Abstracts of Probate Files, Oakland County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Alice D. Serrell. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. 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. _____________________________________________________________________ Abstracts of Probate Files in the Probate Court of Oakland County Michigan taken from "Abstracts of Probate Files in the Probate Court of Oakland County Michigan" Compiled by Alice D. Serrell for Ceneral Richardson Chapter Daughters of American Revolution 1959. I gathered these copies from the State of Michigan Library in Lansing and typed them up to share with others who may benefit from them. Page 43 1405 ODELL, JEREMIAH. Interstate, filed 12, Feb., 1857, died Sunday 25 Jan., 157. Heirs: Eliza Lemors Odell, widow, children - Benjamin (age 16), Henry James (age 12), Augustus (?), May (age 5), Lewis Manswerth (age 4). Adm.: Eliza L. Odell. Property in Royal Oak Twp. 1406 PERRY, AARON, Spendthrift, filed 13 Feb., 1857. Family: Abram Perry, Adam Perry, Francis, Jacob, and George Perry, Brothers. Guard: Joseph R. Bowman. Property in Oakland Twp. 1407 BENJAMIN, GEORGE, WILLIAM, MELVIN. Guardianship, filed 16 Feb., 1857. Children of Elisha Benjamin, dec'd. George was age 19 years, on 2 June 1856, died before 28 March 1860, William was age 18 years 13 March 1856, Melvin was age 15 years, on 10 June 1856. Guard.: (1) John Benjamin (2) clement J. Kemp. The boys lived in Avon Twp. See # 783 and 799. 1408 BAINES, JAMES B., LYDIA JANE. Guardianship, filed 25 Feb 1857. Children of Benjamin Heines, dec'd. Lydia Jane was age 14 years, in January 1857, James B. was age 12 years. Guardian: James Bernhart, uncle. Property in West Bloomfield Twp. 1409 CROSBY, ARZA. Will, dated at Springfield 16 Jan., 1847, died 1 February. 1857, filed 2 March 1857. Heirs Laura Crosby (2nd Wife), children ~ Samuel Clark Crosby, Alpheus Crosby, Abigail Mariah Crosby (Abigail Johnson in 1884), Hiram/Horace, Mary Ann (Mary Ann Taylor in 1884), and Isaac Crosby. Apparently Samuel, Alpeus, and Isaac were by the first wife, Abigail, Horace and Mary Ann by the 2nd wife. Adm: Ira Dayton. Witnesses to Will: Morgan L. Drake, Calvin A. Parks, Josiah W. Crain. Property in Springfield Twp. 1410 SMITH, GEORGE, Incompetent, filed 3 March 1857. Guard.: Malinda Smith, wife. Mr. Smith was badly injured in an accident a year ago and is not able to take care of his business. Property in village of Pontiac. 1410 ½ PICKLE, LOUISE. Guardianship, filed 26 Dec. 1856. daughter of Jacob Pickle, dec'd. Louisa was age 21 years on 25 March 1857. She is heir to a Land Warrant, #73387, on the military service of her father. 1411 GILLISPIE, ELIZABETH, Interstate, filed 9 March 1857, died 17 February 1857. Family: Nancy Gillispie, sister, Jane Greer - wife of Robert M., sister, Thomas Gillispie, brother, Robert, James and Sarah Gillispie, ½ brothers and sister. Adm: Robert M. Green. Property in Bloomfield Twp. Page 63 1595 RICH, THANKFUL. Interstate, filed 21 April 1859, died 7 December 1856, in Groveland Twp. Heirs: William Rich, son, age 57 years, on 2 February 1859, Lovina Birdsell, age 61 - wife of Jacob, Jonathan Rich, age 59 years on 11 September 1858, Eli Rich, age 55 years, on 7 March 1859. Property consisted of 165 acres of land, Land Warrant #57785. 1596 BENTLEY, BELINDA E. SARAH JANE, AMANDA A., JAMES A. Guardianship, filed 28 April 1859. Children of James J. Bentley, dec'd. Belinda is 18 years, Sarah Jane 15, Amanda A. 12, and James O is 1 year on 16 April 1859. Guard: Perry D. Bentley, brother. See #1465. 1597 THOMAS HENRY E., and others. Guardianship, filed 29 April 1859. Children of Charles and Polly Thomas. Henry E. is age 19, Seth M. is age 16, Frederick M. age 9, and James A. age 4. Guardian is Manley Irish. See 1578. 1598 TERRY, PASCHAL. Interstate, filed 7 May 1859. Died 3 July 1851 in Ann Arbor. Maria Terry was the widow. The property is in Pontiac Twp. Was from Land Warrant #41596. 1599 MURRAY, SANFORD T. Interstate, filed 10 May 1859, died 27 April 1859. Adeline M. Murray, widow, Charles and George Murray, sons. Adm.: Adeline M. Murray and Joel c. Mc Donald. Property in Milford Village, in Highland Twp. And in Livingston Co., Mich. See 1937. 