Nassau Plantation: The Evolution of a Texas German Slave Plantation

Appendix B. Bourgeois d’Orvanne Inventory, July 1844

237 aPPeNdIx B: Bourgeois d’Orvanne Inventory, July 1844 (Complete inventory by Bourgeois d’Orvanne, July 15, 1844, SBAt XLIII, 166–171; XLVIIIa, 135–139.) Acreage 100 acres of plowed and fenced land (wooden barrier) valued at $10 an acre $1,000 4,330 acres of unplowed land at 75 cents an acre $3,285 Manor House A two-story house, below an office and above two rooms. The structure is not finished. Dwelling consisting of two rooms and a kitchen on the ground floor and two rooms in the second story. Although not finished it still has a worth of $1,200. 238 Appendix Structure with a kitchen and the necessary room for a servant $60 A stall $40 These buildings are surrounded by a fence. Buildings of the farm Dwelling of the overseer $150 Kitchen for the Negroes $30 Smokehouse for the meat $30 Barns and Stalls $200 Blacksmith shop $50 Coal shed $10 Six slave houses at 20 Dollars $120 Slaves Georg Butler $600 Henry Carvan $650 Hark Bedford $650 Charlotte Valley $500 Hanna Hurley $500 Rachael Titus $500 Elise Allen $500 James (Blacksmith) $1,300 Patience $400 Martha $300 Anna Amanda $225 Richard $250 Emily $500 Mary $500 Margareta $500 ($8,375) 239 Appendix Horses An American horse in good condition $100 Two American horses in bad condition $70 Two Spanish ponies in bad condition $60 Five mules of which three are in bad condition $100 Cattle 21 work oxen, each pair valued at $25 $262.50 63 head of cattle as cows, bulls, yearlings, calves at $3.50 $220.50 Swine 60 pigs and feeder pigs $120 Poultry A chicken coop composed of English chickens, ducks and chicks $20 Farm implements Two heavy plows $30 16 common plows $96 8 hand-discs $6 Various implements $150 Smithy Blacksmith tools $70 240 Appendix Wagon and harness A harvest wagon with harness $120 Horse harness and chains $52 Yokes for the oxen $20 Subtotal $15,647 Movables Movables in the house of the overseer $10 Kitchen implements Kitchen implements of the farm $50 Provisions The provisions on hand will be sufficient until September. Therefore they will not be noted here. No salted meat for a long time now. Supplies in general Shoes, shirts, socks $22.75 14 hats $17.50 98 yards of rough household linen $9.80 134 yards of ¾ wide Lowel woolen material $16 27 yards blue half linen $5.95 1 piece with 11 yards Kersey* $16 35 ¾ yards grey linen $4.95 Various $30 Medicine chest $50 241 Appendix Objects belonging to the Farm Two wagons $200 Ox chains $39 Weapons belonging to the Farm Double-barreled shotgun $40 Two small pocket pistols $2 Household items of the Manor House Kitchen items $40 Porcelain dishes $60 Table wares $60 Bedding, Linen sheets, cabinets $120 Objects not specified in the inventory such as saddles, books, p.p. $250 Summa $16,740.95 There are, in addition to the items specified above, other properties , some of which belongs to Count Boos and some of which to Count Leiningen. An exact list (Verzeichnis) of each individual object will be handed over to Mr. Fordtran, so that he will be able to give the same to the Dr. when he arrives. The present inventory was put together by Mr. Fordtran and the overseer Mr. Denmann. Subsequently, each supervisor will assemble an inventory each year and send it to the committee. The inventory will be done stricter and in greater detail. 242 Appendix For colonial service we will take: Two American horses A Spanish horse Two mules The four wheel wagon Three saddles Two hammocks We discovered several reference works about Texas, which we deposited in the archives of the society. Nassau Plantation, July 15, 1844 Signed on the original: Bourgeois d’Orvanne It becomes clear from this inventory that a considerable sum has been wasted. This year’s harvest in relation to the cost of planting will result in a considerable loss. I am of thee firm opinion that the plantation is in need of a watchful eye. Without it the plantation will suffer losses year in and year out. The result of this inventory: We found a surfeit of unnecessary items. This year’s harvest will result in a heavy loss.** Notes: *A coarse cloth used to make serviceable garments for yeomen...