Early 19th century cursive writing - help !

[Kirkdale1]

Hi,

Hope this isn't too long winded.

My direct ancestor Charles Frederic Harrison married Ann Maddock in St Philips, Liverpool in 1839. Charles father is William, a linen draper.
In the 1841 census they are in Liverpool, both born out of county and both "servants".
Subsequent census' state he was born in York.
As a "scouser" I was a bit dismayed to find my family originated in Yorkshire but hey ho )

I have researched in depth for this couple and their descendants for may years now, so no info required on them.

However there is a family "story" that William eloped with the daughter of the Sheriff of York, a man named Robert Parkinson, whose daughter's name was Ursula.
When I first picked up this line of research years ago I found that there was indeed 2 marriages for this couple, one in Leeds in 1810 and one in York in 1811. No details of either father emerged at that time but I did find a Robert Parkinson listed as Sheriff of York in 1808.Then the trail went dead.

To the chase - I found the will for Robert Parkinson on A......y last week, dated 1818, and it mentions William and Ursula by name BUT having tried to decipher the damn thing I've given up. Its 5 pages of legal cursive writing and although I can decipher a lot of it, a lot of it is impenetrable. Are there any experts out there who wouldn't mind having a crack at it ? Be warned though, it is daunting, I've been trying for nearly a week now!

Thanks in advance for any help.

Bob Harrison
Member 6961

[MaryA]

Hi Bob, how would it be if you posted just one page and quoted part of the text surrounding a part you can't decipher and that way you might get a few opinions. Deal with the other pages afterwards.

Instructions on how to post a picture in your message here http://forum.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk ... =16&t=9817

[MaryA]

He does go on a bit doesn't he? Well I thought I'd start you off but can you give us what you have interspersed with perhaps ........ where you are missing words.

[Karen]

It would help if they actually punctuated them!

This is what I think - I've put ... where I'm unsure.

This is the last will and testament of me Robert Parkinson of he city of York painter. In the first place ... will and ... that all such debts as I shall justly owe at the time of my ... and my funeral and testamentary charges and expenses the ... given and bequeathed shall be paid and ... by my Executor ... out of my personal estate and Effects and I give and bequeath all and singular ... furniture books linen wearing and other apparel plate china glass and other goods and effects of a like sort and ... may be in or belonging to my Dwelling house at the time of my ... unto my dear wife Ursula Parkinson for her own...

[dickiesam]

Here's my bits inserted in red into Karen's gallant effort!

This is what I think - I've put ... where I'm unsure.

This is the last will and testament of me Robert Parkinson of the city of York painter. In the first place I will and direct that all such debts as I shall justly owe at the time of my decease and my funeral and testamentary charges and expenses and the legacies hereinafter given and bequeathed shall be paid and discharged by my Executor hereinafter named out of my personal estate and Effects and I give and bequeath all and singular household furniture books linen wearing and other apparel plate china glass and other goods and effects of a like sort and kind may be in or belonging to my Dwelling house at the time of my decease unto my dear wife Ursula Parkinson for her own >>>.

Phew! Nearly as complicated as mine!

Edit to add: The strange hatch symbols [similar to #] at the end of some sentences are 'line fillers' to ensure no-one can insert a word or two that could change the context or intent of a will. That's why they vary in number according to the available space. An example would be inserting the word 'not' between 'shall' and 'inherit'.

Edit to add missing word in blue!
Second edit to insert possible 'interpretation' of the final missing word in green!

[MaryA]

Let's see what Kirkdale thinks of that and whether it helps him further on, try Page 2? The only thing I am thinking is that you will be duplicating whatever he has already done, if that's ok by you then go ahead, otherwise wait until he posts some text and see if you can fill in.

This is the top half of page 2

[Kirkdale1]

Sorry I was longwinded ) Just wanted to give some background.

Thank you so much for helping me out with this, I know its a lot to ask and I am so grateful for your help. When I saw my gaps "filled in" I was surprised and delighted.