1600 BANCROFT, JOSEPH D. Will - not in file, date 19 October 1852. Filed 9 May 1850. Eliza Bancroft was the widow, there was a son name unknown. Joseph D. Bancroft was "upwards of 60 years of age" when he made the Will in 1852. Adm.: Julius Dean. Witnesses to Will: Samuel E. Beach and Isaac R. Parrish. Property in Pontiac Twp. 1601 HUNTER, MARY G., and others. Guardianship, filed 16 May 1859. Children of James G. Hunter. Mary G. was 18 years., Caroline age 16, Thomas J. age 14 years on 15 July 1858, James age 12 and Edward age 10. Guard.: Alexander C. Mc Graw. Heirs to 1/4 of a piece of property in Bloomfield Twp. See #1590. 1602 FITZGERALD, JOSIAH. Interstate, filed 16 May 1859, died 29 April (unreadable). Heirs: Hannah E. Fitzgerald, widow, children (all minors) - Charlotte E., Lydia V., Flors U., Ins O., and Edwin W. Fitzgerald. Adm.: Hannah S. Fitzgerald and James B. Bradley. Property in Lyon Twp. See #1610. 1603 Snover, Moses. Interstate, filed 5 May 1859. Heirs: Margaret Snover, widow, children - George K., William, Peter C., Fredick, and Andrew Snover, Elizabeth Glaspie, Margaret Benghart, Mary Woodbeck, Rachel Walker, Dellie Durend. Adm.: Mathew D. Ribble. Property in Oakland and Addison Twps., the family lived in Oakland. See #653. Margaret Banghart was the wife of William Banghart. Rachel was the widow of Phillip T. Swayze. 1604 ODELL, HIRAM. Will - not in file. Heirs: Fanny Odell, widow, Mary Jane Davisen, Charlotte Henry, Rose Odell and Francis E. Odell. Adm.: Fanny Odell. Witnesses to Will: Thomas J. Drake and Peter Hogan. Hiram Odell was ca. 55 years old at time of death and lived in Pontiac Township. Page 64 1605 FOSTER, FREEMAN. Will dated at Brandon 25 May 1859, filed 2 June, died 27 May 1859. Adeline Foster, widow, "constituted his family. Mr. Foster was age ca. 50 years. Adm.: John C. Porritt and Manely H. Swe(?)rs. Witnesses to Will: William J. Hope, Robert Ramsey, Steven Caryl. Property in Brandon. 1606 ECKER, NICHOLAS. Will, written in Township of Royal Oak, 11 May 1859, filed 3 June, died 14 May, 1859, age ca. 52 years. Heirs: Azuba Ecker, widow (died 18 October 1865), children - Albert, Rosina, Cornelia Ann, Emeline, and Catherine E. Ecker. Ellen Hamilton was a granddaughter. In 1865 Rosina was Rosina Barnum - wife of William, and Cornelia Ann signed Ann Miller. Exec.: Asube Ecker, then Rosina Barnum. Witnesses to Will: Reuben Chapman, Lewis Sibley, Zanda Chapman. Property in Royal Oak Twp. 1607 GREER, ROBERT M. Will written in Twp. Of White Lake, 1 April 1859, filed 8 June, died 4 April 1859. Heirs: Mary M. Greer, widow, John M., Margaret J. and Jacob L. Greer. Exec.: Thomas Gillispie, Jacob Loomis (father-in-law). Witnesses to Will: John Greer, brother, and Thomas Gillespie. Property in White Lake Twp. 1608 HEDDEN, ALVAN. Will written at Newark, N. J. 24 March 1854, filed 8 June, 1859, died 29 September 1856 in N. J. Elizabeth Hedden, widow, only heir. She later married Stephen Congar. Adm.: Elizabeth Conger. Witnesses to Will: Starr Parsons, Amzi Lodd, Isaac A. Nichols. Property in Clinton, Essex Co., N. J. and in Waterford Twp., Oakland Co., Mich. 1609 GRAGG, ROBERT. Interstate, filed 15 June 1859, died 15 November 1855 in Shiawassee Co. Heirs: Catharine Gragg (later married - Heath), widow, children - Maryette Willcox, John Gragg, Martha Ann Heath, Eliza Jane Gragg, Jarves/James T., George R. and William H. Gragg. Adm.: Ebeneser heath. Property in Gratiot Co., Mich. The family lived in Novi Twp., Oakland Co. See 1911. 1610 GITZGERALD, CHARLOTTE E. and others. Guardianship, filed 16 June, 1859. Heirs of Josiah Fitzgerald, father and Allan Fitzgerald, grandfather. Charlotte E. was age 15 years on 21 Oct., 1859, Lydia V. was 12, Edwin W. was 9, Flora 0.7, and Ina 0 age 2 years. Guard.: Hannah Fitzgerald, mother. Andrew Fitzgerald is mentioned but not identified. Property in West Bloomfield Twp. See 1602. 