The Estate of William McCoy--Williamson Co TN

In September of 2022 I wrote an article about the estate of Wm McCoy of Williamson Co TN which you can find at https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2022/09/probate-records-of-william-mccoy.html.  It had listed a William Cook and several other known associates and in-laws of my Wm C Cook.  Today I found the final probate papers for Wm McCoy's estate.and this particular listing shows him as William C Cook which is further evidence that it was my 2nd Great Grandfather.  It took over 10 years to settle this estate.  Below is a transcription and re-creation of the estate's balance sheet from the probate papers. 

Date	The Estate of William McCoy
1838 Feby 14	To cash paid John W Miller	1.68	1840 Mar 29	By Cash recd for land sold	320.00
1839 Apr 27	To cash paid J Ransom J?	52.30		By Interest to 1 Jany 1849	168.16
1839 Apr 29	To cash paid Noah Putman	13.12
1839 Jun 12	To cash paid William C Cook	14.07
1839 May 11	To cash paid William Jackson	8.66
1839 May 20	To cash paid Hiram Putman	12.00
1839 Jun 5	To cash paid John Creek	8.73
1839 May 20	To cash paid Hiram Putman	28.50
1839 Aug 30	To cash paid John Landrum	5.62
1840 Jun 17	To cash paid W R Ransom	8.14
1840 Feby 8	To cash paid Blacky Thompson	19.93
1841 July 18	To cash paid Thomas Taylor	3.75
1840 Sept 23	To cash paid J. Ransome Jr.	8.34
1840 Feby 8	To cash paid James Thompson	12.94
1840 Jany 8	To cash paid W T. Baskett	5.94
1839 Sept 23	To cash paid Elizabeth Haynes	1.00
1839 May 7	To cash paid B C Ransom	21.41
1839 Apr 10	To cash paid John W Simpson	8.00
1840 Apr 30	To cash paid B C Ransom	6.75
1848 Dec 8	To cash paid M L Andrews	24.25
1848 Dec 8	To cash paid John Marshall	25.00
	To Balance due Adr. Settlement this day	24.46
	To interest upon Payment & balance	159.94
	To allowance to Administrator	25.00
	To Clerks Fees Making & Recording settlements	2.50
	Bal Due Estate 1 Jany 1849	95.13
		488.16			488.16

I find a balance in the hands of Samuel B Robison as administrator of William McCoy
deceased on the first day of January instant of ninety five dollars and thirteen cents

Witness my hand at office this 18 day of January 1849 L B McCormick


Sources:
"Minute Books(Civil & State) 1810-1965," Williamson Co TN Minute Book 1837-1845
v 9 p 172, imaged at FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-V3TH-7 : accessed 8 March 2024), IGN 8150669. Image 109 of 833.

"Tennessee Probate Court Files, 1795-1955,"  Williamson Co TN Probate and family records 1800-1899 McConnica, Mary-McLaughlin Dick, loose documents, Settlement of Estate of William McCoy; imaged at FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-8T4W-G?i=309 : accessed 8 March 2024), IGN 4750409, Image 310 of 2910.

Probate Records of William McCoy, Williamson Co TN Dist 25 resident

I found mention of a William Cook which is likely my 2nd Great Grandfather, William C Cook in the Williamson County Minute Books, Vol 9,  page 173.  The case is that of Samuel B Robinson  admin & c vs Ann McCoy & als (sic) and begins at the bottom of page 172.  My access to the records was via the microfilmed books which were filmed by the TN State Library and Archives in 1966 in a 19 reel set and digitized by FamilySearch which has made them available at their website FamilySearch.org.   Volume 9 of the Williamson Co TN Minute books can be found FamilySearch on the reel which contains v. 9-11 1837-1845(Film # 008150669).   The image is 109 of 833.

You can find records available to view online from home for Williamson Co TN and other areas by using the FamilySearch catalog.  Enter Place of interest and select availability online.  See my blog post on how to browse the unindexed records from a few years ago.

Samuel B Robinson was appointed the administrator of Wm McCoy's estate.  Wm McCoy died in 1836(Estate Sale Records date is 28th Sept 1836) however he is listed in years 1836,1837, and 1838 on the Williamson Co TN Tax list. Usually it will say "heirs of" on a tax list but it may be because his estate wasn't yet settled.  His probate is recorded in Williamson Co TN Will Book 7 pg 530 on Ancestry.  It appears that Wm died with more debt than he had the ability to cover without selling land which he owned.  Samuel was advised that it can be best settled by selling the land McCoy owned as one large lot rather than individual lots and he is petitioning the court to ask them to let him do this so he can settle the estate.

