Can anyone tell me, why does he only have “notes” listed as what the inventory of his estate is – notes from 1871 (the document was from 1877)? Is there any significance to these notes?  Did he own nothing worth mentioning? Nothing?

Be it Remembered that on the 13th day of March AD 1871 Letters of Administration in Common form were granted to P. Peterson Pierce ___ the estate of Jacob Peirce late of Rayne Township dec’d who did on the 8th day of  March 1871 at 3 o’clock am  he having first given bond to the Commonwealth in the Sum of Five Hundred Dollars conditioned according to law with John A Kinter and Joseph Longhey as Securities Same day Administrator Sworn According to law.

D. R. Lewis

Register

(See Bond + c filed)

Joseph Campbell was a half-brother to my husband’s 3rd great-grandfather, William Campbell.  They both lived in Indiana County, PA.

Joseph appears to have been pretty well off.  He even owned a silver watch worth $10. 

Inventory of the Goods and Chattels, Rights and Credits of Joseph Campbell late of Center Township Indiana county, deceased.

Indiana County, ss.

We John H. Allison + W. H. McMullen do swear by Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, that we will well and truly, and without prejudice or partiality, value and appraise the Goods, Chattels, and Credits of Joseph Campbell late of Center Township Indiana County, deceased, and in all respects perform our duty as appraisers, to the best of our skill and judgment, and that as we shall answer to God at the Great Day.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 29 ” day of May 1879} John H. Allison        W H McMullen

D. R. Lewis Register

3 Cows – $15                        $45.00
3 Yearling calves 6 18.00
2 Spring calves 3 6.00
One Sorrel mare & colt 50.00
” Brown mare & colt 60.00
Six Shoats 10.00
5 Sheep 12.50
5 Lambs 10.00
One Farm Wagon 18.00
” Spring Wagon 15.00
One corn drill 2.00
” Harrow 2.50
” Log Chain 1.00
One Spread chain .50
” cultivator 2.50
” Plow 1.50
2 Setts Heavy harness 25.00
Single trees 1.00
One man’s saddle 2.00
2 Riding Bridles 1.50
2 Halters .50
One mattock .75

carried over $285.25

Amount brought over $285.25

One manure fork .50
2 cant Hooks .50
One Hoisting jack .50
” Half bushel measure .50
” Sheep Skin .50
” Half Barrel salt .50
One fanning mill 8.00
” Grain Shovel .25
2 pitch forks .20
1 pair hay ladders .50
Hay fork and tackle 9.00
4 Bushels of wheat $1 4.00
4 Do Oats 1.00
5 Old Barrels .25
One Grindstone .50
A lot of loose irons about saw mill 1.00
4 Acres of oats in ground 12.00
3 Do in Growing wheat 9.00
4 Do ” corn 16.00
5 Do ” Rye 10.00
One old axe .25
One half interest in Russel Mower 20.00
” Hay Rake 12.00
” Old Sled and Box 1.00
” Lot of Oak posts 1.00
One Garden Spade .40
2 corn Hoes .40
2 Hives of Bees $4 8.00
2 mowing scythes 1.00
One Grain cradle 2.00
One lot of feathers 3.00
” spinning wheel .50
2 Grain Rakes .30
” piece of Harness .50
One large chest and contents 4.00
” small chest of drawers 1.50
stand .50
[new page]
one large chest and contents 4.00
” small chest of drawers 1.50
” ” stand .50
” clock case 1.00
One Bedstead and bedding 3.00
” Do ” Do” 5.00
4 Bed quilts 4.00
map of Indiana County 1.00
2 sickles .40
One side saddle 3.00
” lot of wool 5.00
” churn .50
meat vessels and cider Bbl. 2.00
2 Spinning wheels 2.50
One Reel 1.00
One churn 1.00
Old Bread tray .50
Flour and corn meal 1.25
4 Grain sacks 1.00
One Bureau 5.00
” Bedstead and Bedding 10.00
” Table and cover 4.00
” Do 3.00
One Stand .60
11 chairs 40c 4.40
One Rocking chair 1.00
A lot of Books 10.00
One Bedstead and Bedding 6.00
” Dough Tray 1.00
One clock 2.50
2 old looking Glasses 1.00
One cook stove 3.00
Contents of cupboard 4.00
A lot of crockery and Tin ware 1.50
One silver Watch 10.00

We do Certify that after being duly sworn as appraisers, we attended at the late residence of Joseph Campbell deceased, in Center Township Indiana County, on the 5th day of June A.D. 1879, when and where the foregoing articles were exhibited to us, an that we appraised the same as above stated.
Witness our hands this Fifth day of June 1879.
John H. Allison
W H McMullen

The transcription of the will follows the images.