1611 TUTTLE, ALICE S., HATTIE C. Guardianship, filed 16 June 1859. Children of Sarah A. Tuttle, dec'd. Alice is age 10 years and Hattie is age 6 years. Guard.: John R. Tuttle, father. Property in Wayne co., Mich. The family lived in Novi Twp. 1612 SWAYZE, ISRAEL H. Incompetent, Filed 21 June 1859. Israel is age 27 years, heir to property of Grandfather. Guard.: Anthony J. Swayze, uncle. Hezekia D. Swayze and Garrett Swayze were relatives. Page 74 1698 RICH, WILLIAM. Interstate, filed 25 June 1860, died 2 May 1860. Heirs: Sarah Rich, widow, children - Joseph, Freling H., Evin, and David Rich, Mary Ogg, Olive Wiggins, Sarah Applin, Miranda Eggleston, William and Emma Rich, grandchildren. Adm.: David a Wright. Property in Groveland Twp. 1699 BLANCHARD, JOSEPHINE. Guardianship, filed 24 July, 1860. Granddaughter of Caleb Sprague, dec'd. Josephine is age 7 years, lives with father Samuel Blanchard, in Farmington Twp. In 1876 she was Josephine Ballard of Charlotte, Mich. Guard.: Jonathan Sprague, uncle. See 607, 944, and 1586. 1700 CAMPBELL, JOHN, Will, dated at Independence 20 July 1860, filed 30 July, died 20 July 1860. Heirs: Ann Campbell, widow, children - John J., David D., Charles F., Isaac W., Benjamin Campbell, Hannah C., Emma C., and Mary A. Campbell. Adm.: Mary Ann Campbell. Witnesses to Will: De Kaleb Axford, Horatio Foster, John Axford, Isaac Van Winkle, William Axford. John Campbell was age ca. 60 years at the time of Death. See 2575. 1701 TOWNSEND, PETER. Will, dated at Addison 28 Sept., 1854. Will (2), 18 August., 1858, filed 3 August 1860, died 25 July, 1860. Heirs: Sarah Townsend, widow, Charles W. and John Townsend, sons, Ann E. Odell - Wife of Ransom (William in Marriage Records), daughter. Adm.: Matthew D. Ribble. Witnesses to Will #1: F. Houck, John A Brewer; Will #2: Matthew D. Hibble, Abram N. Brewer. Property in Lapper Co. 1702 WERRILL, SARAH. Interstate, filed 9 August 1860, died 22 July 1860, age 95 years. Widow of Caleb Merrill, a private in the Revolutionary War. Heirs: John J. Merrill, age 63 years, Ann Loondad (?), age 65 years, charlotte Pratt, age 55 years, Charles G. Merrill, age 61 years, Helen Seitt/Swift, age 50 years. Sarah was a U. S. pensioner at the rate of $96.00 per annum, had lived in Oakland Co., ca. 15 years, before that had lived in New York State. Lived in Independence Twp. 1703 WOOD, JOHN. Will dated at Royal Oak 1 August 1860, filed 13 August 1860, died 3 August 1860. Heirs: Hannah Wood, widow, children - John Wood, Sarah Wood, Jane Noyes (adopted daughter). Exec.: Tracy Gibbs; Witnesses to Will: Orson Starr, Flemon Drake, Tracy Gibbs. Property in Royal Oak. 1704 TENNY, RUFUS. Interstate, filed 14 August 1860, died in 1858 at Milford. Eunice Tenny, mother. Several brothers and sisters. Adm.: Joseph R. Rownan. 1705 WYMAN, LUCINDA. Incompetent, filed 20 August 1860. Eliza A Hinks is a sister. Guard.: James W. Hinks. Property in Pontiac and in Lapper Co. 1706 PEARSON, RICHARD. Interstate, filed 21 August 1860, died 15 July 1860. Heirs: Rhoda Pearson, widow, children - Daniel W. Alfred B., Emily A., and Arcelia E. Pearson. Adm.: Daniel Ely. Property in Novi Twp. See 1922. Page 138 2297 BELL, ALVA. Interstate, filed 18 September 1865. This file is missing. 2298 AXFORD, JOHN. Will, dated Oakland Twp. 1 July 1861, filed 26 September 1865, died 18 September 1865. Heirs: Charity Axford, widow, children - William J. Axford; John D. Axford; Ann Taylor; Caroline Smith, dec'd, her heirs: Caroline Smith, John, Garrett and Peter Smith, Sally Petty, Samuel and Eliza Smith; Mary Taylor - wife of John Q. Taylor; Edna Kline/Cline; Mercy Brown; Saray Rusling (also spelled Rustling, Rustting, Ruslling). Exec.: William J. Axford. William L. Cramer was app. Special Adm. John and Charity Axford were married at Oxford, Warren Co., N. J. in Nov., 1824. Extensive property in Oakland Twp. Witnesses to Will: Sarah H. Harris, Samuel Harris. Note: This John Axford is often confused with the John Axford of Independence Twp. 2299 ODELL, HENRY. Will - not in file. Filed 27 September 1865, died 11 September 1865. Heirs: Sarah Odell, widow (she died 18 September 1865). Jonathan and Lewis Odell, Lucretia Crawford, Caroline Moore, Samson Odell and wife Mary, Morvalden Odell and Deliah Odell. Adm.: George Bourns. The family lives in Milford Twp. See 2465. dz