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Original poster

Anyone want to help decipher a letter from 1790? Pic attached. Hilariously starts with 'for god sake'

108 replies

OldTrot · 09/02/2023 10:43

And not 'for god sake' in a religious sense!

I have so far ....

Dear Sir

For God sake - ????? In the way you want ?? - so as to ? my ? and ? me knows you have done it - I shall be unwilling to suppose that the ? will be ??

Name?

As I shall be in London I wish you would ? about the money - as I shall ? again found about that?

The time you mentioned ? is now come - ?? I should be glad of it ?

Yours sincerely

B Wood
Tiverton
3 May
1790

OP posts:
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5
Crucible · 09/02/2023 22:46
  • I shall be unwilling to suppose that the matter will be delayed any longer.
Original poster
OldTrot · 09/02/2023 22:52

@ThisMeetingCouldHaveBeenAnEmail definitely Tiverton

OP posts:
Original poster
OldTrot · 09/02/2023 22:54

@Houseplantmad oh god a total amateur! Just love all this stuff

Victorian - Georgian is my era I suppose: I also collect antique miniatures for a Victorian dolls house but I do not recommend that as a cheap hobby! That costs me £££!

The letters I can do cheaply. Oh I also like Georgian miniature portraits too. I just file them nicely but it's fascinating to imagine who these people are

And right now - it's fun to think of Mr Wood sitting down to scribble furiously a letter that starts 'for gods sake!'

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 09/02/2023 23:13

What a fun letter! I have a scanned copy of my 14th great grandfathers will from 1597. Maybe I'll post that at some point 😂

Hohoholdthesherry · 10/02/2023 09:47

Tricky, tricky! My best guess so far:

Dear Sir,

[Sch… Family]

For God’s sake – push the examination of Mr [Kingdom] in the way you want to be satisfied in, so as to prevent any longer delay and let me know you have done it. I shall be unwilling to suppose that the matter will be delayed any longer.

Martyn [G. Beardon]

As I shall soon be in London, I wish you would determine about the money, as I shall be again [pressed] about that matter. The time you mentioned last year is now come. If I could satisfy your uncle and thy wishes, I should be glad of it. I am […]

Yours sincerely, B Wood
Tiverton, 3 May 1790

TheBirdintheCave · 10/02/2023 10:37

Hohoholdthesherry · 10/02/2023 09:47

Tricky, tricky! My best guess so far:

Dear Sir,

[Sch… Family]

For God’s sake – push the examination of Mr [Kingdom] in the way you want to be satisfied in, so as to prevent any longer delay and let me know you have done it. I shall be unwilling to suppose that the matter will be delayed any longer.

Martyn [G. Beardon]

As I shall soon be in London, I wish you would determine about the money, as I shall be again [pressed] about that matter. The time you mentioned last year is now come. If I could satisfy your uncle and thy wishes, I should be glad of it. I am […]

Yours sincerely, B Wood
Tiverton, 3 May 1790

This is exactly what I came up with too. Looks to me like a letter written to a clerk with instructions for/about two other parties.

YesitsBess · 10/02/2023 18:09

@OldTrot I've tried to PM you but MN seems to have decided you dont exist. I've got a doozy of a list for deciphering! Please DM and I will send 😊

Original poster
OldTrot · 13/02/2023 13:19

Thread for antique letter decipherers! Pics included www.mumsnet.com/Talk/history_club/4741913-thread-for-antique-letter-decipherers-pics-included

New thread for anyone who fancies helping decipher stuff or posting their own bits and pieces for help

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