This is one in a series of blog post about some old papers of the WALKER family, from Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland. See a list of these papers HERE.
This inventory, dated “August 1840”, appears to have been made following the death of John Walker (my paternal 3x Gt-Grandfather).
John was born in Kirkliston on 13th January 1772, and married Isobel Neil in May 1816. Following the death of his parents in 1817, John continued to farm at Hiddlefaulds, in Kirkliston parish, where his father had agreed a new 19 year lease in 1813.
It appears that at some point, during John Walker’s time, the family took on the tenancy of the neighbouring farm at Kilpunt. Post Office Directories from the time, still name “John Walker” as living at Hiddlefaulds, circa 1843, with a Mrs Keir at Kilpunt. But by the time of the 1851 census, John Walker’s son, James, is living at Kilpunt.
Early Ordnance Survey maps (available from the National Library of Scotland website) show Hiddlefaulds and Kilpunt in the 1850’s ;
(Click HERE for a modern Google Maps view of the same area.)
Here is a close-up of Hiddlefaulds from the 25 inch to 1 Mile map of the same date;
The document below appears to be the only evidence that I have for the date of John Walker’s death. So far I have been unable to find a tombstone for him, or for his wife, Isobel, who I believe died in 1860.
Please click on the images to see the scans at full resolution. Transcribed text appears in a Maroon colour below each scanned image. At the bottom I’ve made some notes about the document.
Cover; 
Transcription of cover;
Inventory and
Appraisment of
Effects on Hiddlefaulds
and Kilpunt which
belonged to the Late
Mr Walker
1840
=======
Page 1; 
Transcription of page 1;
Inventory and Appraisment of Effects on #
Hiddlefaulds and Kilpunt which belonged to #
the late Mr Walker farmer at Hiddlefaulds #
August 1840
| Dining Room | £ /s /d | |
| 1 | 7 Chairs at 5[.] | 1 /15 /- |
| 2 | 1 Dining table | – /15 /- |
| 3 | […] & […] | – /5 /- |
| 4 | 2 […] […] | – /3 /- |
| 5 | 2 Bottles with a little Whisky | – /8 /- |
| 6 | 12 Tumblers & 12 Glasses | – /10 /- |
| 7 | 3 […] pots & [set] of china | – /10 /- |
| 8 | 2 […] […] | – /1 /- |
| 9 | 2 salt dishes & 2 mustards | – /1 /6 |
| 10 | 6 Toddy Ladles | – /3 /6 |
| 11 | 1 [Doz*] small plates | – /1 /6 |
| 12 | 1 Jar with a little Whisky | – /2 /6 |
| 13 | Old […] | – /- /6 |
| 14 | A [looking] Glass | – /5 /- |
| 15 | A Barometer | – /6 /- |
| 16 | 2 [arnamentats] | – /7 /- |
| 17 | Carpet & Hearth rug | – /- /6 |
| 18 | Portrait | – /1 /6 |
| 19 | Chest of Drawers | 1 /10 /- |
| 20 | 2 [kinfe] […] | – /7 /- |
| 21 | [First] [bed] Room | |
| 22 | 2 [bed] [Ticks] | – /12 /- |