In the name of God Amen, I Joseph Campbell of the Township of Center, County of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania being impressed with a Sense of the uncertainty of human life but being of Sound and disposing mind and memory do hereby make this my Last Will and Testament and first all Just debts and funeral expenses being paid I give and bequeath the remainder of my personal estate and effects (except my silver watch) to my wife Rebecca to be at her Sole disposal. my silver watch above excepted I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Ann and further I give and devise in ____ to my wife Rebecca without power to Sell or alieviate my Real estate on Which we now reside with the improvements thereto belonging to be held and managed by her for her Sole use and benefit during her natural life and further I direct that upon the decease of my wife Rebecca my Real estate shall be disposed of and the proceeds distributed as follows. To my Daughter Sarah Ann Two Hundred and fifty Dollars and the remainder of said proceeds of Real Estate shall be divided equally among my three Daughters viz: Sarah ann.  Rebecca Jane and Nancy Ellen and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint William McCrea of Blacklick Township Executor of this my last Will and Testament In Witness Whereof I Joseph Campbell the said Testator have to this my last Will and Testament Set my hand and Seal this 21st day of December AD 1872

Joseph Campbell (Seal)

Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the said Testator Joseph Campbell as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto

John Allison
W H McMullen

Indiana County SS Be it Remembered that on the 29th day of May 1879 before me Register of Wills for Said County was duly proved and approved the foregoing Instrument of writing as and for the Last Will and Testament of Joseph Campbell decd who died on the 16th day of May 1879 at 9 o’clock PM by the _____ of John H Allison and W H McMullen the subscribing Witnesses thereto Wm McCrea the executor named therein being dead + the widow having ____ her right Same day Letters Cum Testemento Annexo issued to John Davis + Sarah A. Campbell they having given bond to the Commonwealth in the Sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars Conditioned According to law with W. H. McMullen and John H. Allison as Security. Same day administrators Sworn according to law. (See will + probate filed)

D R. Lewis Register

Up until receiving this pension packet (a number of years ago), I had no idea that James Baker had a half brother.  I thought it was interesting that he called himself “brother of the half blood” – kind of a strange way to word it.

I have been forever grateful that both my husband and I had a number of ancestors who served on both sides of the Civil War.  The pension records have given me so many details into their lives at this time.  You truly never know what you’re going to find in those affadavits!!

This affadavit was written by John S. Baker, (James’ brother), who also served in the war.  We have a number of ancestors who suffered from “chronic diarrhea”.  What a horrible things to suffer!!

State of Missouri, County of Jackson.
In the matter of James Baker on this 12th day of February A.D., 1890 personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, John S Baker aged 57 years, a resident of Kansas City in the County of Jackson and state of Missouri whose postoffice address is 1431 Campbell St, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declared in relation to the aforesaid case as follows:

I am the brother of the half blood of the above named James Baker, and have known him all my life;  When he enlisted in the army on or about March 1865 he was a sound man in bodily health and free from chronic diarrhea or any other disease or disability as far as I ever knew, and had he been a sufferer from said disease or any other disease or disability prior to and at the time of his enlistment I have every reason to believe and do believe that I should have known it.  I think it was the second day after his discharge from the Army that I saw him.  I know it was within two or three days, and I observed that he was then a sufferer from some disease which he then informed me was the chronic diarrhea, and that he had contracted the same in the Army.  I knew him each year for about four years after his said discharge from the Army when he moved to Tennessee.  He was ailing all the time from the chronic diarrhea each year, and was not able to do more than half the labor he would have done at manual labor had he been free from this disease.  I saw him again in Tennessee for four or five years from about 1871 to about 1876 or 1877 and he was sick the time each year more or less from the chronic diarrhea and he was disabled at least one half.  His disease went to his lungs.  He further declares that he has no interest in this case, and is not concerned with its prosecution.
John S. Baker

General Affadavit

State of Kansas, County of Shawnee

In the matter of claim for Rebecca Baker, widow of James Baker late of Co. “F” 74″ PA.

Personally appeared before was an officer duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the county and State aforesaid, Joseph Campbell, Topeka Kan. 72 yrs old.

person of lawful age who being duly sworn declare in relation to the aforesaid case as follows:

I am a brother of Rebecca Baker and was present and know that she was married to James Baker March 4th 1846 in Indiana County, Pa.  Her maiden name was Rebecca White Campbell.  I also know that Rebecca Baker has never re-married since the death of her husband James Baker Nov. 9″ 1885

J. Campbell

Adam Potter and his wife Nancy, are my 5th great-grandparents.  They are buried in McDonald, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The other three women on the gravestone are their daughters.

I am descended through their daughter Juliette Potter, who married John Cavit and moved away from Pennsylvania – first to Iowa and then to South Dakota, where they died.

My husband’s Campbell and Baker ancestors lived in this area, and a few of them are buried here.

This is the grave of Catharine (Baker) Campbell.  She was the first wife of Rev. Joseph Campbell.  She died 22 Dec 1851 at the age of 33 yrs, 11 months, and  6 days. leaving behind 4 young children.

How tragic.  It really hits home for me, because I’m about the same age and have 5 small children.  I can’t imagine not being there to see them grow up.

Joseph Campbell remarried to another Catherine – Catherine Palmer and they also had 4 children together.

They moved on to Kansas, so Joseph is not buried here in this cemetery along with her.

Here is the church: