Peter Worden IV [1697-1745]
Peter IV was a constable for a few years as well as a blacksmith
and farmer and apparently, from his inventory, he had a few
other skills. At the 12 November 1745 meeting of the Westerly
Council, an inventory was ordered taken on his estate - so at
the early of of 48, he died unexpectedly without a will.
Peter IV inventory was very long and came close to L540,
so he was quite well off. Excerpts of the inventory:
1 Lancet and instruments to draw teeth and a knife 0-08-0
1 Brass Ink Horn 0-07-0
The Loom and Tackling 9-09-0
3 Spinningwheels, one pair of cards and Chest 3-15-0
6 Worsted and 6-1/2 spun worsted 4-09-0
New Cloth 8-10-0
1 cs bottles and honey 4-00-0
Pound and one half bees wax 0-12-6
All ye pewter 6-02-0
2 Prs oxen and 3 cows and 2 colts and a mare 167-00-0
1 Cart and wheels 18-00-0
2 Grindstones and ye iron belonging 1-11-0
10 pigs 4-00-0
All ye carpenters tools 7-00-0
All ye shoemakers tools 7-00-0
33 Sheep, 3 Fall cattle, one hive bees 78-00-0
Sope and a trough 0-12-0
One part of a cake of chocalet and a box 0-03-0
Two Bibles and a book
One beetle and wedges 0-15-0
One Constables Staff 0-05-0
358 Ft. of Boards 1-08-0
32 Pounds of Flax 4-00-0
A Silver cup and buckles 3-05-0
Tobacco, wheel, quilting frame, and rope Tackling 0-10-0
One gets the impression of a busy and skillful household and farm
almost completely self sufficient except salt, sugar,
chocolate, molasses, tea and liquor.
On 28 January 1747, Rebecca gave her three children above 21
years of age their portions of L31-2-8 each -
Mary, Gideon, and John. She still had six children under age and
Elizabeth, the oldest, was not mentioned.
On 26 April 1753, Rebecca asked council to appoint a committee
to lay out her dower in the farm at her charge, and they
gave her, five years later, 49 acres. All of Peter IV
probate records are in probate book 1745-62 of Westerly, R.I.
SOURCE: Obtained at Worden Hall in East Dennis,
Cape Cod, Mass.
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