Probate Records Revisited: New Discoveries on the Second Pass

Almost two years ago I blogged about some finds I made while reading thru the images for Franklin Co NC Will Book C at FamilySearch. I now have a copy of Franklin Co NC Will Books A, B & C 1785-1812 which contains abstracts by Dr. Stephen E Bradley, Jr. The book was originally published by ColonialRoots  publishing but is now a part of the selection of books available at Heritage Books Inc Looking thru the index of the published book I located two items of interest that I had missed on my readthrough.

1.  In the inventory and sale listing of Drewry Jones, Pope Cook is listed as having purchased 1 looking glass.

Source:
Franklin Co. North Carolina, Wills, Inventories, 1804-1812, Vol C, p 57, Inventory & sales of Drewry Jones estate; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZDS-F : accessed 16 Oct 2025), IGN 4755060, image 135 of 630.

2.  The inventory of Harbert Hight's estate records the division of the Negroes he enslaved. In that record it states that Goodman Smith on behalf of his wife Molly drew lot which contained Louis valued at $400. This is of interest to me because I found a record of Wm P Cook selling an enslaved man named Louis in 1821 Maury Co TN.  There is a great deal of interactions between the Smiths, Harrisons ,and Hights and while this could be a coincidence, it's  something I want to keep in mind especially since there are many of them among my family's DNA matches from our paternal side.

Source
Franklin Co. North Carolina Wills, Inventories, 1804-1812, Vol C, p 180, Division of Negroes Harbert Hight estate;  images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZND-9 : accessed 16 Oct 2025), IGN 4755060, image 383-4 of 630.

Another Court Record --Williamson Co TN Hamer Family

Another court record with more information about the Hamer descendants.
The case: T.K Barnes et al - vs - A.D. Redmond et al.

From the court minutes:

Robert Cook, is the only one of all the parties in interest who appealed from the decree of the Chancellor. His appeal, did not of course, disturb the decree in so far as the interest of those persons to whom intestate was of kin through her father were concerned, but his appeal did bring up for review the whole decree in so far as the interests of those who were of kin through her mother to the intestate were concerned. 

Because there were funds to be divided, relationships had to be stated to calculate each person's share.
Information in italics was not stated in the court record, but are additional notes from my research.

See also my previous post which includes an earlier case concerning the Hamers. This reminds me that often it took many years for probate to be settled. Repeated use of
the same given names in several generations and multiple marriages into the Barnes and Redmond families by the Hamers also add to the confusion.
Descendants of Reece Hamer:
James Hamer(son)
Mrs. Arkie Redmond(daughter)
Robert Lee Cook(grandson of Reece Hamer through Mary S Hamer Cook)
Romie Hamer(grandson of Reece Hamers through Lundy Hamer)

8 Children of Leander S. "Lee" Hamer:
Adeline Watson
Harris Hamer(married Mary Redmond-both buried at Mt Olivet Cem Davidson Co. TN)
Louisa Redmond(Lemisa, named after her paternal aunt--buried at Mt Olivet Davidson Co TN)
John Hamer
Kate Hamer
Amanda Hamer
Montgomery Hamer
James Hamer

Sources:

Williamson Co Tennessee, Chancery Court Minutes, Vol 3, 17 March 1913, p 144-5, T.K. Barnes et al -vs- A.D. Redmond et al; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-N3CK-L9YT-1 : accessed 21 February 2025), IGN 8664025, Image 105 of 666.

"Public Member Trees" database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/77121678/person/322317754126/facts : accessed 24 February 2025)
"Cooke Luna" family tree by Marie Cooke Beckman, profile for Harris Hamer(1 Jun 1793- 31 Oct 1858).

