All right, my friends--I've looked in every source I know for the following. What is a SEARCH???????? Here's the context: Inventory of the Estate of James Mason 21 Jun 1779 one pair money Scales L 1 0 0 one old Search 0 5 0 one large chest 2 0 0 This isn't a transcription problem--it says Search very clearly on the document. Any ideas? Karen Dale

It is a stretch, but perhaps a "searce" ("seerce", "seerch"); a small sieve. It does seem out of place in that invetory list, however. Any other items nearby in the list ? ----- Original Message ----- From: <KDale60909@aol.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 10:24 PM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] More mystery inventory items > All right, my friends--I've looked in every source I know for the following. > What is a SEARCH???????? > > Here's the context: > > Inventory of the Estate of James Mason > 21 Jun 1779 > > one pair money Scales L 1 0 0 > one old Search 0 5 0 > one large chest 2 0 0 > > This isn't a transcription problem--it says Search very clearly on the > document. > > Any ideas? > Karen Dale > > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > Hosted by Rootsweb http://www.rootsweb.com > > > ============================== > Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > your heritage! > http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog >

I think it is probably a dictionary; definition in a 1657 dictionary as follows: Garfield (Garfield 1657 @ 80025) Disquisition, a search, or en­ quiry. Diss­ [A Physical Dictionary.]

I would not disagree, however I know of no dictionaries before that of Samuel Johnson, written not long before 1755, an edition of which was published in two huge volumes (it was VERY expensive, I should add) in that year. Johnson's dictionary became important and rather common among teachers and intellectuals here by the edition of 1802. In fact, he there defines dictionary as a "book of words" and gives no synonyms. If earlier printed dictionariesare known, I surely would appreciate those titles and publishers. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brownie MacKie" <BMacKie1@compuserve.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 7:08 AM Subject: Re: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] More mystery inventory items > I think it is probably a dictionary; definition in a 1657 dictionary as > follows: > > Garfield (Garfield 1657 @ 80025) > > Disquisition, a search, or en­ quiry. Diss­ [A Physical Dictionary.] > > > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > USGenWeb Archives http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb > > > ============================== > Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate > your heritage! > http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog >