INVENTORIES
Probate inventories taken from the Worcester County Probate records were used as a guide for setting up the shoe shop. These inventories provided valuable information relative to the personal estates of those listed there in. Upon the demise of the individual an agent from the probate court would take an inventory of the deceased's estate to determine the dollar value for tax purposes and for the distribution of the estate if no will was in existance.
Since these inventories are usually very camplete, they tell us a good deal about household effects, clothing, economic status and so on. If we were to set up a household to represent a shoe maker, this information would be critical as it has been to the set up of Freeman and Fitch.
The inventories selected here are taken from the 31 found in the probate records between the years 1825-1840. They represent the range from the rather poor shoe maker through a shoe maker of more modest means to the more prosperous shoe manufacturer.
Probate Inventories for Massachusetts Shoemakers 1830-39.
Ainsworth, Amos
Volume 82, p.223 |
Age
23 |
Died
1837 |
Town
Brookfield |
Marital
Status
M |
Household Furnishings
- Furniture
1 bedstead $3.50
- Textiles
bed and bedding $13.00
4pr. sheets 3.00
5pr. pillow cases 1.00
- General housekeeping
Looking glass 4.00 1 Waiter .40
Glass lamp 10.00
- Personal Items
2 Razor cases and Brush .40
- Tools
Shoemaking
Shoe bench .75
Last iron .50
1 hammer .50
1 pegging hammer .33
1pr. pincers .30
1pr. nippers .34
2 instep leathers .33
2 peg cutters .25
4 shoe knives much worn .12
3 shoe knives .18
2 last hooks .12
1 peg sett .06
1 stamp and marker .08
4 pegging awls & hafts .12
2 sewing awls .04
1 spoke shave .12
Peg bench and apparatus 1.00
8 Iasts (?)
Total Estate $29.73
Perry, Coolidge
Volume 78 p. 404 |
31 |
1836 |
Milford |
M 4 |
Household Furnishings
- Furniture
- Case pieces
1 chest 2.00, 1 chest 1.00, 1 desk .30(?), 1 chest .50
- Beds
1 bedstead bed & bedding 12.00, 1 bedstead, bed & bedding 5.50
- Tables
1 table .75 , 1 work table .75, 1 table .12
- Chairs
6 chairs 1.50, 6 chairs 2.25, 4 chairs .50, 2 small chairs .33
- Washstands & other types of stands
1 lightstand .17
- Trunks
1 trunk .25
- Food related items
- Preparation
- cooking utensils
1 cooking stove & pipe 18.00, 1 brass kettle .25, 1 toast iron .25, 2 tin skimmers .04, chopping knives .33, 1 coffee mill 1 small sieve .04, 1 tea kettle .33, 1 stone churn .42, cake board
- storage tubs, barrels,, baskets, pails, buckets, jugs
5 tin milk pans .83, 1 milk pail .25, 4 flour barrels .50, tub .75, 1 do .25, 1 soap tub .12, 1 meat tub .50, 8 old barrel .75, 4 do firkins 1.00, 1 stone jar .50, 3 gallon stone jug 1 stone jug .17, 1 bucket .16, 1 stone jar .12, 1 tin pail .10 1 do funnel .04, 4 wooden boxes .32, tin pail .12, ½qt. stone .08, 1 box .06, 1 basket .10, 1 cider barrel .75
- Tableware
- cutlery- 1 spoon .12, 3 tea spoons .12
1 set knives & forks .67, 12 knives & forks .67, 6 spoons .25
- glass
3 glass tumblers .18, sundry pieces glass, decanters .50, cast
- dishes
1 tea set 1.25, 1 printed sugar, tea pot & creamer .50, 1 printed oval platter .25, 6 do plates .37, 1 pitcher .25, 6 blue plates, 1 set teas .12, 1 sugar bowl .12, 4 bowls .25, 11 plates .25, 2 pudding dishes small .19, 1 pitcher .17, 1 mug .08 tin coffee pot & tea do .17, Britannia tea pot .50,1 tea tray 1 tray .12, 1 tea tray .25, sundry pieces crockery & tin .25
- Foodstuffs
1 barrel vinegar & barrel 3.00, 1 keg do & keg 1.00, 16a. potatoes
- Textiles
- Curtains NL
- Bedding- listed along with bedsteads a. linens
5 pr. .sheets 3.00, 4 pillow cases .32
- Table coverings
2 linen table cloths 1.00
- Towels
3 towels .15
- General Housekeeping
- Stove, fireplace equipment
shovel & tongs .37, 1 pr. bellows .17
- Lighting
1 glass lanthorn .06, 1 glass lamp .20, 1 do socket .10, 1 brass candlestick .10
- Looking glasses
looking glass .50
- Miscellaneous
lot old books 1.50, cannister, phials, molasses cup, pepper & c.