Reasons I believe this is my William Clifford Cook

• Two of William's brother-in-laws are listed among those who(like William) are owed money by William McCoy.
• Samuel B Robinson & William McCoy were residents of District 25 of Williamson Co TN.  
• District 25 is the area in which Wm C Cook is known to have lived 
• Joseph S Cook(over whose estate Wm C Cook was appointed admin) also lived in District 25 and is somehow related to Wm C Cook though their exact relationship has not yet been proven. Jos. S. Cook's probate documents put Wm C Cook in Williamson Co TN in Oct 1838.
• Jos S Cook and Wm C Cook are the only persons with the Cook surname that I have found within Dist 25 of Williamson Co TN during the time period covered.
• There are 4 others listed who are also Williamson Co TN Dist 25 residents:  Jackson, Hill, Patterson, and Ransom.

The case records provide me with more information to add to my page about residents of Williamson Co TN Dist 25.  I hope to also locate the notice from the newspaper about the sale mention within the case record.  I was able to find some additional records on William McCoy.  Below is the information I was able to gather from reading the Williamson Co TN court minutes of 26th July 1838. 

Samuel B Robinson admin &c

vs.

Ann McCoy & als

Be it remembered that this cause cam on to be again heard on the bill former order and report of the clerk which is in the words and figures following  The undersigned clerk & C to whom this cause stands referred by an interlocutory decree made  ___ at the present term of this civil reports that he has certain proof upon affidavit which is here with filed as to whether the land mentioned in the Pleadings? would sell for more in lots or whether it would sell for more or a better price if sold all together from which proof he is inclined to believe it would sell for a better price if sold all together as in one lot.  As to that part of said interlocutory decree which requires him to take an account with respect to the administration of the estate b the complainant as administrator aforesaid  he reports that he has on ???? the settlement of said administrator so  ? made with the  clerk of the county court of Williamson County in pursuance of an act of assembly in such case made and provided from which settlement it appears that there is due said administrator the sum of Twenty one dollars and ninety one cents

(page break --pg 173)

and that the personal estate is exhausted--and that there is still due and owing from said estate the following debts to wit:

To Thomas Black $25
To William Cook $12
To Nathan Jackson $5
To Benjamin Ransom $5
To Wm Putman $5
To Carson Patterson $10
To David McCoy $5
To Wm Hill $7
To I. Ransom $22
To James M Simpson $7
To S Mayfield $2.50
To Hiram Putman $35
amounting in total to $114.50(This total listed here is less than the one I arrived at when I did a total from this list.  I did double check the amount owed each person and believe I have all of those correct.  Not sure about his math but this appears to be what is written in the book)

and he further reports that from the best information and proof so to the probable value of land mentioned in the complainants bill that said land is worth from three to four dollars per acre all which is respectfully submitted   Jno W Allen From which being read & heard & not being excepted to is in all things confirmed and it appearing to the court that the personal estate of William McCoy dec'd has been exhausted by the administrating in the payment of bona fide debts of the --- --- estate pf said estate and that there still remain bona fide debts against said estate unpaid and it further appearing that it is necessary that the whole of said tract of land be sold for the purpose of paying said unpaid debts and that it is to the interest of the defendants & the creditors that the whole of said tract of land be sold in one lot.  It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by the court that the complainant Samuel B Robinson administrator as aforesaid sell the tract of land described in this bill at pulick sale to the highest bidder at Versailles in Williamson County giving forty days notice upon a credit of six and eighteen months and that he takes the bonds of the purchasers with two good freehold sureties for the payment of the purchase money and also ?  a lien on the land for the payment of the purchase money.  It is also ordered that the complainants advertise the time, place and terms of said sale in some publick news papers printed in the town of Franklin and that said Robinson make report to the next term of this court until when when(sic) all other matters are resolved??

 

Williamson Co. TN--Dist 25(1836-1840)--M-P

Over the past few years I've been studying Williamson Co TN Dist. 25 in hopes that knowing how the families were interconnected will help me to find a lead and break thru my Cook brickwall.  I've been using a spreadsheet to pull together my notes and information on this community so that I had somewhere to quickly look for notes on the families if they showed up in any other parts of my research. I'm publishing this to my blog in the hopes of finding other researchers interested in the area and time period that the information here might help.  This portion contains families who were living in or taxed in District 25 of Williamson Co TN during the years 1836-1840 whose surnames begin with M-P.  When possible I've noted connections in neighboring districts.  Simply put, there is a lot of overlap of families between Williamson Co TN Dist 25,  the Versailles and Eagleville area of Rutherford Co TN and Bedford Co TN Dist. 10(Rover). Also please note that anyone listed as NOT enumerated in District 25 should probably read not listed as Head of Household in Williamson Co. TN District 25.  They may be within another household OR they may not be enumerated at all within the district for a number of reasons. 

