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The Tudor Inventories from Appleby, 1530-1601transcribed by Alan Roberts
Tudor Inventories from Appleby, 1530-1601
Thomas Heyre, 1530 PR I/7/43 William Walkere, 1548 Robert Wylson, 1548 Roger Waren, 1553 Thomas Holden, 1556 husbandman William Molde, 1558 William Wright, 1558 Harry Mold, 1561 John Erpe [Hyrpe], 1564 PR I/7/124 Elizabeth Molde, 1564 widow PR I/ /50 John Walker, 1572 John Mould 1572 PR I/73/131 John Cotterell, 1572 servant Wills 1576 Edward More, 1576 Edward Bilson, 1576 W&I 1576/43 Alice Bates, 1579 John Mould 1579 PR I/5A/49 Richard Mold, 1581 Humphrye Gent, 1586 PR I/8/45 Elizabeth Walker, 1588 PR I/9/65 Joyce Choyce, 1588 PR I/9/71 Robert Gilbart, 1588 PR I/9/72 Richard Wright, 1588 PR I/9/81 Thomas Butler, 1588 PR I/9/117 John Heiffield, 1588 PR I/9/118 John Pratt, 1591 PR I/12/142 Richard Taylor, 1592 PR I/12/91 William Robinson, 1594 PR I/13/79 William Pecher, 1597 PR I/16/115 Hacket, 1598 PR I/14/104 (A108) Isabell Robinson, 1598/9 PR I/14/76 Thomas Swayne, 1599 PR I/17/44 Charles Walker, 1600 PR I/18/33
34 Inventories: 29 from Eliz. I.
APPLEBY PROBATE INVENTORIES: THE TUDOR VILLAGERS AT HOME
Probate inventories provide a particularly intimate and personal view of villager's household goods and chattels, made even more immediate when the inventories are linked to individual inhabitants and events within the parish. Twenty nine of the 34 Tudor inventories from Appleby in the Leicestershire Record Office are from the reign of Elizabeth I. The remainder are from the reigns of Edward VI and "Bloody Mary". Most of these belong to husbandmen or yeomen, but there are some drawn up for widows and spinsters. The earliest inventory belongs to Robert Wilson, who was probably a yeoman or husbandmen - one of the established farmers in the parish who grew crops and kept livestock in the time of Edward VI. His contemporaries, William Walker and Roger Waren, had a similar range of household goods and farming implements and shared the same appraisers. These include men like John Petcher, William Wright, Robert Wilson and Oliver Shilton - surnames which crop up frequently in the probate records as appraisers or witnesses. John and Thomas Petcher who appear among the appraisers were undoubtedly connected to the plaintiff John Petcher cited in the archdeaconry court case relating to events which happened at the Atherstone fair in 1597. William Walker came from one of the prominent families in Appleby, as did Edward More who was almost certainly connected to the lords who purchased the manor of Little Appleby around 1600. The Walkers later appear as yeomen farmers occupying Walkers Hall, and indeed one of William's descendants was hauled before the archdeaconry court in a scandalous alehouse case from 1640. The inventory belonging to Roger Waren is of particular interest because there is a record of a certain Richard Warehorne being granted a licence to keep an alehouse in Appleby in 1579. Roger may well have been his father or kinsman and it is curious to see that he has what appear to be brewing equipment - a "great brass pot" and "mashing pot" - listed among his household goods. Of the Elizabethan inventories that of John Cotterell of 1572 is a rare example of a servant's inventory - of particular interest because John had lands in the common fields and the lease of a house. The women's inventories include that of Elizabeth Mould, a yeoman's widow who died in 1564 leaving a great stock of farming equipment. Of particular interest however is the inventory of Alice Bates who died in the Winter of 1579 leaving a considerable stock of clothing including three red petticoats, medle gowns and a flaxen smock, handkerchiefs and a russett apron. The size of her wardrobe and the fine materials may indicate that Alice had an interest in fashionable clothes. The three yards of red cloth listed among her possessions suggest that she might have been a "spinster" who made her own clothes, or a milliner - though it is equally possible that she was a widow. The fact that her death is not recorded in the Appleby parish register and there are no further records of this surname in Appleby prior to the 1750s may indicate that she came from a neighbouring parish or that she was an itinerant. The nine Tudor inventories which have been transcribed below can be said to represent a cross-section of the 'typical' Tudor villagers in Appleby. Their contents provide eloquent testimony to everyday domestic and farming life in the village in Tudor times.
