Sorry the delayed response to this posting; I've been away from the list for
a few days.

Regarding comparative valuation of wealth/inventories over different time
periods, there is a web site called How Much Is That Worth Today? that might
be of some help: 
 http://www.eh.net/hmit/ppowerbp/

It does not really tell how much a certain value of pounds, shillings &
pence are worth TODAY, as it calculates a value in pounds as of last year
(2001). Using are very "rough" rate of 1.5 dollars per pound in 2001/2002,
you can get a ballpark idea of what the value might be in today's $.

From the site mentioned above, the entire estate value of 174 pounds in 1717
would be worth 17,624 pounds in 2001 and around $26,436 today.

Likewise, books valued at 10 pounds then would be worth about 1,013 pounds
(2001) or about $1,520 today.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Rob

> From: Janet Hunter <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 15:36:48 EST
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [VA-ROOTS] Inventory 1717 -- Value of Books
> 
> Hello Everyone,
> 
> I recently obtained the inventory of an ancestor, Robert HYDE (wife Jane
> UNDERHILL), who died about 1717 in York Co. VA.   Robert Hyde was a lawyer,
> and his inventory includes quite a number of horses and cattle, but none of
> the items one would associate with any sort of agricultural production, so I
> assume he either lived in Williamsburg or somewhere in the vicinity of
> Felgate Creek (need to do the deed work).  There are several entries for
> tableware, tumblers and candlesticks, some pewter but others difficult to
> read.  He has several beds/furniture/trunks/chests/chairs.
> 
> His inventory includes five slaves valued at £ 10, 28, 28, 20, and 20.
> 
> The other large entry is £ 10 for a parcell books.   The total value of the
> inventory is £174.14.
> 
> I have two questions.
> 
> Can anyone tell me how extensive a library in 1717 valued at £10 might be?
> Would this be a large library?
> 
> Second, a cousin with whom I've been exchanging inventories for primarily
> plantation owners,  most 50 or more years later, commented that he was not
> particularly wealthy, with an inventory of only £174..  I pointed out that
> (a) he had, because he didn't need more, few slaves the largest single item
> in most of the sizeable inventories; (b) we don't have information on his
> real estate; and (c) there was probably an inflation factor involved.   One
> specific inventory in comparison I was told was "wealthy" was in 1761,
> Chesterfield Co., a tobacco planter with 21 slaves, whose estate was valued
> at more than £1,200.
> 
> 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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