VARIOUS RECORDS REGARDING BLACK FOLK IN COUNTY COURT AND CHANCERY COURT, HENDERSON COUNTY

Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith

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County Court

Account of Insolvent Estates 1, 1879-1940:

page 151. Albert Priddy's estate declared insolvent, 1913.

page 62. Lewis Pearson's estate declared insolvent, 1891.

 

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Will Book 3, 1895-1932:

pages 83-84. Will of NED MUSE executed January 11, 1904. Signed with an x. After payment of debts bequeathed to his beloved daughter, Fannie Hudson his entire personalty and real estate (275 acres in Civil District 10). E. E. Muse appointed executor.
County Court Minute Book Q, 1904-1906. This will was admitted to probate, November 28, 1904. E. E. Muse appointed executor. Page 143. Maggie Muse, widow of Ned Muse, contested this will, November 29, 1904 nothing more seen about the protest.
(the original will on file in county court clerk's office)

pages 159-160. Will of B. C. WALDROP executed July 18, 1911. His policy with Cherry Temple Lodge 77, Knights of Tabor, to pay his funeral expenses. Personal property to be sold except for cow and hogs, household furniture, wearing apparel which went to his wife, Carrie Waldrop. Executor to collect money due him. Wife to have all his real estate in Lexington (23 acre homeplace) if she remained a widow; if remarried, land to be divided among his heirs according to law. He wanted a tombstone at his grave. T. Edwards and R. A. Lewis appointed co-executors. County Court Minute Book S, 1909-1912, page 521. This will was probated September l, 1912. T. Edwards and R. A. Lewis qualified as co-executors.
(the original will on file in county court clerk's office)
NOTE. The tombstone of B. C. Waldrop in the Lexington Cemetery has his inscribed dates: April 3, 1850-July 22, 1911. The tombstone of his first wife, Mary E. Waldrop bears dates: July 16, 1865-October 3, 1908.

page 197. Will of CAROLINE ANDERSON executed January 7, 1916. Signed with an x. Her four "girls", Mandy White, Sarah Harmon, Jane Phillips, Rena Cathey, to have the things in the west room, including quilts. Mandy White to have her bureau and panther with clock on it. Jane Phillips to have the safe [a kitchen cabinet with perforated doors to air food but keep out the flies]. Rena Cathey was to have her washstand. Sarah Harmon was to have her blue coverlet. Mandy White "to have my picture." "I want Joe to have a shot gun and pistol."
County Court Minute Book U, 1909-1918, page 140. This will was probated February 7, 1916. As Caroline Anderson did not appoint an executor the court appointed A. Phillips and J. H. Anderson as co-administrators.

 

Administrators' Bonds B, 1898-1939:

page 62. J. R. Reid appointed administrator of Josie Taylor's estate, May 4, 1908.

page 86. E. W. Essary appointed administrator of Marcus Jones' estate, Dec. 30, 1910.

page 93. J. R. Reid appointed administrator of Albert Priddy's estate, June 5, 1911.

page 124. Sallie Douglass appointed administrator of John Douglass' estate, Dec. 12, 1914.

page 131. Walter Cathey appointed administrator of Antney Cathey's estate, Aug. 11, 1915.

page 156. W. R. Johnson appointed administrator of J. G. Douglass' estate, Mar. 9, 1917.

page 158. R. H. Davidson appointed administrator of Jane Harmon's estate, Jan. 21, 1917.

page 207. John F. Hall appointed administrator of Ben West's estate, Nov. 14, 1921.

page 217. John F. Hall appointed administrator of Phil Howard's estate, Sept. 19, 1922.

page 220. A. F. Stewart appointed administrator of Fannie Williams' estate, Nov. 8, 1922.

page 223. A. F. Stewart appointed administrator of Dr. L. S. Douglass' estate, Dec. 5, 1922.

page 237. John F. Hall appointed administrator of Matt Pool's estate, Sept. 24, 1923.

page 249. Dr. Samnl. T. Parker appointed administrator of Ello Williams' estate, Sept. 27, 1924.

page 266. J. T. McAdams appointed administrator of Bill Trice' s estate, January 2, 1926.

 

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Administrators and Executors Settlements Book, 1880-1906:

Under date of December 24, 1896, J. A. Teague, administrator of Henry McHaney' s estate filed settlement showing estate was insolvent. The money left, $10.20, was ordered given to McHaney's widow, Elizabeth (Lizzie) McHaney.

 

County Court Minute Book R, 1906-1909:

page 599. Angeline Cooper was "lately deceased" in Henderson County. R. H. Anderson qualified as administrator of her estate and posted bond of $250 as such, September 6, 1909.

page 426. Sarah Williams was "lately deceased" in Henderson County. J. R. Dennison qualified as administrator of her estate and posted bond of $250 as such, December 7, 1908.

page 478. Issac Williams was "lately deceased" in Henderson County. J. R. Dennison qualified as administrator of his estate in January 1909.

 

Older Blacks in Henderson County Death Register, 1925-1938:

Ann Anders died November 19, 1931, age 60; born Henderson County.

