David Bell died in 1818, and here 199 years later is a listing of his personal belongings for all to see on the internet. Both Family Search and Ancestry have these digital images of "Appraisals & Inventories" from the 1800's for Wayne County, Kentucky. David died at 24 years old with a wife and four small children. I posted his Will earlier this year. Fortunately for his wife Polly, he wrote in his will that she was to have all his estate.
Three men signed this Valuation, dated December 18, 1818. Only one of those three men also signed the statement below in 1828 - ten years later. I read somewhere that the first person listed who appraised the estate was the person the deceased owed the most money to, as he would benefit the most from the items being sold at the highest price. David's estate, though, was not sold. The second appraiser would likely be someone related to the widow to represent her interests. The third appraiser was someone with no interest in the estate but knowledge of the value of things. I don't think that's the case here, the name David Dunkin/Duncan comes last on the valuation and first on the statement. I'm interested in the name Isaac Burnett because of some other documents I have with that name on them. I'm looking for the maiden name of Polly Bell's mother, and I'm wondering if there's a connection there.
From this valuation list, I get a total of $402.19, a difference of $99.86 from the total in the statement with no explanation for that. There isn't much family information here, but it is interesting. The handwriting is a little hard to read and I'm not familiar with some of the terms, so I may have some transcription errors (it looks like "fan heat" to me, but after the "Great Coat and Leggings" "Fur Hat" makes more sense). I don't know what the marks mean at the beginning of the lines that start under "one small pot", or why it mentions shillings when the dollar was the currency at that time. And there is no mention of the 100 acres of land David Bell bought in 1815 in Wayne County. So, for what it's worth, here it is.
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| Kentucky Probate Records, Appraisals, Inventories 1816-1838 Vol A. at Familysearch.org |
A valuation of the Estate of David Bell dec'd
Value made the 18th December 1818 by the undersigned
One Sorrel Mare & Colt appraised to ..................................50.00 current money
One Young Sorrel horse appraised to ..................................50.00
One Sorrel horse appraised to .............................................60.00
Value of cattle twelve head of cattle .....................................78.00
One Saw, drawing knife, auger & Chisel value ......................4.00
One Shovel plow, axe shoe & Iron wedge .............................5.75
One log chain four dollars ......................................................4.00
One pr drawing chains ..........................................................2.00
One Shovel plow & collar .......................................................3.12
One little wheel ......................................................................2.50
One Check Reel .........................................................................75
One Big wheel .........................................................................1.25
One Man Saddle appraised to ...............................................15.00
1 Great Coat & leggings ........................................................10.50
1 Fur Hat appraised to ............................................................3.00
1 Bed of furniture .................................................................24.00
1 Bed Bed appraised to ..........................................................11.25
Dresser furniture .....................................................................7.75
One small pot ...........................................................................2.00
(?) some bed clothing thirty one shilings .................................5.16 2/3
(?) 1 chest ................................................................................2.00
(?) five chairs ten shillings ......................................................1.66 2/3
(?) Geese & ducks thirty three shillings ...................................5.50
1 cow & steer .........................................................................11.00
Beef hide .................................................................................2.00
(?) 13 hogs ............................................................................21.00
(?) 14 hogs ............................................................................19.00
Isaac Burnet
John Kogan
David Dunkin
Appraisers appointed by Court
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| Kentucky Probate Records, Appraisals, Inventories 1816-1838 Vol A. at Familysearch.org |
"Kentucky Wayne County Sct
The undersigned having been appointed by an order of the Wayne County Court, made at their last August term Commissioners to settle with the Executor of the Estate of David Bell decd. have discharged the duty assigned us & make the following report, to wit, we find that the Estate of the said decedent in the hands of John Adair and Robert Parmley, his Executors after deducting the amount paid by Sd Executors of Moneys & property due and Owing from Sd Estate is worth the Sum of $502.05. Give under our hands this 22nd Sept 1828.
David Duncan
Joseph Hurt
Moses Sallee"
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