Capt John Walden Meyers: Inventory and will 1822

The Inventory and Will of
Capt John Walden Meyers
1822

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Pioneers of the Bay of Quinte
Capt John Walden Meyers of Belleville was a man of influence and wealth. 

His Inventory of 1822 listed:

  1. About 3200 acres of land and buildings (pages 1 to 6).
  2. 171 notes of debt with debtors name, date and amount owing (pages 6 to 19). This list acts like a mini census for the district.
  3. 164 entries for household effects (pages 19 to 27). It is a wonderful window into his world.
Below is his Inventory and Will as transcribed by Randy Saylor from the microfilm at the Archives of Ontario.
Source: Court of Probate, RG 22-155, 1793 - 1859, AO, MS 638, reel 59

Note: The pages are not numbered in the original but are numbered here by the transcriber as an aid. The spelling is as written.

© Randy Saylor,  Oct 29, 2005
The Inventory
pg Item Details  ₤ s d
1   An Indenture, Upper Canada,      
    Amos Washington, 1822      
    An Inventory of all the property deeds chattels and lands      
    and tenaments of the late deceased John W Meyers of      
    Thurlow in the County of Hastings of Midalnd District      
    and province of Upper Canada      
2 1 One Hundred and fifty acres      
    Part lot 36, fifth Con Sidney, 400    
  2 200 acres Lot 8, Con 1, Sidney 550    
  3 1400 acres in Third Con. of Sidney 1050    
    Lot number First and Second, rear half lot      
3   number third the half of number fourth      
    Six and Seven the rear half of 9, 10, 12      
  4 100 acres east half lot number fourth 125    
    second concession, Sidney      
  not numb'd 200 acres, lot 6, Third Con., Percy 20    
  not numb'd 400 acres lot 17, 5th Con. And 80    
    Lot 18, 8th Con in Percy      
4 6 200 acres, lot 1, 4th Con, Huntington 40    
  7 One House and 1/4 lot 31, east side Trent River 175    
    and south half lot 31, west side pimacle? St, Belleville      
  8 200 acres, lot 7, 1st Con, Thurlow 550    
  9 Town lot, 1/2 acre, lot 41, east side Church St, Belleville 37 10  
5 10 60 acres, part north half lot fifth, east side Moira River 2000    
    Thurlow, all buildings and appurtenances      
  11 19 acres north west side Moira, opposite town plot 1500    
    in Lot 4, 1st Con, likewise -      
    2 acres cut off lot 4, 1st Con, northerly side Moira River      
    likewise remaining part lot number fifth, northerly side Moira      
    together with all buildings and appurtenances      
  12 200 acres, lot 5, 5th Con, Percy, at nothing 0    
6 13 50 acres, south east quarter, lot 18, 2nd Con, Rawdon 37 10  
           
