Menges Family History

Estate Papers of Johann Conrad Menges

VENDUE I of JOHANN CONRAD MENGES ESTATE

(Vendue II is further down this page)

A vendue, or public sale, was held after a death or retirement changed the occupancy of a property. Vendues provided for the sale of equipment and household goods of a farmstead along with an opportunity for dispersal of the objects and a social gathering of the neighbors. Most of the prospective buyers were neighbors or relatives who came in wagons in order to haul their purchases home. The sequence of sale items, from farm tools, equipment and livestock to furniture and household wares, remains essentially the same in the Pennsylvania German area today. The auctioneer, perched above the crowd, maintained a running patter of dialect asides and tried to encourage spirited bidding to get the highest prices possible. His success depended on his rapport with and control of the crowd. The womenfolk did not stand in the barnyard when the farm equipment was offered. They gathered near the household articles getting ready to bid on their choice of doughtrays, washing machines, washtubs, window shades, carpets, bedding or souvenir trinkets of an old friend. A guided tour of these artifacts and their origin could form Sunday afternoon entertainment for visitors. While the men watched the farmer's tools sold, the women viewed the items of interest to them, exchanged news and gossip and visited. Not infrequently the auctioneer had to silence the crowd. Peddlers came out of hiding at all kinds of special events from fairs to church dedications. They also came to vendues with cakes, pies, candies, peanuts and pretzels to provide nourishment to customers waiting for something to be sold. Wagons were loaded to take the newly acquired treasures home. The accumulation of a lifetime could go to four directions of the compass in a few hours as its former owner faded into history. Taken in part from "Farming, Always Farming," A photographic essay of rural Pennsylvania German land and life, by H. Winslow Fegley (1871-1944), a publication of The Pennsylvania Germany Society, Volume 20, 1986.

Vendue List of the goods & chattels sold by Peter Menges & Simon Dim Executors of the Estate of Conrad Menges deceased on the property of the said estate, November 20, 1813.

