1861 Succession of Alexander M. Taylor, Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Shawn Martin, 10/2004 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= Succession of Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. Union Parish Louisiana Succession Book E, pp. 282 - 290 ================================================================================== To the Honorable the Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District Court in and for the Parish of Union, Louisiana. The petition of Jordon G. Taylor and of Jordon G. Taylor, Junr., both residents of said Parish and State, respectfully represents that Alexander M. Taylor, late a resident of your said Parish departed this life on the sixth day of July AD 1861 leaving a considerable estate, consisting of real estate, slaves and personal property rights and credits also leaving a widow, partner in community, and the following heirs, the issue of the legal marriage with his wife now in community, Winifred Mathews, or their heirs representing them to wit: Elizabeth Catherine, decd. represented by her children; John D. Taylor; Mary wife of Joseph McGough; petitioner, J. G. Taylor, Junr.; Benjamin Taylor; Martha, wife of Livingston Cooper; and the minors Eliza Taylor, Francis Taylor Emmeline Taylor, Sarah A. Taylor and Robert F. Taylor. Petitioner represents that before his decease to wit on the first day of July AD 1861, the said deceased executed a manuscriptive will under private signature in accordance with the forms and formalities prescribed by law in which he appoints petitioners executors of the same. Petitioners being willing to accept the trust therefore prays that the said will which is hereby and herewith prescribed may be filed, probated and read according to law, and be ordered to be executed and recorded. Petitioners further pray that according to the terms of the said will they may be appointed executors of the same and that after due proceedings had, letters executing may issue according to law, then an inventory may be made, and that all such other and further proceedings may be had as the case requires. H. Regenburg, Atty. State of Louisiana 11th Judl. Disct. Court Parish of Union The premises considered it is ordered and decreed that Jordon G. Taylor, Sr. and Jordon G. Taylor, Jr. be and they are hereby appointed and confirmed as Co-Executors of the Estate , will and testament of Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. It is further ordered that William C. Smith, Parish Recorder and Ex-officio Notary Public in and for the Parish and State be and he is authorized to make an Inventory and accounting and appraisement of the property belonging to the Estate of Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. and due return thereof make to this office. Done and signed in office on this the 9th Day of July AD 1861. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk State of Louisiana 11th Judl. Dist. Court Parish of Union It is ordered and decreed that the document purporting to be the last will and testament of Alexander M. Taylor, Decd., be opened and read on Saturday the 13th day of July AD 1861 at the Court House in Farmerville, La. at [blank] o'clock and that the parties intended be duly notified thereof July 8th, 1861. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk In the matter of the probate of the last will and testament of Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. Be it remembered that on this the 13th day of July AD 1861, according to previous appointment personally came and appeared before me Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk of the 11th Judicial District Court in and for said Parish of Union and State of Louisiana, Jordon G. Taylor, Jr., a resident of said Parish, who after he being sworn, deposes and says that Alexander M. Taylor, late of said parish departed this life in said Parish on or about the 6th day of July 1861 and presented a document which he declares that he believes to be the last will and testament of the said Alexander M. Taylor, the premises being considered it is ordered that the said document be opened and read according to law. Wherefore came forward the following witnesses who of he be duly sworn according to law, declared and testified as follows: Henry Regenburg, sworn says I wrote the document presented as the last will and testament of Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. at his request and after his reading the said document in the presence of the other witnesses and Alex M. Taylor, he the said A. M. Taylor acknowledged the same to be his legal will and testament and signed the same in my presence and in the presence of William C. Carr, John Archer, John Taylor, S. W. Ramsey and B. F. Dillard. I was acquainted with the said Alexander M. Taylor. H. Regenburg Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of July AD 1861 Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk Wm. C. Carr sworn, says I know that Alex M. Taylor is decd. I was well acquainted with him. The document just opened and read purporting to be the last will and testament of Alexander M. Taylor was signed by said Alexander M. Taylor and the other witnesses to wit: John Archer, John Taylor, S. W. Ramsey and Benj. F. Dillard in my presence when I also signed it at the same time and place and said document was read by H. Regenburg and the said Alex M. Taylor declared the same to be his last will and testament. Wm. C. Carr Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of July AD 1861. