Accounting of the Sale of Personal Property of the Estate of John Smith, Sr.
Held 30 August 1793 in Jefferson County
Transcribed in 1995 by Bettie Jo Harrison Moore from the original document on file at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Introduction written by Mrs. Moore.
Introduction
People researching their ancestors find a wealth of information in the records of county courthouses. Jefferson County is fortunate to have most of its records intact from the time the county was formed in 1792.
If you are trying to locate pre-statehood Tennessee residents and/or are documenting them for inclusion in the "First Families of Tennessee" project of the East Tennessee Historical Society, you would be interested in documents such as the estate settlement for John Smith, Senior, Deceased, whose possessions were sold on August 30, 1793. This record is found in Will Book 1, pp. 196-202, in the Jefferson County Court House in Dandridge, Tennessee.
What kind of information is found in this document?
- The names of white and African-American residents of Jefferson County.
- The names of possible family relatives among the purchasers of the possessions (Gideon, William, Samuel, John Smith; Samuel Smith, administrator).
- The names of neighbors and friends living in the area.
- The kinds of animals kept on the farms.
- The kinds of tools used on the farms (including two stills).
- The kinds of household furnishings (six spinning wheels -- to spin the wool from 40 sheep).
- The kinds of cooking and eating utensils.
- The conversion of Virginia currency from pounds-shillings-pence to dollars.
- The cost of a coffin.
- The value of land.
- Legal fees and estate expenses.
In the 1990's era of conspicuous consumption, how many people can put their personal possessions in one small chest and one small trunk? In 1995, we make a telephone call to inform people living in another area of the death of a family member. We do not have to pay someone to travel to deliver this sad message.
Were Your Ancestors Here?
| Jefferson County, TN Will Book 1, pages 196-202 November, 1794 Samuel Smith Administrator |
|---|
An Inventory of the Estate of John Smith senr. Decd.
58 Negroes, named as follows:
Mingo, Jinny, Lethy, Agnes, Nat, Mourning, Rachel, Nathan Molley, David, Charity, Solomon, Thomas Brig, Lucy, Lydia, Aaron, Jordon, Mary, Haywood, Sal, Dilley, Matthew, Jesse, Isaac Winney, Elias, Luke, Nathan, Delilah, Sally Elisha, Ezekiel, Rose, Shade, Daniel, Phillis Pompey, Ned (old) Tom, Henry, Tamer, Jinny Ellick, Frank, Jim, Hardy, Jerry, Jimmy, Peter, Suckey, Jacob, Tiner, David Anthony Black Minta, Yellow Minta, Clary.
7 Horses, 54 Head Cattle, 40 Sheep, 6 plough hoes, 11 Weeding hoes, 2 Grubbing hoes, 5 Axes, 6 Iron pots, 2 Dutch Ovens, 6 spinning wheels, 3 p. pot hooks, 2 Razors, 2 Chissils, 1 auger, 1 Drawing knife, 1 Hackle, 1 p. fire Tongs, 1 Broken whip saw, 1 Cross Cut Do, 1 Pewter dish, 2 Plates, 1 Bason 1 Feather Bed and furniture, 1 Small chest, 1 Small Trunk, 1/2 Bushell Measure 1 Water Pail, 2 Stills, 1 large brass Kettle, 1 Broad Ax, 1 Iron square, 1 p. compasses, 1 p. Iron wedges
| Cash | VC Lb. | 65..9..8 |
| Thos. Jarnagin's Bond | 80.._ _ | |
| Dittos Bond to be discharged with horses at their valuation | 30.._.._ |
An Accot. of the sale of the Estate of John Smith Senr. decd.
