NEI Exhibition: Plague document images and transcriptions

Inventory of Thomas Creake of Newcastle upon Tyne, yeoman

Debtes owinge By the said

thomas creake as followeth

Item to thomas hadock for a bushell of wheit		ii ^s	viii ^d
Item to Patrick bell for a kyninge of wheit			xviii ^d
Item to raphe wrighte for fearm		xix ^s
Item the expensses of the burialls		iiii ^s
Item to the Bearers		iii ^s	iiii ^d
Item for clenssinge & dightinge the house		xiiii ^s
Item to wedo swane		ii ^s	vi ^d
Item for meat & drincke to Iszabell creake and the clenssers that was in the house frome sainct luke days unto christenmes daye		xliiii ^s
Item for colles to the clensinge of the house		ix ^s
Item to the pore			xii ^d
Item for the will & invitories makinge		iii ^s	iiii ^d
Item for drinck to the Praysers			vi ^d
Item to the churche			vi ^d
Item to mr mytforth for ferme of medo		viii ^s	<viii ^d>
Item for clerk hyer			iii ^d
Item to wedo mytforth		viii ^s
Item for the grase of ii swyne shottes			xviii ^d
Somma	v ^li	xvii ^s	v ^d

Somma totallis debtes and
legacies Payd & clearly discha<r>d [discharged]
vi ^li xviii ^s vii ^d

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1570/C5/2-3]

Glossary

bushell	a measure used for corn, fruit, etc., containing 4 pecks or 8 gallons
clenssinge	cleansing: this includes both feeding, watering and caring for the sick, as well as disinfecting the house and goods after the death or recovery of the infected persons
colles	coals
dightinge	putting in order, preparing
hyer	hire
kyninge [kenning]	a dry measure containing 2 pecks, or ½ a bushel
medo	meadow
praysers	appraisers
sainct luke days	the feast of St Luke fell on 18^th October
swyne shott	a young pig

Inventory of William Grey of Newcastle upon Tyne, miller

Disbursed for the said testator in the
tyme of his visitacion & for cleansinge
of his house

Inprimis to Agnes Lavarocke for cleansinge of the house beinge therin seven wekes for her paines		xxi ^s
Item for her meate & drinke the said seven wekes		xvii ^s	vi ^d
Item for her meate & drinke one weke after she came fourthe of the said house		ii ^s	vi ^d
Item to Margarett Purves fourtenne dayes to helpe to cleanse the said howse for her paynes		vii ^s
Item for her meate & drinke the said fourtenne daies		v ^s
Item for coales candle & sope the said seven wekes		vii ^s
Item for brume and frankensence			x ^d
Item for carieinge water fyve wekes to the said house		v ^s
Item for his owne meate and drinke syxe wekes in A Tower of the walles		xv ^s
Item for his dowghter Alice her meate and Drinke thre wekes		vi ^s
Item for his dowghter Isabell her meate and drinke Tenne wekes		xx ^s
Item to Agnes Peireson for kepeinge of them Nyne wekes for her paynes		xii ^s
Item for her meate & drinke the said nyne wekes		xxii ^s	vi ^d
Item to Margarett Wilson for fourtenne dayes for to helpe them for her paynes		ii ^s
Item for her meate & drinke the said fourtenne daies		v ^s
Item for coales candle and sope Eighte wekes		x ^s	viii ^d
Item for carieinge of water the said Eighte wekes		viii ^s
Somme	viii ^li	vii ^s

Funerall expences of the said testator his wyfe Roberte Grey marye Grey & Alice Grey his children the probacion of his will the Mortuarye the Draweinge of his wyll thengrossinge of the same and for makeinge of thinventories amounteth to	v ^li	xvii ^s	vi ^d
Somme totall	xiiii ^li	iiii ^s	vi ^d

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1585/G1/2-4]

Glossary

brume	brim[stone] [?]; sulphur, burned with frankincense to fumigate the house
cleansinge	cleansing: this includes both feeding, watering and caring for the sick, as well as disinfecting the house and goods after the death or recovery of the infected persons
engrossinge	to write in large letters; to write out formally, in legal form
mortuarye	a customary gift formerly claimed by the incumbent of a parish from the estate of a deceased parishioner
visitacion	a time of infection with the plague, or sickness generally

Nuncupative will of Sibell Chamber of Boldon, singlewoman

Memorandum That about the xxviii^th [28^th] day of Aprill Anno
domini 1597 Sibell Chamber late of Bowlden single woman
beinge of good & perfect memorie but visited with the greivouse
infection of the plague & therfore supposinge with hir self
that she Could not continewe in this world any longe
tyme did will give legate & bequeath nuncupativelie in
the presence of Robert Huitson John Smyth Robert Thompson
& others as followethe.

First she did give unto hir brother <George> Chamber xiii ^li Also she
did give unto hir brother Richard Chaber xvi ^li also to hir sister
Alison Smales two stone of lint & towe & iiii ^li in monie and all
hir best linninge Clothes Also to Thomas Robinson his daughter of West
Bowlden xxx ^s Also unto Thomas Matthewes wensh xx ^s to be payed when
she Cometh to lawfull yeres & not before. Also unto Thomas Stepheneson
his wensh ii ^s & <hir> white Russett Cote Also unto Robert Huetson ii ^s
Also unto Robert Thompson ii ^s also unto Richard Hinemers ii ^s Also unto
Jennett wright ii ^s Also to John Smyth xii ^d Also to Richard
Chamber hir brother a Ringe Also to Jennett Robinson hir blacke
Cote & to margarett Robinson hir Red Cote also to Jennett Robinson vi ^d
in Consideracion of so much debtt as she was owinge unto hir Also
she willed that ther should be paid unto Eliner Doores iii ^d for spinninge
also she willed that ther should be paid unto Thomas Robinsons wif
iii ^d for spininge Also she gave unto the poore of the parish x ^s And
shortlie after dyed of the same infection.