Documents from Wm G Hight's estate--Franklin Co AR

More documents from William G Hight's probate in Franklin Co. Arkansas

Franklin County, Arkansas Administrator's and guardian's sett. 1876-1904 p 200

FamilySearch IGN 007713660 Image 191 of 797

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B7-RJVY?i=190&cat=616228 

W G Hight Est. I. L. Hight admin
1881
Jany    17     Taking Bond & granting Letters ---------------------1.75
1881
Febry Term    Order Affirming bond 10 Index 10 Docketing 10  .30
"      "     Filing petition of Sarah A Hite 10 order 10 ---------------.20
"      "     Indexing 10 Affidavit to petition 10 -----------------------.20
"      "     Filing claim of S. R. Chew & Bro -------------------------.10
"      "     Affadavit to claim 25 Order 20 Index 10 ------------------.55
"      "     Transcribing to List of claims book ------------------------.20
"      "     Order to sell property 10 Indexing order 10 ---------------.20
"      "     Filing Inventory 10 Affidavit 10-----------------------------.20
Nov Term Docketing 10 Filing claims of Mack McFadden 10---- .20
"      "     Order allowing claim 20 index 10 Transcribing 20--------.50
"      "     Filing claim of Quesenberry & Co. 10
              Order allowing claim 20 ---------------------------------------.30
"      "     Indexing order 10 Transcribing claim 20--------------------.30
"      "     Filing claim of W S Hewitt 10
               Order allowing claim 20 --------------------------------------.30
"      "     Indexing order 10 Transcribing claim 20 --------------------30
"      "     Filing claim of D M Cloud 10
              Order allowing claim 20 ---------------------------------------.30
"      "     Indexing order 10 Transcribing claim 20 --------------------.30
"      "     Filing claim of J B Harris 10
              Order allowing claim 20 ---------------------------------------.30
"      "     Indexing order 10 Transcribing claim 20 --------------------.30
"      "     Filing claim of W.W. Jennings 10 affidavit 25---------------.35
"      "     Indexing 10 Order allowing claim 20
             Transcribing 20 ---------------------------------------------------.50
"      "     Filing claim of John H Rose 10
              Order allowing claim 20-----------------------------------------.30
"      "     Indexing Order 10 Transcribing Claim 20 --------------------.30
"      "     Filing Sale Bill 10 Order 10 Indexing 10----------------------.30
"      "     Recording Sale Bill------------------------------------------------.62
1882
Feb Tern Docketing 10 Filing Acct let No.1 10--------------------------.20
"      "     Filing Vouchers 10 Order Filing Acct 10 ----------------------.20
"      "     Indexing 10 Advertising 20 Printers fee 32 -------------------.52
May 2     By Each " " --------------------------------------------------------------15.10
May Term Docketing 10 Filing claim of G W Ivy 10 ------------------.20
              Order allowing claim 20 Indexing order 10 -------------------.20
"      "    Transcribing to list of claims book ------------------------------.20
"      "    Filing claim of L R Helms 10 Order 20 ------------------------.30
"      "    Indexing 10 Transcribing claim 20 30
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------$ 12.99 $ 15.10
Forwarded To Page 246

Franklin County, Arkansas Administrator's and guardian's sett. 1876-1904 p 246
FamilySearch IGN 007713660 Image 216 of 797
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B7-RJGF

W G Hight Est. I L. Hight admin From Page 200
1882
May Term To amt brought forward -------------------------------------12.99
"      "    By " " " ----------------------------------------------------------------------15.10
"      "    Order confirming 1st Acct Let. 10 Indexing 10 ----------------.20
"      "    Recording Acct -----------------------------------------------------.38
"      "    Filing final acct 10 affidavit 10 -----------------------------------.20
"      "    Order 10 Indexing 10 Filing Voucher 10 ------------------------.30
"      "    Advertising 20 Printers fee 29 ------------------------------------.49
Aug "   Docketing 10 Order Confirming acct 10 -------------------------.20
"      "    Indexing 10 Recording 15 -----------------------------------------.25

Additional entries
Administers Settlements 1878-1898 p 174
Film # 007713660 Image 391 of 797
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B7-RJ92

Administers Settlements 1878-1898 p 180
Film # 007713660 Image 394 of 797
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B7-RJ9F

See Also:  Wm G Hights Next of Kin list 1881

Pope Family Documents Name Granville Co. NC and Williamson Co. TN Enslaved

Osborn Pope, born before 1755 if we believe his age from the 1800 US Federal Census of Granville, wrote his will on 3 April 1811.  His will was recorded in Granville Co North Carolina in the February term of 1812. In the Index for Granville Records under Jane Nicholson's entry, it is listed as being recorded Feb 1818 however, the record itself shows that it was recorded in February Term of 1812--another reason to seek out earlier and original sources. Within the will are the names of some enslaved with details on what should happen  after his death. See will at the site listed in the citation below.

"Granville, North Carolina, United States records," Osborne Pope Will, Feb. Court 1812, Will book Vol 7, p 229;  images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GW-Y9C5-R : accessed Mar 29, 2024), image 245 of 710; IGN 007639740.

In addition to the will recorded in Granville County, North Carolina there was also a case filed in  Williamson Co Tennessee which focused on that probate file in the years 1825 & 1826.  If you have worked in Williamson Co TN Probate you know there was an attempt to index and contain files in folders with a listing on index cards which was meant to be somewhat of a summary of the folders contents.  While this was done with the best of intentions, it is still necessary to examine each document.  There are at least 2 cases I know of in my own research where persons of the same name have been combined into one folder without any notation which makes it appear that the documents were all for ONE person. I would caution researchers when they use this set to exam each document with this in mind.  I have contacted the archives clerk and asked them to include a notation when I found this had occurred once I sorted out which documents belonged to each of the same named persons.  That said, this Osborne Pope file is a full of information for anyone researching persons enslaved by the Granville Co NC Pope Family.  It mentions the names and ages of the children of the enslaved that have been born between the time period of 1812 and 1825.

"Tennessee Probate Court Files, 1795-1955," Probate Folder Osborne Pope(of Granville Co., NC), images, FamilySearch

(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-2F3C-G2 : accessed 29 March 2024), Williamson > County Court, Probate, divorce & family records > 1800-1899 > Pewitt, Joel - Potts, Mary Ann > image 2340 of 2960; IGN # 004727159.

