Inventory: 2 Nov 1784 to Feb 28, 1785. Worcester co., Probate Records, Volume 19 page 330, FHL film 856284.
Michael Hatch )
Inventory )
Worcester, Spencer, Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Knight Sprague of Leicester, Oliver Watson and David Land of Spencer in the County aforesaid, Greeting. You are hereby appointed and empowered on oath to take an inventory of and according to your best skill and judgment truly and justly to appraise at the present true value thereof in lawful money of the commonwealth all the estate whereof of Micah Hatch late of Spencer, deceased, died intestate in the aforesaid county, and you _____________ make return of the warrant with your doings thereon unto the Probate office in the same county as soon as conveniently may be. Said estate will be shewn you by Joshua Hatch Administrator of the Estate. Given under my hand this 2nd day of November, A.D. 1784.
28 February 1785:
Then personally appeared Knight Sprague and Oliver Watson and David
Lamb within named and made solemn oath that in appraising the estate of
Michal Hatch late of Spencer, deceased, that they would act faithfully
and impartially according to their best skill and judgment. /s/ Edward
Re___son, Justice of the Peace.
To the Honorable Joseph Davis, Esq., Judge of the Probate for the county of Worcester. We the subscribers being appointed by your honor to appraise the estate of Mikel Hatch, late of Spencer, deceased, therefore pursuant to your order and direction, we have attended said ________ and have appraised all the estate of said Hatch both real and personal which he died _______ of thereon to us by Joshua Hatch the administrator on said estate.
Following is an extraction of the inventory, values omitted. Total value of the estate was 197 s16.
50 acres of land with house thereon valued at 150.
2 cows
1 heifer
9 sheep
1 swine
8 bushels of corn
3 tons(?) Of hay
5 2/4 yards all wool cloth
wearing apparel
bed and bedding
2 beds
7 pair of sheets
4 pair of woolery sheets
pillowcases
table linen
wearing apparel of widow
serving essentials
1 old brass kettle
loom & tacking, pole (pulls) & tabs
11 old casks
1 looking glass
table & 11 chairs
1 wheel
one calf skin
Spencer, February 28, 1786: Knight Sprague, Oliver Watson, David Lamb.
Appraisers.
Worcester, April 6, 1790.
Personally appeared Joshua Hatch, Administrator on the Estate of Micah Hatch, late of Spencer, deceased, and made solemn oath that the within is a just and true inventory of all said deceased's estate so far as hath come to his knowledge and that if anything shall hereafter appear, he will cause the same to be ______.
/s/ Joseph Wheeler, Registrar. Entered from the originals. /s/ Joseph Wheeler, Registrar.
Michael Hatch )
ss.
Worcester Co. To William White, Esq., & Jonas Bemis, Gentleman & Nathan Craige, Gentlemen, all of Spencer in the County of Worcester in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and present here today, Greeting --
(Seal) Pursuant to the power and authority to me given in & by the laws of Massachusetts, I do hereby authorize and appoint you the above named three persons a committee, on oath, to appraise all the real estate whereof Michael Hatch late of Spencer in said county, yeoman, deceased, intestate died seized and possessed in said commonwealth in his own proper right in fee simple [iece and parcel by itself with their names of distinction bits and and number of acres at the present true value thereof: in lawful money all in words at length (which was heretofore set off to his widow). When you have perfected your inventory, you are to sett off and distribute the same to and among thee children of the said deceased, or their legal representation, or so many of them as the same will conveniently accommodate without prejudice to, or spoiling the whole. Preference being had to the same, and in all deal impartially as you are sworn -- to the oldest son a double share -- moreover, if any of the children of the said deceased have received anything of him in his lifetime in advance toward their portion (not heretofore considered, you are to signify the same to me and how much each one has had. When you go about your work let all parties concerned have notice, and if any dispute arises about the quantity of any parcel of land, you may procure an assistant for the survey thereof and if all said parties are satisfied with your proceedings let them signify the same by countersygning. Finally seal up this commission with your doings thereon and return the same with all convenient speed into the registers office of Probate by some or one of yourselves.
Given under my hand and seal of office this 14th day of April Anno Domini 1798. Jos. Dorr, Judge of Probate.
Worcester Co., May the 1st(?), 1798. Then personally appeared the within named William White, Jonas Bemis and Nathan Craige and made solemn oath that in appraising and dividing the estate of the within named Michael Hatch they would act faithfully and impartially according to their best skill and judgment before me John ______, Justice of the Peace.
