> commented that he was not particularly wealthy, with an
> inventory of only £174..

A 1798 inventory of a Quaker chairmaker who I am researching amounted to a
little more than £54...not including accounts due to him. I would consider
this on the low scale at the time of his death...but certainly not dirt
poor.

> His inventory includes five slaves valued at £ 10, 28, 28, 20,
> and 20.

I don't know about 1717, but circa 1800, five slaves did not a poor man
make. Most Virginians did not own slaves, and those who did had some means.
Five slaves may not have been enough for running a plantation, but they
could have been used in the house, to manufacture goods (blacksmithing,
carpentry, etc.), or they could have been rented out to others.

Scott





> FYI, I know there are some calculators out there but I couldn't
> find them.
> Footnote, I don't see a phaeton or anything, but he did have a canoe!
>
> Best Regards,
> Janet Hunter
>
>
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