- Clothing NL
- Tools
- Shoemaking
1 peg jack, bench and chair 2.75
4 rolls heel ball .16
1 shoemakers kit 5.00
1 lb. thread .38
½ lb. thread .25
10pr. lasts 1/6 2.50
1 set sole leather patterns .42
7 lb. 6 oz. sheet iron patterns & paste board patterns 1.50
½ bu. pegs 1.00
1 click board 1.00
a materials- stock
22½lb sole leather 1/6 2.62
2½pr. boot fronts 2/3 94
1½" " backs 1/ .25
1 3/4 lbs, split leather 1/ .29
21pr. boot counters .25
9pr. boot uppers .37
24pr. thick boots 12/ 48.00
24pr. " " 12/9 51.00
2parts & sole leather 7/6 2.50
- Other tools
peet fork .75, 1" auger .25
Real Estate, Notes and Other Assets
A. Real Estate and buildings thereon
seventy eight rods of land with a dwelling house thereon 550.00 1 shop 5.00
B. Cash 10.00
I decree to Hopestill Perry the widow of said deceased the sum of $100 as necessary for herself and the minor children under her care.
Ira Barton J. Probate
Total Estate $244.51
Servey, William 25
Volume 78, pp. 139-140 |
1836 |
Uxbridge |
S |
Household Furnishings
A. Furniture
1. Trunks
2 trunks, 1 small trunk 2.00, 1 blanket (box?) 1.00
F. Clothing and other personal items
Wearing apparel 39.25, 1 looking glass .50
Vehicles
1 wagon 40.00, 1 sleigh 12.00
A. Harness
1 harness 10.00
B. Animals for drawing
1 horse 45.00
Real Estate, Notes and Other Assets
A. Notes & Cash
1 note of hand against Luther Bullard 27.15, cash on hand 28.28
Shoe Making Equipment & Stock
- Tools
shoemakers tools 0.97, 1 shoe bammer .50, 9 shoe knives .34, lot of shoe patterns 5.00, lot of lasts 40.78, shoe makers bench .62, box rule .25
- Supplies- leather & findings
- Leather
97 ft. black grain @ .12, 11.64; 9 binding skins 5.00; 366 lbs roundings 10.98; 48 lbs. splits @ .20 lb. 9.60; 257 lbs. sole leather @ .19 lb. 48.83; 137½ ft. wax leather @ .13 17.88; 2 white lamb skins .84; 10 russet linings 20.20; 10 black skins 20.20; 2 calf skins 91½ prs. kip wax leather 7¢ ft. 6.41; lot of wax leather remnants 4.00; lot of remnants of leather in cutting room 11.80; 19 splits @ .20 3.80
- Cut leather
15 prs narrow strapped uppers not bound .18-2.70
8 prs kip upper leathers 3.00
60 " brogans kip upper leathers @ .28- 16.80
60 " kip vamps 2nd quality @ .08- 4.80
40 " thick boys uppers @ .16- 6.40
2 cases of kip sole leathers (170prs) @.20- 24.00
84 prs. youths sole leathers @ .10- 8.40
50 " kip sole leathers @.07- 3.50
about 60 pr. kip sole leathers & remnants 15.50
lot of sole leather cut out 2.00
50 prs. back uppers leather cut out @ .11- 6.60
- Partially finished shoes
214 prs kip uppers bound ( 12.65 to be deducted for work) @ .25- 53.50
120 prs. large boys kip uppers bound @ .20- 24.00
30 " womens shutees uppers bound @ .25- 7.50
15 " narrow strapped uppers bound @ .23- 3.45
160 " cack uppers bound @ .15- 22.50
40 " boys thick brogans closed @ .25- 10.00
s50 " mens slippers uppers bound @ .12- 6.00
- Finished work
70 prs. womens shutees bk grain box(?) @ .70- 49.00
38 " mens narrow strapped shoes bk(black?) @ .67- 25.46
60 " " " fine pegged shoes to be deducted for cash paid David Waterman for
making 20 prs. since Servey's decease .80- 48.00
60 prs. boys bk grain brogans 7.20 to be deducted for cash to Samuel Fuller for making 30 prs.