1. Robert Wylson, 1548 The inventory of the gods of Robert Wylson deceased in the parish of Appulbie in the countie of Leicestershire praised the vìi day of June, second yere of the rene of King Edward the vi By the Grace of God of England, France & Irland Kinge & also of the church of England & Also of Irland supreme hed under God/ By Thomas French [?], Jhon Pechere, Henry Prout, Oliver Shylton Imprimis vi kyne, towe boloks ìììi Item iii calves of a yere old xs Item ii, ìi mareys,ii felyes [fillies] xls Item xx shepe xls Item halfe a dozen swyne, iiii geysse vis vììì d Item a cartt, a plowe, ii harows & geyrys there to longynge xxs Item ii pannys, iii small potts & skyllett vi pewter dyshes xìis Item beddyng reinment & all in the chabere xixs Item a pere of tongs, a pere of gobberts & a pere of pott hokes & a spytt xiid Item a . a boord & a form iis Suma totalis xi xs. viiid 2. William Walker, 1548 The Inventory of the goods of Wylliam Walkere of Lattly dessessyd mad the iii day of January in the fyrst yere of the renye of Kynge Edward the vi By the grace of Gode of England, France & Yrland Kynge & of the Church of England & of Yrland supreme hede, presyd by Jhon Petchere, Wylliam Wryght, Robert Wysson, Olyver Shylton Imprimis thre kye & thre heffers iii£ Item iiii horses xls Item & olde mare & a colt iiiis Item v quarters of barle xxvs Item thre quarter of peys xiis Item ii cartes xiiis iiiid Item vii showlls viis Item a ploo & ii harows iiis ivd Item iii heines & a coke vid Item ii geys & a gonder ixd Item hows hold stuff in bras pewtere, bords & formys, beddynge & other stouffs xls Summa total x£ vs xd 3. Roger Waren, 1553 [gentleman - alehouse keeper?] The Inventorie of all the goods belonging to Roger Waren of Appulbie At the tyme of hys death a gent as appraised Item purse and apparel -xxiiiid Item ii great harowes Item iiii small harrowes Item a culter Item a great brass pott Item a massy pott [mashing pot?] Item ambrye [?] Item a whain lode of boordes, trestyls, lomes & fatts Item iiii pays of shetes Item ii pelowe bolsters[?] Item ii towels Item table cloth of Item a coffer a bedspread Item a bolster, ii pylowes Item a meteborde, ii .. forkes Item ii pykeforkes, a spade, a fire pocker Item ii bagges, an Iron brooche Item a payre of tonges & ii [?]dooris Detts owinge upon Roger Waryn Laste of Appulbie xxs.
