SPECIAL TRANSCRIPTION PROJECT

Project: 
Here's a chance for everyone to get into the act. Would you please look at the following letter from John Thomson which, according to the Massachusetts Historical Society, is dated May 27, 1651? Then let's have a contest to see who can transcribe it. We can then vote on who we think comes the closest. (Of course, it may be published somewhere, but not in Aspinwall's notations because Rawson notarized it not Aspinwall. But that's OK too.)

Results:
HERE IS AN ASSEMBLED TRANSCRIPTION FROM JAMES THOMPSON

ALSO CHECK THE SIGNATURE CLOSELY

Here is the letter in three separate files

1. Low resolution .gif (lines numbered)
2. High resolution .gif (lines numbered)
3. High resolution .jpg (not numbered)

You can post your transcriptions (suggest referenced by line number) in an email to me at bryant@wellswooster.com. Each line should be numbered.

Example:
1) Whereas it hath been... ...
2) that I John Thompson...
3 Merchant ...
4) into Noddles Island

Here is a link that might prove helpful in deciphering the old handwriting. It is entitled: "Examples of Letters of the 17th Century Found in Parish Registers." http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/oldalpha.htm

Good luck and enjoy the challenge.
Scanned letter provided by Genevieve Fraser  FraserGenevieve@gmail.com

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