| 23 | 3 old chairs | – /5 /- |
| [carried forward] | £ 8 /10 /6 |
Page 2; 
Transcription of page 2;
| [First] Bed Room continued Brought over | £8 /10s /6d | |
| 24 | 1 Round Table | – /3 /- |
| 25 | [Basin] [Stand] [..] | – /1 /6 |
| 26 | [brumb] cloth | – /2 /- |
| 27 | A [Map] | – /2 /- |
| 28 | [Fishing] [roll] | – /- /3 |
| 29 | An old Wardrobe | – /6 /- |
| 30 | 2 Close beds | – /15 /- |
| Milk House | ||
| 31 | Milk House & dairy [utensils] | 1 /10 /- |
| 32 | 5 [Doz*] bottles | – /7 /6 |
| 33 | 1 load Oat meal | 2 /5 /- |
| Eastern Bed Room | ||
| 34 | 2 small boxes | – /3 /- |
| 35 | 2 knife boxes | – /2 /- |
| 36 | 4 old chests | 1 /10 /- |
| 37 | 20 [pair] home made Blankets |
5 /- /- |
| 38 | 20 – [shawers] (ditto) |
3 /10 /- |
| 39 | 40 [pair] sheets |
10 /- /- |
| 40 | 2 [Doz*] Towels |
– /3 /6 |
| 41 | 6 Table cloths |
2 /2 /- |
| 42 | Bed Tick with [Bobles] and Pillows |
– /12 /- |
| Servants Bed Room | ||
| 43 | 1 [common] [bell] with [curtains] |
– /9 /- |
| 44 | 1 old [B…] […] |
– /2 /6 |
| 45 | [B…] & [Chese] in [Ditto] |
– /4 /- |
| 46 | Trunk |
– /5 /- |
| 47 | Box |
– /2 /3 |
| 48 | 2 [sheets] of Wollen [fam] |
– /3 /- |
| 49 | 3 (ditto) Linen |
– /4 /6 |
| 50 | 2 (ditto) Tow |
– /3 /- |
| 51 | 2 old Band Bales |
– /9 /3 |
| 52 | 1 ” [Hardrefer] |
– /5 /- |
| 53 | 1 ½ [Doz*] [bottles] |
– /2 /3 |
| [carried forward] |
£39 /6 /- |
Page 3; 
Transcription of page 3;
| Servants Bed Room continued | £39 /6s /-d | |
| 54 | 2 pair Brass Candlesticks | – /7 /6 |
| 55 | 1 small Copper kettle | – /2 /6 |
| Parlour | ||
| 56 | old Sofa | – /3 /- |
| 57 | 6 old chairs | 1 /4 /- |
| 58 | […] cloth and Rug | – /3 /- |
| 59 | 1 small Mahogany Table | – /12 /- |
| 60 | 1 — Common — (ditto) | – /2 /- |
| 61 | [Grate] & [Fire] Irons | – /3 /6 |
| 62 | small round Table | – /1 /- |
| 63 | 2 [close] [Beds] | – /9 /- |
| 64 | 2 [Bed] [Ticks] with Bolsters & Pillows | – /18 /- |
| 65 | [Bed] covers | – /12 /- |
| 66 | [Tea] Trays | – /3 /- |
| Lobby | ||
| 67 | 1 Old eight day clock | 1 /- /- |
| 68 | A Gun | – /8 /- |
| 69 | 3 Saws | – /3 /6 |
| 70 | Old crockery | – /3 /- |
| 71 | 2 [Doz*] knifes & forks | 1 /7 /- |
| 72 | 2 ” kitchen spoons | – /4 /6 |
| 73 | 1 ” […] (ditto) | – /4 /6 |
| 74 | 1 ” silver Tea spoons | 2 /2 /- |
| 75 | 1 pair sugar Tongs | – /3 /6 |
| Horse Harness & Implements of Husbandry |
||
| 6 sets cart & Plough harness | 6 /- /- | |
| 1 set old harness | – /10 /- | |
| 1 […] & Riding Sadle | 1 /10 /- | |
| 2 Old [briads] | – /1 /6 | |
| Straw Barn | ||
| 1 […] chest | – /5 /- | |
| 14 Hoes | – /7 /- | |
| [carried forward] | £58 /16 /- |
Page 4; 
Transcription of page 4;
| Straw Barn continued | £58 /16 /- |
| 4 Rakes | – /3 /- |
