Webster County, Kentucky Estate Administrators 1861

Administrators of estates were usually appointed in county court shortly after a person's death. Therefore, you get an approximate death date by the date of the administrator’s appointment. The appointment will be recorded in the county court minutes and in a separate administrator's bond book in Webster County. The administrator was required to post bond with at least one person as surety to guarantee the faithful performance of his duties as administrator. The following information comes from Webster County, Kentucky Court Order Book 1860 - 1866 as well as Administrator Bond Book 1860-1871. The page number in the County Court Order Book is at the end of the entry. As a rule there is more information in the county court order book, but the wise researcher will also check the bond book.

M.C. Doris was appointed administrator of the estate of L.A. Doris dec’d.  9 Feb 1861. Surety:  J.A. Jenkins.  [p. 78]

On application of Perry J. Whitsel, he was granted administration of the estate of Henry Gates dec’d.  13 Feb 1861.  Sureties: John W. Osburn, Henry J. Nevell.  [p. 79]

Benedict Boone was granted administration of the estate of Henry Boills dec’d.  18 Feb 1861.  Sureties: Leo M. Boone, Edward Skinner.  [p. 82]

Williamson Littlepage was granted administration of the estate of Henry J. Littlepage dec’d.  25 Feb 1861.  Surety: N.M. Couch.   [p. 87]

James J. McKinley was appointed administrator of the estate of Malinda Imboden dec’d.  8 Mar 1861.  Surety: John R. Graham.  [p. 91]

George W. Wynn was appointed administrator of the estate of H.H. Davis dec’d. 8 Mar 1861. Sureties:  Joel Blackwell, E.L. Price.  [p. 91]

William L. Williams was granted administration of the estate of Martha B. Gore.  3 Apr 1861.  Surety: George A. Rudy.  [p. 99]

George A. Rudy was granted administration of the estate of Newton Sisk dec’d.  15 Apr 1861.  Surety: E.L. Price.  [p. 100]

Thomas H. Ashby was granted administration of the estate of Western Sellers dec’d. 15 Apr 1861.  Surety: Ben B. Hancock.  [p. 100]

Thomas Dills was granted administration of the estate of John Dills dec’d.  17 Apr 1861.  Surety: Samuel W. Kilgore.  [p. 104]

Edward Skinner was appointed administrator of the estate of Benjamin McClendon.  1 May 1861. Sureties: Noah N. Johnson, Saml. P. Shirley, Jas. C. Wallace.  [p. 110]

James Baker was granted administration of the estate of William M. Holeman.  19 Jul 1861.  Surety: William Lisman.  [p. 116]

James Crowley and John W. Reynolds were granted administration of the estate of William J. Crowley.  12 Aug 1861.  Sureties: J.K. Thompson, B.D. Winstead.  [p. 122]

On motion of Axion Skinner, ordered that administration with will annexed granted him for the estate of Francis Marion Rice dec’d.  16 Dec 1861. Surety: Edward Rice.  [p. 151]

Published 28 October 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

No Shopping on Sunday in Smithland 1885

Wikipedia tells us that Blue laws or Sunday laws were designed to restrict or ban some or all Sunday activities for religious or secular reasons. Some Blue laws also restricted shopping on specific days. The following notice was posted in a conspicuous place on Court street in Smithland according to the Sentinel, a newspaper published in Smithland. It was re-printed in the Hickman, Kentucky Courier on 3 Oct 1884, page 5, according to Newspapers.com

NOTICE

To the merchants in the Town of Smithland, Ky.:   You are hereby notified that after this date any dealer or dealers in merchandise or groceries that is found guilty of keeping open doors or selling goods or groceries on the Sabbath day, will be reported to the Grand Jury at the next term of court, unless in case of sickness or death, and if you do not heed this notice,  you will after January, 1885.  For it is a shame for any man that is raising a family to teach them such, or set such an example.  If you do not believe that there is a hereafter, for the people’s sake have respect for the day; for there are people in this town that do believe that there is a God and a hereafter, too.  Now remember the above notice for there is a law to protect us, and we intend having it carried out to the letter.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A Law Abiding Citizen

 Published 21 Oct 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

In The News 1907

 

Citizens of Crittenden County, Kentucky depended on the local newspapers to keep them informed of what was happening in the county and surrounding area. The following items appeared in the Crittenden Record Record-Press on Thurs., 14 Feb 1907, page 4.

For business reasons the Editors of The Crittenden Press and The Crittenden Record have agreed on a consolidation of the two papers; all subscriptions to both papers will be filled by The Crittenden Press-Record which will be issued each Thursday. The Press-Record will be edited by the editors of the Press and Record, S.M. Jenkins and Geo. M. Crider, each of them will continued to do everything in his power for the promotion of the welfare of Marion and contiguous territory, in a moral as well as a business way.

