Searching the probate records is interesting (and time-consuming!) but reading lists of a person's possessions that were sold makes me sad. Did no family member want them? Did they sell by auction? Was there an estate sale or a tag sale? If any of these were my ancestor I'd head to contemporary, local newspapers and look for sale ads. Thankfully, clothes were not on this list. I think I would have cried.
$10.00 One Desk.4.00 One Couch.
1.00 One Rocker.
4.00 Morris chair.
2.50 Office Chair
10.00 Watch & Chain.
2.00 Clock....
And seeing lists of funeral expenses is depressing, especially when they are itemized so specifically.
$200.00 Casket and Services 100.00 Vault
10.00 Embalming
15.00 Motor Hearse
14.00 Slumber Blanket
2.00 Lining Grave
1.50 Underwear
1.00 Cleaning Suit
60.00 Cemetery Lot & Opening Grave
$ 7.00 Digging grave143.00 Funeral expenses
19.40 Probating will etc.etc.
162.74 Inheritance tax in full
1.00 Medicine
7.50 Medical services
1.25 Flowers for grave
Death has not come close enough to my door to require that I dispose of a loved one's possessions or plan and carry out a funeral. I hope it never does.
--Nancy.
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I know what you mean by this. It really bothered me to go through the probate records for the estate of my g-g-g grandfather Burris' lover, and find the receipt where the minor sons were charged half for their sister's casket.
ReplyDeleteDee
Sometimes we learn the saddest things when we research our ancestors, don't we, Dee. Makes one want to weep.
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