Genealogy Chat

Thanks ladies for your help. Jenny

Yes, Rob is the guy who's site it is, just email him with a query, or a for a quote, he's very good Margaret

Interesting site. thanks for that. Is it Rob's site? Jackie

Jenny Try this site http://wills4all(.)netfirms(.)com/ remove the brackets Rob does a transcribing service if you are really stuck. He did 2 for me about 6 months ago and charged £7 for the 2 Margaret

I had one sent for 1770. It's a nightmare as other members of the family have also included their wills onthe end of it. The quality is dreadful with parts damaged,smeared and illegible. Found enlarging it on the photocopier helpful enabling me to read parts of it more easily. What sites did you find to help you interpret the language? I need help here. Someone did tell me you can attend courses on transcribing old documents. Has anyone been on one and did it help? Jackie

Hi Jenny, I have transcribed a couple of wills - yes there are some funny terms! Messuage, hereditaments, herintofors and thereinafters, devise and bequeath, appurtenances etc etc The main tips I would give are not to rush it and not to try and understand/make sense of it until after you have transcribed it and typed it up. I had a will of 3 pages of A3 - it took me over a week to handwrite it one word at a time into a shorthand notebook type pad. I highlighted any phrases/words that I was unsure of. By the time I got to the end, I was so used to the writing that I was able to go back and work out more or less all the words. Next stage was to type it up - very weird, with no paragraphs or full stops. I made sure I put all names in BLOCK CAPS so they were easy to spot. After this I actually read it through for the first time to try and make some sense of it. Noted down any words that I did not understand (such as the ones listed above). Next step was to go to reference library and look words up in the Oxford English Dictionary (the one with about 20 vols) and note down the meanings in plain English. Your library should have, or be able to get, books about reading old handwriting. They may have a 'magnifying' machine, or someone who has experience reading old documents. Just be patient and take it one word - or even one letter - at a time and you will get there!! If you need any further help, please please e-mail me direct, or leave a message here and I will contact you. Good luck! Maz. XX

Does anyone know of a good site which gives examples of transcriptions of wills. I am trying to transcribe a will from 1835 and feel sure there are stock phrases which might help me. I've found quite a few sites which show how to fathom old writing but something on the terms used in wills would be really helpful. If anyone has had success transcribing a will I would be interested to pick their brains too. Many Thanks Jenny (fast becoming addicted to this tips board)