dates!.....

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:00 pm

I'm transcribing an inventory just now, and puzzling about the dates in it. Oh, it's quite clear what they mean, but not why.

This is from 1762 and makes reference also to 1713 and 1712. The dates are expressed in a form apparently derived from roman numerals for the century, and written out for the rest. (And they also give the date of the inventory in arabic numerals.) However the 'seventeen hundred' part is written (looking like) Mvy& - where I would expect MDCC. So we have 'the twenty fifth of July Mvy& and thirteen' for instance. (That last letter isn't an ampersand, just looks a bit like one so I'm using ampersand to represent it, and I'd think it was a curly 'C' if the middle letters made sense as roman numerals.)

This particular inventory is in a beautiful, precise italic hand, giving very few deciphering problems! But, why this format? It is obviously standard and I can easily 'read through' it, but want to know why... So can anybody shed light on it? I'm a newcomer to the historical treatment of dates...

Btw, it's about the Gilles families in Linlithgow area - not directly to mine, but probably closely related. Anybody else here got Gilles (or Gillies) ancestors?

Jenny

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:40 pm

Hi Jenny
From what you have said it looks like they might be what are known as "Jaj" dates.
If so, this will explain:
http://www.scottishhandwriting.com/cont ... age=s4_7_5

Best wishes
Lesley

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:54 pm

Knew I'd seen something! And I was even at that site this evening, looking for enlightenment, but missed that bit..

Yes, it's a 'corrupt' combination of roman and script, and this helps with the middle part and enables me to interpret the 'ampersand' as most certainly the 'C+'. It's a different combination from what's shown there, as the ones I have are starting with 'M' rather than the 'jaj' and then go onto vij (for 7) followed by the C+. So, 'MvijC+ and sixty two'.

Thanks greatly! All now makes fine sense.
Jenny

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:51 pm

Hi Jenny

It's a different combination from what's shown there, as the ones I have are starting with 'M' rather than the 'jaj' and then go onto vij (for 7) followed by the C+. So, 'MvijC+ and sixty two'.

Odd but interesting that you have found M as part of the date - I think the only ones I have seen so far have conformed to the Jaj format. Maybe you have a rare example there!!? I must keep my eyes open for variations.

Best wishes
Lesley