| 2 [Forks] & 1 […] | – /3 /- |
| 1 Large Hammer | – /2 /- |
| 7 Bays with corn dust | – /10 /- |
| 30 Empty Bays | 2 /- /- |
| 3 Stands Hay Ropes | – /12 /- |
| 1 Old Thrashing Mill | 5 /- /- |
| 1 pair [Fanners] | 1 /5 /- |
| 2 [Thrashing] Tubs | – /6 /- |
| 1 [Firm] | – /- /6 |
| Boiler House | |
| 1 Boilers | 1 /5 /- |
| 3 [Grapes] | – /4 /6 |
| 1 Broken Table | – /- /9 |
| Live Stock | |
| 7 Work Horses | 77 /- /- |
| 1 Riding – (ditto) | 18 /- /- |
| 4 Milk Cows | 36 /- /- |
| 4 – [2] year old [stots] | 42 /- /- |
| 15 – Milk calves | 9 /- /- |
| 2 – 1 year old (ditto) | 3 /- /- |
| 2 – 1 year old colts | 14 /- /- |
| Kilpunt | |
| Manure in Court Yard | 6 /- /- |
| 3 Broad Swine | 2 /5 /- |
| 16 pigs | 4 /- /- |
| 2 [..akes] | – /2 /6 |
| 1 Turnip barrow | – /4 /- |
| 1 Thrashing Mill | 30 /- /- |
| 1 Pair [Tanners] | 3 /10 /- |
| [N..les] & other Barn utensiles | – /15 /- |
| 6 [blon] Carts | 27 /- /- |
| 3 Pair wood Harrows | 1 /7 /- |
| [carried forward] | £344 /11 /3 |
Page 5; 
Transcription of page 5;
| Brought forward | £344 /11 /3 |
| 3 Wood Ploughs | 2 /2 /- |
| 1 Iron Plough | 1 /10 /- |
| 1 Grubber | 1 /1 /- |
| 1 Wheel barrow | – /4 /- |
| 3 Thraw crooks | – /1 /6 |
| 2 Stone Rollers | 1 /5 /- |
| 3 Ladders | – /9 /6 |
| Old Straw | 2 /10 /- |
| 1 Water Barrel | – /7 /6 |
| Manure at Hiddlefaulds | 2 /5 /- |
| 2 Hand barrows | – /2 /4 |
| 5 Geese | – /10 /- |
| 1 [Doz*] [Fowls] | – /15 /- |
| 1 old cart frame | – /2 /6 |
Growing Crops at Hiddlefaulds, and Kilpunt_
| 14 Acres | Barley | 84 /- /- |
| 11 “ | Oats | 88 /- /- |
| 11 “ | Turnips | 99 /- /- |
| 8 “ | Oats | 68 /- /- |
| 8 “ | Barley | 60 /- /- |
| 2 “ | [Tares] | 10 /- /- |
| 4 “ | Potatoes | 38 /- /- |
| 10 “ | Wheat | 80 /- /- |
| 7 “ | (ditto) | 66 /3 /- |
| 2 “ | (ditto) | 18 /- /- |
| 7 “ | Barley | 64 /15 /- |
| 5 “ | Oats | 37 /10 /- |
| 1 | Old Bean Stalk | 3 /- /- |
| 4 | Loom Carts | 4 /4 /- |
| £1078 /8 /7 |
[Gwrril]
Page 6; 
Transcription of page 6;
[I] [wrrie] 31st August 1840. All the articles #
writen upon the Five preceeding pages have #
been inspected and appraised by me #
licenced Auctioneer here, for the purpose of #
asertaining the legacy duty, and to the #
best of my Judgment this is a fair #
valuation amounting to One Thousand #
and Seventy eight pounds eight shillings and #
seven pence Sterling.
Robert Gray.
Notes;
- * “Doz” ; I think means a “dozen” (or 12).
The only item in this inventory that I believe I can identify with any certainty is the “Old eight day clock”, in the Lobby (no.67, on p.3). I can’t confirm the age of this clock! But it is said to have been passed down the Walker family line since William Walker (who married Elizabeth Barron in 1728).
A Family History Blog 