PROBATES:
WILLS:
Click here for:Earliest Wills of Morgan County 1827 - 1837
Abstracted from Courthouse records by Florence Hutchison
Contributed by Bill Landers. Contact him for additional information.
Bristow Davis made his will in Morgan Co. on 3 Feb 1834 and died 15 May 1836. Because these dates were near 25 Dec 1833 when my Mary DAVIS m Geo. Wash. CROOKS, it occurred to me that Bristow may have been sufficiently ill in Dec 1833 to send Job DAVIS to vouch for Mary's age and thus permit the marriage. So, I ordered the Probate file with hope that Mary would be mentioned. But alas, Bristow failed to mention most of his children by name.Will list the names found in the record in case someone on the list will benefit.The will of 1834 specifically left everything to Polly. The children were not to share unless it pleased Polly and if it pleased, they were to share alike. He requested his property not be sold 'unless my beloved Polly may think fit to make it her will.'
Present: James D MORISON and David DAVIS.
A Codicil in 1835 directed Polly to 'pay grandchild, Susanna SMITH, daughter of Elizabeth SMITH and Drew SMITH, five dollars when Susanna reaches 18.'
Witnessed by J..D. MORISON and David DAVIS.
Polly DAVIS, wife, was appointed administrix. Attest Aaron WILSON,
witnesses Berriman BEACHY and Davis BUNCH
The total estate amounted to $2200.87 of which $1570 was the value of 157 acres, appraised at $10 per acre. The appraisal of live stock, tools and house hold items was made 27th day of Jun 1836 and amounted to $630.87 1/2. But unlike other probates I have transcribed, there was no sale. This may have been because Polly was to inherit everything? Knowing this, the appraisers may not have felt accuracy was important. They seemed to be well acquainted with the going rate for tools and live stock, even the present crop of wheat at $37.50. I was amused to see the entry of 16 head of geese at $8, followed by 'part of a sack of coffee', also $8. It may be have been near the end of the day when they made this entry: "House hold and kitchen furniture too tedious to mention...$55.12 1/2.
The appraisers were:
Casper SHIBE
William H. GREGORY
William A LANGSTON
Aaron WILSON, Probate Judge, Sworn before Davis BUNCH, J.P.
The probate was neatly wrapped up the 3rd day of March, 1837. bill
(Note: born 1785, probably Warren County, KY, died 6 Aug 1839, Morgan County, IL)
Court of Probate Justice of the Peace - Morgan County, Illinois
In the Matter of the Administration of the Goods, Chattels and creditsof James Ethel late of said county deceased.
To Matthew Stacy esq. probate Justice of the Peace of Morgan County:
The Petition of John H Barton & Aaron Dickerson Respectfully Showeth,
That the widdow of said deceased has relinquished her right to Letters of Administration on the Estate of said deceased to petitioners which relinquishment is herewith filed.
That said deceased departed this life, at the County afforesaid on the 6 day of this month August 1839 without leaving any last Will and Testament to the knowledge, information, or belief of petitioners that said deceased died possessed of certain personal property in the State of Illinois, the value whereof does not exceed the sum of about 8 hundred dollars, as your petitioners has been informed and believes; that said deceased has left him surviving a widdow to wit Rebecca Ethel and five children - to wit John W Ethel, Elizabeth Ethel, Parmelia, James and Zurilda and also one grand child to wit Willis J Ethel - who are the only next of kin: that said deceased was at & immediately previous to his death an inhabitant of the County of Morgan, by means whereof, as your petitioners has been informed and believes, the ordering and granting administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits, whereof said deceased died possesed, in said State; and also, the auditing, allowing, and final discharging the accounts thereof, doth belong unto the Court of Probate Justice of the Peace of said County. Your Petitioners therefore prays, that you will appoint them administrators of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits, which were of said James Ethel deceased.
And your petitioners will ever pray.
John H Banton
A Dickerson
Marriage record - Warren County, KY (from Genweb site) James Ethel and Rebecca Stice, 25 Feb 1812, his consent by father, Benjamin Ethel, her consent by mother Caty Long. both Witt. by James Ethel and Martin Elmore
Living in Morgan County, Illinois at death of father, Benjamin Ethel, in Oct 1828
Patentees, first owner of land at $1.25 per acre: James Ethel, T15N-R 12 N Section 17, (Location of Ethel Cemetery, Scott County, IL). Bought 26 Dec 1827
CENSUS 1830 Morgan Co., Ill., pg 119
Military: fought in War of 1812 and Blackhawk War 1832.
War of 1812: Ethel, James, Private 14th Reg't (Mitchisson's) Kentucky
Militia
He served under Andrew Jackson at New Orleans as a member of the
Kentucky detached militia.