Wm. Heslet one meat vesel .70
John VanDike a pick & how .55
Wm. Heslet one auger & tennant saw 1.00
Conrad Menges two Dutch sythe culling knife 1.00
Wm Heslet two Dutch sythe culling knife 1.00
Conrad Menges two auger .50
George Ritter two auger 1.00
Anthony Eshbach pot of old iron .25
John VanDike trowel & chizel hay tongs .70
Conrad Menges --- Dutch sickel .58
Anthony Creamer two neck chain & a bolt .46
Conrad Menges two chizels old buckles .41
Anthony Eshbach 3 horse shoes iron (dog?) .50
Wm Montgomery crowbar .56
Wm Heslet, Sr hatchit .42
Andrew Kerchner iron skilet ---
Andrew Kerchner lot of iron & --- .25
Wm Montgomery hand saw 2.26
Wm Montgomery one Joiner Jack & smoothing plain 1.60
John VanDike drawing knife & spiking gimbet .28
Wm Heslet sythe cradle .21
Wm Heslet lot old iron hoops & chains .70
Andrew Kerchner --- gridiron .72
John Eshbach fish gig .28
John Dimm grindstone & trough 1.25
John Linebach flax rake .30
Wm Johnston 3 bags
Wm Johnston 4 bags
Anthony Eshbach 5 bee baskets bread baskets apples
Nicholas Long 5 bee baskets bread baskets apples
John Long 3 flour cask
John Long two barrel silver cask
Nancy Linebach one cabage tub
George Christ our old cask with lime
Andrew Cushman lot --- .35
Wm Montgomery lot --- .55
George Gowin pickle tub .12
Wm --- wash tub 1.00
Wm Heslet 8 bee traps 1.53
Wm Heslet 8 bee traps 1.00
Wm Robertson 8 bee traps 2.00
Nicholas Long 7 bee traps 1.36
Solomon Menges large iron ketle 3.25
Wm Heslet Sr lot shingles .50
John Long stack hay next to the house in the meadow 11.25
Andrew Fergeson the next stack hay 10.80
John Eshbach wheelborrow 2.17
John Heslet two sheep 3.55
George Beaver two sheep 3.25
Jacob Beaver two sheep 4.90
Theo. --- two sheep 4.80
John Linn two sheep 4.36
John Awl two sheep 3.65
John Awl two sheep 3.35
Philip Dimm two sheep 3.10
John VanDike dung & pitch fork .30
John Christ dung & pitch fork .47
Jacob Menges showvil & turnip knife .70
John Christ grubing how & double tine turnip knife 1.03
Henry Stahl 4 cow chain & yoke .69
Jacob Menges 4 cow chain & yoke .70
Conrad Menges 4 cow chain & yoke 1.00
John Crist 3 cow chain & iron 1.50
Tobias Short 1 scoop showval .40
Conrad Menges 1 scoop showval .32
Solomon Eshbach 1 dung showval .50
Jacob Menges windmill 12.40
Robert Caldwell one red steer 9.40
Wm Montgomery one red steer 8.00
Danie Lentz one --- steer 15.50
Wm Montgomery one black bull 6.00
Wm Johnston one red steer 8.70
Robert M'Kee one black steer with white back 12.00
John Sanders one brindle steer white face 14.60
Robert M'kee one brindle steer with bell 13.60
Jacob Lilley one red wooly cow 7.05
Wm Morets one brown cow white back 12.00
Daniel Jarret one brawn cow 12.60
John Christ one red cow 17.00
Jacob Menges one red & white cow 17.00
Adam Stetsel one red cow white face 22.00
Mary Menges one brindle calf 5.30
Joseph --- one spring colt 20.25
Daniel Fiester one young bay horse 80.00
Sollomon Menges one rhone horse 78.00
Sollomon Eshbach one gray mare 19.25
John Linebach one bay colt 1.30
George Christ one hog 8.37
Jerome Egler one hog 8.05
Jerome Egler one hog 8.50
Jerome Egler one hog 7.70
Jerome Egler one hog 7.40
Archibald Christ one hog 8.00
Anthony Hass one sow & six pigs 20.25
Wm Johnston one four horse wagon 80.59
Henry Stahl one plow 5.50