Judge J.P Pierce returned Thursday from Florida where he spent several weeks for the restoration of his health.

Dr. and Mrs. W.H. Kirk of Morley, Miss. are expected in the city about March 1^st to visit her sister, Mrs. Jas. L. Travis.

Mr. Hugh Wilborn & Miss Johnnie Fritts were married Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. at the gate of Rev. W.T. Oakley.

Mrs. W.O. Tucker returned Thurs. night from a visit to her parents in Frankfort, Ky.

Mrs. Lola Davidson expects to leave Friday for the Cincinnati markets to purchase her spring stock of millinery. She will go by Danville, Ky. to visit  her son, Archie, who is attending college there.

Miss Mae Hoyt, of Sturgis, passed through town the first of the week, en route to Tolu. She was the guest of Miss Maggie Moore while here.

Lost – on Thurs., Feb. 7, 1907, between John Nunn farm and Harry Culley’s, a pair of gold rimmed spectacles in square case. Finder return them and  be rewarded.  [signed] Joel A.C. Pickens.

Published 19 Oct 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Indentures of Apprenticeship - Lyon County, Kentucky 1866-1867

 

After the Civil War, many former slave children were left with no means of support and were often bound out to people in the community, sometimes their former owners, to learn a trade. In exchange for food, lodging, clothing and medical attention, the apprentice was to faithfully serve his or her master. At the expiration of the term, the apprentice was to receive a new suit of clothing and a sum of money. Males were to receive $100 and females were to receive $50, but only if they were not taught to read and write. [1] The Indentures of Apprenticeship for freedmen can be found in county court order books (court minutes) as well as in a separate bond book, Indenture of Apprenticeship for People of Color Book A 1866-1908.  In the entries below, OB signifies County Court Order Book. For best results, it is wise to research both the County Court Order Books and the Indenture of Apprenticeship bond book.

 

24 Oct 1866:  On motion of C.M. Shelby, summons issued against Old Emily and Old Will to appear on first day of next term to show cause, if any they can, why Sarah, Jesse and Jeff should not be taken from their custody and bound out as apprentices to some fit & proper person to learn some good trade and this motion continued. [OB B, p. 8] 28 Jan 1867:   C.M. Shelby vs Old Emily &c:  On plaintiff’s motion, this act is dismissed without prejudice. [OB B, p. 21]

24 Oct 1866:  It appearing that Isadora Nettles a negro infant orphan formerly the slave of Moses Stone & Stone being willing to take Isadora as an apprentice to the trade of cooking, washing &c, ordered that Isadora be bound as an apprentice to Moses Stone from this date until she arrives at age 18.  [OB B, pp. 8] [2]

25 Dec 1866:  Thomas Cattlett, age 12 and formerly the slave of Thomas W. Catlett. The father of the boy, Lewis Cattlett, is unfit to bring him up properly. [OB B, p. 16]

14 Jan 1867:  Frank Jackson, a free boy of color and formerly the slave of John W. Jackson, is bound to John W. Jackson as an apprentice.  [OB B, p. 17]

14 Jan 1867:  Ratio Young, a free boy of color and formerly the slave of William H. Young, is bound to William H. Young as an apprentice.  [OB B, p. 17]

14 Jan 1867:  Chapman Young, free boy of color and formerly the slave of William H. Young, is bound to William H. Young. Said apprentice is now 10 years old. [OB B, p. 17-18]

28 Jan 1867:  Levi Lester, free boy of color and formerly the slave of James Lester, is bound to James Lester. Levi is now 14 years old. [OB B, p. 18]

25 Mar 1867:  Barnett Rice, free boy of color, bound to N.N. Rice, Barnett is formerly the slave of N.N. Rice, until the boy is age 21, he now being age 10.  [OB B, p. 35]

22 Apr 1867:  Manerva Carney, free girl of color and formerly a slave of Washington Carney, is bound to sd. Washington as an apprentice until she is age 18, she now being 15 years old. [OB B, p. 41]

23 Dec 1867:  Agness Wilson, infant orphan of color has no estate and John Leech having signified willingness to take Agness as an apprentice to the trade of cooking until she is 18 years old, she now being age 9 years. [OB B, p. 98]

---

[1] Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Passed at the Session of the General Assembly which was Begun and Held in the City of Frankfort, on Monday, the fourth day of December, 1865, Chapter 621, p. 49, (Frankfort: State Printing Office), 1866.

