Chesterfield County SC Estates~Estate Folder #326–Joseph Hancock

 
This is a new series of posting, appearing every Sunday, on selected Estate Folders from the Estate files of Chesterfield County. No known estates exist for the period before the Civil War. They were destroyed with the burning of the Courthouse. There are a few “Equity Records” in the State Archives. Do not overlook this valuable resources if you are looking for ancestors in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Today we will be looking at the following Estate folders:
 
Folder #326
Joseph Hancock¹

This estate folder begins at image #1338 and ends with image #1371. (images 1338-1371)

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19383-34359-25?cc=1911928

Joseph Hancock was born in 1808 and died 2 June 1876 at the age of 68. He married  Lucy Autry about 1832. She was the daughter of John and Mary Autry. 

Joseph’s probate consists of 34 images including appointment letters, appraisal list and others. Sebra Welsh was named as executor of the estate on 25 July1876I have selected two documents from the file to presents in this blog post. The first is a petition from Lucy Autry Hancock for a homestead. 

Image 1361:


Transcription:
State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
Exparte


                                              }Pet. For Homestead
 
To W. J. Hanna Judge of Probate
The petition of
Showeth that Joseph Hancock the husband of your petitioner lately died intestate, being seized and possessed in his own right, during his lifetime, and at the time of his death of certain real and personal property.
Your petitioner therefore prays that a Homestead be set off to her out of said property.
And your petitioner will ever pray &c
July 25^th 1876
                                                            Lucy X her mark Hancock
                                                                     Mrs. Hancock
                                                                                         Sign her name here
Witnefs
Sebra Welsh

This petition for homestead basically assured that the primary residence, under it protection of the law, is set aside from the remaining estate for the widow. This assures her a place of residence.

The next document is a petitioner by Sebra Welsh for letters of Administration.

 Image 1359:


Transcription:

The State of South Carolina} In the Court
Chesterfield County} of Probate
To W. J. Hanna
Judge of Probate, of and for the
County and State aforesaid.
The petition of Sebra Welsh respectfully showeth that Joseph Hancock late of the County and state aforesaid, departed this life, Intestate, on the 2^nd day of June A. D. 1876, leaving a small personal estate, which it is estimated will not exceed in value the sum, of Three hundred and fifty dollars and that no person had administered on said Estate.
Wherefore your petitioner prays that Letters of Administration on the personal estate of the said Joseph Hancock may be granted to him upon the execution by him of the Bond required by Law.
And your petitioner will ever pray &c
July 22^nd 1876                                 S/Sebra Welsh

As I was browsing through some genealogical documents today I came across an envelop of data that Marie Gulledge Wiggins sent me while I was still living in Utah. As I browsed through the Gulledge, Hancock, Boan and Graves data she had sent, I reminisced over the many good times we shared together. I thought it only fitting that on this day I should write about her 2nd Great Grandfather Joseph Hancock. 

In memory of Eliza Marie Gulledge Wiggins, 2nd great granddaughter of Joseph Hancock.





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[1]  "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19383-34359-25?cc=1911928 : accessed 23 April 2016), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0282-0330 > image 1338 of 1448; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.