Wm Heslet Sr one plow 4.50
Jacob Rinehart one plow 4.46
John Mowra showvel plow 1.00
Daniel Fiester two glass tumblers .40
Christian Kime one tumbler .36
John Menges wine glass small look (glass?) .25
Sollomon Menges hand look (glass?) .60
Sollomon Menges clock bell .06
Andrew Creamer --- --- .26
Wm Heslet lot vials .40
Wm Heslet specks & case .50
Christian Kime --- --
Jacob Rhinehart lot sundries .30
Sollomon Eshbach lot leather soles 1.31
Wm Robertson lot upper leather 1.00
Christian Menges saddle bag 1.42
Wm Heslet Sr two crocks dry apples .77
Wm Robertson two crocks .14
Wm Robertson two crocks .42
Wm Robertson one large crock .30
Wm Robertson 3 crocks .25
Sollomon Eshbach 4 crocks .31
Sollomon Eshbach jugs .25
Wm Robertson crock with dry peaches .32
Wm Heslet 5 lbs wool @ 56 cents pound 2.80
Wm Heslet 6 lbs wool @ 60 cents pound 3.90
Wm Robertson cask with clover & timothy seed 2.00
Wm Heslet flax hatchel 1.15
Conrad Menges wool shear .17
Jacob Rinehart crock & conkshell .25
Wm Heslet Sr. one bee hive 5.00
Thomas Hanna one bee hive 2.73
Wm Robertson one bee hive 2.30
Conrad Menges one bee hive 2.55
Wm Robertson one bee hive 2.75
Samuel Pegg one bee hive 2.05
Samuel Pegg one bee hive 2.90
John Eshbach one bee hive 2.57
Andrew Creamer one bee hive 2.80
Andrew Creamer one bee hive 3.12
Christian Gosh one bee hive 3.07
John Long 4 rows cabbage next to barn .50
Andrew Creamer 4 rows cabbage next the first .33
Johann Stahle one iron pot & bee keap --- .34
Conrad Menges two sleah? 5.16
Jacob Rinehart 5 bushel of peotates @ 38 cents 1.90
Jacob Rinehart 5 bushel of peotates @ 41 cents 2.05
James Craig 5 bushel of peotates @ 31 cents 1.55
James Craig 4 bushel of peotates @ 28 cents 1.12
Jacob Rinehart 4 bushel of peotates @ 26 cents 1.04
John Defenbacher 4 bushel of peotates @ 26 cents 1.04
John Defenbacher the lot (odd lot potatoes?) .26
Wm Robertson stack hay by barn next to house 29.55
Jacob Johnston the next stack 25.00
Wm Robertson stack behind the barrack 11.00
John Dimm hay in the shed behind the barn 10.50
Sollomon Menges hay in the fork barrack 49.00
Henry Stahl log chain 1.00
Anthony Eshbach log chain .90
Conrad Menges pair hobbles .50
Adam Stetsel lot of hobbles .50
Sollomon Menges one horse collar 1.50
Conrad Menges one horse collar .87
Wm Heslet Sr one horse collar .65
Sollomon Menges one horse collar .65
Peter Reader one horse collar .25
Sollomon Eshbach one horse collar .36
Sollomon Menges one lot horse gear 3.01
Sollomon Menges one lot horse gear 2.88
Wm Heslet Sr one lot horse gear 1.50
Jacob Menges one lot horse gear 1.76
Jacob Menges one lot horse gear 2.01
Andrew Creamer one lot horse gear 1.01
Andrew Creamer crubb? bridle .51
Christian Gosh car whip & bell collar .25
Sollomon Eshbach pair pinchers .89
John Christ lot hobble chains 2.06
Sollomon Menges one collar & chain .75
John Dimm one collar & chain 1.27
Peter Reader one set bridles .70
Peter Reader two forks .60
John Eshbach groubing hoe .75
Conrad Menges cuttingbow 5.80
Philip Eshbach 2 casks .38
Philip Eshbach hogshead .51
Conrad Menges one griddle .06
John Dimm 30 bundles of flax @ 6 cent 1.80
Jacob Linehart 33 bundles of flax @ 4 cents 1.32
Samuel Pegg buckwheat in the field (Name?) to thresh it 123 1/4 bushel @ 39 48.07
