Vol. II, No. 3, Winter 1989

The Will of Joseph Moore, 1822


Memorandum and statement of Joseph Moore, of Madison County, State of Missouri, who died without any written will, but who in his last illness declared that the following was his wish, as it respected himself, and the whole of his property.

We Theodore F. Tong, and Jeremiah Robinson were at the house of the said Joseph Moore, early in the morning of Tuesday the 17th day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, whilst the said Joseph Moore was extremely ill, and sensible of his approaching death; called upon Theodore F. Tong, in the presence of Jeremiah Robinson, and made and delivered (whilst in his proper mind and understanding) the following statements.
To wit: "Tong, I want you to attend to my law suits for me, I think I shall die." He said he wanted to be buried in his Orchard; he wanted a decent coffin of Black Walnut, and a case made of oak plank, to put the coffin in if the oak could be had; and to be buried six feet deep. "These I want you to attend to." He said he wanted no sale of his property; but said if it must be sold he wanted Betsy (meaning his wife) to buy all at whatever price it might sell for. He observed, that Betsy, meaning his wife, would have to administer; That when the children were raised there would be but little property left, except his Land and negroes.
He said there must be one hundred and six dollars of his money deposited with Cook, meaning Col. Nathaniel Cook, that Cook must take said money and enter the Land, on which he lived, for his children, when it should come into market. He said there would be about forty Dollars of money left, after making the deposit with Cook; and that his family would have to make use of some money (we supposed, meaning for his funeral expenses) and he thought that would be enough. He said Cook... had a note in his possession on Griggs, meaning Thomas Griggs, for one hundred and six dollars, which must be applied to the payment of his Land, when collected. He said Griggs... was to give him three hundred bushels of corn, rent, for his far field; and two barrels of corn per acre, for an other field; and that he was to deliver all the corn in a crib, he wished all the ground rented, except the field adjoining the house, and a small lot of ground now in Turnips.
He stated he was afraid he should lose a good deal, that many persons had borrowed small sums of money, of which he had taken no accounts. That Mrs. Cavit had borrowed twenty Dollars, of which there was no account, but that she was an honest woman and would pay it. That her son in Law, ODonnel had borrowed two Dollars of which he had no account. That Tucker, meaning Robert Tucker, owed him something also, of which there was no account.
He desired that his negro man Bill might be hired out to John Robinson, as long as he might want him; but that he must be kept hired out. He thought the Boys could tend the field adjoining the house. Lastly, he said, it was his wish, that Bill should be emancipated when his youngest children should come of age; that Bill had served him twenty five years faithfully, and he thought he ought to have his freedom.
Signed,
Theodore F. Tong---
Jeremiah Robinson
A True Copy, Test
Judge of Probate
Madison County



Appraisement of the personal property of Joseph Moore decd

Negro man Bill valued at $400 said boy to be in servitude for twenty years from the death of said Moore decd

Negro Bill valued at 400.00
" woman Dolly " 300.00
" Girl Nancy " 250.00
" " Mary " 200.00
" Boy Dick " 333.33 1/3
" " Harrison " 150.00
20 head Sheep .........   40.00
1 dark coulred cow .......   10.00
1 young red cow .........   7.00
1 Red Steer ...........   5.00
1 Spotted do ...........   5.00
1 do... do ...........   6.00
1 do... do ...........   5.00
1 cow ..............   8.00
2 yearlings ............   6.00
1 steer ..............   3.00
1 yearling ............   3.00
1 cow ..............   8.00
1 yearling ............   2.00
1 do ...............   3.00
4 cows & 1 Bell ........   40.00
5 yearling calves .........   2.00
1 Ball Horse ..........   50.00
1 Roan Mare ..........   50.00
1 Black Mare ..........   70.00
1 Colt ..............

