The English Alphabet 1600s Upper Case Lower Case I=J, i=j U=V (upper) Upper = Lower: a c E g K m n o u v x y z Source: Sperry, Reading Early American Handwriting (1998), p49-50 Source: Sperry, Reading Early American Handwriting (1998), p51-2 ALL Class site: 1

2 The Uncommon English Alphabet Everybody has their own style! A X L E Q U A I L Easier to transcribe in word/phrase context Source : (moved?) M Y S T E R Y administrators credit aforesaid current also Daniel Words in April deceased Wills and assignees December Patents barrels deed A-E be devides bequeath dispose * : = missing letters better * black oak dozen *cc t = missing letters * upper & lower case bless east often look the same Captain Edward * abbreviations are common Charles either Christian ejection [comma] else consideration establish court estate Executors John Executrix John expressed Joseph fee Junior first July France keep Francis known general less George lying give madam God March 2 nd Heires married hereof mister Houses Mr. imprimis Nathaniel next Item Notary Public James November January Words in Wills and Patents E-N Words in Wills and Patents O-ZO October order our ourselves pair parish patent percent picked Plantation pleased possess said Samuel scituate Scotland seals seized Senior September soever son sterling viz (to wit) vizt wafer which William William with premises such ye presents sufficient ye said sum ALL Class site: 2

3 Always Begin With a Good Copy Levin Clifton 1789 will, Sussex Co DE Light setting (above) - dark setting (below) Which one would you want to transcribe? Handwriting Learn the scribe s handwriting style - compare same letters/words in document - copy pages before and after page you want - local sources to identify misspelled place - common phrases often repeated Scribes abbreviated (paper was dear) - names: Jno=John, Jos=Joseph - = used to extend a word to next line - mostly chronological: get bearings by mo/yr Handwriting Transcribe slowly - evaluate with care Be aware of the context of the sentence Transcribe with a friend or relative it s more fun than a day at the beach!? Indexes and abstracts are transcribed, as are many vital records but you should try to find the originals 1798 New Castle Co (DE) Estate Appraisals, Benjamin Reynolds, administrator for both George Spain* & Joseph Reynolds * George Spain married Elizabeth Reynolds 16 Nov 1793 Use original documents to compare signatures ALL Class site: 3

4 Example: Martha (Ranlet) Melcher s 1881 Diary Handout p. 25 Martha Ranlet is the first wife of Samuel Melcher, Civil War surgeon and a difficult guy to live with. Example: Martha (Ranlet) Melcher s 1881 Diary Saturday, January 1, 1881 [in type] Handout p. 25 Would you like to read your greatgrandmother s diary? Homoeopathic Hospital I was not able to write at the beginning of the year, but I will now say that I have been here since the 12 of Dec came here from Laconia to Example: Martha (Ranlet) Melcher s 1881 Diary Sam s 1 st wife also had mental problems! Do you want your descendants to read your diary? Handout p. 25 have treatment [x d out] for my knee and nervous condition I reed New Years card Sunday 2 [in type] from Charlie. I am able to rest better nights, but my stomach and bowels have been troubling me 1818 Murderkill Delinquents A List of Delinquints in Murderkill Hundred [1818] David Aron not able to pay 221 William Andrewsons personal He dead and no property 199 Robert Artis Dead and no property 150 Thomas Armstrong not to be found 150 Samuel Biron went to the back Countries last spring early 196 James Bauchamp N worth nothing 150 David Bear not to be found 220 Matthews Bethards dead 60 John Bostick Deceas d last winter not one Cent 224 ALL Class site: 4 Handout page 13

5 Murderkill Delinquents 1818 Poland, Androscoggin Co ME Town Records p7 p7 John Dill of Philamon lives in Maryland no property here 267 Charles Errixen [Ericson from other tax lists] 211 [xd out] John Farlow moved back 150 John Fisher Hatter left this last winter and no property 200 Edward Fisher says that he pays tax in the other hundred Smithers & Fisher 500 Tho s Green Carpenter went away last spring early 200 Abraham Hurlack no such person 442 Peter Henry Henry N sold up 240 Henry Hendrixon Run away with his wife s daughter 240 Otis Son of William Caswell & Hannah his Wife was Born Middeleborough May y e 12, 1784, Nancy Daughter of William Caswell & Hannah his Wife was Born Taunton June y e 10, 1787, Hannah Daughter of William Caswell & Hannah his Wife was born Poland [Maine] September y e 18, 1793, Samuel Tillet 1812 Currituck Co NC Will p6 p6 Samuel Tillet 1812 Currituck Co NC Will p6 p6 Item. I lend to my beloved wife Lovey Tillett (whose maiden name was Lovey Russell, afterwards the lawful wife of Jessee Ethridge, and married to me after his decease, by which reason I title her now Lovey Tillett my wife) the use of the mannor plantatian whereon I now live, with the dwelling house and all other out houses belonging to said plantation during her widowhood. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Tillett, one hundred and thirty acres of land, to the northward of my land adjoining William Ethridges, to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Sally Tillett one hundred and thirty acres to the southward of my land, to her and her heirs forever: Als. I give to said daughter one negro, named Luis, to her and heirs forever. I Give and bequeath to [my] son Jessee Tillett one hundred and thirty acres in the middle between my son Thomas and Sally Tillett s land, to him and his heirs forever. Item, my Will is that my vessel be sold to pay my debts. Item. All the rest of my property not given away, to be equally divided among my wife as before mentioned, and my three children. Thomas, Sally and Jessee Tillett. Item. I do nominate and appoint y brother Thomas Tillett ALL Class site: 5