since Servey's decease @ .75 45.00
20 prs. damaged kip brogans @ .37½- 7.50
49 " kip brogans @ .70- 34.30) 5.06 to be deducted for pay
3 " calf boots @ 1.50- 4.50 ) to C. Richards
60 " kip brogans @ .75- 45.00,
125 " in hands of Johnson(kip brogans)
100 " thick mens brogans @ .75- 75.00
50 " " " " in hands of Putnam
51 " kip brogans @.80- 40.80
14 " cacks youths brogans @.45- 6.30
72 " thick boots @ 1.87½- 135.48, 9.16 to be deducted for making
32 " kip brogans whole quarters @.85- 26.20, 7.68 to be deducted for cash for J. Ray for
making according to contract with Servey
28 prs. womens slippers @ .33- 9.33
lot of damaged shoes 2.00
- Findings
lot of shoe pegs 26.00; 1½ yds. duck @ .20- .30; 23 yds sheeting @ .09- 2.07; 8½ lbs shoe thread 3.50; 700 yds cotton cord 1.26;
23 lbs. shoe nails @ .10/lb.- 2.30; 11 rolls black ball @.04- .44
- Odd items
1 lamp filler .10; 6 boxes .50
Total Estate $1,218.03
Hoar Isaac 26
Volume 74, pp. 110-111 |
1833 |
N. Brookfield |
S |
Household furnishings
- Misc.
1 account book .30, 2 liquor casks 1.00, remnant cloth .60, 1 slate .06, 1 lamp filler .12
- Clothing and other personal items
1 coat and pantaloons 12.25, 1 black coat 1.25, 1 loose coat 1.25, 1 Spencer .25, 1pr. mixed pantaloons .20, 1pr. striped cotton do 2pr. suspenders .20, 1 mixed woolen vest .12, lstriped woolen do 2pr. woolen socks .50, 2 shirts 2.33, 3 hats 3.00, 2pr. boots 1.25 1pr. shoes .10, 1pr. gloves .10
1.Other
1 watch 14.00, 1 razor, strap, box and cup & brush .75, gun & equipment 4.50, powder & shot .17
- Tools
- Shoemakers
1 shoemakers bench 1.50
1 " peg bench .75
1 leather apron .25
4 shoe knives .25,
2 shoe hammers 1.25
2 " Shaves .40
1 file peg cutter & guage .40
1 last hook & hole cutter .40
7 awls & hafts .20
1pr. each Nippers & pincers .40
3 whetstones and 1 hone .50
5 instep leathers .30
1 shoe rasp & scythe rifle .17
heel ball bayberry tallow & sponge .08
12 shoe lasts 1.00
1 ink stand & bottle
1 lot of shoe pegs .40
1 oil jug .15
lot of sole leather & scraps
Farm Equipment
A. Tools
2 scythes & snaths 1.50, 1 rake .17, 1 axe 1.25, 1 iron shovel .50 1 pitchfork .40
B. Vehicles
part of a wagon 2.67
C. Livestock
1 cow 11.25
Real Estate, Notes and Other Assets
A. Real Estate NL
B. Notes
note against Waite & Prouty & Co. 80.21
C. Cash
cash on hand 26.20
Total Estate $182.39
Cloyes, Joseph 41
Volume 74, p. 245 |
1833 |
Grafton |
S |
Household Furnishings
- Furniture
- Case pieces 1 red chest with legs 1.50, 1 other chest .50
- Beds
1 bedstead, bed, cord & bedding 22.00, 1 mattress 6.00
- Trunks
1 travelling trunk 1.50, 1 hair covered trunk 1.50, 1 leather do .75
- Food related items NL
- Textiles-only those related to bedding which was already listed
- General Housekeeping NL
- Miscellaneous
- Clocks 1 clock 6.00
- Books 1 bible 1.00
- Other 1 iron shovel .33
- Clothing
1pr. checkered kerseymere pantaloons 4.00, 1 black coat & vest 7.50 1 woolen coat & pantaloons 4.00, 3 woolen vests 1.50, 2 old coats 1.50, 3pr. woolen pantaloons & 1pr. cotton 2.00, 1 fur hat 1.50 3 under waistcoats .20, 1pr. drab pantaloons .75, 2pr. woolen draft .50, 2 thin vests 1.50, 10 shirts 2.50, 1pr suspenders 2.0, 8prs. short stockings @ 9p 1.00, 1pr. calfskin boots 1.50, 1pr. thick boots 1.50, 1pr. thin shoes .75, 1 silk handkerchief .33, 1 cotton do white .50, 1 neck comforter .25, 1 neck stock .33, 1 outside coat 1.50 1. Other items
2 calfskin pocketbooks 1.00, 1 do wallet .40, 1 silver watch 3.00
- Tools
1. Shoemakers NL
- Vehicles