August 30th 1793
| ["Do" = "Ditto"] | Doll. | |
| 2 Cows and Calves | James Berry | 14. |
| 3 Cows and Calves | John Gordon | 25. |
| 2 Cows and Calves | Josiah Jackson | 12-1/2 |
| 2 Cows and Calves | David Campbell | 18 |
| 2 Cows and Calves | Gideon Smith | 16 |
| 2 Cows and Calves | John Cox | 15 |
| 2 Cows and Calves | William Bailey | 13-1/2 |
| 11 Head of Cattle | Gideon Smith | 51-1/2 |
| 12 Head of Cattle | Gideon Smith | 51 |
| 12 head Sheep | William Smith | 13-1/2 |
| 9 Do Do | Do Do | 12 |
| 12 Do Do | Do Do | 18-1/2 |
| 1 Lot plantation Tools | Gideon Smith | 4-1/6 |
| 1 Cross cut saw | Do Do | 3-1/2 |
| 1 Lot plantation Tools | Wm Smith | 4-1/2 |
| 1 DoDo | Isaac Cloud | 2-1/6 |
| 1 DoDo | Charles Hodges | 2-1/6 |
| 1 DoDo | Gideon Smith | 2-1/2 |
| 1 Hackle p. sheep shears | Wm Parks | 3 |
| 1 Whip saw | Harman Cox | 3-1/2 |
| 1 Broad Ax | Wm Parks | 2-2/3 |
| 1 lot Plantation Tools | Do Do | 2-1/2 |
| 1 lot DoDo | Mark Carter | 1-1/2 |
| 1 Club Ax | Hardy Bryan | 1 |
| 1 Lot Plantation Tools | Mark Carter | 2-1/6 |
| 1 Small pot | Benj Bryan | 2-1/6 |
| 1 Dutch Oven | Hardy Bryan | 1-2/3 |
| 1 Large Pot | John Horner | 4 |
| Page 2 | ||
| 1 Small pot | Wm Lines | 1-1/6 |
| 1 Do Do | John Horner | 1-1/6 |
| 1 Do Do | Robert M Farland | 1-2/3 |
| 1 Pot. Dish and plate | Jno Bryan | 1-1/3 |
| 1 large brass Kettle | Gideon Smith | 20 |
| 1 Flax wheel | Robert M Farland | 1/2 |
| 1 Do Do | Wm Lyons | 1-3/4 |
| 3 Do Do | John Bryan | 2/3 |
| 1 Wool wheel | Enoch Morriset | 1/6 |
| 1 Chest & padlock | James Roddye | 1-3/4 |
| 4 Cow hides | Spencer Hainey | 6-5/6 |
| 1 Still, Cap Horin? | Charles Hodges | 56 |
| 1 Still | William Smith | 17 |
| 1 Feather Bed etc | Gideon Smith | 16-1/2 |
| 2 Razors | Wm Bailey | 1/3 |
| 1 Drawing knife, 1 p. compasses, 1 Iron square | Eleoner Lee | 3/4 |
| 1 Waggon | Wm Parks | 22 |
| 1 Horse | Hardy Bryan | 45-1/2 |
| 1 Do | Joseph Dameron | 9 |
| 1 Do | Wm Smith | 60-1/2 |
| 1 Mare | Mark Carter | 15 |
| 1 Horse | Jno Hinton | 50 |
| 1 Do | Josiah Jackson | 52-1/2 |
| 1 Mare | Mark Carter | 10 |
| 2 Small Negroes Tiner & Jacob | Saml Smith | 107 |
| 2 Do Peter & Jim | Thos Jarnagin | 350 |
| 2 Negroes Jimmy & Hardy | Saml Smith | 140 |
| 1 Do Tamer | Hardy Bryan | 301 |
| 2 Do Frank & Ellick | Do Do | 302 |
| 1 Do Jin | Do Do | 285 |
| 4 Do Delilah, Rose, Shade & Daniel | Isaac Williams | 481 |
| 3 Do Sal, Elijah & Ezekiel | Do Do | 425 |
| 1 Do Nathan | Do Do | 236 |
| 1 Do Old Tom | Saml Smith | 121 |
| 1 Do Pompey | Shadk Inman | 306-1/6 |
| 1 Do Henry | Thos Jarnagin | 55-1/2 |
| 1 Do Suckey | Saml Smith | 155 |
| 1 Do Old Phillis | Gideon Smith | 62 |
| 4 Do Daniel, Charity, Solomon, Thomas | John Smith | 741 |
| 1 Do Clary | John Galbreath | 254 |
| 4 Do Mingo, Jinney, Nathan & Molley | Benj Bryan | 500 |
| 2 Do Mourning & Rachel | Do Do | 196 |
| 1 Do Nat | Hardy Brian | 300 |
| 1 Do Ned | Joseph Hamilton | 320 |
| 1 Do David | Wm Smith | 320 |
| 3 Do Haywood, Sal & Luke | Robt Mfarland [sic] | 300 |
| 2 Do Delilah & Elias | Wm Smith | 406 |
| 2 Do Isaac & Minney | Hardy Bryan | 350 |
| 2 Do Letha & Agnes | Do Do | 602 |
| Do (Yellow) Aminta | Benjn Bryan | 230 |
| 2 Do Matthew & Jesse | Benjn Bryan | 600 |
| 1 Do Jerry | Gideon Smith | 65 |
| 1 Do Lydia | Jane Felps | 176 |
| Page 3 | ||
| 5 Do Brig, Lucy, Aaron, Jordon & Mary | Gideon Smith | 673 |
| 1 Horse | Benjn Bryan | 55-1/6 |
| 1 Do | Saml Smith | 18-1/6 |
| 1 Stear 4 years old | John Horner | 10-1/6 |
| 1 Grind stone, 1/2 Bushell pail | Wm Smith | 1-1/2 |
500 Acres of land whereon the Decd. formerly lived, Valued by Jas. Roddye, Alexr. Outlaw and James Lea Esqrs. to Two Hundred pounds Virginia Currency.
