Erastus died on Thursday, August 4, 1864; age 50 years, 5 months, 0 days, in Maromas, Middletown, CT.
The will of
Erastus Otis was a wonderful find. Not only was this will an itemized list of Erastus' personal possessions, goods, and estate, but it was also all the things that Daniel Otis lived with on a daily basis in his own home.
I sat with this document for a while, scrutinizing it, making connections, and allowing my intuition to free-flow. What happened is that an interesting individual started to emerge (See the page “Erastus Otis” for more detail).
The will
contained a number of duplicate documents, so it was quite tedious picking
through all the redundancy, looking for the pertinent pages. The fancy script
that the will was written in didn’t help matters either. But finally, I found
that the pertinent pages numbered 1 thru 8, and I also got pretty good at
deciphering the vintage script too. Now I find it relatively easy to read.
I decided to
only post the pertinent pages here (1 thru 8, and cover pages). The other remaining pages, that I didn't post here, are full of "metes and bounds legal descriptions," apportioning land to next of kin.
I took it upon myself to
organize Erastus' will by items, typing everything up (see below). This also makes for easier
reading, in case the script is difficult to read. It also allows a picture of the home-life of the Otis family to emerge.
Note: most of these documents fit nicely here in their original size, so I posted them large.
Note: most of these documents fit nicely here in their original size, so I posted them large.
*************
Daniel’s Home: Erastus Otis Will Organized
The numbers after the items are dollars and cents; how much the items were valued at.
Looking at the cost of items in the will, things seem extremely cheap to us today. But they weren’t that much cheaper—the purchasing power of money was just different. On second thought, maybe everything was a little cheaper :)
$0.01 (1 cent) in 1864 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $0.16 (16 cents) in 2019.
$0.25 in 1864 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $4.09 in 2019.
$1.00 in 1864 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $16.34 in 2019.
Note: 1864 was the year the will of Erastus S. Otis was written up, which was 2-years after his son, Daniel Otis, died.
My notes are in italics below.
Household: Parlor
1 carpet in parlor: 5.00
1 secretary: 25.00
1 stand in parlor: 1.50
1 parlor stove and pipe: 1.50
Andirons, shovel, and tongs: .50 (andirons are metal supports, typically one of a pair, that holds wood burning in a fireplace)
3 Cant dog irons: .25 (dog irons are another name for andirons)
1 lounge: 1.50
1 shawl: .25
Household: Kitchen
1 carpet on kitchen floor: 4.00
1 Bay State stove and fixtures (by Barstow): 5.00
1 dining table: 1.50
1 dish pan: .25
3 deep dishes: .30
3 tumblers: .18
3 fruit jars: .10
1 butter knife: .25
1 chopping knife: .10
1 wire seive: .20
1 apple pairing machine: .37
Carving knife and fork: .25
2 white bowls: .10
1 dipper: .08
3 small dippers: .10 (a dipper is a ladle or scoop)
3 sugar boxes: .15
1 molasses can: .50
8 tin basins: .40
2 quart measure and coffee pot: .30
1 coffee mill: .10
1 four-gallon stone pot: .50
1 three-gallon stone pot: .33
2 one-gallon stone pots: .20
3 cracked stone pots: .25
3 one-gallon jugs: .60
3 two-quart jugs: .37
1 tin two-quart pail: .12
1 lot of bottles: .12
1 white pitcher: .25
3 towels: .36
10 preserves plates: .10
