Downloaded Will/Probate - I Can't read it

[cornishmaid]

I downloaded 2 wills from the National Archive today... one from 1801 is extremely easy to read. Clear writing on clean paper. The other from 1809 is much longer, and obviously hasn't photocopied as well, and the writing is very flowery. I can't read most of it

Does anyone know how I can get the image clearer or where I can find out about how indivicual letters were formed in that era? (The d's look like s's in this document :. My eyesight isn't very good which doesn't help, but it's very difficult to read even with high powered specs on.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom that might help?

[marktrengove]

There's a useful learning module on the National Archive website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/

which might help, though it's more to do with the 16th to 18th Centuries.

Mark T

[genie]

cornishmaid said:

I downloaded 2 wills from the National Archive today... one from 1801 is extremely easy to read. Clear writing on clean paper. The other from 1809 is much longer, and obviously hasn't photocopied as well, and the writing is very flowery. I can't read most of it
Does anyone have any words of wisdom that might help?

I haven't any words of wisdom but I had a problem with a census some time ago.
The place of birth looked as if was 'Thissmiss'. After sometime I was steered towards Sheppey as there was a death of a person with the same surname in that area. Thinking that it may have been her grandfather I sent for her birth certificate and found her birth place was Sheerness. The family had left Cornwall and her grandparents died in that area so her mother returned to Cornwall.

[cornishmaid]

Thanks to you both for your suggestions

It looks as though the original will may have been on coloured paper? (Was there coloured paper in those days? ). The background on the copy is a bit dark, which isn't helping deciphering easy.

At least I can read the bit that says "my dear wife Honoria" which links him to my granny. Will persevere

[Cornish Terrier]

My eyes ain't real good neither these days.

As for coloured paper - you may find that a 'parchment' type paper was still very much in use.

In this case it would, I should think, discolour over the years and give the appearance of being 'coloured'.

Keep us posted on your progress and let us work from there.

[trencrom]

Do a transcription of it , leave spaces therein for the parts that you cannot make out to begin with, and then come back to them later, and as you do so look at the way various letters are written in other parts that you can identify and compare these with the problematic portions.

[Cornish Terrier]

A very good suggestion from Trencrom and one that I should have thought of myself.

I have had to use that means of reading Wills on many occasions and it does actually work.

You may still find some words that seem to be indecipherable but you should be able to work out most of the document.

[cornishmaid]

Thank you for all your suggestions

I went through the tutorial on the national archives today (thank you Mark ;D). I am now equipped with strong specs and a magnifying glass. All I need now is plenty of time and a lot of patience .

I think my main problem was that I was trying to transcribe and translate in one hit. Think I should transcribe as it is at the moment and then work on the transcription bit. And thank you Mark for the advice on that bit. Some of it isn't clear enough to do anything with, but hopefully I'll be able to get something useful out of it.

Many thanks again. Will let you know how it goes