Will of Lemuel Cook of Wake Co. NC 1864

I, Lemuel Cook of the county of Wake in the state of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory, do this 23rd day of July 1863 make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows.

Item One I lend unto my wife Amelia Cook all my household furniture of every description during her natural life and at her death I give and bequeath said furniture to my son W L Cook

Item Two  I give and bequeath to my wife Amelia the interest in all the money and bonds I have during her life to dispose of as she wishes

Item Three I give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly A Terrell one dollar in cash

Item Four I give unto and bequeath to my son John P Cook one dollar in cash

Item Five I give and bequeath the balance of my estate consisting of bonds and money after the death of my wife Amelia Cook to my two children Eliza J Dunn and William L Cook to be divided equally between them share and share alike to them and their heirs forever

Lastly, I nominate and appoint my son W L Cook executor to this my last will and testament to execute and perform every part and clause thereof according to the true meaning and interest thereof. In testimony thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal Signed, sealed, and acknowledged in the presence of

John R Dunn
W B Smith

Lemuel Cook(seal) 

Recorded in Book  "J J" Page 172  February Term 1864

Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line]
images 734-736 of 1929] Wake --- Original Wills, Cameron, Francis Hawks - Dupree, Obidiah P
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9061/
Will of Lemuel Cook of Wake Co NC date 1864
Marie's Notes:  This Lemuel Cook appears to be the son of John Cooke & brother of  John R., Gilly,  and Joseph.  Lemuel and Amelia Marriot married in September of 1830 in Wake Co. NC.(see source below)

"North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-894X-3SGN?cc=1726957&wc=QD8P-DRY%3A1588773185%2C1588773467 : 22 December 2016), Wake > Marriage bonds, 1770-1868, vol A-C > image 3553 of 3977; North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History.

Will of John Cooke of Wake Co NC date 1814

Will of John Cooke of Wake Co NC date 1814

Written March 22nd 1814  Proved May Term 1814

In the name of God amen John Cooke of Wake County North Carolina being of sound mind and memory blessed be God do this 22nd of March 1814 make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say

First I give to my beloved wife Hannah Cooke,  my Negroes-- Dinah, Pompey, Willis, Tom, Ily, Arington, and Joe also my right in land whereon I live together with Smith and Burnett tracts during her life that is to stay the land for life the Negroes to dispose as she might think properly

Item two I give to my wife all my perishable estate after paying all my just debts out of it
Item three I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Cooke my negro girl Nelly as a special legacy.
Item four I give and bequeath to my daughter Gilly Hopkins and her heirs my negro girl Abby and my will farther is that my wife make my children equal in number of Negroes and of equal value as near as possible and that the special legacy given to my son Joseph shall not be considered in the aforementioned dividend but as an extra legacy and I hereby make and order my beloved wife Hannah Cooke, Lemmuel Cooke, Joseph Cooke executors of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this day and year first above written.

John Cook (Seal)

signed sealed and published by the testator in presence of us

Witnesses:
Hugh Goodloe
Moses Winston
Benj Boon

Wake County May term 1814

The foregoing last will and testament was in open court duly proven by the oaths of Henry Goodloe and Moses Winston subscribing witness has thereunto and order to be recorded in the clerk's office of Wake County in book M page 238 June 4th 1814

Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line images 722-725 of 1929] Wake  --  Original Wills, Cameron, Francis Hawks - Dupree, Obidiah P
Will of John Cooke of Wake Co NC date 1814
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9061/

Marie's Notes:  Please see original as this may contain errors and some liberties were taken with the formatting to make it more readable

I believe this is John Cooke, husband of Hannah Winston.  This John is thought to be the son of Shem Cooke(d. abt 1796 in Granville Co NC)  More research is necessary.  I have a few more wills of this John Cooke's descendants which I will try to get on the blog as soon as I can.  Adding the witnesses to  "FAN club" for John Cooke.

Enslaved from Probate Records of Newton Cannon--Williamson Co. TN 1841

Two listings of enslaved negroes found in the inventory portion of the probate file of Newton Cannon which was filed in 1841 at Williamson Co TN. 

List from Nashville & Williamson place(45)--There were two different copies of this list so I compared them as they were in the same numerical order and consulted both when one was hard to read-- See image 23 & image 39 of the source.

1 Jacob 38 years
2 Tabby sickly 40 years
3 Jacob 9 years
4 Mitchel 5 years
5 Frierson 6 months
6 Eliza 3 years
7 Jim Cole 50 years
8 Lucy 32 years
9 Hezekiah 6 years
10 Henderson 1 year
11 Hatty 8 years
12 America 4 years
13 Mary 23 years
14 Henry 2 years
15 Emily 6 years
16 Carmella 4 years
17 Jo 23 years
18 Polly 20 years
19 Simpson 4 years
20 Howard 2 years
21 Nathan 4 months
22 Hal 63 years
23 Miles 55 years
24 Ailsey 48 years
25 Washington 3 years
26 Miles 10 years
27 Edmond 33 years
28 Dan 19 years
29 John 23 years
30 Malinda 16 years
31 Tipton sickly 10 years
32 Julia 38 years
33 Fanny idiot & deformed 20 years
34 Jack 57 years
35 Kitty 38 years
36 Malissa (Rickety)  2 years
37 Elizabeth 22 years
38 Jim Westley 7 years
39 Letitia 20 years
40 Lunah 15 years
41 Mary 13 years
42 Minerva 17 years
43 Martha 12 years
44 Emeline 12 years
45 Aaron 24 years

Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008 [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9176 : accessed 4 February 2019]  > Williamson > Probate and Divorce Records, 1800-1899 > Cannon, Mary-Carter, D Ruth > images 23& 39 of 2964.

