17th-century Boston inventories

[1681 inventory of Henry Messenger, Boston]

Back to some period records. Another area I studied in detail was Boston records. The probate records for Boston (Suffolk County) have never been published in book form for some reason. From time to time 15-25 years ago I’d go to the state archives and read the records. I’d collect bits and pieces of inventories – at first, only copying out items of interest. Some of the early ones (Boston was settled by the English in 1630) are from the 1640s – these first couple focus on tools. I can’t believe this cooper’s name is George Barrel - his will & inventory are dated 31-8-1643. That’s October at that point. His will stipulates: 

“...unto my sonnes John & James all my working tooles to be equally divided between them...”

Some of what was included in the inventory: 

2 Acres of land at Spectacle Iland   2£ of tooles in the shop, 23 chesills  £2-11-00 

10 fyles  2 wrests 9s  ten sawes £1-13,  four Cope axes 18s     £3-00-00

 4 Carpenters axes & 2 hand hatchetts 10s  four adses, 4 havels 14(s)   £1-04-00

[PF: presumably these “havels” are howells - a cooper’s tool for prepping the interior of a barrel, etc for the groove, or croze that houses the head.]

 12 shaves 12s,  four hammers,  3 pare of pinsors 7s           00-19-00 

41 perser bitts,  2 throws 7s,  twenty four plaines 14s           £1-01-00

[PF: I assume the “throws” are froes - for splitting out stock]

2 Joynters,  2 Crookes 14s,  four Compasses,  3 prickers 6s  £1-00-00

 6 Clivers,  2 hooks, a worme 9s,  fifteene Augers 15s         £1-04-00

[PF: Cleavers - simple enough. Are the hooks bench hooks? Or maybe the hook a cooper sometimes has at the chopping block? A “worme” - hmmm.]

 a turne & 15 turning chesils & other things in that house £1-05-00

[PF: a “turne” listed with turning chisels to follow - is it a lathe?]

 7 Squires,  3 tiling axes,  1 Carpenters ads 8s, nine wedges,  3 fyring irons 12s   £1-00-00

 2 hold fasts,  1 vice 12s,  89 trusse hoopes, 14£ in Corne  £5-06-00

 in Cowper ware in the yard & a grindstone £2-06-00

 for a house frame & 4 100 clapbord, 4 1000 board      £7-04-00

 Timber & wood   £2-10-00

[PF: “timber” is for working, “wood” is fuel.]