4 glass dishes and 7 preserve plates: .33
1 butter dish: .12
1 large iron kettle: 2.50
1 brass kettle: 1.00
4 flour bags: 1.00
1 thermometer: .50
Household: Dining Room
1 large dining table: 3.00
2 linen table cloths: 1.00
2 table cloths: 1.00
1 table spread: .50
1 white platter: .20
11 white table plates: .33
19 flowered plates: .40
6 old plates: .18
17 cups and saucers: .25
13 cups and saucers: .13
4 wine glasses: .16
1 glass decanter: .12
1 tumbler and salt cellar: .12
1 Britannia tea pot: .30
1 old Britannia tea pot: .15
3 sugar bowls: .12
Sugar bowl, pitcher, and tea pot: .20
Glass sugar bowl and milk cup: .25
2 silver desert spoons: 1.50
3 silver desert spoons: 3.00
9 silver teaspoons: 4.00
6 silver teaspoons: 4.00
9 black-handle knives and forks: .40
16 light-handle knives and forks: .50
Household: Bedrooms
1 bureau: 3.00
1 stand: .50
1 Carpet in bedroom: .75
1 carpet in chamber: 2.00 (chamber is another word for “bedroom”)
1 table in chamber: 1.50
1 bedstead and cord: 1.00
1 bedstead and cord: 1.00
2 bedsteads and cords: 1.00 (a bedstead is the framework of a bed on which the mattress is placed. The cord or bedcord are ropes drawn from one side of a bedstead to another to support a mattress)
1 straw tick: 1.25
1 straw tick: .50
1 straw tick: .34
1 straw tick: .25
2 straw ticks: .25 (a straw tick is a bed mattress made from a coarse cotton material, or shoddy, and filled with straw. It also used to refer to the empty mattress bag)
1 feather bed and pillows: 7.00
1 feather bed, bolster, and pillows: 8.00
1 feather bed, bolster, and pillows: 5.00
1 feather bed, bolster, and pillows: 4.00
1 feather bed, bolster, and pillows: 4.00
2 pillows: .75
2 pillows: .33
1 bed quilt: 1.00
1 bed quilt: .75
1 bed quilt: .25
1 bed quilt: .25
1 bed quilt: .25
1 light-colored bed quilt: 1.00
2 dark-colored bed quilts: 2.00
1 dark bed quilt: .75
1 dark bed quilt: .50
Cradle quilt and rug: .14 (could these two items, listed among Erastus Otis' personal belongings, be a cradle quilt and rug that his deceased wife, Elizabeth, made for their youngest son, George?)
1 unfinished bed quilt: .25
4 comfortables: 4.00
1 comfortable: .85
1 old comfortable: .50
1 cotton spread: 1.00
1 checkered blanket: 1.00
1 checkered blanket: .50
1 small wool blanket: .25
1 small wool blanket: .10
3 woolen sheets: 3.00
1 cotton and wool sheet: 1.00
1 pair bleached cotton sheets: 1.50
1 cotton sheet: .25
2 cotton sheets: 1.50
1 pair linen sheets: 1.00
12 pillowcases: 1.50
2 pillowcases: .25
2 pillow cases: .20
Old chest and books: .25
1 blue chest: .50
1 blue chest: .25
Clothing and Personal Items of Erastus Otis
1 brandy pipe: 1.00
Shaving utensils: .40
1 traveling bag: 1.00
1 valise: 1.00 (valise: a small traveling bag or suitcase)
1 sword and belt: .50
1 gold watch, chain, and locket: 125.00
Addition to gold watch: 4.00
Addition to gold watch: 4.00
1 pair thin boots: 1.00
1 linen coat: 1.00
1 brown linen coat: .75
1 light linen coat: .25
1 cashmere coat: 5.00
1 dark thin coat: 1.00
1 dark mixed coat: .75
1 black over coat: 5.00
1 dress coat: .75
1 dress coat: .75
2 woolen undershirts: 3.00
3 pair woolen stockings: .50
2 pairs wool drawers: 2.50 (aka: underwear)
4 old wrappers: .50 (a wrapper generally refers to a loose fitting garment, which flows from the shoulders)
3 white cotton shirts: .75
2 checkered shirts: .40
1 black shawl: 5.00
1 light shawl: 2.00
1 pair mixed pants: 1.50
1 pair cashmere pants: 1.50
1 satin vest: .25
1 plaid vest: .25
1 velvet vest: .75
1 linen vest: .25
5 linen collars: .10
