What is a "deal"?

[wolfman99]

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

[maddys52]

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

[Kay99]

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 ....

[maddys52]

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.

[PatLac]

deal noun (WOOD)

[ U ]
the pale, soft wood of a pine or fir tree, used especially for making furniture:

[maddys52]

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

[Neale1961]

A “deal” was a measurement used for lumber.

[David Nicoll]

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.

[Neale1961]

@Neale1961 can you expand, I have not come across that usage.

Expanded here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal_(unit)