Hi Byron, I can't offer a suggestion yet re the seggni chair, but can offer a little re the coffe pots. According to the OED, 1607 is very early for the word coffe (as in coffee) to be in the English language. The OED gives various citations under three headings: 1. Foreign forms [such as kahve and kauhi] - earliest citation 1598, with Turkish connections 2. Coffa caffe, capha - earliest citation 1603 3. Cauphe, cophie, cophee, coffe, coffee, etc. - earliest citation 1601. The first citation for coffee pot is 1705. So coffee can't have been all that common in 1607. Did the owner have Turkish or "East Indian" connections? The availability and popularity of coffee grew rapidly after the Restoration, courtesy of the East India Company. But it would originally have been for the well-to-do classes. I hope that helps. Cheers, Liz in Melbourne Quoting Byron Pershouse <byro@tpg.com.au>: > Hello all > I have obtained an inventory compiled in 1607 which contains some items > about which I hope someone will be able to to provide some information > > Item 1 four iron candlesticks, five seggni chairs, one cheese toaster, > one iron shoe and dozen of iron stands > > Item 2 One bacon rack, one dresser with drawers, two tables, two tin > coffe pots and wax candle box > > In Item 1. What is a seggni chair? > In Item 2. Was "coffee" a common beverage in 1607 or could the > transcription be incorrect? > > > Regards > Byron > Bundaberg, Australia > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ > >

In message <1086592490.40c415ea5a91a@webmail.hotkey.net.au>, emagar@hotkey.net.au writes >Hi Byron, > >I can't offer a suggestion yet re the seggni chair I feel this is a misreading, but haven't worked out what it would be. Of the chairs usualluy found wooden, armed, carved, rush/rushen, tapestry, olde, are the most usual terms. >, but can offer a little >re the coffe pots. > >According to the OED, 1607 is very early for the word coffe (as in coffee) It would be really remarkable in a private household of that date. Even in an eating house, the mid 1600s is the usual starting point. Are you quite sure it is not brasse pott? Or a cookin(g) pott? >offee grew rapidly after the Restoration, >courtesy of the East India Company. first founded 1601, so this would be VERY early > But it would originally have been for >the well-to-do classes. > Is there an image to study? -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society