As suggested, if its OK, I will post what I've transcribed so far so you can see what I've come up with.

Thanks again

Bob

[MaryA]

Can I suggest you post in half page blocks as that is what I think I would propose for posting the images. Head up your text say, "Page 2 top" for example, and any replies, please also mark which page they belong to.

[dickiesam]

Sorry I was longwinded ) Just wanted to give some background.

Thank you so much for helping me out with this, I know its a lot to ask and I am so grateful for your help. When I saw my gaps "filled in" I was surprised and delighted.

As suggested, if its OK, I will post what I've transcribed so far so you can see what I've come up with.

Thanks again

Bob

Hi Bob,
Last night I was unable to decipher one word. This morning I think I may have cracked it. I have done another edit and the word is in green. It makes sense in the context. What do you think?

As Terminator famously said.... I'll be back!

[MaryA]

Makes sense to me DS

[Kirkdale1]

Thanks Mary,

This is what I've made of page 2... some it makes sense, some not but probably my own errors. Really grateful for everybodys input. This may take some time so I won't clog up the forum, I'll take it easy - promise )

page 2
...absolute use and benefit. And I also give and bequeath unto my said ….. and wife the sum of twenty pounds to be paid immediately or as soon as or conveniently may be after my decease after my decease and I give …….. and bequeath….. house I …. and workshops yard and appurtenances hereto belonging and adjoining situate standing and being in Stonegate in the parish of St Michael le Belfry, in the city of York where I hold by lease from the Prebend of Ampleforth for forty years renewable every fourteen years together with ……… and hold …...to my said dear wife to hold and to ……. dwelling for natural life and after my decease I give …….. and bequeath the same to my son Nathaniel Parkinson and his …….. during the remainder of my estate and ….therein I give and bequeath unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson……… appurtenances situate in Portergate in the said city, in his own occupation. Where…. I hold by …. or lease from the ….. of the cathedral and …. of St Peter of York and all my estate …. and interest of and in the same premises respectively to have and to hold the said last mentioned messuage …… and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson, his executors, administrators and ……. for his and their own use and benefit and I give and bequeath unto Thomas Swann of the city of York and ……. Bland of the same city esquire, their executors and administrators two thousand pounds capital vested in my own name in …… consolidated and bank annuities upon…. trusts. Hereinafter said trustees, their executors shall and to pay apply and dispose of the yearly dividends interest and produce ……. same all from time to time during the natural life of my said wife……. to be received into the proper hands of my said wife or to permit and suffer…… my said wife to receive the same to and for her own sole and seperate use and benefit and I do hereby declare that the provision made for my said wife is intended to be in lieu ……. and full satisfaction of and for all ……. or by custom or otherwise ……. my said wife …….. be curtailed to in or out of all or any of my messuages, lands…… and trust from and and after the decease of my said wife in the event of her death in the lifetime of my daughter Ursula Harrison, the wife of William Harrison of the said city, linen draper. To pay, apply and dispose of her yearly dividends and interest and product of one thousand five hundred pounds capital stock, part of her said two thousand pounds capital stock, as the same shall from time to time during her natural life of my said daughter Ursula Harrison arise or be received into the proper hands or otherwise to promise and suffer my said daughter to receive the same to and for her own separate use and benefit to her interest be at the same may not be at her disposal of, subject or liable to ……… debts or ….. of her present after … husband and upon ……. trust …… next after……. of her survivor of ……. my said wife and daughter to pay ….. and dispose four hundred pounds stock, part of the said stock to unto the said William Harrison, to and for his own use and benefit if or he shall be then living and in like …… from and after the decease of my said wife and daughter to pay …… and dispose of one thousand two hundred pounds …… part of the said stock unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson to and for his own use and benefit if he shall be then living and upon …. trust…. and after the decease of my said wife, to stand possessed of and interested in the sum of five........

