Further Exercises
Exercise 6
The next example is a more complicated inventory taken from the testament dative of Catherine Hamilton, the widow of a farmer (William Hamilton) on the island of Arran. Fill in the blanks in the transcription and make a total of the inventory's value.
1. Fill in the gaps in the transcription by typing in the appropriate blank spaces. The text will be red as you type and will turn black when you have transcribed the word correctly. The answers are case-sensistive, so make sure you have used capital letters where appropriate.
Crown copyright, National Records of Scotland, CC12/3/6, p17
- Inventary
- The upon the said William Hamilton's
- possession valued at Sixteen pounds. The upon the
- said possession valued at Three pounds. Two valued at
- Four Pounds a and valued at Ten pounds.
- and other valued at Two pounds Four
- valued at Six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence Two
- at one pound each Two pounds a valued at fifteen...
Read a transcription lines 1-8
Crown copyright, National Records of Scotland, CC12/3/6, p17
- shillings. Two at Ten shillings each One pound a
- and valued at Three pounds ten shillings a
- and at Fifteen shillings at
- Fifteen shillings A and an at one pound. Two
- Eight shillings Two pounds. Two
- one pound. one pound
- due to the Defunct and her Husband at the time forsaid of her
- decease Ten pounds valued at one pound the
- whole of the above sums being sterling money.
Read a transcription lines 9-17
Glossary
| Scots | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Imprimis | firstly (Latin) |
| Crop and Hay | an agricultural seed crop, growing at the time of the death of the owner, and the hay, which would result from its harvest |
| Stell | a still for distilling whisky |
| Hogsheads | large casks |
| Two three year olds | two three year old cows |
| Stirk | bullock |
| Queys | heifers |
| Pertinents | associated things, in this case herring fishing equipment |
| Press | a cupboard |
| Ambrie | a cupboard or pantry |
2. What was the total value of the movable estate?
To work out your answer you may find it helpful to use Exercise 6 worksheet (opens in new window).
Read the answer to Exercise 6.2