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Martin married Eva Yeasley in January of 1799 & they had four children.
Martin's Will
In the name of God Amen, I, Martin Sheetz of Shepherdstown in the County of Jefferson and the State of Virginia being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind, do make this my last will and testament in manner following:
In the first place I desire my just debts to be paid and after payment of debts and funeral charges I assure and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Eva, 1/3 part of my estate, that is 1/3 the personal estate to her and her Heirs, forever, and 1/3 part of such real estate as I may be entitled to for and during her natural life and to the rest and residue of my estate of every description to be equally divided between my four children- Philip, Joesph, Jacob, and Daniel, to them , their heirs, and assigns forever and it's my desire and I hereby direct that the whole of my property , except such parts as my wife may desire to keep at the appraised value or acc't of her third, shall be as soon as convenient converted into money and put out to interest by my executors for the support and education of my children aforesaid.
I also desire that my children may be bound out to trades when they become old enough to choose, but the such choice to be approved by my executors. I hereby make and constitute my wife, Eva, executrix and my friend Jacob Haines executor of my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling all former wills be me made. In testimony whereof I have here write set my hand and seal this 4th day of December 1807.
Martin Sheetz died in January of 1808 at the age of 31. Until his death, he lived in his parent's house, which he owned one-third of. Some of the tools listed at Martin's estate sale below were undoubtedly tools he bought from his father's estate.
* Inventory of the Personal Estate
of Martin Sheetz, Deceased, and appraisal by the undersigned being duly
qualified. Order of Jefferson County 29th
January 1808 –
4 vices 21.29 Gun locks 21.75
6 gun locks 14.00 3 gun locks 3.75
2 pistol locks .67 2 pistol locks
and 3 plates of cocks 2.14
Screws and very good chargers
$1.50
1 pair unfinished pistols $12.00
4hand vices $1.50
175 rasps and files $29.49 1 rifle
leader $5.00
142 rasps and files with handles
$20.29
11 drawn saw blades $1.00
3 hand saws $2.00 4 drawing knives
$1.121/2 2 spoke shaves .75
62 chisels and gouges assorted
$3.00 5 bench hammers .75
3 pair pliers 2 pair nippers $2.50
2 pair shears $2.00
2 candle sticks $1.50 14 bullet
mold cherry and counter sink $3.85
Chisels and punches assorted $1.50
2 braces $1.50
3 anvil bows stock and drill $1.75
1 lot punches screwdriver $1.50
2 screw plates taps & breech
plated $2.25 2 stocks 7 screw plates $3.00
`1 stake, 1 horn $1.25 box and
contents .25 powder horn & shot pouch .75
1 upright drill 13 pieces $2.75
81/2 H wire 4 rifle barrels $10.70
1 smooth gun barrel 1 box old iron
$2.50 1 ox old files $2.00
1 oil stone .15 old brass $4.50 2
pistol barrels, 5 ¾ old copper $3.20
1 lot old iron 1 bottle varnish
$1.371/2 1 hold fast $3.60
Brass $16.25
2 pair shoe brushes $1.00 1
grindstone & frame $1.00
6 bottles oil ladz, 1 hand ax
$1.75 gun mounting patterns. 50
3 augers 3 bowes 1 bottle Aqua
Fortis $1.25 1 pair bellows
1 anvil $8.00 2 cast anvils $5.00
1 vice $6.00
1 lot old iron .75 smith tongs
hammer and lets $3.00
1 gun barrel float mandrel $1.00,
75 old files & iron .25
2 boxes old iron .25, 1 grindstone
& frame shop tub $2.50
232 maple & walnut gunstocks
$58.00, boring machine $10.00
350 bushels coals $21.00, 3
shovels $1.00, 1 frame saw $1.00
2 axes, 1 mattock $2.50, 11 short
walnut stocks $2.30
6 pair pistol stocks, 1 pair
skeets $1.25, 4 gun barrels .25
2 auger 3 chisels .11, 1 box and
contents 2 fish lines hooks $1.12 1/2
2 smoothbore guns $12.00, 1 small
cupboard .50
1 fish net $1.00, 1 mare saddle
bridals and halter chain .01
1 sow and pigs $4.00, 3 hogs
$8.00, 3 beehives $2.75
1 koop $2.50, 1 heffer $5.00, 1
grindstone $10.00
1 grindstone $4.00, 1 canoe $1.50,
1 fish net $4.00
1 pidging net $1.50, 1 ten plate
stove $14.00
2 fire buckets 1 coffee pot 1 tea
kettle 2 iron pots $4.00
1 bake oven 1 skillet 1 brass
shovel 1 bake iron $1.50
2 frying pans with feet 1 coffee
mill, 1 morter, 2 chafing dishes $2.75
3 ladels 1 scimmer 2 pewter dishes
1 bason 1 white dish $3.00
1 dresser $7.00, 1 negro boy $150.00,
1 large iron pot $2.50
2 wash tubs 1 bedstead 1 old
basket 1 tub 3 wire cages $7.08 ½
1 hoisting block, 1 chopping
bench, 1 backgammon table $6.25
5 pictures, 2 brass candlesticks,
3 scrivers, 6 Windsor chairs $16.60
1 tea table, 1 corner cupboard, 3
chairs, 2 leather buckets
1 table, 1 ten plate stove, 5
tight barrels, 2 ½ barrells $26.50
56 black bottles, 1 chest, 1 small
tub, 1 meat tub, 16 gal. gin $26.58
2 ½ bbl vinegar, 5 gal. whiskey
$29.00
2 rifle guns, 3 smooth rifle guns,
3 shot guns, 1 eating table $105.00
1 mockingbird cage, 1 feather bed
and steed and bedding $21.00
1 shot pouch and belt, 3 chairs, 1
chest, 3 Winsor chairs $5.75
1 desk bookcase, 6 vol.
Washington’s life and 2 razors and strap $39.75
2 feather beds, bedding and stead,
1 trunk, 1 chest $53.25
23 ½ bu. Corn, 1 bedstead, 4 old
barrels, 1 dough tray $12.84
6 bread baskets, 1 meal sieve, 1
electrifty machine .75
1 pair fire tongs and shovel, 1
ten plate stove, 1 pair steelyards $10.50
105 lb. pork, 1 pair saddle bags, baskets,
kegs and pitchers $942
1 old wheat barrel .75
512 feet maple plank $20.33, 23
bu. Wheat $15.33 1/3
2 bu. Salt $2.00, 1 lock $1.50, 1
graz hook .33 1/3’
The Berkeley and Jefferson Intelligencer
Jefferson
County Will Book Page 421
* Sale
of good and chattels of Martin Sheetz, deceased, on Friday 19 February 1808.
Jacob
Entler bought boring machine, 5 gun barrels, cherries, springs and hooks.
Sale
amounted to $1,713.95 ½.
William
Butz (?) for making Sheetz’ coffin at $3.25.
Paid
Rev. Mr. Matthews for preaching funeral sermon $2.00
Credit
of $600.00, being ½ part of $1,800.00.
Martin's wife, Eva, died in January 1809.
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Take-Down Fowler
(1) Henry Sheetz was the father of Hampshire County Gunsmiths, Frederick, Otho, Henry Jr., and Zebulon. Henry's son Michael was a gunsmith in Charles Town & his son was Jacob Sheetz of Hampshire County.
(2) Sheetz House Shepherdstown
Oh, well, while we are on the subject of fowling pieces:
Martinsburg Gazette August 24, 1843
Hope You enjoyed this post, BMS & JDM
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