A translation of The Inventory of Hew Corbyn of East Parley held in Hampshire Archives, Alt Ref No: 1561B/019, made by Anne Vincent, March 2024
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An Indented Inventory made the 10th day of May, in the year of Our Lord 1561 and in the third year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth [literally says “in the reign of Queen Elizabeth the third”] of the goods of Hew Corbyn of East Parley in the diocese of Hampshire deceased.
| Imprimis | 2 oxen | 43s | 4d | |
| Item | 5 steers, 2 heifers | £[1]3 | 10s | |
| Item | 7 cattle | £7 | 3s | 4d |
| Item | 3 yearling bullocks | 20s | ||
| Item | 2 geldings, 2 mares, 2 colts | £5 | ||
| Item | 4 shorn sheep including one pregnant ewe and 16 lambs | £10 | ||
| Item | 3 acres of wheat and 7 of rye | £3 | 6s | 8d |
| Item | 10 acres of barley | 46s | 8d | |
| Item | 3 acres of peas and vetches and oats | 16s | ||
| Item | 18 hives of bees | 45s | ||
| Item | 7 pigs including one pregnant sow 7 young pigs | 24s | ||
| Item | 8 hens and cock | 16d | ||
| Item | 3 geese and 10 goslings | 2s | 6d | |
| Item | Hot kettles, pipes, heat safe vessels in number 22 | 11s | ||
| Item | 7 brass pans | 40s | ||
| Item | 7 brass pots, 3 ?, 2 skillets | 20s | ||
| Item | 13 plates, 10 pottage bowls, 3 saucers, 3 salt cellars | 13s | 10d | |
| Item | 5 candlesticks, one brass basin | 2s | 4d | |
| Item | One cupboard, one trestle table and bench, one chair and a painted cloth[2] | 9s | 4d | |
| Item | 5 pairs of sheets, 5 blankets, 5 coverlets and feather bed bolsters, 3 bedsteads | 12s | 6d | |
| Item | 4 bure [a heavy woven wool] cloths, 4 bure napkins | 5s | ||
| Item | 2 whitchs [tub for coarse meal], 7 coffers | 13s | 4d | |
| Item | One iron cart box, 2 chains, one culter with a share, 3 thills [shafts], 3 pairs of harness, with all manner of harness for horses | 22s | ||
| Item | One hatchet, one axe, one billhook, 2 pairs of pot hooks, 2 rip hooks, 2 cotterels[3], a trivet, one andiron[4], a gridiron[5], one spit | 2s | ||
Sum Total £47 9s 6d[6]
Appraised by Rychurd Dewe and Johnathan Grove and Hew Corbyn and Hew Howting and others the day and year above said
debts for and to pay
debt Hew Corbyn
Imprimis to Johnathan Dyne my son in law 36s 4d
| Item | Robere Selldys owes me | 2s | 4d | |
| Item | Owed to me woollen cloth to value of 20s [possibly for a wrapping sheet for burial] and 4 barrels of barley |
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Notes:
[1] The scribe used ‘llcc’ rather than the usual ‘l’ to indicate pounds. Given the widespread use of abbreviations at the time it seems strange that something was lengthened. The writer must have been trying to impart something specific. I have been unable to find any further information or examples. c.c. Represents the mint mark cross crosslet. When Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne the coinage was highly debased (a deliberate policy of her father Henry VIII to raise money) and not trusted. In 1560/1 the debased money was withdrawn, melted down and replaced with purer coins. Perhaps c.c. Is indicating that the value is in these new coins. Also a little odd is the fact that some items are expressed in shillings and not pounds and shillings.
[2] Painted cloths were used as wall and bed hangings to keep out draughts.
[3] A cotterel is a bar for a fireplace
[4] Andier is an old French term for andiron
[5] Gredire is a middle English term for gridiron
[6] I calculate the total to be £47 9s 2d
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