Deciphering Wills

[MJLCarr]

Hello all,

Whilst researching I ran into a problem I think is probably very common. I can't read the writing on some of the Wills I have found. Any suggestions of what I should do?

Thank you.

[Olde Crone Holden]

A trick I learned years ago - fasten a piece of tracing paper over a copy of the will. Pencil over the words you can read. Everytime you go past it, gaze at it to see if you can read the missing words (gaze, not stare). You will find you suddenly get your eye in and most of it becomes readable. If really stuck - ask on here!

OC

[Lin Fisher]

That's a good idea OC. I try to read through it , even if I only get a few words and then do it again later and pick up a few more words. Also a lot of the phrases are repeated over and over so you get used to the writing.

[Jill on the A272]

Are they online? You could post a link so we could help.

[MJLCarr]

Are they online? You could post a link so we could help.

Yes but sadly it's all on Ancestry

[Jill on the A272]

I have a sub so happy to help

[GallowayLass]

How old are the wills? If really old and written in “court hand / legal hand” there are sites on the web to help with learning the terms used and samples of the scripts so you can begin to recognise what the letters are.

[Katarzyna]

If you post the url of the will we can look at it for you. If you would rather not then perhaps this might help script examples .jpg

[MJLCarr]

I have a sub so happy to help

That's so lovely of you thank you. I've deciphered fair chunks of it using methods described above but as I'm writing a history of my family at the moment I want to make sure I haven't incorrectly transcribed anything:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...1_310461-00060

[Jill on the A272]

Matthew Carr? (Just checking in case it's the previous one)

[MJLCarr]

Matthew Carr? (Just checking in case it's the previous one)

Yes Matthew Carr dying in 1832

[Jill on the A272]

I'm working on it now, may be a while before I post my finished effort though

[cbcarolyn]

If you post the url of the will we can look at it for you. If you would rather not then perhaps this might help script examples .jpg

ooh this is handy will have to keep this, I have a will to do

[Jill on the A272]

It's a long will, 8 pages so I think I will have to do a page a day, here's my first look at pages 1 and 2

This is the last Will and Testament of me Matthew
Carr of the Borou and County of Newcastle upon Tyne First I order and
direct that my body may be decently interred in Gateshead Church Yard
so near to those of my late father and mother as conveniently may be
without I shall have at the time of my decease a burial place of my
own elsewhere and I do also order my just debts to be paid and I do
hereby give and devise unto my dear wife Elizabeth Carr in addition
Page 2
to the provision made for her my our marriage Settlement for and during
her natural life of she shall so long continue my widow the house we
now live in with the flagged yard and other ??????????? immediately
behind the same exclusive of the fields and Garden there she keeping the
same in proper repair but it is my will and desire that until the said
fields and Garden may be ????ted by my executors my said wife shall
be permitted to occupy the same of such part thereof as my executors
shall think fit upon her paying a very small annual rent or
acknowledgement for the same I give and bequeath unto my said
wife for and during her natural life if she should so long continue
my widow the yearly sum of three hundred pounds and I hereby
charge the same upon my personal estate and direct the said annuity
or yearly sum of three hundred pounds to be paid to her by two
equal half yearly payments the first thereof to be made at the end
of six Calendar months after my decease and my will is that it shall
and may be lawful to and for my said wife in case she shall
continue my widow but not otherwise in ?? by her last will and
testament in writing to give bequeath and dispose of the sum of two
thousand pounds to be charged and chargeable upon and ????
and paid out of my personal estate unto or any of the children
of my brother George Carr in such parts shares and proportions and
in such manner and form as she shall think fit and I do hereby
declare and make chargeable the residue of my personal estate and
effects with the payment of the said sum of two thousand pounds
to the legatee or Legatees thereof to be named in the last will and
testament of my sins wife and in default of such bequest or appoint
nest and as to so much or such part of the said sum of tow
thousand pounds whereof as such bequest or appointment shall
be made I direct the same to continue part of the residue of my
estate I also give and bequeath unto my said dear wife to and for her own
use and benefit all the household furniture plate linen china
and Cash whether in bank of England Bankers notes or ?????
that may be in my House at the time of my decease but not
only Exchequer bills not any money due or ??????? bonds bills
of Exchange or promissory notes ?????? notes of the Bank of England
or Bankers notes nor any stock in the government or public
funds or other personal property whatever and I do Hereby declare
that the provisions hereby made to and for my said dear wife shall
be ???pted by her in lieu of any ???? she may have by our
marriage settlement on a field called South Bank being part
of my freehold estate of Sl??? in the County of Northumberland
and also in lieu and full satisfaction of all soever and this or free
??? out of my real estate I give and bequeath unto my sister
Sarah Carr twenty pounds for mourning and also in addition to
the annuity I have already granted to my said sister and paid
her for some time past a further annuity of twenty pounds
a year to be paid to her by four equal payments in the year
another first payment thereof to be made on the first day of pay
ment of the other annuity that shall happen next after my decease
and I give and devise unto my said Sister the house she now lives
in for and during her natural life the keeping the same in
tenantable repair and my will and mind is that it shall
and ??? be lawful to and for my said sister in and by her last
will and testament in writing to give bequeath and dispose of the
same of five hundred pounds unto all or any of the children of my
brother George Carr in such parts shares and proportions and in
such monies and form as she shall think fit and for the payment
[end pf page 2]

[MJLCarr]

This is jolly nice of you Jill. Thank you.

[Jill on the A272]

I'm sorry I don't think I'm going to be able to complete this as it is so very long.

[MJLCarr]

I'm sorry I don't think I'm going to be able to complete this as it is so very long.

Not a problem at all. Thank you so much for what you have done.