Settlement
of John Shuman’s Estate

Although relatively little is known of his life, we have a fairly clear picture of John's family and living situation through the records associated with his death. He left a Will dated May 7, 1832, and probated that same month. Despite its brevity, he manages to identify 13 living children and his wife, and to leave directions for her care, and that of a daughter. Court documents filed in connection with the execution of the Will give us a glimpse of the standard of living at the time.

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John Shuman’s Will

I, John Shuman, of Monongalia County do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say, 1st I desire that so much of my personal estate may be sold immediately after my decease, as will be sufficient to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses and also so much as will pay the several sums to my several children hereafter mentioned. 2dly, I give to my six daughters Mary Kendell, Catherine Kendell, Rachel Fetty, Letty Huffman, Hannah Kendell and Elizabeth Floyd five dollars each to them and their heirs forever.

3dly, I give to my sons Joseph Shuman, Jacob Shuman and David Shuman, fifteen dollars each to them and their heirs forever. 4thly, I give to my son John Shuman, twenty five acres of land it being the west end of the place I now live on including the improvement where he now lives, Beginning at the east corner of the fence on the south line and to run a northerly course to the outline to include the said amount to him and his heirs and assigns forever. 5thly All the rest of my estate both real and personal whatsoever kind it may be I give to my wife Elizabeth for so long as she lives for her maintenance and also for the support of my insane daughter Sophie Shuman so long as she may live and after the death of my wife and Sophie my daughter aforesaid I give all my personal estate then remaining with the rest of my aforesaid real estate to my two sons Benjamin Shuman and Joshua Shuman to be equally divided between them to them and theirs forever, and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Benjamin Shuman Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments by me thereafter made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 7th day of May in the year 1832.

                                                           John Shuman (seal)

 

Signed sealed published and declared by John Shuman as and for his last will and testament in the presence and hearing of us who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses.

David Musgrave, Joseph Fetty.

 

At a court held for Monongalia County May term 1832, the foregoing last will and testament of John Shuman decd was produced in court duly proven by the oath of David Musgrave and Joseph Fetty subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

                                                           Attest: Thos. P. Ray, Clerk

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Inventory of John Shuman’s Estate

George Wilson, William Hawkins & David B. Musgrave personally appeared before me and were sworn to appraise the personal estate of John Shuman decd as the law directs. Given under my hand this 31st of May 1832.

     after being sworn we have proceeded as follows to wit                   David Musgrave (seal)

To one red cow one do one red & white do one black do one speckled mulq heifer one red do with white face one brindle steer one brindle heifer one pided steer 4 calves yearold 11 heads of sheep 5 head of hogs 2 sheep one two years old coult 1 light sorrel mare 1 dark - do 3 Ganders 1 shovel plow single tree & harness 1 Log chain 1 Barshear plow 1 Scythe & hangings 1 old tub 1 Grubinghoe & 3 weeding hoes Doubletree link & broken clevis 2 axes 1 old scythe & hangings 1 Kettle & bale 1 pot hooke & tramble Grindstone & drawing knife 1 Kettle & bale 1 Meat tub 2 old Keggs one old tub 1 Churn & 2 old salt tubs

9 00 9 00 7 50 9 00 6 00 6 50 5 50 5 00 5 00 12 00 11 00 9 00 75 15 00 35 00 40 00 37 4 00 2 50 3 00 2 00 25 1 75 1 75 2 00 75 1 00 3 25 1 50 3 25 1 00 25 25 25

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1 Bee stand 1 old tub & bar of iron 1 Rifl gun 1 hand saw 1 lot of old saddles 1 Collar geare & 2 old bridles 2 baskets & old washing tub 2 iron wedges hammer & flat iron 5 Shovel candles moles & sheep shears 1 old wheel & Reel oven pot & teakettle 4 buckets coffepot Jug & half bushel Books & Razor 2 Small Boxes 1 Hatchet Bedstead Dresser & furniture 2 tables 1 Bureau 6 old Chairs 1 Bedstead bed & beding 1 - do 1 - do 1 - do 1 Cuting box knife & steel 2 old tubs 1 Kegg 3 Sheep 2 Hogs 1 Sow & 2 pigs                George Wilson                William Hawkins                David B. Musgrave         his Benjamin x Shuman Exr        mark

1 00 1 32 5 50 1 25 6 75 2 62 37 1 56 1 75 1 00 4 25 1 50 1 00 06 62 1 00 3 00 3 00 9 00 1 50 8 00 8 00 8 00 1 00 1 50 75 37 2 25 3 00 1 50

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     At a court held for Monongalia county November term 1832.
                                            The foregoing Inventory and appraisment of the personal estate of John Shuman decd was produced in court, examined and ordered to be recorded.
                                            Attest         Thos P. Ray Clerk

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John Shuman

    The following Inventory is the amount of property sold of the personal estate of John Shuman decd

James Arnett   One axe Franklin Boor   Iron wedge & hoe James Piles   Two Keggs Mansfield Kendle   1 Tub Franklin Boor   1 Kettle Benjamin Shuman   Bed stead Alex Streight   One Rifle gun James Eddy   Two Sheep Ezekiel Morriss   Two ditto     same   ditto James Kennedy   3 Sheep Franklin Boor   1 hog Ezekiel Morriss   1 hog     same   ditto James Piles   One Cow

1 03 54 23 26 1 07 50 6 28 2 00 1 39 1 39 1 31 1 70 1 20 1 24 11 75

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John Mason   1 heiffer     same   ditto John Mason   One Steer James Eddy   One heifer Ezekiel Morriss   One Steer James Piles   One Cow James Riggs   coult Jacob K Streight   One Sow & pigs James Hayhurst   One mare Joseph Fetty   One bed stead     same   One sow & pigs              Attest D. Musgrave Clk         his Benjamin x Shuman Exr        mark

10 05 8 00 7 76 7 04 5 89 8 99 15 42 2 00 40 43 49 1 50 ______ 138 72

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                                        At a court held for Monongalia county September term 1834 the foregoing Inventory and appraisment of the personal estate of John Shuman decd was produced in court, examined and ordered to be recorded.
                                                    Attest      Thos P. Ray Clerk

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John Shuman

     Benjamin Shuman in his administration of the estate of John Shuman decd

Amount Sale Bill                   138 72 1/4             Ballance in adm hand       37 53                     D Musgrave Com.     At a court held for Monongalia county September term 1834      The foregoing settlement of the personal estate of John Shuman decd was produced in court examined and ordered to be recorded.      Attest                     Thos P. Ray                                    Clerk

To " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "

Wm G Pendleton John Musgrave Jacob Shuman David Musgrave Mary Kendel Joseph Shuman James Kendle Letty Huffman Elizabeth Floyd Hannah Kendle Letty Huffman Joseph Fetty Jas F. Davies Rachel Fetty Wm Hawkins Wm Hess George Wilson David B. Musgrave Thos P Ray Exr commission D Musgrave Com

No 1 No 2 No 3 No 5 No 6 No 7 No 8 No 9 No 10 No 11 No 12 No 13 No 14 No 15 No 16 No 17 No 18 No 19 No 20

18 50 15 00 2 00 15 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 10 00 1 00 2 00 5 00 16 50 2 50 1 00 1 00 2 58 4 93 1 00 ______ 101 19

The alert reader will note the absence of payment No 4, and a blank for the amount in payment No 6. According to the Will, son David Shuman was to receive $15, which I suggest was actually payment No 4, but inadvertently "blended in" with Payment No. 5 when the clerk copied this record. Totalling the amount paid out now leaves exactly $2 remaining, the probable sum paid to Mary Kendel, a daughter, in payment No 6.