Wills:  Probate papers for James Ross, Stoney Creek (1802) 
 
Copyright © 1998 by Carol Hepburn (pasomers@juno.com). This copy 
contributed for use in  
the USGenWeb Archives.  
 
USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals 
and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices 
and submitter information is included. Any other use, 
including copying files to other sites requires 
any other sites. We encourage links to the state and 
county table of contents. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania c/o Sheriff of
Somerset County Greetings.  Whereas Michael Ross, oldest son and heir
of James Ross late of Stoney Creek Township yeoman deceased this day, 
presents a petition to our Justice of the Orphans Court, the saim  
County, that the said James Ross died intestate leaving here besides 
your petitioner Eight children and his widow, one  of these named John, 
one other named Adam, one other named George, one other named Joseph, 
one other named Jacob, Mary intermarried with Stophel Burket, one other 
named Christina intermarried with N h Clark, and Elizabeth, that the 
saim James Ross at the time of his death was [seized?] of a 
certain plantation and tract of three hundred acres of land more or less 
situated in Stoney Creek Township adjoining the lands of Henry Ross and 
others,  That the said petitioner is praying and desirous the premisis 
and pay the of the widow other children of the deceased, in case the 
same cannot be divided to and amongst the said widow and children of the 
said deceased without prejudice to and spoiling the whole amd praying 
the Court to award an inquest to [view?] the said tract of land if they 
find that the same can be divided to and amongst the said widow and 
children of the said deceased without prejudice to and spoiling the 
whole, then to make a partition thereof,  but if they find that the same 
cannot be divided th 
en to value and appraise the same and make return of their procedings to 
the Orphan's Court.  And the said inquest is awarded by the said Cour 
t awarding to the prayer of the said  petition.  We therefore command 
you, that taking with you twelve honest and  lawful men of your 
Bailiwick  you go to the said and  plantation and  these by their solemn 
affirmation, in the presence of the parties aforesaid, b________ to be 
warned (if upon being warned they may be present) and the said Tract of 
land & premisis with the appurtasnses you cause to be  divided and 
posted amongst the said widow & children, so that neither the 
said  Widow, Michael, the oldest Sohn, John, Adam, Joseph George Jacob, 
Mary,  Christina & Elizabeth, have more of the said tract of land and 
premisis than to them of eight, in  post thereof to her belongings 
during her natural life, and the said Michael,  John, Adam, Joseph 
George Jacob, Mary, Christina & Elizabeth have their equal  parts 
thereof to them respectively and may be able severally
posses  themselves, if the saim can be divided without ...But if the 
same cannot be  divided without, to value the same undivided.  And also 
to enquire whether the same will conveniently accomodate more than one 
of the children of said intestate. And  that that partition or valuation 
so made you distinctly & openly have before  our Justice at Somerset at 
Orphan's Court ther to held the second monday in May, next under your 
hand & Land under the honors and seals of those* by whose th or
affirmation you shall make that partition or valuation.  And [have you 
them those?]  Witness Abraham Cable, Esquire at Somerset the eighth day 
of March in the year  of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two.