Probate/Estate Records of John(s/o George Adam) & Mary ECKHART: File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by H. Andrew BROWN. habraun@pacbell.net USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. _________________________________________________________________________ Probate/Estate Records of John(s/o George Adam) & Mary ECKHART: Slaves appraised in the 1835 Estate Inventory included: Black Man(Harry)$600 - sold to John Eckhart, Black Boy(Bile/Rile) $600 - sold to Hannah Eckhart, Black Boy(Levi) $400 - sold to Adam Eckhart, Black Boy(Mandy) $350 - John McGittigan, Black Boy(Tom) $400 - sold to David Eckhart, Black Boy(Dennis) $250 - sold to Mary Eckhart, Black Boy(William) $100 - sold to Mary Eckhart, Black Girl(Lyndy) $450 - sold to Mary Eckhart, & Black Girl(Milly) $450 - sold to John Hansel. The results of the sale of John Eckhart's Personal Property were reported on 23 NOV 1835: Nine slaves $ 3,600.00 Mary Eckhart ; cupboard/table $ .18 John McGittigan; old shot gun $ 1.25 Mary Eckhart ; hogshead/tackle $ 1.50 James Kidwell ; old shot gun $ 1.25 Mary Eckhart ; lot of flax $ 2.00 John Eckhart ; old shot gun $ 3.00 Mary Eckhart ; whisky barrell $ 1.00 ? Cheney ; adz $ .45 Mary Eckhart ; plow/cupboard $ 20.00 James Kidwell ; adz $ .30 Mary Eckhart ; table/bench $ .31 Moses Rawlings ; lot old iron $ 4.31 Mary Eckhart ; safe/steel yard $ 2.25 ?Jese W. Cheney; lot old iron $ 1.70 Mary Eckhart ; tin plate stove $ 13.00 Moses Rawlings ; crop cut saw $ 3.04 John Eckhart ; silver watch $ 5.00 Mary Eckhart ; flax wheel $ 1.00 Mary Eckhart ; beds/bedding $ 9.12 Mary Eckhart ; big flax wheel $ 2.00 Mary Eckhart ; chest $ 1.50 John Eckhart ; man's saddle $ 8.00 Wm. Ridgely ; dining table $ 3.18 John McGittigan; man's saddle $ 5.00 Mary Eckhart ; hams/chains $ 3.00 James Kidwell ; riding bridle $ .50 Henry ?Hubon ; auger $ .37 Mary Eckhart ; 2 Dutch Ovens $ .50 John McGittigan; waggon $ 32.00 Mary Eckhart ; pots & kettles $ 1.68 Mary Eckhart ; waggon/coal bed $ 31.50 Mary Eckhart ; pot hook $ .18 John Mcgittigan; 102 bushels rye $ 68.67 Mary Eckhart ; 2 pot holders $ .87 Mary Eckhart ; rye & wheat $ 34.00 John Neff ; bundled straw $ 11.39 John Porter ; lot of flax $ 2.12 John Neff ; stack of oats $ 12.62 Robt. ?Lowry ; stack of hay $ 15.40 Wm. Ridgely ; stack of hay $ 21.00 Mary Eckhart ; hay in mow $ 41.00 Jos. H. Logsdon; auger/coal $ 71.67 Thos. A. Cheney; sow & 4 pigs $ 11.00 Mary Eckhart ; 5 sows & pigs $ 30.50 Mary Eckhart ; 3 sheep/whte cow$ 24.42 Mary Eckhart ; red milk cow $ 19.00 Hannah Eckhart ; black cow $ 16.25 Danl. ?Quilly ; white cow $ 13.25 Wm. Ridgely ; rye in the field$ 35.00 John Eckhart ; black mare colt $ 40.00 John McGittigan; sorrel horse $ 31.50 Mary Eckhart ; tan horse $ 50.00 John McGittigan; black mare $ 18.00 Josiah Porter ; old gray mare $ 2.01 John H. Logsdon; black horse $ 22.50 Danl. O'Brian ; blk smith tools $ 11.62 John McGittigan; hay fork $ .22 Josiah Porter ; copper stick $ 36.10 Jese W. Cheney ; hay fork $ .32 John Neff ; shovel plow $ 1.46 Mary Eckhart ; cockery ware $ 1.25 Edw. W. Donato ; old slate $ .20 Mary Eckhart ; axe/pewter/iron $ 1.50 John McGittigan; Durkely Gotes $ 50.69 Mary Eckhart ; Durkely Gotes $ 57.97 Mary Eckhart ; dining table $ 5.00 John McGittigan; bedstead $ .50 Hannah Eckhart ; bed/bedding $ .50 Morgan Porter ; saw $ .31 Douglas Percy ; leather $ .50 Mary Eckhart ; old bible $ .50 Mary Eckhart ; table/chairs $ 3.50 Mary Eckhart ; bed/bedstead $ 6.00 Mary Eckhart ; shillets/bureau $ 5.00 Total Proceeds of Sale $ 4532.69 At his death in the fall of 1835, John was owed money, besides Mathew St. Clair, but also: Josiah Porter $16, Mesheck Frost $36, John Neff $13.50, Abraham Skinner $375, Abraham Johnson $160, Benjamin ?Hirly $800, Robert Wheelock $4.25, Robert Lowry $8.75, & Thomas McQuin $ ?. ..John's probate in the final accounting of 15 SEP 1836(37?) revealed that: John Hansel & Adam Eckhart acted as co-administrators. Value of the estate was $24,970.74 cash. A long list of claimants paid miscellaneous sums including a Delila Eckhart & Jacob Hansel who owed or paid estate small sums. The heirs received: Mary Eckhart, widow....................................$ 7,200.00 John Eckhart, heir.....................................$ 1,800.00 John McGettigan, heir..................................$ 1,800.00 John Forsythe, heir....................................$ 1.800.00 John Hansel, heir......................................