[2] 1870 Lyon County, Kentucky census, Eddyville, Dist. 1, Roll M593_484, p. 14B, Ancestry.com. Isado B. Settles, age 13 and born Arkansas is listed in the household of Moses Stone, age 57 and born Kentucky; Cate Stone, age 46 and born Tennessee and W.F. Stone, age 8 and born Kentucky.

Published 14 Oct 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Appointment of Guardians - Crittenden County 1882

A guardian was appointed when a person was unable to act for himself or was a minor (under the age of 21 years). The parents may or may not have been living. At the age of 14, a minor could choose his own guardian. If under the age of 14, the county court appointed the guardian. The guardian was required to execute a bond with a surety also signing. If the parents were deceased or unable to provide for the minor children, instead of the appointment of a guardian, the children were likely apprenticed to someone in the community to learn a trade.  The guardian appointments listed below can be found in Crittenden County, Kentucky Court Order Book 7 (Oct 1881 – Dec 1882)

It appearing that Wm. Peyton Early, minor over age 14, has no guardian (his parents being dead), and at the request of said minor, R.B. Darr is appointed his guardian.  Surety: S. Hodge.  [OB 7, p. 47,  2 Jan 1882]

It appearing that James Matthews, guardian for the Franklin heirs has received nothing for the heirs, therefore Matthews is permitted to resign as guardian.  [OB 7, p. 63,  13 Feb 1882]

L.C. Frazier was appointed guardian for his infant children, Julia Ann & Edward C. Frazier, both under the age of 14.  Surety: W.H. Koon.  [OB 7, p. 67,  14 Feb 1882]

F.M. Smart was appointed guardian for Robert M. Pogue, minor heir at law of Joseph Pogue dec’d. Surety: Jas. B. Carter.  [OB 7, p. 74,  13 Mar 1882]

A.J. Sunderland was appointed guardian for George E. & Malvina A. McKinney, minor heirs of G.W. McKinney dec’d. Both are under the age of 14. Surety: J.A. Davidson. [OB 7, p. 74, 13 Mar 1882]

W.N. Franklin made choice of D.H. Oliver as his guardian, Franklin being over age of 14 years. Sureties: A.B. Wicker & J.P. Pierce.  [OB 7, p. 74,  13 Mar 1882]

Green A. Franklin, over age 14, made choice of F.M. Jones as his guardian. Surety: J.P. Pierce. [OB 7, p. 74,  13 Mar 1882]

It was the wish of Mrs. Hamby, the mother of L.C. & C.L. Hill, minor heirs of L.M. Hill dec’d, that H.P. Jacobs should be appointed guardian for said minors. Surety: George W. Cruce.  [OB 7, p. 103,  22 May 1882]   

F.M. Jennings was appointed guardian for Lula A. LaRue, minor heir of K.P. LaRue dec’d. Sureties: W.J. LaRue & J.W. Guess.  [OB 7, p. 109,  12 Jun 1882]

Joseph B. Phillips was appointed guardian for Nora Tudor, under the age of 14 and the minor heir of George Tudor dec’d. Surety: R.W. McCollum.  [OB 7, p. 110,  26 Jun 1882]

Jessie McCoy, over 14 years old and the orphan of Nellie A. McCoy dec’d, made choice of John F. Woods for her guardian. Sureties: P.H. Woods & D. Woods. [OB 7, p. 114,  26 Jul 1882]

John B. Koon was appointed guardian for Dora Wright, under 14 and the orphan of George H. Wright dec’d. Surety: T.C. Campbell. [OB 7, p. 130,  11 Sep 1882]

It appearing that Mrs. P.E. Williams has settled her accounts as guardian for her children, John B., A.V. & I.B. Williams, she tendered her reservation. On motion of Mrs. P.E. Williams and appearing it is the request of A.V. & I.V. Williams, over the age of 14, she be appointed their guardian. Surety: G.F. Williams. [OB 7, p. 133,  23 Sep 1882]

Nancy A. Dempsey was appointed guardian for James T. & Chas. T. Dempsey, under age 14 and heirs of J.H. Dempsey. Surety: Mary Ellen Dempsey.  [OB 7, p. 135,  28 Sep 1882]

J.W. Holomon was appointed guardian for Alta Wright, orphan minor child (under age 14) of Newt & Josie Wright dec’d. Surety: W.K. Bibb. [OB 7, p. 164,  1 Nov 1882]

Netter Smith (colored), minor above the age of 14, made choice of Louis Wilson as his guardian. Surety: W.M. Morgan.  [OB 7, p. 183,  23 Dec 1882]

Published 7 Oct 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/