The Year Ahead – June 10

In the January/February 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine, they have introduced The Year Ahead, 366 genealogy tips will make 2024 your best research year yet by Lisa A Alzo. Lisa mapped out a day-by-day research plan.

June 10 – Look for wills and estate papers among court documents. You may find bequests to friends, relatives or neighbors, as well as names of debtors and outstanding bills.

I once received a surprise probate record in the mail from a distant cousin or perhaps it was a distant collateral cousin (my made-up terminology). This is a person who shares cousins with you but isn’t your cousin. They are related to the common cousin(s) on one parent’s side and you are related to them with the other parent.

Anyway, she sent me a copy of my 2nd great grandfather’s petition for probate of will. This typed document from the Columbia County, Wisconsin court was very interesting. James Crinion of Fountain Prairie, Columbia County died on the 25th day of February, 1923.  Then it listed his next of kin, three sons, a granddaughter of his deceased daughter, Rose and 8 children of his other deceased daughter., Jennie. It states that all of the said heirs are competent and of full age except five grandchildren are minors and his son John who is incompetent. I believe John had learning disabilities, because after his father’s death, he went to live in an asylum. 

James had personal property of about six hundred dollars and real estate at about three thousand dollars. Plus, the annual rents and profits of the real estate doesn’t exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars. He left no debts.

He left my great grandfather, David three hundred dollars to be paid within three years and a lien on the property shall remain until the debt is paid.

He left five dollars to John. Speculation is that he left him something, so the will could not be contested but only five dollars because he was incompetent.

He left Jennie’s children nothing, for the reason is that he made provision for his daughter in her lifetime and his grandchildren have never assisted him in any way. He didn’t leave anything to his other daughter, Rose’s only child because she previously received one hundred dollars from him, and was in a position to provide for herself. This granddaughter had lived with James and his wife. She even stayed there after her grandmother’s passing in 1899. However, sometime in her teenage years, she went to live with her father, who was a wealthy man and her step-mother and their children.

He left the farm to his third son, Charles and all of his personal property. He was also the executor of the will. Charles had lived on the farm with his father, James. 

The will was written on 29th day of July, 1918.

Remember to have fun and Just do Genealogy!