Probate
Inventory for John Giddens – 1802
John Giddens
was my 4th great-grandfather (great-great-great-great-grandfather). He was the father of my 3rd
great-father, Mitchell Giddens, and was the grandfather of my
great-great-grandfather, George L. Giddens, of North Carolina.
John Giddens
died, in Wayne County, NC, sometime before November 1802; the first date found in his probate record.
The probate went on for years; however, his
possessions were inventoried and sold within a month or two. John had at least
1,000 acres of land. I have always assumed that he was a farmer. According to
early census records, John Giddens did not own slaves.
In Probate Inventories: A Window to Your
Ancestor’s World, Patricia Law suggests to carefully study tools and farm
implements, look for items related to occupations and items out of the
ordinary. This inventory has items that
relate to several occupations. John had
a large amount of livestock, some farm tools, shoemaker and hatter tools, a trumpet, some books,
and a good variety of household items.
Was he a
farmer? Was he well off? He must have
been comfortable. John Giddens had a wife and eight children when he died. This accounts for the 10 pewter plates, 11
earthen plates, and 12 spoons. I don’t
know his occupation; however, if I were to guess, I would think that John Giddens
might have been a dairy farmer and/or pig farmer. Look at his inventory below. What do you
think?
Inventory of
the Estate of John Giddens Deed taken the 12th of Nov. 1802
1000 Acres
land
|
2 qt
bottles. 5 jugs. 2 chest
|
8 head of
horses
|
1 table 7
chairs
|
23 head of
Cattle
|
9 cider
barrels
|
116 head of
hogs
|
11 kegs 2 old
hogheads
|
17 head of sheep
|
3 pair cards
|
4 feather
beds & furniture
|
1 loom, 3 old
barrels
|
some loose
feathers
|
2 slip &
harness
|
3 iron pots
|
2 smoothing
irons
|
1 iron kettle
|
1 pot trammel
1 griddle
|
1 copper tea
kettle
|
3 augers 3 chisels
|
1 frying
pan 1 skillet
|
2 handsaws 1 drawing knife
|
2 pewter dishes
|
2 tubs 1 pole
2 Riggins
|
3 pewter Basins
|
2
decanters 4 tin cups
|
10 pewter plates
|
1 meal
sifter 1 wheat riddle
|
12 pewter spoons
|
1 shot
gun 1 churn
|
11 earthen
plates
|
11 gimlets
1pr c_______
|
1 Doz tea
cups & saucers
|
1 iron
square 1 candle stick
|
1 tin coffee
pot
|
1 pair steel
yards, steel trap
|
1 lantern
|
1 hone 1 Razor 10 books
|
1 grater
|
1 iron
ladle 2 tumblers
|
1 trumpet
|
1 small desk 2 ink stands
|
3 wool wheels
|
1 case Knifes
& forks
|
2 linen
wheels
|
1 pair
shears 1 pr scissors
|
1 hackle
|
1 pair chest
hinges
|
1 wheat sieve
|
1 do iron wedges 1 Fraw
|
3 bar plows
|
2 Scythes
& cradles
|
11 hooks
|
1 carrying
knife 1 curry comb
|
5 grubing
hoes
|
6 Bells 1 tray
3 bridles
|
6 weeding
hoes
|
2 foils 1 cowhide
|
2
hammers 1 cart
|
1 womans
saddle
|
1 grind stone
|
80 barrels
corn 20 bushels wheat
|
1 Set of
hatter implements
|
20 bushels
potes
|
1 set shoe
makers tools
|
3 pair plough
gier
|
2 cans and
bottles
|
2 cooper’s
adze
|
5 axes 2 hatchets
|
|
3 bolts_______
|
|
2 sides
leather
|
|
10 geese 7 ducks
|
|
1 note av
James Solly for two hundred ___ pork
|
|
1 note for
£3. 6
1 note vs Wm
Broadhurst for £1
1 note vs Tho
Brown 5 pence
1 note vs
Christopher Brown 10 pence
1 note vs Ann
Reeves 10 pence
1 note vs
Mary Moore £2.4.6
1 note vs
Henry Hobian 1.15
1 note vs
John Reeves 10
60 dollars in
Cash
3 pewter
tankards
1 ___________
1 Slate
2 ____
ladders
2 plains
2 jointers
Some fodder
|
Probate Inventories: A Window to
Your Ancestor’s World
– Patricia Law Hatcher, CG, FASG
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Diana
© 2011, copyright Diana Quinn
