1645 will in Latin

[michaelpipe]

Is anyone prepared to have a go at a will written in Latin in 1645? I am unable to make much headway.

Michael

[Browneyes]

Just a suggestion.. if you have a local college/uni could they help?

Browneyes.

[michaelpipe]

Tried that - they send you off to the library where they charge an arm and a leg per 10 words, and this thing is a long will. Just looking for alternatives before doing a bank job to finance the operation.

Michael

[BeeE586]

Two old publications that may help may be obtainable from a local library, both published by the Federation of Family History Societies .....

A Laitin Glossary for Family and Local Historians by Janet Morris
Simple Latin for Family Historians by Eve McLaughlin

My experience of reading wills is that there is often an enormous amount of repetition, and a Glossary could possibly give you an inkling of what is being said.

Best of luck, reading an old will written in what passed for English can be daunting enough.

Eileen

[Browneyes]

There are, of course, free online dictionaries that translate latin into english but that would be just silly considering the amount you want to translate. I wonder if there are any other latin wills or bits of wills that have been translated that contain standard phrases that are in your will. At least that would deal with some of it. Then there's latin names, places, etc. Bit of an enigma :D , could take you a bit of time I think. But good luck anyway.

Browneyes

[michaelpipe]

Thanks Browneyes and BeeE586 for your suggestions.
So I guess it's one word at a time! In fact, the Latin is the easy part - getting to grips with the writing is the main problem.

Michael

[Browneyes]

Well if you get stuck why not post a little bit by a link on here (if that's allowed), maybe someone will be able to help (I'll even try myself!)

Browneyes

[BeeE586]

Might this help ?

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/latin/beginners/

Eileen

[jespa]

Hello, I have translated some parish records from Latin to English and as my Portuguese improves so does my Latin so if I can help I will gladly. No guarantees though.
Regards Jespa.
P.s is the document in the original hand or a typed copy?

[arthurk]

The National Archives also have a tutorial on old handwriting (palaeography) - see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/

Arthur

[Browneyes]

Some suggestions... :)

A large magnifying glass

Several small frames of different shapes (square or thin and wide perhaps) made out of card. They help you to focus just on the particular piece you're trying to decipher/translate.

If you copy out single or groups of letters it can help if you're not sure whether, say, it's an 'c' or not.

Browneyes

[michaelpipe]

Thanks for all the suggestions - I've done the same thing with old wills written in English - it's the Latin that makes the problem more complex. I haven't had much cause to use it since school! My father was fluent, but he's gone! I will see how I go one sentence at a time.

Michael