10.00

7 Small Hogs .......... 7.00
25 Large Hogs ......... 75.00
45 Stock Hogs ......... 56.25
1 Bureau of clothes Press .... 40.00
1 Bed, bedstead & furniture . . 35.00
1 Counterpin wool & cotton... 7.00
2 pr. Sheets ........... 7.00
4 Quilts ............. 15.00
1 Bed, bedstead & furniture . . 20.00
1 do...do ............   25.00
1 do...do ............   35.00
1 Tunnell do.. do .......   15.00
1 Bureau ............   10.00
1 Cupboard ...........   10.00
1 Dining Table ..........   5.00
3 Rough tables .........   37 1/2
9 Common chairs ........   2.25
1 Set of knives & forks ......   3.00
1 Sugar Box ...........   1.25
Cupboard ware .........   7.00
6 Silver Tea Spoons .......   6.00
7 tumblers & glass    
sugar bowl ...........   1.50
1 pitcher and Bowl .........   75
1 Tea Board ...........   2.00
1 Coffee pot .............   25
1 " mill ............   75
2 Brass candle sticks .......   1.50
1 Large pot ............   4.00
1 oven & lid ...........   2.00
1 broken pot ...........   1.50
1 kittle & lid ...........   2.00
2 pr. pot hooks ...........   50
1 Skillet & lid ..........   1.50
1 Oven & lid (cracked) .....   1.00
1 Skillet & lid ............   50
1 Stew kittle .............   50
1 tea kittle ..............   50
1 Iron froe ..............   75
3 Wooden Water Vessels ....   62 1/2
1 Sifter ..............   2.00
2 Wooden axes $3 ..........  

long chain $6 .........  

 
9.00
2 clevaces & ...... . ......

pr. Swingle Trees .......  

 
2.00
2 Shovel Ploughs ........   3.00
1 Matlock 50c .............  

Three hoes $2 .........  

 
2.50
1 hand axe $1.00 ...........  

1 spade $1.00 .........  

 
2.00
1 inch auger .25c 2 seth  

gears4.00 ...........  

 
4.25
Swingle tree irons & ..........  

old auger .............  

 
25
1 blind bridle & ............  

pr. harnes ...........  

 
1.50
1 Curry comb 25c ...........  

1 pr. steel yard ........  

 
3.25
1 pr. Dog Irons 2.00 ..........  

1 pr. ditto ...........  

 
6.50
1 "do .....$3.50 1 Iron ........ Shovel $1.00 .........

4.50



[15]

1 Looking Glass ......... 2.50
1 broken do ........... 3.50
1 Large Bottle ............ 75
1 Case of Bottles ......... 3.00
1 Demijohn ........... 2.00
2 Smoothing Irons ........ 1.25
2/3ds Box of (window) glass . . .

7.00

1 Hatchet .75 1 small

auger 12 1/2 .....

87 1/2

25 Bushels wheat in

Shocks ......

 
10.00
250 bushels corn at 20ct

pr bushel ..........

 
50.00
7lb Spun cotton ......... 5.25
11 lb do..yarn ......... 6.87 1/2
5lb do..Flax ........... 2.50
Weaving apparel ........ 15.00
1 large Spinning Wheel ................

4.00

1 small do.. do .......... 2.50
1 old reel .............. 50
1 big spinning wheel ....... 1.00
1 old Saddle & Bags ....... 4.00
1 Lot of Books .......... 2.00
total $ 2538.83 1/2

Error discoverd to be added 2.00

total $ 2540.83 1/2
deduct from this sum $ .... 150.00
appraisement of boy Harrison property Galintin Moore and inadvertintly put down in the above list
$2390.83 1/2
11 Geese ........... 4.12 1/2
True total Dollars $ 2394.96

Signed by, William Collier of

R.M. Frier appraiserr

A True Copy Test J. Probate

Inventory of the Estate of Joseph Moore decd made by Betsy Moore admx with will annexed, viz Nathaniel Cooks written acknowledgement of the sum of one hundred and six dollars due to said estate to be appropriated to the payment of the said deceased's Lands according to the will of said Moore in his nuncupative will $106.00.


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