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The instances in which coin formed a part of a testator’s estate were more frequent in the last decade of the century than they had been previously. Mrs. Katherine Thorp of York, who died in the course of this period, left six pounds sterling in gold and thirteen pounds in silver.[1] The estate of Nathaniel Branker of Lower Norfolk included four pounds sterling in silver and one pound in gold.[2] It is stated in the inventory of William Porteus of Lower Norfolk that he had among his effects nineteen pounds sterling, a large sum when it is remembered that his personal estate did not exceed six hundred and sixty-six pounds;[3] the only instance comparable with this was that of William Knibbe of Henrico, who had collected enough coin to fill one-half of a small cabinet, his object, however, being to meet the cost of a trip to England.[4] Robert Lightenhouse of York, whose personalty was appraised at seventy-two pounds sterling, bequeathed fourteen pounds in metallic money.[5]
A large quantity of the money sterling that was now left at the deaths of planters was of foreign origin. Thus in the personalty of William Knott of Lower Norfolk there were fourteen pounds sterling in Spanish money and three Arabian gold pieces.[6] John Morrah bequeathed eleven shillings in English money, two shillings in New
- ↑ Records of York County, vol. 1694-1697, p. 193, Va. State Library.
- ↑ Records of Lower Norfolk County, original vol. 1686-1695, f. p. 17.
- ↑ Ibid., original vol. 1695-1703, p. 36.
- ↑ Records of Henrico County, vol. 1677-1692, p. 101, Va. State Library.
- ↑ Records of York County, vol. 1694-1702, p. 387, Va. State Library.
- ↑ Records of Lower Norfolk County, original vol. 1695-1703, f. p. 95.
of Lower Norfolk County, original vol. 1695-1703, p. 151, there is this reference to bits: “Watching on board the sloop Content from Oct. 19, 1697, to Nov. 12, 1697, is twenty two days and nights at 3 bitts per day, and 3 bitts per night comes to 4£ 2sh 6d.”