List from Randolph & River Farm formerly owned by Jones(74)--There were two different copies of this list so I compared them as they were in the same numerical order and consulted both when one was hard to read-- See image 23-24 & image 40-41 of the source. (Total number is actually 75 due to math and logic error of administrator)

1. Named Age(sic)
2 Peter 50 years
3 Sarah 40 years
4 Jackson 20 years
5 Ruth 18 years
6 Bob 15 years
7 Rhody 8 years
8 Frances 6 years
9 Lina 4 years
10 Nancy Jane 2 years
11 Dianna 8 months
12 Angelina 7 months
13 Diley 26 years
14 Antony 7 years
15 Gabriel 2 years
16 Dandy 55 years
17 Dinah 50 years
18 Simon 17 years
19 Hezekiah 12 years
20 Jane 38 years
21 Harriet 13 years
22 Amanda 10 years
23 Washington 8 years
24 Matilda 6 years
25 Jim 4 years
26 Washington 2 years
27 Lucy 3 months
28 Henry 26 years
29 Jinny 23 years
30 Caledonia 4 years
31 Daphine 2 years
32 George 2 months
33 Alfred 20 years
34 Jacob 28 years
35 Lott 25 years
36 Louisa 24 years
37 Frances Ann 1 year
38 Bassell 40 years
39 Joicy 30 years
40 June 13 years
41 Simon 5 years
42 Mary? 4 years
43 Sally 2 years
44 Cato 1 year
45 Reuben 50 years
46 Clora 37 years
47 Jeny? died Jany 11 years
48 Joshua 3 years
49 Chary? 1 year
50 Hanny 55 years
51 Lewis 25 years
52 John 18 years
53 Lucy 13 years
54 Andrew 30 years
55 Judy 28 years
56 Nelly 14 years
57 Patsey 13 years
58 Liley 45 years
59 Andrew 19 years
60 Rany 2 years
61 Enoch 16 years
62 Harriet 14 years
63 Alennica? 13 yrs
64 Narcissa 4 years
65 Jim Beard 50 years
66 Monah 35 years
67 Horrace 12 years
68 Pauline 16 years
69 Houston 14 years
70 Cullen 12 years
71 Saml 17 years
72 Alfred 16 years
73 Mack 35 years
74 Ned 18 years
Three Infants
Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008 [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9176 : accessed 4 February 2019]  > Williamson > Probate and Divorce Records, 1800-1899 > Cannon, Mary-Carter, D Ruth > images 23-24 & 40-41 of 2964.

Garrison King--Dickson Co TN--list of heirs

I don't know that this Garrison King has any connection to my own King line(or Cooke line for that matter as his wife was a Cook).  He and Gilford Cook are neighbors in 1840 census(Dickson Co TN) and they live near some of the ancestors of several of my autosomal DNA matches.  These are matches who match me on a segment(s) that I can attribute to having come from my paternal Grandfather whose parents were William Green Cook and Jane Bell King Cook.  Below is a page from Garrison King's Probate file which is on Ancestry in the TN Probate Records Database. It shows the distribution of the money from his estate to his heirs.

Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008
https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9176
Dickson County
Estate Settlements, 1800-1885, Jordan, John P-Northam, Samual
Garrison King"s Folder
Images 309-338 
(The above image is a cropped screenshot of image 321 accessed 1 June 2018)

I would love to find something like this for each of my ancestors.

Image comparison of North Carolina Will

The State Archives of North Carolina recently blogged about a new digital collection--the Secretary of State Wills.    I wondered if some of these were in Ancestry's collection and thought about comparing the images.  I have taken a snippet of the very same section from the will of William Cook probated in Northampton County, North Carolina in 1758.  Below are the snippets of the image from the Secretary of State Wills database and the one from Ancestry's Wills and Probate Records Database.


From Secretary of State Wills Database (http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16062coll41/id/4530/rec/4)

From Ancestry's NC Wills and Probate Records Database(subscription required to view)
(https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9061) Search on William Cook 1758
Wills, Vol 7-9, Corn-Eub

I did attempt to find the images at FamilySearch in the Northampton Co Probate which covered the year 1758(most started in 1760)  but did not find it thru browsing or searching. It may be there but I was unable to find it.  I thought maybe the image at Ancestry might have been an FHL scan but the source notes and citation didn't mention that as they normally will if it is from the FHL images.

