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Abstract made by an unknown abstractor about 1890 from original records of
Pike County, Arkansas and recorded in Abstract of Title Book Prior to 1890
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Probate Book 1 page 9. In Vacation. April 23rd 1855. John D. Hancock is
appointed Administrator of the Estate of Elizabeth Hancock late of Pike
County, Arkansas who died on or about January 12, 1854 testate. Value of
said Estate about $1500. The heirs of (the) deceased are John D. Hancock,
Thomas J. Conway (and) Rebecca Hancock. Bond for $3000 given and approved.
All of Pike County, Arkansas and Robert W. Hancock infant of Abner Hancock
deceased of Hempstead County, Arkansas. Bond approved by the Court. Probate
Book 1 page 14. J.D. Hancock is appointed guardian of Rebecca Hancock.
Probate Book 1 page 129. July 24, 1855. Sale bill presented and filed.
Probate Book 1 page 136. Probate Book 1 page 123. January Term 1857. John D.
Hancock administrator (of the) Estate (of) Elizabeth Hancock deceased in the
matter of the sale of Real Estate. John D. Hancock as administrator of all
and singular the Estate of Elizabeth Hancock deceased, this day exhibited
and filed his petition and affidavit in Court alleging that the said
Elizabeth Hancock deceased was seized and possessed in her own right at the
time of her death of certain real estate or tracts or parcels of lands lying
and being in the County of Pike and State of Arkansas therein and designated
as the South 1/2 (of the) Northwest quarter and Northeast 1/4 (of the)
Southwest quarter and 80 acres of Swamp Land, to wit: Northwest 1/4 (of the)
Northwest quarter and Northwest 1/4 (of the) Southwest quarter all in
Section 20 (of) Township 8, Range 25 (West); and that said real estate
cannot under present circumstance be available to the Estate; and that said
estate will be benefitted by a sale thereof because the price of public
lands are so low &c. as to prevent the renting of lands upon advantageous
terms; that the money for which the land can be sold put at 10 percent
interest will yield to said estate and the persons therein interested more
than the increased value of said lands. The affidavit of Asa T. Davis a
citizen of Pike County, Arkansas and a disinterested person presented
verifying the same facts set forth in said petition presented. The prayer of
the petitioner for the order and authority of the Court to authorized and
empower said Administrator to sell said real estate &c. granted. Sale to be
at the Court House door in Murfreesboro, Pike County, Arkansas on March 2nd
1857 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. of said day; 20 days notice of sale (and)
terms &c. to be given. Sale to be on a credit of twelve months, bond with
approved security for the payment of the purchased money (and) to be taken
10% interest from maturity. Administrator to report proceedings herein at
the next term of this Court. Probate Book 1 page 136. April Term 1857. Court
orders sale of Land Warrant No. 31204 of William Hancock for the benefit of
his ward. Probate Book 1 page 137. April Term 1857. Administrator files his
account current and settlement continued for confirmation. Probate Book 1
page 143. July Term 1857. Administrator reports sale of said real estate
pursuant to the order of this Court to John D. Brewer for $655. Book 1 page
167. April Term 1858. Court appoints John D. Hancock guardian of Robert J.
Hancock a minor heir of Abner Hancock deceased. Probate Book 2 page 30.
October 24, 1860. Administrator make(s) final settlement and askes to be
discharged. Said settlement is in all things confirmed and approved by the
Court and the said Administrator is discharged without delay.
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Abstract of Title Book Prior to 1890, page 302.
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State of Arkansas,
County of Pike,
In Pike Court of Probate
April Term 1855.
Rebecca Hancock in the matter of her Guardianship
Petition / Exparte
Now on this day the clerk of this court presented the petition of Rebecca
Hancock, a minor (of) the age of fourteen years, praying that John D.
Hancock be appointed her Guardian; and representing that she has an interest
in property which requires the care and attention of some discreet person
who will carefully protect the interest of the petitioner. It is therefore
ordered that said John D. Hancock be appointed her, the said Rebecca
Hancock, Guardian upon his entering into bond.
Now on this day the clerk of this court presented the bond of the said John
D. Hancock as Guardian of Rebecca Hancock a minor, in the sum of One
thousand Dollars with Thomas J. Conway as his Security, conditioned
according to law, which was examined by the court and approved.
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State of Arkansas,
Sct.
County of Pike,
I, William R. McFarlin, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex-officio Clerk of
the Court of Probate in and for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby
certify that the above and foregoing is a true and perfect copy of the
appointment and qualification of John D. Hancock as Guardian of Rebecca
Hancock, a minor, remaining of Record in my office.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of
said court at my office, this 16 day of June A.D. 1855.
(Seal) Wm. R. McFarlin, Clerk.
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State of Arkansas,
County of Pike,
On this 1st day of September 1855, personally appeared before the
undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State
aforesaid, John D. Hancock, Guardian of Rebecca Hancock (who is the minor
heir of William Hancock late of the County and State aforesaid), who being
duly sworn according to law declares: That the said Rebecca is the only
minor heir of William Hancock deceased, and that the said William is the
identical man who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Rogers
in the 2nd Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers commanded by Col. Haines in the
War against the Seminole Indians. That he volunteered at Jackson County,
Tennessee on or about the 1st of February 1818 for the term of six months
and was honorably discharged at Columbia, Tennessee on or about the 1st of
August 1818, by reason of the expiration of his term of service. He further
states that Elizabeth Hancock who was the widow of the said William Hancock
as aforesaid and the mother of the said Rebecca, has received for the
services of the said William Hancock, Bounty Land Warrant No. (not
recollected) for 80 acres which was legally disposed of previous to the
death of the said Elizabeth, which death took place on the 12 day of January
1854. And that the said William Hancock died on the 24 day of December 1849.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to
which the said Rebecca Hancock, minor heir of the said William Hancock, is
entitled under the act of March 3d 1855, Bounty Land never having been
received for said service except as above stated. And he hereby constitutes
and appoints Charles C. Tucker of Washington, D.C. his true and lawful
attorney to prosecute this claim and procure the Warrant for said service,
hereby countermanding and revoking any and all authority hitherto given for
the above specified purpose.
John D. Hancock
Sworn to, subscribed, and acknowledged before me the day and year first
above written, and on the same day personally came and appeared before me,
John D. Brewer and William H. Preston, residents of the County and State,
aforesaid, to me known as credible witnesses, who being duly sworn, declare:
That they, were personally acquainted with William Hancock in his life time
and with Elizabeth Hancock his wife and widow in her life time, and that
they both died at the dates specified in the foregoing declaration, and that
the said William Hancock was the identical person herein as presented, and
that they believe rendered the services aforementioned, and that the said
Elizabeth Hancock received (a) Bounty Land Warrant in her life time as
above set forth; and that the said Rebecca Hancock is the only surviving
minor heir of the said William and Elizabeth Hancock, that they are
personally acquainted with the said John D. Hancock who has made and
subscribed the foregoing declaration, that they were present and saw him
sign his name to said declaration; that from their knowledge and
acquaintance with the said John D. Hancock, they are satisfied that he is
the duly authorized guardian by law of the aforesaid Rebecca Hancock. They
further swear that they are disinterested in said claim and reside at the
place above named.
John D. Brewer
W.H. Preston
Sworn to & subscribed before me, and I certify that I am not interested in
the claim or concerned in its prosecution, and I believe that the facts
stated are as they represent them to be.
A.B. Williams, J.P.
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Bounty Land Warrant File 31204, Record Group 15, National Archives,
Washington, D.C.
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