Thursday, December 18, 2014

Livingston County Executors 1873

When a person wrote his will, he usually named an executor to perform certain tasks after the testator had died. The executor's duties were to collect debts and credits due the estate, make a just and true accounting of his actions and deliver all legacies specified in the will.   The executor signed a bond to show that he would faithfully perform his duties. The following information comes from Livingston County, Kentucky Executors Bonds 1853 - 1916, a bound volume in the county clerk's office in Smithland. The date listed below is the date the bond was signed.

Jesse L. Abell - executor of the estate of Washington Abell  1 January 1873

John E. Lemen - executor of the estate of Sarah A. Lemen   3 March 1873

Elizabeth Stonebreaker - executor of the estate of Henry Stonebreaker  7 April 1873

S.G. Moxley - executor of the estate of George G. Aydelott  12 June 1873

John N. Mills - executor of the estate of Charles Mills  10 November 1873

James W. Cade - executor of the estate of John B. Signiago  8 December 1873

Bond Appointing James W. Cade
Executor of the last Will and Testament
of John B. Signiago

Published 18 December 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

5 comments:

Stan Mitchell said...

My Livingston Co. ancestor has an 1884 will naming his wife as executrix. He dies in Dec 1884 and his will is proved 7 April 1885. Does that suggest his wife would have signed an executor's bond sometime after that?

Brenda Joyce Jerome said...

According to Livingston County Court Order Book P, p. 416, Tues., 7 April 1885, Delilah Sharp filed a power of attorney authorizing John L. Vick to sign the names of her sureties to her bond and she was appointed Executor of the last Will and Testament of William C. Sharp. Vick signed for the sureties, W.R. Crotser and C.E. Allard. So, yes, she would have signed an Executor's Bond, either by writing her name or making her mark, if she could not write. More than likely, she signed the bond the same day the will was proven.

Stan Mitchell said...

Very cool! I'm surprised you have those court order books within reach! My ancestor, William C. Sharp is the testator and Delilah the executrix. The names of the sureties are interesting too - expands the FAN club.

According to the will, the land would go to Delilah as long as she lived except for a portion set aside for his daughter Ida and her husband. Would those aspects of the estate settlement show up as new deeds?

Brenda Joyce Jerome said...

I have some microfilm of Livingston County records. Glad it helped.

When the land passed to a family member by will, the transaction was likely not recorded until it passed to someone else ... providing the next conveyance wasn't be a will. If there were several heirs, you might find a division of the estate, but it might not be in the deed books. Sometimes the information is found in the estate files. Lots of possibilities ... you just have to check all records to be sure you have all information.

Stan Mitchell said...

Brenda, thanks very much for sharing your knowledge.