John Craig hand saw 4.22
Robert Shaw mans saddle 2.41
Jacob Walter bed & bedstead 8.90
Jacob Rinehart bed & bedstead 7.65
John Long feather bed & stead 20.33
Henry Moll feather bed & stead 21.51
John Defenbacher 5 bushel of corn @ 75 cents 3.75
John Defenbacher cask flax seed 1.70
John Defenbacher cask flax seed .77
Henry Miller 3 1/2 cask with --- @ 1.04 bu. 3.64
Philip Eshbach iron kettle .55
Sollomon Eshbach two casks .31
Samuel Pegg 5 acres of wheat @ 8.60 43.00
Philip R. Snyder 5 acres of wheat @ 8.80 44.00
Solomon Menges 5 acres of wheat @ 8.50 42.50
Jacob Johnston 5 acres of wheat @ 8.00 40.00
Samuel Pegg 5 acres of wheat @ 8.00 40.00
Jacob Johnston 5 acres of wheat @ 8.00 40.00
Solomon Menges the remainder @ 8.00 per acre (2 acres & 50 perches) 18.50
Wm Lafferty 10 bushel of buchwheat @ .50 5.00
Wm Lafferty the remainder @ 60 cents per bushel - 20 bushel 12.00
George Ritter 1 1/4 bushels dry apples @ 1.85 2.31
Sallomon Eshbach sider barrel .30
Adam Stitiel sider barrel .50
Archibald Christy sider barrel .89
Archibald Christy sider barrel .52
Adam Stitel large --- with .75
George Ritter tub of sundries .25
Philip Eshbach a --- .31
James Smith pickling tub .80
Adam Stetiel barrel cider 2.00
James Watters barrel vinegar 2.30
Philip Snyder Sr crock hog fat .82
Andrew Creamer crock hog fat .75
George Ritter crock hog fat 1.00
Joseph Hillgard crock hog fat 2.50
Sallomon Menges 4 bushels peotates @ 34 cents 1.36
Daniel Jarrett 6 bushels peotates @ 37 cents 2.22
Henry Linebach wool sheets 2.91
John Watts frying pan & jig .15
John Linebach bake iron .77
George Ritter jugg .35
John Menges jugg 20
George Ritter jugg .20
Jacob Marshall 27 3/4 yds linnin @ 35cents 9.71
Conrad Menges one sifter .79
Jacob Johnston a sifter .62
Wm Heslet --- .28
Robert Shaw --- .60
Henry Stahl two --- .18
Henry Stahl oil bottles --- .06
Henry Linebach oil bottles --- .16
Henry Linebach split basket sundries .60
Peter Reader saussage knifes .80
John Watt spinning wheel 2.00
Conrad Menges side saddle 4.15
Sollomon Menges 11 3/4 yds linnin @ 36 cents 4.23
Conrad Menges 2 bear skins 2.60
Andrew Creamer bunch woolen yarn .66
Sollomon Menges bunch woolen yarn
Peter Reader wagon cover 2.00
Conrad Menges brown mare 40.50
Sollomon Menges --- oil stone .50
Sollomon Menges shaving box & razor .40
Andrew Vincent tin bucket .30
Wm Heslet Sr clock & case 53.00
Andrew Creamer a slate .25
Peter Rotenbach 3 bread baskets .31
Andrew Young 6 1/2 yds linnin @ 36 cents 2.25
Andrew Young 8 yds linnin @ 36 cents 2.88
Christian Gosh 11 1/2 yds linnin @ 54 ents 6.21
Sollomon Menges 11 1/2 yds linnin @ 59 cents 6.78
Sollomon Menges 12 3/4 yds linnin @ 60 cents 7.65
Christian Kime 12 3/4 yds linnin @ 69 cents 8.79
Wm Robertson one sifter .13
Sollomon Menges one prayer book .25
Sollomon Menges one prayer book 1.20
Sollomon Menges one psalm book .50
Sollomon Menges one psalm book .50
John Menges one German bible 1.00
Wm Heslet Sr one old German book .25
Sollomon Menges one prayer book .20
Wm Heslet Sr one ABC book .20
Wm Heslet Sr one blue strait coat 3.00
Conrad Menges two books .75
Conrad Menges great coat 3.00
Sollomon Menges 4 linnin shirts 2.00
Sollomon Menges 2 pairs woolen hose @ 25 cents .50
Mary Menges one flecked cow 12.00
Mary Menges one red heffer 11.00

