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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Are You Good at Reading Bad Handwriting?

I am working on transcribing the pension application for Solomon Naughton/Norton, Revolutionary War soldier.  There are about 20 words across 5 pages that I am having some trouble with.  If anyone would like to try to decipher these words, I’d appreciate the help.  All of the words are highlighted.  If you click on the link, it will open the document in Sribd for easier viewing and options to enlarge.  A big thank you in advance for anyone wishing to help.

UPDATE:  See new post, Bad Handwriting Gets Better With More Eyes.

NORTON, Solomon NORTON Pension Application

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3 comments:

Randy Seaver said...

I'm not bad, but not perfect. My guesses:

Page 1:

fore
????ed
???
driving [unsure]
???
driving
while
sd [said]
spy

Page 2:

We were
expected
expedition
according
Moving
stores
oppose

Page 3:

Stores
could be conveniently ???
moved
disch'ged
fields
&c
last [???]
clearly [??]
???? [very small!]
record
years past

Page 4:

reputed
believed [??]
infirm

page 5:

Proceedings [unsure]
said Judge

That's my first look. The more people that look at this the more you will learn!

Julie said...

Thanks, Randy. A few of yours match a few of my speculations too, namely "driving" in both instances on pg 1 and "expedition" on pg 2.

Unknown said...

I am decent at handwriting analysis and deciphering messy writing and came up with the same as Randy with the following additions.

2nd) ? the letters that are still there look to be '..erreid' and would appear to be the second half of the location name from which he marched. But I am horrible with locations names and no nothing of civil war geography. :D

4th) "driving"

So unlike Randy I am pretty sure on driving for the 4th but a bit unsure on it for the 6th word. :D

6th) This is a bit confusing as the 'd' style at the beginning of this word is not consistent with other words beginning with 'd' but is consistent with 'd' at the end of words. I do believe though that the word is 'driving' as #4 above only a bit sloppier.

I have the same as Randy down to page 3. I was able to get to the phrase 'could be conveniently said' before my eyes decided to get too blurry to try any more just now. I will check pages 3-5 tomorrow and let you know if I come up with the ones Randy wasn't sure on.

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