Estate Records of Hughey Leeman - Sumter Co., AL =============================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Debbie ================================================================================= May 1999 Estate Records of Hughey Leeman - Sumter Co., AL M 15 Page 236 Estate of Probate Court Special Term Hughey Leeman, dec'd July 6, 1874 This day came Nancy A. Leeman, and filed, in this court, her written Petition, under oath praying the Court to admit to Probate and Record, a certain Paper, there with surrendered to the Court, purporting to be the last Will and testament of Hughey Leeman, deceased, as such last Will and testament; and that letters testamentary issue to the said Petitioner, as the Executrix of said Will: And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the said Hughey Leeman was at the time of his death and inhabitant of the County, over the age of twenty-one years and that he died leaving assets: It is therefore ordered and decreed by the Court that Monday, the 10th day of August, 1874, be appointed, as a day, the hear and determine as to the petition, and the proof that maybe submitted in support thereof. And it appearing to the Court from an inspection of said petition, that Marion F. Leeman, Missouri Leeman, and James Leeman are some of the next of Kin of said deceased, and are non residents of this state, it is therefore ordered and decreed by the Court, that they and each of them, be notified of the filing of said petition, and of the day appointed for hearing the same, by publication thereof, in the Livingston Journal, a newspaper published, in this county, for three successive weeks before the day appointed for such hearing. And it is further appearing to the Court, that Martha Brown, wife of Augustus Brown, Nancy Martin, wife of George W. Martin, Joseph b. Leeman, Fanny Jones, Valley Leeman and Berry Leeman, are some of the next of Kin of said deceased, and Nancy A. Leeman, widow of deceased, and resident within this state, it is therefore ordered and decreed by the Court, that they and each of them, be notified of the filing of said petition, and of the day set for hearing the same, by notice, to be personally served. And it further appearing to the Court, that Missouri Leeman, Valley Leeman, and Berry Leeman are minor heirs of said deceased, and ? in this processing, it is therefore ordered and decreed by the court, that George T. Soule be and he is hereby appointed, as guardian ad litem to represent and protect their interest, upon hearing of said petition, and that he have notice. Where upon, the said George T. Soules ? Court, accepted said appointment in writing and consented to act as such guardian ad litem. And it further appearing to the Court, that George H. Martin and Hugh W. Greenlees, residents of this Sumter County, are subscribing witnessess to said paper, it is therefore ordered by the Court that subpoenas issued to said witnessess, commanding such of them to appear before this Court, on the said 10th day of August, 1874, then and there to give evidence, on the hearing of said petition. M 15 Page 259 Probate Court, Regular Term August 10th, 1874. Ordered by the Court, that the hearing of Petition by Nancy A. Leeman to admit to Probate and Record, a certain Paper, as the last Will of Hughey Leeman, deceased set for this day, be centenced to Monday, the 7th day of September, 1874. M 15 Page 283 Probate Court, Special Term, September 7th, 1874. Ordered by the Court, that the hearing of Petition of Nancy A. Leeman to admit to Probate and Record, a certain Paper as the last Will of Hughey Leeman, deceased, continued to this day, be further continued to the next Regular Term of this Court, commencing Monday the 14th day of September, 1874. M 15 Page 295 Probate Court, Regular Term, September 19, 1874. Ordered by the Court, that the hearing of Petition of Nancy A. Leeman to admit to Probate and Record, a certain Paper, as the last Will of Hughey Leeman, deceased, continued to this term, be further continued to the next Regular Term of this Court commencing Monday, the 12th day of October, 1874. M 15 Page 304 Probate Court, Regular Term October 16, 1874. Ordered by the Court, that the hearing of the Petition of Nancy A. Leeman, to admit to Probate and Record, a certain Paper as the last Will of Hughey Leeman deceased, continued to this Term, be further continued to the 19th day of October, AD 1874. M 15 Page 305 Probate Court Special Term, October 19, 1874. This day came up for final action and decree, after regular continuances from the day first set to this day, the petition of Nancy A. Leeman praying the Court to admit to Probate and Record, a certain Paper, there in named, purporting to be the last Will and testament: Now comes the said Petitioner by her attorney, and moves the Court to proceed with the hearing of said Petition: And it appearing to the satisfaction to the Court, that notice of the filing of said Petition, and of the day first to appointed to hear and determine as to the same, has been given to Marion F. Leeman, Missouri M. Leeman, and James Leeman, non-resident and next of Kin of said deceased, by publication in the Livingston Journal, a newspaper published in this county, for three consecutive weeks before the day first appointed for hearing said Petition, and it further appearing to the Court, that Martha Brown and her husband, Augustus Brown, Nancy Martin and her husband, George H. Martin, Joseph