Hawley Letter

March 27, 1826 From Rufus F. Hawley in Northington [Avon] To his brother Timothy Hawley, Jefferson, Ohio BACKGROUND This letter mentions the Rev. Rufus Hawley journals, showcased in Catch’d on Fire: The Journals of Rufus Hawley, by Nora Howard. Settling the estate of their father, Rev. Rufus Hawley and Inventory. Troubles with the construction of the Farmington Canal, which goes by the Hawley house. Envelope: Northington March 28th Free Timothy R. Hawley Esqr Post Master Jefferson Astabula County Ohio Northington March 27th 1826 Dear Brother I received yours of the 6th instant this p.m. – and shall endeavour to answer it this evening as I have engagements for tomorrow & tomorrow [evening?] & have but little leasure [sic] to write – How you could be disappointed in not receiving a copy of the will I cannot imagine as you did not mention it in your first letter & as to claims &c I did send all the information then in my possession – I shall always be disposed to send you all the information on the subject in my power – I cannot however at this time send you a Copy of the Will as that was lodged in the office of Probate at the time it was prov’d & I have not taken a copy – I will however take a copy & send you the first opportunity. I can in few words however give you the substance of it after mentioning what he gave Mother. He then gave me the building, and then divided the remainder equally among us – As to claims I can say but little more at present than I said before. I hold notes as you know to about $190.00 my other claims will probably be about as much more. Doctor bills – Funeral expenses of all kinds, Probate fees and other expenses – Grave Items (which I conclude you all would wish to have procured) will amount probably to $100. – I will now give you the Inventory Best hat $1.25 – Old do.* 12 cts, Full’d cloth about $3.50 4.87 Surcoat* $1.25 – Strait body coat & breeches $3.00 4.25 Vest 75 cts, Old great coat $1.25, Green baize gown $1.00 3.00 Bandan. Hand’f* 25 cts, Old do. 8 cts, Three stock 12 cts .45 Neck comfortable 12 cts, Leather gloves 12 cts, Three old shirts 50 cts .74 Knee buckles & stocks do. $1.35, Three pr wollen [sic] stockings 50 cts 1.85 !1 One pr womans stockings 20 cts, Female great coat $3.00 3.20 Silk gown $4.00, Silk shawl 1.25, Flannel petticoat 25 cts 5.50 Bombazine gown 50 cts, Do. Old do. 25cts, Flannel gown 25 [cts] 1.00 Petticoat, coat 17cts, Gingham gown 40 cts, 2 cotton shirts 34 cts .91 Linen shirt & linen petticoat 34 cts, 2 Men’s woolen shirts $1.50 1.84 One female woolen shirt 12 cts, one Bed & pillows $4.67 4.79 One Bed & pillows $4.00, white blanket 75 cts, Do. with stripes 50 cts 5.25 1 Plaid blanket $2.25, 1 Do. Do. $1.50, Blue bed quilt 25 cts 4.00 Red bed quilt $1.50, Calico do. 17 cts, Carpet $3.00 4.67 3 Bedsteds & one rope $1.50, small trunk 12 cents, Case draws $3.00 4.62 Desk $2.50, 2 old woolen shirts $1.25, 4 pr linen do. $1.25 5.00 4 pr Pillow cases 50 cts, Diaper* curtains 25cts, 3 table cloths $1.00 1.75 3 towels 25 cts, Stand table 75 cts, Dressing desk 75 cts 1.75 Fall leaf table 25 cts, Old chest drawers 25 cts, ½ doz. Black chairs $2.40 2.90 Rocking chair 25 cts, 6 old chairs 25 cts, Two armed chairs 50 cts 1.00 Writing table 12 cts, Dining table $1.00, Morocco shoes 12 cts 1.24 Low chest & old Hogshead 25 cts, Brass kettle $2.50, Small do. 50 cts 3.25 Large slice & tongs 75 cts, Large andirons 75 cts, Case of 2 bottles 25 cts 1.75 Steel yards 12 cts, account book 25 cts, Spectacles 25 cts .62 Water pail 12 cts, Pewter tea pot 34 cts, Porage pot 75 cts 1.21 Tea kettle 50 cts, Bake pan 25 cts, Skillet 12 cts, 2 Junk bottles 12 cts .99 Small tin pail 6 cts, 2 Earthen platters 25, Earthen coffee pot 8 cts .39 Quart pitcher 10 cts, choping [sic] knife10 cts, 2 iron candlesticks 25 cts .45 9 knives & forks 50 cts, Large looking glass $2.00, small do. 50 cts 3.00 Small slice & tongs 25 cts, small andirons 50 cts, Old chain $2.00 2.75 Sleigh $4.75, Old side saddle 75 cts, 3 Bags 75 cts, 2 cider barrels 67 cts 6.92 Meat barrel 39 cts, Old Harness & saddle 34 cts, Saddle bag 17 