Vive velut rapto figitiva
Vive velut rapto figitiva
[Live thy life as it were spoil (and pluck the joys that fly)]

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1597/C2/1]

Glossary

lint	flax prepared for spinning; a soft material for dressing wounds (formerly also to burn for tinder), prepared by ravelling or scraping linen cloth
nuncupativelie [nuncupatively]	by word of mouth
stone	a weight measure, which in this period varied by region and according to the substance being measured, but generally for flax, lint and tow was equal to 14 lbs in England
towe	the fibre of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning
wensh	a girl, maid, young woman; a female child

Nuncupative will and codicil of Anthonie Gefferson of Ryhope

July 23th 1604.

Anthonie Gefferson of Ryop. The day and yere above Written, Lynge in a Coove in the feild
sicke in the visitation. uttered these wordes followinge (beinge questioned and demannded
by us (whose names ar underwritten) whoe should have his portion of goods if he died.
The poore shall have xxx ^s. William Pattisons children xx ^s a peece. Anthonie Watsons
Children xv ^s a peece. Margery Nicholson of Hilton xx ^s. John Pattison x ^s. Christophe[r]
Pattison x ^s. Andrewe Pattison v ^s. The rest my brother Robart and his w[yf] …

Richarde Clement
Raphe Moyser
John Ranson

July 25th 1604.

Towe dayes after the foresaid persons comminge to visit him againe and to gather somethinge
more perfitly from him, did put him in mynde of his former words which he then denied
sainge noe [now] fyve shillings a peece <for a remembrance>, my brother shall have the rest.
Then Mr Clement willed him to give somewhat more to his uncle Christopher for
he was but a poore man to whom he answered Take it you all and give <it> whome
you will. which were the last words that he used Touchinge the premisses.

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1606/J2/1]

Glossary

a peece [a piece]	each
coove [cove]	a sheltered place or recess among hills, woods
premisses	aforesaid

Inventory of Richard Lavrick of Ouseburn

8 day of September 1609

A note of all the Disbursementes Laid out for Richard Lavrick and all their Chargges as followeth the said Laverock his wife & Children dyied in the plague

8 day of September Laid out for vettells	vii ^s	vi ^d
16 day of September Laid out for vettelles	viii ^s	x ^d
23 day of September Laid out for vettelles	vii ^s	x ^d
29 day of September Laid out for vettelles	iiii ^s	viii ^d
06 day of Octtober Laid out for vettelles	iii ^s	vi ^d
6 day of Octtober paid to 2 Clensseres	xii ^s
5 day of <November> paid for locking for the thefe that stolle the Clothes		viii ^d
Item paid for 2 barrelles to putt watter in	iii ^s
Item paid for bread & drink to Barbre Doddes		xvi ^d
Item paid for melk & smal drink		iii ^d
Item paid for 13 sheppe grace	iiii ^s	iiii ^d
Item paid for a pund of Lentt	iii ^s
Item paid for a pound of Rossen		viii ^d
Item paid for the Buryall of Richard Lavrick his wyfe and 4 Chilldring	xii ^s	vi ^d
Item paid for the drawing the will and the Invytory	ii ^s
Item paid for on Clenser 18 of Octtober	ii ^s	viii ^d

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1609/L1/4]

Glossary

clenser	cleanser: one who both feeds, waters and cares for the sick, as well as disinfecting the house and goods after the death or recovery of the infected persons
lentt [lint]	flax prepared for spinning; a soft material for dressing wounds (formerly also to burn for tinder), prepared by ravelling or scraping linen cloth
pound	a pound (lb) avoirdupois, in this case of lint or rosin
rossen [rosin]	this substance in a solid state obtained as a residue after the distillation of oil of turpentine from crude turpentine; it might be used for curing wounds, or burnt with pitch and perhaps frankincense to fumigate a house and its contents
sheppe grace	sheep graze, or the grazing of a number of sheep
smal drink	weak drink; weak beer or ale
vettelles [victuals]	provisions

Account of the administration of the estate of Jerrard Brown of Newburn, Northumberland

The accomptant furthe[r] sayth that the howse
wherein the deceased dyed of the plague, did belonge
unto this accomptant, which was burnt and consumed
with fire in clensinge thereof, and for reedifyinge
the same, this accomptant hath expended the
summe of 10 ^li, but never received satisfaction
for his losse and damage susteined thereby, and
therefore craveth allowance for the same in
this Account

x ^li

	Et sic computatis computandis et allocatis allocandis remanent in manibus huismodi Computantis	2 ^s 10 ^d
	[And thus taking everything into account and everything to be allowed there remain in the hands of this accountant]

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1647/B11/1-2]

Glossary

cleansinge	cleansing: this includes both feeding, watering and caring for the sick, as well as disinfecting the house and goods after the death or recovery of the infected persons
craveth	requests

Wrapper of the will of John Armytage of Bishopwearmouth, schoolmaster

A FORM

OF

THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER

TO

ALMIGHTY GOD.

We humbly acknowledge, O merciful
Father, that all the punishments which
are threatened in Thy law might justly have
fallen upon us by reason of our manifold
transgressions; yet seeing it hath pleased
Thee, of Thy tender mercy, to assuage the

fearful disease with which
this place hath [*or, seve-
ral places in this kingdom

*These words to be used
in places which have not
been visited with the disease.

have] been visited, we offer unto Thy Divine
Majesty the sacrifice of praise and thanks-
giving, for such Thy providential care over
us; most humbly beseeching Thee entirely

1832

Will of John Armytage
late of Bishopwearmouth
in the County of Durham
Schoolmaster deceased.

Registered.

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1832/A11/3]