The image seems to have had some tweaking for readability at the Archives website.  This just happened to be the one I was interested in viewing. There may not be that big of a difference with other images.   Your mileage may vary.  Sometimes images will be more clear at one site than they are at another.  No one said that you couldn't use BOTH sites. 😊

Estate Sale of William Ogilvie May 10, 1813

Account of the Sale of Items that were part of the estate of William Ogilvie deceased.

Only includes items not bequeathed to those named in his will.

May 10th, 1813

Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Divorce and Other Records, 1800-1965 [accessed on 19 Jan. 2018]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

Original data: Tennessee. County records. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm roll numbers 99 to 108, 115, 336 to 337, 428 to 431, 519, A-4098, A-5278, B-1 to B-9, B-44 to B-127, B-314, B-441 to B-445, B-471 to B-473, B-1607 to B-1613, and B-1781 to B-1789.

Roll Title: Divorce, Probate and Other Records 1800-1899, Og-Ow Roll: B-100

Know the contents of the Database

This record is from the Williamson County TN records According to the blurb on the database, Williamson TN Records include: (Divorce Files, 1900-1950; Divorce, Probate, and Other Records, 1800-1899; School Censuses, 1838-1918; Miscellaneous Records (ex. Apprentice, Land Sales, Liquor Licenses, Slave Records); Birth and Death Records, 1920-1939)

At one point if you added a record from this database it would show as a DIVORCE(something I'd blogged about) but it appears this is no longer the case.  I was able to create a Probate FACT and link the image from that FACT within my Ancestry Tree.

Note the persons purchasing from estate sales as they are generally family, friends, associates or neighbors of the deceased.   Cluster research or the FAN club principle(a term coined by Elizabeth Shown Mills) refers studying an ancestors friends, associates, and neighbors in order to learn more about your ancestor's life.  There is an excellent lesson showing the use of this methodology located on her Evidence Explained website.  

William Ogilvie FAN Club

James Allison (Son-in-law)

John Adkinson

John Ogilvie (Son)

George H Allen

Anthoney Walk

John Menery(This may be 

Richard Ogilvie (Son)

James Shomate

William Hooker

John Manere(Son-in-law & my 4th Gr Grandfather--John Manire)

Henry Baley

Charles Calhoun

William Tucker

George  Jubin or Julin

William Webb

Now to add these people to the notes section of the FAN Club portion of William Ogilvie's entry.  When I find the relationships for each of these persons to the deceased I'll add that in my notes and hopefully remember to post an update.

Williamson Co TN Probate packets

I've been working with probate files a lot lately.  I have many ancestors who were living in Williamson Co TN in the early 1800s.  There is a database at Ancestry which is called  Tennessee, Divorce and Other Records, 1800-1965. While it does showcase the divorce records, the Williamson County TN section of this database is where I have been finding probate packets.  Probate packets are files which contain all the information used in wrapping up a person's estate after their death.

Items you might find in a probate packet:

• The original will(if one existed) 
• Inventory of the Deceased's estate
• Records of the Estate Sale(items, price, and buyer) 
• Additional court records if there are minor heirs or if a will is contested etc.
• Allotment records for the widow and minor heirs
• Records of Bond posted
• Affidavits on a number of subjects.
• Subpoenas of witnesses
• Records of death of the widow
• Land Records/Deed Plots

(these are just some I have found..your results may vary)

In addition to Williamson County, the database contains the following TN counties: Anderson, Carroll, Cheatham, Dickson, Franklin, Haywood, Henderson, Obion, and Tipton.

The record types covered are searchable and browsable and in some cases listed alphabetically:

ANDERSON 

Divorce Court Minutes 1947-1949 

Divorce Court Minutes 1949-1951 

CARROLL

Divorce Court Files 1826-1900 (listed by Surname A-Z)

CHEATHAM

Divorce Records 1919-1950, A-Z 

Marriage Bonds/Licenses 1904-1910 

DICKSON

Death Records 1930-1939 

Divorce Records 1849-1932, A-Wr 

Original Wills 1800-1899 

FRANKLIN

Divorce Records 1860-1900, A-W 

Divorce Records 1900-1910, A-Z 

Divorce Records 1900-1930, A-Z 

Divorce Records 1910-1919, A-Z 

Divorce Records 1920-1929, A-Z 

Divorce Records 1930-1939, A-Z 

HAYWOOD

Divorce Court Docket 1941-1965 

Divorce Files 1860-1936 

Divorce Index 1860-1936 

Divorce, Probate and Other Files 1808-1885 

HENDERSON

Chancery Court Records 1870-1915 

Divorce Index 1896-1950 

Divorce Records 1896-1950 

Other Court Records 1800-1918 

OBION

Divorce Records 1930-1939, Ve-Yo 

Divorce Records 1940-1950, A-Wy 

TIPTON

Divorce Index 1911-1950 

Divorce Records 1911-1950, A-Z

Wills 1829-1950 

WILLIAMSON

Divorce Files 1900-1950, A-Z

Divorce, Probate and Other Records 1800-1899, A-Z 

Misc Records (Liquor Licenses thru Slave Records) 

The Tennessee, Divorce and Other Records, 1800-1965 is a part of the Wills & Probates, Estates & Guardian Records Collection at Ancestry.com.  If you save the files to your tree please be sure they are listed as probate and not divorce facts.  Several years ago when I added a probate file for my Putmans from this database it would list the event as a divorce rather than a probate.  This is fixable but not without some work manually editing sorce.  This is likely something which could occur in mixed records sets and may be propagated if people aren't paying attention while they are adding the documents. Consult the database at Ancestry.com(if you aren't subscribed you may be able to view while at your local library.)  Many of these files are also available at FamilySearch.org.  Check the catalog there under Tennessee and the county in which you are interested.