  1 Stephen Caverly, note, Jan 3? 1821 15 7 2
  2 William Thrasher, note, Apr 7 1821 13 12 10
  3 John Guffin, note for sheep, Jan 1 1821 9 0 9
  4 Issac N Reed, note for sheep, Jan 3 1821 14 4 0
  5 Daniel Reed, note for sheep, Jan 5 1821 5 0 0
  7 [sic] Sylvester Faulkner note for sheep  5th 1821 4 13 4
  8 John D Thompson, note for Sheep Jan 12 1821 15 5 8
  9 Richard Davis, note, Dec 29 1820 1 19 11
7 10 John H Hoinan?? [Homan?], note sheep, Jan 13 1821 8 6 6
  11 David Hoinan??, note sheep, Nov 17 1821 15 15 10
  12 Peter Travers, note, July 13 1821 22 7 8
  13 Daniel Huffman, note sheep, Dec 15 1820 5 8 3
  14 Simon Westfall, note for conr??, May 15 1819 10    
  14 [sic] John Bleeker, note July 5, 1816 34 16 5
  15 George and Thomas MacMullin, note Feb 29 1820 43 15  
  16 George and Thomas MacMullin, note Feb 29 1820 43 15  
  18 [sic] George and Thomas MacMullin, note Feb 18 1820 25    
  19 George Westfall note Jan 27 1819 37 17 6
  20 Isaac Mott note Mar 14 1816 25    
8 21 Isaac Mott note Mar 1 1816 12 5  
  22 Isaac Mott note Mar 6 1816 37 10  
  23 Isaac Mott note Mar 1 1816 37 10  
  24 Edward Cook Notes four all bearing date Mar 6 1816 200    
  25 James Hinman note Mar 20 1821 50    
  26 James Hinman note Mar 18 1821 75    
    George Lotts 4 notes Feb 16 1821      
    2 at 43/15 and 2 at 25 137 10  
    John Lotts note Aug 27 1819 66 15  
    John Lotts note Aug 17 1819 33 7 6
    David Vandervoort note June 15 1281 [sic] 43 12 4
    George and Francis Vandervoort note June 15 1821 43 12 4
9   David and Francis Vandervoort June 15 1821 43 12 4
    Peter Simmons eight notes June 13 1816 ₤25 each 200    
    Stephen Blanchard Note July 19 1820 102 4 4
    Thomas Jones note Jan 8 1817 35 1 3
    Daniel Desiter [or Denter?] Note April 17 1820 10    
    Noah Deen note April 22 1819 38 3  
    William and Phillip Zwick note Feb 10 1821 24 14 10
    John Lotts note Aug 27 1819 33 7 5?
    Amasa? Bronson note March 9 1818 15    
    Hiram Cummins note May 12 1821 15 1  
    William Snider note Nov 7 21 1820 0 4  
    John Guffin note Dec 1 1820 0 17 9
    Benjamin Turner note Sept 6 1820 0 2 9
    James Cascallin? Note Mar 18 1820 0 9  
10   Joseph Caverly note July 9 1817 3 5  
    James Hinman note Mar 20 1821 12 10  
    Martin Fuller? Note Feb 26 1820 0 9 6
    Abraham Maybee Jnr note July 26 1809 0 5 3
    Daniel Maybee note for sheep  Feb 1 1821  8 3  
    Solomon Hazleton note Apr 2 1819 16 6  
    Joseph Caverly note Feb 24 1820 17 3 3
    Rowland Potter note Sept 25 1821 100    
    Daniel Desiter Note Feb 12 1821 20    
    Jacob Lawrence note May 11 1812 0 10  
    Gilbert Ostrum note Apr 11 1809 0 8 6
    Gilbert Ostrum note Feb 5 1818 15 10  
    Gilbert Ostrum note Feb 10 1803 0 6  
    Gilbert Ostrum note Mar 12 1803 1 14 5
    Gilbert Ostrum note Feb 28 1820 10 7 4
11   Garret Garrison note Oct 24 1818 4 3 11
    Garret Garrison note Apr 1 1819 3 5 8
    Garret Garrison note Nov 25 1817 0 19 11
    John Longwell note Feb 28 1820 0 19 7
    Henry Tice note Mar 21 1821   11 8
    Daniel Gero note Feb 25 1820   8 3
    Daniel Gero note Nov 22 1820   2  
    Stephen Caverly note July 22 1820 5 11 7
    Stephen Caverly note Jun 29 1820 5 1 3
    Peter Vancott note Mar 26 1818 2 10  
    Richard Smith Note Dec 20 1816 2 19  
    Henry Bargar Sept 25 1821 100    
    John Degroff Apr 23 1819 2 15 10
    Daniel Sarles note Mar 4 1820 8 15  
12   John E? Bleecker note July 9 1816 1    
    John E? Bleecker note July 4 1816 2 3 2
    John Weaver May 11 1820 2 9 1
    Ashel Bradshaw note June 3 1820   3  
    John Ames Note Jun 28 1820   3 3
    Henry Bargar  Note Mar 31 1820 3 10 5
    George Fairman note June 26 1820   4 1
    E.Foote? note Dec 17 1818 2 10  
    George Youngs note June 30 1818   10 5
