Petitions by Henrietta Henderson regarding support and dower after the death of her husband, Isaac

Henrietta (Anaritta) filed two petitions with the 1822 Term of the Chatham County Court. The first was to request a share from the estate of the crops, stock and provisions sufficient to sustain her and the ten children that survived Isaac for one year. It is unclear if the petition was granted. The second petition was to secure for her dower one third of the land (including the home place and out buildings) upon which Isaac lived at the time of his death. It appears that this petition was granted. The petitions indicate that some of Isaac's children were living in Tennessee. Text of the two petitions is shown below. The words in brackets ([ ]) are of questionable transcription. Words that could not be deciphered are indicated by _______ .

To the worshipful, the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarters Sessions for said County the Petition for Anaritta Henderson, widow

Respectively showeth that Isaac Henderson late of said County died sometime in the present year intestate and without Will and that letters of Administration on his estate have been granted by this Worshipful Court to Charles I. Williams, Esq. That the said intestate left surviving your petitioner, his widow and his children and was possessed of a considerable [crop] stock and provisions [and from which] sufficient for the support of your petitioner and her family for one year.

Your petitioner therefore prays your Worships to appoint a Justice of the Peace and three free holders to [asses] and set apart to her such part of the said crop stock and provisions as may be sufficient for the support of herself and family for one year.[Pursuant] to the provision of an act of assembly in such case made or provided and that all [necessary proofs may [open] to carry that prayer herself into full effect and your petitioner

(signed) J.F. Taylor
[Irb]

To the worshipful, the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarters Sessions for said County the Petition for Anaritta Henderson, widow of Isaac Henderson dec'd

Respectively showeth that Isaac Henderson late of said County died sometime in the month of _____ in the present year intestate and without a will [and leaving] your petitioner, his widow and ten children a part of whom reside in the state of Tennessee and a part in this state and that letters of Administration on the estate of the said Isaac have been [yestardy] granted at the present term of this court to Charly I. Williams That the said Isaac was seized at the time of his death of a tract of land lying on Terrells [Ank] in said County. The same being the land and plantation whereon the said Isaac lived at the time of his death.

To the end therefore that her dower may be [assessed] to her out of the said land your petitioner prays your Worships to issue a writ directed to the Sheriff of said County commanding him to summon a jury of good, lawful men, of whose duty it shall be to [assess] and set apart to your petitioner by [proper] metes and bounds one third part of the said land including the dwelling house and other houses where the said Isaac lived. [Pursuant] to the provisions of an act of assembly in such case made and provided and that a [discretion] be made of these proceeding - and that all necessary proofs may [appear]for the above [purpose] - by your petitioner

J.F. Taylor
[Irb]