I very much suspect that, at least in the instances I have seen, the failure to list guns was because almost universally those were taken from the house by men of the family before any appraisers came by. Virtually every man owned a gun, especially those on the frontier or out near the edge of settlement, and those were prized possessions. They owned those for many reasons other than the perceived (but largely non-existent) threat from American Indians, namely because of the need to kill bears, wolves, coyotes, foxes, bears, "painters", wild hogs, and those other animals and people who would intrude on their homes or families, and also to kill game food which was EVERYWHERE and universally eaten ! ----- Original Message ----- From: sara5d To: Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 1:36 PM Subject: Inventories Paul, Nan and Listers I have seen very few inventories associated with wills, but those that I have, never mention rifles, shotguns, hand guns, firearms of any type. I would think firearms would be a necessity for the farming life. Not so?? Any ideas? Sara ==== OHPICKAW Mailing List ==== OHGenWeb Pickaway County, Ohio Website: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohpickaw/ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.22/97 - Release Date: 9/12/2005