Morgan County Probate Case 257
State of Illinois Morgan County
Court of Probate Justice of the Peace
In the matter of the Administration of the Estate of Willis J Ethel deceased. To Matthew Stacy Probate Justice of the Peace of said County, the Petition of John T. Taylor
Respectfully Showeth
That Luietisha Ethel the widow of said deceased has relinquished here
her right of Administration Which relinquishment is herewith filed upon
said estate to your petitioner. That said Willis J. Ethel departed this
life at the County aforsaid on the 25th day of the October 1838 without
having made any last will and testiment to the knowledge, information ,
and belief of petitioner; that said deceased died possessed of certain
personal property in this state the value whereof does not exceed the
sum of about 3 hundred dollars as your petitioner has been informed and
believes that said deceased has left him surviving a widow to wit
Luietisha Ethel, who is the only next of kin of said deceased except his
father James Ethel, & his mother Rebecca Ethel and 2 brothers & 3
sisters to wit John M. Ethel, & James H Ethel, Elizabeth, Permelia Jane,
Zerelda Ethel, that this said deceased was at the time and for several
years previous to his death an inhabitant of the county of Morgan by
reason whereof as your petitioner is informed and believes the ordering
and allowing of letters of administration belongs unto the court of
Probate Justice of the Peace of said County your petitioner would
therefore pray that you grant to him letters of administration upon the
estate of said deceased and willever pray.
John T Taylor
State of Illinois
Morgan County
I John T Taylor do solemnly swear that I heard the within petition read to which I have subscribed my name and that I know the contents thereof to be true accept as to those matters stated therein to be on information and belief and as to those matters I believe them to be true.
John T. Taylor
Sworn and subscribed
to before me the 29 Oct 1838
Mat Stacy
Probate Justice of the Peace
(Note: this John T. Taylor is either the uncle or grandfather of the
widow, Lutitia Taylor ETHEL)
Illinois Land Sales (on-line):
Married Lutitia Bratten TAYLOR on 11 Jan 1838, Morgan County, IL, performed by James W. ETHEL (Note: We have a copy of this marriage license from the Morgan COunty Clerk)
(***Final Note: My wife's g-grandfather, the son of Willis J. ETHEL,
also named Willis J. ETHEL, was born 22 Jan 1839, after his father's
death, and is thus not listed in his father's probate, but is listed in
that of his grandfather, James W. ETHEL, who died when the younger
Willis was 7 months old.)
I Elisha Fox of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, State of Illinois, being of sound mind and memory do make this my Last Will and Testament, and do declare and publish this as my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all fomer wills made by me.
I direct that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.
Having in the past given to my seven children herein after named money, personal property and real estate of the total value set opposite each of their respective names to each of which I hereby direct that such sum is to be charged as an advancement.
To Flavias C Fox, Four thousand four hundred and fifty dollars; to Samuel L Fox, Twelve thousand five hundred dollars; to my deceased daughter Mary L runkle Five hundred dollars; to my daughter Emily J K Hart Three thougsand five hundred dollars; to my son Thomas U Fox Three thousand five hundred dollars; to my daughter Nellie May Sperry Twelve hundread and five dollars; to my son Eulalia E Fox, Three thousand five hundred dollars.
I direct and it is my will that each of said children and their heirs and legal representatives be charged with said sums set opposite their respective names as so much of an advancement to each of them. And I drect and will that the portion of Mary L Runkle, deceased, who would have taken a childs part under this will be divided amoung her three children, Elisha Runkle, Marion Runkle, and Lewallen Runkle, share and share alike, reminder to survivor. It bring my intention to divide my whole estate among my seven children equally share and share alike, and that after charging to each the sum heretofore given then and set down herein as an advancement if there is enough to make them equal to the sum received by Samuel L Fox as an advancement if there is enough property or estate for that purpose, share and share alike.
I direct and will and hereby appoint Thomas U Fox and Samuel L Fox, the executors of this my last will and testament, and hereby authorize them to sell at public or private sale any property personal or real estate that it may become necessary to sell to carry into effet this Will and settle my estate.
I hereby authorize my exectuors to convey by deed all such lands so sold to the respective purchasers for the purposes aforesaid.
Witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal this ninght day of January AD 1895.
The foregoing will was signed by Elisha Fox, aforesaid in our presence and attested by us in his presence.
Whereas I Elisha Fox of the County of Morgan in the State of Illinois did make my last Will and testament in writing bearing date of the 9th Ninth day of January 1895 and did thereby provide in that Samuel L Fox my son should be charged the sum of twelve thousand and five hundred dollars $12000 as advancements to him, now instead of said provision I hereby direct that the said Samuel L only be charged with the sum of three thousand and five hundred dollars. I also direct that Flavis C Fox, my son be appointed and directed to act as my executor with Thomas U Fox instead of Samuel L Fox. I also and hereby declare this to be a codicil to my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal this September 21st 1895.
The foregoing codicil to the this last Will and testament was signed by Elisha Fox in our presence and attested in his presence.