Structure of a MOOC inventory
An inventory compiled by the Orphan Chamber had a specific and quite rigid structure. Often an inventory compiled by a burgher or field-cornet (veldkornet) in the districts did not follow the aforementioned structure to the letter, although it adhered to the elementary requirements.
In many cases the language used in these inventories reflects in some way or another deviations from 17th and 18th century Dutch. After the second British occupation of the Cape in 1806 the number of inventories in English increased but did not exceed those written in Dutch and/or Cape Dutch.
1
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10) |
Reference code
MOOC: Master of the Orphan Chamber
8: series 8
39: volume 39 of the series
15: case number 15 of this volume
Should there be no case number, it is indicated as MOOC8/39_No number.
When unnumbered documents were included under a particular numbered case, the main document is indicated with a, followed by the rest of the documents being b, c, etc.
MOOC8/4.122 1/2 a, MOOC8/4.122 1/2 b, MOOC8/4.122 1/2 c, etc.
Date of inventory
25 November 1823 – this was the date when the possessions of the deceased were listed.
In the case of the standardised version the following international rules were adhered to.
If documents b, c, etc. were undated, the date of the main document a was used instead.
Name of the deceased and/or spouse, the latter in the case of a mutual estate
(3a) |
White, William – this is the standardised format in which to present the name of the deceased. |
3b) |
William White – this is the name of the deceased as it appears in the inventory. |
In the case of a mutual estate the husband’s name preceeds that of the wife.
Should there be no name, it is indicated as No name.
Introductory paragraph
The following standard introductory paragraph (adapted according to content) usually appears in an English inventory:
“Inventory of all such property as has been relinquished by the death ab intestato of Levina Johanna Smith on the twenty fifth day of the month of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five for the benefit of her three natural children, named
1) Eduard Justus born 12 March 1809
2) Carel born 9 March 1813, the two lastmentioned not baptized
3) Pieter born 5 August 1815
The aforesaid property having been taken under the administration of the Board of Orphan Masters of this Colony in behalf of the aforesaid children, and been inventoried by me the undersigned and was found to consist in the following articles, viz: ... ”
Often a list of heirs
William White had no beneficiary. In the quoted inventory (4) 3 children were named as heirs.
List of possessions
Immovable goods (i.e. farms, estates, erven, houses) and/or
Movable goods (i.e. slaves, livestock, a boat, household items, jewellery)
Assets (credit) and liabilities (debit)
In White’s case cash and receipt of money due as credit.
Standard closing paragraph in English (adapted according to content)
“Thus inventoried at the Cape of Good Hope in the house aforesaid on the third day of the month of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty five according to a statement made by Johannes Wedego and Carel Christiaan Hendrik Slosser whom declared to have acted herein
bonafide and that to the best of their knowledge they has not withheld or secreted any thing that belonged to the aforesaid estate, and the said appearers further declared that is, and will at all times be ready and willing to confirm this statement by solemn oath if required, promising at the sametime that if after the date of these presents any property this estate might be discovered shall faithfully communicate it to the Orphan Chamber in order to amplify this inventory with the property so discovered.”
(9a) |
Standard sentence in English preceeding the signatures
“In witness whereof the Commissioners together with the appearer and the Secretary have subscribed to these presents.” |
(9b) |
Signatories
Person(s) who compiled the inventory, witnesses and official (if compiled officially) or authorized person(s) in the district (field-cornet and witnesses). The signatures on the left were transcribed first, followed by the signatures of those responsible for making the inventory, and the signature of the secretary or other official authorising the validity of the document. |
Additional information
Usually letters, notes, list of heirs, etc. regarding the case, often the first (‘unofficial’) inventory that was compiled. |
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