Historical Inventories

When a person died in the 18^th and early 19^th century, a list or inventory was created of everything of value they owned, so that if necessary, these items could be sold to settle any debts.  Each item was given a realistic value.  An inventory provides historians with a way of knowing what people owned when they died.  However, it’s important to realize that during a person’s lifetime, they may have sold or given away other things that would not appear in an inventory. When Cesar Peters’ inventory was taken the values were given in dollars and cents. The quantity of items is listed on the far left, the item or items are then described and the value appears on the far right.

Many terms in an early inventory will seem strange to you and understanding them requires much investigation.  The following might help to make things a little clearer:

Do       means ditto or same as the above

Bedstead is the wooden frame for what we call a bed today

Bed means something like a mattress

Scythes, sickles and snathes are tools used to harvest grain or cut hay

Beettle is a large hammer

Porter is a type of beer

A bason is a bowl

A clevy is a ring used to hook a farm cart to horses or oxen

Earthen ware was usually locally made pottery

Pewter was a soft metal used to make plates, bowls and mugs

Looking glass was a mirror hung on the wall

Warming pan was a metal pan filled with hot coals to warm the bed sheets at night

An inventory of the estate both real and personal of Cesar Peters late of Hebron deceased—

Taken and appraised by us the subscribers

Real Estate and farm assets

1          House 2 stories high, small barn and 2 acres of land                       250     00

Farm related

1          cow                                                                                                                21       00

1          hog                                                                                                                 15       00

2 ½     tons of hay   estimated at $10                                                                25       00

Books

1          prayer book                                                                                                             50

Textiles

3          old beds (mattresses) @$4                                                                     12       00

3          under beds   (mattresses)                                                                        2          00

5          old bed quilts                                                                                               3          75

1          pair new linen sheets @$2.50                                                               2          50

2          pair old linen sheets $3 each                                                                  6          00

1          old sheet                                                                                                                   75

1          pair pillow cases                                                                                                     17

2          old bolsters                                                                                                              50

2          old pillows                                                                                                                34

Textile production and care

1          pair wool combs                                                                                                     25

1          do damaged                                                                                                            25

1          pair flat irons                                                                                                           83

3          clothes baskets                                                                                                       66

1          clothes line                                                                                                               40

Wearing apparel

1          Napt hat                                                                                                        4          00

1          silk vest                                                                                                         1          50

1          Kerseymear (finely woven wool) vest                                                               75

2          old vest                                                                                                                      34

1          Pair Nankin (pale yellow cotton cloth) pantaloons                                       75

1          Neck handkerchief                                                                                                 25

1          old shirt                                                                                                                     25

1          shirt check’d                                                                                                20

4          old pair pantaloons                                                                                               50

1          surtout (coat)                                                                                              2          00

1          woolen coat                                                                                     4          00

1          colored Nankin (pale yellow cotton cloth) coat                                             50

1          pair of stockings                                                                                                     50

1          silk handkerchief                                                                                                    50

1          pair old shoes                                                                                                          34

1          pair stockings                                                                                                          50

1          pair mittens                                                                                                             17

1          razor and strap                                                                                                        25

1          leather apron                                                                                                          34

1          Pocket book                                                                                                             50

Furniture

4          bedsteads                                                                                                     1          25

2          chest @ $1                                                                                                   2          00

2          chests @ $.25                                                                                                         50

1          Meal chest                                                                                                               50

12       Kitchen chairs                                                                                              2          00

1          stand table                                                                                                               25

3          tables                                                                                                             1          50

3          bed cords                                                                                                      1          00

1          looking glass                                                                                                            50

1          do   small                                                                                                                  25

Household Kitchen equipment

26       round porter (beer) bottles                                                                                 2          25

4          do  do do                                                                                                                  31

4          square do do                                                                                                           72

1          two quart bottle                                                                                                     50

1          do do do                                                                                                                   34

1          warming pan (for warming beds on cold nights)                               2          00

1          frying pan                                                                                                                 75

2          spiders (small frying pan) @ 7 Skillet /7 1 do /10                                         44

3          iron pots                                                                                                       3          50

3          do kettles                                                                                                      2          25

1          tea kettle                                                                                                                   25

1          iron bason                                                                                                                34

1          small brass kittle (kettle)                                                                          1          25

1          pair steelyards (scale for measuring weight)                                                 34

3          candlesticks                                                                                                             75

1          do firedogs   (andiron)                                                                              1          00

2          trammels and hooks (for hanging pots over fire)                              1          50

            Slice (fireplace shovel) and tongs                                                                       50

            Gridiron                                                                                                                    10

            Old chains                                                                                                    1          00

Serving or Table wares

8          earthen plates                                                                                                         67

1          quart mug                                                                                                                17

2          pewter plates                                                                                              2          00

5          quart basins                                                                                                 1          67

1          do cup                                                                                                                       75

1          tea pot qt                                                                                                                 83

1          do  do small                                                                                                             42

1          Quart glass 2 pints do 4 ½ pt do and 8 wine do                                 1          34

1          old pewter tea pot                                                                                                 25

1          whiteware pot                                                                                             1          00

1          stone pot                                                                                                                  34

2          small jugs                                                                                                                 17

1          tin roaster                                                                                                                 17

2          wooden bowls                                                                                                        34

2          pewter platters                                                                                                       34

1          tin pail 1 do pan 1 do with handles                                                                   83

2          wood pails                                                                                                                67

6          tea cups and saucers                                                                                             50

1          sett china                  (tea)                                                                           5          00      

1          tea basket                                                                                                                 10      

 

Dairy Equipment

2          earthen milk pans                                                                                                  34

1          cheese tub and hoop                                                                                2          50

1          churn                                                                                                                         34

           

Farming tools

1          beetle rings and 2 wedges

1          cradle (support to catch cut grain) and scythe                                               50

1          small grain    scythe                                                                                                50

1          half bushel                                                                                                               50

6          meal bags                                                                                                     4          50

2          old dry casks                                                                                                            17

1          Man’s saddle                                                                                               2          00

1          old half bushel                                                                                                        10

1          old wheel spindle                                                                                                   50

2          old scythes                                                                                                               44

1          snathes and blades                                                                                                34

1          sickle                                                                                                                          25

3          old bushel baskets                                                                                                 75

1          taper bit  2 gimblets and pincers basic carpenter tools)                             50

2          Provision Barrels @  / 50                                                                         1          00

10       old cider do   at /34                                                                                               3

1          axe __  1 shovel __1 old axe  34                                                             2          34

1          plough 4  clevy and pin (hook for a cart)  31  pitch fork /7 and 1 do                                                                                                                                                       5          35

1          iron pin /7  2 rakes /34  2 hoes 84                                                         1          35

1          sieve                                                                                                                           08

2          pad locks                                                                                                                   34

18       old casks                                                                                                       2          50

Food stuffs

1 ½     barrels of cornmeal                                                                                   1          50

1 ½     do rye do                                                                                                      2          00

            Pork estimated 30 lbs at 12 cts                                                               3          60

                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                    400     07

                                                                                    add                                                     62

                                                                                                                                    400     69

Reuben Mann

Joseph T. Burnham

A list of receipts on the estate follows totaling $232.36

$7.61 funeral expense related items