Estate Inventory and Appraisal, Judge William M. Beall, 1823-1825.
Inventory of the Estate of a Prominent Frederick County, Maryland, Landowner and Judge [Manuscript]. [Beall, William Murdock (1742-1823)]. [Inventory and Appraisal of the Estate of Judge William Beall]. Frederick County, MD, 1823-1825. 66 pp. Main text preceded by 2 pp. index. Folio (13-1/2" x 8-1/4"). Thick pressed-paper side-sewn ledger, untrimmed edges. Light soiling and a few stains to covers, rubbing to extremities with some wear to spine ends and corners, spine beginning to split at ends, "William M Beall Senr./ Died the 5th Nov: 1823" to inside front cover. Moderate toning, content in neat hand to rectos and versos of 37 pages. $1,850. * William Murdock Beall, a prominent landowner (and owner of many slaves), sat as a judge in Frederick Co. Maryland in several capacities, fought in the French and Indian War, was a member of the Frederick County Committee of Safety. Rich in legal, social and genealogical content, this inventory is probably one of a few fair copies, executed for the files of heirs and executors. (We have not been able to locate any others.) The first section is titled, "Inventory of the Personal Estate of William M. Beall, late of Frederick County, deceased, appraised in Dollars and cents, by us the subscribers (being thereto lawfully authorized and sworn) this 11th day of December 1823." The contents are set out ledger-style on blank sheets, with appropriate lines and columns drawn in ink. It begins with a list of "Negroes over the age of 45 years willed by said deceased free at his death Viz." followed by the names of 7 male and female slaves, their place of residence on his various properties and their approximate or actual ages. A few additional younger slaves are also listed as free. The remaining slaves are willed to various named heirs. Their values in dollars and the lengths of time of their servitude are noted. Occasionally, the names of the parents of the bequeathed slaves are also listed. This section is followed by a double-columned listing of other goods with short descriptions and assigned values, which are carried forward as totals in each column. These items include silver, carriages, horses, bedding, farm equipment, cooking utensils, dishes, a varied group of furniture, crockery, china, mirrors, carpets, various fabric items and an-eight day clock. A separate section of slaves and.
Price: $1,850.00
Book number 70505