Note: The Rootsweb Mailing Lists will be shut down on April 6, 2023. (More info)
RootsWeb.com Mailing Lists
Total: 1/1
    1. [NFLD-LAB] Will of Samuel Angel, Petty Harbour 1728, prob 1734.
    2. Thomas Cole
    3. Resently I have had the opportunity to peruse the will of Sam Angel, Petty Harbour TC Caution: These downloadable PCC wills are not the original wills as some are lead to believe rather they are handwritten copies made from the original by a clerk in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The three witness names in this will are not recognizable Newfoundland names at all and were copied by clerical staff at a distance. I am positive, for such an important document, Sam Angel would have chosen witnesses who were well established permanent residents of Petty Harbour or nearby residents rather than some obscure people as these names seem to indicate. I suggest the clerk has misinterpreted the names completely. Further - For Barramore, I would suggest Narramore, which is Devon dialect, and by extension Newfoundland dialect, for Normore. This is certainly a more recognizable Newfoundland name. After downloading these PCC wills researchers should seek the advice of those who are experienced in paleography. In the case of Samuel Angel's will, it doesn't take a great deal of study to determine the name of the first wife of Samuel (Sury as is reported) as Lucy. Of course, the same is true for Lucy, the daughter of Sam. To verify this all one has to do is look through the will for instances of the upper case L and for the lower case c, of which there are several. The daughter, Clare as reported, thus becomes Grace (the last four letters of a five letter girl's name is race - what else but Grace could it be!). This can be determined even if the first letter is not very clear.

    03/04/2007 04:24:50