24 July 2015

Off Topic - Big Grave Monument of Elvira (Stevens) Barney (1832-1909)

Finally found a digital camera that can do justice. No one else to date have been able to take photo of this large one with all 7 generations of ancestry of Dr. Elvira (Stevens) Barney.

She was wife in order of marriages:
1) 1850, John Stillman Woodbury
2) 1856, Oliver Boardman Huntington
3) 1866, Royal Barney, Jr.

This one is in Salt Lake City Cemetery, near Wilford Woodruff family and George Q. Cannon family lots, in Plat C.

I deliberately set these photos at the maximum possible so you can read the generations. Feel free to forward this blog to anyone else intact.

West side

South side

Add caption
 East Side
North Side

23 July 2015

New York and Pennsylvania databases added

Will books (NOT to be confused with original wills which are in Probate Files)

These are transcriptions by the court clerks.

Pennsylvania - Armstrong Vol 1-10 (1805-1918) 721 testators (working on getting N-Z surnames added real asap)



Letters of Administration

New York - Allegany co Vol 4-5 886 (1873-1889) Letters



Minutes

NY - Wyoming co Vol 2-3 (1852-1867) 557 records



Probate files?

The files contains all ORIGINAL records.

Connecticut - New London District Surnames G-H (early to 1880) 172 files

New York - Westchester co (1835-1837) 113 files

New York - Westchester co (1837-1839) 248 files

Oregon - Benton co (1859-1898) 290 files (the set is complete)

Pennsylvania - Washington co Surnames D (1828-1845) 86 Files

And best of all, this blog has new features making it easier to follow - Get your mouse over to right side and click black tag line and choose what you want to do.



This blog now has subscription feature (free subscription). Click on right side black bar.



http://www.sampubco.com



W. David Samuelsen

SAMPUBCO

17 July 2015

Don't Diss and Dismiss These Records! Minutes

Those minutes, sometime referred as Miscellaneous Orders and Decrees. They are probate court records of proceedings and decrees.

The minutes contain very rich information particularly about the estates and guardianships but can contain other information.

Let's look at one case in particular to illustrate the importance of not limiting yourself to will books only.

Let's read this will in its entirety.
Jonathan Gilbert, volume 1, Wyoming County, New York will book (court, 10 November 1856).

 

There was a request for a special guardian to be appointed for a minor.  And the contestants are named but no relationship given: Dorcas True, Hannah Howard, Hannah Spellman and Laura Stannard against Sarah Gilbert the executrix.


Ok, so far no relationship at this point of these contestants. Just these heirs are named:
wife Sarah, to get all property with certain exceptions
Lucy M. Carpenter and Edwin M. Carpenter, children of niece Jennet Crawford. Edwin is to get much of the estate. However in event of Edwin's death before he reaches age of 21 years, it is to go to nephew Hiram Gilbert. Stephen True is to be appointed trustee for Edwin in event his wife Sarah dies before Edwin reaches 21 years of age.




Proving the will is the next step. The will is dated 29 December 1854. There was a mention of an earlier will that was destroyed because it was not to Jonathan Gilbert's wishes.




Still nothing is said about these 4 contestants' relationships. Guess that is all? Let's look at the minutes because a petition had been made for guardianship. 



What do we find in the record in the minute book?

Hannah Howard and "other contestants" are mentioned, still no relationships... hmm... let's see if there any further record in the minute books?



Huh? Still no mention? Keep going...



Now we find Sarah Gilbert had since remarried to Nathan Davison.



Now to the final settlement, still not much is know about these 4 contestants except for this one. Further starter research yielded two things.  Sarah Gilbert now Davison may have been previous married a few times.  Here's the census...



This will remain a research matter for another time. Confusing family... What is certain - Jonathan Gilbert is son of Jonathan Gilbert and Hannah Converse, and had one son named Noah H. Gilbert. Moses and James Richardson are probably son of Sarah Gilbert from her previous marriage to a Mr. Richardson.

09 July 2015

Don't Diss and Dismiss These Records! Guardianships

What is it about the guardianship records many don't bother or afraid to look into?

National Guardianship Association has a good description of what is a guardianship.

http://www.guardianship.org/what_is_guardianship.htm

Now about the probate files  ...

NGA as it is known by the abbreviation describes Guardianship of the Person and Guardianship of the Estate pretty much accurate what are in probate files.

In SAMPUBCO site, the records are indexed and listed under two groups, guardianships and probate files.

Why two groups?  Guardianship records are separated depending on the county where the record originated.  Guardianship group usually contains guardianship letters, accounts, reports. Probate Files has files of "Minor" or "guardian" containing ORIGINAL records.

Now what can you find in these records?

The number UNO is the birthdate of the child! This is very useful when it comes to where there are literally no county or state birth records. Useful since more than 90 percent of them are in the states where there are no government birth records.

Then the relationship is stated more than anything else in the letters. Petitions for guardianship contain more information about family relationships.

Here are eamples:
Example #1
Written out petition (Case 1836-83, Westchester County, New York)


Example #2
Written out petition statement showing relationships and age of the minor (New London District, Connecticut, Case #2367)

Example 3
Petition showing relationship (New London District, Connecticut Case #2476


Example #4
Printed Letter granting guardianship, showing birthdate and relationship (Allegany County New York, Guardianship Letters, volume 4, page 148

Now, what are you missing out (especially those who scream brick walls)? What is worse? The microfilms of these records at Family History Library show appalling little to no research of these records, that is guardianships and probate files. Too new when the rolls are at least 35 years old. AND the SAMPUBCO analytic reports show almost no visitors to check out the index lists of both types.

Until then...

David

Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania wills, probate files

Will books (NOT to be confused with original wills which are in Probate Files)
These are transcriptions by the court clerks.
Maryland - Washington co Vol E (1848-1863) 496 testators
New York - New York co Vol 131-147, 985-989 (1852-1863) 1749 testators

Probate files
The files contains all ORIGINAL records.
Connecticut - New London District Surnames G-H (early to 1880) 172 files
New York - Westchester co (1835-1837) 113 files
New York - Westchester co (1837-1839) 248 files
Oregon - Benton co (1859-1898) 290 files (the set is complete)
Pennsylvania - Washington co Surnames D (1828-1845) 86 Files

http://www.sampubco.com

W. David Samuelsen
SAMPUBCO