[MaryA]

Difficult, don't know if Bob or myself have skipped lines, but maybe somebody could check what I've tried so far. This colour words I have either added or amended A couple in this colour should be removed as were just fill in marks. There are still dots where I haven't been able to read the words.

TOP OF PAGE 2
absolute use and benefit. And I also give and bequeath unto my said dear and wife the sum of twenty pounds to be paid to her immediately or as soon as or conveniently may be after my decease after my decease and I give devise and bequeath the house I live in and the workshops yard and appurtenances hereto belonging and adjoining situate standing and being in Stonegate in the parish of St Michael le Belfry, in the city of York where I hold by lease from the Prebend of Ampleforth for forty years renewable every fourteen years together with the Indenture of Lease ... hereby I hold the same to my said dear wife to hold and to her and to her assigns during her natural life and after her decease I give devise and bequeath the same to my son Nathaniel Parkinson and his …….. during the remainder of my estate and ….therein I give and bequeath unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson and his assigns during the remainder of my Estate and ...... therein ..... and give and bequeath unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson all that my Messuage or ...... with the appurtenances situate in Portergate in the said city, in his own occupation which I hold by or under a lease from the Vicar's Choral? of the cathedral and ….political .... of St Peter of York and all my estate right tithe? term and interest of and in the same premises respectively to have and to hold the said last mentioned messuage or tenement Sacred .....…… and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson, his executors, administrators and assigns for his and their own use and benefit and I give and bequeath unto Thomas Swann of the city of York Esquire and ……. Bland of the same city esquire, their executors and administrators two thousand pounds capital .......vested in my own name in the three …… consolidated and bank annuities upon…. trusts. Hereinafter mentioned .... the same that is to say upon Trust that they pay? said trustees, their executors or administrators shall and so pay apply and dispose of the yearly dividends interest and produce thereof as the same shall from time to time during the natural life of my said wife arise or be received into the proper hands of my said wife or otherwise to permit

END OF TOP PART OF PAGE
and suffer…… my said wife to receive the same to and for her own sole and seperate use and benefit and I do hereby declare that the provision made for my said wife is intended to be in lieu ……. and full satisfaction of and for all ……. or by custom or otherwise ……. my said wife …….. be curtailed to in or out of all or any of my messuages, lands…… and trust from and and after the decease of my said wife in the event of her death in the lifetime of my daughter Ursula Harrison, the wife of William Harrison of the said city, linen draper. To pay, apply and dispose of her yearly dividends and interest and product of one thousand five hundred pounds capital stock, part of her said two thousand pounds capital stock, as the same shall from time to time during her natural life of my said daughter Ursula Harrison arise or be received into the proper hands or otherwise to promise and suffer my said daughter to receive the same to and for her own separate use and benefit to her interest be at the same may not be at her disposal of, subject or liable to ……… debts or ….. of her present after … husband and upon ……. trust …… next after……. of her survivor of ……. my said wife and daughter to pay ….. and dispose four hundred pounds stock, part of the said stock to unto the said William Harrison, to and for his own use and benefit if or he shall be then living and in like …… from and after the decease of my said wife and daughter to pay …… and dispose of one thousand two hundred pounds …… part of the said stock unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson to and for his own use and benefit if he shall be then living and upon …. trust…. and after the decease of my said wife, to stand possessed of and interested in the sum of five........

[Karen]

I've added some in for the top half of page 2.