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk John Taylor, S. W. Ramsey and B. J. Dillard being sworn says, We concur in the statement just made by William C. Carr and re recognize and acknowledge our signatures to the said Document as genuine. John Taylor S. W. Ramsey B. J. Dillard Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of July 1861. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk I then proceeded to read the will and last testament of Alexander M. Taylor in the presence of H. Regenburg, William C. Carr, John Taylor, Simpson W. Ramsey and Benjamin F. Dillard, witnesses and other persons present. It is therefore ordered and decreed that the said will be executed and rendered according to law and after being variations at the beginning and of each page that it be deposited among the records of the court. Done and signed in Chambers on this the 15th day of July AD 1861. Thos C. Lewis, Clerk State of Louisiana 11th Judl. Dist. Court Parish of Union In the matter of the Probate of the last will and testament of Alexander M. Taylor Be it remembered that on this the 13th day of July 1861 before me the undersigned clerk of said court Henry Regenburg, known to me to be resident of the Parish and State aforesaid who being duly sworn by me says that he was well acquainted with Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. and that the document marked "A" and opened by me in his presence was written by him at the request and diction of said Alexander M. Taylor and read by him in the presence of said Alexander m. Taylor and the said subscribing witnesses. That he declared the same to be his last will and testament that it was signed by said Alexander M. Taylor and by himself and by the other subscribing witnesses at the time the same bears date, William c. Carr also known to me to be a resident of the Parish and State aforesaid sworn says that he was well acquainted with the testator Alexander M. Taylor and that he knows that he is dead. That he heard H. Regenburg, one of the witnesses read the document marked "A" in the presence of the testator and of the subscribing witnesses, that he the said Alexander M. Taylor declared the same to be his last will and testament and he signed the same in the presence of the witnesses at the time it bears date. John Taylor, S. W. Ramsey and B. F. Dillard, all known to be to be residents of the said Parish and State after being duly sworn by me states that they concur in the statement made by Wm. C. Carr, and that they each acknowledge and recognize their signatures to the said document. The Depositions of said witnesses were reduced to writing by me and sworn to and subscribed before me after which I read the said documents in an audible voice to the witnesses and others present and it appearing to be regular in form it was ordered to be executed and rendered after signing the variation at the beginning and end of each page which properly was done by me at the time and it was further ordered to be deposited in the office among the records of Court. Done and signed in Chambers on this day and date above written. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk I, Alexander M. Taylor, being at the present moment in feeble health but in the full engagement of mental process having revued the uncertainty of life, and the certainty of death, do hereby make this my last will and testament, to wit: 1st I appoint Jordon G. Taylor and Jordon G. Taylor, Junr. executors of this will and give the full signing of my estate and succession from the moment of my departure from this life. 2nd It is my will that my dwelling house and the land attached thereto situated near the town of Farmerville, be sold by my said Executors according to their best judgment at public sale at private sale and that they be authorized to make and complete such sale hereby ratifying any such act deed or title done or made by them in accomplishing any such sale. 3rd It is my will, that my said executors should pay the debts I may bear onto such funds as may be on hand, or due me at this time of the same shall be sufficient without making sale of property. 