Treasure Chest Thursday SPITLER FAMILY SAGA, PART 6, John Spitler Executor’s Account 1855, Augusta Co., VA

I always love a good, old document. Each has a story to tell. Today I’ll be discussing an 1855 executor’s account from 4^th Great Grandfather John Spitler’s estate packet.

John Spitler was born about 1774 and died May 12, 1852 in Augusta County, Virginia. His surviving family included his widow Mary (Eccord) Spitler and their five children:

            3^rd Great Grandfather Jacob Spitler

            3^rd Great Grand Aunt Margaret (Peggy) Spitler

            3^rd Great Grand Uncle John Spitler

            3^rd Great Grand Aunt Mary (Polly) Spitler, wife of Andrew Arehart

            3^rd Great Grand Aunt Sarah Spitler, wife of John Mizer

John and Mary’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth Yago, predeceased her parents.

Grandfather’s will was written weeks before his death. (You can view his will here.) He named Jacob Baylor as executor of his estate.

A short time after Grandmother Mary Spitler’s death on March 10, 1853, John’s lands changed owners. On April 21, 1853 Jacob Baylor accepted a $600 payment from G. W. Anderson with a remaining balance payable in 5 annual installments.

With money coming into the estate Aunt Margaret Spitler got $400 April 23, 1853. My 3^rd Great Grandfather Jacob Spitler and Uncle John Mizer, Aunt Sarah Spitler’s husband, received $80 each.

On April 21, 1854 a $476.21 land payment was credited to the estate. This time my Grandfather Jacob and Aunt Sarah’s husband, Uncle John Mizer, were paid $20 each. The Spitler sons and daughters each inherited a $400 legacy by this date. Uncle John Spitler, Jr., Aunts Elizabeth Yago and Polly Arehart received their $400 while their father was still living.

Owner G. W. Anderson’s remaining payments would be split between the Spitler siblings and the children of their deceased sister Elizabeth Yago.

The April 21, 1855 payment allowed the Yago children to divide their mother’s share.

It provided Jacob Spitler with $330 and $100 for Mary (Spitler) Arehart June 27, 1855.

An $873.23 balance remained in Grandfather John Spitler’s estate June 27, 1855.

Please note John Spitler’s estate packet included two accountings—in 1855 and 1859. I’ll discuss Jacob Baylor’s 1859 final accounting in an upcoming Spitler Family Saga post.

Augusta County, VA Will Book 34, page 631

John Spitler Executor’s Account

Augusta County, VA Will Book 34, page 632

John Spitler Executor’s Account

FUNERAL FRIDAY: RIP Darius Peck, 1750 – 1804, Franklin, CT

5^th Great Grandfather Darius Peck, 54 years old, died April 13,1804 in Franklin, Connecticut.

An accounting in his estate papers provides little known facts about his last day. Three doctors cared for Darius during his final illness. Dr. Luther Manning and Dr. Benjamin Ellis visited him the day he died. Dr. Nathaniel Hyde tended to him during his sickness as well.

Family members and perhaps neighbors bathed and dressed Darius. “When the corps was lay out” he was wearing a new shirt. Amos Gager made a coffin for him.

The wake and funeral most likely took place in the Peck home with the Widow Mary Peck, Darius’ children, relatives, friends and neighbors attending. Samuel Hyde provided brandy and wine for the mourners.

After the visitation, a procession to Old Franklin Plains Cemetery carried Darius to his grave. He rests beside his 1^st wife Hannah Warner.

Administrator’s accounting of Darius Peck’s Estate

Town of Franklin, District Norwich

1804, No. 8463

Housed at the Connecticut State Library

 

The Estate of Darius Peck Dec’d to Elisha Edgerton as Administrator

RECENT DARIUS PECK POSTS:

     Meet Darius Peck and Hannah Warner from Norwich, CT

     Lieut. Darius Peck, 1st Connecticut Regiment, American Revolutionary War

     DARIUS PECK’S Advertisements in the Norwich Packet and Connecticut Gazette

  

SIBLING SATURDAY Aunt Fannie’s Scare

Aunt Fannie Knapp was my Great Grandmother’s older sister--Grace (Clark) Wilson. Frances Clark married Dell Knapp in 1886 at Goshen, New York.

