Handwriting? ! # % ^ *

We've all struggled with the primary documents that hold the key piece of genealogical information that we plain and simple can't read, because of the handwriting. Now before you lose your calm, cool, collected analytical research mind, here are a few pointers:

1) Compare the letter(s) or word in question to others on the document, to help you decipher the puzzle

2) Abbreviations and contractions, such as Wm. for William, Chas. for Charles, Danl. for Daniel, and Jno. for John are common, as well as the more well-known Jr. and Sr. (Although you may find in your early American research that Jr. and Sr. in a particular locale may not actually be father and son; it was used to distinguish them separately in the records, assigned based on their ages, because their names were the same.)

3) Trace the letters yourself

4) Use any of the research guides that have been published to help with just such difficulties, such as Reading Early American Handwriting by Kip Sperry

5) Ask someone else to take a look- often a pair of fresh eyes or someone else can "see" what you can't at the moment and I know I'm always ready to lend my best guess to someone else