To the Honorable Joseph Dorr Esq., Judge of the Probate for the County of Worcester. Sir, in compliance with your commission to us directed we have appraised the whole of the real estate of Michael Hatch late of Spencer in said county, deceased, intestate, died seized and possessed which was heretofore set off to his widow as her third, the same being 17 acres and is bounded as follows, viz: Beginning at the county road at the South West corner, then running North 4 degrees west one hundred sixty rods by Wright Woodard's land to a stake and stones, then running East 4 degrees north by Oliver Watson's land sixteen rods and three quarters to a stake and stones; thence running South 4 degrees east by Joshua Hatch's land one hundred and ten rods; then running West about two rods by said Joshua's land to a stake and stones, then running South 4 degrees east to a stake and stones thirty six rods by said Joshua's land; then running East by said Joshua's land ten rods to a heap of stones on a rock. Then running South 4 decrees East by said Joshua's land fourteen rods and one half to a stake and stones on the country road, then running West by said road twenty-four rods and three quarters to the first mentioned corner. Also, one third part of a dwelling house standing on said Joshua Hatch's land for the particular boundsof said house as well as the priviledges around the same and belonging thereunto. Performance is had to the return of the committee that set off said thirds as the said return is on record in the Probate Office in said county will more fully appear. All which we appraise at Two Hundred and Forty Dollars and when we come to view the premises with a view of making a division to and among the heirs, we found that there could be no division without very essentially injuring the whole, therefore we have assigned or set the whole of said real estate appraised at Two Hundred and Forty Dollars to Joshua Hatch, the eldest son of said deceased, and we directed or assigned for him to pay to each of his brothers and sisters hereafter named or their heirs, the sum of Thirty Dollars in three months from this time with interest. The names of the several Heirs of said deceased Hatch of which the aforesaid sum of Thirty Dollars is to be paid in manner as aforesaid, as follows, viz: the heirs of Priscilla Reed, late wife of Mr. Timothy Reed, now deceased; Sarah Jewett; Thankful Sprague; Michael Hatch; John Hatch; and Rhoda Hatch; [note, the heirs, with the exception of Joshua who is the oldest, are listed in birth order] and the said Joshua Hatch is to retain in his own hands for his legacy the sum of Sixty Dollars, it being a double share to said Joshua, which sum together with what we have assigned for him to pay to the other heirs is the full sum we valued said real estate at, and there is nothing apparent that any of said heirs has received of said deceased in his lifetime in advance towards there portion.
Spencer ___ May 14th 1798. /s/ William White, Jonas Bemis, Nathan Craige -- Committee. Countersigned by Joshua Hatch, Administrator, and Peter Silvester, Jr., Agent for Jn Hatch and the heirs of Priscilla Read.
Worcester Co. I hereby accept the foregoing report of the committee by me appointed to appraise all the real estate whereof Michael Hatch, late of Spencer in said county deceased died seised & posesed in Massachusetts which was set off to the widow of said deceased for her dower, she being now deceased and order the same to be recorded and the said estate having been appraised at the sum of Two Hundred and Forty Dollars -- and it appearing that the same will not admit Of a division among all the heirs, I do hereby assign the premises as herein described to Joshua Hatch, the oldest son of said deceased, he having agreed to accept the same. To have and to hold, the same to him, his heirs, and assigns forever upon a condition that he shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the other children of said deceased or to their legal representatives the sum of Thirty Dollars to each within three months with interest until paid and I order that the cost of this settlement be paid by each of the heirs in proportion to their interest in the premises.
In testimony whereof, hereunto set my hand and seal of office the 7th day of August 1798.
/s/ Jos Dorr, Judge of Probate. Entered from the original. /s/ Joseph Wheeler, Registrar.
The account of Joshua Hatch, Administrator of the Estate of Michael Hatch, late of Spencer in the county of Worcester, deceased. To the said administrator's time, _____, and expense respecting the decisions of that part of the said deceased's estate which was set off to his widow (who is now deceased) to and among the heirs of the said deceased, including his expenses in the Probate Office paying and ____ to the appraisers _____ journey to Worcester [the Court] and one journey to Pittsfield and other places, pounds 5-11-0. To settling this account in the Probate Office, pounds 36 and ____.
Worcester Co. June 1st 1799 personally appeared Joshua Hatch, Administrator above and presented the foregoing account for acceptance and made solemn oath to the trust and justice of the same, _____ thereof, and the same be recorded.
/s/ Jos Dorr, Judge of the Probate. Entered from the original. Joseph
Wheeler, Registrar.