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 ALL Class site: 1

2 The English Alphabet s Upper Case vs Lower Case I=J, i=j U=V (upper) Upper = Lower: E g m n x 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), p49-52 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: M Y S T E R Y ALL Class site: 2

3 administrators Transcribing credit Executors October John said aforesaid current Executrix John order Words in also expressed Samuel Daniel Joseph our Wills and April fee Patents A-ZA deceased Junior ourselves scituate assignees first July December pair Scotland barrels France keep deed parish seals be Francis known viz devides bequeath general less patent seized vizt dispose George lying percent better dozen give madam picked Senior wafer black oak bless east God March 2 nd September which Plantation Captain Edward Heires married soever William pleased hereof mister Charles either son William Houses Mr. possess Christian ejection imprimis Nathanielpremises sterling with [comma] else Item next presents such ye considerationestablish James Notary Public sufficient ye said court estate January November sum 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? ALL Class site: 3

4 Transcribing 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 Transcribing 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 ALL Class site: 4

5 1798 New Castle Co DE Probates, Benjamin Reynolds, administrator for both George Spain* & Joseph Reynolds * George Spain married Elizabeth Reynolds 16 Nov 1793 Use original documents to compare signatures Transcribing Example: Martha (Ranlet) Melcher s 1881 Diary Martha Ranlet is the first wife of Samuel Melcher, Civil War surgeon and a difficult guy to live with. ALL Class site: 5

6 Transcribing Example: Martha (Ranlet) Melcher s 1881 Diary Saturday, January 1, 1881 [in type] 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 Transcribing Example: Martha (Ranlet) Melcher s 1881 Diary Sam s 1 st wife also had mental problems! You might want your descendants to read your diary or would you? 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 ALL Class site: 6