1862 - 1864 Succession of Ruben Grafton, Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Shawn Martin, 7/2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= 1862 - 1864 Succession of Ruben Grafton, Union Parish Louisiana Union Parish Louisiana Succession Book E, pp. 648 - 655 ================================================================================== NOTE: Ruben Grafton died on 1 May 1862 at Monroe, Louisiana, while serving as a private in Company E, 12th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. He apparently enlisted on 25 February 1862 in Shiloh (western Union Parish). It is not clear that he ever joined his unit, given that he died in Monroe. He may have gone to the Parlor City to a training camp, awaiting transport to join the 12th in Tennessee, and then become sick. ================================================================================== To the Honorable the Judge of the 11th Judicial District Court in and for the Parish of Union, State of Louisiana. The Petition of Susan Grafton, a resident of Union Parish, State of Louisiana respectfully represents unto your Honorable court that Rubin Grafton, also of said Parish lately departed this life intestate leaving your petitioner his surviving widow and five children the issue of his marriage with petitioner all minors, to wit: John Franklin, Martha Jane, Mary Ann Elizabeth, Sarah Frances and Rubin Grafton and leaving a small Estate consisting of land, horses, cattle, hogs and household and kitchen furniture, rights and credits and some debts. Petitioner avers that an Administrator is necessary and also a sale of the personal property for the payment of the debts. Wherefore she prays that this her application be advertised and after the legal delays, she be appointed Administratrix of said Estate that an appraisement and inventory of the same be ordered and also for an order to sell the personal property for the payment of the debts in accordance with the Code of Practice Act 990 and 991 for all further orders and decrees necessary in the premises and for general relief &c. Jno. L. Barrett, Atty. State of Louisiana Parish of Union It is ordered that the within application be advertised according to law and that W. C. Smith make an inventory and appraisement of all the property belonging to the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. and make due return to this office without delay. Done and signed in office this the 18th of December AD 1862. J. L. Guthrie, Clerk State of Louisiana Parish of Union Do each of you solemnly swear that you will faithfully and impartially appraise all the property that may be presented to you belonging to the Estate and succession of Rubin Grafton, Decd. at its cash value to the best of your Judgement and understanding. So help me God. J. J. Hammons L. W. Findley Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 29th day of December AD 1862. W. C. Smith, Recorder State of Louisiana Parish of Union Be it remembered that on this the 29th day of December AD 1862, in pursuance of an order of the Honorable 11th Judicial District Court in and for Parish and State and to W. C. Smith, Parish Recorder and Ex Officio Notary Public in and for said Parish and State, I repaired to the late residence of Rubin Grafton, Decd. and being assisted by John J. Hammons and Leroy F. Findley, two good and lawful citizens of the Parish of Union who being duly appointed and sworn by me the said Recorder as appraisers proceeded to make an inventory and appraisement of all the property rights and credits belonging to the Estate and Succession of Ruebin Grafton, Decd. as follows to wit: A tract of land situated in the Parish of Union known as the late residence of the Decd. containing 277 acres more or less apprd. @ $2.50 per acre $692.50 1 Sorrel horse apprd. @ 75.00 1 Yoke of work oxen apprd. @ 80.00 3 Cows and calves (6 head) 45.00 11 Head meet hogs 2 years old @ $15 per head 165.00 7 Head year old hogs apprd. @ $8.00 per head 56.00 2 Sowes with 15 pigs more or less apprd. @ 20.00 1 Ox wagon apprd. @ 40.00 1 Grind stone apprd. @ 2.00 1 Lot farming utensils apprd. @ 18.00 10000 pounds cotton in the seed more or less apprd. @ $2.50 250.00 Household and kitchen furniture apprd. @ 62.00 Note on Thos. Grafton for twenty seven and 30/100 Dollars with 10 per cent int. from 1 January 1861 27.30 Note on Francis Wise for $125.00 due 1st day January 1862 with 8 per cent Int. from Maturity less a credit of Thirty seven dollars 21st January 1862. Balance of principal ___88.00 Total amount 1620.80 Having completed the foregoing inventory and appraisement, I have on this the 29th day of December AD 1862 closed the same, in testimony whereof I have caused said appraisers to sign their names hereto in the presence of Walker Beird and Solomon Porter, two good and lawful witnesses, males of age domiciled in said parish and me the said Recorder on this the day and date above written. ATTTEST: J. J. Hammons Walker Beird L. F. Findley Solomon Porter W. C. Smith, Parish Recorder State of Louisiana 11th District Court Parish of Union I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially perform all and singular the duties incumbent on me as