Terms from the 18th Cent

[TENdriver]

Is anyone familiar with the terms used in wills during the 18th Century period of the PA gunsmiths?  I ran across a few terms that I don’t recognize. 

To   a Pair of Scales & Weights & tin Moules          
To   an Iron Wedge & Two Iron Rings
To   Old Iron & Sifs & B Baskets   
To   a Hammer & a Bell      
To   Two old Iron Soffels and a pr of Sizers    
To   a Jug & a Cag   

Thanks
Kevin H         

[Keb]

A lot of people were illiterate or "home schooled" in the 18th C.

Wedge is probably wedge & Ring I don't know.

Sifs is probably sieves.

Bell is maybe a bell?

Soffels I'd say is shovels & Sizers are scissors.

Cag is Keg.

 

[mkeen]

Often the best way to decipher old writing is to say the word aloud exactly as it has been spelled. Sometimes the spelling is so bad it is impossible to tell what they mean. With the items taken out of context also makes it more difficult. That said here goes.

Cag = keg   I've seen keg written as cag numerous times
Soffels = shovels ?
Sizers = scissors ?
bell = bell  It was common to have a bell to call the work crew in from the fields for a meal.
sifs = scythes ?
rings = rings  probably large wrought iron rings
wedge = iron wedge for splitting wood, very common on inventories and can be spelled numerous ways

Martin

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

I believe that the reference to the iron rings along with the wedge are maul rings.  These are stout iron rings about 6 to 8 inches daimeter by 1/4 inch thick by 1 inch wide.  These were used to reinfoirce the hitting faces of wood splitting mauls.  The handle and the maul head was made from hard wood, often on the spot.  Fit the rings on the faces of the head and you have a stout splitting maul (big hammer) to work with the wedges.  No need to carry over the Allegheny Mountains the entire maul - just the rings!

Jim

[mkeen]

The bell could also be a cow bell. In the early period livestock was allowed to roam freely and at milking time you would have to go find them. Fenced pastures were rarely used.  Any interpretation is very subjective. If you want additional data I would suggest checking the inventory for the estate of the deceased. These were very common in PA until the 1860's. Sometimes they are extremely detailed and others are very short.

Martin