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Original poster

Is anybody any good at reading the handwriting on old death certificates? What does this say?

81 replies

EightMonthsScared · 07/09/2023 22:14

The first word is obvious but we are stumped by the next two words?

What do we think MN? 🤔

It was 1901 if this helps your thinking?

Is anybody any good at reading the handwriting on old death certificates? What does this say?
OP posts:
DustyMaiden · 07/09/2023 22:17

Labourer ? Works

Gudinne · 07/09/2023 22:17

Labourer Electrician -not sure on third word

DelphiniumBlue · 07/09/2023 22:17

More context would help - what section of the certificate is that in? Are there words either side of it? Is it, for example a cause of death, or part of a name/address?

LemonLimeDivine · 07/09/2023 22:18

Labourer electrical work

EveryOtherNameTaken · 07/09/2023 22:18

Labour electrical works

BigBoysDontCry · 07/09/2023 22:19

Labourer Electric Works.

Multipleexclamationmarks · 07/09/2023 22:19

Labourer electric work

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 07/09/2023 22:19

It's often easier to work out if you can see the whole certificate, as you can identify individual letters in other words that match. Any chance of seeing the rest of the sheet?

Chocolatebuttonanyone · 07/09/2023 22:19

Is the bottom work Warks, as in Warwickshire? Looks like an uppercase W

Whattheflipflap · 07/09/2023 22:19

Labourer
electricle (that’s what the spelling looks)
works

Rosaleee · 07/09/2023 22:20

Labourer
Electrical (?)
Works

DWTKQHG · 07/09/2023 22:22

It's saying that he was a labourer at (name) Works. The second word is the name of the Works. It may be a geographical name or the name of the founder/owner of the Works. Further research into the area at the time of the certificate would help you.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 07/09/2023 22:23

The last letter(s) on the middle word looks the same as the next to last letter(s) on the last word, I think. Not sure it is a k, not seen k formed like that in that sort of handwriting before, it normally has a loop. Hard to tell as it's been folded which has distorted it a bit I think.

WittynotPretty · 07/09/2023 22:23

Labourer Electrical Works. Very clear cursive imo

StBrides · 07/09/2023 22:27

WittynotPretty · 07/09/2023 22:23

Labourer Electrical Works. Very clear cursive imo

Alright, Mrs Bucket 🙄

Op - I agree with everyone else

Original poster
EightMonthsScared · 07/09/2023 22:28

Thanks all! Looks like there's quite a consensus.

Must be labourer electrical works.

@StBrides 😂

OP posts:
Rosaleee · 07/09/2023 22:29

Have you looked at this person on census returns (1891, 1901 assuming the death was later in the year) to determine occupation and location? That might help you to be sure of what you see here.

Rosaleee · 07/09/2023 22:30

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 07/09/2023 22:19

It's often easier to work out if you can see the whole certificate, as you can identify individual letters in other words that match. Any chance of seeing the rest of the sheet?

This.

NannyR · 07/09/2023 22:39

DWTKQHG · 07/09/2023 22:22

It's saying that he was a labourer at (name) Works. The second word is the name of the Works. It may be a geographical name or the name of the founder/owner of the Works. Further research into the area at the time of the certificate would help you.

I agree with this, could be something beginning with Els- and my guess is that it ends with -ck as the last letter of the middle word is formed the same as the k in works.
Your local studies library should have various maps of the area from different dates (or they may be available online), it might be worth looking to see if there are any "works" on there that might fit. People tended to work quite close to where they lived so if you have a home address that might narrow down your search a bit.

GetWhatYouWant · 07/09/2023 22:43

Wondering if Electrick could be an old spelling of Electric. The last word is Works but the middle word doesn't end with 'al' so can't be Electrical. What date is the certificate?

BIossomtoes · 07/09/2023 22:43

There are two Es at the beginning of the second word. It looks like Eelsward Works to me.

MissedItByThisMuch · 07/09/2023 22:44

I think it says Elswick Works. Was he in Newcastle by any chance? There was a factory by that name there according to Google.

GarlicGrace · 07/09/2023 22:45

I'm gonna be really awkward and say I don't think the middle word is electrical.

There was a big factory in Newcastle called Elswick Works.

GarlicGrace · 07/09/2023 22:47

X-post, @MissedItByThisMuch!

@BIossomtoes, it does look like it begins with a double E, then an S. I can't make the next part make sense with that, though Confused

Marcipex · 07/09/2023 22:48

I see
labourer
celebrant
wales