Here's a word game. I can't tell what it is, but I can show you. It describes a survey mark on a map from the 18th century. It looks like two words, and the last word looks like "stones"
"To be set later"
"Origin unknown"
"Found plastic root beer bottle"
.
.
.
Seriously, any chance the first part resembles any potential owner's name?
L(ord) dork of stones.
Definitely talking about a surveyor.
Other marks on the map might provide a clue to deciphering that scribble. Can you post the entire thing, or a link to where it can be downloaded?
It looks like ink has flaked off on places.
L.....&stones
Maybe even
L..Mark&stones
The handwriting style of the 1700s does not necessarily conform to more recent styles. Is it possible that what appears to be a "d" could be a "t" if the little squiggle floating nearby was intended to be a crossing of the "t"?
Hard to judge handwriting. I have a letter on my desk from a Susan Strong. The capital S of each name is a bit different from the other. Weird. You would expect them to be identical.
0.03' N & 0.05' E of True Corner?
Ooo Ooo Ooo, I got it now. The swirl is supposed to be crossing the "t" in the first word. The "L" is shorthand for Large. Then you get...........wait for it............Large stack of stones.
That makes sense, except that I have trouble ignoring the extra line at what you call 'c' and I still think it looks more like an ampersand than 'of'
You are right. I often look at other words in these document to see the shapes of letters and get context.
My colleague has the map. He is writing a book, and I am collaborating.
When I get a copy of the map I'll post it here.
His "a" is an "o" plus a down stroke. The down stroke missed the right side of the "o" by a bit, sort of like the crossing of the "t". Then his pen drug a little as it was moving over to create the "c".
You must use your imagination a bit.
Another thing to consider when reading old documents like this is the use of the long S in words with a ss. The letter will resemble a a lower case f.