...absolute use and benefit. And I also give and bequeath unto my said dear wife the sum of twenty pounds to be paid to herimmediately or as soon as or conveniently may be after my decease after my decease and I give devise and bequeath the house I …. live in and the workshops yard and appurtenances hereto belonging and adjoining situate standing and being in Stonegate in the parish of St Michael le Belfry, in the city of York which I hold by lease from the Prebend of Ampleforth for forty years renewable every fourteen years together with the Indenture of Lease whereby I hold the same to my said dear wife to hold and to ……. assigns during her natural life and after her decease I give devise and bequeath the same to my son Nathaniel Parkinson and his assigns during the remainder of my estate and ….therein I give and bequeath unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson all that my……… appurtenances situate in Portergate in the said city, in his own occupation which I hold by or under a lease from the ….. of the cathedral and …. Churchof St Peter of York and all my estate …. and interest of and in the same premises respectively to have and to hold the said last mentioned messuage …… and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson, his executors, administrators and assigns to andfor his and their own use and benefit and I give and bequeath unto Thomas Swann of the city of York and Esquire and……. Bland of the same city esquire, their executors and administrators two thousand pounds capital vested in my own name in the…… consolidated and bank annuities upon the trusts hereinafter mentioned... the same that is to say upon trust that they ... said trustees, their executors or administratorsshall and so pay apply and dispose of the yearly dividends interest and produce hereof as the same shall from time to time during the natural life of my said wife arise or be received into the proper hands of hermy said wife or to permit and suffer…… my said wife to receive the same to and for her own sole and seperate use and benefit and I do hereby declare that the provision made for my said wife is intended to be in lieu ……. and full satisfaction of and for all ……. or by custom or otherwise ……. my said wife …….. be curtailed to in or out of all or any of my messuages, lands…… and trust from and and after the decease of my said wife in the event of her death in the lifetime of my daughter Ursula Harrison, the wife of William Harrison of the said city, linen draper. To pay, apply and dispose of her yearly dividends and interest and product of one thousand five hundred pounds capital stock, part of her said two thousand pounds capital stock, as the same shall from time to time during her natural life of my said daughter Ursula Harrison arise or be received into the proper hands or otherwise to promise and suffer my said daughter to receive the same to and for her own separate use and benefit to her interest be at the same may not be at her disposal of, subject or liable to ……… debts or ….. of her present after … husband and upon ……. trust …… next after……. of her survivor of ……. my said wife and daughter to pay ….. and dispose four hundred pounds stock, part of the said stock to unto the said William Harrison, to and for his own use and benefit if or he shall be then living and in like …… from and after the decease of my said wife and daughter to pay …… and dispose of one thousand two hundred pounds …… part of the said stock unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson to and for his own use and benefit if he shall be then living and upon …. trust…. and after the decease of my said wife, to stand possessed of and interested in the sum of five........

[Karen]

I think I must have been typing as you were posting, Mary!

[MaryA]

Well it'll be a long hard job but I suppose with a few of us giving it a try we may have more points of view. Hopefully yours and my transcriptions might coincide, I think it will be Bob's job to collate our efforts don't you?

[Kirkdale1]

Mary, Dickiesam and Karen,

I'm amazed and delighted but also feel very guilty. This is a helluva task and I realise how time intensive it will be. Are you sure you want to spend the time and effort on this ? I am extremely grateful but it is an awful big ask.

I have collated what has been done so far and there are very few gaps now, but sense can be made. He seems to have been a pretty rich chap - none of the dosh made it down to me or mine )

Thanks again.

[MaryA]

none of the dosh made it down to me or mine )

Oh what a shame, we were hoping to be paid

We'll take it easy, don't always have the time to settle down to do it, so just have patience and if it gets too much we may have to give it up. It's good practice though, I have one of my own that I may tackle once again if I feel up to it, similar handwriting.

