Estate Inventories Reveal Pioneer Lifestyle
Sending a child off to college and a new lifestyle can be traumatic but it pales in comparison with the difficulties which faced Worthington's pioneer families, who left relatively comfortable homes in the east for a western wilderness. What do you include in a small wagon which can be drawn by two oxen? Estate inventories of some Worthington pioneers who died soon after their arrival give us important clues.
Revolutionary War veteran Abner Pinney died in November 1804, within weeks of his arrival, leaving an estate appraised at $452.51. The most valuable items were "1 pair oxen, 1 red the other brindle, $55 — 1 set wagon, harness with yolk &c. &c. $11."
Levi Buttles' death in June 1805, about six months after his family arrived, left his widow Sarah in a crude log home with seven children sharing four beds and bedding valued from $9.50 to $17.00. But this family was accustomed to comfort, for his estate also included items such as a wooden clock $18, a silver watch $13, and a large brass kettle $14.
Jedediah Lewis' death in 1807, about nine months after his arrival, left evidence of a skilled craftsman with many tools, one who was already operating a sawmill on the Olentangy River. A $16 rifle, a pair of bullet molds at 30 cents, and five deer skins valued from 40 to 80 cents, reflect a hunter who lived beyond the village boundaries, but a $7 violin speaks to social interaction and culture.
Alexander Morrison was one of the community's leading citizens and a justice of the peace when he died in 1810. The $70 value assigned "a gang of about 35 hogs in woods which could not be rounded up for inventory," gives a vivid picture of the realities of raising livestock when a little land had been cleared for farming. The fact that his estate of $1396.80 included $734.30 in outstanding personal notes, reflects a community which had no bank but relied on prosperous citizens with money to lend privately.
The Azariah Pinney estate in 1811 offers an interesting contrast between a wilderness village and the beginnings of civilized comfort. His garments included a $2.50 velvet vest, a $1.25 pair of velvet pantaloons and a $1.50 pair of velvet breeches as well as two homespun linen shirts worth $4.00. Worthington residents obviously included parties among their days of labor. A bolt of chintz at $2 is evidence that manufactured goods were being imported and six chair frames at $2.25 indicate local carpenters were now providing the relative comfort of reed or cane chairs for pioneers who previously had only crude stools and benches.
These early estates give a vivid image of town lots which included a barn for the family livestock. No buggies were inventoried for the simple reason that there were no roads where they could be used. Transportation meant walking or riding horseback. Cooking utensils were similar for all of these families with an iron pot, skillet, dutch oven and tea kettle; several sizes of tin pans; and usually a brass kettle. Pewter was most common for plates, mugs, teapots, pitchers, and eating utensils. It was so little valued that Azariah Pinney's appraisers simply weighed it rather than itemize "19 1/2 lbs pewter in plates &c. $8.83." Every household had basic tools such as an ax, hoe, hammer, file, chisel, grindstone, and drawing shave. Most had additional carpentry equipment such as augers, gauges, a compass, and square.
One has the distinct impression from the evidence of those who died while making a home in the wilderness that they had planned carefully to include the basic necessities on a relatively small wagon. They accepted the fact that they would face hardships, but Worthington's pioneers were accustomed to the relative comfort of late 18th century New England villages, and that was the lifestyle they set out to recreate.
SOURCES:
Abner Pinney Estate Inventory, 6 May 1805, Franklin County Court Record (Ohio Historical Society Microfilm GR 2795) pp. 8-13.
Levi Buttles Estate Inventory, 30 September 1805, Franklin County Court Record (Ohio Historical Society Microfilm GR 2795) pp. 24-31.
Jedediah H. Lewis Estate Inventory, 26 November 1807, Franklin County Court Record (Ohio Historical Society Microfilm GR 2795) pp. 96-113..
Alexander Morrison Estate Inventory, 23 September 1811, Franklin County Court Record (Ohio Historical Society Microfilm GR 2795) pp. 165-171 & 186.
Azariah Pinney Estate Inventory, 3 November 1811, Franklin County Court Record (Ohio Historical Society Microfilm GR 2795) pp. 187-191.
This article is one of a series of 31 articles originally published in the Worthington News and then in the book "Probing Worthington’s Heritage" copyright by Robert and Jennie McCormick. The 1990 book is out of print, but copies are available at the libraries of the Worthington Historical Society and the Old Worthington Library. Much of this content was later included in the book "New Englanders on the Ohio Frontier" which can be purchased at our Gift Shop.
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