Project Scroll

    Tip: press / or Ctrl K anywhere to search.

    ← The hunter’s toolkit

    A guide from the desk

    How do I read old handwriting in records?

    The writing in old records is not hard once you know ten tricks the clerks used. Here they are, with a short quiz at the end.

    The clerks’ tricks

    ſ

    The long s

    Looks like an f without the full crossbar. Used at the start or middle of a word until about 1800: “Congreſs”, “ſon”, “Miſsiſsippi”. Read it as an ordinary s.

    ye

    “Ye” means “the”

    The y stands for an old letter, thorn (þ), pronounced “th”. “Ye olde inn” was always read “the old inn”. Likewise “yt” = that, “ym” = them.

    Wm · Jno · Chas

    Shortened first names

    Clerks raised the last letters: Wm = William, Jno = John (not Jonathan), Chas = Charles, Thos = Thomas, Jas = James, Geo = George, Saml = Samuel, Benj = Benjamin.

    inst. · ult. · prox.

    Which month?

    “The 4th inst.” = the 4th of this month. “The 20th ult.” = the 20th of last month. “The 2nd prox.” = the 2nd of next month. Check the date of the letter or newspaper to know which month.

    do.

    Ditto

    “do.” under an entry means “the same as above.” Census takers and clerks used it for repeated surnames, birthplaces and occupations.

    &c.

    Et cetera

    The ampersand plus c: “and so on”. Often written as a looped sign that can look like a letter.

    1745/6

    Double dates

    Before 1752 in England and its colonies, the new year began on 25 March. A date between January and March is often written with both years. Use the later one for today’s calendar.

    relict · consort

    On gravestones

    “Relict of John Smith” = his widow (she outlived him). “Consort of” = his wife, who died while he was living.

    dec’d · Esq.

    In deeds and wills

    dec’d = deceased. Esq. = Esquire, a courtesy for a lawyer or a man of standing, not a title of nobility.

    71y 4m 12d

    Ages to the day

    Age at death in years, months and days. Count back from the date of death with the age calculator.

    Test yourself

    Six questions.

    1. A letter dated 10 June says “your note of the 28th ult.” When was the note written?

    2. In a 1790 newspaper you read “Congreſs”. What does it say?

    3. A census line reads “Jno Smith” and below it “do. do.” What is the second person’s name?

    4. A gravestone reads “Mary, relict of Amos Hale.” What does it tell you?

    5. A baptism is dated “12 February 1734/5”. Which year is it on today’s calendar?

    6. “Ye Olde Tavern” was read aloud as…

    Back to the toolkitHow to read a death certificate