Charles Moorman was my 6th great grandfather. He was a plantation owner in Bedford County, Virginia. He died 23 Oct 1803 and this is his estate sale, dated 21 Jan and 10 Feb 1804.
I have written out most of the information from the document, minus all of the numbers. I put the final total at the bottom. It was too hard for me to keep the columns even.
I think it’s so interesting reading through the things that my ancestors owned. It helps me make a mental picture of what their home may have looked like.
I love the little details – like the tea cups, looking glass, and especially the names of the books they owned:
Family Bible (I wonder if someone has this today!)
Johnson’s Dictionary
Henning’s Justice ( I may have this wrong, but wasn’t able to find it under Hennings, Hemmings or Flemmings Justice. Does anyone know what this book is?)
Buchan’s Family Physician – being an attempt to render the medical art more generally useful, by shewing people what is in their own power both with respect to the prevention and cure of diseases. Chiefly calculated to recommend a proper attention to regimen and simple medicines
Barclay’s Apology – This was a defense of Quakerism and was first published in 1678. I had thought that Quakers didn’t own slaves, so I’m not sure why they would have this book since they were slaveowners. I will have to look into this a bit more.
List of Sales of the Estate of Charles Moorman decd January 21 1804 + Feby 10.
Edward Pegram 1 Halter Chain
William Thornhill 2 Coulters
1 half shear
Edward Hancock a parcel of chains
2 Hoes
Febry 10th
Thomas Watson 1 Shovel plow
1 ax , 1 Trowel Hoe
1 Hilling Hoe 1 plow hoe
1 ??????????
1 Shot Gun
1 Ball Auger
1 Hone 2 Razors ?
1 Flat Iron
William Burnsides 1 Lot of Old Iron
1 pair breast chains + Cart Boxes
David Crenshaw 1 Broad Ax + foot adj
1 musket
Jordan Reese 1 Case of Bottles
1 ? 1 Grindstone
1 Cask 1 Smoothing plain
1 Folding Table
Chain + Stirrup Irons
Enoch Hogan Buchan’s Family Physician
Hennings Justice
Hunter Peal ?
John Vest Barclay’s Apology
John Preston 1 Flax Wheel
James Eckhols Waggon Box + bands
1 Lock Chain
1 Sorrell mare
1 Case Bottles
1 Rifle Gun
1 Musket
1 Dish Bason 5 plates + four spoons
3 Deer Skins
James Moorman 1 Cut saw
1 Wire Sieve
1 Johnson’s Dictionary
1 Scythe + Cradle
1 pr. Chains
1 pr Tooth drawers + 1 Loggerhead
1 Tea Kettle
1 pr Sheep Shears
1 pr fire Tongs
2 Pigs 1 Womans Old Saddle
3 Flour Bandles
1 pr ? + Traces
Dandridge Tucker 1 Cow + Calf
William Gilpin 1 young mare
Francis Selle 1 Sorrel Horse C?
William Johnson Waggon Boxes + Bands
1 Bell + Cholar
John Hancock 1 pair Steelyards…
Nancy Moorman 14 Hogs 8 Pigs
1 Black Cow
1 __Ditto + Bell
1 Red Do Half
1 Red Heifer with Calf
1 Black mare
1 Bay Horse
a quantity of Walnut planks + Scantling
3 axes ….?
2 H? Family Bible
1 Flax Wheel
2 Cotton Do
1 Scythe + Cradle
1 Cutting Knife + Box
1 Shot Gun
1 Haes 2 singletrees
2 Shovel Plows 1 Coutter
3 Bottles 2 Flat Irons
1 Man’s Saddle 1 Candlestick
1 Sugar Dish + Bowl
4 Table Knives + forks
1 Quart Decanter
1 Feather Bed Bedstead + furniture
1 Ditto Ditto Do
1 Ditto Ditto Do
1 Ditto Ditto Do
1 Womans Saddle
1 chest 4 Yearlings
2 Cots + 3 Dutch Ovens
1 Iron Wedge 1 Washing Tub
3 Water Pails 1 Iron Shovel
1 Cedar Churn 1 Fat T?
1 Hogshead 6 Geese
1 Waggon + hind gere
1 Screw Auger 1 Cask
1 Drawing Knife 5 Reap Hooks
2 Clevises
1 coffee Pot 1 Sugar Box
1 pr Cotton Cards 1 Trunk
1 Looking Glass 1 Set Candle moulds
1 Clothes Brush 1 Coffee mill
1 Loom 1 doz Pewter Plates
2 Dishes 1 Bason + 6 spoons
1 ? 1 milk Pot 3 Tin Cups 4 Coffee Cups
3 Tea Do 2 Saucers + 10 Tea Spoons
3 Dishes + 12 Plates
1 Tea Pot
1 Butter Pot 1 Corner Cupboard
9 chairs 2 Slays 1 Chest
William Leftwich Shoe Tools Harness + Traces
Samuel Hancock 5 files
Amount of Sales…… 200 11 2
In a Court held for Bedford County at the Courthouse the 27 day of February 1804
This return of the Amount of Sales of the Estate of Charles Moorman decd was exhibited in Court + ordered to be recorded.
Teste J Steptoe CBC
