1. Nathaniel Bradford of Accomack County, Virginia - Lower ...
1. Nathaniel Bradford of Accomack County, Virginia - Lower ... 1. Nathaniel Bradford of Accomack County, Virginia - Lower ...
the settling of these accounts could drag on a long time. After the death of Nathaniel Sr., his administrators were in court for two years suing and being sued on his behalf. After a person’s death an inventory was often taken of the deceased’s estate so his possessions could be divided among the heirs. Sometimes, in order to pay the deceased’s debts, items found in the inventory had to be sold at auction, an event referred to as an “outcry”. When Henry Parke, the first minister of Accomack Parish, died in 1687, his estate was auctioned at Nathaniel’s plantation. 295 Both Nathaniel Sr. and Nathaniel Jr. purchased items at the auction. Their neighbors, the Kellams, John Willis, Will. Twiford and Edm. Allin also bought items. Nicholas Hill was the undersheriff who oversaw the outcry. Nathaniel Bradford, Sr. mare and colt 1020 lbs tobacco Nathaniel Bradford, Sr. black horse, saddle, bridle, and saddle cloth 623 lbs tobacco Nicholas Hill 5 pair old stockings, 2 caps 40 lbs tobacco Edm. Allin coat and pair of britches 106 lbs tobacco Nathll. Bradford 2 pair britches, coat 280 lbs tobacco Nathll. Bradford coat and britches, waistcoat and 2 "shreds" of black 150 lbs tobacco Nathll. Bradford pair of old boots, 2 pair of old shoes 20 lbs tobacco Nathll. Bradford 5 neck cloths, 2 cravats 55 lbs tobacco Nathl. Bradford, Jr. one book in English, one hat 200 lbs tobacco Will. Twiford 8 books in Latin 200 lbs tobacco Edw. Kellam 2 pair of drawers, shirt wasitcoat, tape 145 lbs tobacco Rich. Kellam, Jr. pair of drawers, shirt, waistcoat 175 lbs tobacco John Willis, Jr. an old trunk 55 lbs tobacco Nick. Hill a gray horse 640 lbs tobacco It’s unclear why the auction of the minister’s estate was held at Nathaniel’s plantation. Parke’s place of residence is unknown, since he doesn’t appear to have taken out any patents for land in Accomack and appears on none of the tax lists for that county. He might have lived in Nathaniel’s household at Bradford’s Neck, since it was customary for an estate to be auctioned off close to the deceased individual’s residence. In addition to hosting Parke’s outcry, Nathaniel arranged and paid for his funeral, and was paid 1000 lbs tobacco for that reason out of the proceeds of the estate sale. 296 * * * * * Nathaniel’s Death and the Inventory of his Estate Nathaniel Bradford’s last appearance in the records of Accomack County was on the list of tithables for the year 1690. 297 As the tax lists were traditionally collected in June, 298 he was probably still alive in June 1690. He was almost certainly alive the month before, since in September 1691 Henry Read deposed that “about a year ago in May” Nathaniel was at his house. 299 Nathaniel must have died that summer or autumn, as on 19 November 1690 his son William and his widow Joan petitioned for joint administration of his estate. 300 The inventory of Nathaniel’s estate, presented by his widow Joan about a year after his death, contains a wealth of information useful for those who wish to get a glimpse of his life by examining the objects left behind at his death. It is unique among inventories of that time in that it contains a room-by-room account of his house and outbuildings, so that one can almost get a picture of his plantation. So rare and detailed is the inventory of Nathaniel’s estate that it has been often used by historians of the Eastern Shore and of 17 th century Virginia in their efforts to gain a clearer understanding of what the social and economic life of colonists was like at that time. The inventory of the estate of Mr. Nathaniel Bradford, deceased, systematically listed the rooms in the house with the contents of each valued in pounds, shillings and pence (L: s: d), not tobacco: - The “garret over the porch chamber” contained 46 pair of men’s and women’s shoes, several pieces of leather and knives valued at L50:06:00. - The “garret over the hall chamber” contained more hides, flax cards, two linen wheels, flax and lumber worth L21:14:01. - The “porch chamber” contained a feather bed with blanket and sheets, two tablecloths and 28 napkins, a calico counterpane, Scotch cloth, various sheets, pillow cases and Page 54 of 74 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford
towels, a small chest, a small broken table and an old cask with “some hopp” in it, all valued at L8:12:09. - The “hall chamber” contained an old great chest, several yards of cloth, two table cloths, 12 very old napkins, two hammocks, 8 torn sheets, 4 old broken chests, an old box with a broken hinge, 12 old leather chairs, yarn, hemp, pepper, two feather beds, sheets, blankets, rugs, curtains, vailings, bedsteads, two trundle beds, bolsters, pillow, flax and cotton wool. These items and the bed and bedding “in the porch” were all valued at L106:10:05. - Items “in the hall” included 67 lbs of pewter, 37 lbs of broken pewter, 24 tinker spoons, earthen chamber pots, a basin, “bell metal”, various pans and tools, two old tables, an old couch, andirons, 6 guns, a screw gun and a pair of old pistols valued at L11:12:02. - The “out houses” contained salt and Indian corn valued at L21:12:02 and 11 cider casks worth L3:02:01. - The “old cellar loft” contained barrels, tubs, lumber, glass, nails, 43 Indian bowls, Indian ladles, 30 lbs Virginia soup, and 4 pair old sheep shears valued at L3:04:04. - The “old cellar” contained 10 various sized casks containing 990 gallons of cider, and 7 empty casks all worth L14:19:02. - The “new cellar” contained 21 gallons of “very bad” molasses, 109 lbs butter, 26 lbs rough tallow, Indian bowls and trenchers, 50 lbs Virginia cheese, pails, vats, tubs, bread trays and an old table valued at L4:19:08. - The “tanhouse” contained 229 hides worth L22:08:06. - The “shoemaker shop” contained three old seats for shoemakers, 46 old lasts and an old chest, all worth 7s:06d. - The “kitchen” held iron pots and kettles, pans, a spit, chafing dish, two fishing lines, saws, tools, 7 glass bowls, slate, tanners’ tools, ox chain iron, two back swords, 2 combs, lead, tin candlesticks, and a wool wheel, all valued at 11s:09d. - In the “study” were a large sermon book, Markhames Masterpease and some other books valued at L1:11:09. Also there were a pair of spurs, two glasses, a vial, a case of bottles, bees wax, 24 lbs sugar, 10 lbs of plate “weighed by Stilliard”, 264 yards of Roanoke (worth 3d per yard), decorative trim, a sugar tub, thread and 21 lbs of candles, all valued at L15:14:07 ½. - Bradford’s servants: Mary Steward (5 years to serve-L8), Mary Farrill (1 year to serve – L1:10), Mary Shaw (1 year to serve – L1:15), Charles Justis (5 years to serve – L9), Wm. Trafford (5 years to serve – L8). - Bradford’s Negroes: Spindelow (L18), Sambow (L23), Judee (L23) and Bess (L5). - Bradford’s animals: 57 sheep, 165 cattle, 21 unbroken horses, and 12 broken horses. The inventory was signed 19 November 1690, by Tully Robinson, Robert Watson, Arther (A) Uphutt and Francis Roberts. A continuation of the inventory added more than 86 hides and 51 bushels of wheat (at 3s per bushel) to total L38:06:06. Signed by the above appraisers on 20 June 1691. The inventory of Nathaniel Bradford, deceased, was presented to the court by Joan Bradford, alias Bud, on 17 September 1691. 301 Representative household items from Jamestown excavation Page 55 of 74 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford
- Page 3 and 4: Sketch of Nathaniel Bradford Nathan
- Page 5 and 6: in London that “no question . . .
- Page 7 and 8: Nathaniel’s Early Years to Settle
- Page 9 and 10: to tender our Cause; that (if ye sd
- Page 11 and 12: Nathaniel as Constable & Birth of N
- Page 13 and 14: Alice sold the Occahannock plantati
- Page 15 and 16: The occupation of currier no longer
- Page 17 and 18: approve the appointment of the King
- Page 19 and 20: The fundamental division within the
- Page 21 and 22: ecompense for their services. The m
- Page 23 and 24: Nathaniel in the Late 1660’s: 166
- Page 25 and 26: practice that another of Nathaniel
- Page 27 and 28: man were the father of Nathaniel Jr
- Page 29 and 30: Nathaniel as Grand Juror and Repres
- Page 31 and 32: court’s reputation. Since the acc
- Page 33 and 34: Nathaniel Bradford During the 1670s
- Page 35 and 36: 2800 acres. In that same year Natha
- Page 37 and 38: household. A Thomas Williams was a
- Page 39 and 40: In 17 th century Virginia slavery w
- Page 41 and 42: Mathews’ lack of payment for cert
- Page 43 and 44: Governor Berkeley used the eastern
- Page 45 and 46: Though tobacco was the staple of Vi
- Page 47 and 48: himself was probably not in Sussex
- Page 49 and 50: Now that all of Nathaniel’s land
- Page 51 and 52: * * * * * Nathaniel as Attorney On
- Page 53: Nathaniel’s tithables remained co
- Page 57 and 58: Citations Introduction 1.Nathaniel
- Page 59 and 60: early 1640s, Richard Smith Jr. is a
- Page 61 and 62: 122.McKey, 7: 232. For knowingly co
- Page 63 and 64: 219.Wesley Frank Craven, The Coloni
- Page 65 and 66: 298.McKey, 7: 73. 299.McKey, 8: 49.