Administratrix of the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. to the best of my judgment and understanding. So help me God. Susan (her X mark) Grafton Sworn to and subscribed before me on this the 29th day of December AD 1862. W. C. Smith Deputy Clerk Succession of Rubin Grafton, Decd. State of Louisiana 11th District Court Parish of Union Whereas Mrs. Susan C. Grafton has this day been duly and legally appointed and confirmed Admx. of the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. and she has taken the oath required by law and given bond with good security according to the forms of law. Now, therefore, the said Susan C. Grafton is hereby duly and legally authorized to do and perform all and singular the duties appertaining to said appointment according to law. Given under my hand and the seal of said court January 2nd 1863. J. L. Guthrie, Clerk State of Louisiana Parish of Union Know all men by these presents that Mrs. Susan C. Grafton as principal and Tilman Porter as her security are held and firmly bound unto W. B. Egan, Judge of the 11th District Court or to his successors in office in the full sum of twenty one hundred dollars, the true and faithful payment thereof well and truly to be made are bind ourselves, our heirs and assigns firmly by these presents. Dated Farmerville, 29th day of December 1862. The conditions of the above obligations is such that whereas the above bound Susan C. Grafton has been duly and legally appointed Administratrix of the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. and she has taken the oath required by law. Now, therefore, if the said Susan C. Grafton shall faithfully and impartially discharge all and singular the duties incumbent on her as Admx. of said estate and shall faithfully account to the Judge of the said Court for all monies or property received from this or any other state and shall render a true account of all her acts in and about said Estate and where ever legally required so to do pay over all sums of money or other property of said estate to the proper person or persons to receive the same then this obligation to be null and void, otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue against the principal and securities. Susan C. (her X mark) Grafton Tilman Porter Signed and acknowledged before me this 20 December 1862. W. C. Smith, Deputy Clerk To the Honorable the Judge of the 11th Judicial District Court in and for the Parish of Union, State of Louisiana. The petition of Susan C. Grafton, a resident of your Parish and State aforesaid respectfully shows that she has been appointed Admx. of the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. She finds said estate considerably involved in debt and perhaps insolvent and that it is necessary to sell all of the effects of said estate to pay the debts. Wherefore she prays that she be authorized by an order of court to sell all of the property of the estate according to law after the necessary advertisements and delays for all orders necessary in [unreadable] and equity and for general relief. Jno. L. Barrett State of Louisiana 11th District Court Parish of Union Let the prays of petitioner be granted and it is ordered that there be a sale of the property belonging to the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. Done and signed in office this 29th July 1863. J. L. Guthrie, Clerk State of Louisiana Parish of Union Be it remembered that pursuant to an order of the Eleventh Judicial District Court authorizing the sale of all of the property of the Estate of Reubin Grafton, Decd. after having advertised the same for more than thirty days by posting notice of the same at the courthouse door and two other public places in the parish then having one newspaper published at the time in said Parish and after amounting the term of sale or advertised for cash in a loud voice. I did on the 29th day of August AD 1863 at the residence of said decd. between the said terms of sale offered at public auction to the highest bidder. The following described property and having cried the same for a sufficient length of time the following persons became purchasers to wit: Susan Grafton bought the tract of land known as the late residence of Rubin Grafton, Decd. lying in Union Parish Louisiana containing 277 acres more or less at $2.50 per acre $692.50 A. Garr bought 1 horse @ 75.00 3 Cows and calves 45.00 7 shoats @ $8.00 56.00 2 sows, 15 pigs 20.00 1 lot farming tools 18.00 household and kitchen furniture 62.00 11 meat hogs 165.00 Lewis Hegde [or Stegle] bought one yoke oxen 250.00 J. W. Duly bought 1 wagon and body 125.00 T. J. Porter bought 9861 lbs. See cotton 246.52 S. S. Heard bought 1 ginsland [sic] 17.00 Now therefore by virtue of the authority vested in me as Administrator of the said Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. the parties having complied with the terms of sale, I do hereby sell, transfer and adjudicate unto each of the aforesaid purchasers the property herein before set forth as purchased by them respectively furthermore to have and to hold the same forever. In testimony whereof, I have hereto signed my name on this the 17th day of May Ad 1864. ATTEST Susan C. (her X mark) Grafton