cts .84 Gridiron* 25 cts, toasting iron 33 cts, Warming pan 50 1.08 Scott’s bible $11.00, small bible 25 cts, concordance 25 cts 11.50 Burkett’s Expository 25 cts, Dodridges Expositor 2 vol $1.00 1.25 Trumbull’s History $1.00, 4 vol. Conn. Magazine $1.00 2.00 Smally’s Sermons 50 cts, Strong’s do. 50 cts, Sermons 25 cts 1.25 !2 Election Sermons 25 cts, Newton on the prophecys [sic] 2 vol. $1.00 1.25 McClures Sermons 40 cts, Perkins do. 75 cts, Washburns do. 50 cts 1.65 Edwards Sermons 25 cts, Belamys do. 25 cts [Lus?] poems 45 cts .95 Foster & others 20 cts, Forward & others 25 cts, Henry on prayer 20 cts .65 Smiths Sermons 20 cts, Humphrys poems 12 cts .32 Dwights psalms 12 cts, Winter piety 10 cts, Confessions of faith 10cts .32 New testament 12 cts, Letters & sermons 10 cts, Drilincourt* $1.00 $1.22 2 Silver spoons $3.75, Cash $2.00, House & Barn $325 330.75 75 acres land at 8 dollars per acre 600.00 Farmington March 8th 1826 Abraham Chidsey) appraisers Roger Woodford) under oath You seem to express some surprise at my guessing at the inventory expecially [sic] the land. I ment [sic] to get as near as I could & not set it to [sic] high. I believe the whole amounts to $1041.44 – You know I suppose that land has fallen in this state since the last year especially out places more than half – some ¾ - you also know that a very great proportion of the land that Father died possessed of is very poor there is at least one third of it if it lay by itself would never pay for farming – it will not pay the interest of one dollar an acre – You say “all you want is to have matters right &c &c. and then say you leave it to my conscience to decide &c. I really feel hurt to have such observations made – for I know there is no cause for them – I agree with you that we all want our rights & I hope shall finally have them. You say you are more anxious that George & Zerah should have a little [?] for yourself &c. – I am [sensible?] that George has had the least of any of you & I suppose wants it the most – as to Zerah he has had the most of anyone – Besides when Zerah was in Ohio he wrote to Father to have him deed him his 1/2 of the house & his part of the farm & he would maintain him during his life – you seem to forget that – and I again tell you that I never askt [sic] Father to give me a cent – It is now a quarter past eleven but I must try to fill my sheet & give you all the information I can – wishing that this business may finally be clos’d to the satisfaction of all concerned – Father’s journal & sermons &c I shall preserve so that you or the other Brothers can have part or all if you wish – When you come to speak of your & Brothers claims they are much larger than I expected them to be from what you said & from what Father & Mother had told me – What others may claim I cannot tell[.] [I] should like to have all claims forwarded by some means as soon as possible – I want to write to Brothers & mean to as soon as I can get time – You see Brother I have lost no time in answering yours & will send you a copy of the will & all information respecting the business as fast as I can – If you think at best [to] come down on this business don’t fail to come – If I do the business I shall endeavour to do it carefully and according to law & the will which is my guide & the court will see to that & so if you was [sic] here we should have the same rule & guide !3 – Your remarks as to the winter & sickness will apply here we have not had a day of good sleighing this winter – Ruben L. Hosford* 2nd son of the late Benj. Hosford died of a wound given him by another young man as they were splitting wood the whole blow of the ax fell on his leg at the ancle [sic] & cut it about ¾ off he lived about 3 days, he was 23 As to the canal it is a proper vexation & I fear always will be it almost ruins some farms – hurts this very much – but the worst of it has not come as yet as they have not dug along against the house – I hope you will write as soon as convenient after you receive this – I wish Brothers would write to me.

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