AI & Old Documents

   Most of us at one time or another have spent hours transcribing an old document. AI can, for sure, make the task much quicker and easier. Here is a random document (ie nothing special) on sheepskin parchment concerning some land in Piddington in Oxfordshire, dated 14th March 1783. The creases are a bit of a bind, and the ink is faded... It would for sure take an hour or two to puzzle out the words and write them down.

   An AI tool was given this same photograph (nothing more whatsoever), and within less than a minute offered the notes and transcription below. I give it in full along with the AI note to show what is now possible.

The Description, Notes & full Transcription.

Entirely the work of AI in less than one minute

Description

   It’s a conveyance (an assignment of a leasehold) of a small piece of land in Piddington, Oxfordshire, dated 14th March 1783 (23 George III).

  The parties: Joseph Taylor of Piddington, yeoman, sells to his son William Taylor, of a place in the parish of Ambrosden that I can’t make out with confidence (it looks something like “Ushills”).

  The background recitals:

• An Act of Parliament of 30 George II (1757) provided for dividing and enclosing the common fields, meadows and pastures of the township of Piddington.
• The enclosure commissioners’ award, dated on or about 30 September 1758, allotted to Joseph Taylor a plot of two roods (half an acre, excluding roads and ways). This was compensation for his cottage right of common: pasture for one horse on Piddington Common.
• The plot was bounded on the north by Henry Taylor’s allotment, on the east by the old inclosures of Piddington town, and on the south and west by the allotment of Edward Smith Esq.
• Joseph held the cottage, and so the allotment, for the remainder of a 2,000 year term, through a chain of earlier assignments.

  The operative part: for £10, Joseph assigns the allotment to William, together with its trees, hedges, ditches, fences and ways, for the rest of the 2,000 years. The land is noted as being then in the occupation of John Bateman. Joseph gives the usual covenants: that he has good title, that William will enjoy it without interruption, that it is free of encumbrances, and that he will give further assurance if needed.

   It is signed “Josh Tayler” (the spelling varies, as was common) with a red wax seal. On the left is a blue duty stamp, and lower down an embossed stamp.

   It’s a nice example of how enclosure turned a cottager’s grazing right into a small parcel of land that could then be sold.

Notes

  The full transcription keeps the original spelling and the absence of punctuation. The words written in large display script are in bold, and start new paragraphs so it’s easier to read.

   Square brackets mark readings that are worth checking against the original, eg: William’s place of residence in Ambrosden parish (“Ushills”?) and a few words lost in the folds near the covenants for title.

Transcription

  Assignment of an Inclosure Allotment at Piddington, Oxfordshire

Joseph Taylor to William Taylor, 14 March 1783

  Transcription note: Spelling, capitalisation and the absence of punctuation follow the original. Words written in large display script are shown in bold, and paragraph breaks have been added at those points for readability. Square brackets mark uncertain readings or words partly lost in the folds.

  This Indenture made the Fourteenth day of March In the twenty third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred Eighty three

Between Joseph Taylor of Piddington in the County of Oxford [yeoman?] of the one part and William Taylor of [Ushills?] in the Parish of Ambrosden in the County of Oxford son of the said Joseph Taylor yeoman of the other part

  Whereas by an Act of Parliament made and passed in the Thirtieth year of the Reign of his late Majesty King George the Second intituled An Act for dividing and inclosing the Common fields Common Meadows [Common Pastures] Commonable grounds and Commonable Lands within the Township of Piddington in the County of Oxford The Commissioners therein and thereby appointed did in and by their Award or Instrument in Writing bearing date on or about the thirtieth day of September which was in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred Fifty Eight Sett out Allott Assign Appoint Determine and Award unto for and in the name of the said Joseph Taylor in lieu recompence and full satisfaction of and for All that his Cottage right of Common or Common of Pasture for One Horse to be had received and taken at all times in the year in over and upon the said Common called Piddington Common and by the said Act intended to be Divided and Inclosed which was the property of the said Joseph Taylor immediately before the passing of the said Act The Allotment hereinafter mentioned and described (that is to say) All that Lott plott piece or parcell of Land or Ground lying and being in or parcell of the said Fields Meadows and Pastures by the said Act intended to be divided and Inclosed as aforesaid Containing Two Roods (exclusive of all Roads and Ways) as the same was then admeasured staked and set out Which said Lott plott piece or parcell of Land or Ground is bounded on the North side thereof by the Allotment of Henry Taylor, On the East side thereof by the Old Inclosures of Piddington Town aforesaid On the South and West sides thereof by the Allotment of Edward Smith Esquire and by the said in part recited Act of Parliament and the Commissioners Award made pursuant to the said Act of Parliament reference being thereto respectively had may and will more fully and at large appear

