Clues in the Inventory?

Does your ancestor’s estate inventory give an idea of his occupation? Many of us researching ancestors before the 1850 census don’t have a record that spells out an ancestor’s job. However, the record of your ancestor’s personal estate might give an idea as to his occupation. Keep in mind that there are some items that most households in 1830 had, so be careful drawing conclusions and compare your ancestor’s inventory to a few others just to see what items distinguish one from another.