6 Aunt Allie 1920s Letter p.23 p.23 Aunt Allie 1920s Letter p.24 p.24 about New Brunswick Loyalist (Stephen Wright?) in Revolutionary War imprisoned in some stone place In he managed to pry out a stone. But the opening was too small to permit egress with the bulky clothing of that day so although it was winter he stripped naked & [and] squeezed himself out. Then raw & [and] bleeding he crawled away through the snow. He daren t wait to get out any old thing & [and] daren t push any out before him for fear a sentry would see it before he got it. He certainly colorful, but Allie, as enumerator, lied in the census (embellished?) 1798 Renunciation of Cain McKenney estate 1761 Baptism Forks of Brandywine Presbyterian Church Chester Co PA [p. 28 of handout] April of first day 1788 Respected Friend these are to inform thee that I do allow and appoint william Underwood to settle my fathers affairs he Being lately Dead witness Present Jacob Macinney Josiah Davis Joseph Underwood Source (p.28): Cain McKenney 1788 probate case file papers New Castle Co Delaware [page] 108 Lords day being the 26 of april 1761 and ye first Sabbath after my ordination I baptised first one adult person william temple, & children Sarah daughter of paul mcnight and Margret daughter of william Byrs. Tusday [Tuesday] preached in the meeting House Baptised Thomas the Son of will m Temple Wednesday Baptised two Infants twins Samuel & Joseph the Sons of Joseph Byrs Source: Sperry, Reading Early American Handwriting (1998), p.188 ALL Class site: 6

7 1692 Apprentice Indenture Boston p Petition to County Court Boston p.31 This Indenture wittnesseth that John Bowers of medfield in y e County of Suffolk in New england hath of his own free Will and with y e Consent of his Gardian [Guardian] Benjamin Clark hath put and bound him selfe unto Samuell wight in said Town and County lininn [linen] weauer [weaver] as an apprentice from y e Day and Date hereof untill y e first Day of July in y e year one thousand six hundreed ninety and four: in case Source: Sperry, Reading Early American Handwriting (1998), p.238 To the much hono rd the County Court now sitting in Boston The Petition of Margaret Haywood Widow & Relict of Anthony Humbly sheweth Heiwood [Haywood] late of Boston dec d That your poor, afflicted Petitioner is, by y e Decease of her Late Husband, left in a very distressed & desolute Condition, with ffour young Children to bring up, & nothing wherewithall to doe it, And therfore praies y t you will please to appoint some meek that her late husband decd joined at Persons imediatly to set out to her the Thirds of the Houses & Lands Source: Sperry, Reading Early American Handwriting (1998), p Petition to County Court Boston p Order Book Northumberland Co VA (p. 33) according to Law, & may she have the Liberty to chuse [choose] her Part & may there be any other way found out, such as in your Wisdome shall seem best, to add something toward her Relief out of the Estate, as it is ~ extremely needed, so it wilbe [will be] most thankfully acknowledged. And your Petitioner shall soon pray &c [etc] Boston 29 th July 1690 Source: Sperry, Reading Early American Handwriting (1998), p.256 M r Peter Ashton } his Cer t for Land } These are to Certifie that according to sufficient proofe made before this Court there is due to M r Peter Ashton 200 acres of Land for the transportacon of 4 psons [persons] into the Country (vizt [namely]:) Charles Hoyle } Eduard [Edward] Dyer } Edward Rogers } W m fflorence } Source: Sperry, Reading Early American Handwriting (1998), p.284 ALL Class site: 7

8 1652 Probate Court Paper Norfolk Co VA p.34 An Attachmt [Attachment]: is granted unto Bartholomewe Hoskins agt [against] soe [so] much of the Estate of John Piggott Marchant as shalbecome satisfactory for the some [sum] of One Thousand & fower [four] Hundred pounds of tob: [tobacco] w t h [with] Caske unto y e sd [said] Hoskins or his assignes beinge made appeare to be due uppon bill together w t h [with] Co rt.. [Court] Chardges [Charges]: Source: Sperry, Reading Early American Handwriting (1998), p.278 Genealogy It's not a hobby, it's an obsession Will I ever find time to mow the lawn again? How can one ancestor cause so much trouble? I think that I shall never see a complete Genealogy! ALL Class site: 8