ELIZABETHAN HISTORY
ESSAYS / ARTICLES
Inventory Of A Fashionable Eighteenth Century Widow
By Alan Roberts
Probate inventories, particularly those of women, provide an intimate view of eighteenth century domestic life. The clothing and household goods listed in Mary Stanton's inventory drawn up in 1742 suggest the she was one of Appleby's more prosperous eighteenth century inhabitants. The appraisers provide us with a detailed list of household goods, including some luxury items like mirrors, and her clothing - a lavish wardrobe of quilted petticoats, lace, velvet cloaks, a velvet hat and black silk scarves. In addition to this fashionable clothing she had a stock of haberdashery, 11½ yards of Woollen Jersey, 5½ yards of Tammy and 21 night caps, finished goods and material available which could have been used for trade or piecework. While we can't be absolutely certain that she was 'a lady of quality' - her own goods and chattels came to modest £25.9.9 - Mary certainly seems to have enjoyed a comfortable standard of living, and to have taken an interest in fashionable clothes. Perhaps she was a descendant of Thomas Stanton who baptised a daughter named Mary in the early 1700s, or Hugh Stanton, described as a 'gentleman', who died in 1717 worth £1178.
A TRANSCRIPTION OF MARY STANTON'S INVENTORY
Febr: 24,1742. An Inventory of the Goods, Chatells, Money and wareing Apparell of Mary Stanton of Appleby in the county of Darby.
In the Kitchen
4 Gounds |
0 |
15 |
0 |
2 Quilted petticoats |
0 |
7 |
6 |
2 Clokes a long & short one |
0 |
4 |
0 |
3 Black Silk scarves |
0 |
4 |
6 |
1 Black hood with old silk |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 Velvett hatt |
0 |
2 |
6 |
11½ yards of Woolen Jersey |
0 |
16 |
6 |
5½ Do. Of Tammy |
0 |
5 |
0 |
1 New bed lick |
0 |
15 |
0 |
6 Aprons, 7 White handkerchiefs |
0 |
8 |
6 |
21 Night Caps, 5 pare sleevs |
0 |
6 |
10 |
9 peices old lace |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 Parsnet hood & old rebrnes [ribbons?] |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 Silk apron & 2 handkerchiefs |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 pare gloves, 2 pare shoos |
0 |
3 |
6 |
17 shifts, 4 handkerchiefs, 4 capps |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 Coloured Aprons, 3 pare stockens & pockets |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 Fann tipett & laces |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 Fire Grate tonngs & pott hooks |
0 |
7 |
6 |
1 Frying pan, lock Iron & heater |
0 |
15 |
0 |
65 Pounds of old pewter |
1 |
10 |
0 |
2 Brass ketles 17 £ |
0 |
12 |
3 |
2 Bell metle potts 30 £ |
0 |
12 |
0 |
1 Ovel table & Reel |
0 |
8 |
6 |
4 Chiers, 1 Squar table, screens furm |
0 |
4 |
0 |
1 Chest drawers, Cubard & spice press |
0 |
5 |
0 |
1 Looking glass, lawn seive Brush & ye pattoons |
0 |
1 |
6 |
a parcell of Remants |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 Wood morter, 2 Iron pestells, 17 £ Lead |
0 |
3 |
0 |
4 knives & 4 forkes |
0 |
0 |
8 |
13 strike barley, 14 strike Weat |
3 |
4 |
0 |
In the Buttery
4 Berells, percell of earthenware |
0 |
4 |
0 |
12 Trenchers, 7 bottles, 2 boal dishes |
0 |
2 |
6 |
In the Parlour
2 Bolsters, a pillow, 1 feather bed 71 £ |
1 |
15 |
0 |
8 Blankets & a bedstead |
0 |
8 |
0 |
In the Chamber
2 Bolster, 1 feather bed 64 £ |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 Ditto, 4 pillows, 1 feather bed |
1 |
10 |
0 |
2 Pare bedsteads |
0 |
9 |
0 |
5 Coffers |
0 |
8 |
0 |
9 Sheets |
0 |
15 |
0 |
Table lyen [linnen] & pillow cases |
0 |
9 |
6 |
Coles & Lumber |
0 |
7 |
0 |
To ye Weat Crop on ye Ground |
0 |
10 |
0 |
In the House of Thomas Taverner
To old Lumber |
0 |
19 |
0 |
To Money
£23 |
9 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
9 |
All the above Mentioned Goods was valued & Apraised by
John Vaughton
John Hear
© Alan Roberts 2000
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