Reproduction eighteenth century items similar to those listed in the inventory.

During the late 1700s, a man named John Pannill operated stores in the communities of Chalk Level and Sandy River in Pittsylvania County. He owned an impressive range of items that were accounted for several months after his death in October 1795. He only lived to be thirty-two years old. His estate inventory (AC 2. P. 230) begins with a note that quantities for items like cloth, needles, and plates were too numerous to count. The list paints a vivid picture of the business ventures Pannill undertook in his brief life, spanning over ten times the length of a typical inventory of that time.

The stables housed four horses, each with a name: “Flyer,” “Pall,” “Damon,” and “Shelton.” His equipment for riding included men’s and women’s saddles, saddle bags, bridles, martingales, stirrups, and spurs. The cow pastures held over thirty cattle, ranging from young cows and “heiphers” to yoke oxen, a work bull, steers, and a large bull. The farm also supported nine sheep, thirty-nine geese, seven ducks, and twenty-five hogs, along with several young pigs.

For cooking and serving meals, Pannill’s household had a variety of cookware, including cast iron pots, pans, kettles, Dutch ovens, trivets, stone bottles, and pitchers. Serving items included eight pewter plates, twelve earthenware plates, tinware, tea pots, coffee cups, saucers, sugar dishes, wine glasses, a sugar box and lock, and a bell metal skillet. The accompanying tablecloths and utensils set a fine scene for breakfast, dinner, and supper.

Pannill’s furniture included well-crafted Windsor chairs, walnut tables, writing desks, and oval and square mirrors. Six candle molds were used to produce light sources to place in his brass and iron candle sticks. The beds were covered with fine quilts, counterpins, and duffle blankets. His ownership of tailor’s shears, thimbles, carding tools, and spinning wheels suggests clothing and bedspreads were likely homemade by skilled workers. He owned a variety of personal garments and accessories, including men’s and women’s hats, shawls, cravats, a pair of leather breeches, gloves, kid gloves, calimanco shoes, and both steel and brass shoe buckles. In the bedrooms, nine blue-and-white chamber pots were kept for convenience. 

Pannill was an educated man with a personal library that held eight Common Bibles, a psalter, two dozen spelling books, four Tutor’s Guides, Watt’s Hymns, a History of Robinson Crusoe, Hudibras (a 17th-century satirical poem) and Don Quixote. For recreation, the inventory listed two musical instruments: a fiddle and a jaw harp. 

Pannill’s general store supplies were also accounted for in the inventory. He kept large and small money scales, weights, a ledger, an index, and a journal for record-keeping. His stock included numerous buckles, buttons, nails, and over three thousand sewing needles, along with fabrics such as wool, corduroy, Irish linen, diaper tape, fustian, velvet, muslin, calico, and osnaburg. His medicinal items included apothecary’s remedies of the time like Bateman’s Drops, Squire’s Elixirs, Turlington’s Balsam, and white vitriol, as well as medical instruments like lancets and phlegm cases, all of which serve as a reminder for how grim medical care was in the past. He also stocked personal grooming items like horn combs, razors, and toothbrushes. An eighty-four-gallon copper still indicates that Pannill distilled and sold spirits.

As a farmer, Pannill’s estate included necessary farm tools such as grubbing hoes, weeding hoes, reap hooks, spades, scythes, axes, ox wagons, and plow hoes. In addition, the inventory listed several raw materials and desirable goods including tallow, beeswax, hides, and catgut (made of cattle or sheep and used for fiddle strings), as well as raw materials like bar lead and tar. He also owned smithing tools—chisels, hammers, files, augers, and grindstones—used by an enslaved man named John to forge and repair metal items on the property. Moreover, Pannill managed a brick kiln for constructing new buildings and possibly his stores. He owned carpentry tools like saws, a broad ax, and plane irons. His stockpile of construction materials included 8,000 feet of wood planks, twelve windows, 250 light sashes, and paneled doors. 

Even a brief look at John Pannill’s inventory allows for researchers to not only appreciate material culture but also the interesting linguistic changes  over time and local genealogy. The original handwritten inventory is like a window into the past. His wide range of belongings and tools show most everything a successful country businessman in the Federal era could desire.

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Here is the complete transcription of his estate inventory featuring the original spelling as published in “Pittsylvania County Virginia Inventories & Accounts Current 1770-1797” Compiled by Lucille C. Payne, slightly reformatted for easier reading:

of John PANNILL decd. & proceeded to appraise the whole estate. In obedience to Worshipful Court did convene at late dwelling house [NOTE: John PANNILL operated stores at Chalk Level and Sandy River in Pittsylvania Co., making this a very large inventory, with various sizes and kinds of some items. The names of all articles such as nails, hats, buttons, buckles, have been included but not quantities and sizes for certain items, cloth, thread, needles, cups, tea pots, plates, etc.]

