Ralls County Missouri Probate Records - George SHAVER (Will) George Shaver's will and lawsuit that followed His will reads as follows: (from Will Book T, p. 634, Ralls Co., MO) This is my last will and testement in the name of God Amen: I, George Shaver of the county of Ralls in the state of Missouri, of sound mind and body do make this my last will and testement first, my will and desire is after my decease to be decently buried, secondly, after my death my will is that a sufficiency of my personal estate be sold to fully pay all my just debts, my will and desire is that my wife [this would be his second wife, Ann] have a horse worth fifty dollars, and five head of sheep, in addition to the property specified in a certain marriage contract which is on record in the clerks office of Ralls County, Missouri. The date of said contract not now recollected, my will and desire is that my daughter Elizabeth Turner be possessed of the forty acres of land on which she now resides in fee simple after my decease and nothing more, I give to my daughter Sarah Drake the sum of ten dollars and the amount that she is due the estate, and nothing more, I give and bequeath to my two grandchildren, viz Christopher Barr and John Barr, each five dollars and to Nancy Jane Barr all the ballance of my estate that would descend to their mother Nancy Barr, I give and bequeath to my grand-daughter Jane Stevens all of her mother's interest in my estate except what S.W. Stevens her father is due said estate, my will and desire is all the ballance of my children have equal shares except Julia Leake, my will and desire is that she have one hundred dollars more than the others and I appoint my son Edward Shaver and James M. Leake executors of this my last will and testament. I witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of October A.D. 1868. his Attest George x Shaver Hurt Yager mark Geo. H. Utterback ----- With that as the setting, that there was a big lawsuit filed by his children against the estate, and the land ended up being divided as follows: Julia A. Leake and her husband, James M., 100+ acres Jane Anderson, 37+ acres George A. Shaver, 52+ acres John Shaver, 33+ acres Alfred Shaver, 50+ acres Louisa Rouse, 50+ acres Nancy J. Bear/Barr, 51+ acres. It was a long case held in New London, Ralls Co. The plantiffs were: Julia and James Leake William C. Shaver George A. Shaver Edward H. Shaver Rebecca J. Shaver The defendants were: John Shaver Alfred Shaver George W. Shaver Louisa and Samuel Rouse Sarah and A.S. Drake Elisabeth and Aaron Turner Christopher Bear/Barr John Bear/Barr Nancy J. Bear/Barr Jane and A. Anderson Jessie Shaver The court, taking into consideration the indebtedness of Edward H. Shaver, deceased, ruled that his heirs, William C Shaver, Edward H. Shaver Jr., George A. Shaver, Rebecca J. Shaver, and Jessie Shaver, are not entitled to any portion of said real estate. The said indebtedness of their father, Edward H. Shaver, amounting to more than the value of his remaining portion of said Real Estate. 28 March 1876, New London, Ralls Co., MO --- ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be 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 for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dan & Robyn Asimus ====================================================================