Today, I need your help in determining when my 1st cousin 4 times removed died?
Joel Washington Brock is enumerated in the 1850[1] and 1860[2] Census for Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Joel Washington was born about 1829 according to the 1850 census and the 1860 Census showed that he was born at least 6 years later or about 1835. he was the son of Samuel W. and Martha Brock.
When he died he left a large estate. That estate file can be found on Family Search.com, Estate Folder 55, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
In contrast the only published death date, though a secondary source is "Broken Fortunes"[3], by Randolph Kirkland, Jr. On page 39, he states that Joel Washington Brock died 1 March 1865.
This sectional view of page 39 of Broken fortunes shows:
Joel W. Brock
Pvt
21st SCVI
CD is abbreviation for Chesterfield County, SC
Death date 03/01/65
Place of Death - Charleston, SC
ROH = National Archives microfilm list of South Carolina CSA dead, 1861-1865. This microfilm made from Professor Rivers' "Roll of Honor" which had been deposited in the National Archives in 1947 after being discovered in the vaults of a bank in Charleston, S. C. The original document was returned to the S.C. Department of Archives and History in 1994. This is verbatim from page 398[4], bottom of Column 1 of Randolph Kirkland book "Broken fortunes"
If he died 1 March 1865, why was his estate being administered before he died?
Obviously, this secondary source is WRONG.
In the Book, "Roll of the Dead" by William Rivers[5] he states that Joel W. Brock died in 1865. The following Brock's are listed in the Roll of the Dead.
Joel's estate can be found in Folder 55 of the South Carolina, Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964[6]
Letters of administrations were initiated and approved on 16 January 1865; so Joel Washington Brock was deceased by that date.
The estate consists of approximately 47 images. There are 6 documents within the estate dated 16 January 1865 which is the earliest date within the folder.
Image 55-484
Image 55-485
Image 55-500
Image 55-504
Image 55-522
Image 55-524
(Note: the 55 denotes the estate folder and the 484-524 numbers are the actual image number)
A letter contained within the estate dated 16 January 1865 reads as follows:
 |
| Estate _55_522_partial[7] |
This letter is dated 16 January 1865.
Then there is this document.
 |
| Estate 55_504[8] |
It's quite obvious for data provided that Joel W. Brock died before 16 January 1865 thus making his death date of 1 March 1865 recorded in the Book "Broken Fortunes" to be inaccurate.
Additional followed-up is required.
What unit did Joel Washington Brock serve with; He is not listed in the 21st SCVI on http//www.fold3.com[9]
When did he die?
If you have any suggestions or comments please e-mail me, or post your comments to this blog.
[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, , Page: 168A; Line 29, Dwelling 1070, Family 1070, Household of Samuel BROCK.
[2] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 117; Line 31, Dwelling #330, Family #329, Joel BROCK.
[3] Randolph W. Kirkland Jr., Broken Fortunes: South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens Who Died in the Service of Their Country and State in the War for Southern Independence, 1861-1865 (Columbia, South Carolina: Univ of South Carolina, 1997), page 39.
A secondary source can be a good starting point but going to primary sources, when possible is important. Sounds like you enjoy the research process.
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