Three well bound trunks, small damag’d trunk, quantity tallow, 8 3/4 lb bees wax, sack bag, pr. saddle bags, gun, 5 grind stones, 4 guns, 11 iron potts, Dutch oven, 2 spice mortars, trace rope, nails, brads, coperas, dirty allum, white ginger, negroe pipes, powder, glaz’d powder, salt petre, puttie, brimstone, trussell, calico, 2 1/8 yds. do., 11 hankfs, mens hatts, 3 womens hatts, Schoolmasters Assist., 2 1/2 yds. 10 pepper casters, 5 shoe knives, tape, knitting pins, doz. shoe knives, 3 nutmeg graters, 2 razors, 14 1/12 gro. shoe tax, 7 papers ink powder, buttons (dble plate, fancy coat, plate buttons, plated, brass, large, small, baskett, gilt, white, crooked, twist, sleeve & silver in various quantities), 9 till locks, wood screws, 8 crack’d, combs, 4 1/2 doz. pegging awls, buckles [steel, shoe, brass, pewter, plated, screws, snuff box, etc.] 4 snuffle bridle bits, doz. blackings, 6 pr. snuffers, 2 Enticks Dictionarys, 9 crooked combs, 2 Battle doors, 3 doz. wood shoe buckles (girth, pewter, brass, brass plated, plated, knee, steel), 6 pr. saddle bosses, 13 bunches white ferritting, 11 oz. diaper tape, twist, various yardage of green, red, yellow, blue, sewing silk, 8 pinknives, 4 cuttse knives, pruning do, brass cock, 3 tooth brushes, razor strap, hand brush, 14 1/2 doz. awl blades, 2 taper bits, brush, Calimanco shoes, 53 horn moulds.

Plane iron, frying pans, deer skins, canister, various number of yds. Roles, pr. rappings, painted sugar tongs, 3 battle doors, crooked combs, 3 snuff boxes, camphire, various amounts & numbers of Nuns thread, quantity pint ticklers, quantity ink pieces, 6 pr specks (cream coll’d plates, deep, breakfast).

3 razor cases, horn combs, Jews harps, 5 damag’d yarn caps, 11 double girths, 8 whip thongs, snaffle bridles, 11 halters, 9 pr. cloak straps, 5 pr. damag’d yarn gloves, carpenters rule, qt. & gal. sizes of stone bottles & pitchers, various sizes butter dishes, cups (small, Four sauce tureans, 14 ovel dishes, pots, 7 qt. mugs, 9 pt. mugs, various kinds & numbers of plates shugar dishes, blue shugar large blue, small, red & white, coffee), cream pots & tea pots (blue & white pots, red & white pots), qt. mugs, 2 half gal. wash bowls, 3 red & white bowls, boates, 3 white wash bottles, 9 blue & white chamber pots, 5 white lot white bowls, pt. pitcher, 40 panes window glass, sundry broken jugs &C, powder can, 24 razor & phlegm cases, hammer, shears, snuffers, files, cock, barrel lumber, nails &c, knife, 4 2/3 doz. brass thimbles, 2 steel bottoms, 5 pt. tins, 4 qt. tins, 2 sugar scoups, sack bags, 20 sifter reams. 

Hair cloth, flannel bag, Martin Gale, bell, collar, buckle, ditto, brushes, bottle, 6 candle moulds, 17 pad locks, pad lock with hasp 2 ear bells, clevis & pin, funnel, iron ring, piece iron, 10 horse hammers, bar lead, pr. sheep shares, 7 drawing knives, lot chisels, &c, glue, 9 pr. taylors shears, 5 small hammers, sprigs, 6 lot drawing knives, horn moulds, 1 1/2 inch augers, 6 chisels, 3 candle sticks, 16 shoe hammers, 2 brass cocks, 2 augers 1 1/4 inch, pr. steelyards, 2 screw inch augers, small ditto, 6 drawing knives (country made), cupb’d lock, 7 doz. spaying needles, 2 files, pitt saw files, 825 needles mix’d. Gimblets, 13 taylors thimbles, pr. leather breeches, yds. roles, 4 1/4 yds. cotton, 10 duffle blankets (damage’d), pr. bed blankets, 7 duffle ditto, yds. roles, 5 reap hooks, mans hatt, 4 x cut saws, straw knife, briar scythe, 6 hand saws, 13 mens saddles, womans.

3 glass bottles, saddle, 2 sifters, 8 blue glass salts, 8 decanters, 4 salts, 4 phials, lot cotton cards, 4 pr. wool cards, 2 soup ladles, 6 pewter basons, 8 dishes, steelyards, 3 pr. shovels & tongs, shovel, 14 Spelling books, 12 Psalters, 4 Young Mans Companions, 16 Watts Hymns, 2 Serepture Concordence, lot gilt paper pins, 9 pr. ribb’d cotton hoes, 3 pr. fancey do., 11 pr. womens cotton hoes, mens plain worstead, 4 doz. knives & forks, 5 forks, lot 6 knives, lot cutteaus, Childrens do., lot pen knives, penknives dble blades, lot pruning knives, 6 lancets, 7 razors, lot shears, lot scissars, buttons.

8 Common Bibles, 4 Tutors Guides, Testament, Watts Hymns, Histery R. Crusoe.

10 check hankfs. deep bleu Sagothy, bro. Holland, ps. wild boar, red crinure, bareskin, drab cloth, sky blue cloth, lt. drab, drab kersey, 2 3/4 yds. strip’d nankeen, 5 3/4 yds. janes, lot pr. table butts, 5 doz. table spoons, lot pr. brass hinges, lot cupb’d locks, lot small H hinges, lot hand saw files, 1/2 doz. pincher, 2 setts desk mountains, lot stirrup irons, 2 pr. womens pumps, 4 pr. mens shoes, lot girth buckles.

13 chest locks, 3 saddle bag locks, 7 drawer locks, 4 table butts, 3 gun locks, lot tea spoons, lot table spoons, pins, center bits, 10 brass saddle bag locks, 10 curb bridle bits, lot bright augers, 11 rasps, lot smiths files, lot X cut do., lot pitt saws, 10 gouges, 4 snuff boxes, 3 stew pans, lot curb bridles, lot half check, rein & lot snaffle bridles, double rein’d bridle, lot stirrup leathers, paris hinges (small, large, H).

Batemans drops, 7 Squires Elizir, 5 Turlingtons Balsam, 3 pepper mint, white Vitriol, 18 Andersons pills, 6 oz. Spanish flies & bottle, 6 oz. Calomel, 7 Phiols, 12 oz. Jallop, oz. Rheubarb. Bottle & the contents, 3 bottles Spirits Turpentine, 3 1/2 oz. blue Vitriol, Virdigreas, Barbadoes Allses, Tarter Ematick, 14 oz. cream tarter, Balsom Capivee, pt. Oy1 Roune, Antimony.

lot fancy & olive cord, lot corduroy, lot purple corduroy, lot plain lawn, vest pattern, Janes ditto, Muslinnet ditto, cat’ gut, strip’d muslin, 36 pr. mens worstead hoes, 10 swan skin saddle cloths, black velveret, yds. janes, thread hoes, yds. fustain, long lawn, 4 pr. boys mitts, 7 black handk’fs., 3 shawls, yards Durance (deep blue, light blue, green, black, purple, pink), mens gloves, Irish linen, white callico, 11 strip’d silk handk’fs, Printed handk’fs, 3 scarlet Cardinals, 2 ditto Irmine, 2 blue gimpt ditto, lot veins thread, 7 pr. womens kid gloves, lot callico, lot Ivory & horn combs, 4 pr. money scales, 4 shaving boxes, lancetts, 11 pr. specks, ribbon (black, strip’d, broad womens gloves, 3 butchers knives, 2 Cutto knives, 4 doz. gun black, pink), col’d thread, yds. bro. Holland, 4 yds. Tarte, 4 pr. flints, fiddle strings, bass fiddle strings, 4 pr. scissars, bone moulds, mens gloves, 2 neck laces, 2180 common needles, 1195 Chape needles, 9 marble wash balls, plain & check muslin, 8 muslin handk’fs., 3 cravats, black gause, 28 7/8 yds. mode, clothes brush, gilt trunk, 2 oval looking glasses, square looking glass, 6 bottles snuff, saddle tax, webing, single girths, damag’d slates, 2 worsted [?], 6 thread ditto, Journal & Ledger & Index, fiddle, 3 measures, funnill, large money scales, small money scales, com’r scales & weights, 130 gal. tar, 2 trunks, sheat lead, mill saw. Total: £598.18.11.

Parcel leather, X cut saw, rest & file, scythe blade, pr. hames, 5 reap hooks, inch auger, 6 rasps, horse collar, parcel old iron, rope, copper still 84 gallons, 9 raw hides, 6 sheep skins, 2 pr. nippers, pr. snuffers, 2 pr. steelyards, tickler & phial, bottle, candlestick, marking irons, razor & case, mans saddle, ps. leather, writing desk, small table, branding iron, stone auger, small looking glass, 2 ink potts, pr. fire dogs, sledge hammer, tin kettle, qt. ditto, wheat fan, 5 mil1 pecks, sett smiths tools, pr. steeal yards, new grubbing hoe, drawing knife, barr iron, British steal, German steal, brick kiln, 3 stacks oats, dun stead horse, colt, nippers, small hammer, tobo. box.