Lemuel's FAN club

As a researcher you should be familiar with Cluster Genealogy as a method for finding out more about your ancestors.  You may also be familiar with the term Fan Club or Fan Club principle which was coined by Elizabeth Shown Mills to describe the group of individuals who were Family, Associates, and Neighbors of  an ancestor.  By examining the relationship of these persons to your ancestor,  you will gain a better insight into their lives and find more of their paper trail.  If you aren't familiar with this term please check out Mill's Historic Pathways site for more information on her excellent articles, books,  and presentations.

FAN club from Lemuel Manier's Probate Packet

1. Susan E A. Manier (widow)
2. John W. Manier(son)
3. Stephen J. Manier(son)
4. Eliza J. Manier King(daughter)
5. Wm. B King(son-in-law)
6. Minerva O. or A Hays(daughter--Widow of Robert Ralston)
7. Ann Manier Floyd(daughter)
8. John H. Floyd(son-in-law)
9. Lemuel Manier(son)
10. Leanne Manier Hill(daughter)
11. William T. Hill(son-in-law)
12. David C Manier(son)
13. Anna W Manier(daughter)
14. Amasa Manier(son)
15. Drury Bennet(neighboring land owner married to Elizabeth Manier)
16. James Carson(neighboring land owner)
17. John Loney?(neighboring land owner)
18. Wm. R. Nunn(neighboring land owner)
19. Wm McKay(sold Lemuel land in R'ford Co Tn 16 Jan 1835)
20. Solomon(negro)
21. Mary(negro)
22. Harriet(negro --child of Mary)
23. Edmond(negro)
24. Hardy(negro)
25. Balam(negro)
26. Chelsey William(executor)
27. James D. Gillespie(witness)
28. Christopher M Brooks(witness)
29. Noah Scales(witness)
30. Thomas Bullock(Deputy Court Clk)
31. R. D. Morrison(witness)
32. J P Calhoun(witness)
33. John Bittle(witness)
34. Robert Taylor(witness)
35. R.C. Owen(witness)
36. Stephen Bennett(witness)
37. W.W. Floyd(witness)
38. James T. Shurman(witness)
39. Jacob(negro)
40. Andy(negro)
41. George(negro)
42. James A. Hayes(son-in-law---2nd husband & eventually ex  husband of Minerva)
43. Permelia Russell(widow of Daniel Russell)
44. Daniel Russell(deceased trustee for Minerva)
45. James S. Hamlett(Sheriff)
46. William Ralston(son of Minerva who is her trustee)
47. Wm S Fleming(Chancellor of Court 1874)

From the information in the Probate Pkt of 

David Lemuel Manier(Manire) 1792-1837  Williamson Co. TN

Image 2867-2984 of 2992

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.

Info found in Probate File of my 3rd Great Grandfather

Things I found in a 118 image probate file(At Ancestry.com) of my 3rd Great Grandfather, Lemuel Manier(Manire) who died in the year 1837 in Williamson County, Tennessee.  You really have to take it in the context of the times--before emancipation and women's rights.  Not that that justifies not giving folks rights or limiting them based on the color of their skin, their gender ...or both.  Some of the pages were poorly written.  Thankfully, there were 2 or 3 copes for a number of the documents and at least one was legible.

Information in the probate packet:

• Date on which will was written & residence
• Date on which will was proven
• Listing of children complete with married names of daughters
• Name of widow
• Death info of widow
• Land description(residence)
• Additional land description & who it was purchased from
• Names of neighbors from land description
• Relationship status of daughters(marriage/divorce/widowed)
• Location/Proof of relationship status of daughters or widow
• Name of County Sheriff
• Subpoenas executed.
• Proof of death of estate trustee 
• Estate sale items
• Slave names and ages
• record of slave death including the cost of coffin
• Hiring out of slaves
• 47 persons to add to Lemuel Manire's Genealogy FAN club(term coined by Elisabeth Shown Mills which describes a research method of studying an ancestor's Family, Associates, and Neighbors--also called cluster research)

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)

In Praise of City Directories

This week got off to a great start with me finding the 118 page probate/estate packet of my 3rd Great Grandfather.  I began reading over it last night and there is just so much information included.  I haven't even gotten half way thru and I'm seeing the names of all of his children, land descriptions and as this was before emancipation I've also found information pertaining to slaves which were hired out.  It lists their names and ages.  One in particular was a rather odd given name.  Consulting a directory at Ancestry.com for the family I was able to find a gentleman by the same name with the last name of our family. Not sure that it is the one listed in the probate info but is likely a nephew or son.  I found additional census listings also that contained the names mentioned in the probate file. I had worked with directories in my research on another case which I blogged about this past year.  Each time I use them I find even more information or uses. These tidbits are things that you might not expect to find.  If you want to know how the Country, State, County or City was run--just look in the directory for the city in question.  Below is a listing in no particular order of the things that I have found in a city directory.

