The Main Table form is used to view, enter, and modify information in the Main Inventory Table.  All of the data elements listed for the Main Table are available from this form.    Buttons on the bottom of the form allow scrolling through the database.

 

The form can be used to find records based on the contents of any field by placing the cursor in the field to be searched and hitting Ctrl+F.   This opens a window, which allows the entry of the string of characters to be found.  The option of searching for an exact match, any part of the field, or the start of the field (first letter) allows the user to search for a string of characters without knowing the exact form of the entry in the database.

 

Clicking the Go To Detail Record for Items Shown button will bring up the Details Table Form, displaying the records for the inventory shown.

 

The  Show All Records is used to remove any filter which limits the records being displayed and allows all records in the Main Table of the database to be shown.

The View Transcript button will display the transcription of the inventory.

 

The FILENAME is the link to the Detail Table records from the Main Table entry; therefore, the FILENAME in the Detail Table must match the FILENAME in the Main Table.

 

Main Table

The Main Inventory Table contains general information about each inventory and the individual whose property was recorded.  This information is taken from the inventory.  When known, the name of the decedent’s home is added to this table.  Citations for additional information on the decedent are added as space permits when applicable.

Note:  Specific fields are marked “Y” for yes or left empty for no with the exception of “T” for titles of books in BOOKS field.  (See field descriptions below.)

The Main Inventory Table contains the following data elements:

FILENAME   This is a shorthand designation for an individual inventory developed by using a combination of the decedent’s name and the year in which the inventory was taken, ordered, or recorded, in that order.  The taken date is the date of choice; however, when that is not available, the earliest date on the inventory is the one used.   FILENAME is an eight-character field used to invisibly link the Main Inventory Table with the Detail Inventory Table ,the Books Table and the transcription files.  All records in the Main table must have a unique FILENAME.  Names consisting of more than six characters have been abbreviated.  Examples of filenames are MASON63 or HRRSN91.

NAME   The name of the deceased, taken from the inventory, formatted as Last Name, First Name, Middle Name or Initial.  An honorific, such as Genl. is included as space is available.

DATE_TAKEN  Date inventory was taken, ordered, or recorded, formatted as MMM/DD/YYYY.   Example: Dec/23/1776.

FEMALE   “Y” is entered if inventory belonged to a woman.  For the inventory of a male, this field will be blank.

RURAL   “Y” if inventory contains sufficient agricultural items that indicate that the decedent lived in a rural area; "Y=" if it is assumed, for other reasons, that the household was in a rural area.  The field is left empty if it is an urban area.

COUNTY   County in which the inventory was recorded.

STATE   Two character abbreviation for the colony or state where the inventory was recorded.

CURRENCY   Type of currency used as defined by the appraiser in the inventory.  Examples are current Maryland- “current MD”;  or Spanish dollars at 7 pence six shillings- “Sp $ 7/6.”

RXR   Room by Room.  “Y” if the inventory has at least one household space listed by name.

CLASS   The arbitrary social/economic designation given an inventory dependent upon the presence and amount of food service items.  This designation is based on the work of Barbara Carson, in Ambitious Appetites: Dining, Behavior, and Patterns of Consumption in Federal Washington, (Washington, DC: American Institute of Architects, 1990).  Classifications used in the Gunston Hall Probate Inventory Database are: E (elite), A (aspiring), D (decent), and OF (old fashioned).

    Valid entries are:

E:  (Elite) The economic designation for inventories of the wealthiest decedents which exceed in quantity and quality all the criteria of the “Aspiring” classification.  These inventories contain sufficient knives, forks, spoons, and other accouterments to serve twenty guests at a seated dinner.

A:  (Aspiring) Economic designation for inventories deemed to have extensive households that include spoons, knives, and forks, as well as enough equipage to entertain and give dinner parties for ten or more people.

D:  (Decent) The economic designation for inventories that include spoons, knives, and forks, but without enough equipage to seat a dinner party for ten persons.  It is more likely that these people would have entertained at tea.

OF:  (Old Fashioned)  The economic designation for inventories that lack forks, some of which might otherwise be considered aspiring or elite.

Designators “+” or “-” may be added if the inventory appears to be borderline for the class or exceeds the class.  This designation will alert the researcher that the inventory deserves special consideration.  For example, George Washington has an “E+” classification because his inventory exceeds by far the requirements for an elite inventory.

CLOSETS   “Y” if at least one closet is named.

CELLAR     “Y” if contents of a cellar are listed.

BOOKS   “Y” Inventories which list books or library, but no titles.  Inventories listing at least one book by title are marked with a “T” in the BOOKS field.  Book titles have been included in the Books able 

LIVESTOCK   “Y” if there are cattle, sheep, hogs, horses, or other animals in the inventory.

OUT_BLDGS   “Y” designating buildings, other than a kitchen, dairy, or wash house that are listed by name in the probate inventory.

TOOLS    “Y” to indicate the presence of agricultural or craft tools in the inventory.  Only textile production and garden tools have been included in the database.

QUARTERS    “Y” if a specific location, defined as “quarter” or “plantation,” is listed in the probate inventory.

SLAVES    “Y” designates that slaves are listed, usually by name, in the probate inventory.  While not included in the database, names and ages of slaves, when recorded, are part of the complete inventory transcription.

MERCHANT“Y    indicates the inventory of a shop-owner, with mercantile stock designated by the inventory appraiser; "Y=" indicates an assumption that the decedent was a shopkeeper, but it is not stated in the inventory.  The deceased’s household items have been entered into the Detail Inventory Table, shop contents have not.  Shop contents appear in the complete inventory transcription.

KITCHEN    “Y” if a kitchen has been defined by name or "Y=" where the kitchen is assumed by placement of kitchen tools distinct from other household items.

DAIRY   “Y” if a dairy or milk house is named.

WASH_HOUSE   “Y” if a wash house or laundry is named.

POTOMAC    “Y” if county borders the Potomac River.

OPTION1    A three-position field adaptable for individual use, which will accept any characters.

OPTION2    An additional three-position field adaptable for individual use.

MEMO   A free-form field of 180 characters for any other information regarding the inventory.  Where known, the name of the decedents house is included in upper case.