The Estate of Solomon Dry~When Did He Pass Away

 
Solomon Dry son of Phillip Wiley Dry and Catherine Koppel was born about 1798 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

Solomon married Esther Melchor, daughter of Henry Melchor and Nancy Anna Abernathy on 11 December 1821 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

Over the next 19 years, Solomon and Esther would add 9 children to their household; 5 sons and 4 daughters. About 1857, at age 59, Solomon passed away leaving his Widow, Esther and 9 children.
Solomon Dry’s death date is as elusive as his birth date but there are some clues. Because he was a land owner his widow was entitled to dower rights thus triggering probate action within the Probate Court system.

There are many on-line trees most showing that Solomon Dry passed away in 1855. None of these contains sources and thus should not be considered serious research so use these dates and data at your own peril.

Solomon’s probate folder dated 1858 is located on Cabarrus County, North Carolina and on line at Ancestry and FamilySearch. The file can be found on Family Search at: ¹

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRNF-RD8?cc=1911121&wc=Q6W5-5F7%3A183206701%2C183258601%2C185527201

The probate folder consists of 4 pages and contains one pertinent documents dated 24 June 1858.


Transcription:

State of North Carolina}
Cabarrus County} In pursuance of an order of Court made at April Sessions 1858 we whose names are here unto annexed being duly summoned and sworn as Jurors to lay off and allot to Esther Dry Such dower as the lands of her late husband Solomon Dry that he was possess of at the time of his death and we being duly summoned and sworn proceeded to <illegible> and divide and put her the Said Esther Dry in the possession of the same Including the mansion house & spring and other necessary out building which her late dwelt next husband dwelt and next before his death beginning at a n. o. Abraham Dry corner then N. 57 W. 200 poles to a P. O. Centfas then N. 62 W. 23 ½ poles to a stake then S. 40 W. 27 poles to a P. O. Moses Barrier corner, thence S. 51 E. 120 poles to a W. O. then S. 83 ½ poles to a R. O. near a road then S. 83 E. 34 poles to a Willow Oak then N, 23 E. 51 poles to a stake then S. 51 E. 51 poles to a pine Knot A. dry line then N. 20 E. 61 poles to the beginning containing 80 Acres.
Given under our hands and Seals this the 24^th day of Jane 1858.
J. W. Eudy {seal}
Jacob Barrier {seal}
John Eudy {seal}

With this document we can surely state that Solomon Dry died before 24 June 1858. It’s a probate record. Probate records are generated by the Court system when a person is deceased. So we know that Solomon died sometime before this date.

My next stop when finding a probate record is too look at the Court minutes for this time period. Some Court minutes for Cabarrus County, NC are on-line.

FamilySearch has on-line court minutes and settlement for Cabarrus County. In a Volume entitled “Settlements” 1846-1858, Vol. I, pages 595 and 596 you will find an inventory of the Solomon Dry estate. Here is the Heading on Page 595: ²



The inventory was presented to the probate Court, Cabarrus County Court October Term 1857 and the next line reads: A True Inventory of the Estate of Solomon Dry dec’d Sold on the 13^th of August, 1857 on a credit of nine months.

With this document we can revise our unknown death date and now we can definitely say:
Solomon Dry died sometime before 13 August 1857.

I have found no Will and no tombstone for Solomon Dry. I have done some additional searching in the above volume for Solomon Dry name in pages before page 595 and found no additional entries. At this moment until something new is found we can say that Solomon Dry died before 13 August 1857.








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[1] "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-22995-22871-34?cc=1911121 : accessed 6 May 2016), Cabarrus County > D > Dry, Soloman (1858) > image 1 of 4; State Archives, Raleigh.
[2] "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1940-1206172-1-0?cc=1867501 : accessed 6 May 2016), Cabarrus > Settlements, 1846-1858, Vol. I > image 335 of 375; county courthouses, North Carolina.

Military Veteran~Pvt. Henry Riley Dry

Henry Riley Dry was born on 5 Oct 1828, a son of Solomon Dry and Esther Melchor. He was the fourth child of nine born to Solomon and Esther. He had 4 brother and 4 sisters.
Henry Riley is enumerated with his dad in 1850 and listed as a farmer and in 1860 his occupation is that of a day laborer.

On 6 January 1852, Henry Riley married Leah Hurlocker, born abt 1829, daughter of David B. Hurlocker and Catharine Mayer.

When the Civil War broke out Henry waited a while before finally enlisting on 6 July 1862 with Company ‘H’, 57th Regiment North Carolina Infantry led by Capt. Wm. H. Howerton. He became sick and was admitted to the Hospital at Richmond on October 11, 1862. His military records shows that he died from  Vesicular Bronchitis* on 16 October 1862.