Sorrel horse (Jack), roan horse, bay horse, sorrel, grey, grey horse Flyer, bay mare call’d Pall, bay horse Damon, grey horse Shelton, 2 cow & calf, 2 yoke oxen, small work bull, 2 cows & yearlings, 2 heiphers, young cow & yearling, cow, calf & bell, cow, large bull, young cow, white cow & heifer, young cow, cow & 4 yearlings, 4 yearlings, 2 stears & heifers, 4 heifers, 9 sheep. 39 geese, 7 ducks, sow & 5 pigs, 1 do.

Negroes: Men – James, James THORNTON, Will buck, Euclid, John (black smith), John (waggoner), Drewry, Tobey, Orange. Boys – Jacob, George. Women – Lettey, Phillis, Esther & 2 children Betty & Winney, Lucy & 3 children Natl., Salley & Charles.

Six grubbing hoes, mattock, 9 weeding hoes, 5 axes, 2 spades, crow barr, 2 clevises & pins, hand saw, 4 old plow hoes, 3 iron wedges, ox waggon, lock chain, 25 hogs, 285 lb. bar iron, 17 1/4 lb. German steel, 18 1/4 lb. British steel, sow & 8 pigs, X cut saw, iron wedge, 2 old augers, hilling hoe, broad ax, wool, 3 weeding hoes. 

3 stacks tops & shucks, 2 stacks blades, 3 Dutch blankets, bed blanket, rug, bolster, bed & bedstead cord & sheet, rug, pillow, cader, matress, 65 1/2 bushels wheat, carry log, hand saw, 7843 feet plank, 1362 ft. plank scantling, parcel framing, 4 door cases, 12 window frames, 250 lights sashes. Pannel doors & window shutters, parcel Cornish plank, shingles, shovel & tongs, pr. fire dogs, 2 cases & 14 bottles, 4 plain Winsor chairs, 2 arm chairs, 6 flag chairs, 2 children’s chairs, 2 walnut tables, candle stand, desk, 2 house bells, gate lock, razor & case.

Dictionary, 2 Vol. Juns’s Letters, 7 Vols. Spactators, Enticks 2 cupboard locks, 2 small do., branding iron, large Bible, Baileys Animals, 2 Watts Hymns, Wesleys ditto, Testament, Dilworths Dictionary, Common Bible, Hudibrass, Smiths Letters, Description of Spelling book, Don quixot, Baxters Call.

4 large jugs, 3 less jugs, 3 jarrs, 3 jugs, Blue & white pitcher, 3 case bottles, qt. bottles, pr. brass candle sticks, pewter pint pot, iron candlestick, pr. snuffers, chaffin dish, trivet, flat iron stand, bell metal skillet, 12 earthen plates, 2 dishes, 4 pewter dishes, 2 plates, bason, 1/2 doz. spoons, silver mounted sword, 8 pewter plates & dish, 4 earthen dishes, 2 gilt trunks, doz. knives & forks & forks & box, 2 clothes brushes, pr. shoe brushes, looking glass, shoe brush, pitcher, 2 decanters, large bowl, large spoon, waster, 2 bowls, large tin cannister, sett cups, saucers, tea pot, sugar dish, cream pot & 8 tea spoons; 2 salts & pepper casters. Damag’d mug, waster, cruet, cork screw, painted canister, sugar box & lock, tea pott, 2 breakfast plates, mug, sett damag’d cups & saucers, 10 coffee cups & 16 saucers, pr. sugar tongs, mustard, cream & tea pot; turene, 8 wine glasses, 2 tumblers do., cannister & contents, 8 phials.

Carpet, bed & furniture, crib, 3 bed quilts, bed blanket, oznas table cloth, pr. oznas sheats, counterpin, 2 table cloths, 3 beds & furniture, pitcher, 2 skin trunks, 2 bread baskets, trunk, jug, womans saddle, pr. saddle bags, feathers, 2 ozna’s bags for do., counterpin, 2 damag’d Dutch blankets, matt, cradle & furniture, iron pott, shovel, spining wheel.

Frying pan, churn, 2 trays, 2 Dutch ovens, iron pottrack, rosting hook, 2 iron potts, iron tea kettle, 2 iron skillets, pr. flat irons, spice morter, tin kettle, candle mold & tin pann, tin coffee pot, 3 ceader pales, 2 pine pales, mans saddle, sack bag, pr. bag, pr. cotton cards, pr. wool cards, scythe & cradle, bee hive, flax wheel, 15 jugs, jarrs & pitchers, 3 pewter basons, 3 tin pans, 3 mugs, 2 casks, 2 powdering tubs, 2 bags, 20 barrels corn, 2 grind stones, brier scythe, waggon & gear, jack screw.

Total: £2314.2.0

Signed: Will. TODD, Fred. SHELTON, Wm. SMITH.