Hello Eve and list Thanks for the help. No it's not a mistake. It was all in writing but after working a bit further through it I am not sure whether this is what he owes or what is owed to him and I initially misunderstood the summary as follows. After I was directed to the Scottish Documents site which has a currency converter I found that Scots money varied quite a bit in value depending on the date and the £26150-1-10 Scots is only worth £2179-3-5 sterling after 1707 when the currency was withdrawn. I feel a bit more comfortable with this figure but I still need to understand if the debts were owed to the deceased. "Summa Inventory Is three thousand six hundred thirteen pound eighteen shilling Scots money" " summa of the saids debts is twenty two thousand fyve hundred thirtie six pound three shilling ten pennies Scots money summa inventory and debts is twenty six thousand one hundred fyfty pound one shilling ten pennies Scots money" As the inventory was a positive amount and was added to the debts it looks as though the debts are owed to him but the following might help. The inventory is followed by the following statement and then lists bonds granted by quite a number of people. " Debts resting to the defunct......" Then followed the bonds of which the following is a typical example " .......Item one thousand merks Scots of principle containd in a bond granted by James Kirkman of Kirktounhill to the said defunct datted the fyfth day of December jajvij and twenty nine years which bond contains two hundreth merks of penalty jnde six hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shilling four pennies Scots Item @ rent of the said principle summ from Martinmas Jajvij and thirty eight to the defuncts death one hundered ten pound Eight shilling....." 1 merk = 13s and 4d regards Chris Bartlett > >> > >> The other odd thing about this person is this document shows > >> he has assets of £26000 Scots and debts of £22000 Scots > a pound Scots was worth less than a pound sterling - about 15s, I > think.It is still a great deal of money - could it be 26-00-00, or 00-0 > meaning 26 pounds no shillings, no pence. > > > -- > Eve McLaughlin > > Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians > Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

Hello All Another list member directed me to Scottish Documents on-line which has a mass of information and answered many of my questions. It includes handwriting, unusual words, money, Jaj dates etc. and should be brought to everyone's attention. Here is the help website. http://www.scottishdocuments.com/content/research_writinghelp.asp?nomenu= regards Chris Bartlett