1 silk cravat: .12 (a short, wide strip of fabric worn by men around the neck and tucked inside an open-necked shirt)
3 neck ties: .18
1 pocket handkerchief: .20
1 flowered handkerchief: .16 (in his will, this particular item was not listed with Erastus’ personal items (i.e. clothes), however, I grouped it here anyway)
1 pair cotton gloves: .25
1 pair worsted gloves: .20
1 black hat: 1.00
1 silk hat: .12
1 chip hat: .10
1 comforter: .10
1 Lot of old clothes: .75
1 Lot of old clothes: .75
Household: Knick Knacks
9 frames and pictures: 5.40
1 brass clock: .75
1 music box: 14.00
1 looking glass frame: .10 (aka: mirror)
1 looking glass: .50
2 glass candle sticks: .20
2 brass candlesticks: .25
1 candle stand: .25
Household: Miscellaneous
1 oil carpet in hall: 4.00 (an oil carpet or oilcloth, also known as enameled cloth or American cloth, is close-woven cotton duck or linen cloth with a coating of boiled linseed oil to make it waterproof)
16 yards of carpet, unlaid: 4.00
Straw carpet: .50
6 flag-bottom chairs: 3.00 (flag: a rush seat of a chair)
6 cane-bottom chairs: 3.00 (a woven chair seat)
6 wood bottom chairs: 1.00
3 wood-bottom chairs: .50
1 covered splint-bottomed chair: .20 (a splint-bottomed chair is made with prepared strips of ash, oak, rattan reed or hickory bark, woven around the seat rungs or dowels of chairs, rockers and settees)
1 cane-bottom rocking chair: 1.50 (a woven chair seat)
1 rocking chair: .50
1 large lamp: .25
1 small lamp: .10
1 old table: .50
1 wash bowl and pitcher: 1.00
4 window curtain and fixtures: 1.25
9 old window curtains: .50
2 window curtains: .50
3 cotton window curtains: .12
1 umbrella: .50
1 handle basket: .10
1 old trunk: .25
1 old trunk: .20
1 leather-covered trunk: 2.00
1 foot stool: .25
1 wood scoop: .40
Household: Books
History of Revolutionary in Europe: .60
Riches of Bunyan: .30 (by John Bunyan, 1850)
History of the Great Reformation: .50
Lorenzo Dow’s Complete Works: .50
Jewels for the Household: .50 (Selections of Thought and Anecdote, For Family Reading. By Tryon Edwards. Published by Hartford, CT: Case, Lockwood & Co.)
1 Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: 1.00
1 Webster’s Dictionary: .50
History of the World (Two Volumes): 2.00
3 books Evans Works by Ingraham: .50 (Books by Rev. Joseph Holt Ingraham. The publisher is Evans)
Comic Lectures: .20
1 lot of books: .50
1 lot old books: .75
Sewing, Laundry, and Cleaning
1 sewing machine: 45.00
1 large spinning wheel: .25
1 clothes wringer: 4.50
1 clothes frame: .40
1 wire clothes line: .25
1 wash board: .12
1 clothes basket: .50
2 wash tubs: .80
1 wash basin: .12
2 water pails: .40
3 smoothing irons: .25
3 yards cotton and wool cloth: 1.50
10 nots white woolen yarn: .30
Farming and Farming Equipment
1 cow: 40.00
1 calf: 8.00
1 horse: 35.00
2 goats: 20.00
1 hive of bees: 4.00
4 empty bee hives: 1.00
6 tons hay (at 16 dollars a ton): 96.00
2 ½ cords of wood: 10.00
1 eight-gallon keg: .50
1 six-gallon keg: .75
1 cider barrel
1 pork barrel: .50
1 beef barrel: .40
1 fish barrel: .40
1 cask of vinegar: 2.00
7 cider barrels: 5.00
12 dry casks: 1.44 (cask: a container that is shaped like a barrel and is usually used for liquids)
1 cider tunnel: .12
1 chest in cellar: .25
7 cider barrels: 5.00
12 dry casks: 1.44 (cask: a container that is shaped like a barrel and is usually used for liquids)
1 cider tunnel: .12
1 chest in cellar: .25
1 fish kit: .10
11 milk pans: 1.10
1 milk strainer: .12
1 tin churn: .16
1 wood churn: 1.00