4th It is my will that the whole estate I may have including property of any and every kind, be left in the possession of my wife Winifred Matthews and I hereby give her the issue first of the same during her natural life, having only excepting the before mentioned Farmerville property and raise our children out of the proceeds of the same. 5th It is my will that my said Executors attend to the final partition of my estate amount my heirs according to law, always producing such property as I have given of during my lifetime to any of them and for which receipts will be found in my succession shall be collected by taking less according to the terms of such receipt and I strictly [unreadable] upon my said executors that if the said partition should occur before the children of my daughter Elizabeth Catherine Taylor and Sterling C. Lee shall arrive at the age of majority that they shall partition among them the share of my estate that may be coming to them as heirs of their mothers, and deliver the same to their legal guardian in real estate and not otherwise. 6th It is my will that the previsions of this will be strictly carried out and an order to [unreadable] the same, I hereby direct that if any or [unreadable] of my heirs should be disposed to oppose my executors in the faithful and punctual execution of the same, I hereby reduce the destination share of such of my heirs to their [unreadable] or forced portion the reduction to be distributed among those who have acquiesced herein over this clause. I especially give my executives my charge. Alex M. Taylor Done and signed in the presence the first day of July AD 1861. In presence of Wm. C. Carr John Archer John Taylor S. M. Jordon B. Dillard H. Regenberg State of Louisiana Parish of Union Do you and 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 Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. at its cash value to the best of your knowledge and understanding. So help you God. William Dean R. W. Winds Sworn and subscribed before me this the 12th day of July AD 1861. W. C. Smith Parish Recorder State of Louisiana Parish of Union Be it remembered that on this the twelfth day of July AD One thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty One, appurtenance of an order of the Honorable 11th Judicial District Court within and for the Parish of Union and state of Louisiana, I, William C. Smith, Parish Recorder and Ex-officio Notary public in and for the Parish and state aforesaid assisted by William Dean and Robert W. Winds, lawful citizens of the parish aforesaid who being duly appointed and sworn by me the said recorder as appraisers and in the presence of two lawful and competent witnesses proceeded to make an inventory and appraisement of all the property both real and personal, rights and credits belonging to the Estate and Succession of Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. late of the Parish of Union to wit: Tract of land situated in the Parish of Union five miles North East of Farmerville containing Fifteen hundred and sixty acres more or less with all the improvements thereon appraised @ four dollars per acre $6240.00 Tract of land situated in said Parish in the town of Farmerville containing 80 acres more or less with the dwelling house and other improvements appraised @ fifteen hundred dollars 1500.00 Household and Kitchen furniture apprd. @ 220.00 1 Sliding seat buggy and double harness apprd. @ 175.00 1 Log wagon apprd. @ 50.00 1 Lot black smith tools apprd. @ 25.00 1 Lot farming utensils containing plougs, hoes, gear &C apprd. @ 60.00 1 Grind stone apprd. @ 2.00 2 [Unreadable] and cradles apprd. @$1. ea. 2.00 1 Lot wagon wheels apprd. @ 40.00 9 bee hives apprd. @ $2. ea. 18.00 List of Slaves Edmund, man age 51 years, dark color apprd. @ 300.00 Frank, man age 33 years, mulatto color apprd. @ 1200.00 Bill, a man age 29 years, dark color apprd. @ 1200.00 Jake, a man age 27 years, dark color apprd. @ 1200.00 Buck, a man age 23 years, copper color apprd. @ 1250.00 Jim, a man age 21 years, copper color apprd. @ __1000.00 14512.00 Amount brought forward 14512.00 Abe, a man aged 21 years, dark color apprd. @ 1250.00 Sandy, a boy aged 16 years, dark color apprd. @ 1000.00 Harry, a boy aged 16 years, dark color apprd. @ 900.00 Aaron, a boy aged 19 years, dark color apprd. @ 250.00 Ned, a man aged 25 years, dark color apprd. @ 1100.00 Jack, a man aged 55 years, dark color apprd. @ 600.00 Dick, a man aged 42 years, copper color apprd. @ 1200.00 George, a boy aged 12 years, dark color apprd. @ 800.00 Harry, a boy aged 10 years, dark color apprd. @ 650.00 Tom, a boy aged 10 years, dark color apprd. @ 600.00 Joe, a boy aged 10 years, dark color apprd. @ 600.00 Sol, a boy aged 9 years, dark color apprd. @ 500.00 Colona, a woman aged 30 years, dark color and 3 children, Sam (boy aged 9), Charley (boy age 6), Olrin (age 3 years), all dark complexion apprd @ 2400.00 Christ, a woman aged about 20 years, dark color and 2 children Mariah (aged 4 years dark) and a boy (6 months old mulatto) a pprd. @ 1200.00 Eliza, a woman aged 21 years and 1 child named Bob age 1 year of dark complexion apprd. @ 1200.00 Rachel, a woman age 30 years and her child Anderson age 6 years apprd. @ ____900.00 $29462.00 Amount brought forward $29462.00 Charlett, a woman aged 18 years and 1 child named Eli, a infant both of dark complexion apprd. @ 1000.00 Violette, a woman aged 17 years and 1 child named Willie an infant of dark complexion apprd. 