4. Thomas Holden, 1556 The Inventory of all such goods & cattells as Thomas Holden was appraised of at the tyme of his deth
Bedding Imprimis vii payre of shetes xxiiiis Item one fether bedde vs Item iii mattressse xs Item iiii blanketts viiis Item iii coverlettes xiis Item ii bed tyllangs xs Item v abynneys shets viis Item ii bolsters & ii pelwes xiiis The other howsehold stuffe Item iii pannys & ii potts xls Item viii peuter dyshes & one mashing basyn viis Item one chaffyng dyshe xvid Item ii sosers viiid Item a payer of cob Irons & a spytt iis Item one cubbord iiis Item ii coffers & one table with other such implementes belongyng to howshold } xiiiis Item one plowe with plowe gere viiis Item ii syed carts with other gere xls Item vii horsys & mares vL Item v kyne with iiii young beasts [?] viiL viiis Item l [fifty] shepe viiL Item iii horrses & sowe xxs Item the hole crope of corne & hay xxL Sum totalis L [fifty] pounds Prased by Richard Mold, John Proudman, Wylliam Wryght & Richard Dasyn anno domini cciii lvi 5. John Walker, 1572 The Inventorye of all the goods of John Walker lately deceased, moveable & unmoveable, taken & apprysed by Richard Baker, Richard Sharpe, John Wylson & Thomas Ryght, the vi day of February in the xiiii yeare of the raygne of our soveraygne ladye Quene Elizabethe by the grace of God Quene of England, France, Ireland, defender of the fayth.. Imprimis in the hall a table a forme & a cheare iiis vid Item iiii puter dyshes iiis Item a candlesticke iiiid Item a brase pot vs Item a basen & a caldryn iis Item a Landiron, a pair of pothokes & a pare of tongges xviiid Item a broche & a pare of cobbards iis vid In the Paler [Parlor] Item ii beddes with clothes & hangynges and a cofer xxxs Item a hand mylne & a whycche xiis Item a trough, a old whycche, a lome & a peale vis Item v herses or mares & ii coltes vii£ Item v kyne & iiii calves vii£ Item xxx shepe iiii£ Item vi shottes xs Item a Iron bond carte, a pare of spare wheles and the geares xls Item a o... harrowe & ii small harrowes vis viiid Item x quarter of barley v£ Item halfe a quarter of Wheate & ii stryke of blendcorne xxvis viiid Item vi quarter of pease xls Item for tymber xxs Item iiii hyves vs viiid Item for hey xiiis iiiid Item for corne in the fyeld xls Item ii ploughes & theIrons vs Item iii pykeforkes, iiii shafhookes, a byll, a axe & a Iron Wegge } iiis viiid Item ii geese & a gander xviiid Item v hennes, a capen & iiii duckes iis vid Item ii sywer spores [?] iiiis Item dyshes, spones & other implementes iiiid Item money ? Summa totalis xxxvi£ xvs iid 6. John Cotterell, 1572 [servant] The trewe Inventorye of all the goodes and chattells latelye John Cotterell of Appleby deceased given & presed the nynth day of Januarye Anno domini 1572 by Richard Walker, Rychard Baker, Rychard Wryght and Rycharde Watthew inhabitants for that purpose as hereafter followeth Imprimis Barlye and wheate prysed iii£ Item pease & hey with some otes in ye barne xls Imprimis Barlye and wheate prysed £iii Item pease & hay with some otes in ye barne xls Item seven bordes and two bedsydes xxd Item certayne tymber xiis Item syxe shepe xviis Item in redye monye xxd item one cheste xxd Item one roobe & a peare of hose iiiid Item fower landes in the feld sowen with wynter corne xvis Item the lease of the house iiii£ Summa totalis xi£ xxd
Modern Spelling barley and wheat £3 0 0 pease and hay with some oats in the barn £2 0 0 seven boards and two bedsides 1 8 certain timber 12 0 six sheep 17 0 in ready money 1 8 one chest 1 8 0ne robe and a pair of hose 4 four lands in the field sown with Winter corn 16 0 the lease of the house £4 0 0 ____________ Total £11 1 8
