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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Norfolk => Topic started by: ruthruss on Monday 18 January 21 00:20 GMT (UK)

Title: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: ruthruss on Monday 18 January 21 00:20 GMT (UK)
Hi everyone, Ephraim Batterby died in Shipdham in 1815. He was a farmer, and not wealthy. There is a small inventory at the bottom of his will which reads:

Personals
under £100
10s Stamp
2 Sheets

Can anyone tell me what on earth the stamp and sheets might refer to? Many thanks! If anyone needs the whole will for some context will post in a reply.
Title: Re: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: ruthruss on Monday 18 January 21 00:20 GMT (UK)
Will of Ephraim Batterby:

The last Will and Testament of Ephraham Batterber of the parish of Shipdham in the County of Norfolk Farmer I Ephrahem Batterber do hereby Will and bequeath to my Wife Frances Batterber all my stock farming utensils implements of husbandry household furniture and all my other property during her Life she paying to my daughter Sarah Batterber Wife of Zachariah Batterber of Lynn in the County of Norfolk the sum of thirty pounds and at the decease of my said Wife Frances Batterber the whole of the property Stock farming untensils implements of husbandry household furniture &c &c to be valued and equally divided between my daughters Frances & Anne their heirs administrators or assigns each of them appointing a friend to value the said property In witness whereof we sign seal our names this eight day of February eighteen hundred and fifteen.
Title: Re: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: Rena on Monday 18 January 21 02:10 GMT (UK)
For 500 years the UK government owned the Post Office and issued stamps, etc.

When I was younger it was not unusual for a shop keeper to issue a bill to his customer which had a postal stamp stuck on it, which was the tax due on the item.

I'm presuming that the 10 shilling postal stamp was payment for tax owed to the government

I'd be interested to see if somebody has a different explanation.
Title: Re: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: mckha489 on Monday 18 January 21 03:00 GMT (UK)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue_stamps_of_the_United_Kingdom
Title: Re: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 18 January 21 09:12 GMT (UK)
see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_duty_in_the_United_Kingdom
Title: Re: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: ruthruss on Monday 18 January 21 09:58 GMT (UK)
Thank you all for your replies. Do any of you know, is this "Personals" list just a list of things he had on him when he died? Seems a bit short to be a full inventory with so much listed in his will.
Title: Re: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: Skoosh on Monday 18 January 21 15:22 GMT (UK)
Rena, the UK hasn't existed for 500 years!  ;D

Skoosh.
Title: Re: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: Rena on Monday 18 January 21 19:00 GMT (UK)
Rena, the UK hasn't existed for 500 years!  ;D

Skoosh.

What's one hundred or so years amongst friends?   ::) ;D ;D ::)

Title: Re: Stamps in a will prior to the 1840 postal reform?
Post by: JohninSussex on Monday 18 January 21 19:21 GMT (UK)
Is that small list identified as an Inventory?  It does seem to be more like a series of file notes.
"File this document under Personals under £100.
10s stamp has been paid [or is to be paid]
The document contains 2 sheets."