Appleby History > Alan Roberts > 18th Century Inventories > Part 2

Transcripts of Early 18th Century Inventories

by Alan Roberts

Part 2: A Poor Labourer and a Cow Called Young Jerimmy

Eight more inventories from 1725 -1750, provide insights into the day to day life of Appleby’s eighteenth century inhabitants through lists of their household possessions. Appleby’s population more than doubled over the course of the century, from the estimated “100 families” recorded in Bishop Wake census in the early 1700s, to the 935 villagers (and 214 houses) recorded in the first national census of 1801. Between 1698 and 1707 (where the rector conscientiously entered occupations) the parish register records a hatter, a tow dresser, 8 tailors, 3 weavers, at least 30 day-labourers and a “garsie comer” resident in the parish. After Joseph Wilkes’ purchase of the lordship of Measham from William Wollaston in the latter half of the century, and his installation of 62 calico weaving handlooms in Appleby, there was a further influx of day-labourers and cottage craftworkers, stocking-makers, framework knitters and leatherworkers into the parish.

Most of these inventories belonged to farmers. One of the most interesting is that of Thomas Parker whose appraisers in 1735 individually named each of his beasts, including "a mare called Whitefoot", a red cow called “Parson”, and a cow called “Young Jerimmy" – touching evidence of Thomas' affection for his farm animals.

The inventory belonging to the village blacksmith, Edward Cuthbert of Little Appleby, has already been examined. Henry left a great stock of ironmongery in his workshop and had “lodging rooms”, which suggests that he was well provided for in the family home and that he passed on a well equipped workshop to his successor. In contrast Richard Oldakers, one of the poorer villagers, described simply as a labourer, had only “small nessesares” - lodging tools and a few pots and pans among his worldly goods.

Notes and References

Population statistics from VCH Leicestershire, Vol. III, pg 180. Parish register occupational totals per Mr Dunmore. Reference to stocking manufacturing in Appleby in John Pilkington, A View of the Present State of Derbyshire, Derby, 1789 Vol. II pg. 63. Account of bag hosiers and calico weaving in 1770s in D. Wright, A Survey of the Industrial and Commercial Activities of Joseph Wilkes in and around the parish of Measham in the Late Eighteenth Century. B.A. Hons. Dissertation, Univ. Nottingham, 1969 pp. 13, 24-27.

John Jorden, 1727, husbandman (?)

An Inventory taken by John Jorden of Appleby for his Goods:

	£	s	d
A Cow and a Horse	3	0	0
Beding	1	10	0
Pewter		5	0
And Brass		10	0
And Chairs		10	0
And a Table and a Screen		2	6
Long iron and pothookes and Tongs		4	0
A Barrel and Pail and Tub		4	6
A Cupboard		2	0
Dishes and Spoons			6
Trenchers		1	0
Box and a Coffer		2	6
Hay		10	0
Wearing Apparel		5	0

	£6	18	0
John Parker his marke x Tom Smallwood his marke o

Richard Oldakers, 1728, labourer

Appleby in ye County of Darby. A true and perfect Inventory of All and singular the Goods that sell and Chattels and parsonal Estate of Richard Oldakers late of Appleby In the County of Darby, labourer deceased, Taken and valued by James Oldakers & Thomas Pickering the eighteenth day of October In the year of [Our] Lord, 1728:

	£	s	d
Imprimis Hiss apparell and money In purs	27	0	0
Item Goods in the dweling Hous, four kettles, seven pewter dishs with other nesesaties all valued at }	2	5	0
Item In the Chamber over ye Hous two Beds some other small nessesares all valued at }	2	18	0
Item his Lodging Tools and dishes all valued at		8	0

The Some of the appraisement	£32	11	0
Appraised by us: Thomas Pickering James Oldacres O (his mark)

Thomas Taverner, 1728, husbandman

An Inventory of the Goods, Cattle, Chattles and Personal Estate of Thomas Taverner late of Great Applebie in the County of Leicester Deceased, found and appraised by us whose Names are underwritten this first day of July Anno Domini 1728:

	£	s	d
Imprimis Purse and Apparel	5	0	0
Item In the Kitchen
a Copper and Steel Mill	1	7	0
One cheese press, TubsTruhards and pails		16	0
One half strike Cheese fatts & one Barrel		6	6
Item In the Hall
one Chest, Pewter Dishes, plates And porringer }	3	1	6
One Warming pan, paste pan, two dishe Covers and Trenchers }		5	0
The Iron Kettles and Pottage potts	2	15	0
Chairs, Wheels, Tables and Forms		18	0
One screen Cupboard, Cradle & Salt Coffer		12	0
Two bacon flitches	1	10	0
Item In the Parlour
One Bed and Beding	2	15	0
In the Space one kneading Tub, One Spokeing Chair		8	0
One Spade, Shovel, Garden Rake, Miking Pail And Sieve		5	0
Item In the Dairy
Barrels, Tubs, Kinnells and Churns	1	9	0
Tunning Dish, Earthern Ware and Glass Bottles		5	6
Item In the Hall Chamber
One Bed and Beding	3	0	0
One Chest of Drawers, one other Chest & Trunk		7	6
Chairs, Table and Looking Glass		16	0
Item In the Little Chamber
Two Beds and one coffer	1	1	0
Saddle pillow, Cutting Knife and four …….		6	0
Item In the Chamber over the Parlour,
One Bed and three Coffers		14	0
Linen	2	10	0
Item In the Chamber over the Buttery
Wheels Forks and Raker }		6	6
One Barrel, One Coffer		5	0
Item In the Garrett
Pease	1	0	6
Cheese and Malt	14	12	6