A-C           D-H            J-L           M-P           R-S           T-Z

Malone William(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Maxwell Robert(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837 & 1838)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

McBride Charles(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836 & 1837)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

McCowan James (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836,)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

McCoy William (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.--He dies in 1837 owing Wm C Cook, Wm Putman & Hiram Putman(among others)  His probate records can be found in the 1838 Probate Records of Williamson Co TN.  Samuel B Robinson is appointed the admin of his estate since he died without a will.

McDaniel William Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

McDowell John(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1839)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

McPeak Susan(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

O'Bryant:
O'Bryant Lewis (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
O'Bryant Owen (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
O'Bryant David Sr(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Owen John Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Paine W. Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Patterson:
Patterson Carson (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836 & 1837)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840. Married Cassie Carlton(daughter of Thomas Carlton and Nancy Wade Carlton. Brother In Law of Wade H. Carlton who married Sarah Putman.  These families later lived in Weakly Co. TN.
Patterson D W Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Patterson Hilary (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837, 1838, 1839) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840
Patterson Margaret (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836 & 1837)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Patterson Thomas (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836 & 1837)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Pope:
Pope Charles (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840
Pope Hardy Jr(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838) Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840
Pope Hardy Sr (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1838 & 1839)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840. There is a Hardy Pope on Bedford Co TN Dist. 10 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839.

Pope Quincy(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840. Also a Quincy Pope in Bedford Co TN Dist. 10 Tax List 1836

Portis Elijah G (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840

Potts Abner C. (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839) Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840

Potts Wesley (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Prince:
Prince Thomas (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1838)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Prince Mrs. Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840

Pryor John H (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1838)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Putman:
Putman Amos(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840. Amos is the brother of Jabel Putman who died in Williamson Co TN in 1835. Thomas Call married his daughter Hally Putman. A number of his line end up in Oregon Co MO.
Putman heirs Jabus/Jamin/Jabel (Admin Hiram Putman) (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)
Putman Jabez Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840. Son of Amos and nephew of my direct line Jabel/Jabez Putman.
Putman Hiram(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.  Son of Jabel & Nancy and a brother of my Elizabeth Putman Cook.  He is was over this father's probate.
Putman James F(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1838, 1839) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840

Putman Nancy(Dist 25 Tax List: 1839, 1839)  This is Nancy Putman, widow of Jabel Putman.  She is not enumerated in Williamson Co TN Dist 25.  I believe she is the older female listed within the household of Wm C Cook & his wife Elizabeth Putman Cook.  They are in Dyer Co TN in 1840 with Noah Putman(Nancy's son/Elizabeth's brother) next door   

Putman Noah (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1838, 1839) Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840. Son of Jabel & Nancy Putman.  Brother of my direct line Elizabeth Putman Cook.  I found him in Dyer Co TN in 1840 with brother in law Wm C Cook & family nearby
Putman William--It's difficult to sort the Wm Putman's out so I'm listing them by year

25th District Tax List 1836--there are two William L(or S) Putman entries

25th District Tax List 1837--

25th District Tax List 1838--William L(or S) Putman

25th District Tax List 1839--William L(or S) Putman

25th District 1840 Federal Census--William Putman  This entry is Wm Putman son of Jabel & Nancy.  

I believe the other William Putman was the son of Amos Putman.  Amos William went on to Weakley and Henry Co TN and others of that line to Missouri.

 Sources: 

• Tennessee, US, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895 https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2883/
• Williamson County(Tennessee) Tax Records 1800-1963) Tax records 1831-1845 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-V2HL?mode=g&cat=234786
• Tennessee State Library and Archives. Ancestry.com. North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Records, 1753-1931 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
• Nance, R. Fred, and John W. Nance. 1983. The history of Versailles, tenth district, and its people. Murfreesboro, Tenn. (P.O. Box 906, Murfreesboro 37130): Rutherford County Historical Society.
• "United States Census, 1840." Database with images. FamilySearch.

Bedford Co TN.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-921F?wc=31SJ-161%3A1588669927%2C1588669780%2C1588665902&cc=1786457

Rutherford Co TN  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB9-98FZ?wc=31SK-FMD%3A1588669927%2C1588669425%2C1588665902&cc=1786457

Williamson Co TN  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB7-4DT?wc=31S2-443%3A1588669927%2C1588667580%2C1588665902&cc=1786457

• Rover Historical Society. History of Rover and the 10th district of Bedford County: lest we forget the people and things in our corner of the world. Vol. I(1986), Vol. II(1999). Paducah, Ky: Turner Pub. Co.