It was widespread in the British Isles during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and grew out of the Book Hand and the Court Hand.
Soon, it was used for businesses, government, and church - and then it became so common that it was taken up for personal use.
Looking at this sample (this is William Shakespeare's Will):
can you believe that Secretary Hand was introduced so as to provide a more legible style of handwriting?
In genealogy/family history, you will most often see it when you are trying (desperately) to transcribe the Will of one of your ancestors.
Below is a graphic supplied by About.com, which shows the individual letters:
I do find it hard to believe that they came up with this as an easier to read alternative. Makes me quake to imagine what it replaced.
ReplyDeleteMe, too!
ReplyDeleteI think Secreatry Hand must be what I was reading when I was involved in transcribing our Parish Record into a digitised form last year. It takes a bit of getting used to, but when you are doing repetitive stuff about how many rods, poles and perches a certain field is, and who it belongs to, you soon get the hang of it! ffences is quite a strange word though. I wonder when the ff was dropped?
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing!
Jemima at Jemima's blog
I agree, Jemima - it does seem to get easier when you read it a lot. Gotta go - I'm off to check out your blog! Thanks for looking at mine.
ReplyDeleteThis was supposed to simplify things or what? Interesting nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteLee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
It does take practice, Arlee, but is definitely worth it! Off to visit your blog...
ReplyDelete