    Benjamin Turner note Feb 19 1820   14 6
    Samuel Badgely Note May 5 1821   10 6
    Christofer OBrine note Aug 11 1821   10 6
    Christofer OBrine note May 5 1820 2 17 11
    Andrew Rimmerley Note Feb 15 1821 6 17 1
13   John Reed Sen note Feb 15 1818 10 12 6
    Henry Vantassel note Aug 15 1820 1 4 4
    Anthony Crowter note Jun 24 1821 3 14 7
    Peter J? Jones note Mar 29 1819 5 19 9
    Andrew Wanamaker note Mar 23 1819   16 7
    Daniel M Deen note Aug 15 1820   4 6
    John Vandewaters note Aug 28 1820 8 4  
    Jon Mac Connel Note Jun 14 1819 1    
    William Yager note Aug 12 1820 1    
    Jeremiah Coovert Note Mar 18 1820 17 8 1 1/2
    Silvester Fauther? Note Aug 28 1820 2 1 10
    James Brown note Sept 9 1820   17 9
14   James Hinman Note Mar 20 1820 1 5  
    Martin Vitman Note Nov 23 1819   19 6
    George Redick note Nov 18 1817   15 9
    John Francis? Five notes 12/2   each Jun 9 1821 62 10  
    Simon Westfall note Jun 1820 31    
    Thomas Mason Note May 27 1819 1 7  
    Lucius Vanallen note Mar 20 1820 1 7 6
    Joseph Lacount? Note Mar 23 1820 2 4 7
    Daniel Desiter Note May 15 1820   14 3
    Samuel Palmer note May 22 1811 1 2 5
    John N Stickel note Mar 21 1817 1 16 8
    James Palmer note Apr 13 1819   12 6
    Henry Rose Note Mar 21 1820 2 6 6
15   Isaac Quakenbush Note Oct 211819 3 7 3
    Henry Rose note Mar 21 1820 5 3 4
    Malcolm MacPherson note Feb 13 1819 2 6  
    James Littles Note Jul 24 1818   17 2
    Malcolm MacPherson note Feb 3 1817 16 4 8
    Martin Rush note Feb 22 1819 6 1 11
    David Hogle note Jan 19 1821 1 15 8
    Anson Haydon Note May 5 1820 16 115  
    Peter Sines note Feb 13 1821 11 4  
    Botus Lotts Note May 27 1819 10 8 9
    John C Dockstader note Aug 20 1819 2 7 3
    John Brown note Jun 5 1820 15 19 11
    Henry Redner note Mar 5 1820 1 10  
16   John Brown Note July 19 1821   5  
    Abraham Stimers? Jul 19 1819 8 10  
    Abraham Maybee note May 17 1820 3 20  
    Silas Smith note Mar 31 1821   10  
    John Maybee Dec 15 1821 18    
    Altron Dame note May 12 1821 16 11 3
    John Lotts note July 1 1819 8 12  
    Daniel Huffman Note Nov 17 1815 9 19 3
    Hnery Vantassel note Apr 9  1821   19 6
    Thomas Bradshaw note Mar 20 1820   10  
    George Lotts note June 15 1820 1 10  
    Lewis Fralick note Sep 22 1821 3 8  
    Catherine Frasier note June 29 1816 2 11 2
17   John Trles? note Feb 5 1821   19  
    William Brown note Mar 20 1821   16 6
    Phillip Jones July 15 1819   12 4
    Amos Caverly note May 4 1821   2 6
    George Westfall note July 16 1816 5 13 1
    William Ross note Mar 31 1817 6 12 3
    Alexander Chisholm note Mar 9 1820 1 14 6
    John Frasier note Apr 13 1819   5 4
    John MacTarggart? Note  5 14 1
    Peter Simmons note Apr 15 1819 2 7 10
    John Henesy note May 5 1820   17 10
    John Sines note Mar 5 1820 2 4 9
18   James Caniff Note July 9  1820   5  
    Adam VanWick note May 13 1820 1 5  
    A  Marshall note Jan 16 1819   15 6
    Jacob Lawrence Mar 21 1811   4 5
    David Marshall Note  Dec 5 1820 1    
    John Cascallen note Mar 6 1820 2 7 7
    A Marshall note May 13 1821   7 5
    Leonard Ross note Mar 12 1817 3 7 9
    Joseph Depo? Note Jan 12 1818 1 7 6
    Steubel Foster note Mar 28 1816 15 1 1
    Martin Frederic note Aug 18 1820   18 6
19   Samuel MacTarggart Note Feb 26 1820 1 7 2
    Thomas Ball note Mar 14 1818   16 4
    John W Maybee note June 10 1818 7    
    Joseph Hight note Feb 14 1820 1 10 7
    Simon Westfall five notes dated 1820   14 9
    David Marshall note Apr 10 1819 4 9 11
    Simon Westfall Mar 14 1819   17 6
    George Thompson note Oct 11 1820 1 7 3
    Joseph Depo Note Jun 8 1819 3 19  
    John Everetts note Apr 10 1820 10    
           