1100.00 Penny, a woman aged 25 years of dark complexion apprd. @ 1000.00 Amanda, a woman aged 26 years of dark complexion apprd. @ 800.00 Anne, a woman aged 18 years of copper color (not smart) apprd. @ 130.00 Hannah, a girl aged 15 years of dark complexion apprd. @ 650.00 Kitty, a woman aged 26 years of dark complexion apprd. @ 800.00 Amy, a woman aged 60 considered valuless by the appraisors 2 yoke oxen apprd. @ 80.00 1 old ox apprd. @ 18.00 1 yoke young oxen apprd. @ 25.00 32 heavy [unreadable] more or less apprd. @ 240.00 130 heavy hogs more or less apprd. @ 260.00 35 Heavy sheep more or less apprd. @ 70.00 12 mules apprd. @ 1200.00 1 four year old mare ____100.00 36952.00 Amount brought forward $36952.00 1 mare and colt apprd. @ 80.00 1 brown mare one-eyed apprd. @ 15.00 1 sorrell apprd. @ 50.00 2 three year old colts apprd. @ 200.00 2 two year old colts apprd. @ 100.00 1 corn sheller apprd. @ 8.00 1 horse waggon apprd. @ 50.00 1 ox apprd. @ 40.00 1 double barrell shot gun apprd. @ 75.00 Brenner & Shlenker note due one day after date, dated May 16th 1861 for one hundred fourteen 60/100 dollars 114.60 Allen Carrs Note date May 22, 1860 for Six Hundred & sixty dollars less a credit of three hundred & ninety four & 82/100 dollars. Balance due 265.18 W. E. Patterson's note due March 3d 1861 for the sun of seventy & 78/100 dollars with 8 per cent interest from maturity 70.78 Jessee Dean note due July 1st 1861 for twenty dollars with 8 per cent interest from maturity 20.00 Catherine Rabun note for six hundred and seventy five and 25/100 dollars due July 3rd 1861 _____675.25 Amount brought forward total amount $38715.81 Thirty eight thousand seven hundred & fifteen & 91/100 Dollars Having completed the foregoing Inventory, I have on this the 12th day of July AD 1861 closed the same in testimony whereof I have caused said appraisers to sign their names, hereto the presence of Henry P. Anderson and Martin B. Lee, two lawful and competent witnesses who have also signed their names with said appraisers and me the said recorder, on this the day and date above written. H. P. Anderson R. W. Winds Martin B. Lee William Dean W. C. Smith, Recorder To the Honorable Judge of the 12th Judicial District Court on and for the parish of Union and State of Louisiana The petition of Winfred Matthews, widow of Alex M. Taylor, Decd. late of said parish and state respectfully represents unto your honor that her minor children Eliza V. Taylor, William A. Taylor, James M. Taylor, Sarah Francis Taylor, Emeline I. Taylor, Sallie Ann Taylor, Robert F. Taylor the issue of the marriage between herself and her deceased husband are heirs to the estate and as uch and that it is necessary that they should be legally represented. She represents that she is the natural tutrix and requests to be appointed and confirmed as such after due proceedings had. H. Regenburg State of Louisiana 11th Judicial District Court Parish of Union The premises considered, it is and decreed that Winfred Taylor be and she is hereby appointed and confirmed Natural Tutrix to the minor children to wit: Eliza V., William A., James M., Sarah F., Emeline I., Sallie Ann and Robert F. Taylor and upon taking the oath prescribed by law that John Taylor be and he is hereby appointed Under Tutor to said minors and upon taking the oath prescribed by law that letters do issue to him. Done and signed in office on the 13th day of July 1861. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk State of Louisiana Parish of Union We, Jordon G. Taylor, Sr. and Jordon G. Taylor, Jr. do Solemnly swear that we will faithfully and impartially discharge all and singular the duties incumbent on us as Co-Executors of the Estate of Alexander M. Taylor, Decd. to the best of our abilities and understanding. So help us god. J. G. Taylor J. G. Taylor, Jr. Given to an subscribed before me on this 13th day of July AD 1861. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk State of Louisiana 11th Judl. Dist. Court Parish of Union I, Winfred Taylor do Solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent on me as Natural Tutrix to my minor children to wit: Eliza V., William A., J. M., Sarah Francis, Emeline J., Sallie Ann and Robert F. Taylor according to the best of my ability and understanding. So help me God. Winfred (her X mark) Taylor Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of July 1861. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk Tutorship of the minors of A. M. Taylor, Decd. State of Louisiana 11th Judl. Disct. Court Whereas, Winfred Taylor has been duly and legally appointed and confirmed as Natural Tutrix of the minor children to wit: Eliza V. William A., James M., Sarah Frances, Emeline I., Sallie Ann and Robert F. Taylor and she has taken the oath prescribed by law. Now therefore the said Winfred Taylor is hereby duly and legally authorized and empowered to do and perform all the duties appertaining to said appointment according to Law. Given under my hand and the seal of this court the 20th day of July AD 1861. Thos. C. Lewis, Clerk A True Record, January 31st 1862 Jas. L. Guthrie Clerk 11th Dist. Court ###########################################################