Inventories of estates show name of decedent and township, date filed, itemized list of possessions and assets, appraised valuation, and signatures and affidavit of appraisers and administrators. Administrators' Accounts and Administrators' Bonds are also filed with this collection prior to 1776. Other estate related papers sometimes included before 1776 were: Orphans' Court papers, Renunciations, and Vendue Lists. Inventories were sometimes filed with the wills and may be at the courthouse. Appraisers often included widow's allotments in the inventories. Any additional information such as occupation, cause of death, or the listing of enslaved persons or indentured servants are noted in the database.
Prior to 1752, documents between the months of January and March were subject to double dating, as a result of the conflict between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Therefore, documents filed between 1 January and 25 March have two years listed; one from the old Julian calendar and one from the new Gregorian calendar.
System of Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each letter.
Renunciations are papers filed in the Orphans' Court by executors of an estate who do not wish to administer that estate. They show the name of the decedent, the decedent's place of residence, the name of the person renouncing administration, the name of the replacement administrator to be appointed, and date. The relationship between the decedent, the executor, and the administrator is usually shown. Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
Renunciations are papers filed in the Orphans' Court by executors of an estate who do not wish to administer that estate. They show the name of the decedent, the decedent's place of residence, the name of the person renouncing administration, the name of the replacement administrator to be appointed, and date.
Detail of photograph of front facade at Wheatland taken by Ignatius J. Dengler showing detail of light post. Written on back: "1.) The post to the east is round. 2.) The square posts shown by Miesse, and by stoner do not show. 3.) The step to light the lamp post appears idnentical with the one in 2.) above. 4.) Note: the chairs on the porch, the plants in front of the porch, and the limbs of the tree in front of western side appear to be indentical - in time. As to the lamp on Dengler's post, is it the same Coe photographers say yes; and no?"
Provenance
Photographs from the James Buchanan Foundation institutional archives.
Detail of photograph of front facade at Wheatland taken by Ignatius J. Dengler showing detail of light post. Written on back: "Note: comparison with H. P. Stoner picture. 1.) See tree on right - taken about same time. 2.) But Miesse picture taken after the bell over the west side of the porch fell or was removed. 3.) The step to light the square post was the same. Note: The post on the left - shown on the I. J. Dengler does not show on the Miesse, or on the Stoner pictures."
Provenance
Photographs from the James Buchanan Foundation institutional archives.