3 butcher knives: .25
1 hay wagon: .50
1 business wagon: 3.00
1 carriage top: .50
1 top buggy: 25.00
1 old pair of cart wheels: .75
1 old ox sled: .25
1 sleigh: 6.00
1 string of bells: .40
1 buffalo robe: .62 (A buffalo robe is a cured buffalo hide, with the hair left on. They were used as blankets, saddles, or as trade items by the native people of North America who inhabited the vast grasslands of the Interior Plains)
1 plow: .50
1 horse harness: 14.00
1 old horse harness: 1.50
1 horse whip: .16
1 bit stock and 4 bits: .50
1 riding bridle: .40
1 curry comb and brush: .12
1 cord wood: 4.00
1 corn basket: .12
1 feed cutter: 6.00
1 horse rake: 2.00 (a large-wheeled rake drawn by a horse. It is also called a hay rake, and is an agricultural rake used to collect cut hay or straw into windrows for later collection)
1 hay knife: .67
1 pitching fork: .25
1 pitching fork: .20
2 pitching forks: .25
1 manure fork: .12
1 manure fork, no handle: .40
2 old hand-rakes: .16
Work and Tools
1 bedstead in wood house: 1.00 (there was probably a bed in one of the outside structures; perhaps where help stayed, or somewhere to take a quick rest)
1 musket: .25 (a light gun with a long barrel, typically smooth-bored, muzzleloading, and fired from the shoulder)
1 tool chest: 2.50
Steelyards and scales: .25
1 quarry hammer: 1.00
1 quarry hammer: .75
1 face hammer: .75
1 nail hammer: .12
1 peen hammer: .75
1 shop hammer: .50
Rasp hammer and screw driver: .25
1 Lot quarry tools: 8.00
3 quarry tongs: 1.00
2 stone axes: .50
1 post ax: .25
1 half ax: .25
1 old ax: .10
1 carpenter’s adze: .75 (adze is a cutting tool similar to an axe but with the cutting edge perpendicular to the handle)
1 shovel: .20
1 steel squire: 1.00
1 anvil: 1.00
1 iron vice: .50
1 Smiths bellows: 5.00
1 pry bar: 1.00
1 pry bar: .50
1 one and three-quarter inch chisel: .25
1 one and a half inch chisel: .20
1 three-quarter inch chisel: .20
1 half-inch chisel: .20
2 gouges: .16 (a gouge is a chisel with a concave blade used in carpentry and sculpture)
1 long jointer plane: .25
1 short jointer plane: .50
1 jack plane: .50
1 smoothing plane: .50
1 smoothing plane: .20
2 beading planes: .30
3 gage planes: .30
1 wood saw: .25
1 hand saw: .50
1 back saw: .50
1 two-inch auger: .50
1 one and a half-inch auger: .40
1 one-inch auger: .30 (an auger is a drilling device, or drill bit, that usually includes a rotating helical screw blade called a "flighting" to act as a screw conveyor to remove the drilled out material)
7 old scythes: .28
1 scythe and snath: .42 (a scythe is a tool used for cutting crops such as grass or wheat, with a long curved blade. A snath is the long, wooden shaft the scythe blade attaches to)
1 plow chain: .25
2 draft chains: 2.00
1 draft chain: 1.50
1 sling chain: 1.00
2 large chains: 2.00
1 stake chain: .33
2 parts of chain: .12
1 brush hook: .50
1 work stand: 2.00
1 bunch shingles: 1.00
1 lot of old iron: 2.00
1 oil stone: .50
1 lot nails: .50
1 draw shave: .20 (a draw shave is a traditional woodworking hand tool used to shape wood by removing shavings)
1 draw shave: .10
1 spoke shave: .10 (a spoke shave is a tool used to shape and smooth woods in woodworking jobs such as making wheel cart wheel spokes, chair legs, paddles, bows, and arrows)
1 bevel: .12
1 rule: .12
Lot of old riggin: .40 (this was rigging, which is a system of ropes, cables, or chains, which was most likely used on the farm or at the quarries Erastus worked at)
1 reel: .25
Fall and blocks (?): 1.00
Shoe tax (tacks?) and awl: .12
