A Wish List?

Today I thought I'd post the appraisal bill for the estate of my 5th-great grandfather Joseph Bennett. For many of us, the items on this appraisal will read like a wish list. Do any of you see anything that you would like to have from this appraisal?

While these prices look good by today's standard, keep in mind that it would take approximately $18.06 in today's money to equal One dollar in 1810, according to Measuring Worth website.

Pendleton County Will Book 3, page 104
Praise Bill of Joseph Bennett Deceased Estate
August the 30th 1810

• Pewter and Tin Ware and ladles-$10.00
• One tea kettle, thirteen coolers and two buckets-$4.25
• Two ovens, one skillet, one watering pot, one flat iron, one pot, one box iron-$6.00
• One set fire dogs, two pot trammels on shovel and tongs and bellows-$4.00
• One pair Steely and four sifters-$2.50
• One Daepser-$2.50
• One pepper mill and Ten ware-$2.16
• One corner cupboard-$9.00
• Twenty four pounds woolen yarn-$10.00
• Two Spinning wheels and four spools-$2.00
• Two Tables-$2.75
• Eight Chairs-$2.00
• Fifteen forks and six knives two bones-$1.00
• One Looking Glass-$2.50
• Six Books-$1.66
• Two pieces Sole Leather and two of upper Leather-$4.00
• Two hackles, three boxes shoemakers tools and sawdries-$3.00
• Five planes, one window sash and Brimstone-$1.75
• One Bed and Bed Stead-$12.00
• One ditto-ditto-$13.00
• Ditto-ditto-$7.00
• One Trunk and Chest-$2.00
• One wool wheel and reel, two pair of wool cards-$2.00
• Two chairs and one basket-$0.50
• Seven Gums and two tubs-$2.00
• Loom and utensils belonging to it-$14.00
• One set smith tools, bucket and cooler-$30.00
• Three Grind Stones and hand mill-$4.50
• Three kettles and one oven and lid-$14.00
• Three Churns-$1.50
• Three Kegs-$1.00
• Three barrels and a tub and one can-$5.00
• One bucket and two pickling pots-$2.75
• One spinning wheel and spool-$1.50
• One frying pan-$1.25
• One pot, shovel and Jointer-$3.25
• Carpenter tools of different kinds-$8.00
• Two narrow axes, one broad axe, one iron wedge-$2.00
• One saddle and saddle bags, two half bushels, one drawing knife and one conch shell-$4.00
• One set of gears and three bridles and one curry comb-$6.50
• Two tubs, one grubbing hoe, two weeding hoes and one bell-$2.75
• One side saddle-$3.00
• One plough and singletrees, two pair plough irons, one coal rake and a sithe-$10.50
• Shovel plough, log chain and sled-$6.16
• One waggon and hay lathers-$40.00
• One iron tooth harrow-$4.75
• Ten bee stands-$9.00
• One Still and cap and worm-$80.00
• One Still and cap and worm and stove plate-$25.00
• Thirteen Still Tubs, three kegs and a barrel-$15.25
• Two pigons, one hammer and trowel-$0.75
• Apple Mill and Cider Press-$2.75
• One Wolf Trap-$3.50
• Sixteen head of hogs-$19.50
• Twenty two geese-$9.16
• Eleven head of sheep-$21.00
• One Sorrel Horse-$12.00
• One black colt with white feet-$10.00
• One brown two year old colt-$25.00
• One bay mare and colt-$40.00
• One old brown horse-$25.00
• Three heifers and two steers-$24.00
• Two calves with mottled faces-$3.00
• One Wind Mill-$16.67
• Three Cows-$34.00
• Two pied steers-$24.00
• Two pied cows-$19.00
• Four heifers, two black ones and two red & white ones-$23.50
• Two bottles, one wheat Riddle & one Sickle, three bags, one gum, one pair sheep shears-$4.00
• One hundred weight of broke flax, two sheep skins, one hog skin-$7.00
• Two Bells & Collars and Sun dial-$1.25

Total $724.01 (this would be $13,077.31 in todays money).

We assert this within praisement bill to be a true bill & Inventory of Joseph Bennett, deceased, Estate. August the 31st 1810
Signed. Johnson Phares, Henry Bland, Geo. Henkle
At a court held for Pendleton County the 4th day of September 1810 This Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Joseph Bennett. Dec, was returned to court and ordered to be recorded.Teste, L. Dyer C.P.C.
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So tell the truth, just how much of this stuff do you wish you had? I want it all!

Never to Leave the Holler!

A few days ago, I received from a distant cousin a photo of my great-great-great grandfather and my great-great aunt, Solomon Hedrick & Mahala Teter. I had never before seen this photograph and seeing it reminded me of their story.

Solomon & Mahala (Teter) Hedrick about 1900.

The story begins with Mahala's parents, Samuel and Sidney (Wimer) Teter. When Mahala was 10 years old, her father Samuel died in a farming accident. A few years later, the widow Sidney gave birth to a daughter, which she named Sidney Teter. No matter how you look at it, there is no way possible that the baby belonged to Samuel Teter. Word got around, and it turned out that the widow Sidney had been laying with Solomon Hedrick and that the baby belonged to him. With the secret out, Solomon and the widow Sidney made their relationship known and Solomon acknowledged the child as his own, but here is where it gets colorful.

About this time a man named Cornelius Ketterman, whom the widow Sidney had grown close to in the months following her husbands death came back into the scenario. According to stories, Cornelius was really in love with the widow Sidney and promised to marry her after some time had passed (she was in mourning) and when the War was over (in those days, men thought the War of Northern Aggression would only last a few months).


Well, when ole Cornelius came back into the picture, the widow Sidney cut it off with Solomon Hedrick and took up again with Cornelius. It wasn't long until she and Cornelius had a son together, and soon thereafter Cornelius went back into the Confederate Service where he was captured and sent to the Yankee Prison Camp in Camp Chase, OH. He died there. The widow Sidney was once again left alone, only this time with two young children to raise.


In the meantime, a new romance was budding, this one between Solomon Hedrick and Mahala Teter. I guess Grandpaw Solomon thought if he couldn't have the mother, then by golly, he'd have the daughter. Mahala and Solomon were no relation, per se, since she was the daughter of the widow Sidney's first marriage. As time passed, Mahala and Solomon were married, and the widow Sidney moved in with them with her two children, a girl by Solomon and the boy by Cornelius. By all accounts, the widow Sidney approved of the marriage between her daughter and her former suitor, and always held Solomon in high regard because he was a good provider.


The daughter of the widow Sidney and Solomon Hedrick that was named Sidney Teter, soon took on her father's surname as well, and became Sidney Teter Hedrick. She was my great-great grandmother. I wonder how she really felt about her sister being her step-mother? About her father being her brother-in-law? She didn't get married until she was 19 years old, which in those days was a little long in the tooth, so I can only guess that she must have been comfortable with the whole situation.


When the daughter Sidney Teter Hedrick married Miles Thompson, they built a house next door to Solomon, Mahala and the widow Sidney, and lived there the rest of her life.


I know there has to be more to the story than what I've been able to collect from family stories and historical records and such. I'd say there is a very interesting story here somewhere...lost in the recesses of time. My how tongues must have wagged!