Thomas Bridson, 1694

K: Malew Feb 7th 94/5

An Inventory of the goods of Thos: Bridson viewed & priced by John Farghar
and John Bridson as followeth
                                                                  lb    s                       lb      s      ..
In p[ri]mis: dj: 3 cows, 3 bullocks & a calfe 03:13: 00 It dj:)       
horse, 2 mares 7 2 fillies 35s                                                 ) 05 = 08 = 00
It: a quarter [sterr] 2s6d It: dj: small wooden [         ]&        ) 
[parnell?] seeve, carres, harrows & husbandry gears dj: potts)
pans, kettles, & other small household goods 30s                   )01 = 10 = 00
It:dj: powder 8s dj: candlesticks 10d dj: spitt & tongs 2d   --- 00 = 09 = 00
It:dj: 18lb betwixt hemp & tow 2s:3d  laxon yarn 1s  --------- 00 = 03 = 03
It:dj: tables, fram, forme. & chairs 2s.6d dj:dales 16d--------- 00 = 03 = 10
It:dj: axe 3d dj: wool & woolen yarn 1s. ------------------------ 00 = 01 = 03
It:dj: blanketts 8s:6d: dj; peece of cloth 2s  --------------------- 00 = 10 = 06
It:dj: caddons(?) & more blankets 4s:4d -------------------------00 = 04 = 04
It:     his made clothes 12s It  his stockins sholes & hatt 3s. ---00 = 15 = 00
It:dj: sheets 7 other linin 6s dj:[       ]& 2  [          ] 8s 6d  ------00 = 14 = 06
It:dj: chests & trunck 4s. dj: old (bedsted?) 2s ---------------- --00 = 06 = 00      
It:dj: brewing pan 40s -----------------------------------------------00 = 02 = 00
It: the [deceased's] part of mortgage land ------------------------02 = 00 = 00
It:dj: sheep 23s 3d dj; swine 3s -----------------------------------  01 = 06 = 03    
Now for the [deceased's] part of the corn and hay ------------- 01 = 13 = 08
                                                                                                   17 = 06 = 07
Tho: Bridson deceased about the 7th. of Febr. last
intestate, whereof the Court having Intelligence
has decreed his three children viz John, Willm &
Elizabeth sole & joynt Admrs of all his goods
moveable and unmoveable whatsoever: Tho next of 
Kin on the father's side supvisrs & a legacy to the
wife on sight of the Inventory

                                Jo & Jane Bridson 2 of the Supvsrs
                                are sworn in court in form of law
                               & the rest to be sworn next crt
                                                Decretum est & solvit 2s.

              The tuition of the Children with the goods are in
               the mother's hands, who has given Pledges
                Jo: Quaile & Tho: Quayll

[      ] deducted out of the inventory by the wife [             ]           (end of page torn)
                                                                                            lb    s    d
                                                                                             1 = 8 = 2

Febrs 1st 1695/6

Wm Harrison enters agt the Admst of Tho: Bridson 
for 17 shills due debt, and craves the law. 
Itm He enters for 7.6d more for Robt. Shimmins
       maintenance for 13 weeks & 3 days according
       to an agreemt made betwixt the Claimer &
       the above Tho: Bridson: 

              Nov 1st. 1701 Jo & Eliz: Bridson, two
               of the Admrs being dead, thir mother 
              has expended at the funerals            lb       s      d
                                                                                       = 01 = 18 = 00
                besides, for instructing John in his)
                Trade                                         )                   = 01 = 10 = 00    
                Wch is to be deducted out of the afforesd
                Inventory
                More as pd. to the above  -                              JWoods, Reg..     
                Wm Harrison =4s = 6d
                 
                 May 1st.1704
                 More paid for instructing Wm in his             lb      s      d
                 trade ------------------------------------------ =  03 = 00 = 00
              It. For the Father's Decree, & Jon's & Eliz: = 00 = 03 = 06   
                   Itm. for his cloathing and shoes              =  00 = 18 = 07
Nov 2 1708 Paid Wm Bridson by Edwd Quay)
                       his Stepfather                             )          =  6 = 13 = 09
Augt. 9. 1709 Recd. more from Edwd Quay               = 01 = 10 = 01 
                                                                                         17 =  6 = 07 (sic?!)

Eod. die. Wm Bridson the only surviving Adm came
& acknowledged to be fully satisfied all that fell
due to him by the Decease of his father Thomas
Bridson & acquits his mother, his Exts of Adms
of all & every part of the said effects for ever
          J. Woods. R E        [                  ]          

Note: I believe that this Thomas was born in 1648 to John Bridson and Catherine Shimmin of Oristal in Malew. He married Margt. Fargher on 1 August 1682 and they lived and farmed Cross Fourways. Thomas appears to have died unexpectedly at the age of 46 and intestate. Of his three children, John (b. 27 Oct 1683) and Elizabeth (b. 18 Oct 1690) are both dead by 1701 leaving William (b. 5 January 1686) as the sole survivor. (Premature death was a commonplace but the entries for the mother's expense for their funerals and for `instructing John in his Trade' are particularly poignant.)

William, the surviving son may well be the William who married Jane, heiress of Oristal, his cousin once removed. Captain William of `Aristal' , as he is styled in the Malew Burial Register, was buried on 29th. June 1746. In his somewhat curt will (qv) he mentions Four Crossways, the home of his son in law, but only effectively to cut him out with a legacy of 6d.

Thomas' wife evidently married again, this time to Edward Quay , referred to in the above papers as Willam's stepfather. Jo and Jane Bridson, named as supervisors in Thomas' will could be his brother and sister. ` Thomas next of kin on the father's side' could be Uncle Thomas but if so he would have been a fairly old man by 1694.