Item In the Fold Yard and Grounds,
Two Waggons One Cart }	20	0	0
One shovel and stock frame	2	0	0
Two plows and two Harrows	1	5	0
Old Hay and Pease Straw	8	10	0
One Wheel Barrow, Roll Cribs and fan and Ladders Baggs, Winnow	1	0	0
Sheet and fleaks	2	2	0
Horses & Mares with the Geare	35	0	0
Milking Cows, Heifers and Calves	43	0	0
Sows and Piggs	3	15	0
Sheep	10	0	0
Things unseen and forgotten		3	6
Wheat of the old farm	50	0	0
Barley Ditto	10	0	0
Wheat, Barley and Pease of Mr Moulds Land	46	13	4
Oats	1	10	0

Total	£281	11	4
Signed in the presence of: M. White Jn. Mary White M. White James # Langley (his mark) } Appraisers

Daniel Proudman, 1729, husbandman (?)

Appleby May Ye 27th 1729. A True and perfect Inventory of ye Goods & Chattels of Daniel Proudman of Appleby in the County of Leicester lately Deceased as taken by us as followeth:

	£	s	d
Imprimis Purse & Apparell	5	0	0
Item Goods in Ye House,
ye fireirons, two Tables, Chaire, salt coffer, pewter and brass potts & pails & trenchers }	6	10	6
Item Goods in Ye Chamber
one Bedstead & Beding One table, one Cubard, one Chest, one box and other Lumber	4	12	4
Item Goods in ye Parlour
two old Benches with some other things		8	2
Item Goods in ye Chamber over the Parlor,
two Bedsteads, one fether Bed & bolster & hangings, Two cofers & some hains & small things }	4	16	4
Item Goods in ye Kitchen
one Copper, one Great Kettle. Tubbs & Pails, old Brass Lomes }	2	15	0
Hay in ye Barn & od things	1	1	4
Hay in ye House, Bonds, Bills and Desperate Debts }	105	10	0
Things Unseen or forgoten		6	4

Sum totall	£131	2	0
Henry John Esq. Ralph Heifield }

William Spencer, 1732, husbandman

An Inventory of the Goods, Chattles and Personal Estate of William Spencer, late of Great Appleby Deceased, found and appraised this seventeenth day of Aprill Anno Domini 1732 by us whose names are hereunto subscribed as follows:

	£	s	d
Imprimis Purse & Apparell	47	0	0
Item Stock of Wood and Tooles	102	0	0
Book Debts Good and bad	72	10	0
Barley & Cheese	3	12	0
Item Brass, Pewter and other necessarys in the house	3	10	9
Item in the Parlour & Chambers, bedds, Bedding, Linen, Chairs &c }	9	7	6
Item Wheat and pease thrashed	1	5	0
Two Cows and a pig	6	0	0
Wheat upon the Ground	2	0	0
One Bacon Flitch		13	0

Totall	£244	0	3
Signed in the presence of: Thomas Pickering William Endsor Appraizors M. White J. Wathew

John Wright, 1733, yeoman

A true & Perfect Inventory of the Goods & Chattals of John Wright late of little Appleby in the County of Leicester, Yeoman Deceased, taken & Valued this 27th day of June 1733 by us whose Names are hereunto subscribed:

	£	s	d
Imprimis His Purse & Apparell	3	0	0
House
A fire Grate and other Materials		10	0
Pewter & Brass	1	10	0
.......Cupboard & China	12	6	0
New House
Tubs & Other Utensils	15	0	0
Parlour
2 ......., a Cheste of Drawers & Tables	5	0	0
Chamber
1 Bed, 2 Tables		15	0
Stable
3 Fine Mares, one Little Don[k]ey	20	0	0
Out House
One Waggon & Carte & Horse geers	12	12	0
One Harrow, one Plow	10	6	0
Yard
Hay & Pease & Otes Stack	4	0	0
3 Cows & a Hefer	10	0	0
Barn
2 Andirons & a Van		10	0
A Sow & 6 Pigs	1	0	0
Wheat growing in the field	18	0	0
Barley	15	0	0
Pease & Oats	14	0	0
Twenty Falow Sheep	4	0	0

	£121	15	0
Hugh Stanton William Huskisson

Thomas Parker, 1735, yeoman

A true & perfect Inventory of all & singular the goods, chattles and creditts of Thomas Parker late of Little Appleby in the county of Leicester, yeoman deceased, taken, valued and Appraised by Thomas More, Gent., & John Grundy and William Huskins[on] this second day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty five as follows:

	£	s	d
Imprimis his purse & apparrell	4	0	0

In the house
Item a land Iron, pott hooks & racks, a leaching forktwo pairs of tongs, two fire shovells & a lazy back w[eight] 64 pounds		16	0
one copper weight 17 pounds		17	0
one large brass kettle & two small ones wt 23 pounds	1	3	0
one Bell Mettle porridge pott wt. 24 pounds		12	6
one other porridge pott Do. wt 21 pounds		10	6
one brass warming pann		3	6
six pewter dishes, thirteen spoons Do, one pint Tankard & one pint Cup Do. Weight 24 pounds		16	0
one Lanthorn 10d, one frying pan 8d		1	6
one long Table & one form 6s, one square table 3s		9	0
one large old cubboard 4s, three shelves 1s 6d		5	6
one butter churn and dish 1s 6d, one newish Cheese Tubb 3 - 6, two brewing tubbs }		8	6
one milking paile, one gawn & side dish		2	6
one water peale 8d, four cheese fatts 3s		3	8
one little looking glass 1s, one Twiggen bottle 6d		1	6
one little leather bottle 8d, nine flagg bottomed chairs 4s, ten trenchers 1s, one woodden mortar & Iron pestle 1s 6d, some earthenware 1s 6d, eighteen glass bottles 8d }		9	4

In the Buttery
Item one Barrell 1s 3d, four pancheons [?] & some other earthenware 1s-		2	3

In the Parlour
Item one bedsterd, old feather bed, one pair of sheets one coverlidd & two blanketts }	1	15	0
one other old bedstead, feather bed, one pair of sheets, one coverlidd & two blanketts }	1	0	0
one pair of newish sheets		4	0
three pair of old ones & two pillow cases		4	0
one large coffer 4s, one other less 2s-		6	0
one other old coffer 1s, one barrell 4s-		5	0
one tundish 6d, one pair butter scales & weights 6d		1	0
three syckles 6d, two flasketts 1s		1	6

In the room over it
Item one old bedstead, flock bed & three blanketts		5	0
one Kneeding trough 1s, two seives 1s		2	0
two milking churns 1s, one hopper 1s		2	0
two old Spinning Wheeles		2	0

In the room over the house
Item thirty one Cheeses wt. 200 pounds	1	10	0
one flitche of Bacon wt. 70 pounds	1	0	0
six strike of Wheat £1: 3: 0, a quarter of Malt £1: 4	2	7	0
about a strike of pease		2	0
three boards & a Jayre 4s-6d, one old form 6d		5	0
old Iron wt. 62 pounds - 5s, a small parcel of Wood		9	0
two old great rake heads		2	0

In a place adjoyning to the home place
500 of bricks 6s, one old Cheese press & shooter 2s-		18	0

In the yard
one Cart 3:5:0, the best Waggon 5:10:0	8	15	0
the other Waggon 2:2:0	2	2	0
the best Harrowes & Swinglehoe		8	6
the other Harrow		8	0
the best plow Irons & Swinglehoe		12	0
the old plow 3s 6d, two ladders 7s		10	6
two horsetroughs 7s 6d, three little pig troughs 1/6		9	0
the well buckett & chain		3	6

In the cow house
one old malt Mill-		5	0

In the barn
a fann 4/6, three seives & an ½ strike 3/6		8	0
one horse server 2d, a cart rope 2s 6d		2	8
two muck forks, two other forks & a spade		2	9
Some Blencorn threshed & unthreshed about	3	10	0
a peice of a pease rick	3	0	0
about a load of hay		14	0

In the stable
five pair of Iron Geers		14	0
cart saddle, plow cass & plow tracers		4	6
five tassled ring Halters 10s, four plane ones Do. 7s	7	17	0
seven pair of Haines & Collars-		10	6
the Muck		5	0

Quick Stock
one mare called Dobbin	7	0	0
one black gelding called Dick	9	0	0
one mare called Flower	3	15	0
one mare called Whitefoot	7	7	0
one three year old mare called Anthony	4	15	0
one mare called Lock & her foale	2	15	0
one horse called Jack	1	15	0
one pyed four year old Cow	8	3	0
one barren Cow	2	0	0
one Cow called Young Jerrimy	2	10	0
one red Cow called Parson	2	7	6
one red Cow called Cherry	3	0	0
one other Cow called Browney	2	2	0
three old Heiffers	7	7	0
one slirk [?]	2	5	0
one yearling 15s, one weaning Calfe 14s	1	9	0
one Sluirk Calfe 11s, two lesser Cow calves 18s	1	9	0
one bull Calfe 3s, one sow with piggs £1- 1- 0	1	4	0
one large Slore 15s: 6d, two little piggs 14s	1	9	6
five score & eleven sheep	24	19	6
The Cropp
Wheat Sown	27	10	0
Barley Sown	36	0	0
Pease Sown & beans	22	13	4
Lumber		4	0

	£226	5s	6
Appraised by us: Thomas Moore John Grundy William Huskisson

Part 3: A schoolmaster, a fashionable lady and the horse collar maker