Chesterfield County SC~Estate Folder #244 – Alexander McMillan

Each week, on Sunday, I will select an Estate Folders from the Estate files of Chesterfield County and discuss its contents. 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 resource if you are looking for ancestors in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Today we will be looking at the following Estate folder:
#244Alexander McMillan ¹

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-N73J-T?i=428&wc=MPPT-HZ9%3A190567401%2C190561002%2C190567402%2C190778401&cc=1911928

Alexander McMillan died in early 1869 leaving his wife and six children surviving. His oldest son, Thomas E. McMillan was the administrator on his estate indicating he died intestate.

On 15 July 1869, Thomas E. McMillian signed an affidavit indicating that he would make a true and just inventory of the estate of his father, Alexander McMillan.


Transcription:

State of South Carolina}    By B. F. Miller
Chesterfield County}             Judge of Probate
             Personally appeared Thos. E. McMillan before me, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, made oath that he would produce to show to the appraisers appointed by the Judge of Probate and inform them of all and singular the goods and chattels of Alex McMillan dec’d which already have in May hereafter before the day of making the appraisement came to his hands, possession and knowledge and that the said deceased died without any Will so far as he knows an believe, and that he would well and truly administer all and singular the goods, chattel, rights + credit as far as the same will  extend and the law require him and that he make a just and true + perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods, chattels, rights + credits and return a just account, when thereunto required.
Sworn to before me this 15th day
of July 1869.                                                                            T. E. McMillan
B. F. Miller Judge of Probate

Image 448 of the estate names all the heirs–at-law of the estate; those named were the Widow, Mary F. “Malsey” Miller McMillan and six children:

• Thomas E. McMillan
• Louisa J. McMillan Pate
• Harriett Ann McMillan Rorie
• Frances Ellen McMillan Blakeney
• Mary C. McMillan Welch
• Henrietta C. McMillan Miller

The 1870 Mortality Schedule for Chesterfield County shows that Alexander McMillan died in March at the age of 69. The above inventory was taken in July 1869 so we know that Alexander died in March 1869. A FindAGrave Memorial shows his death as 19 March 1869 but I have found no proof of a specific date just the month and year (Mar 1869). 

His wife, Mary F. “Malsey” passed away in January 1886.
1st That Mrs. Molsey McMillian late of the County and state aforesaid departed this life intestate on or about the __ day of January 1886.

Probate of the estate was closed on 3 February 1892.










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[1] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-N73J-T?cc=1911928&wc=MPPT-HZ9%3A190567401%2C190561002%2C190567402%2C190778401 : 21 May 2014), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0228-0281 > image 429 of 1419; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.

It’s Family Time~The James Knotts Family

James Knotts, b. 1792 married Mary Jane “Jenny” Eddins daughter of William B. Eddins and his wife Nancy [LNU] in Chesterfield County in 1825.

Brent H.. Holcomb, South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Volume 5, Number 2. <http://www.scmar.com/backissu.html>

James married into the family during a time of conflict with the division and disposition of the estate of Jenny Father’s, William B. Eddins..

http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2016/08/treasure-chest-thursdaybill-of.html

By 1835, a Lawrence County, Arkansas Tax List shows that James and Jenny had packed up their family and moved from Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Lawrence County Arkansas. Since the family is enumerated in the 1830 Census for Chesterfield County this migration took place between 1830 and 1835.

In 1850, The family can be found in Randolph County, Arkansas.

1850 CENSUS: Randolph, Arkansas; Roll: M432_30; Image: 78, Page: 36B; Line 21, Dwelling 532, Family 532; James KNOTTS, male, age 58, born in SC; Jane KNOTTS, female, age 50, born in SC; James KNOTTS, male, age 23, born in SC; Joseph KNOTTS, male, age 22, born in SC; Rose A. KNOTTS, female, age 19, born in SC; Burton KNOTTS, male, age 13, born in AR; Laurence KNOTTS, male, age 13, born in AR; Robert KNOTTS, male, age 11, born in AR; Susan KNOTTS, female, age 10, born in AR; Mariah KNOTTS, female, age 8, born in AR and James W. STEWART, male, Farmer, age 19, born in TN.

I have not found a death date for Jenny Knotts but on-line trees shows she died in 1855. Since there is no tombstone for either her or her husband  this date is suspect and will be furthered researched.

I did find a death date for James Knotts showing that he died on 19 January 1858. While the on-line trees has this date none had the source of this date.



Transcription:
Letters to Jas. R. Knotts Adm.
State of Arkansas}
County of Randolph}     The State of Arkansas
To all persons to whom these presents shall  Come        Greetings:
Know ye that whereas James Knotts of the County of Randolph died intestate as it is said on or about the 19th day of January A. D. 1858 having at the time of his death personal property in this State which may be lost destroyed or diminished in value if speed care be not taken of the same:

James Knotts and Mary Jane Eddins had the following children:
    i.    Nancy Knotts was born about 1826 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She died before 1860 at the age of 34 in Randolph County, Arkansas.
    ii.    James Ransom Knotts, born 31 Aug 1827, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 25 Jan 1889.
    iii.    Joseph Knotts was born in 1828 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
    iv.    Rose A. Knotts was born about 1831 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
    v.    Burton Knotts was born about 1837 in Randolph County, Arkansas.
    vi.    Lawrence Knotts was born about 1837 in Randolph County, Arkansas.
    vii.    Robert Knotts was born about 1839 in Randolph County, Arkansas.
    viii.    Susan Knotts was born about 1840 in Randolph County, Arkansas.
    ix.    Mariah Knotts was born about 1842 in Randolph County, Arkansas.

The 1840 Census shows there are 12 members in this family; so two  female children are missing from this list.

Mary Jane “Jenny” Eddins Knott is my 3rd Great Grand Aunt.

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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  6 June 2016); Memorial page for James Knotts; (1792–19 January 1858); Find a Grave memorial # 8119865, Citing Brockett Cemetery; Pocahontas, Randolph County, Arkansas, USA.
     2. 1850 U. S. Census, Randolph County, Arkansas, population schedule, Randolph, Arkansas, Page: 36B(stamped); Line 21, Dwelling 532, Family 532, Household of  James KNOTTS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2016); citing NARA publication Roll: M432_30.
     3. Brent H.. Holcomb, "," South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research (Volume 5, Number 2),
     4. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Mary Jane Edding Knotts (1800–1855), Memorial # 88120251.
     5. "Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89W3-2X6P?cc=2061549&wc=M7Q8-V2S%3A353227501%2C353302101 : 22 May 2014), Randolph > Administration bonds and letters 1852-1886 vol 1-3 > image 145 of 638; county courthouses, Arkansas.