Finding the Death Date of Levi K. Huneycutt, Document Analysis

Fifty-two of fifty three Family Trees for Levi K. Huneycutt shows his death as January 1856 in Stanly County, North Carolina.
 
THEY ARE ALL WRONG and proof that a lot of copying and very little research has been conducted.
 
That’s 52 wrong and one tree that has narrowed his death date down to a specific time period - Aft. 06 Jun 1860
 
This date – aft 6 June 1860 is a good date for assessing Levi’s death if the only documents you have consulted are the US Census; but, it doesn’t meet the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) for an exhaustive search.
 
1860 CENSUS: Stanly County, North Carolina; Roll: M653_914; Image: 20; Family History Library Film: 803914, Page 10(stamped); Line 6, Dwelling 124, Family 124; Levi K. HUNEYCUTT, Male, age 65, born in NC; Mary HUNEYCUTT, Female, age 58, born in NC; Julia Ann HUNEYCUTT, Female, age 20, born in NC; Menisa Jane HUNEYCUTT, Female, age 20, born in NC and Calvin W. HUNEYCUTT, Male, age 17, born in NC.
 





This was the last Census in which Levi K. Huneycutt appeared with his family. His absence from the 1870 Census suggests that he quite possibly died between 1860 and 1870. 




Further research shows that he did in fact died shortly after the 1860 Census was enumerated. A search of the Stanly County, NC probate files revealed a probate folder consisting of 28 pages for Levi K. Huneycutt.

Citation:
"North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-35569-26901-99?cc=1911121 : accessed 17 November 2015), Stanly County > H > Huneycutt, Levi K (1863) > image 1 of 28; State Archives, Raleigh.


The tab on this folder shows that Levi K. Huneycutt died in 1863; so right away, before we every look at the folder, we can say that Levi Huneycutt died between the 6 June 1860 (1860 Census date) and 31 December 1863. That’s a 2 ½ years period.
 
Looking at the contents of his probate folder we can narrow this date to a smaller time period. First, we systematically go through all twenty two images and record any dates that may be listed. You are searching for the earliest data mentioned within the Probate folder. So in this case (Levi’s Probate Folder) as I went through the folder I wrote down 3 key images that I would like to re-visit. – Image 5, Image 8, Image 11and Image 28. 
 
Image 5 – is a receipt dated Feb. 8, 1864
Image 8 – Is a receipt signed by Mary Coble Huneycutt dated 2 Dec 1863 (this is a very faint document)
Image 11 – Court Petition
Image 28 - Summary Sheet dated 1 December 1863
 
Rec’d of Adam W. Huneycutt admr of
The estate of Levi K. Huneycutt deceased.
Two hundred and seventy five dollars in
Full of my years allowance December
The 2^nd Dec 1863.     Mary X her mark Huneycutt
Witnefs}
A. Huneycutt
 
Image 11 – is a key document


It’s a key document in that Mary Coble Huneycutt is signing a Petition stating:
The Petition of Mary Honeycutt Widow of Levi K. Honeycutt, showeth unto your Worships that her husband lately died intestate, and that Administration on the Estate had been granted to Adam W. Honeycutt….
The Petition is dated November Term 1863 
 
Image 28


In summary, The writing (Petition) of Mary Coble Huneycutt at the November term 1863 of court shows that Levi K. Huneycutt died intestate sometime near the last quarter of 1863. His Widow, Mary Honeycutt, petition the courts during the November term for Administration of the Estate.  Adam W. Huneycutt, a son of Levi K and Mary Coble Huneycutt, was named administrator of the Estate.



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[1] "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-35569-26901-99?cc=1911121 : accessed 17 November 2015), Stanly County > H > Huneycutt, Levi K (1863) > image 1 of 28; State Archives, Raleigh.