Introduction

The Charles Fish Family and Farm

"Snapshots" of the Charles Fish Family and Farm
1830   1840   1850
1860   1870   1873
1880   1891   1900

Fish Family Farmhouse

Fish Family Grave

Fish Family Genealogy

The 1890 US Census records for New Jersey have not survived (as is true for almost the entire country). However, the death of Charles and his probate record give some information about the state of the family just a year later.

Charles Fish died August 1, 1891 in Pennington in his 83rd year with a private internment in Ewing Cemetery. (Death notice in Daily True American 4 August 1891 page 8 and Trenton Times 3 Aug 1891 page 4; Death Certificate)

According to his death certificate he was 83 years 4 months 4 days and 4 hours old at death. He was a farmer and never married. He was born in Hunterdon County and his last residence was Pennington. He always lived in New Jersey. He died at Pennington of paralysis after an illness of one week. The attending physician was Edward L. Welling, M.D. of Pennington and the undertaker was D.C. Titus of Pennington. He was buried in Ewing Cemetery. The names of his parents are also given. 

It is interesting to note that his grave monument gives his age at death as 82 years 3 months and 16 days while his death certificate sates 83 years 4 months 4 days and 4 hours.  Both seem to be very exact, yet very different - over one year.

In his will, Charles T. Blackwell, a friend, was his executor.  He left his entire estate to his sister Margaret K. Fish to use during her lifetime. Upon her death his estate was to be sold and the proceeds used to pay the following bequests:

Sister Amy Fish - $100.00
Nephew Charles Edmund Fish - $200.00
Annie Fish - daughter of Charles S.(?) - $200.00
Albert Fish, son of his brother Palmer Fish - $200.00
Charles Fish, son of Palmer - $200.00
Minnie Bendel - "now living with me" - $1500.00 [Note: see 1880 census]
Nephew Edward T. Fletcher - everything left over

The inventory of his estate was made August 26, 1891 by Charles T. Blackwell his executor,  with William B. Muirheid and Jonathan S. Burd.  The scope of their farming is obviously diminished and the inventory represents what Charles had at the 28-acre farm on South Main Street, Pennington.  The items are given in the order they appear in the inventory.  The groupings have been indicated to separate what appear to be groups of similar items or contents of individual rooms in the farmhouse.  There are no gaps in the original listing.

A note before the listing indicates that Charles owned 1/2 of the following personal property with 1/2 of the same belonging to Margaret K. Fish, sister of the deceased.

1 Bay horse  $40.00
1 Sorrel horse  30.00
1 Brown cow  35.00
1 Crump horn cow  35.00
1 Heifer  20.00
3 Hogs  30.00

40 Bushels Wheat in Stack  50.00
100 Bushels Oats in stack  30.00

1 wind mill  3.00
1 Horse Power, Thresher & Cleaner  50.00
1 Corn Sheller  2.50
10 Tons Hay  100.00
6 Forks   1.20
1 Chest and contents in Stable  2.00
3 Rakes  .30
½ bushel   .10
1 Scoop Shovel   .10
1 Combined Mower and Reaper   10.00
2 Deats Plows   5.00
1 Harrow   3.00
1 Furrowing sled  .25
1 Roller   1.00

8 Acres of green corn   121.00

2 ladders   1.00
Lot posts  2.00

Lot Poultry  20.00

1 Grind Stone  .25
1 Farm Wagon  15.00

25 Bushels shelled corn   22.50

1 Corn Plow   2.00
1 Cultivator  1.00
1 Horse Rake   5.00
1 - 2 seated carriage  35.00
1 - 1 seated Phaeton   35.00
Lot sundries in Wagon House   3.00
Lot Harness and straps in Wagon House chamber   2.00
Lot harness in Stable   4.00
Contents of Wood House   3.00
Dog House and chicken coop   .50

Content of Cellar   5.00
Lot Pans & Pails 1.00

2 Tables & Stand in Kitchen   1.50
1 Cupboard & Contents in Kitchen  2.00
1 Cook Stove & Fixtures   2.00
Closets & Contents in Kitchen   2.00
1 Clock in Kitchen   1.00
Carpet in Kitchen   3.00

Carpet in Hall   6.00
2 Tables in Hall   5.00

Stair Carpet - Rods & Oil Cloth  2.00
1 Hat Rack   1.50

3 Rocking Chairs   4.50
15 Chairs   10.00
6 Hair Cloth Chairs    4.00
1 Hair Cloth Sofa   4.00
Carpet in Parlor   20.00
Marble Top Table   2.00
Window Shades    .50
[Note: Although not stated, I assume these items were the contents of the parlor.]

1 Side Board & Contents in Sitting Room   6.00
1 Book Case & Books in Sitting Room  15.00
1 Dining Table & Cover in Sitting Room   4.00
1 Stand in Sitting Room  1.00
1 Lounger in Sitting Room   2.00
1 High English Clock in Sitting Room  30.00
1 Looking Glass in Sitting Room  2.00
1 Parlor Heater & Stove in Sitting Room  8.00
30 Yds Carpet in Sitting Room  7.50
Oil Cloth   .25

1 Cupboard & Contents room back of Hall  6.00
1 Table & Cover room back of Hall  2.00
3 Arm Chairs room back of Hall  2.00
Carpet room back of Hall  1.00

Bed & Bedding room over Hall  15.00
1 Wash Stand bowl & pitcher room over Hall  1.50
1 Small Table Cover &c room over Hall  .75
1 Looking Glass room over Hall  1.00
Carpet room over Hall  2.00

Carpet in room over Parlor  16.50
1 Bureau in room over Parlor  5.00
1 Wash Stand Bowl & Pitcher in room over Parlor  3.00
1 Stove  .50

1 Bed & Bedding in room over Sitting Room  10.00
1 SMall Bed in room over Sitting Room  3.00
1 Bureau & Contents in room over Sitting Room   5.00
2 Looking Glasses in room over Sitting Room  3.00
1 Wash Stand in room over Sitting Room  1.00
Carpet in room over Sitting Room  6.00
Bedding  5.00

1 Bed & Bedding in room back of Hall upStairs  12.00
1 Bureau & Contents in room back of Hall upStairs  12.00
1 Wash Stand Bowl & Pitcher in room back of Hall upStairs  2.00
1 Looking Glass in room back of Hall upStairs  1.00
Carpet in room back of Hall upStairs  1.50

20 Chairs  2.00

1 Bed & Bedding in room over Kitchen  5.00
1 Cupboard & Contents in room over Kitchen  5.00
Carpet in room over Kitchen  7.00
2 Chests & Contents in room over Kitchen   .75

1 Step Ladder   .50

There follows a list of monetary assets beginning with Cash in Bank $1765.19 and including various bonds and notes.  Total value of the possessions in the inventory was given as $9,693.73.

Return to Top