    One copper still  25    
    Five mashing tubs 13 12 9
    One worm 7 10  
    Tubes 7 10  
20   One thermometer 1 5  
    One clock 10    
    One double stove  10    
    One desk 3 10  
    Four volumes of Burner Justice 4 10  
    One Theological dictionary   10  
    One Morsey Universal Geography    10  
    One Bible and one arithmetic   7 6
    One cherry table  1 5  
    Two tables   10  
    One light stand   7 6
    One writing desk   7 6
    Ten windsor chairs 2 10  
    Four looking glasses 8    
    Nine Silver table spoons 6 18  
    Eight Silver tea spoons 1 10  
    One Silver soup spoon 2    
    One Set of China 1 15  
    Six plates and six wine glasses   5  
    One pair of tongs  one shovel  one pair of Billows   15  
    Four pair of Indian calico window curtains 3    
21   Two bed Steds  two bed covers  one Straw bed tick 1    
    Four woolen sheets and one blanket and two pillows      
    One set of curtains  one bed spred 3    
    One chest   10  
    One bed sted  one bed cord  one set curtains 1 5  
    One boulster and two pillows two Indian blankets      
    and two woolen sheets and one coverlet 3    
    Four cotton sheets and two window curtains one bed tick 1 10  
    One counter paen? One coverlet and one boulster      
    and bed and two ticks 3 12 6
    One bed Sted  one feather bed and one tick four      
    blankets two sheets two pillows and one boulster 8 10  
    One bed sted  one bed cord one feather bed  one tick      
    two flannel sheets one blanket one boulster      
    one pillow one calico quilt 5 10  
    One feather bed  two pillows  one boulster two calico quilts 7 15  
    One feather bed two pilows one boulster      
22   One straw bed tick  two flannel sheets  one three      
    pint Blanket  two quilts  one set of bed curtains      
    one bed sted  one cord 10 15  
    One straw bed tick  one feather bed  two pillows      
    two blankets  two flannel sheets  three quilts 9 10  
    One calico quilt   1 5  
    One flannel sheet   5  
    one three pint blanket    17 6
    one coverlet   12 6
    one linning sheet   15  
    one three pt blanket   10  
    one two and half pint blanket   7 6
    six flannel sheets  4 10  
    one Rose blanket   15  
    one three pint blanket    10  
    two window curtains   5  
    two cotton sheets   10  
    Four woolen sheets  four Indian blankets      
    four pillows  one coverlet  one mattress       
    Two bed steds  tow bed cords 3    
23   One pair Silver sugar tongs and six Silver tea spoons 2    
    One box of iron and bells 3    
    One stove 5    
    Two table covers   12 6
    Seventeen pounds one pence half penny cash 17   1.5
    One pair of Scales   5  
    One surveyors compass  one water compass       
    one Surveyors chain 5    
    One server two canisters one bottle of spirits of turpentine   15  
    One fowling piece   16  
    One five pail kettle  two pots  two tea kettles      
    one bake kettle  one spider  One griddle  one brass      
    kettle and one pair of Steel yards 5    
    Ten plates   2 6
    Two bear skins and one buffalo skin  2    
    one pair tongs and one pair and irons      
    one  fire Shovel  one crane?  Two trowels  1 15  
    Six punchens? of cider 11    