• Tax Laws specific to the publication year and area covered.
• Occupation--sometimes it also lists place of employment
• Females listed as "widow of.."
• Maps--a variety
• Election schedules & Elected officials
• Business Directory--gives you an idea of what is booming in that area at the time.
• Index to Advertisers--businesses that paid to have an ad listed.  The earlier ones can be really interesting. (One advertisement for a Sanitarium located in Nashville said that they could cure any addition but that they only took refined patients.)
• Streetcar/Railway schedules.
• Any number of stats for larger cities as well as a history of the area
• Religious & other Societies and Associations
• Listing of Local Churches

Friend and fellow genealogist, Miriam Robbins has been addressing this point for a number of years.  In addition to her Online Historical Directories site and blog she has also started a Facebook group on the topic.  More information about all of these can be found in her post at her AnceStories blog.  In my opinion city directories are just as valuable to a researcher today as they were to area residents at their time of publication. Their value is illustrated in this warning printed inside the cover of one of the Nashville Directories.

New Year's Wish in a Pension Raise Recommendation from 1917

From the Alabama Confederate Pension file of James Madison Justice.  A letter from Geneva Co Alabama, Judge W. H. Morris recommending that the widow's pension be raised.  I had to share because of the New Years wish which he included.  Note that the letter was written on New Years Day of 1917.

Roll Description : Joplin, J· B· - Juzan, Peter

Ancestry.com. Alabama, Texas and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Image 1479 of 1555

URL:

http://interactive.ancestry.com/1677/32719_237231-01476?pid=2418450&#?imageId=32719_237231-01483

Original data: Texas, Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975. Vol. 1–646 & 1–283. Austin, Texas: Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Confederate Pension Rolls, Veterans and Widows. Richmond, Virginia: Library of Virginia Confederate Pension Applications, 1880-1940. Montgomery, Alabama: Alabama Department of Archives and History.

1840 Van Buren Co TN Will of Robert Boyd--caught in the middle of a county formaton

The above image is a snippet from the inventory of the Estate of Robert Boyd.  Robert's will was written in 1837(Oct 26th) in Warren Co Tennessee.  Van Buren Co TN was formed from part of Warren Co TN along with parts of White County & Bledsoe County. The act to form Van Buren county passed on January 3rd 1840 but according to the information in the act at the TN.gov site, it appears records didn't start until April 1840.

It looks at though Robert Boyd's probate records were caught in the middle of the formation of Van Buren Co. TN.  A note from Will Armstrong, Warren County Clerk states that it(the will in the Van Buren Co Record Book) is a true copy of the original will on file in his office.  So although the probate records start in Warren Co TN...they end in Van Buren Co TN but do have a copy of all the will there.  In the will Robert left pretty much everything to his wife Jane to use in the support of his "little daughter" Ann. He appointed William Logue and John Boyd as executors. The listing of inventory along with the sale starts May of 1840 and wraps up July the 8th of 1840.  I should note that although Wm Logue is listed on the will as executor along with John Boyd I don't see any more listings of him as a witness or purchaser at the estate sale.  This adds more weight to this being William Marrs Logue, Robert Boyd's Father-In-Law who is known to have passed before September 4th 1839(I need to do a blog post on his estate info.). Wm Marrs Logue was the maternal 1/2 brother of my 4th Great Grandfather, John Fleming.

Person making purchases at the estate sale:  John Boyd, Isaac Hillis, James Hillis, Lemuel Romons, Wm L. Fleming, D. C. Russell, Wm McDonald, Jacob Romons, Wm Johnson, J.A. Miller, Thomas Meders,  Isaac? Tomas, Jesse Mooneyham. Wm McDaniel, Elisha Mayfield, George Ledbetter, Wiley Johnson, and John Russell

"Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-2RKT-G9?cc=1909088&wc=M6QQ-L38%3A179830201%2C179855401 : 22 May 2014), Van Buren > image 3 of 186; county courthouses, Tennessee.

Will of Peter Goodwin--Written 29 Nov 1834--Proved Jan 1836 Term--Dickson Co. TN, USA

My attempt at Transcription of the will of Peter Goodwin.  Please consult original and images for accuracy as I am human.

