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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: wolfman99 on Wednesday 06 August 25 02:10 BST (UK)
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My 5 x great grandfather Thomas Brown was recorded into Newgate Prison in 1794. He was charged with what looks like "Stealing Deals" - the print is pretty vague.
Does anyone know what that means in today's terms?
Thanks
Jim
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Can you attach a snip of the writing so that we can see? Or a date of the trial so we can look at it?
I can see a Thomas BROWN committed to Newgate for stealing 16 shillings in silver from Richard SPICER - 29 Sept 1794.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1794
Publication: Oracle
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I wonder if it relates to stealing soft wood. I noticed a newspaper report 23 Oct 1869 Watford Observer
Stealing Deals at Watford
George Watford boatman of Doddington Leicester, was charged with stealing six deal planks value 30s ....
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Looking in newspapers I can see quite a few references to "stealing deals" from around 1750 onwards. Sounds right that it may be wood - some refer to "stealing Deals from on board a Lighter ..."; "stealing deals out of the sea"; "stealing deals from the timberyard"; "stealing deals from the raff yard"; etc.
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deal noun (WOOD)
[ U ]
the pale, soft wood of a pine or fir tree, used especially for making furniture:
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Also:
" ‘Deals’ were timber suitable for making boards, imported into east-coast ports from the Baltic, sometimes called Prussian deals. "
https://yorkshiredictionary.york.ac.uk/words/deal
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A “deal” was a measurement used for lumber.
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I knew about floorboards being made of deal,
But as maddys52 gives
An alternative etymology.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/deal
Always interested in language.
@Neale1961 can you expand, I have not come across that usage.
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@Neale1961 can you expand, I have not come across that usage.
Expanded here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal_(unit)
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Neale1961,
Thanks the reason I was particularly interested is that most of the floorboards of Edinburgh Tenement flats are made of deal. Very hard to get now I understand.
A bit frustrated as being interested, I looked up the reference in the article, and the book does not give a proper reference for his source, frustrations frustrations, I will now have to do some more research!
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Thanks for all your answers. This site is truly where the experts live.
Kinds regards
Jim
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Thanks for the post - enjoyed trying to get my head round this ready reckoner/guide (searched for deal or deals)
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_London_and_Country_Builder_s_Vade_me.html?id=s_jaqGg2UdcC&redir_esc=y
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Also:
" ‘Deals’ were timber suitable for making boards, imported into east-coast ports from the Baltic, sometimes called Prussian deals. "
https://yorkshiredictionary.york.ac.uk/words/deal
I'm involved in a transcription project and in a lot of letters from Newcastle merchants in late 17th to mid-18th century there are frequent references to the import of timber 'deals' from Sweden.