  And Whereas The Estate and Interest of the said Cottage whereunto the before recited Lott plott piece or parcell of Ground is awarded as an Allotment for and in lieu of Common is become by divers mesne Assignments and legal Instruments in law legally vested and settled in the said Joseph Taylor for the remainder of a certain Term of Two Thousand Years

  And Whereas the said William Taylor hath Contracted and Agreed with the said Joseph Taylor for the absolute purchase of the said Allotment Lott plott piece or parcel of Ground so allotted and awarded to the said Joseph Taylor in lieu of Common at and for the price or Sum of Ten pounds Purchase Money for the same

  Now This Indenture witnesseth that the said Joseph Taylor as well for and in Consideration of the Sum of Ten pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Britain to him in hand well and truly paid by the said William Taylor at and before the Sealing and Delivery of these presents The receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged As also for divers other good Causes and Considerations him the said Joseph Taylor hereunto moving Hath Granted Bargained Sold Assigned transferred and set over And by these presents Doth fully freely and Absolutely Grant Bargain Sell Assign transfer and set over unto the said William Taylor his Executors Administrators and Assigns All That Allotment before recited Lott plott piece or parcell of Ground containing Two Roods of Ground as the same is in and by the said Award mentioned to be admeasured Staked set out and bounded and which late was and now is in the tenure or Occupation of John Bateman or of his Undertenants or Assigns And also All Trees Hedges Ditches Pales Grounds and Fences thereto belonging or in anywise appertaining And also All the Estate right Title Interest use Trust Benefit profit Property Claim and Demand whatsoever both in law and Equity or otherwise howsoever of him the said Joseph Taylor of into or out of the said before recited Allotment Lott plott piece or parcel of Ground or any part or parcel thereof

  To have and to hold the said Allotment Lott plott piece or parcell of Ground and all and singular other the premises herein and hereby granted bargained sold assigned transferred and set over or meant mentioned or intended hereby so to be with their and every of their appurtenances unto him the said William Taylor his Executors Administrators and Assigns from the day next before the day of the date of these presents unto for and during all the rest residue and remainder of the said Term of Two Thousand Years therein yet to come and unexpired and for and during all such other Term and Terms of years and all other Estate and Interest whatsoever which he the said Joseph Taylor now hath or can or may at any time hereafter have claim challenge or demand of in or to the said Allotment Lott plott piece or parcel of Ground or any part thereof by any ways or means whatsoever

  And the said Joseph Taylor for himself his heirs Executors and Administrators and for every of them doth Covenant promise Grant and Agree to and with the said William Taylor his Executors Administrators and Assigns and every of them by these presents in manner and form following (that is to say) That he the said Joseph Taylor for and notwithstanding any act matter or thing by him at any time heretofore done or suffered to the Contrary now at the time of the sealing and delivery of these presents is the sole true and legal Owner and proprietor of the said before recited Allotment Lott plott piece or parcel of Ground hereby granted and assigned [or intended so to be with the appurtenances] and hath in himself good right full power and lawfull and absolute Authority to Grant bargain sell Assign transfer and set over the same unto the said William Taylor his Executors Administrators and Assigns in manner and form aforesaid

  And also that the said William Taylor his Executors Administrators and Assigns shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter lawfully peaceably and quietly have hold use occupy possess and enjoy the said Allotment Lott plott piece or parcel of Ground and premises with the appurtenances and the Rents Issues and Profits thereof to have receive and take to his and their own proper use and benefit without any the lawfull Lett Suit Hindrance Molestation or Interruption of or by him the said Joseph Taylor his heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns or any other person claiming or to claim by from or under him or them And that free and clear and freely and clearly acquitted exonerated and discharged or otherwise saved harmless and indemnified of from and against all former and other Gifts Grants Bargains Sales Mortgages Jointures Wills Settlements Dowers Rents Arrearages of Rents and all other Incumbrances whatsoever had made or done by him the said Joseph Taylor or any other person or persons by or with his knowledge privity or procurement

  And Lastly that he the said Joseph Taylor his heirs Executors and Administrators All and singular the said hereby granted and assigned Allotment Lott plott piece or parcel of Ground and premises unto him the said William Taylor his Executors Administrators and Assigns against him the said Joseph Taylor his Executors Administrators and Assigns and all persons claiming under him or them shall and will warrant and for ever defend by these presents Any thing herein before contained to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding

  In Witness whereof the parties first above named have to these present Indentures interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Josh Tayler  [seal]

  Endorsements and stamps: blue paper duty stamp in the left margin; embossed stamp lower left; red wax seal on a green tab beside the signature.