Welcome to Transcription Challenge!
Occasionally, we encounter some handwriting that leaves us stumped. Here, you can help us decipher some of this curlicue cursive and scratchy scrawl so that our databases are as accurate as possible! Our current challenges are boxed in red in the images below.
- To enlarge the challenge, simply move the cursor over the image and it will be magnified.
- Use the comment field at the bottom of the screen to offer your transcription suggestions.
- If there are multiple challenges listed, please include the image number.
- If there are multiple red boxes within an image, please label your suggestions a, b, c, etc., from top to bottom/left to right.
Comments will be approved between the hours of 9am-5pm EST and new challenges will be posted as soon as we find them!
#1
Page 283 of Immaculate Conception (Salem) Baptisms, 1840-1854 shows the baptismal record for John Henry Whortey/Wheartey. We are looking for the surname of the sponsor, Margaret, boxed in red.
#2
Page 15 of St. Mary (Charlestown) Marriages 1830-1868. We are looking for the surname of the witness, Mary Ann, boxed in red.
#3
Page 215 of St. Colombkille (Brighton) Baptisms, 1857-1881. We are looking for the surname of the sponsor, Maria, boxed in red.
Image #1 = Naphel or Nuphel
Image #2 = Parlenon
Image #3 = Devryrie or Dweyrie
#2 Carlson
#3 Dwayne
#1 Nathel
#2 Parleuou
#3 Dwuyrue
1. Nashel
2. Parlenou
3. Dwiyne
#1 – Nughel
#2 – Gastenau
#3 – Divryne
1) Naphel
2) Parlenow
3) Dwyre
1) Naphel
2) Parlenow
3) Dwyre
#1 Nashel
#2 Partenou
#3 Dwyrie
#2 looks like Parlenou or possibly Parlenau
#3 looks like Dwayne
Naghel
Carlenon
Dwyne
#1 Margaret Nighy
#1 Margaret Nighy
#2 Parlinau
#3 Dwyue
#1 Naphel
#2 Parlenser
#3 Dwryrie
1 – Nafhel or Nasthel
2 – Parlenon
3 – Dwyrie
1. Naghes
2. Parlenou
3. Duryrie
Image #3: Dwyre. There is at least one other record for this spelling of Dwyer in the St Columbkille register.
#1 Margaret Nushel
#2 Carlman
#3 Dwayne
1. The first letter looks like an N., but is the same letter as used in the surname of the person who signed this entry. For each letter in the name I would look for similar letters in other words written by this same person, where we know what they are. My best guess for this surname is Nughel.
2. Carlenan
3. Dweyrie
1. Naghel
2. Carlenon
3. Devryrie
My thoughts on this are:
#1 – Margaret Rushes
#2 – Mary Ann Carlenson or Carleton
#3 – Maria Drogue
#1 Naghef or Naghel
#2 Carlemon
#3 Dwryrie
image# 1 nashe
Image #2 Parlenou
image #3 Dwyre
#1 Margaret Hughes
#2 Mary Ann Carleson
#3 Maria Duryrie
1- Naghel
2. Carlenon or Parlenon
3. Dwayne
1: Nufhy, Nuphy, Mashy, Nuphel
2: Parlenou, Parlenon, Parlenan
3:Dwyne
1 – Nighy
3 – Dwyne
1. Nufhel
2. Parlenou
3. Dwayne
Julie Bright
2. parlenor
1 Nughel or Mafhel
2 Carlenou
3 Dwyne
2. Carlenoss or Carleuoss
3. Dwyre or Dewyre
#1 Naphel
2. Parlinou
#3 Dwayne
Rushel or Russel
Carlenon
Dwayne
1. Cashel
2. Parkman
3. Devyne
#1. Naghel
#2. Carlenon
#3. Devryne
2. Maria Gwyne. Could she be the lady by this name who died 01 Oct 1881?
1. First name is Musaret, which is an old female name.
1. Nughel
2. Parlenus
3. Dwryrei
1. Naghel – 3rd ltr is like g in Margaret.
2. Dweyra – the last ltr is ?
3. Carlenos
1. Nughel
2. Carlenon
3. Dwyrie
1. Nashes
2. Carlason
3. Dwayne
1 Marfaret Naphel
2 Parleuon (French?)
3. Dwyrie is an actual family name
Too bad there is not more surrounding sample to compare handwriting.
Hello Mark,
Thank you for your feedback! I have added links to the images in our databases so that you can see more of the handwriting. The cropped images were used to help enlarge the handwriting, but I will try some different settings for the next round!
1. Hughes
2. Carlenson
3. Dwyre
#3 looks like Duryea or a variation which happens to be a family I am researching.
#1. Naphel
#2. Parlenow
#3. Dwyne
1- Nashel
2- Parlenon
3- Dwyrie
#1 – Naghy
#2-Parlenou
#3- Dwyrie
1. Naghy
2. Parlenon
3. Dwyrie
1. Hughes
2. Carlenon
3. Dwyre
For me, one of the most effective ways to decipher the handwriting is to compare the letters with other words in the document that can be easily read/interpreted. There is not enough of the documents showing to allow me to do that. Is it possible for you to add the entire page?
Hello Linda,
Thank you for your feedback! I have added links to the images in our databases so that you can see more of the handwriting. The cropped images were used to help enlarge the handwriting, but I will try some different settings with the entire images for the next round!
#1 Nushel
#2 Carleow/Carlenon
#3 Dwyue/Duvyrue