Inventory, 1783.....

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:31 am

I've downloaded and am transcribing the TD of Thomas Philp, Shipmaster of Leith. The inventory is quite interesting. (He died overseas in 1777.)

There are a couple of words I can't make out or don't know. Does anybody have expertise in this area?
I'll paste in the inventory as it may interest people to see what the goods and gear of a shipmaster were.

a Black Coat vest and breeches valued at one pound
a Brown Coat vest and Stocking breeches one pound
two Jackets old two Shillings and Sixpence
Two old Big Coats five Shillings
an old Sea Coat one Shilling
Four pair old Breeches two Shillings
Two pair of drawers one Shilling
a Razor and Nutmeg Grater Six pence
a half (a?ke?) Case and big bottle Six Shillings
Six volumes history books three Shillings
a Bed two pair of blankets and a (R??y) ten Shillings
Ten pair of very old Stockings two Shillings and Sixpence
Seven Check Shirts ten Shillings
Five white Shirts ten Shillings
one pair of Silver Sleeve buttons six pence
a pair of Silver Shoe and knee buckles ten Shillings
a pair of Shoes one Shilling
an old Silver watch one pound Six Shillings

- which is says came to Six pound twelve Shillings and Sixpence sterling, 'which In Scots money is Seventy nine pounds ten Shillings'.

The valuer for the clothing was Agnes Cunningham 'Rouping woman, in Leith' who was a relative - the inventory was drawn up by Thomas's brother John Philp, tailor, who had married Marion Cunningham, daughter of Agnes (if it's the same Agnes, of course).

So, I'm trying to work out the words relating to the case, and the item listed with the bed and blankets - I'd have expected 'bolster' but it isn't. Any ideas? I can upload the page later.

Jenny

Davie · Post by **Davie** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:34 pm

Very interesting Jenny.
Wonder what the six volumes of books were.
And two pair of drawers for a shillin', just love that
As far as I am concerned, This OPR forum is one of the best on the NET.
Davie

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:02 pm

Aye, I wondered about the books - history books, it says. I've wondered if they were fairly recent history and related to the places he sailed to - it could help a shipmaster to know something about the historical relations relating to his trading voyages! But all is, alas, speculation.

Six volumes..
His ship, alas, isn't named, nor do I know his age. His brother John married in 1774.

Jenny

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:35 pm

Hi Jenny
I have an inventory for a shipbuilder, Leith in 1793, so similar date, but that one mentions no clothes or books - it does, however, list all the "household plenishings" which is just fab!!

So, some of the likely vocabulary is familiar to me - I would love to see the words you are having trouble with. I'd agree that bolster would seem the logical thing to go with the beds as my 1793 house has several of those.

Do you think the a?ke? word is some unit of measurement? It does not seem to be like any of the Scots units of liquid measurement such as mutchkin, chopin etc. Or the material the case is made of perhaps?

Best wishes
Lesley

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:30 pm

I've uploaded the page, having reduced its size a bit. The bit with the bed and the case is approximately in the middle of the page, the case being two lines above the bed. It looks most like anker or aicken - I though of aiken (oak) but there's an extra letter.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1133

Who was the shipbuilder in Leith, Lesley?

Jenny

Gallery url added by Marilyn

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:32 pm

This also for Lesley - does the inventory you have give a valuer?

Jenny

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:05 pm

Hi Jenny
My shipbuilder was Walter Goalen. He had the shipyard next door to St Ninians church. I expect our guys maybe knew each other - North Leith was a small place back then...

Your two words - a quick look & I think the first word is a half anker case. Scot Dic. says: liquid or dry measure., so seems a likely word.

The other word looks to me like Roug -a rug perhaps? Some kind of blanket? Roug is given as a valid spelling in the Scot Dic. ...'cept the definitions don't mention bed or floor coverings...

but then the Scots Dictionary often only states those particularly Scots usages and disnae always state the blinkin' obvious...

Best wishes
Lesley

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:17 pm

No valuer's name given on mine. BUT I do remember seeing one elsewhere.... a woman who was, I think, an auctioneer, because I remember thinking that might be quite unusual. I'll try to remember where I saw it. I think it was another Leith Shipbuilder with whom my Walter had had dealings - a James Begbie, who also died around the same time. I'll go have a rummage!!

Best wishes
Lesley

jennyblain · Post by **jennyblain** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:43 pm

Aha! Thanks, Lesley. 'Anker' was my first transcription, but I couldn't make sense of it though it did seem to ring a small bell somewhere. Excellent.
Roug.. yes, looking at it that makes sense.

Given that he evidently went 'abroad' (ye gods, I wish they said where he'd died or his ship!) it might even be an interesting kind of rug..

I have a bit more info now - I succumbed to buying the TT of Thomas Philp, tailor, who died in 1772 in Leith, just on spec., a five pound gamble - and yes it's the father of Thomas the shipmaster and John the tailor. Thomas senior carefully tied up everything he could so that his widow had first claim on it all, with the exception of a hundred pounds in a bill (it's quite fascinating, this!) which was to be divided between the two sons but which also had to pay for the funeral expenses and anything else outstanding, and an amount that had to be paid from that, I think, to the widow every year! The marriage was in 1743 (I've now found) and the boys will have been in their 20s, though already Thomas was a shipmaster. Alas no details of inventory - it's specified that everything was to be in the claim of the widow, who was also named as executrix, and that the testament should be read as if everything was detailed

I can almost imagine it - Thomas the tailor takes ill (that is stated) and neither boy is yet married, with the elder often away at sea. He sends for the local lawyer's apprentice and gets a will made.. and dies a few weeks later.

Fascinating stuff this. And of course I now know their mother's name too, Margaret Imrie.

Jenny

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:44 pm

Hi Jenny
Found ma wifie, but she's no the same one as yours:
In a document from 1794, Inventory of James Begbie, shipbuilder, there is mentioned

"...and valued by Mrs Elizabeth Neilson, Auctioneer in Edinburgh"

I think inventories were drawn up back then only if there was some problem - e.g bills oustanding or monies owned to other parties, etc. I'm not sure it was something which was drawn up unless there was a need to know the full value of the estate, though I could be wrong on that.

That's brilliant that you have found another! You lucky so-and-so.

Fascinating stuff this.

I'd whole heartedly agree with that - they are wonderful windows into a time long gone.

Best wishes
Lesley