Probate record of William Britton
Muscatine County Probate File No. 171 1/2

Submitted by Patrick Coughlin on February 26, 2010.


I am not related to the Britton's, but two of William and Jane Britton's children went to live with my great-great grandmother's family after William Britton died. After William Britton's death, families in Muscatine and Cedar County took in his children. Nancy went to live with a Kefover family in Muscatine County, and Josephine and John Wesley went to live with my Hardman ancestors in Cedar County. I cannot document where their other daughter Eliza Ann lived after William's death, but records show that she married in Muscatine County in 1860. I have not yet been able to document what became of William's wife, Jane.

REQUEST TO APPOINT ADMINISTRATOR

To Judge of County Court in Muscatine County Iowa

    Sir:
    You will authorize (unreadable word) appoint the Bearer, Mr. Thomas H. Britton
    Administrator of the Estate of William Britton, lately deceased.
              Jane Britton
              Wife of the late Wm Britton
              October 24th 1856

PETITION TO COUNTY COURT

To George Meason, County Judge (unreadable word) for the County of Muscatine Iowa:

    Your Petitioners would represent that William Britton died on or about the 13th day of October A. D. 1856, leaving property in said County which should be administered upon immediately. And whereas Jane Britton, the wife of the said William Britton, waiving her right of administering on said Estate, and asking the appointment of your Petitioner, he therefore requests that he may be appointed accordingly, being ready to give the Bond required by law.
             Thomas H. Britton

    In accordance with the above Petition, there was made and is issued the following:

    DECREE

    Ordered that Letters of Administration be granted and issued to Thomas H. Britton on his executing a Bond with approved security in the sum of Six hundred dollars.
              George Meason, County Judge


ADMINISTRATOR'S BOND

Know All Men, By Those Presents, that we, Thomas H Britton as principal, and D. Dunsmore as security of the county of Muscatine and State f Iowa, are held and firmly bound unto Geo Meason County Judge in and for the county aforesaid, and his successors in office in the sum of Six hundred dollars, for the payment of which, well and truly to be made, we and each of us bind ourselves, our heirs and assigns, firmly by these presents.

    Witness our hands, this 29th day of October A. D., 1856

    Whereas, the above bound Thomas H. Britton has this day been constituted and appointed Administrator of the estate of William Britton, late of said county, deceased.

    Now if the above bound Thomas H. Britton Administrator aforesaid, Shall make and return upon oath into the County Court within thirty days, a true inventory of all the goods and chattels, rights and credits of said deceased which have or shall come to his possession or knowledge:

    Administer according to law all the goods and chattels, rights and credits of said deceased, and the proceeds of all his real estate that may be sold for the payment of his debts, and which shall at any time come to the possession of the administrator the possession of any person for Render upon oath a true account of his administration within one year and at any other time when required by the County Court:

    Pay any balance remaining in his hands upon the settlement of his accounts to such persons as the County Judge shall direct, and Deliver these Letters of Administration to the County Court, in case any Will of the deceased shall be hereafter duly proved and allowed: Then this obligation to be void; otherwise to be and remain in full force.

             Thomas H. Britton
             D. Dunsmore
             James L. Lewis
             Geo. Meason, County Judge


PROPERTY INVENTORY
Two horses
One two-horse wagon
A one-horse wagon
Two cows
Two calves
A two-horse harrow
A shovel plow
One set of harness
A cradling scythe
Spinning wheel
Two beds
One cooking stove
The utensils belonging
One clock
Two small wheat stacks
One garden hoe
One chest
One table
One saddle
A two-horse plow
A churn
Eighth (sp.) acres of corn

APPRAISAL OF GOODS TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION

Lot of hay                  10.00
One-horse wagon              5.00
Corn in the field           63.00
One cow                     25.00
Two notes of hand*          35.00
*A "Note of hand" was a promissory note to pay the owner, or the designated bearer, a fixed sum at a specific time or upon demand.  

AUCTION RESULTS

Amount of property sold at Public Sale on the 8th day of November A. D. 1856
belonging to the Estate of William Britton dec.

One cow                     21.10
One-horse wagon              1.25
One-horse harness             0.15
One lot of hay               7.50
One lot of corn              3.25
Second lot of corn           7.65
Third lot of corn            7.50
Fourth lot of corn           8.30
Fifth lot of corn            8.35
Sixth lot of corn           11.50
Two notes of hand           35.00

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Page created February 27, 2010 by Lynn McCleary