When writing about a NC Civil War veteran I always check North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster  is see what it has to say about the soldier. Here is the Henry Riley Dry Entry from Volume 14, page 184.

DRY, HENRY R. Private
Resided in Cabarrus County and was by occupation a day laborer prior to enlisting in Cabarrus County at age 31, July 6, 1862, for the war. Hospitalized at Richmond, Virginia, October 8, 1862. Died in hospital at Richmond on October 16, 1862, of “vesicular bronchitis.”
 
No document has been found that shows where Private Henry Dry was buried but in most cases, soldiers who died in hospitals in Richmond were buried in the Confederate portion of Hollywood Cemetery. 

It is not known what happened to Henry’s wife Leah and his children. I looked but was unable to find them in the following census. I suspect she remarried to have someone to help her care for the children. If you know what happen to Leah Hurlocker Dry after the Civil War please contact me or leave a comment here on this blog post. 

 Henry Riley Dry is my 2nd Cousin 4 times removed.

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*Vesicular Bronchitis – is basically a term used to define the extent of inflammation of Bronchitis or pneumonia. 
[1]  https://www.fold3.com/image/20/54689973
[2] 1850 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 483B(stamped); Line 1, Dwelling 1247, Family 1247, Household of Solomon DRY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 May 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 622.
[3] 1860 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Subdivision East of NC RR, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 87(stamped); Line 7, Dwelling 179, family 879, Household of Henry R. DRY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 16 July 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 890.
[4] Matthew Brown Editor, BOOK: NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS:1861-1865: A Roster (Raleigh, NC 27699-4622: Historical Publications Section, 1997), Henry Riley DRY, Volumn 14, page 184.

Amanuensis Monday~Last Will and Testament of Esther Melchor Dry

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.
 
Today’s subject is the Last Will and Testament of Esther Melchor Dry. ¹ 
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-195-2626322-1-64?cc=1867501

Esther Dry Will

North Carolina }  Probate Court
Cabarrus County}
                                A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Esther Dry is this day … in open Court for probate by Lawson W. Dry which is in the following means & figures
“Know all men by these presents that I Esther Dry in the county of Cabarrus and state of North Carolina being infirm tho of sound and disposing memory mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and as to my worldly goods Estate and all of the property real personal or mixed of which I shall die seized and posefsed or to which I shall been titled at the time of my decease I devise, bequeath and dispose thereof in the manner following to wit.
I give devise and bequeath to my son Tobias Dry fifty cents to be paid to him by my executor herein after named Six months after my decease to have and to hold the same to him his executors administrators and afsigns forever.
I give devise and bequeath to my son P. W. Dry fifty cents for him to hold his heirs and afsigns forever to be paid to him as above mentioned.
I give devise and bequeath to my son John Dry fifty cents for him to his heirs and afsigns forever to be paid to him or his heirs as above mentioned.
I give devise and bequeath to my son H. W. Dry fifty cents for him to hold to his heirs and afsigns forever to be paid to him as above mentioned.
I give devise and bequeath to my son Lawson W. Dry  all of my land and house thereon and to his bennefits <sic> derived there from for him to hold to his heirs and afsigns forever situated and lying as follows:   Beginning a No Abraham Dry corner then N 57 W 200 poles to a BC N 62 W 23 22 poles to a stake then to 40 W 27 poles to a P. O. S 52 E 121 poles to a W. O. then South83 poles to a B. O. runs S 83 E 34 poles to w willow Oak runs N 23 E 51 poles to a stake Then S 51 E 51 poles to w pine knot in said Dry line then N 20 E 61 poles to the beginning corner containing Eighty acres lying in County and State above mentioned,
I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Dry fifty cents for her to hold for her heirs and afsigns forever. 
I give and bequeath to my daughter Catherine Dry fifty cents for her to hold to her heirs and afsigns forever. 
And lastly I do nominate and appoint my said son Lawson W. Dry to be the Executor of this my last will & Testament  Subscribed my name and  affixed my seal this the sixth day of June one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Esther X (her mark) Dry {Seal}
Signed Sealed & delivered
By the said Esther Dry as and for
Her last will & testament in
The presence of us who at her
Request and in her presence and in the
Presence of each other have subscribed our names
As witnefses thereto
A. E. Eury                                          Sarah X (her mark) A. Dry{Seal}
Martin M. X his mark Starns             Phillip W. Dry {Seal}
                                                           Mary X her mark Catherine Dry {seal}
                                                           Christine Bost {Seal}

The said Lawson W Dry is to keep feed and clothe me my lifetime otherwise this Will is void and of no effect.
                                                                                                                                                                                       Esther  X her mark Dry {Seal}
A. E. Eury

