Amanuensis Monday: William B. Jones inventory, appraisement, and sale bill

This document relates to a branch of my family that hasn't featured very strongly my research. In fact, it is the first primary source I have cited for this particular 5great-grandfather. As such, the "facts" I may state in this post are heavily reliant on secondary sources and are liable to error. But let's charge forward anyway.

William B. Jones was my 5great-grandfather, and he was living in Fleming county, Kentucky at the time of his death in 1863. 

These two documents detail his personal estate and the sale thereof.

[in margin:]

Jones Wm B.

Inventory +

Appraisment

A True and Just Inventory and Appraisment

of all the personal Estate of Wm. B. Jones deceased. which

was produced to us by John Lawson his administrator

Notes and accounts to wit.

1 Note on Thos. F. Keerans + Noble Johnson

due 17th March 1861. for                                      $35.00

1 receipt of William O. Phillips for note for )

collection on Isabel Keithley B. T. Hayden )

& Jas. M. McGregor due 1st March 1861 for )    $440.00

with the following credits $42. by A Williams )

Also $4.40c 23 Sept 1861 & $1..6372c

1 Note on Wm. Pickrell & Samuel Estill due 6."

Feb. 1863 -for-                                                     $234.28

1 Note on Jas. Thompson due 1st April 1861 for $21.35

1 [Note on] Jos. D. Pleak and Stalver = 7" Jany 1861 $7.28

1 [Note on] Thos. J. Atchison = 7" June 1861      $14.84

with a credit on same 2nd Aug

1861 for One Dollar

1 [Note on] Abslem Powell due 8" June 1854     $28.75

1 [Note on] account on Allen Page for                 $16.00

1 Double Barrel Shot Gun                                        12.00

1 Silver Watch                                                            8.00

1 Brass clock                                                              5.00

1 Straw Bed & furniture                                              1.50

1 feather Bed Stead & furniture                                 5.00

1 fallen leaf Table                                                        2.00

1 pair fire Irons                                                              .75

1 Shovel & Tongs                                                          .50

3 Jugs                                                                           .50

2 augers. hand Saw. and drawing Knife                    2.10

1 Stand                                                                         4.00

1 Trunk                                                                         2.50

1 Chest & Toilet                                                            2.50

1 Trunk                                                                            .50

1 Look. Glass                                                                  .75

1 Lot Books                                                                  2.00

1 Press & cupboard ware                                            2.00

2 horns                                                                           .25

2 fish Buckets                                                                .50

1 half Bushel & wooden Bowl                                        .50

7 crocks                                                                          .75

1 Lot Tin ware 2 Brass Kettles &c                                2.00

1 pair Steelyards                                                           2.00

2 smoothing Irons                                                          .50

1 Partridge net & 2 dip nets                                          2.00

1 Razor & Strop &c                                                          .75

1 Large Kettle                                                                1.50

2 ovens, Skillet & 2 Leds                                              2.00

3 Stone Jars                                                                    .25

1 Lot Blls. & Tubs                                                             .50

1 hemp hook                                                                    .75

1 hoe, matick. & rake                                                     1.00

1 Box & Old Irons                                                             .50

1 hatchet                                                                          .50

1 axe, Iron wedge, 2 augers & curry comb                  1.00

1 hammer & small skillet                                                 .50

4 chairs                                                                         2.00

5 Pewter plates                                                              .25

1 acct. on Jas. Johnson for 12 Gall. whiskey            12.00

We do certify that the foregoing appraisement was

Truly and Justly made of the personal property

of William B. Jones deceased. which was produced

To us by his administrator. To the best of our

Judgment all of which we respectfully report to

the Fleming County Court.

Given under our hands this 2ond day of April 1863.

G. Pickrell

A. Williams

G. W. Naylor

 

I do certify that the foregoing Inventory contains

all the personal estate of William. B. Jones deceased

which hath come to my hands. this 2ond April 1863.

John Lawson ) administrator

Fleming County sct.

George Naylor & A. Williams who have been appointed

by the Fleming County court to 20 view and

Appraise the Personal estate of William. B. Jones

deceased. Personally appeared before the subscriber

a Justice of the Peace for said county and were

sworn to view and appraise such estate as shall

be produced to them truly and Justly to the best

of their Judgment. - Given under my hand

2ond. April 1863.                G. Pickrell J.P.

