I got all excited last week because I saw on the Lauderdale County, Mississippi website that there was a file concerning the estate of George W Freeland, the brother of my 4th great-grandmother Elizabeth Freeland (the same brother, if you remember the posts concerning her divorce from Peter McQueen, that took care of her after Peter ran off). I was actually hoping it was his will, but it is paperwork concerning the administrators of his will and money owed him. I am still trying to find his will. A very lovely woman working in the probate court in Sumter County, Alabama (where George died) has been trying to search it out for me. Even though it seems in the records below that they did not know of any will, there was a will that was filed in July 1836 in Sumter County, Alabama that named his wife Eleanor “Nelly” Stalsworth giving her land to pay off debts (which, actually, explains why he was still selling off land years after his death…). Apparently his will also states that he was about 30 years old when he died, so I am very curious as to how he died.
Below is an exact transcription, errors and all, of the court records.
Administration Bond
of William Lee Esq
Isaac Barr and
Duncan Calhoun
Securities
Know all men by these presents that we William Lee of Sumpter (sic) County in the State of Alabama and Isaac Barr and Duncan Calhoun both of the County of Lauderdale and State of Mississippi are held and firmly bound unto Owen Lee Judge of the Probate court in and for the County of Lauderdale and State of Mississippi and his successors in office in the sum of four thousand dollars good and lawful money of the United States to be paid to said Owen Lee or his successors in office: To which payment will and truly to be made we do bind ourselves and heirs each of us by himself our heirs, executors and administrators and every of them firmly by these presents Sealed with our seals, dated this twenty fourth day of October One thousand eight hundred and thirty six
The conditions of this bond is such that if the said William Lee administrator of the goods and chattels of credits of George W Freeland, deceased, do make a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels and credits of the said deceased, which have or shall come to the hands of possession or knowledge of the said Lee, or in the hands or possession of any other person or persons for the said Lee, and the same so made to exhibit into the Probate Court of Lauderdale County, when he shall be thereunto required by the said court, and such goods chattels and credits, do well and truly administer according to the law, and further do make a just and true account of his actings and doings therein. When thereunto required by the said court and all the rest of the said goods chattels and credits which shall be found remaining upon the account of the said administrator the same being first examined and allowed by the said court shall deliver and pay unto such persons respectively as are entitled unto the same by law. And if it shall hereafter appear that any last will and testament was made by the deceased, and the same be proved in court and the executor or executors obtain letters testamentary, and the said Lee, do in such case being required, rend and deliver up his letters of administration, then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full force.
Test
Owen Lee J.P.C.L.C.
William Lee (L.L.-his seal)
Isaac Barr (L.L.-his seal)
Duncan Calhoun (L.L.-his seal)
The State of Mississippi
Lauderdale County
November Term 1836
Circuit Court
William Lee administrator of the estate of George W Freeland deceased, who was surviving partner of the firm of George W Freeland and Henry Holloway by attorney complains of Benjamin Walker, in custody of the Sheriff, in a plea of trespass on the cause in assumpsit. For that whereas, the said defendant heretofore, to suit on the 25th day of June 1834 at to wit in the county aforesaid, made his certain promissory note in writing bearing date the day and year last aforesaid wherein and whereby he promised one day after date (meaning one day after the day and year last aforesaid) to pay to George W Freeland and Henry Holloway partners, merchants trading under the firm and known by the name style and description of GW Freeland & Co on bearer the sum of ninety four dollars and two cents for value received by means of the said promissory note, and by force of the statute in such case made and provided, the said defendant became liable to pay the said plaintiff the said sum of money and being so liable he the said defendant in consideration thereof afterwards, to wit, on the day and year last aforesaid, at to wit in the county aforesaid undertook and then and there faithfully promised the said G.W. Freeland and Co or bearer to pay them the said sum of money, in the said promissory note specified, according to the tenor and effect of the said promissory note, when he the said defendant should be thereunto afterwards requested nevertheless the said defendant hath not paid the said George W Freeland & Co in their lifetime nor the said plaintiff since their death, the said sum of money, nor any part thereof although often requested so to do, but the same to pay hath hitherto wholly failed and refused, and still doth fail and refuse to the damage of the plaintiff of two hundred dollars
He therefore sues
The said plaintiff brings here into court the letters (of administration of the Probate Court of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, which gives sufficient evidence to the said court here, of the grant of administration to said plaintiff as aforesaid, the date where of is the 24th day of October AD 1836.
James Hair Attorney for the Plaintiff
Yeah, run-on sentences.
Now, when I wrote back asking if this was all there was concerning George’s estate I was sent some maps, that apparently show his taxable land…in 1841, 5 years after his death. I wonder how long it actually took his wife to sell it all, and how much did have throughout Mississippi and Alabama? And I can’t help but wonder if he is buried in the cemetery by his land.