[MaryA]

Moving Bob's transcription and the bottom second page image down so we know where we're up to

and suffer…… my said wife to receive the same to and for her own sole and seperate use and benefit and I do hereby declare that the provision made for my said wife is intended to be in lieu ……. and full satisfaction of and for all ……. or by custom or otherwise ……. my said wife …….. be curtailed to in or out of all or any of my messuages, lands…… and trust from and and after the decease of my said wife in the event of her death in the lifetime of my daughter Ursula Harrison, the wife of William Harrison of the said city, linen draper. To pay, apply and dispose of her yearly dividends and interest and product of one thousand five hundred pounds capital stock, part of her said two thousand pounds capital stock, as the same shall from time to time during her natural life of my said daughter Ursula Harrison arise or be received into the proper hands or otherwise to promise and suffer my said daughter to receive the same to and for her own separate use and benefit to her interest be at the same may not be at her disposal of, subject or liable to ……… debts or ….. of her present after … husband and upon ……. trust …… next after……. of her survivor of ……. my said wife and daughter to pay ….. and dispose four hundred pounds stock, part of the said stock to unto the said William Harrison, to and for his own use and benefit if or he shall be then living and in like …… from and after the decease of my said wife and daughter to pay …… and dispose of one thousand two hundred pounds …… part of the said stock unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson to and for his own use and benefit if he shall be then living and upon …. trust…. and after the decease of my said wife, to stand possessed of and interested in the sum of five........

BOTTOM HALF OF PAGE 2

[MaryA]

Not sure I've done so well this time, same colouring as before.

and suffer…… my said wife to receive the same to and for her own sole and seperate use and benefit and I do hereby declare that the provision hereby made for my said wife is intended to be in lieu Bar? and full satisfaction of and for all ……. or by custom or otherwise waiver? she my said wife own or may have claim or be entitled to in or out of all or any of my messuages, lands tenements …or other property ..... and upon trust from and and after the decease of my said wife in the event of her death in the lifetime of my daughter Ursula Harrison, the wife of William Harrison of the said city, linen draper. To pay, apply and dispose of her yearly dividends and interest and product of one thousand five hundred pounds capital stock, part of her said two thousand pounds capital stock, as the same shall from time to time during her natural life of my said daughter Ursula Harrison or arise or be received into her proper hands or otherwise to promise and suffer my said daughter to receive the same to and for her own separate use and benefit to her interest that the same may not be at the disposal of, or subject or liable to the control, debts or engagements of her present or any after taken husband and upon further trust …… next after the decease of the survivor of them my said wife and daughter to pay transfer and dispose of three hundred pounds stock, part of the said stock to unto the said William Harrison, to and for his own use and benefit if or he shall be then living and in like manner from and after the decease of my said wife and daughter to pay transfer and dispose of one thousand two hundred pounds other part of the said stock unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson to and for his own use and benefit if he shall be then living and upon further trust from and after the decease of my said wife, to stand possessed of and interested in the sum of five

[Karen]

and suffer her my said wife to receive the same to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit and I do hereby declare that the provision hereby made for my said wife is intended to be in lieu Bar? and full satisfaction of and for all …….and thirds? at the Common Law or by custom or otherwise which she my said wife can? or may have claim or be entitled to in or out of all or any of my messuages, lands tenements …or other property whatso ..... and upon trust from and and after the decease of my said wife in the event of her death in the lifetime of my daughter Ursula Harrison, the wife of William Harrison of the said city, linen draper. To pay, apply and dispose of the yearly dividends and interest and product of one thousand five hundred pounds stock, part of her said two thousand pounds capital stock, as the same shall from time to time during the natural life of my said daughter Ursula Harrison or arise or be received into her proper hands or otherwise to promise and suffer her my said daughter to receive the same to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit to her intent that the same may not be at the disposal of, or subject or liable to the control, debts or engagements of her present or any after taken husband and upon further trust within three calendar months next after the decease of the survivor of them my said wife and daughter to pay transfer and dispose of three hundred pounds stock, part of the said stock to unto the said William Harrison, to and for his own use and benefit if or he shall be then living and in like manner from and after the decease of my said wife and daughter to pay transfer and dispose of one thousand two hundred pounds other part of the said stock unto my said son Nathaniel Parkinson to and for his own use and benefit if he shall be then living and upon further trust from and after the decease of my said wife, to stand possessed of and interested in the sum of five