Will of Peter Goodwin
Written Nov 29 1834--Dickson County Tennessee, USA
Proved and ordered to be recorded January Term 1836

Cover page:

No. 68
Peter Goodwin's Last Will
pro. at Jany 1836

State of Tennessee Court of  Pleas & Quarter Session January Term 1836
Dickson County

Then was the within last will & testament of Peter Goodwin dec'd produced in open court and proven to be such by the oaths of

James Thedford and George W. Tatom subscribing witnesses there to which was ordered to be recorded
Test Field Farrar Clk
By his Deputy Tho. J. Kelly

State of Tennessee Dickson County
Then was the within last will and testament
of Peter Goodwin dec'd record in book A page 139
Test Field Farrar Clk.

Written Will:

In the Name of God Amen I Peter Goodwin of the County
 of Dickson and State of Tennessee Being in a low state
of health but of perfict(sic) mind and memory do this day
my last will and Testament in a maner(thi and form
Following to wit
1st I gave(sic) to my beloved wife Sally Goodwin all
my estate both real and personal During hir
Natural life or widowhood and after hur death to be devided as follows
I geve to my Five Youngist children Lusy Goodwin
Sabry(**) Goodwin William Goodwin Peter Goodwin John
Goodwin after the death of my wife all of my real and
pershable property consisting of lands horses cattle hogs
household and kitchen Furneture to gather with my
farming tools of evary kind to be sold and equally
devided amongst the five youngist above named
children and lastly I apint Thomas Murrell
and George W. Tatom sole Executors of this my
last will and testament
Peter Goodwin
X  (his mark & seal)


Sind(sic) sealed and Delivered in
presents of us this 29th day
of November in the year of hour(sic) lord
one thousand eight hundrad and thirty four
James Thedford (Signature)
George W Tatom (Signature)


(**) This is corrected? to Sal in all other rewritten documents but I see a difference in the way he wrote this child's name and the way he wrote his wife, Sally's name. Not really sure what it is.  Too it looks like a bad spelling of Sarah/ Sary  See below

There are at least 4 records of this will at Ancestry.com.  This serves as a great example of why it is important to check all copies of a document.  While the Cover page says it is recorded in Book A. the recorded will image is listed as being in Vol B-C 1803-1929 Dickson Co. TN Wills

There is a Marriage Record for a Peter Goodwin and a Sally Camp in Halifax Co Virginia on 27 Jun 1803. Not sure if that is who this couple is or not though some of the trees at Ancestry do have that listed for them.

Will of John R. Cathey--Dickson Co TN -Drawn July 10th 1827--Proved July Term 1828 -- Recorded Jan Term 1830

John R Cathey No. 46

State of Tennessee Dickson County
I John R. Cathey calling to mind the mortality of all flesh and being feeble of body but sound in memory and understanding do ordain this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all others.

1st I give unto my beloved wife Peggy Cathey during her natural life or widowhood all of my lands that I am now in possession of(except fifty acres lying above my son Archy Cathey's which I give to my son Joshua Cathey).  The balance at my wife's decease to be equally divided amongst my four younger sons vez. Daniel, Samuel, Martin and John Cathey.  Also I give to my said wife all my personal property after all my legal debts are paid.  Also I give unto my Daughters Jane and Dolly, one feather bed, one cow and calf each when they come of age or marry.

2nd As I have give to my son George one filly, to Archie one small Horse and to my daugher Maj., wife of William G. Austin a cow and calf and feather bed they are to have no more of the remaining property as I consider they have had their share and neither more when the rest are raised.

3rd I do constitute and appoint Munford Smith and Peggy my wife my sole Executor to this my last will and testament.In Witness hereof I sign and seal the same 10th day of July 1827




Test. John Forsythe    John R. Cathey his mark (seal)

State of Tennessee Dickson County Court July Term 1828
Then was the within paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of John R Cathey dec'd produced in open court and proved to be such by the oath of Jno Forsythe as subscribing witness thereto and teh same was ordered to be certified accordingly and recorded

Test. Field Farrar Clerk of said Court

State of Tennessee Dickson County January 30th 1830
Then was the last Will and Testament of John R. Cathey dec'd Recorded in Book A page 103
Field Farrar Clerk

Paternal DNA matches with some of the Nowlin descendants.

In the process of sorting thru my DNA matches and looking at their trees in order to identify our common ancestors I noticed that I had a good many matches who were descendants of Bryan Ward Nowlin and wife Lucy Wade.  Their Great Grandson Bryan Ward Nowlin (son of Jabus Swanson Nowlin) died in 1861.  I located his will in Marshall Co TN Probate records on Ancestry.com and learned that he was a doctor.  He and Rebecca Ewing Niell had 10 children only 5 of which lived beyond the age of 7.  That must have been heartbreaking.  He lists the surviving children in his will. a snippet of which is shown below.  B. W. Nowlin himself was only 41 when he died.

Children:  

• James Ozro Nowlin
• Thomas Light Nowlin
• Milton Gross Nowlin
• Harriet Elizabeth Nowlin
• Rebecca Lavona Nowlin

These DNA matches are on my Paternal side and the Bedford, Marshall, Rutherford and Williamson Co TN area is where m Dad's lines lived.

B W Nowlin Probate Date 13 July 1861

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. Marshall Co TN Wills, Vol A-C, 1835-1912  pg 422