    One cabbage box   6  
    One barrel of cider   15  
24   Nine tin pans          One sausage stuffer 1 10  
    Six barrels of cider 4    
    one set of cutter harness Two strings of bells 3 10  
    One set of coach harness 10    
    Two scythes   Two sneaths  one cradle 1    
    one fitend? plow 3 10  
    One one horse waggon 5    
    One cutter 1 10  
    One plow 1 5  
    One drag 1 10  
    One pleasure Sleigh 3 10  
    Two fanning mills   4    
    One cart and harness  1 10  
    one hoe  one Shovel  one Stubbing hoe 15    
    One black mare 7 10  
    One three year old black mare 10    
    One three year old yelding 16 5  
    one bay gelding 13 10  
    One sucking colt  5    
    One seed horse 20    
    Two calves 2    
25   Twenty three swine 14 7 6
    One bindle cow 3    
    One three year old speckled heifer 3 5  
    one line back cow 3 5  
    one Bull 3 10  
    One three year old seed heifer 3 5  
    One three year old black heifer 3    
    One black cow 4    
    One span of black geldings  22 10  
    Twenty Eight Sheepe  17 10  
    One yoke of oxen at Peter Travers 15    
    One yoke of oxen  16 5  
    One black gelding 15    
    One cow at the Travers 3    
    One yoke of oxen at Mr Hainans 15    
    one waggon  one plow  one chain  one drag 7    
    one Two horse waggon and harness 17 10  
    one ten pail kettle at the Travers 2    
    one potash kettle at John Clarcks 5    
    one old waggon 2 10  
    three yearlings 5 10  
26   one stove 3    
    one keg of powder 5    
    Eight yeards of Moulton 3/ 1 4  
    Three yards of woolen vesting 3/   9  
    one yard of cotton resting 3/   3  
    Two and a half yards of striped cotton 2/6   3 3
    twenty six of curtain calico 1 1 6  
    ninteen of cotton shirling 1   19  
    Sixteen yeards of Rushin Sheeting 1/6 1 5  
    Seven yards of cotton dimity 1/3   8 9
    Seven yards of Indian calico 1/   7  
    Nine cotton Shawls/ at 2/6 1 2 6
    one and a half yards of ticking 1/6   2 6
    Twenty eight yards of cotton cloth 1/ 1 8  
    Five yards of Scarlet Cloth 4/ 1    
    Twenty three yards of cotton Shirling 1/ 1 3  
    one bag of shot   12 6
    Four yards of red bombarette 2/   8  
    five and half yards of gray cloth 3/   16 6
    Eight yards of calico 1/3   10  
    Eighteen yards of checkered Indian calico 1/   18  
    Seventeen yards of English long cloth 1/6 1 5 6
    Two pieces of Indian calico 2 1/2 yards each 1/ 2 15  
    Seven and a half yards of striped cotton 1/2   8 3
    Tweny one and a half yards of striped cotton 1/ 1 1 5
27   Two red cloth handkerchiefs 3/3   7 6
    five checkered cloth handkerchiefs 1/1   5 5
    Eight black cloth handkerchiefs 3/ 1 4  
    Seven checkered cotton handkerchiefs /5   4 8
    Four yards of brown lining 1/3   5  
    Thirteen dozen Indian buttons /1   1 1
    Ten dozen oval buttons /6   5  
    Eleven yards of blue cloth 10/ 5 10  
    Sixteen yards of red ribbon 1/   16  
    Fifteen yards of red ribbon 1/   15  
    Eleven yards of blue ribbon 1/   11  
    Twenty eight yards of green ribbon 1/ 1 8  
    Eight yards of Indian ribbonet /6   4 1
    one stove 5    
    Fifteen yards ?? 2 5  
    Twenty two pounds ten shillings cash 22 10  
           