B. Leeman, Fanny Jones, Valley Leeman, and Berry Leeman, some of the next of Kin of said deceased, who reside within the limits of this State, have each been notified of the filing of said Petition, and of the day first set for hearing the same by notice, personally served upon each of them, ten days, before the day first set for hearing said Petition: And George T. Soules who was here tofore duly appointed, a guardian ad litem to represent and protect the interest of Missouri M. Leeman, Valley Leeman, and Berry Leeman, minor heirs at law of said deceased, interested in this proceeding, and who accepted said appointment in writing, being now present in Court, acting as such guardian ad litem and announcing himself read to proceed with the hearing of said Petition: The Court now proceeds to hear and determine the same, and consider the testimony that may be submitted in support thereof: And it appearing to the court, from the sworn testimony of Hugh W. Greenlees, one of the subscribing witnesses to said Paper, now shown him and whose testimony has been reduced to writing, and subscribed by him, that Hughey Leeman died on the 15th day of June, 1874, sign, seal, publish and declare the said Paper as his last Will and testament, in the presence of ? and of George H. Martin, then at her subscribing witness to said Paper: that ? attested the same, as a witness, at the request and in the presence of the said Testator, and in the presence of ? at her subscribing witness, in the day the same bears date; that George H. Martin, the other subscribing witness signed the same, as witness, at the request and the presence of the said Testator, and in the presence of ?, on the day the same bears date, and that the said Testator, at the time of executing said instrument as his last Will and testament, was of sound and disposing mind and memory, and inhabitant of the County of Sumter, and state of Alabama, and over the age of twenty-one years of age: It is therefore ordered, adjudged, and decreed by the Court that the prayer of said Petition be granted, and that said Paper, propounded by the said Petitioner, as the last Will and testament of Hughey Leeman, deceased, be and the same is hereby established, and duly admitted to Probate and Recorded, as such last Will and testament: And that the subscribing witness, be recorded, in the Book of Wills. And it further appearing to the Court from an inspection of said Will, that Nancy A. Leeman, the Petitioner, is named in said will, as the Executrix thereof, and that she is not required to give any Bond. It is therefore ordered and decreed by the Court, that letters testamentary upon the Will and Estate of Hughey Leeman, deceased do now issue to the said Nancy A. Leeman, as the Executrix there of, and that she proceed to take upon herself the execution of said Trust. It is further ordered by the Court, that the said Petition be recorded, and with the other Papers relating hereto, filed, and that the said Petitioner pay the costs of their proceeding out of the assets of said estate for which Execution may issue. PETTITON: The State of Alabama, To the Honorable, James A. Abrahams, Sumter County Judge of the Court of probate for said County The Petition of Nancy A. Leeman respectfully presents to your Honor, that the late Hughey Leeman was an inhabitant of this County at the time of his death; that he departed this life, in this County, on the 15th day of June, 1874, leaving a last Will and testament, duly, signed and published by him and attested by George H. Martin, and Hugh W. Greenlees, both residents of this County, in which your petitioner is named a executrix thereof, and petitioner herewith produces the said Will and ? the same for probate and record in this Court. Your petitioner further states that she is the widow of said deceased, is adult and resides at his late residence in this County. That the next of Kin of said decedent are the following, viz: 1. Mrs. Martha Brown, adult sister of decedent and wife of Augustus Brown, and resides with her said husband, in the County of DeKalb, state of Alabama. 2. Mrs. Nancy Martin, adult sister of decedent, and wife of George W. Martin, and resides with her said husband, in the County of Madison, state of Alabama. 3. Joseph B. Leeman, adult brother of decedent, who resides in this County. 4. Marion F. Leeman, adult brother of decedent, who resides in the city of Memphis, state of Tennessee. 5. Mrs. Fanny Jones, adult sister of decedent, who resides in this County. 6. Miss Missouri M. Leeman, minor sister of decedent, about twenty years old, who has no legal guardian, but who resides with Marion F. Leeman, in the city of Memphis, state of Tennessee. 7. The children of Ransom Leeman, deceased, who was a brother of said deceased, Hughey Leeman, viz: James Leeman, adult who resides in the city of Aberdeen, state of Mississippi; Valley Leeman, miner, aged about eighteen years, and Berry Leeman, minor, aged about thirteen years, who have no legal guardian, but who reside in this County with Joseph Berry Leeman. None of the foregoing next of Kin of decedent are of unsound mind within the knowledge of petitioner. Wherefore your petitioner prays, that a day be set for hearing this petition, that due notice thereof as required by law be given to petitioner, and the next of Kin of said deceased: and that each other proceedings, orders, and decrees may be had and made, in the premises, as may be required and proper to effect the due probate and record of said will according to law. Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 2nd day of July, 1874. ? Lewis N.P. Her Nancy A. X Leeman Mark LETTERS: The state of Alabama, Court of Probate Sumter County The Will of Hughey Leeman, decd, of the said County, having been duly admitted to record, in siad County, Letters Testamentary are hereby granted to Nancy A. Leeman, the Executrix named in said Will, who has compiled with the reguistions of the law, and is authorized to take upon hereself the execution of such Will. Dated this 19th day of October, 1874. J.A. Abrahams, Judge Of Probate, Sumter County WILL OF HUGHEY LEEMAN: Hughey Leeman decd, The state of Alabama, Last Will & Testament. Sumter County. Probated, October 19, 1874, Know all men by these & Recorded November, 1874. Presents, that I, Hughey Leeman, being of sound mind & memory, but weak in body, do make the following, my last Will & testament, revoking all others by me made, viz: First. It is my will that all my just debts be paid. Second. I give to the children of Amy Chapman, to wit, to Macklin Chapman, Hughey Chapman, & Joseph Chapman, children of said Amy Chapman, the following land, viz: All that portions of the north West quarter of section five, Township nineteen, C19/rande two, west, lying east of the Jones' Bluff & Payneville Road, containing ninety-five acres, more or less: All of the above described lands situate and being in the aforesaid state and County & in the Demopolis land district. 3rd. It is my will that the pasture on this land be reserved to my wife and pasture during the life of my wife, Nancy Ann Leeman. It is my will & I give to my beloved wife, Nancy A. Leeman, the balance of my entire Estate, both real & personal. It is my Will & desire that the Richardson tract of land now owned jointly by my brother J.B. Leeman, & myself, be partitioned between my wife & my Brother in after my death. It is my will that Amy Chapman be & I hereby appoint her, guardian for her three children & exonerate her from giving bond, & making any settlements with the Probate or any other Court. And I do appoint my beloved Nancy A. Leeman, my sole executrix to this my last Will & testament, & hereby release her from giving Bond, & making any settlements with the Probate Court. As witness my hand & seal this the 15th June, 1874. Hughey Leeman, SEAL Witness: George H. Martin Hugh Greenlees M 16 Page 250 Nancy A. Leeman Deceased Special Term January 31st, 1878 This day came R. Chapman Jr administrator of the estate of Nancy A. Leeman deceased and filed his written petition under oath praying this Court for an order to sell the following personal property viz: Household and Kitchen furniture, one side saddle, one Rifle, one shot gun some Carpenters tools, one grind stone, one wheel barrow, one Barley plow. Eight Carey? Plows Seven ? Three Scooters Wagon and plow gear some blacksmiths tools, six hoes, one spade, one four horse wagon, one two horse wagon, six mules two mares, about thirteen head of hogs, one cow and calf about 450 Bushels of Corn, about 1800 lbs Fodder, one buggy and harness, about 800 lbs meal in the salt some little sugar and coffee upon the ground that the same is perishable and liable to waste, by death, destruction, by fire or other ways thereby being lost entirely to said estate, And the Court having examined said petition and heard the proof produced in support thereof: It is therefore ordered by the Court that said property be sold for each on the premises of said decedent at public outcry to the highest bidder, after first giving notice of the time place and terms of sale of said property together with a description thereof, by publication in the Livingston Journal a weekly newspaper published in said County for three successive weeks before the day appointed for said sale. It is further ordered that said administrator within sixty days from sale of said property do make report under oath of his account of such sale. It is further ordered that said petition be recorded & files. PETITION: The State of Alabama To the Hon. James A. Abrahams Sumter County Judge of the Probate Court, in and for said County & State - The undersigner, your petitioner respectfully represents unto your Honor that on the 29th day of January 1878 he was appointed by your Honor administrator of the estate of N.A. Leeman deceased, & that upon taking possesion of said estate he found among other property the following: Household & Kitchen furniture, 1 side saddle, 1 Rifle, 1 shot gun some carpenters' tools 1 grind stone 1 wheel barrow, 1 Brinley plow 8 carey plows 7 sweeps 3 scooters wagon & plow gear, some blacksmith tools, 6 hoes, 1 spade, 1 four horse wagon 1 two horse wagon 6 mules, 2 mared about 13 head of hogs 1 cow & calf about 450 bussels of corn about 1800 lbs fodder 1 buggy & harness about 800 lbs meat in the salt some little sugar & coffee the value of said property your petitioner is not now able to give. Your petitioner asserts that the above named property is perishable & liable to waste by death, destruction by fire, or other ways, thereby being lost entirely to said estate; therefore he prays your Honor for an order of sale for said property, after giving the necessary notice as by law required; and as in duty bound your petitioner will ever pray Jany 31st 1878 Sworn to & subscribed R. Chapman Jr. Before me Jany 31st 1878 Admr Est of NA Leeman JA Abrahams Judge of Probate