How many of us have found a crucial document in the archives, only to stare at it in frustration? The handwriting looks like a foreign language. The ink has faded. Strange abbreviations pepper the text. You know this document holds the key to your ancestor's story, but you simply cannot read it.
After thirty years as a legal secretary at London law firms, I've spent my career deciphering difficult handwriting and navigating legal terminology. Now I offer a transcription service for fellow family historians who've hit that wall.
A Typical Example
Recently I transcribed the 1749 will of James Stanford, a yeoman of Eaton Bridge (now Edenbridge) in Kent – and a member of the notorious Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers. The Gang's brutal reign across Kent and Sussex is a subject I've long been fascinated by, so this was a particularly satisfying document to work on. It runs to several pages of dense 18th-century handwriting.
In the Name of God Amen. I James Stanford of Eaton Bridge in the County of Kent being Sick in Body but of Sound Mind Memory and Understanding do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. First I commit my Body to the Earth…
The will reveals that James Stanford owned substantial property: Fulling Mill Farm in Hawkhurst (70 acres), an 18-acre property called ‘The New House’, and further land at Eaton Bridge. He left his wife Mary an annuity of £28 a year, his son James received £200, and his daughters Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth shared the residue equally. His brothers Henry and John Stanford were appointed executors and trustees.
Common Challenges
Every historical document presents its own puzzles. Here are some of the challenges I regularly encounter:
Abbreviations: 18th-century scribes loved to abbreviate – ‘Wm’ for William, ‘Thos’ for Thomas, ‘sd’ for ‘said’, ‘decd’ for ‘deceased’. Legal documents are full of them.
Legal formulae: Phrases like ‘To have and To hold’, ‘Heirs and Assigns’, and ‘Messuages and Tenements’ appear constantly. Once you recognise these patterns, they become easier to spot even when the handwriting is difficult.
Archaic terms: The Stanford will mentions his wife being ‘ensient’ – an old legal term meaning pregnant. The testator was making provision for any child she might be carrying at the time of his death.
Place names: ‘Eaton Bridge’ is now Edenbridge. Spellings change over time, and local knowledge helps identify places that might otherwise remain mysterious.
Honest About Limitations
Not every word can be read with certainty. Where I'm unsure, I mark the passage clearly – for example [?Mosier] indicates my best guess at a witness's surname that isn't entirely legible. I'd rather be honest about uncertainty than guess and mislead. The client receives a document they can rely on, knowing exactly which parts are definite and which need further investigation.
How It Works
If you have a document you cannot read – a will, deed, letter, or parish record from the 17th to 19th centuries – simply send me a photograph or scan. I'll assess whether I can help and provide a quote. You'll receive a fully typed transcription as a Word document, with uncertain readings clearly marked and notes explaining any unusual terms or context.
I work with English-language documents only (though some Latin legal phrases within English documents are fine). I'm based in West Sussex, so very local to fellow Sussex researchers. Please see www.heritagescript.com for sample transcriptions.
