This is one of my favorite pieces of paper to find in a Civil War pension packet. It is often the only place you can find a marriage record or exact birth dates for children. This also lists his wife’s maiden name and who married them. Thankfully, I have several of these in my collection.
This one is for my 3rd great-grandfather, John Henry Becker.
Are you lucky enough to have any of these for your ancestors?
This is the appraisment of the estate of Silas Moorman, dated 31 March 1777. He was my first cousin, 7 times removed.
I have left out the worth of the items, simply because it’s hard for me to write them here.
Unfortunately, it is only the first half of his appraisal. I actually was making a copy of the document on the previous page, which continued onto this one (I was in a REAL time crunch since I had 5 kids and a tired husband waiting in the car for me while I was making copies in the courthouse). So here, is half of the appraisal. 🙁
The appraisement of Silas Moorman Decd Estate March 31st 1777
To four sides of Tan Leather To one Mans Saddle Cloth
To 1 Small Shott Gun To One Larg Shott Gun
To three Raw Cow hides To one set of Cart Boxes
To one pr of Saddle Bags To one Womens Saddle
To one Chern + can To one Bed Cover
To Working Tools To two Bells
To one pr Pinches + one hand Saw two Chessels one gouge one Drawing Knife
To one Brass cettle To 1 Pan
To one shovel + Tongs To two Potts + Pott Hooks
To one Tea Cettle To three flat Irons
To one Linen Wheel To one Cotton Wheel
To Six Cheers To 1 Chest
To one Hare Trunk To one Safe
To one small Trunk To two bowls To one Tumbler To five Earthen Plates
To four Cups + ? one milk Pott To one glass ?
To three Books To two small Trunks
To one picker To Six small Jugs
To four Bottles To one Spice Morter + Pestle
To Three Butter Potts
To four Basons four Dishes one dozen Plates + Seven Spoons
To knives and forks to small Box To one Table
To one Candlestick and Snuffer
The man on the right is my husband’s great-grandfather, Rev. Nicholas Van Cossaboon {1877-1949}.
It looks like this may have been taken at some sort of a lodge function (just my guess). He was a member of many different organizations, including: Rebekahs, I.O.O.F., Ancient Arabic Order, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Royal Arch Masons, Knights Templar, Free and Accepted Masons. Any guess as to which this could be?
My 3rd great-granfather, John Henry Becker, served for the Union during the Civil War – out of Missouri. Here is an affidavit for his pension. He was receiving it because of deafness, caused during a battle.
.John H. Becker, aged 61 years…
… I am the claimant above described and state that I incurred partial Deafness on or about the 7th day of October 1864 at Jefferson City, Missouri and that it came upon me under the following circumstances to wit:
That on said date when Occured my deafness I was a member of Co. I 43 regt En? Missouri Militia and was then and … commanding said company as Lt and was … near… Jefferson City Mo and my company was sustaining a Battery of Artillery and in battle with the enemy and the cannonading affected my ears and caused my deafness, that for a few weeks after that battle it was difficult for me to hear and my deafness has continued from that date continually.
Silas Moorman was my first cousin, 7 times removed.
I found his will while visiting Bedford County, Virginia 3 1/2 years ago. It was written in 1776, 200 years before I was born {I was a bicentennial baby}. I guess it just struck me that this was a LONG TIME AGO. 🙂
In the Name of God Amen the second day of November in the year of Our Lord Christ 1776. I, Silas Moorman in the County of Bedford being Sick and Weak in body but of Perfect mind and Memory thanks begiven until God therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament, That is to say Principally and first of all, I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of god that gave it and for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be Burried in a Christian Like and decent Manner at the discresion of my Executors nothing Doubting but at the general Resurection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of god and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me with in this life my Lawfull Debts being first paid, I give desire and Dispose of the same in the following Manner and form Imprimis I lend and Bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Sally Moorman my Land and Plantation where on I now live Containing of One Hundred acres, and four Negroes, Cuff, James, Jenney + Joe and Stock of all kinds, Three Beds and all other Household furniture, her widowhood or till my Children comes of age and if she Marries Then the whole above Mentioned articles to be Divided amongst my wife and Three Children Martha Moorman Jacob Moorman + Pleasant Moorman Land Excepted. I Bequeath unto my son Jacob Moorman One Hundred acres of Land with the Plantation whereon I now live, which if my wife do not Marry while my Three Children comes of age then the whole Estate be Equal Divided Except the Land I do Constitute and appoint my Brother Charles Moorman Jacob Moon Junior and my Brother Andrew Moorman Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I do revoke all former Wills by me heretofore made Ratifying and confirming, This my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hear unto set my hand + Seal this Second day of November One Thousand seven hundred and Seventy Six.
Signed Sealed Published and delivered
in Presents of}
Archer Moon, Salem Bocock, Lodwick Cook
{seal} Silas Moorman
At a Court held for Bedford County the 24th day of February 1777 This Last Will and Testament of Silas Moorman Deceased was proved by the oath of Archer Moon a Witness thereto Subscribed and at a Court held for said County the 24th day of March 1777. The said Will was further Proved by the affirmation of Salem Bocock another Witness thereto Subscribed and Ordered to be recorded And on the motion of Charles Moorman Jacob Moon Junr and Andrew Moorman The Executors therein named who made Oath thereto Certificate is Granted then for Obtaining Probate thereof in due form giving Security whereupon they Together with a Nicholas Mead and William Moon their Securities entered unto and acknowledged their Bond in the Penalty of Three Thousand Pounds for the said Executors due and faithfull administration of the said Decendents Estate and performance of this will.
Test Ja Stepto Cl.
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