7. Edward More, 1576 The Inventorye of Edward More of Applebye made the xiii of June in the Yeare of Our Lord, 1576. Imprimis his purse & his apparell xxs Item a borde & a forme & littel borde, tow charres, two amberyches, a soer with certaine panterd shelves } xxs Item vi brase pottes, vii paines iii£ Item .... peces of puter, vi porringers, iii candelstickes, iii sawecers } xxs Item iii matteresses, iiii boulsters, iii coverlets, iiii paire of flaxen shetes & six paire of carden shetes iiii£ Item iii bedstedes, iiii cofers with other certaine wodden warre } xxs Item a lede, iii lodes of colles with other yron stuffe in kitchin } xxxs Item tow horses vi£ Item horses vi£ vis viiid Item a horse, a mare & a yearrelinge viii£ Item a charbill & Chare garres xls Item a charte ploughe, timber & iiii harrowes, two charres tow coulters howeth & pailles with all the woodde in the yarde } lv£ Item ix ..... & a heffer xiii£ vis viiid Item ix swynes pikes iii£ Item all the pease in the yarde iiis Item a bacon flicke iiis iiiid Item lvi sheppe xv£ Item a quarter of otes, a quarter of pees, tow quarter of malte, a quarter of barley ls Item all the corne & grasse in the feilde xvi£ Praised by these men: Robert More Robert Simsonne Some total £92 - 19s - 8d John a Parres Wylliam More Peter Lockes John Morris William Sheekes
8. Alice Bates, 1579 A true Inventory of all ye apparrell and goodes of Alice Bates diceased in ye towne of Applebie made the ix daye of January 1578 in the presence of William Robinson and Jhon Petcher who weare praisers of her goodes. Imprimis 7 sheetes ixs Item a bord stott xiid Item a sawser iiiid Item a kercheefe viiid Item ii cofers iis iiiid Item a brass pot iis vid Item a brasse pan iis vid Item ii pewter platters iis Item a medle gown vis viiid Item an old pinke gown 3s iiiid Item an old medle gowne iis vid Item an old medle frock iis Item a red peticote iiiis vid a nother iis vid a nother iis vid Item an old flaxen smocke vid a nother xiid a nother viiid Item ii handkercheefes xd Item a flaxen kercheefe xiid Item a paire of stenes viiid Item ii russett aporns xd Item ii linnen apornes vid Item a hat xvid Item a kercheefe viiid Item a corse iiiid Item ii neckercheefes xiid Item iii yardes of red cloth vis Item in her pursse xs Summa totalis iii viis viiid By us Richard Mold William Stanton Jhon Spensar ý Exequitors
9. Richarde Moulde, 1581 A trew Inventory of all the goods and Chattelles which were Richard Mouldes of Appleby deceased taken the xxiiiith of July, Anno Domini 1581 by Richard Baker, Thomas Petcher, Charles Walker, George Choyse & William Houlden Item one pane, towe pottes, one kettell, on [frying?] dish, Tow candelstikes with other implemens 'praised } liiis iiiid Item iiii putter dishes, ii salte psed iiis Item one hundeate [?], i ax, one little oxen yoke with the Irne & with other oulde Irne } xs Item ii oulde tubbs & certen other oulde wooden ware iiis iiiid Item borde harrow tymber & carte tymber xs vid Item one fatt, one oulde tubb, one weltroughe vs Item ........... viiis Item ii lommes, 1 peale, i cheare, i cheste iiiis viiid Item ii Irene flakes iis iiiid Item all the tymber & other woode xxvis Item Carte & Carte whilles & plowes with the harrowes psd iiii£ vis Item all the corne & heay in the feilde xxii£ Item Item corne in the barn e & in the Chamber vi£ Item all kynde of naperie v£ Item iiii chestes xiis Item all household [provisions?] as bacon, butter & cheese xxs Item iiii fether beads, iiii matreses, ii coverletts, iiii blanketts, ii boulsters, ii pilowes & wyndeclothes 'praised } vi£ xviis viiid Item iiii bedsteads with the hangings xvis Item ii shelves, iii formes, ii stoules, i chear, yarne, hempe & flaxe & one Spinning Wheel, iiii Irne wedges } xvs viiid Item pease & oats, iiii pichforkes iis vid Item one soldiers bill psd. xiid Item one draye of Irne & a harrow & one bottell xiid Item v swyne xxs Item vi horses & mares vii£ Item v kne & iii yonge bease x£ Item xii oulder shepp & vi lambes xls Item one stone & a half of woole xvis Item v payer of Carte geeyers xs Item his apparell xs Item in his purse xxs Total for nynetenne pounds, three shillings & eighte pence. ___________________________________________________________ |
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