Genealogy Chat

Hi,
i can't find out how to convert £5.08.11d in 1855 to what it would be worth today.
Does any one know of a site that provides the conversion please,or has any one a rough idea

thanks all

£5.45 - 1 shilling = 5p (12 pence(d) to 1s)

Thanks lancashireann,

I didn't explain my self properly i meant is it worth like £20 or something

In 2008, £5 8s 11d from 1855 is worth

£369.26 using the retail price index.
£3,614.64 using average earnings.

found here:- http://measuringworth.com/calculators/ppoweruk/

Thanks,
my goodness!
That's how much my ancestor had owing to him when he fell over board a seal oil boat from greenland
So his widow must have been left well off,that's nice to know.
I'v book marked the link you gave me for future ref

Try the following websites
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency
http://measuringworth.com/index.html
regards Chris

sorry - I did wonder if that was what you meant

I have bookmarked the site you gave too Keith. Thanks

thanks all,
i have bookmarked the national archives converter also

Blue12 I'm not sure why you say "his widow must have been left well off,that's nice to know".

He was owed a sum of money with £369.26 of buying power in today's terms. It took a lot of earning but it is hardly leaving a widow well off.

Yes, but at the time, because wages were approx ten times less than they are now, it would have appeared like £3,614.64 of earnings to a person at the time.

So Brinsley you believe that what is perhaps four or five weeks of earnings is leaving someone "well off"? However you look at this sum of money it is not leaving anyone "well off".

This is probably far less money than the widow was expecting. It is pay earned up to a date of death a few weeks in to a voyage that the widow is paid several weeks late when the ship returns. She was expecting a husband and several months of earnings at that point. Without additional compensation or insurance he is most likely in terrible financial circumstances at this point.

Hi,
I didn't mean my grt grt grt grandmother was well off as such.
I meant that I'm guessing in 1855 she could probably have bought a house for about a pound? and was not left destitute.
I wonder how much a house would have cost in Lonmay Scotland in those days? I shall look in to it.
Also throughout the census she is not in a poor house.
My grandfather was on the return journey,he signed on in Feb and was returning from Greenland,the accident happened in the May off shore of Fraserburgh,so i expect the money my granny received was pretty much what she expected.

thanks to both of you for contributing
Blue

I didn't say that at all. My point was that in this case it might be more appropriate to compare the earnings figure.