In response to the following question which I posed on the Yorks list: "In transcribing a Yorkshire will from 1559 we came across the word "wande" which from its context appears to be a measure of land. I wonder if anyone has seen this word and knows what area it refers to." I received the following suggestion: "I suggest it could be wandale which according to the Local Historians's Encyclopedia is a Yorkshire term for a strip of open field." This fits the text and context of the will. Wande would then be an abbreviated form. Some of the bequests are single bushells of wheat, equivalent in volume to 10 gallons. This seems rather a small amount, does this seem appropriate to the time and person? Garth

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/unsolved41.html There's no reason to think "wande" in this case is an abbreviation. For one thing, abbreviations in secretary hand are generally easy to recognize by one or more indicators such as superscript, horizontal bar over the text, apostrophe and a number of others. For another, Oxford English Dictionary lists both, defining wandale as a division of land and suggesting (with a question mark) it might be the breadth of a 'wand' or perch. (It's not clear to me whether they're saying wand and perch are the same or two different things.) Interestingly, the examples cited for wandale are very early -- 1100's and 1200's -- with a long gap until this 1641 example from a Surtees publication: Exchainged with Alse Edwards...the other of the Fower oxegange landes which lyeth next her landes in the pasture, for her wandill on the north side of the West-beckes. For wand as a land measure, OED suggests it might equate to a virgate -- rather little help since the size of a virgate varied greatly, in places averaging thirty acres. But OED also lists virgate as a linear measure -- a rod or pole -- and there is a separate listing for wand as a measuring rod including 'yardwand' equalling three feet and a wand in mining equal to eight feet. Confusing, isn't it? But I think it's possible both wand and wandale refer to a strip of land. A 'wand of ing' especially could be a strip since the ing is wet land that might border a river or stream. Someone with detailed local knowledge might be able to sort it out, like a local archivist. It seems the 'wande' in your document could be the same as a wandale or perhaps larger than the wandale but, to get back to my original point, 'wande' is not an abbreviation in my opinion. As to the legacy of a bushel of wheat, it doesn't seem like much now but it was then. I have a Bedfordshire will in which as little as a quarter peck of rye was bequeathed. cheers, Judith Werner Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Administrator, OLD-ENGLISH-L http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ | In response to the following question which I posed on the Yorks list: | | "In transcribing a Yorkshire will from 1559 we came across the word "wande" | which from its context appears to be a measure of land. | | I wonder if anyone has seen this word and knows what area it refers to." | | I received the following suggestion: | | "I suggest it could be wandale which according to the Local Historians's | Encyclopedia is a Yorkshire term for a strip of open field." | | This fits the text and context of the will. Wande would then be an | abbreviated form. | | Some of the bequests are single bushells of wheat, equivalent in volume to | 10 gallons. This seems rather a small amount, does this seem appropriate to | the time and person? | | Garth

Garth, My apologies, you are perfectly correct. The bit I left out is "p[er] duos [?---] testes" The missing word appears to be "vet" could be an abbreviation of venerunt. (My latin is somehat ropey so I wont stick my neck out!) Regards, Martyn ----- Original Message ---- From: garth swanson <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, 16 October, 2006 12:59:59 PM Subject: [OEL] A Yorks. will - 1559 In response to the following question which I posed on the Yorks list: "In transcribing a Yorkshire will from 1559 we came across the word "wande" which from its context appears to be a measure of land. I wonder if anyone has seen this word and knows what area it refers to." I received the following suggestion: "I suggest it could be wandale which according to the Local Historians's Encyclopedia is a Yorkshire term for a strip of open field." This fits the text and context of the will. Wande would then be an abbreviated form. Some of the bequests are single bushells of wheat, equivalent in volume to 10 gallons. This seems rather a small amount, does this seem appropriate to the time and person? Garth ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

You wrote that "some of the bequests are single bushells of wheat, equivalent in volume to 10 gallons. This seems rather a small amount, does this seem appropriate to the time and person?" I think these small bequests were intended to tide the women over after William's death until the estate had been settled. It shows he was careful in his responsibilities towards them. Once it was settled the dependent women in the family became the responsibility of the son or other male heir and he stepped in to ensure they were provided with enough wheat, oats, or rye. I have seen wills where the bequest was so many quarts per year for the rest of their lives or until the widow or daughters married. No doubt in some of these instances it was made a continuous legacy because the father didn't trust the son to properly care for the women in the family. Beth ----- Original Message ----- From: "garth swanson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 12:59 PM Subject: [OEL] A Yorks. will - 1559