Probate Record of Nathaniel Wade (1709-1754) - Part 2

I posted the will of Nathaniel Wade (1709-1754) of Scituate RI in Part 1 here.

The inventory is interesting - and includes the death date of Nathaniel Wade. I don't know that there is any other record of the date. Here is the inventory as transcribed from the Scituate RI Town Records (the numbers are in pounds:shillings:pence, the English system being used in 1754- 12 pence to a shilling, 20 shillings to a pound):

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"And the Ruth Wade and Simon Wade Exhibited an Inventory of the personall Estate of the said Nathaniel Wader Deceased to this council in the Following Words (Viz.)

"A True Inventory of all and Singular the goods Chattels Rights and Credits of Nathaniel Wade of Scituate in the County of Providence &c Yeoman Who Departed this Life on the 29th Day of June Last past Apprised this Thirteenth Day of July Annoq. Dom: 1754 by us the Subscribers.

"Imprimis to his Wearing Apparrell ........................ 25:00:00
Item to one Horse ..................................................... 40:00:00
Item to Two cows ..................................................... 72:00:00
Item to one Calf ........................................................ 6:10:00
Item to Six Swine ..................................................... 31:00:00
Item to one Saddle and Bridle ................................... 6:00:00
Item to one Loom and Some Tackling ...................... 9:00:00
Item to Ten Pounds of Sheeps Wool ......................... 5:00:00
Item to Some Flax Seed and Some Callovants ......... 1:08:00
Item to one Box with Some Salts and Some
Other Small Things in it .......................................... 1:10:00
Item to some old Casks and a peck Measure
and a Chest to keep Grain in ................................... 6:03:00
Item to one pair of Plow Irons and Irons for Heifer Horses .2:10:00
Item to one pair of Bottle Rings and two Grain Wedges .. 1:18:00
Item to one Broad Ax 90/ one Harrow Ax 5/ ......... 4:15:00
Item to Four Mill Pecks and an Iron Wedge ........... 3:18:00
Item to Carpenter Tools and Some ShoeMakers Tools
and old Irons ........................................................... 6:12:00
Item to Some Turning Tools 20/ and one Scyth
and Tackling 69/ ..................................................... 4:09:00
Item to one Iron Bar ...................................................4:16:00
Item to one Cow Hide and one Calf Skin ..................4:04:00
Item to Two Bells 40/ one H???ell 20/ .....................3:00:00
Item to Seventeen Bushells of Indian Corn ............ 21:05:00
Item to one pair of Cards 33/ and
Two Spinning Wheels 75/ ........................................ 5:08:00
Item to one Feather Bed and Furniture .................20:10:00
Item to one Ditto and Furniture .............................20:10:00
Item to one Flock Bed and Furniture ..................... 12:12:00
Item to one Chest 30/ and one Warming pan 50/. 4:00:00
Item to Pewter ???ssells ........................................... 6:16:00
Item to Two Fire Shovels 40/ and one Trowell 40/ 4:00:00
Item to one Iron Pot and Two Iron Kettles ..............4:12:00
Item to one Box Iron 20/ one CandleStick 5/
and Frying Pan 12/ ................................................. 5:17:00
Item to one Earthen Jugg and some Mollasses
and a Glass Bottle ..................................................... 1:05:00
Item to Some Milk Juggs and other Wooden Wair .2:00:00
Item to Two pails 23/ Two Washing Tubs 19/
Three Chairs 13/ one Table 20/ ............................. 3:15:00
Item to Three Knives and Forks 17/ one Razor 7/
some Nails 10/ ......................................................... 1:14:00
Item to Some Sall??s and some Candles 40/
and Some Books 26/ ............................................... 3:06:00
Item to Three pounds of flax 21/ one ounce of Indego 13/ . 1:14:00
Item to about 40 lb salt pork L8 and Meat Rass?ll 23/ .... 9:05:00
Item to paper Bills of Credit ................................... 1:05:00
Item to Bank Accounts ....................................... 104:08:05
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................................................................ Total 321:07:05

John Howland Gideon Harris"

"And Ruth Wade and Simon Wade Both Declared on their Engagements that they has put the Personall Estate of the said Nathaniel Wade into the above Inventory that was come to their Knowledge and that if any Thing More thereof does thereafter appears or Come to their Knowledge they will add the Same to sd Inventory. And John Howland and Gideon Harris Both personally appearing Declared on their Engagement that the above Inventory is a True Apprisall of all that was Set Fourth to them to be of the Estate of the sd Nathaniel Wade Decesd. Whereupon it is voted that the above Inventory be accepted and allowed to be a Good and Lawfull Inventory and be Recorded.... Test. Gideon Harris Court Clerk."

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What can we learn from the above list of common household furnishings, tools, livestock and the like? When Nathaniel Wade died, he was only 45 years old - fairly young - and he was likely still working to feed, house and clothe his wife and five surviving children (ranging in age from 9 to 23).

When I see inventories with so much emphasis on livestock and farm implements, and so little furniture and kitchen ware, I often wonder just how these people lived day-to-day. Did they have enough to eat? Did they wear the same clothes every day? How did they find time to do the cooking, washing, cleaning, raising and teaching children, etc.?

When I compare their possessions to my own, there is such a vast difference between them - I have no livestock (not even a dog!), few tools and no farm implements, but I have lots of stuff - most of which is not necessary for surviving in this day and age. What I have are conveniences and luxuries. I made my living with my knowledge and expertise in engineering - Nathaniel made his living by the sweat of his brow and the hardiness of his muscles in addition to his knowledge and experience.

This little thought comparison reinforces my belief that our ancestors were, in nearly every case, hard-working and industrious people who made a living for themselves and their family with the tools at hand. I deeply respect these types of people - for they are my ancestors, and I am one of the results of their labor.