The Last Will & Testament of Esther Melchor Dry, deceased widow of Solomon Dry, was admitted for probate on Oct. 6, 1878 in Open Court, Cabarrus County, NC, and ordered to be recorded and filed. ²
Esther Melchor and Solomon Dry were married on 11 Dec 1821 in Cabarrus County.
Solomon Dry and Esther Melchor had the following children:
i. Tobias Augustus Dry, born 22 Sep 1822, Cabarrus County, North Carolina
ii. Philip Wiley Dry was born on 22 May 1824.
iii. Sarah Ann Dry was born about 1828. 
iv. Henry W. Dry was born about 1829. 
v. Mary Catherine Dry was born about 1833. 
vi. Christena Dry, born 5 Aug 1834.
vii. Margaret Dry was born about 1835.
viii. John Dry, born abt 1836, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
ix. Lawrence W. Dry, born abt 1840, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
All of the nine children, named above, are mentioned in the Will above or signed the Will in the case of Christine Bost with the exception of Margaret Dry. I have not found any mention of Margaret beyond the 1850 census and believed that she passed away before 1860. 








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"North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-195-2626322-1-64?cc=1867501 : accessed 6 May 2016), Cabarrus > Wills, 1868-1888 > image 124 of 302; county courthouses, North Carolina.
[2] Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, Esther Dry; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: viewed 5 May 2016); Record of settlements, v. 1 1846-1858.
Note: Lawson/Lawrence, same individual. 

It’s Family Time~Solomon Dry

 

Solomon Dry is the son of Phillip Wilie Dry and his wife Catherine [LNU]. He was born about 1798 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. This birth year is calculated based on his reported age in the 1850 census for Cabarrus County, North Carolina.¹

He married Esther Melcher on 11 December 1821 in Cabarrus County. ² To this union was born the following children:

i. Tobias Augustus Dry, born 22 Sep 1822; married Mary Haliker, 1 Dec 1845, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; died 4 Mar 1865, Elmira, New York.³
ii. Philip Wiley Dry was born on 22 May 1824.⁴ He died on 2 Feb 1897 at the age of 72.
iii. Sarah Ann Dry was born about 1828. ^5 6 
iv. Henry W. Dry was born about 1829. ^{7 8}
v. Mary Catherine Dry was born about 1833. ^{9 10}
vi. Christena Dry, born 5 Aug 1834; married Henry Manilus Bost; died 18 Sep 1909.
vii. Margaret Dry was born about 1835. ¹¹
viii. John Dry, born abt 1836; married Leah Dry, 10 Aug 1854, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States.
ix. Laurence W. Dry, born abt 1840; married Margaret Catherine Faggart, 26 May 1856, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; married Elizabeth Russell, 30 Sep 1896, Stanly County North Carolina.
 
The exact dates for the death of Solomon and Esther have not been determined. I found a copy of Solomon’ Estate inventory in the October 1857 court session consisting of two pages. Esther left a Will that can be found in Will Book 3, page 242. There is also a court entry for the October 1878 session of court which reads: ¹²
 
"The Last Will and testament of Esther Dry dec'd is this day Oct. 6, 1878 admitted to Probate in Open Court and ordered to be recorded and filed."
 
No tombstones have been found for either Solomon or Esther.
 
Solomon Dry is my 1st Cousin 5 times removed.















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1. 1850 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 483B(stamped); Line 1, Dwelling 1247, Family 1247, Household of Solomon DRY; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 May 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 622.
2. "North Carolina, Marriages Index, 1741-1868," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 5 May 2016), Marriage-Solomon Dry and Esther Melcher, Married 11 Dec 1821.
3. Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Esther DRY, Will Book 3, page 242.
4. Ibid.
5. 1850 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Population Schedule, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 483B(stamped); Line 1, Dwelling 1247, Family 1247, Household of Solomon DRY.
6. Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Esther DRY, Will Book 3, page 242.
7. 1850 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Population Schedule, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 483B(stamped); Line 1, Dwelling 1247, Family 1247, Household of Solomon DRY.
8. Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Esther DRY, Will Book 3, page 242.
9. 1850 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Population Schedule, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 483B(stamped); Line 1, Dwelling 1247, Family 1247, Household of Solomon DRY.
10. Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Esther DRY, Will Book 3, page 242.
11. 1850 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Population Schedule, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 483B(stamped); Line 1, Dwelling 1247, Family 1247, Household of Solomon DRY.
12. "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1941-20061-50714-3?cc=1867501 : accessed 6 May 2016), Cabarrus > Executor Records, 1868-1911, Vol. 01 > image 84 of 138; county courthouses, North Carolina.