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Category: Probate Research

A List of Names Comes Alive

A List of Names Comes Alive

I’m still working on the Abraham Trafford probate file. The quick overview is this: When Abraham died in Monmouth County, New Jersey in 1871 he was an “insolvent debtor.” The inventory is long—it seems like it might have included stock from a store—and his debts were many. Take a look at this list of creditors. H. L. BrownF. W. Devoe & CoA. J. ButlerGair & WestB. K. Bliss & SonsJas M. Thorburn & Co.Thomas S. FieldJames B. WeaverWm. T. CorliesJeremiah…

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An Education in Early Textiles

An Education in Early Textiles

This morning I’m working on transcribing pages from a probate file for Abraham Trafford who died in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey in 1871. I’m not sure why yet, but the inventory has page after page listing cloth by the yard. I’ve been sewing since I could treadle a machine (I’m not THAT old; we just had a vintage Singer in the house when I was young) and so I can picture many of the fabrics listed: gingham, linen, “moslin,” and…

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