A copy, made from the Beaufort County court record in 1804, of the 1788 inventory of John Summers’s estate, returned by James Summer[s]. The family name is written both “Summer” and “Summers”; the given spelling in the heading is not fully clear.
Inventory of the estate of John Summers – Beaufort County, 1788 (copy certified 1804)
Transcription notes: spelling, capitalization and punctuation follow the original. Words in [square brackets] are editorial notes; [?] marks an uncertain reading and [illegible] marks words that could not be read.
An Inventory of the Estate of John Summers deceased as far as came to hand this 7th of March 1788. viz.
One bed and bedstead – two dutch Blanketts One Linen Sheet, One Spinning wheel, One Suit of Clothes, one pair of Breeches, two Waistcoats. one pair of Breeches and Waistcoat One great coat – one beaver Hat, two Sides of Sole Leather, five Augors, five Chisels One Carpenters Adze one plane Iron, One Jack plain [plane], One Carpenters Adze, One broad ax, one Carpenters Jointer, One Square, One hand Saw, one Club ax, One hand Saw file one pair Breeches, two rugs, one pair Shoe buckles, one pair Knee Buckles, Six pewter Spoons, for [four] pounds & Six pence – One pound in Cash –
James Summer
I Alderson Ellison Clerk of the County Court of Beaufort, do certify that the above is a true copy of the Inventory of the Estate of John Summers taken from the record – as witness my hand & Seal of office this 29th March Anno Dom. 1804.
Ald. Ellison Clk
[Back:]
Inventory Estate John Summers dec. 7th March 1788.
About the original
The list suggests a carpenter or joiner: augers, chisels, two adzes, a plane iron and jack plane, a broad axe, a jointer, a square and a hand saw. Clothing is listed in detail, down to shoe and knee buckles.
The phrase “for pounds & Six pence” is read as four pounds and sixpence, probably cash on hand or money due, followed by one pound in cash; the meaning is not certain.
The copy was likely made in 1804 for use in a later dispute or settlement of the Summers estate, which appears in other papers in this folder.
Source: Inventory of the estate of John Summers. Roach Family Papers (#346), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, Box 1, Folder b (Inventories, Wills, and Estates, 1783–1868). Collection guide. Digitized folder: ECU Digital Collections, 0346-b1-fb.
Images courtesy of East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. View in ECU Digital Collections: 35966.
Part of the Roach Family Papers collection on East Carolina Roots.
