Comments on: Graffiti in Elder St

By: Lesley Suggate

Lesley Suggate — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 08:11:30 +0000

I was looking for Thomas Holmes – my ancestor- and once again found your brilliant website. The Letitia Shearman (first comment) was actually born in Potton, Bedfordshire and was called ‘Lettice’ Shearman, Born 1774. Father Joseph. But whether relevant to your blog – no idea. thanks for comments.

By: Brian Clarke

Brian Clarke — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 22:50:07 +0000

I first “discovered” your fantastic blog with the graffiti at the Tower of London, and I’m moved to congratulate you on this well written and heartfelt piece. keep up the great work. Brian

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:11:11 +0000

“also not clear from the photo whether the ‘L’ in Litta is actually drawn, or is just a crack in the plaster”

==== now see that the ‘L’ in ‘Litta’ is drawn

By: Chris F

Chris F — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:54:39 +0000

Crikey! The things you learn on this blog….

By: Deptford Pudding

Deptford Pudding — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:46:34 +0000

N’est ce pas means ‘it isn’t’ (roughly) and I think ifluter is a yiddish/germanic word meaning ‘nothing’ (perhaps!).

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:45:15 +0000

I think the inscription below ‘Litta Sherman” may be cursive Hebrew script (writen right to left). The letter on the far right seems to be a ‘lamed’ (=L); the second from the right may be a final ‘chaf’ (= ch), although it is not clear (may possibly be a final ‘mem’ (=M). If the former it would spell the short word ‘lechah’ or ‘Lach’, which means (masculine or femine) “to you”. The third letter from the right seems to be a ‘shin’ (=sh). Can’t make out any more. Incidently — also not clear from the photo whether the ‘L’ in Litta is actually drawn, or is just a crack in the plaster. If the latter, the word would read ‘Itta’, which is a recognisable Yiddish familiar name. I have never heard the name ‘Litta’, although it may well be a nickname for ‘Letitia’ (see previous comment). For what it’s worth,’Litta’ (more usually transliterated as ‘Lita’) is also the Hebrew/Yiddish name for Lithuania.

By: Susan T

Susan T — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 07:25:57 +0000

I had a quick look on Ancestry. She may have been Letitia Sherman 1777- 1854. She was born in Shoreditch and married Thomas Holmes. Their son William was a Cabinet maker in Shoreditch. This may provide a clue.