Help deciphering OPR

[stepmars]

Hi,
I'd appreciate help deciphering the text in a birth record. The image can be viewed at:
http://www.talkingscot.com/gallery/disp ... fullsize=1
It relates to the birth of Robert Marshall, son of Thomas Marshall, in 1630.
Thanks,
Steve

[SarahND]

Hi Steve,

Some of our best people for deciphering an old hand like this are on holiday at the moment, but I'm sure someone will give it a try soon!

All the best,
Sarah

[Russell]

Hi Steve
This ones a real puzzler and I'm finding it quite difficult to make sense of it. It's in Secretary Hand with the usual flourishes and idiosyncratic abbreviations. We have managed to make sense of worse ones so let's hope some other members will rise to the challenge.
Since you have gone far enough back to be dealing with the older Scots hand I would recommend a book "Understanding Documents for Genealogists & Local History" by Bruce Durie. ( ISBN 978 0 7524 6464 0) It's a bit pricey but could give you ideas of other possible sources of info about your 'lang deid yins'. This kind of book is meant to be 'dipped into' rather than read cover to cover but it has lots of useful information, glossaries, translations, appendices.

Russell

[stepmars]

Hi Russell,

Thanks for the tip. I've found an inexpensive copy of the book on-line at http://www.bookdepository.com which I look forward to receiving.

Below is my best guess as to what it says:
Thomas Mairchell ASN [a son named] Rot [abbreviation for Robert?] ??????? [can't read this word]
Alix [?] Jonstoun [?] ??? [can't read this word] Bell [?] Robert Gray [?]
Patrick [?] Donaldsoune [?]

I presume the last two lines list the four witnesses. Also I've uploaded the complete page in case the surrounding text helps:
http://www.talkingscot.com/gallery/disp ... fullsize=1

Thanks,
Steve

[Corsebar]

Hi Steve,
Certainly one for the experts!
Have looked at it a few times, instead of Patrick Donaldsoun, I'm seeing + Cat*rin Donaldson**.
Reading the record below your one and and see the name I believe to be Walter, written with an unusual W. Could the word above Gray be in your record be witness?

Good luck,
Ray

[Russell]

Hi Steve
I've been using Irfanview and flipping between the normal image and a negative view which helps but need to spend a bit of time going over the full page so thanks for that,
Russell

[paddyscar]

Well beyond me, Steve! There may be some help with the old Secretary Hand at

• http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/1hour.asp
  http://genealogy.about.com/od/paleograp ... y-Hand.htm

Frances

[Archiver]

As far as I can make out, it says -

Thomas Mairchell ASN Ro^t Witnesses
Alix Jonstoun Joⁿ Bell Robert Gray
Patrick Donaldsoune

[SarahND]

=D> Thanks, Fiona. Was waiting for a pro to step in

Sarah