Source 4

Extracts from the inventory of Thomas Smith, a shipwright. The inventory was taken 1586/7.

What can this inventory tell us about the life of Thomas Smith? Will we be able to tell how rich he was? Take a look at the questions below to help you decide. You might find it useful to make notes on the worksheet.

Let's start investigating....

1. Before you read the inventory, take a look at what Thomas Smith did for a living. Do you think he was very rich, rich or comfortable? (Remember that poor people didn't have inventories.)

2. Now read the inventory- you can use the translation if you get stuck. Think about the following:
(a) does this look like an inventory of a house? What does it look like?
(b) can you tell what Smith did for a living by looking at the inventory?
(c) are there any other clues that you could use to decide how wealthy Smith was? (Hint: look at the first few items listed on the inventory)

3. Now that you have read the inventory, do you think that Thomas Smith was very rich, rich or comfortable? Have you changed your mind?

4. Does this inventory tell us anything else about life in Tudor times?