Genealogy Chat

My husband has a diary written in the 1800s by an ancestor. Her hand-writing is mostly illegible throughout and I would like it deciphered. Does anyone know of hand-writing experts who could decipher it for us?

Wend.
If you take it along to your local archives it´s likely that one of the archivists will be able to read it for you.
It will no doubt cost!!!

Wend. Around this time the letter "S" was written as a "f". Prison would appear as prifon. This may help you to decipher a little yourself.

Wisechild - thanks, that's a good idea. I realise I shall have to pay, but maybe an archivist could just decipher a couple of pages to help me understand the gist and style of the writing.

Pauline - thanks for your reply too. The writing is just a scrawl really, with very little character. I have managed to decipher a little - she appears to have been a God-fearing lady with the world's weight on her shoulders - she makes references to her husband and how unhappy he makes her. She seems to have written at the end of each day and poured her heart out by writing it all down very fast.

Thanks for your help.

ALLWAYS ENQUIRE AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY
THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SUGGEST SOMETHING

Ah, thanks Dizzi - another good idea :-)

Wend, if you google 'nineteenth century handwriting' there are several sites that give examples and advice.

Ken

Thankyou KenSE. I shall do that.

Wend

My daughter bought me a book on palaeography which is the study of early handwriting. I have found it a useful book to own, but I am sure there will be some books at the library which could be studied along side the diary.

Whilst there will be lots of sites with this information I think it is rewarding to work out the transcription as a learning process. Explaining one capital letter helped me sort out a signature from 1809 which previously I had completely misread.....being a tight Yorkshire person I didn't want to pay someone else to sort it- lol- jl