Green Arnold died August 10, 1936, age 71; born Henderson County.

Bill Bewin died September 12, 1930, age 82; born in Lexington.

Sallie Bowden died May 6, 1931, age 66; born in Kentucky.

Martin Bell died November 14, 1931, age 78; born Henderson County.

George Buckley died November 13, 1937, age 80; born Chester County.

Fannie Buck died November 21, 1938, age 68; born Henderson County.

Lillie Cawthon died March 1, 1931, age 66; born Madison County.

Susan Clemens died May 20, 1932, age 100; born in North Carolina.

Charley Clark died June l, 1934, age 74; born in Tennessee.

Wilson Cary died September 12, 1936, age 100; born in Virginia.

Martha Donnell died June 24, 1930, age 105; born in Tennessee.

Caroline Funderburk died May 29, 1935, age 80; born in Decatur County.

Anna Greer died June 5, 1935, age 106; born Henderson County.

Fillis Hamilton died January 24, 1926, age 83; born Henderson County.

Anna Bell Harmon died August 23, 1931, age 60; born in Lexington.

Willie Harmon died November 18, 1931, age 84; born Henderson County.

Warren Harmon died November 9, 1931, age 86; born in Tennessee.

Ike Howard died December 23, 1931, age 62; born Henderson County.

Charley Harmon died December 8, 1932, age 82; born in Lexington.

Jim Kizer died November 14, 1925, age 60; born Henderson County.

Harrison Kizer died February 12, 1938, age 75; birthplace unknown.

Nannie Mackey died November 24, 1926, age 68; born Henderson County.

Bettie Phillips died October 29, 1932, age 42; born in Kentucky.

Ervin Parker died August 22, 1933, age 75; born in Lexington.

Charley Phelps died May 11, 1934, age 73; born Henderson County.

Ed Shrewsberry died October 19, 1934, age 76; born in Lexington.

Melvina H. Trice died November 8, 1925, age 67; born Henderson County.

Bill Trice died December 30, 1925, age 70; born in Lexington.

Joe Taylor died July l, 1932, age 87; born Henderson County.

John Timberlake died July l, 1933, age 75; born in Lexington.

Abe Williams died May 9, 1926, age 70; born Henderson County.

Dave Williams died August 28, 1930, age 97; born in Tennessee.

Horace White died September 9, 1932, age 74born in North Carolina.

 

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Lewis G. Williams died June 22, 1934, age 75; born in Tennessee.

Jane Wadley died December 8, 1935, age 85; born Henderson County.

Amanda White died January 6, 1936, age 78; born in Lexington.

Ludine White died October 28, 1936, age 60; born Henderson County.

Martha Williams died January 8, 1938, age 97; born Henderson County.

 

Settlements Insolvent Estates #10, 1867-1896:

pages 313-314. J. C. Peterson (appointed administrator, April 1891), administrator of LEWIS PEARSON's estate, filed report. December 1893.

pages 354-355. He filed a second report in March 1895.

pages 363-364. He filed a final report in January 1896.

 

Chancery Court

Order and Decrees Book 8:

pages 358-359. John G. Douglass v Enoch Douglass cause brought March 27, 1885.

pages 499-500. In January 1878 Enoch Douglass, Sr. had sold 59 acres of land to Enoch Douglass, Jr. for $200. As of early 1886 he still owed $149.25 on the land. The court ordered the land sold to pay his debt.

pages 563-565. In July 1886 the Clerk and Master sold this land to John G. Douglass, John H. Elum and Alex White for $175. They paid $30 and the rest dismissed as they were "heirs" of Enoch Douglass, Sr. November 5, 1886.

pages 562-563. Clayton Flake was granted divorce from his wife, Piney, as she had deserted him. November 5, 1886.

pages 201-202. Silva Harmon was granted a divorce from Charles Harmon because of his adultery. March 28, 1884.

 

Order and Decrees Book 11:

pages 279-280. The court accepted that Charles Anderson had executed his last will before his death on December 24, 1895, in which he had left his: estate to his wife, Caroline Anderson; ordered probated. October 10, 1896.

 

Order and Decrees Book 12:

pages 46-47. J. B. McHaney had sold to Alec Flake and Ellen Harmon 63 acres on December 10, 1891. In April 1898 the court set this deed aside and ruled that Richard Flake, as an heir of Lewis Pearson, was due ½ interest in this land and Rose Shrewsberry was due the other ½ as an heir of Ellen Harmon. This 63 acres in Civil District 1 was ordered sold.

pages 324-325. On October 6, 1900 the court confirmed title to this acreage to D. E. Scott and divested out of name of Richard Flake, Ed and Rose Shrewsberry, John Flake, Clate Flake, Joe Flake, Candis Flake, Rhoda Flake, Tennie Flake, John Franklin and Ellen Harmon; as he had purchased the land. Case styled, Richard Flake v Ed Shrewsberry and others.

 

Other works by Jonathan K. T. Smith can be found at the Madison County Records Repository at TNGenWeb.