I’m certain Thursday, Jan. 4, 1912 would be a day Aunt Fannie always remembered. On this day she had gone to work cleaning houses.

The Saturday, January 6, 1912 Middletown Times-Press, Middletown, N. Y., reported Aunt Fannie’s frightening mishap.

Goshen Woman is Burned When a Spark from Her Body Ignited Naphtha

   It is an old trick, that of scuffling over the rug and lighting the gas by a spark from the fingers, but that electricity from the body will ignite naphtha when used for cleaning purposes now. This happened at Goshen, Thursday afternoon and before the flames had been extinguished, Mrs. Dell Knapp, of that place was badly burned.

   Mrs. Knapp who goes out by the day in doing domestic work, was employed at the home of Thomas Finan. While cleaning in a bathroom, using naphtha for the purpose, Mrs. Knapp saw that the day was slipping by and she increased her efforts.

   She was wearing a pair of rubbers, and stood upon a rug when a spark from her body ignited the fumes and in an instant she was in flames.

   Mrs. Knapp's screams were heard by Miss Edith Finan who ran to the bathroom and found the victim trying to beat out the fire which enveloped the upper part of her body. With presence of mind Miss Finan procured a heavy quilt and threw it over Mrs. Knapp and extinguished the flames.  "Ned" Finan, her brother, was also at home and he aided in putting out an incipient fire in the woodwork.

   Mrs. Knapp was badly burned about the face, neck and arms and the pain was lessened when Dr. Condict arrived and treated her. It was found she had not inhaled the fire and had no internal injuries.

Much to her family’s relief, Aunt Fannie recovered.

Aunt Fannie with girls

Young lady on the right is my Grandmother Viola L. Wilson

DARIUS PECK’S Advertisements in the Norwich Packet and Connecticut Gazette

The Norwich Packet was published in Norwich, Connecticut beginning October 1773. The Connecticut Gazette’s home was New London, Connecticut.

5^th Great Grandfather published an advertisement in the Norwich Packet March 24^th and March 31^st 1774.

 

Norwich Packet, Norwich, CT

Vol. I, Issue 25, page 3

March 16, 1774, he wanted to sell his house and shop on an ½ acre lot in the West Society of Norwich. A house with a shop, choice land, a well with exceeding good water, close to the Meeting House; sounds like 1774 prime property.

The following year on August 21, 1775 Darius publicized his shop’s relocation.

Norwich Packet, Norwich, CT

Vol. II, Issue 101, page 4

You can see from Darius’ ad he was a wheelwright promising ready money for well-seasoned spokes to make wheels. He wished to hire an experienced Journeyman too.

June 10, 1776 Grandfather wanted to pay cash for timber to make cart wheels.

 

Norwich Packet, Norwich, CT

Vol. III, Issue 143, page 4

A Norwich Packet ad finds Darius again looking for seasoned spokes April 18, 1782. He needs them at once and will pay well.

 

Norwich Packet, Norwich, CT

Issue 445, page 3

Grandfather became a gaoler (jailer) in 1783. During Darius’ tenure several prisoners escaped, and he posted rewards for their return to the Norwich gaol. Elisha Miller broke out July 26, 1783; John Lawlor got away Nov. 26, 1783 and Moses Cleaveland’s $5 reward appeared in the May 6, 1784 issue of the Norwich Packet.

 Connecticut Gazette, New London, CT

Vol. XX, Issue 1029, page 3

 

Norwich Packet, Norwich, CT

Vol. X, Issue 474, page 3

 

Norwich Packet, Norwich, CT

Vol. X, Issue 496, page 3

To know more about Darius see my earlier posts: (click on title)

Meet Darius Peck and Hannah Warner from Norwich, CT

Lieut. Darius Peck, 1st Connecticut Regiment, American Revolutionary War

The House That Darius Peck Built, Norwich, CT