VENDUE II of JOHANN CONRAD MENGES ESTATE

A list of the goods sold at the vendue held the first day of December, 1813 by the executors of the will of Conrad Menges, deceased.

Wm Heslet two baggs .30
Andrew Fergeson baggs @ 75 cents 2.25
Andrew Fergeson 5 bagg @ 87 cents 4.85
Wm Heslet one bed case 1.25
Wm Heslet one bed sheet 1.30
Wm Heslet one bed sheet .91
Andrew Fergeson one bed sheet .75
Solomon Menges ten cloths @ 38 cents 3.42
Jacob Menges one basket sundries .87
Solomon Menges a plate with knife and fork .55
Solomon Menges coffee pot & old pot .11
Andrew Fergeson four knifes & forks .88
Solomon Menges 2 erthan dishes .40
Solomon Menges 3 erthan dishes .50
Solomon Menges 3 erthan dishes .15
Jacob Menges 6 pewter spoons .35
Solomon Menges 4 pewter spoons .20
Solomon Menges one pewter bason .76
Mary Menges one pewter bason 1.85
Jacob Menges one pewter plate .26
Jacob Menges one pewter plate 1.60
Andrew Fergeson sausage filler .35
Christian Long sausage filler & strainer .30
Solomon Menges tin dish --- .45
Solomon Menges 4 pewter plates 1.00
Solomon Menges one pewter bason --- bowl 1.40
Michael Gower one pewter dish .90
Mary Menges one pitcher .26
Wm Heslet one pewter dish .86
Jacob Menges one pewter dish 1.15
Anthony Eshbach cups & saucers & 2 plates .12
Conrad Menges jug & crock .12
Michael Gower coper tea kettle 2.00
Jacob Menges 3 croks .20
Peter Leader one iron pot with iron lid 1.50
Peter Leader in --- .12
Anthony Eshbach tin cup .12
Anthony Eshbach iron pot .50
Michael Gower one table cloth .75
Michael Gower one hand towel .25
Jeremiah Tklen one hand towel .26
Michael Gower one hand towel .25
Michael Gower one table cloth .50
Anthony Eshbach one table cloth 1.16
Michael Gower one bed sheet .75
Wm Heslet one bed sheet 1.27
Wm Heslet one --- basket .15
John Stahl iron ladle candlestick .59
Mary Menges piece sheet iron .07
Jacob Menges 233 1/4 acres 37 perches of land @ 57.00 13308.46
Solomon Menges one chest .70
Wm Heslet 8 1/2 # hard soap @ .13 1.07
Jacob Johnston 10 3/4 # hard soap @ .12 1.29
John Long one drawer .70
Mary Menges 5 # yarn @ .26 1.30
John Long 3 # yarn @ .12 .36
Adam Shank 10 yds. tow cloth @ .35 3.50
Agnes --- old chest .15
John Long 2 1/2 yds. to cloth @ .26 .63
Andrew Fergeson 10 yds. tow cloth @ .36 3.60
Solomon Menges 1 3/4 yds. tow cloth @ .33 .57
Jacob Johnston 1 1/2 yds. check @ .40 .60
Michael Gower 9 3/4 yds. linen @ .50 4.87
Solomon Menges 6 yds. linen @ .42 2.62
Agnes --- bed curtin .50
Solomon Menges mallet .25
Solomon Menges bag .15
Wm Heslet one bed sheet .73
Solomon Eshbach one bed sheet .66
John Stahl one bed sheet .75
Mary Menges 10 yds. linen @ .53 5.30
John Long 10 yds. linen @ .56 5.60
John Long 10 yds. linen @ .56 5.60
Jeremiah Jklin 8 1/2 yds. linen @ .56 4.76
Andrew Creamer crock with dry peaches .26
Conrad Menges 2 crock peaches .13
Solomon Menges 3 crock .26
Andrew Creamer 3 crock .40
Solomon Menges 2 1/2 yds. linen @ .30 .75
Anthony Eshbach old blanket .60
Jeremiah Jklin 1 1/2 yds. linen @ .30 .15
John Long 1 3/4 yds. linen @ .30 .53
Andrew Young 2 1/2 yds. linen @ .33 .82
John Long 7 yds. linen @ .36 2.25
Solomon Menges 7 yds. linen @ .35 2.45
Andrew Young old crock with dry peaches .90
David Hogs half bushel (basket?) .13
Nicholas Long old bee house --- .13
Wm Morrow bag hoops .25
Andrew Creamer 2 bee keeps .15
Wm Heslet basket with wool .20
John Eshbach dough trough .25
Andrew Young bag salt 1.53
Solomon Menges barrel 02
James Bennet harrow & thresh --- tree .05
Conrad Menges dung hook .30
John Long lot hay over cow stables .25
John Long lot hay in the board house .51
Andrew Young four sheep 9.00
Andrew Creamer corn in the crib 3.00
Andrew Creamer an ax .49
John Christ for a tomahawk? .35
James Dunbar one windsor chair .50
James Dunbar one windsor chair .50
Andrew Young a dresser .30
John Christ great coat 2.26
Solomon Menges great coat 2.26
Solomon Menges 2 croohot? knifes .03
Solomon Menges square dining table 3.62
Martin Ritter one chair .49
Solomon Menges one chair .50
Solomon Menges one chair .47
John Christ one file .50
John Christ one file .25
Wm Heslet 11 # bees wax @ .17 1/2 2.21
Solomon Menges wagon leathers .40
Robert Shaw 5 # bees wax @ .16 1/2 .88
John Christ 13 1/4 # bees wax @ .17 .25
Jeremiah Jklen one conch .17
Jeremiah Jklen one conch .15
Conrad Menges one glass bottle .14
Jeremiah Jklen one glass bottle .12
Solomon Menges box with lasts .06
Jeremiah Jklen ink stand .03
John Christ box shoemaker tools 2.00
Robert Shaw one hundred sheaves oats 1.58
Wm Heslet 3 hundred sheaves oats @ $1.68 5.04
Wm Heslet 3 hundred sheaves oats @ $1.65 4.95
Solomon Menges 675 remainder hundred @ $1.62 10.93
John Christ reazor hone crooked knife? .25
Robert Shaw 10 rye straw per bundle @ .02 .20
John Christ the 30 remaining by bundle @ 1 1/2 cents .45
Solomon Menges 450 hundred board @ .40 1.80
Jeremiah Jklen 7 # beeswax @ 16 1/2 1.20
Solomon Menges lot of hay over cow stables 12.50