Inventory of Marlborough, 1771 [John Mercer's widow, Ann Roy Mercer,
died at Marlborough September 2, 1770. By the next spring, James Mercer
was operating Marlborough as one of four plantations owned by him. The
overseer was Thomas Oliver. At the end of May 1771 Oliver drew up a
statement of the conditions of the plantations and made a detailed
inventory. This document has been reproduced in facsimile in _A
Documentary History of American Industrial Society_.[216]
The following excerpts consist of the inventory, as it applied to
Marlborough only, and of Oliver's statement at the end. The "return," as
he called it, covered the period from May 1 to May 31, 1771. The
reference to advertising the "sale" is apparently concerned with one of
the unsuccessful public sales of John Mercer's personal property.]
56 Horn Cattle
28 Cavallrey
128 Sheap
. Swine
22 Plowes
8 Clevices
8 Clevispins
11 leading lines
4 Chaine traces
4 Roap traces
8 Bridle Bitts
8 Back bands
8 Haimes
6 Ox Yoaks
3 Ox Chains
2 Ox Carts
1 Waggons Compleat
4 Horse Harness d^o
4 Horse Collers
12 Swingle trees
. Threshing Instruments
4 Fanns
2 Sieves
1 Riddles
1 Halfe bushel Measure
1 Halfe Barrel Measure
1 Harrows
10 Hillinghows
17 Weeding hows
8 Grubbing hows
1 Syder press
1 Syder Mill
15 Axes
4 Wedges
1 Iron Shovels
4 Spades
3 Hay forks
. Hay Rakes
2 Dung forks
13 Scythes
4 Cradles
. Sickles
8 Sheap Shears
1 Barns
2 Grainerys
3 Corn Houses
5 Stables
4 Stock locks
1 Padlocks
6 Mealbags
1 Boats
1 Schoos
1 Cannow
1 Seaines
2 Cross cutt Saws
1 Whip Saws
2 Hand Saws
3 Adzes
5 Chisels
1 Hammers
1 Frows
2 Gimblets
2 Drawing knives
7 Broad Axes
1 Gouges
1 Compasses
3 Augers
2 2 Yard Rules
1 Chalk lines
3 Sawfiles
1 Curriers knives
1 Tanners knives
1 Tobacco Cask Branding Irons
5 Iron Potts for Negroes
1 Grinding Stoans
6 Scyth stoans
1 Sarvants
29 Negroes in Crop
25 Negroes out of Crop
9 Hyerd out
63 Total amount of Negroes
N.B. the Casuality in sheap are 11 sold to M^r Lowery. 1 to Doct^r
Clemense. 1 held for the house. dy'd a little time after being Castrated
5 (18) as in the Collem of decress. 1 Calfe dy'd five days after Being
Cutt. the remainder of the stock in good Condition. two mares excepted.
the work of the Mill going on as well as Can be Expected till M^r.
Drains is better. the Schoo and Boat unfit for Any Sarvice whatsoever
till repair'd. if Capable of it. the foundation of the Malt house wants
repairing. the Manor house wants lead lights in some of the windows. the
East Green House wants repairing, the west d^o wants buttments as a
security to the wall on the south side. the Barn, tobacco houses at
Marlborough & Acquia must be repaired as soon as possible. The two
tobacco houses at Belvaderra are in good order. five stables on
Marlborough plantation must also be repair'd before winter. we have
sustai'd no damage from Tempests or Floods. it will Expedient to hyer a
Carpinder for the woork wanted can not be accomplish'd in time, seeing
the Carpenders must be taken of for harvest which is Like to be heavy. I
will advertise the sale at Stafford Court and the two parish Churches to
begin on the 20th of June 1771. this is all the intelligence this month
requiers. P.S. The Syder presses at each plantation & Syder Mill at
Marlbrough to tally Expended ... Negro Sampson Marlbro Company Sick of
the Gravel. Negress Deborah Sick of a Complication of dis^s. Negro
Tarter acqui Company Sick plurisy. Negress Phillis sick Accokeeck
Company Kings Evil Negro Jas Pemberton at Marlb^h Sick Worme fever.
ThS. Oliver
For
Ja^s. Mercer Esq^r