    This may certify that there is a true copy of the Inventory      
    Amos Broughton clerk      
    Leonard Meyers executors      
           
    Ezekiel Lawrence  Rulif Purdy  Assessors of the property      
           
    Will proofed on 30 Jan 1822      
    John Reynolds swears that he Rufus Huntly and witness the will.     
    Mary Reynolds did witness the will.      

The Will

In the name of God Amen

I John W. Meyers, of the Township of Thurlow in the County of Hastings in the Midland District and  Province of Upper Canada, Considering the uncertainty of this life and being of Sound and Perfect Mind and memory, Blessed be Almighty God for the Same, do make and publish this my last will and Testament in a manner and form following (that is to say) first I will that all such my just debts as shall be by me owing at my Death shall in the first place be paid out of my personal Estate.

2nd  Then my will is that my beloved wife Sophia Meyers Shall have the one half of the dwelling house which I now live in, namely the South west end the half of the hall the half of the cellar and also the half of the kitchen, but in case that my heirs or any of them shall build or cause to be built a good convenient kitchen Eighteen feet by sixteen feet adjoing the south west half or end of said House then and in such case She the Said Sophia Meyers is to relinquish  all claims to the kitchen below first above mentioned and to have the sole right and title to the one last mentioned all of which premises she is to occupy as a part of her dowery So long as she remains my widow…………..

3rd  I will and bequeath to my Eldest son George W. Meyers the sum of Five pounds currency.

4  I will that my grandson George Bleecker shall be paid the sum of Thirty Five pounds a year for his service to me from the Seventh day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty untill the day of my death nevertheless all the time that he is not in my employment together with all his wearing apparel is to be deducted out of the above mentioned Thirty Five pounds…………..

5  I will that my grandson Tobias Bleecker shall be paid the sum of Thirty Five pounds a year for his services to me from the eight day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty up to the time he was married after which time he and his wife are to have the sum of Forty Five pounds a year untill the day of my Death Nevertheless all the time that they are not in my employment is to be deducted out of the above mentioned sums.

6th  I will that my son Jacob W. Meyers shall pay one hundred pounds for the use of lots number eight and nine in the first concession of Sidney in the County of Hastings in the Midland District and Province of Upper Canada but if he should not be willing to pay the Said Sum of one hundredthen my will is that one hundred pounds shall be deducted out of his childrens Legacy hereinafter mentioned…………

7th  I will and bequeth to my wifes son Benjamin Davey Two hundred acres of land being lot number nineteen in the fourth concession of the Township Rawdon in the County County of Hastings in the Midland District and Province of Upper Canada. and likewise one good horse saddle and bridle also two good suits of clothes and forty Dollars in money. that is to say if he continues with me or remains in the premises twhich I now occupy and behaved as becometh untill he is twenty one years of age ………

8th   I will  and bequeath to my wifes two Sons George Davey and William H. Wetzel 100 acres of land each, which land is composed of Lot number Eighteen in the fourth concession of the Township of Rawdon in the County County of Hastings in the Midland District and Province aforesaid and likewise one good horse  Saddle and bridle Each, and  two good suits of clothes each and a horse, saddle and bridle and forty Dollars in money each that is to say if they remain with me or with my wife or continue on the premises which I now occupy until they are twenty one years of age and behave themselves as becometh

9th  I will all the remainder of my property and estate both real and personal goods, and chattels Lands and Tenants, to my grandchildren, males and phemales share and share alike.

10th  I make and ordain George W. Meyers of the Town of Sidney in the County of Hastings in the Midland District and Province afore said and Leonard W. Meyers of the same place, Executors of this my last will and Testament; hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eight day of October, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and twenty One.

                         John W. Meyers [signed]

Signed sealed and declared by the above named John W. Meyers to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.

Jno. Reynolds

Rufus Huntley

Mary Reynolds