The topic for this week is "Another Language". In my research to date, I have not come across any documents written in other languages, so I am going to write a bit about a document handwritten in 1708-09. Even though this document was in English, the handwriting is very ornate and the general style of writing makes it rather difficult to read. Add to that, the legalese, and you have a document that is almost like reading something in a foreign language! So, here goes.
This is the Last Will and Testament of John Dunbar, my 8th great grandfather, signed March 22, 1708/09 and proven April 30, 1709.
This record is taken from a digitized microfilm of the "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25106-32549-74?cc=1803986 : 20 May 2014), St. Mary's > Will books 1658-1732 vol PC1 > image 151 of 372; Hall of Records, Annapolis.
Here is another version of the same will recorded in different will book,
Source Citation: Will books; Author: Maryland. Prerogative Court; Probate Place: Maryland. Description:Notes: Wills, vol 11-12, 1701-1703, 1706-170. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Maryland, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1777 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Maryland County, District and Probate Courts; Source Description: You can’t take it with you. Find out what was left behind and to whom in Maryland probate records.
I will transcribe the document as I read it, and hope that this will allow you to read it a little better and compare the two versions of handwriting. I have tried to duplicate the punctuation and the spelling as they are in the original documents.
This is the Last Will and Testament of John Dunbar, my 8th great grandfather, signed March 22, 1708/09 and proven April 30, 1709.
Here is another version of the same will recorded in different will book,
I will transcribe the document as I read it, and hope that this will allow you to read it a little better and compare the two versions of handwriting. I have tried to duplicate the punctuation and the spelling as they are in the original documents.
The Will of John Dunbar: In the name of God Amen, the 22 day of March 1708/09 in the 40 year of John Dunbar being sick and weake, in body but of sound and perfect memory, thanks be given to God for the same, and knowing the uncertainty of this life on Earth, and being desirous to settle things in order, do make this my last will & testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my soul to almighty my Creator assuredly believing, that I shall receive full pardon & free remission of all my sins, and be saved by the precious death and merits of my Blessed Savior and Redeemer Christ Jesus and my body to be buried in such decent and Christian manner as to my Executors hereafter named shall be thought meet and convenient; and as touching, such worldly Estate, as the lord in his mercy hath lent me will and meaning is the same shall be employed and Bestowed as hereafter by this my will expressed, and first I do revoke, renounce frustrate, and make void, all wills by me formerly made and declared, appoint this my last, will and testament __ Item I give and queath this dwelling house and land to be equally divided between my two sons and three daughters and the Tanyard to my wife and son William ___ Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Mary at the day of her marriage one cobort and cabonet ___ Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sara one mare, branded, with a croked brand for the use of the Tanyard, Item I give and bequeath also to my daughter Mary a young mare called Janey and the increase but the first colt I give, and bequeath to my daughter Sarah ___ Item I give and bequeath to my two sons all my tooles to be equally divided between my two sons, William and John, also my desire is, that my wife, Anne, and my son William to be bound jointly and severally to be Executors for the children till they come of the age of one and twenty and then to fulfill this my last will and testament, as witness my hand and seal Sealed in the presence of Timothy M Sullivan, Anne Merrell, Thos Underwood. John Dunbar (Seal) John Dunbar (Seal)
April the 30 1709, then came Timothy Sullivan, Anne Briley & Thomas Underwood, three of the witnesses to this within will & made oath that they saw the within named John Dunbar, sign, seal publish and declare the within writing to be his last will & testament & that at the doing thereof he was of sound and perfect mind and memory. William Asquith, Deputy Commissioner
So, finding evidence of an ancestor's life, death, belongings and family sometimes requires not only a lot of searching, but also some luck, and even some skill in reading various types of handwriting, writing styles and even foreign languages!
'Til next time!
#52Ancestors
#52Ancestors
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