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Deciphering Old Wills!!

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sharonlondon

sharonlondon Report 16 Mar 2011 23:13

I have downloaded 2 Ancestors Wills dated 1782 & 1810 from The National Archives.
Can read some words but there are large chunks that I cannot decipher!!
Any ideas of who I could contact (what are people that can decipher old wills called?!) & what do you think the cost would be?
It's a bit like having your favourite sweet in your hand but you can't get get the wrapper off!!!!
Many thanks for replying (if of course someone does!!)

Peterkinz

Peterkinz Report 16 Mar 2011 23:53

Will PM you

Peter

Researching:
Nurse of Brightlingsea, Spalton of Bottesford, Williams of Tenby, Lammiman of Kensington

Kense

Kense Report 17 Mar 2011 08:21

If you find phrases and pertinent words that you can read, then google those (eg "I bequeath unto" farms tenements) you will find examples of transcribed wills which may contain words that you are unfamiliar with (such as messuages and hereditaments) and whole phrases that are common to wills of that time.

Sidami

Sidami Report 17 Mar 2011 21:58

I have just gone on this web site but how do i look for a will?

Researching:
Ringrose from Countesthorpe Lord and Burley from Countesthorpe...Dixon Dawson Wood and Wilkinson from Caistor ,Starkey and Wood from Edendam. Hare from Horncastle.

Sidami

Sidami Report 17 Mar 2011 21:58

I have just gone on this web site but how do i look for a will?

Researching:
Ringrose from Countesthorpe Lord and Burley from Countesthorpe...Dixon Dawson Wood and Wilkinson from Caistor ,Starkey and Wood from Edendam. Hare from Horncastle.

MarkMorgan

MarkMorgan Report 17 Mar 2011 22:37

There are a couple of online courses that may help

http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/ceres/ehoc/index.html
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/

Cheers,
Mark.