Succession of William L. Story, St. Helena Parish, La. File submitted Sherry Sanford ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ No. 271, 25th Judicial District Court of Louisiana Probate, Last Will and Testament of William L. Story Petition of Mrs. Wm. L. Story, praying to be recognized & confirmed executrix for Inventory Filed June (?) 1908 Greensburg, St. Helena Parish, La. To the Honorable Clay Elliott, Judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District Court of Louisiana, in and for the Parish of St. Helena: The petition of Mrs. Mary E. Leonard, widow of William L. Story, deceased, who resides in the Parish of St. Helena, State of Louisiana, with respect represents: That many years ago she and the said William L. Story were united in the bonds of matrimony and established their domicile in said Parish of St. Helena; and that on the 24th day of May, 1908, her said husband departed this life at his domicile near the Village of Montpelier, in said parish and state. Your petitioner shows that both of the parents of said William L. Story departed this life before him, and that there was no issue of her marriage with said William L. Story; and that he died without issue, having married no other person. Your petitioner shows that at his death he left a last will and testament in the olographic form, in an unsealed envelope which is endorsed "This envelope contains the last will and testament of William L. Story, Testator; "which said envelope, containing what purports to be the last will and testament of said William L. Story, is hereto annexed and made part hereof. Your petitioner shows that by the terms of said will she is nominated executrix with seizen and without bond, and is the universal legatee. Petitioner shows that prior to his death, said William L. Story paid all of his debts, and that his estate owes no monies whatever excepting his funeral and burial expenses and a few of the costs of his last illness, and that since his death she has paid these out of her separate and paraphernal funds and holds them against the estate. Petitioner shows that she desires the said last will and testament to be duly probated, and that she be recognized and confirmed as testamentary executrix under the terms of the said will, with seizen and without bond, and to this end prays that this Honorable Court may set a day for the probate of the said will, and that the presumptive heirs of her deceased husband may be duly notified. Petitioner shows that there being neither ascendants nor descendants of her said husband, the presumtive heirs are his brothers and sisters and their descendants, fully set out as follows, to-wit : 1. The children of Mrs. Caroline Story, now deceased, widow of Brittain Prewitt, also deceased, who was a full sister to William L. Story, as follows: Sidney, John, Sarah, Myra, Mary, James and Jesse Prewitt, all majors, and residents of Blairstown, East Feliciana, State of Louisiana; 2. Nancy Story, widow of Larry Young, deceased, a whole sister, who resides in Montpelier, Parish of St. Helena, State of Louisiana; 3. Sarah Story, widow of Quiller Phelps, deceased, a sister of the half-blood, who resides at Kent's Store, Parish of East Feliciana, State of Louisiana; 4. The offspring of Mrs. Ellen Story, deceased wife of Pipes Higginbotham; said offspring being as follows, to-wit : Mistress Georgia Higganbotham, wife of Andy Wales, Kentwood, La. Scott Higganbotham, Hatcher's Store, East Feliciana, Louisiana Ida Phelps Higganbotham, wife of Felix Phelps, Hatcher's Store Mrs. Sallie Higganbotham, wife of _ _ _ _ Wales, Kentwood, La. Mrs. Mary Higganbotham, wife of _ _ _ _ Wales, Hatcher's Store Flynn Higganbotham, Hatcher's Store, La. Miss Pinkie Higganbotham, unmarried, Hatcher's Store, La. Miss Johnnie Watkins Higganbotham, unmarried, Hatcher's Store, La. Mrs. Nellie Higganbotham, wife of _ _ _ _ Wright, Gilliard, La. All addressed as Hatcher's Store, La., live near Bluff Creek, in the parish of East Feliciana, La. and all are majors, except possibly Misses Pinkie and Johnnie Watkins Higganbotham. all of whom are majors, and who reside as per the post-offices set opposite their several names; and all fo the said above named persons, presumptive heirs of the said William L. Story, should be duly notified of the date, time and place of the probate of said will. Petitioner shows that all of the property standing in the name of William L. Story was acquired subsequent to their marriage, and was acquired with the separate and paraphernal funds of your petitioner, received by her by inheritance from the Leonard estate; and that all of said property is in the Parish of St. Helena, State of Louisiana, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court; and that an inventory should be made and an appraisement. Wherefore, the premises considered, petitioner prays that an inventory be made by John B. Wilson, Clerk of Court and ex-officio a Notary Public, of all of the property standing in the name of William L. Story and of your petitioner, said inventory to be descriptive and estimative; and that the last will and testament of said William L. Story be duly admitted to probate, and your petitioner recognized and confirmed as testamentary executrix, the probate to be after due notice of the date, time and place to the presumtive heirs of her deceased husband, all named in the petition. Further prays for all necessary orders, and for general relief. By her Attorneys (Can't read signature)