Crumbs from a Probate Packet and the makings of a citing nightmare...

My original intent in this post was to a small bit of information from the Lemuel Manier & heirs probate packet(ie. info on his daughter, Minerva's divorce).  Trying to cite it has me pulling my hair out as there are so many contradictions in the source listing.  The key, I feel, is to give directions on how to find that source again.

For what is is worth, Here is what Ancestry puts on the Record file as the source information & citation.

Source Citation
Probate, Divorce and Original Wills Records, 1800-1899; Author: Tennessee County Court (Williamson County); Probate Place: Williamson, Tennessee

Source Information
Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Original data: Tennessee County, District and Probate Courts.

When viewing the images themselves below is the header you see if you view from the TN Wills & Probate search results.

Image  2976 of 2992  contains the following information giving clues about divorce of Minerva O Hays.

This case was on the 20th day of Dec 1875 heard on the petition of Minerva O Hays and the proof in the case from which it appears to the satisfaction of the court that since the making of the decree in this cause and the appointment of William Ralston as Trustee for Minerva O Hays she has been divorced from her husband and is now a feme sole and there is no longer any necessity of retaining Wm Ralston in the office of Trustee and her estate in his hands as such trustee.  Thereupon the court decrees that William Ralston as trustee deliver up and surrender to Minerva O Hays all of her effects in his hands take her receipt therefore and produce a file of such receipt in this court and upon his so doing that he be discharged from the office of trustee and be relieved from all liability as such.  The court decrees that she pay the cost of this.

Proof of divorce is given under oath by statement from Chelsey Williams(18th Dec 1875)
Who answers that her family of sons stated that she was divorced from him in Columbia, Maury Co TN in 1874 or the first part of 1875. (Image 2951 of 2992)




Truly frustrating because when you attach the document to the persons mentioned it shows up on your sources it could be Tennessee, Divorce and Other Records, 1800-1965. or  Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008 as the Probate packet has two entry points. The majority of the files in these at least for the Williamson Co TN appear to be probate matters. So while you see two search results for  Lemuel Manier one in the TN Divorce and another in the Probate they are the same content. If you hadd it as a source while you are viewing thru TN Divorce then it will be misleading.

Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008 

database and digital images

Ancestry.com Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 June 2017

Williamson Probate and Family Records, 1800-1899, McLaughlin, James-Manire, John

The easiest way to find it is search on Lemuel Manier 1837 Williamson Co TN

The will of Lemuel Manier & heirs file covers Images 2867 - 2984

The file folder itself says it covers 1837-1865.  Not so, obviously because Minerva's divorce is in 1875.  

The card indexing which probably took place during the WPA time frame (1935-1943)

gives a somewhat better picture of the contents.

I have plenty of ideas for blog posts from the information I have obtained in this my 3rd Great Grandfather's probate file.  More on content and less on the frustration in citing it. Onward!