What can an inventory after death on our ancestors can teach us?
Inventories after death are very interesting in genealogy.
What is an inventory after death?
From the old regime and until the end of the 19th century, an inventory after death could be requested by the heirs after the death of a loved one, he was not compulsory (unless the heir was a minor).
The notary or the bailiff then carried out the inventory of goods by browsing each room and opening each drawer of the house, before tackling the inventory of papers (contracts, debts, properties, etc.).
This document is like an instant photo of the possessions of your ancestor and he will tell you about his living conditions. The description of objects of their value (the prized) will immediately immerse you in his daily life.
Be aware that the inventories after death were not only intended for the richest people.
💡 Good genealogy idea
You can have an idea of what the property and furniture of your ancestors looked like by doing research on the museum sites of the region - As Sophie Boudarel did on her blog La Gazette des Ancests.
Where and how to find inventories after death?
These documents are available from the Departmental Archives, in the minutes of notaries (series E) or in the Funds of Jurisdictions of the Old Regime (series B).
To find an inventory:
Consult the control registers of the competent office acts at the territorial level
Note the date of the inventory and the jurisdiction of deposit
Look for jurisdiction in archive directories and locate the side of the article linked to the date of the inventory
In some regions, you can also directly consult the alphabetical table of inventories after death.
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