deciphering.....

angel · Post by **angel** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:29 pm

Hello everone

I need help woth a word to do with the Royal Navy.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-471

It is from a census and is sailor ( P******* Royal Navy) can anybody tell me what the word is that begins with a "p". The writing is good but there is a squiggle through the word making it tricky to read.

Heather

Revised Gallery URL added - AndrewP

Lahb · Post by **Lahb** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:57 pm

When I click on the link the following comes up..."Script called without the required parameter(s). " So can't actually see the document yet. Perhaps one of the Admins knows what this means?

Error corrected - revised URL now shown above - AndrewP

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:32 pm

Hi Heather

I think it says Perrenial Royal Navy - meaning he was a permanent sailor in the Royal Navy rather than one taken on for a bounty per sailing of a ship.

Or that he had signed on in the Navy for a long period of service.

Just my thoughts

Ted

Post by **AndrewP** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:03 am

Hi Heather (and Ted),

I am not convinced by "Perennial", but I cannot make out a better offering. My feeling is that we are looking fo a job title or a rank.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:11 am

Hi all

I wondered if it was pensioner Royal Navy

I suppose if they had Chelsea pensioners they must have had the equivalent from the Navy.
Just a thought

Russell

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:20 am

Hi all
I thought pensioner too at first glance, but the shape of the word from the middle onwards, especially at the end, seems not quite right for that - there looks to be a tall letter like an L.
'spose they didn't use words like Personnel back then? It almost looks like Pencurial or Pencuriel - is that a word? Something to do with money??

Best wishes
Lesley

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:27 am

Hi Lesley

I ruled that squiggle out since it seemed to be slightly thicker than the writing underneath. I reckoned it was part of that delightful (but infuriating) treble cleff type symbol over the top

Russell

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:36 am

Weel done Russell and Lesley

=D>

To my eternal shame I'd managed to decipher the initial "Pe..." plus an "i" somewhere and a probable final "r", but hadn't gone further to arrive at the b****y obvious "Pensioner" ................

David

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:41 am

Hey all

I wonder what Heather thinks but she has probably gone to bed (wise girl !) while we cogitate.

Russell

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:57 am

I'm still not convinced its pensioner, but without seeing more of the handwriting e.g. a lower case "s" in context I can't really tell one way or another....but the letter at the end just doesn't look to me like an "r".

Best wishes
Lesley