Harrell Family Documents, 1825, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana Copied and Submitted by Claude B. Slaton, Baker, Louisiana Has connections to St. Helena Parish, Louisiana Source: Probate court records in Clerk of Court's office, Clinton, Louisiana ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Harrell Family Documents, 1825, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana With connections to St. Helena Parish, Louisiana Document #1: To the Honorable the Judge of the Parish Court of the Parish of East Feliciana, State of Louisiana, and ex-officio Judge of the Court of Probates in and for the same, the Petition of Hezekiah Harrell of said Parish respectfully shews: That in 1808 or 1809 Jacob Harrell of the late Parish of Feliciana departed this life leaving a considerable estate, consisting of one settlement claim to land lying in the now parish of East Feliciana, negroes, & personal property. That when said Jacob Harrell died he left only collateral relation, towit, brothers and sisters of the whole blood, of which your petitioner is one. That immediately after the death of said Jacob Harrell, his heirs (one of whom was a minor) assembled and made an amicable partition of the succession of said Jacob. That at said partition your petitioner received as a part his portion thereof, the settlement claim to the land aforesaid. The heirs partaking were Samuel Harrell, Levi Harrell, Sara Ann Smith, wife of Joseph Smith, and your petitioner, who were of full age, and Lewis Harrell, who was a minor. That said Lewis Harrell has since attained the full age of twenty-one years, and has approved of the partition aforesaid. And your petitioner further shews that he has lately applied to the Registrar and receiver of the Land office at St. Helena Court House, for an order of survey of the Land aforesaid, who have declined giving the same, because there has been no sale of the Land aforesaid agreeable to the provisions of the Civil Code. By reason whereof your petitioner is likely to be deprived of his part of the succession of Jacob Harrell aforesaid, dec'd. And your petitioner further shews that since the partition aforesaid, Levi Harrell has departed this life, leaving the following heirs, viz, Hezikiah R. Harrell, Mercy McClendon, wife of Dennis McClendon, Anna Harrell, and Mahitabell Harrell. Hezikiah R. and Anna Harrell are minors above the age of puberty, without curators ad liteum. Mahittabel is under tutorship, represented by her tutor Morgan Bryan. And your petitioner further shews, that Samuel Harrell and the heirs of Levi Harrell all reside in the parish of East Feliciana aforesaid, and Lewis Harrell and Sara Anne Smith reside in the State of Mississippi. Now, the premises considered, your petitioner prays that a curator ad litum for this special purpose be appointed to the minors Hezekiah R. & Anna Harrell aforesaid, and an attorney for the absent heirs, that the proceedings may be regular and conform to the law. That the parties aforesaid residing in East Feliciana may be cited to appear in this Honorable Court in manner pointed out by law. that they shew cause, if any can be shewn, why the amicable partition heretofore made among the co-heirs should not be confirmed by a decree of this Honorable Court. That the same be confirmed, and that the land aforesaid be sold after the usual advertisements, to give your petitioner a title to the same. That the title to the same be decreed to be in your petitioner, and that he recover from the defendants his costs of suit. And your petitioner prays such other and further relief as the law will allow him. [Signed] James M. Bradford, Atty. for petitioner [written on back of last page:] No. 59 (No. 38) Probate Court H. Harrell vs L. Harrell, et als Petition Filed August 23, 1825 Thos. W. Scott, P. Judge Ordered: let Solomon M. Brian be appointed Curator ad litum to Hezikiah R. Harrell and Anna Harrell the minors mentioned in the within Petition & let the defendants be cited as prayed for. August 23, 1825 Thos. W. Scott, P. Judge J. M. Bradford We the undersigned accept service of this petition and all [one word?] [signed] S. M. Brian Lewis Harrell Joseph Smith (his mark) Sara Smith (her mark) Dennis McClendon Marcy P. McClendon Samuel Harrell ********************************************************* Document #2: State of Louisiana, Parish of East Feliciana Be it remembered that on the day of the date hereof before me, Thomas M. Scott, Judge of the Parish aforesaid, came and appeared Hezikiah Harrell, Hezikiah R. Harrell, Hugh Barfield, William Reitzell, and Denis McClindon, all relations to Mahatabell Harrell, a minor under the age of puberty, and the relations aforesaid being duly assembled and sworn, for the purpose of deliberating on the subject matter of approving the petition of the Estate of Levi Harrell, dec'd, made amicably among the heirs of said dec'd on the 26th day of January 1819, they are of the opinion that it should be to the interest of the minor Mahatebell Harrell...that the said partition should be confirmed. In witness whereof the relations aforesaid sign hereunto in presence of me, said judge, and in that of William P. Satterfield and Andrew W. Higby, assisting witnesses this 8th day of January 1827. [signatures] Hezekiah Harrell, H. R. Harrell, Hugh Barfield, William Reitzell, Dennis McClendon, W. P. Satterfield, A. W. Higly Th. M. Scott, Parish Judge [on reverse] No. 39 I certify the foregoing family meeting has [been] truly recorded in Book A, page 105. Witness my hand and seal official this 27th Januy. 1827 Th. M. Scott, Parish Judge ********************************************************* Document #3: To the honorable the Judge of the Parish of East Feliciana and of the Court of Probate in and for the Same, the petition of Denis McLendon & Mary McLendon his wife, Respectfully represents that Mary McLendon is one of the heirs of Levi Harrell, dec'd, that said dec'd has left a considerable property consisting of Land that has nevarr [sic] been divided and has left Hezekiah Harrell and Anna & Mehitibel Harrell, minor heirs of said estate, represented by their tutor S. M. Brian and Hezekiah Harrell. Your petitioners pray that said Land bee appraised and that a partition of the land of said Estate take place according to law and that Such other and further [one word?] be had in the premisis as the law Requires. August 29th, 1825 [signed] Dennis McClendon, Marcy P. McClendon ********************************************************* Document #4: [the following are written on one sheet of paper, one over the other] State of Louisiana, Parish of East Feliciana To John Rentz and Richard Taylor: You are hereby appointed Experts to make an Inventory and partition of the Landed Estate of Levi Harrell, deceased, among the heirs of said Levi Harrell, deceased, towit: Mercey McClendon, Hezekiah Harrell, Anna Harrell, and Mahitabel Harrell. Given under my hand and Seal official this 6th day of Sept. A.D. 1825 Th. M. Scott, P. Judge State of Louisiana, Parish of East Feliciana Each of us do solemnly swear that we will act faithfully and truly, as experts in making an Inventory and Partition of the Landed Estate of Levi Harrell, dec'd, amongst the Heirs of Said Levi Harrell, dec'd. Sworn and Subscribed before me this 6th day of Sept., A.D. 1825 [signed] Th. M. Scott, Parish Judge John Rentz (his mark) Richard Taylor