1 horse sleigh 12.00, 1 do 16.00, wagon seat 1.50
1.Harness
1 string bells 1.25, 1 wagon harness 10.00, 2 buffalo skins 8.00
Real Estate, Notes and Other Assets
- Land and buildings thereon NIL
- Other
1 pew in First Cong. Meeting House in Grafton 20.00
- Business stock
16 sides thick wax leather @ 2.20/side 35.20
35 sides thin wax leather 37.37
10lbs. shavings @ .20/lb. 2.00
10lining skins @ .08 .80
11 sides sole leather 179&3/4 lbs. @ .19/lb. 34.15
2 " " " damaged 3.12
70prs. boys kip brogans @ .55/pr. 30.50
420 " mens do @ .82½/pr. 346.50
358 " " " shoes @ .80/pr. 286.40
298 " " calf brogans @ 1.00/pr. 298.00
70 " boys " " @ .75/pr. 52.50
Total Estate $ 1285
| Mason, Elias |
1842 |
Woodstock |
Connecticut |
| Shoe Making Materials & Equipment |
|
| I.Finished Stock 4prs. calf boots |
5.00 |
| 11 cases Kip Brogans (Mens sizes) 660prs. @ 65¢ |
$429 |
| 1 case " " (boys " ) 60prs. @ 40¢ |
24 |
| 26prs Ladies Village ties @ 85¢ |
22.10 |
| 34 " " Kid slips @ 54¢ |
18.36 |
| 34 " " French ties @ 75 ¢ |
25.50 |
| 42 " various kinds Ladies & Misses shoes morocco & black grain at 40¢ |
16.80 |
| II.Unfinished Stock |
|
| 7 cases Mens shoes in hands of workmen to bottom four hundred pairs at 42¢ |
176.40 |
2 cases Boys shoes in hands of workmen to bottom(note the two cases should be one)
120prs. @ 27¢ |
32.40 |
| 7 cases of Mens uppers in the hands of fitters 420prs @ 22¢ |
92.40 |
| 3 cases of quarters in the hands of fitters 180prs @ 10¢ |
18.00 |
| 2 " of Mens 2nd quality Brogans (uppers) 120prs @ 12¢ |
14.40 |
| 1 " do 1st " low quarters 60prs @ 12¢ |
7.20 |
| 5 " do do " quarters parted & stamped 300prs. at 10¢ |
30.00 |
| 2 cases do 2nd " parted & stamped 120prs @ 6¢ |
7.20 |
| 5 cases do do " quarters & linings not stamped 300 pairs |
24.00 |
| 540prs. do 2nd " vamps of different descriptions |
32.40 |
| 45prs. Boys do " " " " |
.90 |
| 90prs. do " odd quarters(Boys) |
.90 |
| 30prs. linings Mens & boys |
.30 |
| 47 " Mens odd quarters |
.94 |
| 5 cases Cut Sole Leather 300prs @ 20¢ |
60.00 |
| 9 cases 540prs 1st quality of Uppers fitted @ 22¢ |
118.80 |
| 4 " 240 " 2nd " " " 12¢ |
28.80 |
| 5 " 300 " " " Boys uppers fitted @ 8¢ |
24.00 |
| III.Findings |
|
| A.Leather |
|
| a Lot of Welts, Rands, and scrap leather |
1.50 |
| 436¼ lbs. Sole Leather 2nd quality @ 17¢ |
74.16 |
| Lot of scrap leather |
.50 |
| 27½ dz. Sheep skins White linings @ 3.37 |
92.67 |
| 3½ dz. lamb skins @ 9 |
5.25 |
| 218 ft. African Kips at 23.98, 585½ lbs splits @ 20¢, 105.39 |
129.36 |
| 2 3/4 dz. colored linings @ 36¢ |
9.90 |
| 62 lbs. Calf skins finished at 60¢ 37.20, 48lbs. Remnant splits @ 20¢ 2.88 |
40.80 |
| 3 sides black Grained upper leather some damageed |
3.00 |
| 50 lbs Stiffening leather |
1.00 |
| B.Tools & Other supplies |
|
| 1.Tools |
|
| 3 stamps |
.50 |
| Stifning & 1 tongue Chissell |
2.00 |
| 2 Spoke Shaves & 5 Colts 3.75 |
4.25 |
| 5 heel Chissels 1.00, 12 old shoe knives |
1.25 |
| 13 new Shoe Knives 1.00, |
1.00 |
| 44 pegging awls 2/ |
.88(?) |
| 9 papers Needles |
.72 |
| 1 Shoe Stamp |
4.00 |
| 2.Materials |
|
| 106 lbs. Shoe Nails at 6¢ |
6.36 |
| 123 lbs. Shoe Thread |
36.90 |
| 5 lb. black linnen Thread |
6.67 |
| 48 empty shoe boxes at 30¢ |
14.40 |
| 1 set sole Leather Patterns |
1.00 |
| 1 set extra quarter patterns |
.75 |
| 9 sets of patterns entire |
3.62 |
| 1½ lb. gum Tragacanth |
.75 |
| lot lasts on hand |
3.00 |
| 1½ lbs gum Arabic |
.37 |
| 1 piece of zinc |
.16 |
| 2 doz. rolls of black ball |
.50 |
|
Previous
