Name/Title
Oct 1792 Inventory of estate of John BullEntry/Object ID
002571Tags
John BullScope and Content
This is a fascinating set of documents. You’ve provided a complete five-page probate inventory for the estate of John Bull, a resident of Wallkill, Ulster County, New York.
The inventory was taken on October 23, 1792, by appraisers Stephen Harlow and Joshua Brown, Jr. It provides a detailed window into the domestic and agricultural life of a late 18th-century New Yorker.
Document Overview
The estate's total value was appraised at £303, 5s, 0d (303 pounds, 5 shillings). The currency used is the New York Pound, which was standard in the post-Revolutionary period before the full transition to the U.S. Dollar.
Sectional Summary
1. Household Goods & Textiles (Pages 1 & 2)
The first pages list the interior contents of the home, suggesting a comfortable, well-furnished household:
Bedding: Multiple bedsteads with "Check Curtains" and "Calico Curtains," plus straw beds and window curtains.
Textiles: Significant stores of fabric, including 40 yards of linen, 24 yards of flannel, and a 30-yard piece still "in the Loom."
Furniture: Two chests, a "Bureau," three tables, 15 chairs, a looking glass (mirror), and a "Dresser."
Kitchen & Dining: Pewter teapots, silver teaspoons, earthen ware, brass kettles, "firkins" of butter, and a variety of ironware like "handirons" and "tramels."
2. Tools & Industry (Page 3)
John Bull appears to have been self-sufficient, possessing tools for various trades:
Textile Production: A loom with "tackling," three spinning wheels, a reel, and "hetchels" (used for processing flax or wool).
Trade Tools: A set of "Carpenters tools" and "Shoe Leather."
Transportation: A "Waggon and harness," two old sleighs, and a "Sleigh box."
3. Livestock & Agriculture (Pages 4 & 5)
The bulk of the estate’s wealth was tied up in animals and farm produce:
Horses: A "Bay Horse," a "Sorrel mare," and a "Colt."
Cattle: A significant herd including a "pair of Oxen" (valued at £24), a "two year old Bull," several cows (described by color: Brindle, Pide, Black, Brown, Dun, and Red), and several yearlings.
Other Animals: 6 hogs, 5 small hogs, and 25 sheep.
Crops: Large quantities of wheat, rye, and hay stored in the barn, as well as corn, buckwheat, oats, and flax.
4. Financial Assets (Page 5)
Cash: A small amount of liquid cash (£1, 12s).
Debt Owed to the Estate: A "Sealed Note from Samuel Watkins" for £50, due in January 1793. This single note represents one of the most valuable assets in the entire inventory.
Key Details
Appraisers: Stephen Harlow and Joshua Brown, Jr.
Location: Wallkill, Ulster County, NY.
Date: October 23, 1792.
Final Total: £303, 5s, 0d.
This inventory is a classic example of "Rural Gentility"—John Bull was clearly a successful farmer with the means to own silver, fine textiles, and a diverse range of livestock.
