THE "HOT MESS" PROBATE FILE OF NATHANIEL STOW JR PT4

Having put the images of Nathaniel Stow Jr.'s probate file in chronological order, it was now time to see what I could make out of all of them. In this post I'll look at images 4,5,6,7 and 2. The first three show the estate inventory.

Nathaniel died on 12Nov 1724 and an inventory of his estate was completed by 4Dec. This included real estate consisting of 15 pieces of land with a total value of 801 pounds and ten shillings.

Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)Case21772 p.4

His livestock included six oxen, one yearling steer, six cows, four heifers, four calves, seventeen sheep, six wine, and two old horses.

Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)Case21772 p.5

Most interesting to me among Nathaniel's personal possessions were one sword, one musket, one carbine, a pistol, a pair of holsters, and a halberd. That would seem to be evidence that Nathaniel had served with the town militia.

Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)Case21772 p.6

The total value of Nathaniel Stow Jr's estates was 1,333 pounds and one pence.

Image 2 is the Letter of Administration which was issued by Francis Foxcroft Wright. My 6x great grandfather was appointed administrator. It's from this document I learned Thomas was a housewright.

Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)Case21772 p.2

Finally, image 7 looks like the back of one of the inventory pages, but unfortunately, I can't decipher most of the writing. I've encountered this judge's handwriting before and it's frustrating at times trying to read it.

Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)Case21772 p.7

 Next post we'll look at four images from February 1725.

To be continued.