Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Chasing Probate Records

Sometimes we find part of a probate record in one county and then find supporting data in another county. This usually happens when a new county is created during the probate process. For example, William Wood wrote his will 20 September 1806 while living in Livingston County, Kentucky (Will Book A, page 25). His will was produced in Livingston County court and proven in April 1807. His will names his wife Anne Wood, son Spencer Wood and his "four youngest children." The inventory and appraisal of Wood's estate were recorded 6 February 1809.  You might think that was the end of the settlement of his estate, but was it?  In addition, we don't know the names of any of the "four youngest children" of William Woods. If there is nothing more in Livingston County, maybe it would be wise to check Caldwell County, which was created from Livingston in May 1809.

Ah, ha! The Wood family did, indeed, live in the part of Livingston that fell into Caldwell County in 1809. Caldwell County Deed Book A, page 304 shows that on 31 August 1811, there was a conveyance of land on Flynns Fork of Tradewater from Benjamin Vaughn to Ann Woods and Spencer Woods, heirs of William Woods dec'd.

Caldwell County marriage records show that Nancy Wood married John Barnes in 1816.  Then, in 1818, Rachel Wood married Mathew Ledbetter. Consent was given for both marriages by their mother, Ann Wood, and Spencer Wood was the surety on the marriage bond. Then, in 1821, Spencer Wood married Rhoda Smith. Sure sounds like the children of William Wood. In 1823, Rhoda Wood married Seth Baker ... curious! The document that tied this all together was found in a box marked "Depositions" in the Caldwell County Clerk's Office. It reads thus:

"Memo for Auditor of Accounts
I have found a tract of land Situate in this County Containing 98 acres - Conveyed by Ben Vaughn to Ann Wood during her life and then to Spencer Wood her Son & his heirs - (Widow & heirs of Wm. Wood dec'd) now the Widow is dead, and the said Spencer also, who died before the Widow & before he got possession, Spencer had one child supposed to be dead, her mother married again and went to Mississippi taking her with her & has never been heard of Since except that the child was dead. She moved to Mississippi about 15 years ago. Deed in Book A page 304."

(Click on document for an enlarged view)

Published 30 July 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkgenealogy.blogspot.com/

7 comments:

Faye Mayo said...

Thank you for all of the info on Wm and Ann Woods, especially the info on Spencer and his wife.

I had found a marriage for a Wm Wood and an Ann Spencer

North Carolina, Marriage Index, 1741-2004

William Wood to Ann Spencer 5 Feb 1782; bond # 000076754; North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868; Image #: 007521; Record #: 01 136; Lincoln County, N C; Bondsman: Zacariah Spencer;

Not sure if the bondsman was her father who died 1789 or her brother b: 1761 and would be 21 in 1782.

Just wanted to share. John Barnes 1794 md Nancy Baynes, my 3rd gt grand parents (maternal)

Thank you, Faye Mayo

Brenda Joyce Jerome said...

Thank you for this additional information. I'm glad this post was helpful.

Faye Mayo said...

May I have your permission to copy this info from your blog for my tree?

Thank you, Faye

Brenda Joyce Jerome said...

Permission is given to use the info from my blog as long as credit is given to the blog. Thanks for asking. Brenda

kwqd said...

Well, you burst my bubble! I was looking hard at this Spencer Wood as the man who married in Missouri and had children Sophronia and Marinda before 1830 and in 1832 married Relief McConnell in Pike County, MO. I had worked my way through most of the records in Livingston and Caldwell Counties, KY but had not found proof that Spencer Wood had actually died as opposed to deserting his family and moving to Missouri. BTW, all of the records for the Wood family in Livingston and Caldwell Counties indicate their name was Wood, not Woods.

Brenda Joyce Jerome said...

Sorry about that!

Unknown said...


Thank you for your update on Spencer Wood, and I am sorry, too. When my 3rd great grandfather, John N Barnes' brother Stephen Barnes married Wid Penelope (Stallings) Cowan, Spencer Wood signed the licenses as the test. It is good to see that the last name is Wood, not Woods. I think that extra 's' is something that gets added on to show possession. ex the Mayos (May's) up the street, etc. One of the people I worked with was Sandi Evilsizer Koscak. She gave me your site. Sadly, she passed 8 Apr 2018 Las Cruces, Doña Ana, New Mexico, USA. I miss her.