At a court held for Fleming County on the 27th

day of April 1863. This Inventory and Appraisment

of the estate of William B. Jones Decd. was produced

in court. examined and ordered to be recorded

which is duly done.

Attest W. J. Dudley clk.

 

Some quick addition gives me a total of $881.10 for the value of his personal estate, providing I have done the math correctly. Putting that total into an online inflation calculator gives a value of $22,214.28 in today's money.

 

Most of the items appearing in the inventory also appear in the sale bill, along with the price for which they sold as well as who bought them.

 

[in margin:]

Jones Wm. B.

Decd.

Sale Bill

Sale Bill of the property of W. B. Jones Decd.

Constant Lawson        1 Double Barrel Shot gun        5.50

Elizabeth Parker          1 Silver watch                         10.25

Cyntha Jones              1 mantle clock                           1.00

Do.                                1 Straw bed & furniture             .50

Constant Lawson          1 trummel bed & furniture       7.75

G. W. Naylor                  1 table                                       2.50

Sary Barber                  1 pair fire Irons                          0.70

Cyntha Jones               1 fire Shovel & tongs                  .25

Do                                 1 Large Jug                                 .25

do                                  1  do                                            .25

do                                  1     do                                          .10

do                                    1 hand Saw                                .55

do                                    1 drawing Knife & auger            .30

do                                    1 Stand                                       1.00

do                                    1 trunk                                          .25

do                                    1 Chest                                        1.00

do                                    1 Trunk                                        2.05

do                                    1 Looking Glass                            .25

John Lawson                  1 Lot of books                            1.00

John Lawson                  1 Book                                          .75

J. F. Farris                        1 do                                            1.00

G. W. Naylor                    1 do                                              .35

Mary Adanis                    1 Lot of cupboard ware            1.10

John Lawson                   2 horns                                        .25

Cyntha Jones                  2 fish buckets                              .10

do                                     1 half bushel & bowl                    .20

do                                    7 crocks                                        .25

do                                    2 brass Kettles                             .50

do                                    1 Lot tine ware                               .10

do                                    1 Pewter bason                              .10

do                                    1 pair Steelyards                            .50

do                                    2 smoothing Irons                        .25

Elizabeth Parker             1 Partridge net                              1.05

John Lawson                  2 Dip nets                                        .15

do                                    1 razor & strop                                .25

Cyntha Jones                1 Large Kettle                                    .25

do                                    1 Skillet & led                                   .25

do                                    1 Oven & led                                    .25

Louisa Grimsley              1 do                                                  .25

Cyntha Jones                3 Stone Jars                                    .25

do                                    1 Lot of barells                                .50

do                                    1 hemp hook                                    .25

do                                   1 grubing hoe                                    .10

do                                    1 hoe & rake                                    .10

S. L. Tinsley                    1 box & old Irons                            .20

Cyntha Jones                1 hatchet                                          .10

John Lawson                 1 axe & Irons wedge                        .25

Eliza Summers                2 augers & curry comb                  .45

John Lawson                 1 Hammer & Skillet                            .10

Jane Thomas                4 Chairs                                            2.55

Louisa Grimsley            5 pewter plates                                    .40

J. W. Foudray                1 Lot fish poles                                    .50

Fleming County oct.

The foregoing is a true List of the Sales of the

personal estate of Wm. B. Jones Decd. made

17th April 1863.                    John Lawson

Administrator

At a court held for Fleming County on the

27th day of April 1863. This Sale Bill of the

estate of William B. Jones Decd. was produced

in court. examined and ordered to be

recorded, which is duly done:

attest W. I. Dudley   clk.

 

Comparing the appraisement and the sale bill, it is easy to see that few William's items sold for their appraised value, most of them bringing in less than expected.

 

The buyer appearing most frequently on the sale bill was Cyntha Jones, who was William's widow. I was able to identify two more of the buyers, as well. Constant Lawson was William's daughter by his first wife, and John Lawson was her husband.

 

Sources:

Fleming, Kentucky, Probate records, 1798-1966, Will records, 1859-1865, Vol. L, pp. 396-398 (images 208-209 of 329), Inventory & appraisement for the personal estate of William B. Jones; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 2 Mar 2025). 

Fleming, Kentucky, Probate records, 1798-1966, Will records, 1859-1865, Vol. L, pp. 398-399 (image 209 of 329), Sale bill for the personal estate of William B. Jones; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 2 Mar 2025).