What to Take on a Wagon Train

The following was extracted from pages 499-500
of Wayne County Kentucky Marriages and Vital Records, Vol. 2.
The list is what each person was allowed to take in the early wagon train migrations.
 

PER
150 lbs. of flour
25 lbs. of bacon
10 lbs. of rice
15 lbs. of coffee
2 lbs. of tea
25 lbs. of sugar
1/2 bushel died peas
1/2 bushel dried fruit
2lbs. soleratus (baking soda)
10 lbs. salt
1/2 bushel corn meal
1/2 small keg vinegar
pepper

CLOTHING PER PERSON:
Men:
2 wool shirts
2 wool undershirts
Women:
2 wool dresses
Both:
2 pair drawersv 4 pair wool socks
2 pair cotton socks
4 colored hankerchiefs
1 pair boots and shoes
poncho, broad rimmed hat

MISCELLANEOUS PER FAMILY:
rifle, ball, powder
8-10 gallon keg for water
1 axe
1 hatchet
1 spade
2 or 3 augers
1 hand saw
1 whip or cross-cut saw
1 plow mold
At least 2 ropes
mallet for driving picket pins
matches carried in bottles, corked

SEWING SUPPLIES:
(Placed in buckskin or stout cloth bag)
stout linen thread
large needles, thimble
bit of bee's wax
few buttons, buckskin for patching
paper of pins

PERSONAL ITEMS:
1 comb and brush
2 toothbrushes
1 lb. castile soap
1 belt knife
1 flint stone

COOKING:
Baking pan-used for baking and roasting coffee
mess-pan wrought iron or tin
2 churns - one for sweet, one for sour milk
1 coffee pot
1 tin cup with handle
1 tin plate, knives
1 coffee mill
(forks, spoons, per person)
1 camp kettle
fry pan
wooden bucket for water

BEDDING PER PERSON:
1 canvas
2 blankets
1 pillow
one tent per family

MEDICAL SUPPLIES:
Iron rust
rum and cognac (both for dysentary)
calomel
quinine for aque
epsom salts for fever
castor oil capsules
 
 

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Disclaimer:  The purpose of this Web Page is to share information for the purpose of research.  I have not proved documentation of all genealogy material, nor have I kept source notes as I should.  But I had lots of fun and met some great people along the way..

If you find any mistakes please contact the Web Page creator, Trisha Carden  , and I shall try to correct them.