Johann (John) Wolfgang Odoerfer

Johann Wolfgang(John) Odoerfer, who came to this country from Germany, and started the Odaffers in the United States, died March 2, 1816, at the age of 71, when his youngest child with Elizabeth Rowe was 8 years old! His obituary was published in the Maryland Herald and the administrators for his estate were bonded on March 28, 1816.

His personal property was inventoried and appraised on April 3, 1816, and part of the original copy is shown below. Note he had shortened his name to John Oderfer.

A partial list of John Oderfer’s Personal Property upon death, March 3, 1816

A typed copy of the complete list of John Oderfer’s property, with words spelled as in the document is as follows.

An Inventory and appraisial of the personal property of John Oderfer Deceased taken this 3rd day of April, 1816 by Audrey Clissa and Peter Rough

• One Horse 30.00
• One Halter Chain 1.00
• 1 Black Cow 17.00
• 1 Brindle Cow 19.00
• 1 White Cow 20.00
• 7 Sheep and three …. 22.00
• Fourteen Hogs 36.00
• One Iron Kittle 1.00
• One Dutch Oven 1.50
• One Iron Pot 1.00
• One Old Pot 00.75
• One Small Cittle 00.50
• One Frying Pan 00.30
• One Small Pan 00.40
• One Paire of Holles 00.50
• Three Axes 3.50
• 1 Mall and too Wages 1.25
• Two old Tin Buckeds 1.00
• One Coffy Pot 00.30
• One … of Sadlas? 1.00
• Six Puter Dishes 3.50
• One Small Basin and a lot of old spoons 1.00
• One set of teacups and a croone chocks 00.50
• Four Boles 00.30
• Three White Plates 00.25
• Fourteen old crocks and three earthen dishes 1.00
• One lot of old tin cups 00.75
• Three bottles 00.50
• One lot of old ???? 00.75
• One Small Cabbig knive 00.25
• One lot of old tin ware 00.75
• Two old coffy stills 1.50
• One small cobard? 00.50
• One lot of old tin ware 00.50
• One Vinegar Bag 00.40
• One lot of old lizard baskets ? 00.60
• Five Sheets 6.00
• Three Table Clothes 2.50
• Some Striped Lyncy?? 1.40
• One Small old Ceverle?? 00.50
• Four Hand Towels 00.50
• One Cheast 4.00
• One Dito 3.50
• One Do? Tray 1.00
• One lot of Hemp? 2.00
• Five Old chairs 2.00
• One Hand Saw 00.75
• One lot of ordg ????? 1.50
• Five Lamps 00.75
• One lot of toe? yarn 2.50
• One Chock Rool?? 1.00
• One lot of Wole 2.00
• One box of Chock 00.25
• One Weaver Loom 8.00
• One Dito?? 5.00
• Nine Bread Weaver Gears? 11.25
• Nine Dito?? 10.75
• Two Spoling Wheels 2.00
• One Spool Rack and spools 1.70
• Seven Tourbels?? 1.00
• One lot of Tacleus?? 1.00
• Two Reels 00.50
• Four pairs of wever brushes 00.75
• One Worben gear?? 00.75
• Two Bauches 00.20
• One Cow ??? 00.10
• Two Pot Racks 2.00
• One set of knives and forks 00.75
• Cash on hand 15.50
• One Black Coat 4.00
• One Velved Jacked 2.00
• One Brown Coat 3.50
• One Cloathe Jacked 1.50
• One Ditto Coltern? 00.50
• One pair of overhalls striped 1.50
• Three pairs of stockings 00.60
• Three old shertz 1.50
• One pair of mittens 00.50
• Two pairs of lysee? overhalls 1.50
• One red handkerchief 00.30
• One white handkerchief 00.25
• One small red handkerchief 00.20
• One pair of cotton stockings 00.40
• One wool hat 00.50
• One paire of shoase 1.00
• One apron 00.25
• One Straw Bonnet 5.00
• One old Silk Bonnet 00.50
• One Ryding Coat 7.00
• One Camrick frock 5.00
• One Camrick Handkerchief 00.75
• One Black Handkerchief 00.25
• One White Handkerchief 00.11

Total $338.38

Debts due John Oderffer

• John Patterson? 11.65
• John Cushiva Ditto 6.90
• Adam Troup Ditto 3.60
• Henry ButterBough Ditto 27.46
• Henry James desperate Ditto 00.75

49.53

Washington County, to wit: On this 16th May 1816 came Henry Butterbaugh and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that this is a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the good and chattles of John Oderffer late of said County deceased, that hath come to his hands and possession at the time of the making thereof and that what hath since or shall hereafter come to his hands and possession he will return in an additional Inventory that he knows of no concealment of any part or parcel of the said deceased Estate by any person whatever, since that should he hearafter hear of any concealment or suspicion of concealment he will acquaint the Court therewith that it may be inquired into according to law. Certified by Leo Smoot, Regr.

One year later, on April 15, 1818, his estate, of $387.91 after expenses, was finally settled by Henry Butterbaugh (Puderbach), after a trip back to Germany. The money was distributed to his wife Elizabeth, and his living children at that time, Henry, Barbara, Mary(Anna Marie), John, Esther, Sarah, and Margaret. The widow received 1/3. The children received an equal share of 2/3.