We can ascertain the value of everyday objects through an examination of deodands (i.e. animals & objects that caused accidental deaths). For instance, Alexander the Gardiner from Bedfordshire was using a spade when he died in 1271 that was valued at 1.5 pence according to this coroner's roll. 🧵2/10 - ThreadSky

kfduggan.bsky.social • 68 days ago

We can ascertain the value of everyday objects through an examination of deodands (i.e. animals & objects that caused accidental deaths). For instance, Alexander the Gardiner from Bedfordshire was using a spade when he died in 1271 that was valued at 1.5 pence according to this coroner's roll. 🧵2/10

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kfduggan.bsky.social•68 days ago

Spades played an important role in 13th-century peasants' lives. Alexandra Sapoznik & Janken Myrdal showed the importance of hand cultivation when the amount of land under peasant cultivation decreased and living standards fell (see their "Spade Cultivation and Intensification of Land Use"). 🧵3/10

kfduggan.bsky.social•68 days ago

Spades appear in legal records not only as objects involved in accidental deaths, but also as weapons, such as in this 13th-century case in which a man gave another person a large wound by hitting him in the head with a spade. In such cases (especially homicide cases), spades are not valued. 🧵4/10

thoss.bsky.social•68 days ago

Phew nm

kfduggan.bsky.social•68 days ago

This means (at least for my work on 13th-century living standards) the value of most objects listed in criminal records will remain unknown. Usually it's only cases of accidental death that provide values for objects. Fortunately /unfortunately, many such deaths are listed in these records. 🧵5/10

kfduggan.bsky.social•68 days ago

Some objects/animals such as horses are listed often. In an thread from weeks ago I noted that the average value of horses I’ve found (so far) from 1218–1294 is 7s.1d. (i.e. 85 pence). That’s a lot of money. Consequently, people did not take kindly to horse thieves. 🧵6/10
https://bsky.app/profile/kfduggan.bsky.social/post/3laytel42d22o

kfduggan.bsky.social•68 days ago

My findings on horses reveals that some types of objects/animals have widely different values. Size, age, quality & training affected valuations of horses, which range from 12 pence to 480 pence. Interestingly, nearly every horse I find belonged NOT to the nobility; they were peasants' horses.🧵7/10

kfduggan.bsky.social•68 days ago

Ladders are another obvious example. Size and quality had an impact on the value of ladders. For instance, this legal record from Buckinghamshire in 1241 shows (in back-to-back entries) that one ladder involved in an accidental death was worth 1 penny, while the other was worth 3 pence. 🧵8/10

kfduggan.bsky.social•68 days ago

Thread on hold. Sorry, but it’s stopped raining for a moment, which means I need to take this little monster out for a walk.

awanderinglurker.bsky.social•68 days ago

Not again! 😆😁

thoss.bsky.social•68 days ago

It was just getting good!!!

isaac32767.picknit.com•68 days ago

Priorities!!!

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