W. M. Johnson John L. Barrett To the Honorable the Judge of the 11th Judicial District Court in and for the Parish of Union, State of Louisiana. The petition of Susan C. Grafton, Admx. of the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. respectfully represents that in the regular administration of said Estate she has sold all of the effects of the same, both real and personal and has realized from said sale as well appears from this process verbal thereof the sum of about $1750.00 to which sums She adds say $115.30 By her collected from notes Inventoried 1865.30 Eighteen hundred and sixty five 30/100 Dollars is the amount of assets of the Estate in the hands of the [unreadable] petitioner avers that she has accepted the following as just claims against the aforesaid Estate: 1. the claims of the widow and minor children for one thousand dollars 1000.00 2. J. L. Guthries, clerk fees 10.25 3. T. C. Lewis, clerk fees 20.00 4. W. C. Smith, recorder fees 11.00 5. Nno. L. Barrett, Atty. fees 30.00 6. Note from Wm. Hopkins for 25.00 Interest on same to date 5.65 7. Note from Wm. Hopkins 10.00 Interest on same to date 2.00 8. Note from Wm. Hopkins 120.00 Interest on same to date 20.80 9. Acct. due Wm. Hopkins 80.00 Interest on same to date 4.66 10. Note for R. G. Pleasants for 26.94 Interest on same to date 7.00 11. Note for R. G. Pleasants for 25.00 Interest on same to date 4.33 12. Note for Wm. Johnson or bearer for 452.00 Interest on same to date 119.50 13. Note for J. R. Clark for 27.84 Interest on same to date 5.63 14. Note for J. T. Clark &c for 9.93 Interest on same to date 2.50 15. Note for Wm. Johnson for 5.00 Interest on same to date 1.00 16. Note for Tubbs or Johnson for 60.00 Interest on same to date 10.40 17. Note for W. H. Bruce for 8.75 Interest on same to date 1.50 18. Note for W. L. Spears for 14.00 Interest on same to date 1.30 19. Note held by D. W. Fuller ___150.00 Sum total of debts of Estate $2267.32 Twenty two hundred and sixty seven 32/100 Dollars The Admrx. further represents that the claims of the surviving widow and minor children and law charges amounting to one thousand twenty one and 25/100 Dollars are privilege claims and entitled to be paid in full and that the balance say Eleven hundred and ninety six dollars are adversary claims and to be paid [unreadable] out of the remainder of the assets after the privileged claims ad paid which will be at the rate of about 65 cents on the Dollar. Wherefore petition prays that this her Statement of Debts and Tableau of Distribution be duly advertised in accordance to law and after the legal delays she prays for an order of court authorizing her to pay the claims as set forth first the privileged claims amounting to one thousand and seventy one 25/100 Dollars in full and the balance of the claims paid rates at sixty five cents on the Dollar for all items orders necessary and for general relief. Jno. L. Barrett, Atty. State of Louisiana 11th Judicial District Court Parish of Union The premises considered and it is ordered that the above and foregoing account and tableau of distribution be advertised according to law. Done and signed in office on this the 5th day of March AD 1864. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk, District Court Homolgation of the Statement of Debts & Tableau of Distribution filed by Susan C. Grafton, Admx. of the Estate of Ru8bin Grafton, Decd. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk of the District Court sworn says that the statement of debts and Tableau of Distribution in the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. was filed in the clerk's office on the 4th day of March 1864 and has been legally advertised in the following manner to wit: by posting a copy of the advertisement at the Court House door in the Town of Farmerville and by causing copies of the same to be posted at Shiloh and Downsville, two other public places in the Parish of Union. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of May AD 1864. W. C. Smith, Parish Recorder I hereby certify the above to be all the evidence addressed in the homolgation of the statement of debts Tableau of distribution filed by this Admx. of the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk, District Court State of Louisiana 11th Judicial District Court Parish of Union By reason of the law and the evidence in the matter of the Homolgation of the statement of Debts and Tableau of Distribution failed by Susan C. Grafton as Admx. of the Estate of Rubin Grafton, Decd. and by reason of due proof having been made of the legal advertisement of the same and no opposition having been filed thereto, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed that the said statement of Debts and Tableau of Distribution be and the same is hereby approved and homolgated in all its parts according to law and the said Administratrix is hereby authorized to pay the claims as set forth therein first the privileged claims and then the balance of the claims pro rata at sixty five cents on the Dollar. Done and signed in office on this the 7th day of May AD 1864. Thos. C. Lewis Clerk, District Court ###################################################################