This article was written in the 1980’s by Roy Colbert and first published in the Amarillo Genealogical Society’s newsletter and reprinted in many other newsletters.
Genealogical data depends almost
entirely upon hand written records. You may have obtained some of your
information from other printed sources or from books, however, nearly all of
the statistics that you now have are based upon hand written original sources.
The correctness of much of your material depends upon accurate translation by
someone. If you have not progressed beyond the stage of microfilmed
records, then you have not, as yet, been fully exposed to the vast display of
mannerisms of letter design put forth by the scribes in recording the
information. There were so many influences on early penmanship in
Census records are more easily deciphered as the format of
each enumeration for a given census year was standard. If you follow back over
the scribe's style until you locate recognized words or letters, you can then
apply those to the word you are puzzling over. Probably the one most confused
interpretation by a beginning researcher is the double "s" which
appears more as the letter "p". Do you have a "Jipe
or Jepe" named individual? - it should be Jesse, or, how about Capandra? -
it should be Cassandra. This is the German influence from the 
style of writing the double
"s". So, when you see that letter "p", it may be a double
“s”, as:
It would take a very large book to give you all of the mannerisms of letter design, but here is a list to watch for.
A. This letter has changed little in centuries. Our present day design is quite precise, but you might also find:
B. Another old classic, but watch for:
And the small letter “b” as:
C. The early records can easily be confused for an
"O" as the letter design may close the letter entirely as:
And small letters may
appear as an “r”:
D. This can be a dandy in both capitals and small letters,
as:
Now also watch for the
low upper loop, as:
E. It is getting worse! Watch for the old European
"C" like letter with the small figure as a "z" in the
center, as:
The small case letters
can e as an “o”, or, as:
Now try this word:
(desesed for
deceased).
F. You will find variations of both the open left and the
open right faced stance, somewhat as written today and it is usually fairly
familiar. Do watch for the "F" that can be confused for an
"H" which probably originated from the double "f" French
words, as:
G. It gets tough as this:
or the small letter as:
H. Can this really be an "H"? The larger case is difficult but the lower case "h" has a way of sort of drifting into nothing or part of another letter, as:
L. Maybe translated as an "s" (possibly Lemuel originated in this manner). In the small letters, watch for the double "l" that may appear as the double "f" or as the "h" letter, as:
M. and N. Usually, some variation of the printed letters:
O. Has added extras on caps, maybe open topped on the small:
P. Watch for:
Q. The small letter as a "y" is the most difficult:
R. How about:
S. Would you believe:
T. Many sty1es, here are a few:
W. It could be an "M'':
Y. Also closed:
Z. The "h" style is the most confusing:
