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| Image from Pixabay,com |
In my last post, I introduced you to my third-great Aunt, Mary Snyder Stump Kaschele. When she was 30, her husband of eleven years died at the age of 44, leaving her a widow with four children under the age of 9. Frederick died intestate (without a will). Wyandot County, Ohio, Probate Court Judge Joel W. Gibson appointed Mary to be the Administratrix of the Estate -- the person who cares for the property, collects debts owed to the person who died, determines the names and addresses of all potential beneficiaries, and oversees the process of moving the estate case through court and makes sure all the steps required by law get done and ensures that the assets of the estate are distributed according to state law. As part of that responsibility, Mary had to ensure that the Estate be inventoried and appraised at the fair market value of each item before the Estate could be valued and distributed to the beneficiaries. Here, I am transcribing the Probate Court record of that Inventory and Appraisal (I will post a picture and then follow it with the transcription of that page, or pages). It’s an interesting peek back through history into what farm life was like in the late 1800’s, through the items (legal word: chattels) and animals essential to that life for Frederick and Mary.
Note that there is a small list of items and animals that were given to [‘set off’ for] Mary and the children without an appraisal. The appraisers also specified certain items and monies to provide for the support of Mary and her children for one year. (It wasn’t a huge amount. That may have played into her decision to marry a neighbor nine years her junior only one month after the filing of the Inventory and Appraisal, see prior post.
[Apologies on the spacing of signatures and in columns. It's right before I publish it, and wrong immediately thereafter. I've tried to fix it several times, but it won't stay corrected.]
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| Estate Inventory of Frederick Stump, Deceased; Mary Stump Admix. Record, Wyandot County, Probate Court Page 475 (right side) (Click to make bigger) |
[p. 475]
Estate Inventory of Frederick Stump, Deceased; Mary Stump Admix.
Be remembered that on the 11th day of February A.D. 1881, Mary Stump Administratix of the estate of Frederick Stump deceased filed herein in the Probate Court of Wyandot County, Ohio an Inventory and Appraisement of the personal estate of said decedent which inventory and appraisement is in the words and figures following, to wit:
-Order to Appraise-
The state of Ohio Wyandot County, ss: In Probate Court. In the matter of the Estate of Frederick Stump, deceased to M O [????], William Jenkins and D D Cole Appraisers, Greeting you are hereby notified that you have been appointed by the Probate Court of said County to appraise the personal estate and effects belonging to the estate of Frederick Stump late of Richland Township in said County deceased. These are therefore to authorize and require you, well and truly, to appraise all the personal estate and effects of the deceased which shall be presented to you by Mary Stump Administratix of said estate and also to perform all other duties required by law of you in the premises as appraisers and you are further commended to deliver this order with your proceedings thereon to the said Admix that the same may be returned to said court within three months from the date hereof. Witness my signature as judge of the Probate Court of Upper Sandusky Ohio, 30th day of December A.D. 1880.
[Signed] Joel W Gibson,
Probate Judge.
Return of Order
To the Hon. Joel Gibson Probate Judge the undersigned Mary Stump Administratrix of the Estate of the said Frederick Stump deceased makes return of the foregoing order with the proceedings had in pursuance thereof together with a copy of the notice given of the time and place of the making of the within inventory and appraisement. [Signed] Mary Stump
Dated February 11th 1881 Administratrix.
Notice of Appraisement
Estate of Frederick Stump deceased Notice whereby given that an Inventory and Appraisement of the estate and property of Frederick Stump late of Wyandot County deceased will be taken at his late residents in the Richland Township on the 18th day of January 1881 commencing at 9:00 AM and continuing from day to day until completed.
Dated this 11th day of January 1881. Mary Stump
Administratrix
The state of Ohio, Wyandot County, ss: Mary Stump Administratrix of the Estate of Frederick Stump deceased make oath that copies of the above notice of the time and place of the making of the within
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| Estate Inventory of Frederick Stump, Deceased; Mary Stump Admix. Record, Wyandot County, Probate CourtPages 476 and 477 (Click to make bigger) |
[p. 476]
Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate and property of Frederick Stump, Dec’d, were posted up in two of the most public places in Richland Township wherein the said deceased last dwelt and were served on all of the errors at law, legatees, and next of kin of said decedent residing in said County at least five days prior thereto. [Signed] Mary Stump
Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me this 11th day of February 1881. Joel W Gibson, Probate Judge.
Oath of Appraisers
The State of Ohio Wyandot County, ss: we the undersigned do make solemn oath that we will truly honestly and impartially appraise the Estate and property that may be exhibited to us belonging to the estate of Frederick Stump deceased and perform the other duties required by law of us in the premises as appraisers according to the best of our knowledge and ability.
M O [????]
Wm Jenkins
DD Cole.
Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me by the said appraisers on the 18 day of January A.D. 1881. Jonathan Bowser, Mayor.
Inventory and Appraisement
Estate of Frederick Stump deceased Schedule “A”.
In compliance with the Statute (O Laws Vol.75 [?] 869 Sec [???]), the undersigned appraisers set off to the Widow and (4) minor children under 15 years of age of said decedent the following articles without appraisement. The same being excerpt from administration, to wit: First One Sewing Machine 25.00, one stove & out fit 15.00, one Bible, schoolbooks, County Atlas, etc., thirty-one cow, three beds and bedsteads, twelve sheep.
Dated January 18, 1881. M.O. [????])
Wm Jenkins) Appraisers.
DD Cole)
Estate of Frederick Stump deceased, Schedule “B”.
The said decedent leavng a widow and four children under 15 years of age we do set off and allowed to Mary Stump Widow and Benjamin Frederick Edward Daisy children of said decedent under the age of 15 the following property for their support for one year from the death of said decedent to wit:
1 Eighteen bushels of wheat 18.00
2 Fruit in Cans 5.00
3 Sider in Barrels 3.00
4 Pork in Barrels 30.00
5 Lard in Cans 7.80
6 Fruit in Jars 1.00
7 Apples in Bin 6.00
8 Potatoes in Bin 9.00
and there not being sufficient property of a suitable
[p. 477]
kind to set off we certify that they will need in money the sum of seven hundred twenty-one dollars distributed as follows:
To one hundred and twenty March 18, 1881 120.00
To May 20, 1881 one hundred+twenty 120.00
To July 20, 1881 one hundred+twenty 120.00
To September 20, 1881 one hundred+twenty 120.00
To November 20, 1881 one hundred+twenty 120.00
To January 18, 1882 one hundred and twenty-one 121.00
Total in money and property allowed 800.00
Dated January 18, 1881 MO [????])
Wm Jenkins) Appraisers
DD Cole)
Estate of Frederick Stump Deceased Schedule “D”.
Personal goods and chattels. The following personal goods and chattels belonging to the Estate of the said deceased which are assets in the hands of the said Mary Stump Administratrix as Exhibited to us by her we appraise as follows:
No. of Item Weigh or Measure Description of Articles Appraised Appraised Value
1 21 Iron Kettles taken by widow 3.00
2 1 Saddle “ “ 1.00
3 2 Shovel Plows “ “ 1.25
5 2 Augers & Knife taken by widow 1.00
6 2 Hay rakes “ “ 1.00
7 1 Grain Cradle “ “ 1.00
8 Lumber taken by widow 3.00
9 4 bn Flaxseed “ “ 40.00
10 Clover Seed “ “ 24.00
11 1 Sow “ “ 12.00
12 12 Pigs taken by widow 20.00
13 1 Spotted Cow “ “ 20.00
14 1 Red Cow “ “ 20.00
15 light red Cow “ “ 20.00
16 one White Heifer taken by widow 20.00
17 one Red “ “ “ 20.00
18 2 Yearling Cattle “ “ 20.00
19 1 Roan Heifer taken by widow 20.00
20 3 Calves “ “ 15.00
21 1 Sulky Plow “ “ 3.00
22 1 Shovel + c “ “ 1.00
23 1 Grindstone taken by widow .50
24 1 Wagon “ “ 15.00
25 1 Plow “ “ 3.00
26 2 Hay Forks “ “ .75
27 2 set Harness “ “ 15.00
28 1 Grey Mare “ “ 90.00
29 One Bay Mare “ “ 15.00
30 1 pr Bob Sled “ “ 1.00
31 150 shuck-corn in shuck taken by widow 75.00
32 One Harrow “ “ 4.00
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| Estate Inventory of Frederick Stump, Deceased; Mary Stump Admix. Record, Wyandot County, Probate CourtPage 478 (left side) (Click to make bigger) |
[p. 478]
33 One Reaper “ “ 20.00
34 One ½ Grain Drill “ “ 10.00
35 3 ½ To hay in Barn “ “ 25.00
36 Barley & Oats in Mow “ “ 15.00
37 35 Acres Wheat in ground taken by widow 150.00
Dated January 18, 1881 [signed] M. O. [????] )
Wm. Jenkins) Appraisers
D.D. Cole )
Recapitulation of the assets belonging to said Estate.
Total appraisement of personal goods and chattels, as per schedule D $776.75.
Dated January 18, 1881 [signed] M. O. [????] )
Wm. Jenkins) Appraisers
D.D. Cole)
The State of Ohio Wyandot County, ss: Before the subscriber Judge of the Probate Court within and for said County on the 11th day of February A.D. 1881 personally appeared Mary Stump Administratrix of the Estate of Frederick Stump late of said County deceased and being duly qualified she did depose and say that the foregoing inventory is in all respects just and true that it contains a true statement of all the estate and property of the said deceased which has come to the knowledge of said affiant being assets etc. and particularly of all moneys bank bills and other circulating medium belonging to the deceased and of all just claims of the said deceased against the said affiant and all other persons according to the best of her knowledge. [signed] “Mary Stump”
Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me the day and year first above written.
Joel W Gibson
Probate Judge
Administrix Inventory of Estate of Frederick Stump, 11 Febr. 1881, 3 pages. Inventories and Appraisements 1874-1881, vol 4-5,(pp475-478 of original & pp of 600-602 of digital scan);Wyandot;Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996; FamilySearch.org
Great find, Jo and a wonderful source of information for her descendants today. But, wasn't it dreadfully OTT that a widow had to employ an appraiser and list every 'jar of fruit'in the pantry, such that she could inherit 'her own' belongings!
ReplyDeleteIt's outrageous but also that's looking at it with today's eyes. In Ohio, married women had had the right to own or inherit property less than 40 years at the time. And while they had the right to own it, married or widowed women didn't have the right to control how it was used or any income from it til a few years later. As soon as she married Kaschele in February he got control over her property. Her father would have had that control before then. She's lucky the Court seemed to have given her everything. Legally she was only entitled to a certain monetary amount plus 1/3 of the estate. The rest would have been held for the kids.Im glad I live now!
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