$ 1,800.00 Adam Eckhart, heir.....................................$ 1,800.00 John Hansel, Administrator of Estate of Jacob Eckhart..$ 1,800.00 Samuel Bevans, Guardian for John S. Bevans.............$ 1,800.00 Adam Eckhart, Guardian for David Eckhart...............$ 1,800.00 Adam Eckhart & John Hansel split Administrator's commission...............$ 1.248.53 Maryland law evidently provided that John Sr.'s daughter's inheritance be paid to their husbands. Jacob Eckhart had evidently died and thus John Hansel was his estate's administrator. One daughter of John ECKHART Sr. evidently was deceased and thus Samuel BEVANS acted as guardian for their only child: John S. BEVANS. John Eckhart Sr. owned a farm with 160 acres of tillable land and rented another 80 acres to son-in-law, John Hansel(#040). 1836 Mary ECKHART charged with LUNACY by her sons: Adam & John. ..083*Mary ECKHART, after the death of her husband, evidently began to act in a manner that aggravated her sons(perhaps an attempt to free her slaves?), because on 08 APR 1836 Adam & John ECKHART filed for a Writ of Lunacy against their mother in the Allegany MD County Court(#270). A Trustee seems to have been appointed over her with bonds posted. She appealed the order on 26 OCT 1848 and the case seems to have been transferred to G. W. RAY in the Morgantown\Monongalia\VA/WV Court. Whatever the merits of the Lunacy charge, while in Allegany Co. MD, she seemed to be managing her own farm with several slaves & retarded son, David, living with her. In the 1850 Monongalia County, Virginia Census Mary Ann Eckhart was living with Adam ECKHART just down the road from daughter, Mary Hansel(082-1). She had probably accompanied son, Adam, to Monongalia County, VA(WV) in 1841. Despite her son's actions, Mary Eckhart left bequests to them in her will of 3 JUL 1843 which was was probated July 1850 & read: * "In the name of god amen, I Mary Ann Eckhart now of Monongalia County Virginia being weak in body but sound mind and memory, and calling to mind the uncertainty of life and the necessity of arranging my werdly affairs do make this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former wills and Testaments. * First I hereby direct that my just debts shall first be paid, and after payment of the same and my funeral expenses I hereby devise and bequeath as follows vis: * Secondly - That after my decease I direct that my black woman Malinda shall be free - and that all necessary papers showing her freedom be furnished to her." * "Thirdly - That the children of said Malinda shall be free in manner following to Vz the boys at the age of thirty five and the girls at the age of twenty five Vs. Dennis of the age of 16 on the 5 of August 1843 -William 11 year old 4 February 1844 - Matilda 8 year old 16 of 1843 - Livinia Six years old the 16 May 1843 - Fielding three years old the 22nd of February 1843 and Martha one year old the 22 August in the year 1843 - * The above named being the children of said Malinda - and any further encrease that said Malinda may have previous to my decease shall be freed in like manner at the ages of 25 and 35 years - * Fourthly - to my Sonn Adam ECKERT and John ECKERT I hereby give and bequeath the before mentioned negroes and encrease until they shall by this will become free, and all the rest of my Estate of all kinds whatsoever, believing that the seaid Adam & John Eckart have greater claims upon me than any of the rest of my children except my afflicated son David(1850 Census listed as an Idiot) who is sufficiently provided for - But I hereby direct that of my Estate, my son John shall have my house hold & kitchen furniture to himself." * "Fifthly I hereby appoint Edgar C. Wilson Executor to this my last will and testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 3d day of July in the year 1843" Mary Ann "*" Eckhert ..Witnesses: James Evans, Peter Davis of Monongalia Co., Virginia(WV). In August 1850, Mary Ann's slaves were appraised thus: Dennis(23yrs), William(17yrs), & Fielding(10yrs) at $220 each. Lucinda was appraised at $200. All were handed over to son, Adam. Approximately $350 was owed the estate by Evan Ellicott & Richard Grays for purchase of unnamed negroe children(Lavinia, Martha, & Matilda ?). The notes were judged worthless because Ellicott was insolvent and Grays was a blackman without property. The notes were marked 'B' and returned to the court.