Inventory of the Estate of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell Taken Shortly After He Died in Late September, 1669
Wed., Mar. 07, 2007: Published Abstract of 1669 Will of Thomas Pell, Followed by Entire Text of Will of Thomas Pell.
Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes an inventory of Thomas Pell's estate taken shortly after his death. It sheds interesting light on Pell's life in the Manor of Pelham during the 17th Century.
On October 13, 1669, the Court of Assizes of the Colony of New York issued an order authorizing and appointing John Richbell, William Leyden, and Samuel Drake to take an inventory of the estate of Thomas Pell and noting that "Mr. Thomas Pell, of Ann Hook's Neck, is lately deceased, and having left a considerable estate in this government." See Bolton, Jr., Robert, The History of The Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, From Its First Settlement to the Present Time. Carefully Revised by its Author, Vol. II, p. 46 (NY, NY: Chas F. Roper, 1881) (citing "Assize Rec. Albany, vol. ii. 78.").
The reference to "in this government" is significant. The inventory is of Thomas Pell's property in New York -- not Connecticut. The Court of Assizes designated local citizens to conduct the inventory. John Richbell lived in Mamaroneck. Samuel Drake lived in Eastchester. (I have not yet located William Leyden.)
The inventory of Thomas Pell's estate is a fascinating document that seems to reveal much about Pelham's earliest years. According to tradition, Thomas Pell never lived on the lands bought from Native Americans that came to be known as Pelham. His principal abode remained in Fairfield in the Colony of Connecticut. The inventory, however, strongly suggests that Thomas Pell built a substantial farm on his Pelham lands and that the farm, which likely was located on what we know today as Pelham Neck, was in use at the time of Pell's death.
The inventory shows that Pell had "howsing [housing], lands, barnes" on the land that came to be known as Pelham. There is an additional reference in the inventory to "House and land in Westchester" owned by Pell. This is interesting because Westchester County was not created until 1683. There was, however, a settlement known by the English as "West Chester" or "Westchester" in a portion of today's Bronx County on land that Pell sold to the early settlers of that community. There is at least the possibility that Thomas Pell had a working farm on Pelham Neck that included some form of housing as well as a house in the settlement of West Chester.
The inventory of Pell's property in New York reflects that he owned a substantial number of livestock at the time of his death -- livestock that would have required daily care. This strongly suggests that even if Pell did not live on the farm, someone did, whether they were caretakers or hired hands. The inventory further reflects that at the time of Pell's death, there were edible foodstuffs among Pell's property, as well as most of the ordinary personal effects of day-to-day life as would be expected. Below I have organized the inventory to give a sense of the day-to-day property and personal effects that it covered.
Household Goods
Five beds, 17 pillows / cushions, 4 cushion cases, 6 pairs of sheets, 16 blankets, 3 bedspreads, 1 hammock, 4 rugs, 2 sets of curtains and valances, 3 chairs, 2 stools, 2 chests, 1 table, 2 tablecloths, 6 silver spoons, 6 alchemy spoons, four knives, 1 silver cup, 1 pewter "pint pot," 2 pewter platters, 9 napkins, 7 towels, writing paper, 1 candlestick, 1 tub of tallow, 5 tubs of soap, 1 parcel of beef, 1 tub of butter, 2 "cheeses," 1 barrel of molasses, 2 parcels of sugar, 4 barrels of salt, 1 pound of pepper, and 1 bag of ginger.
Kitchen Implements
Five iron pots, 5 skillets, 4 pairs of pot hooks, 4 kettles, 1 warming pan, 2 chafing dishes, 1 dripping pan, 1 mortar and pestle, 1 pair of tongs, 1 gridiron, 1 iron, 24 trays, 2 sifters, 1 cheese plate, 5 bottles, 8 peels (iron paddles to place food into, or remove food from, a hot oven or fire), measuring equipment, and 1 churn.
Clothing
One coat, 1 waistcoat, 1 pair of underwear, 2 shirts, 18 pairs of stockings / hose, 1 neck-cloth (i.e., a cravat), 2 handkerchiefs, 1 cap, 18 felt hats with hatbands, and 5 hatbands.
Books
One bible, 1 copy of Culpeper's Dispensary (an herbal medicine book published in 1659), 3 other unidentified books, and 2 copies of "Cradock's works" (possibly theological works by mid-17th century author Samuel Cradock).
Cloth / Fabric / Animal Hides
Eighteen yards of Penistone wool cloth, 30 yards of linen, 21-1/2 yards of stiff cotton cloth, 25 yards of fabric remnants, 20-1/2 yards of wool fabric, 5 yards of cotton cloth, 17 yards of broad cloth, 2 yards of material for britches, lace, 3 pounds of black and brown thread, sheep's wool, "cotton wool," "fleeces of wool," 36 deer skins, 1 boar skin, 2 cow hides, and 2 hides from unspecified animals.
Livestock
Fifty cattle, 11 calves, 15 cows and milk cows, 18 oxen, 53 sheep, unspecified number of horses and horse colts "running in woods," unspecified number of mares and mare colts "running in woods," unspecified number of swine, and 1 "bull stag."
Harvested Crops
Fifteen bushels of winter wheat, unspecified amount of "wheat," unspecified amount of "old wheat," 33 bushels of "Indian corn," tobacco, and 64 "loads" of hay.
Farm Implements and Hardware
Two plows, 4 plowshares, 3 plow chains, miscellaneous plow parts, 2 sheep shears, 1 pair of cotton cards to clean picked cotton, 48 or more casks, 7 axes, 1 hatchet, 3 wedges, 1 handsaw, 2 pitchforks, 2 augurs, 2 hammers, 1 wood boring tool, 8 hoes, 12 scythes, 3 sets of draft chains for draft oxen and draft horses, 3 sets of timber chains, 3 yokes, 1 horse collar, 3 bridle bits, 3 sets of bridle reins, 3 grindstones, 2 carts, 4 pairs of cart wheels, 3 cart ropes, harrow parts for use after plowing a field, 2 weighing scales, 380 pounds of nails, 9 pounds of tacks, 2 brushes, 7 door-bolts, miscellaneous boxes, rings, etc.
Ships / Sailing
One boat sail, 1 canoe, 1 "lead line" to sound depths while sailing, and 63 yards of canvas.
Armaments / Hunting Equipment
Three guns, 14-1/2 pounds of lead bars, and 7 pounds of gunpowder.
"Thomas Pell" by Thom Lafferty from an Original by an
Unknown Artist Who Imagined Pell as He Would Look.
There Are No Known Images of Thomas Pell.
* * * * *
The inventory is transcribed in its entirety below, followed by a citation to its source. I have added notes in brackets and bold text explaining some of the more unusual or arcane references. However, there are several references I have not yet been able to figure out. I would be most appreciative of any ideas as to what the following six references might mean (readers should leave ideas in the comments section for this post):
1. "1 piece of girt web and lead lyne" - I do not know what the reference to "girt web" would be. The reference to "lead lyne" is a reference to a sounding line used to test water depth.
2. "2 1/2 yds. of bongala" (Seems to be a fabric, but nothing else known.)
3. "24 yds. of flew lynnen" (some type of linen, but not sure what "flew" means)
4. "2 paire of geres for horses" (perhaps some type of horse collar?)
5. "beetle rings" (I do not know what this would be.)
6. "1 paire fell'rs" (Again, I do not know what this would be.)
"An inventory of ye estate of Sir Thomas Pell, late deceased, appraised by us whose names are underwritten, and yt according to an order or commission directed unto us by ye Rt. Hon'ble ye govern'r, and his Royal High., ye Duke of Yorke, of all his territories in America.
Imprimis [a late Middle English term and contraction of Latin phrase meaning "in the first place"] 1 old feather bed, 2 feather bolsters [i.e., long and often cylindrical cushion or pillow for a bed], 2 pillows, 1 rug, 1 blankett, 1 coverlett, 1 bedstead, and 1 pr. of old sheets . . . 14 0 0
1 paire of old kitterminster curtains [likely a reference to Kidderminster, a town in Worcestershire, England known for textiles and carpets] and vallance [i.e., "valance," a short curtain or piece of drapery hung from the edge of a canopy or frame of a bed] . . . 1 0 0
63 yrds. of canvass [spelling variant of canvas, a closely woven, heavy cloth of cotton, hemp or linin, used for sails, tents, etc.] at 2s. pr. yd. . . . 6 6 0
36 drest [i.e., "dressed"] buck and doe skins at 4s pr. piece, . . . 7 0 0
1 pr. of wooden scales and weights, . . . 0 3 0
2 paire of old sheep sheres [i.e., shears] . . . 0 4 0
1 table and frame, . . . 0 10 0
6 silver spoons and 1 dram cup, . . . 2 0 0
9 pound of tacks, . . . 0 4 0
1 pr. of brasse scales and pound weights, . . . 0 5 0
1 piece of girt web and lead lyne [i.e., "lead line," a sounding line used in shipping and boating], . . . 0 6 0
1 pound of pepper, . . . 0 2 0
4 knives, . . . 0 2 0
14 buckles and 2 bridle bits, . . . 0 2 0
2 1/2 yds. of bongala at 3s p . . . 0 7 6
14 yds. of peniston [uncertain reference, but possibly a reference to wool cloth from the Penistone sheep, also known as the Whitefaced Woodland sheep from the South Pennines in England] at 2s p. yd. . . . 1 8 0
6 yds of Holland [a coarse linen cloth, used especially for furnishing, named for where it typically was made] at 4s. p. yd. . . . 1 4 0
21 yds 1/2 of Brockram [perhaps a reference to burckram, a stiff cloth made of cotton and, occasionally, linen used to stiffen clothes and to to cover and protect books; additionally, in the Middle Ages "bokeram' was a fine cotton cloth that was not stiff], at 1s. 6d. p. yd. . . . 1 12 3
60 lbs of pewt. [i.e., pewter] at 12d pr. lb. . . . 3 0 0
8 old napkins, 1 table cloath and towell, . . . 0 14 0
1 old lynnen wast coate, 1 pr. of drawers and 2 shirts, . . . 0 16 0
1 chest, . . . 0 5 0
1 old wast coate, . . . 0 6 0
[Page 46 / Page 47]
5 pr. of woosted [i.e., worsted wool] stockings at 4s pr. pair, . . . 1 0 0
1 pr. of home spun stockings, . . . 0 4 0
1 pair of serge [either a twilled worsted or woolen fabric or cotton or silk in a twill weave] boot hose and tops, . . . 0 6 0
4 cushion cases, . . . 0 10 0
13 yds. of several remnants of several stuffs [i.e., material of some unspecified kind] at 2s pr. yd. . . . 1 6 0
12 yds. more ye sd stuffs, . . . 1 4 0
9 yds. of remnants of serge [see above] at 3s pr. yd. . . . 1 7 0
1 piece of serge, . . . 3 0 0
11 1/2 yds. of remnants of kersey [i.e., a coarse twilled woolen cloth with a cotton warp, used especially for work clothes] at 4s pr. yd. . . . 2 6 0
24 yds. of flew lynnen at 2s. pr. yd. . . . 2 2 0
4 yds of penistone [see above] at 2s. pr. yd. . . . 0 8 0
5 yds. of cotton at 2s. 6d. p. yd. . . . 0 12 6
3 lb. of black and browne thread, . . . 0 6 0
Remnants of gimp. [Gimp lace is lace of particularly intricate knotting and plaiting] and other laces, . . . 1 0 0
1 pair of cotton cards [cotton cards are paddle-like hand tools used to disentangle, clean and intermix cotton fibers to produce a continuous web or sliver of cotton suitable for subsequent processing], . . . 0 1 6
14 lb. and 1/2 of lead in barres [i.e., bars] at 3d. p. 1b . . . 0 3 2
1 pair of bridle reines, . . . 0 1 6
3 quire [a "quire" is a set of 24 uniform sheets of paper] of paper, . . . 0 1 6
1 chest with a lock, . . . 0 10 0
2 joynt stooles [a "joint stool" is a low wood stool having turned legs with all parts joined by a mortise joint], . . . 0 4 0
3 chaires at 2s. per chair, . . . 0 6 0
7 lb of powder at 1s. per lb. . . . 0 7 0
1 old neckcloth [an obsolete 17th century reference to a cravat often made of, or trimmed with, lace and worn about the neck by men in the 17th century], 5 old bands, 2 handkerchiefs, and old red cap, . . . 0 10 0
3 gunnes, . . . 3 0 0
1 old patch flock bead ["flock" is a Middle English term that can refer to material used to stuff things such as a mattress, or a reference to a form of decoration], 2 boulsters [see above], 3 old blanketts, 1 old coverlett, . . . 0 10 0
1 chaffe bed being broke [i.e., "chaff bed" which was a bed in which chaff consisting of husks separated from edible grains like rice chaff, oat chaff, etc. was used in place of an ordinary mattress], 1 feather bolster, 1 per of coarse sheet, . . . 2 10 0
1 hammock, . . . 0 12 0
1 old coate, . . . 0 4 0
2 feather bol. [i.e., bolsters, see above] 1 pillow, 2 blanketts and 1 coarse sheet, . . . 2 10 0
1 dressed boar skin, . . . 0 4 0
1 very old boat sayle [i.e., "sail"], . . . 0 4 0
1 old bible, . . . 0 4 0
Culpeper's dispensatory, wh 3 other small books, . . . 0 10 0 [NOTE: This is likely a reference to a copy of of Nicholas Culpeper's "English Physician: Or, An Astrolog-physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation by Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) first published in 1652; the book was described as a "complete family dispensatory" guide.]
2 of Cradock's works in quarto, . . . 0 __ 0 [NOTE: This may be a reference to some of the theological works of Samuel Cradock (ca. 1620-1706) who authored, for example: "Knowledge & Practice: Or, A Plain Discourse of the Chief Things Necessary to be Known, Believ'd & Practised in Order to Salvation. Drawn Up & Principally Intended for the Use & Benefit of North-Cadvury in Somersetshire" (London: F. Hayes for J. Rothwell, 1659).]
2 brushes, . . . 0 1 0
18 old fashioned felt hats wh bands . . . 5 0 0
2 yds. of bayes and duffets for 1 paire of Indian breeches . . . 0 7 0
15 bushells of winter wheat at 6s. p. bushell, . . . 3 0 0
3 bushells of Indian corn at 2s. 6d. p. bushell, . . . 0 7 6
A parcell of sheep's wool, . . . 2 0 0
A parcell of cotton wool, . . . 1 6 0
A parcell of lumber casks in ye chamber, . . . 0 12 0
380 lb. of nayles [i.e., "nails"] at 10d. p. 1b, . . . 15 0 8
7 bolts for dores, . . . 0 4 0
2 paire of bridle raines, . . . 0 3 0
1 paire of bridle bitts, . . . 0 1 0
1 feth'r bed, 1 boulster [see above], 2 blanketts, 2 rugs, 2 pillows, 1 pr. of sheets, . . . 5 0 0
1 large feather bed, 1 boulster, 2 blanketts, 1 rug, 1 pr. sheets, . . . 7 0 0
[Page 47 / Page 48]
2 blanketts, . . . 1 0 0
1 old feather bed, 1 boulster, 1 pillow, 1 paire of sheets, 1 blankett and 1 coverlett, . . . 5 0 0
17 yds. of coarse broad-cloth at 7s. p. yd. . . . 5 19 0
17 lumber casks, . . . 0 17 0
1 old chest without a lock, . . . 0 5 0
4 iron potts, 1 skillett, 3 pair of pot hooks, . . . 2 10 0
3 brasse kettles, 1 skillett, 2 chafing dishes, 1 pestell and mortar, and 1 copper skillett, . . . 5 0 0
2 trammells [unclear, but may be fowling nets or fishing nets; rare usage], 1 dripping pan, 1 spitt, 1 frying pan, 1 paire of tongues, 1 gridiron [a utensil consisting of parallel metal bars on which to broil meat or other food], 1 smoothing iron, . . . 1 15 0
2 doz. trayes, 2 boults [the verb boult can mean to pass flour or some other powder through a sieve, suggesting these may be flour sifters], 1 cheesplate, 5 wooden bottles, 8 peales [this may be a reference to "peels" which are a shovel-like implement for putting bread, pies, etc. into the oven or taking them out], 1 1/2 bushell, 1 peck, 1 quarter cann, 1 old small churn, . . . 1 5 0
2 ploughs, 2 shares [i.e., the cutting part of the moldboard of a plow, known as a "share"], 2 coulters [i.e., "colter" which is a sharp blade or wheel attached to the beam of a plow, used to cut the ground in advance of the plowshare], bolts, collars and 1 pr. of chaines, . . . 1 10 0
3 draught chaines, 1 timber chaine, . . . 2 0 0
2 paire of geres [unclear; a gyre is a ring or circle, suggesting the possibility that this is a reference to some sort of horse collar for horses] for horses, . . . 1 0 0
6 falling axes and 1 hatchett, . . . 1 0 0
2 mattocks [an instrument for loosening soil in digging; shaped like a pickax, but having one end broad instead of pointed], 2 spades, 2 iron crowes [presumably crowbars], 2 sledges, 6 wedges, 1 drawing knife [i.e., a knife with a handle at each end at right angles to the blade, used by drawing over a surface], 1 hedging bill, 1 clapboard hoe, 1 crosse cut saw, 1 hand saw, and beetle rings, . . . 2 10 0
1 piece of an iron barre, . . . 0 10 0
2 old carts, 3 paire of wheels, 1 paire of them shod with iron, and 1 cart rope, . . . 5 9 0
3 old table napkins, 1 table cloth, 6 old towells, . . . 0 10 0
1 warming pan, &c. . . . 0 16 0
24 harrow teeth [i.e., spike-like "teeth" used on a harrow, an agricultural implement drawn over plowed land to level it, break up clods and root up weeds, etc.], 1 swivell, 1 horse lock, 1 small chaine, 3 gimbletts [i.e., gimlet, a small hand tool consisting of a pointed spiral tip attached at right angles to a handle, used for boring small holes in wood], 8 howes [i.e., Hoes], . . . 1 10 0
1 small bag with ginger, . . . 0 1 0
20 yearling cattle, . . . 40 0 0
9 2 yeare old, . . . 22 10 0
9 3 yeare old, . . . 31 10 0
6 4 yeare old, . . . 27 0 0
6 milch cows, . . . 27 0 0
12 oxen, . . . 72 0 0
5 calfes, . . . 5 0 0
1 hogsd. and 1 barrell of mollasses, . . . 4 0 0
4 barrells of salt, . . . 1 10 0
16 lumber casks, . . . 0 16 0
All ye tobacco, old and new, . . . 50 0 0
2 hydes, . . . 1 0 0
1 parcell of feathers in a pillow case, and 1 pr of old stockens, . . . 0 4 0
Horses and horse colts as they run in the woods, . . . 40 0 0
Mares and mare colts, . . . 50 0 0
53 sheep, . . . 22 0 0
Swyne, small and greate, . . . 40 0 0
The howsing [i.e., "housing"], lands, barnes, islands, adjoyning from Hutchinson River westward, and so far eastward as were Mr. Tho. Pell's inst. and lawful right, . . . 500 0 0
[Page 48 / Page 49]
House and land in Westchester, . . . 20 0 0
6 new sythes, . . . 0 18 0
6 unwashed fleeces of wool, . . . 0 12 0
6 old scythes, . . . 0 14 0
In Applebyes keeping, 2 cows and 1 plow chaine . . . 9 8 0
[Note: The reference to "In Applebyes keeping" is very, very interesting. Hunter's Island, once part of the Town of Pelham was long known as "Appleby's Island." As Lockwood Barr noted in his history of the Town of Pelham published in 1946, however, there seems to be no record of who Appleby was. Barr said: "The first conveyance of the Island [Hunter's Island] found in the office of the County Clerk of Westchester, is a deed dated January 17, 1797, transferring an Island ". . . commonly called Appleby's. . ." from John Blagge to Alexander Henderson." See Barr, Lockwood, A Brief, But Most Complete & True Account of the Settlement of the Ancient Town of Pelham Westchester County, State of New York Known One Time Well & Favourably as the Lordshipp & Manour of Pelham Also The Story of the Three Modern Villages Called The Pelhams, pp. 91-93 (The Dietz Press, Inc. 1946). Thus, this reference in the inventory supports an inference that today's Hunter's Island was occupied at the time of Thomas Pell's death and that Appleby had two cows and one plow chain belonging to Thomas Pell.]
In Jonathan Burge his keeping, 2 oxen, 3 cowes, 2 yearlings, 4 calfes, 1 timber chaine, 1 plough chaine, 1 colter [see above], 1 share [see above] and boult, . . .
1 plough share, colter, boult, coller and yoke irons, in John Holy's hands, . . . 2 0 0
64 load of hay, . . . 16 0 0
5 firkins of sope [i.e., a firkin is an English unit of capacity usually equal to a quarter of a barrel; it also can refer to a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, soap, etc.] and parcell of tallow, . . . 3 0 0
1/2 barrell of rum, . . . 1 10 0
1 paire of stillyards [likely a reference to a pair of "steel yards" which are portable balances with two unequal arms, the longer one having a movable counterpoise and the shorter one bearing a hook or the like for holding an object to be weighed], . . . 0 10 0
3 yoaks and 2 grind stones, . . . 0 12 0
1 canow [unclear, possibly a "canoe," although the context suggests otherwise], parcell of beef, and 2 small parcells of sugar, . . . 1 10 0
4 cowes more, . . . 18 0 0
4 oxen, . . . 24 0 0
2 of two years old, . . . 5 0 0
2 of three years old, . . . 7 0 0
2 calfes, . . . 2 0 0
1 bull stag, . . . 6 0 0
Wheate, . . . 12 0 0
30 bushells of Indian corne . . . 3 0 0
Old wheat, . . . 5 0 0
2 draught chaines, 1 timber chaine, 1 pr. cart wheels, boxes and rings, . . . 3 0 0
1 colter [see above], 1 share [see above] colter and boult, . . . 1 10 0
1 broad axe, 3 iron wedges, 1 pr. of beetle rings, 1 cart rope, 1 coller for a horse, 2 pitchforks, 1 grind stone . . . 1 10 0
1 flock bed [i.e., a bed with a mattress stuffed with wool refuse, shearings or cloth, or the like] and boulster, 1 handsaw, 2 augurs, 2 hamers, and 1 paire fell'rs
1 iron pott, pot hooks and tramell [see above], 1 brasse kettle, 1 kellett and candlestick, 1 pewter pint pott, 2 old pewter platters, . . . 2 0 0
6 alchymy [i.e., alchemy, a "science" no longer practiced that sought to transform one chemical element into another through a combination of magic and primitive chemistry; considered to be a predecessor to modern chemistry] spoons, . . . 0 1 0
15 old lumber casks, . . . 0 15 0
1/2 firkin [see above] butter and 2 cheeses, . . . 0 15 0
2 cowe hydes, . . . 0 10 0
Total sume. . . 1294 14 4
This inventory and appraisem't was finished ye 20th of October, 1669, as witness o'r hands, we having according to o'r best knowledge and understanding done as witness o'r hands ye day and yeare aforesaid, we have apprised as money of this country.,
JOHN RICHBELLS,
WM. [Sideways "H" as his mark] HOYDEN.
his marke.
SAMUEL DEAKE."
Source: Bolton, Jr., Robert, The History of The Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, From Its First Settlement to the Present Time. Carefully Revised by its Author, Vol. II, pp. 46-49 (NY, NY: Chas F. Roper, 1881) (edited by C.W. Bolton).
Labels: 1669, Inventory of Estate, John Richbell, Samuel Drake, Thomas Pell, Will, William Leyden
posted by Blake A. Bell @ 4:46 AM
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