- Page 67 and 68: Appendix A: Timeline of Events in N
- Page 69 and 70: Apr 20 verbal bargain with Mathew S
- Page 71 and 72: 1692 Feb 19 Robert Watson’s estat
- Page 73 and 74: 3) Henry Bradford of the Muster Per
towels, a small chest, a small broken table and an old cask with “some hopp” in it, all<br />
valued at L8:12:09.<br />
- The “hall chamber” contained an old great chest, several yards <strong>of</strong> cloth, two table cloths,<br />
12 very old napkins, two hammocks, 8 torn sheets, 4 old broken chests, an old box with a<br />
broken hinge, 12 old leather chairs, yarn, hemp, pepper, two feather beds, sheets,<br />
blankets, rugs, curtains, vailings, bedsteads, two trundle beds, bolsters, pillow, flax and<br />
cotton wool. These items and the bed and bedding “in the porch” were all valued at<br />
L106:10:05.<br />
- Items “in the hall” included 67 lbs <strong>of</strong> pewter, 37 lbs <strong>of</strong> broken pewter, 24 tinker spoons,<br />
earthen chamber pots, a basin, “bell metal”, various pans and tools, two old tables, an old<br />
couch, andirons, 6 guns, a screw gun and a pair <strong>of</strong> old pistols valued at L11:12:02.<br />
- The “out houses” contained salt and Indian corn valued at L21:12:02 and 11 cider casks<br />
worth L3:02:0<strong>1.</strong><br />
- The “old cellar l<strong>of</strong>t” contained barrels, tubs, lumber, glass, nails, 43 Indian bowls, Indian<br />
ladles, 30 lbs <strong>Virginia</strong> soup, and 4 pair old sheep shears valued at L3:04:04.<br />
- The “old cellar” contained 10 various sized casks containing 990 gallons <strong>of</strong> cider, and 7<br />
empty casks all worth L14:19:02.<br />
- The “new cellar” contained 21 gallons <strong>of</strong> “very bad” molasses, 109 lbs butter, 26 lbs<br />
rough tallow, Indian bowls and trenchers, 50 lbs <strong>Virginia</strong> cheese, pails, vats, tubs, bread<br />
trays and an old table valued at L4:19:08.<br />
- The “tanhouse” contained 229 hides worth L22:08:06.<br />
- The “shoemaker shop” contained three old seats for shoemakers, 46 old lasts and an old<br />
chest, all worth 7s:06d.<br />
- The “kitchen” held iron pots and kettles, pans, a spit, chafing dish, two fishing lines,<br />
saws, tools, 7 glass bowls, slate, tanners’ tools, ox chain iron, two back swords, 2 combs,<br />
lead, tin candlesticks, and a wool wheel, all valued at 11s:09d.<br />
- In the “study” were a large sermon book, Markhames Masterpease and some other books<br />
valued at L1:11:09. Also there were a pair <strong>of</strong> spurs, two glasses, a vial, a case <strong>of</strong> bottles,<br />
bees wax, 24 lbs sugar, 10 lbs <strong>of</strong> plate “weighed by Stilliard”, 264 yards <strong>of</strong> Roanoke<br />
(worth 3d per yard), decorative trim, a sugar tub, thread and 21 lbs <strong>of</strong> candles, all valued<br />
at L15:14:07 ½.<br />
- <strong>Bradford</strong>’s servants: Mary Steward (5 years to serve-L8), Mary Farrill (1 year to serve –<br />
L1:10), Mary Shaw (1 year to serve – L1:15), Charles Justis (5 years to serve – L9), Wm.<br />
Trafford (5 years to serve – L8).<br />
- <strong>Bradford</strong>’s Negroes: Spindelow (L18), Sambow (L23), Judee (L23) and Bess (L5).<br />
- <strong>Bradford</strong>’s animals: 57 sheep, 165 cattle, 21 unbroken horses, and 12 broken horses.<br />
The inventory was signed 19 November 1690, by Tully Robinson, Robert Watson, Arther (A)<br />
Uphutt and Francis Roberts.<br />
A continuation <strong>of</strong> the inventory added more than 86 hides and 51 bushels <strong>of</strong> wheat (at 3s per<br />
bushel) to total L38:06:06. Signed by the above appraisers on 20 June 169<strong>1.</strong> The inventory <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Nathaniel</strong> <strong>Bradford</strong>, deceased, was presented to the court by Joan <strong>Bradford</strong>, alias Bud, on 17<br />
September 169<strong>1.</strong> 301<br />
Representative household items from Jamestown excavation<br />
Page 55 <strong>of</strong> 74 Copyright 2008 Adam M. <strong>Bradford</strong>
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