My great-great-great grandfather Humphrey Hunt was a Revolutionary War veteran. In 1818, Congress enacted a pension for needy veterans. In order to apply, veterans were asked to provide details of who lived in their household and their general state of health, and a schedule of everything they owned. These applications, available from the Fold3 website, offer a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of regular people. Here's a transcription of Humphrey's application:
Living in the household:
Humphrey: Disabled in his hands, rheumatism renders him unable to work much
Peggy (wife), 49: For one year past scurged with debility and swelled feet, at present has the ague and fever
Peggy Lyon (daughter): An infirm widow and her two helpless children, cast upon his hands more than one year since
Humphrey (son) 19
Hiram (son) 17: Weakly
Sally (daughter) 15: Healthy
Almy (daughter) 12: Subject to fits
Eli (son) 10
Henry Dearborn (son) 8
John Sullivan (son) 4: Healthy
James Monroe (son) 2: Healthy
Schedule of Possessions:
100 acres land, mortgage of $350 to the State $1000.00
I Horse 20.00
2 Colts 30.00
4 Cows 50.00
40 Sheep & lambs 30.00
3 Sows & 21 pigs 12.38
8 Yearling calves 32.00
4 Sucking calves 8.00
6 Knives & forks .50
6 Spoons .54
6 Teacups & saucers .31
6 Plates .36
5 Milk pans .63
6 Old chairs 3.00
4 Barrels Pork 40.00
2 Barrels flour 7.00
3 Spinning wheels 3.00
1 Crane 1.50
3 Old tables 2.00
1 Chest with drawers 2.00
1 Tea kettle 1.00
1 Kettle .75
1 Mug .19
1 Sugar bowl .78
2 ? .38
2 Decanters & I tumbler .88
1 2-qt bottle .18
1 ? Bottle .13
1 Shovel & tongs 1.00
1 Wagon 30.00
2 Plows 12.00
1 Drag 3.00
3 Axes 3.00
3 Hoes 1.50
Total Value 1297.41
Debts:
To State of New York (principle on mortgage) 350.00
To Daniel M. Hunt in State of Ohio 174.00
To Labon Hoskins, Cayuga Cty 49.81
To John Mosher, Cayuga Cty 12.23
To Samuel Marsh, Cayuga Cty 10.41
To Joseph McCarty, Cayuga Cty 10.00
To Stephen Mosher, Cayuga Cty 4.50
To ? Delano 2.28
To ? Pitney 4.00
To Abram Baleau 75.00
To David Shank 4.00
To Ebenezer Bruchan 3.00
To Philip Winegar 20.77
To James Drood 140.00
Total 860.89
Note that with thirteen people in the household, they owned six spoons. When my kids complain about their poverty I remind them to read this again. The decision of the War Department was that Humphrey was not poor enough to qualify for the 1818 pension, which would have paid him $8/month. He continued to receive his original pension of $2/month.