A just & true Accot. of the sale of the Decd. Estate.
Saml. Smith Admr.
E. Excepted
R M Farland Shff
J Hinton CCk
Dr. Saml. Smith Admr. of John Smith senr Decd
| Lb. | Doll. Cents | |
| To Cash in possession of said Smith at his decease | 65..10..4 | 218.38-1/3 |
| Amount of the sale of said Estate | 9642.75 | |
| 9861.13-1/3 |
With the Estate of John Smith senr. decd.
| Cr. | |
| By cash paid Wm Cocke | Lb. 21...2..2 |
| Paid Sheriff for tax as pr. rect. | 3...0..0 |
| Do Do as pr. rect. | 1..11..6 |
| John Kirkpatrick as pr. Do | 2..10..0 |
| Patrick Nenney as pr. Do | 1..11..2 |
| Paid Wm Cocke as pr. rect. | 55..15..1 |
| Paid Anne Smith as pr. rect. | 1..16..0 |
| Paid Jesse Riggs as pr. rect. | 0..12..0 |
| Paid Wm Parks as pr. Do | 4...7..6 |
| Paid Rangers fees as pr. Do | 3..9 |
| Paid Do Do | 4..10..0 |
| Paid John Allen for coffin | 1...0..0 |
| Pd James Carter for bringing tidings of Smiths Death | 2...8..0 |
| For ferriage collecting cattle | 2..3 |
| Pd Overseer of Road | 12..0 |
| Pd Mark Carter for riding to Knoxville for a Dedimus | 18..0 |
| To Clerk of Jefferson Court for Expences of Administration | 12..0 |
| To Colo. Outlaw Atty | 6...0..0 |
| Lb.108..11..5 | |
| Equal $361.90 | |
| To John Rhea atty as pr. Acct. | 37.50 |
| To A. Roan atto as pr. Acct. | 55. |
| Sheriffs Commissions on the sale of said Estate | 241.06 |
| By Judgment and costs in a suit James Galbreath vs Saml Smith adr. | 215.61 |
| By Do Do in a suit brought by William Smith Admr. | 506.55-1/2 |
| By cash paid Thomas Garnain | 43.33-1/3 |
| Page 4 | |
| Allowance to the Administrator for transacting the business of sd. Estate | 247. |
| 1243.55-5/6 | |
We Garrett Fitzgerald and
Jonah Jackson appointed by the Court of Jefferson County to examine the
Accounts of Samuel Smith administrator of John Smith senr. decd.
Do report that on Examining said
Accounts it appears that the whole amount of said Estate that has come
to hands of said Admr. is 9861 Dollars and 13-1/2 Cents and that the
said Administrator is intitled to the foregoing Credits amounting to
1213.55-1/2
| Doll Cents | |
| And that this balance is due from said Administrator Novr. 4th 1784. | 9861.13-1/3 |
| 1213.55-1/2 | |
| 8647.57-3/4 | |
| Saml. Smith to said Estate Dr. by overcharge of Mark Carter 3 Dollars | 3 |
| 8650.57-3/4 |
Garret Fitzgerald
Josiah Jackson
This account was allowed at November 1794
J Hamilton CJC
-------"--------
