Could the last letter/digit have been meant as a letter - a small letter 'L' ? Many typefaces did (and do) have the same symbol for the number one and the small letter L. I have seen many old newspaper articles which used this convention. I agree that a donation of 501 pounds at that time would have been both huge and an odd amount. 50L or 50 pounds would have still been substantial. If it doesn't say 'pounds' or shillings or have any other symbol then my bet is that this is the explanation. By the way, one of my favourite websites is http://www.measuringworth.com/ It has detailed explanations about how difficult it is understand the way money has changed value over the years - and then it provides a variety of calculators to do just that! eg In 2006 the equivalent purchasing power of 501 pounds in 1809 would have been 26,409.77, 50 pounds in 1809 would have bought about what 2,635.71 would today. 1pound in 1809 would be equivalent to 52.71 in 2006. (and just for fun, if you ever bought a house, try putting in the price of your first house) Sorry to poke my nose in but it is worth learning to understand these old docs. Phyllis > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:48:33 +1000 > From: "Lyn Nunn" <lnunn@bigpond.net.au> > Subject: Re: [POWYS] The Cambrian 18 Feb 1809 - the poor. > To: <powys@rootsweb.com> > Message-ID: <007001c7fb39$1ddaba90$6730ae3a@enterpriseb> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi Dave > > I remember too :) It is definitely an l no a / They didn't seem to use ? in > print in those days that I have seen so far. > > Regards > > Lyn > > -----Original Message----- > From: powys-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:powys-bounces@rootsweb.com] On > Behalf Of Dave Matthews > Sent: Thursday, 20 September 2007 1:45 PM > To: powys@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [POWYS] The Cambrian 18 Feb 1809 - the poor. > > Hi Lyn, > > A question from one who remembers shillings...Should Sir Charles Morgan's > donation read '501' or '50/-' ? > > Dave Matthews > Corlette, Australia > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lyn Nunn" <lnunn@bigpond.net.au> > To: <GLAMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com>; <powys@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:03 AM > Subject: [POWYS] The Cambrian 18 Feb 1809 - the poor. > > > >> The benefits derived by the poor from the establishment of the Swansea >> Dispensary, are best elucidated by the number of cases, within the short >> space of three months, stated in the report of the medical gentlemen to >> the >> committee of subscribers held on Wednesday last - See Advertisement - This >> institution reflects honour upon the town, and eminently merits the >> approbation and support of all who can feel for the miseries of their >> indigent fellow-creatures when affected by disease. >> >> >> >> Last week, Sir Charles Morgan, of Tredegar, gave a donation of 50l. to be >> distributed among the industrious poor of the town of Brecon, which was >> laid >> out in the purchase of coals and blankets, furnishing a seasonal relief to >> many necessitous families. - Such an example is worthy of imitation. >> >> >> >> >> >> Lyn Nunn >> >> Brisbane >> >> Australia >> >>