So often in the 17th century, a will was handwritten and was accompanied by an inventory. This inventory was mandated by law and some of the items might be sold to pay off any debts of the deceased. This was the inventory of Aquila Chase, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, dated 15 May 1666.
I ask you: how many pages would it take to "inventory" every single one of your possessions? And would there be archaic terms then that were well known today...... like "saw and pillion." What is a pillion? What is an "Apple watch?" An "electric hot pot?"
And take note of what you don't see: any art, music, crafts, hobbies, things we would call comfort things like fuzzy slippers or teddy bears? Could YOU cook a meal using just the utensils mentioned here?
Eleven swine
Twenty sheepe
Two heifers & three calves
One steer & three calves
One feather bed/ bolster/pillows
Blanket & curtains
Wearing apparell
One new curtain
Six paire of sheets
Linen yarne
20 lbs of woollen yarne
One bed furniture/blankett
70 bushels Indian corne
6 bushels barley
Some wheat, rye & pease
Saw & pillion
2 wheels
Muskett/swort/pike
1 saddle/bridle
3 iron potts/hookes/tramells
Spitt/fire pan/tongues/peele
1 fryeing pan/greediron/ 2 skilletts
Carpenter tooles
4 axes/ beetle & wedges
Pewter platters/basons/potts/spones
Box of earthenware
Books/ 2 chests
Hog lard/butter
Grinding stone
Cart/dung pott/plow
Yoakes & Chaines
Old lumber
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