Amanuensis Monday~Burwell J. Hamrick vs John H. Brown

Capt.. John C. Hamrick and John H. Brown were related through their children. Capt. Hamrick’s daughter Martha Hamrick married John Brown’s son William Lafayette Brown.

On 19 August 1853, William Lafayette died leaving 9 children all between the ages of infant to 21. They are all named within the probate records of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. [1]

Over the course of the next few years John H. Brown dies on 14 Sept. 1855 and Capt. Hamrick died on 1 Sept. 1856.

Thus we have this petition from Burwell J. Hamrick requesting the Court to intervene due to a conflict of interest.[2]

Petition B. J. Hamrick vs John H. Brown Guardian
The State of Mississippi}
Lauderdale County} to the Hon. D. J. Daniel Judge of Probate of said County
The petition of Burwell J Hamrick one of the Executors of the last will and testament of John Hamrick deceased respectfully represent that a term of the said court held on the 18 your petitioner testors <sic> the said John Hamrick deceased became one of the securities of John H Brown on his bond as guardian of Wm. L. Brown a minor heir of William Brown deceased – that your petitioner now conceives the Estate of the said testor <sic> John Hamrick in danger of suffering by reason of his being Said Security.
Wherefore your petitioner prays your Honor to cause the said John H Brown Guardian as aforesaid to be summons to be and appear before said court at the November term next thereof and to order him to give good counter security or to Execute a new bond with good security in the form and penalty of stature in his behalf.
And your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray.

B. J.  Hamrick

Exc.

Sworn to and Subscribed Sept. 24, 1856.

J. B. Hamrick {seal}

Justice of the peace

The State of Mississippi}
Lauderdale County} Schedule of the money on hold by the Estate of John Hamrick deceased
                                                          Cash............................................................... $60.00

B. J. Hamrick

Exc.

Sworn to and Subscribed
Nov. 8, 1856
J. B. Hamrick
Justice of the peace


___________________
testor = testator, testators
[1] Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Lauderdale County Estate Papers, William BROWN; "Lauderdale County Estate Papers," digital images, LDS Church, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/: viewed, downloaded 17 March 2013); Frame 351,Book E, Page 28, William Brown died 19 August 1853.
[2] Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Lauderdale County Estate Papers, John Hamrick; "Lauderdale County Estate Papers," digital images, LDS Church, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/: viewed, downloaded 17 March 2013); Frame 225, Book F&G, Page 431.

Sunday's Obituary ~ James Brock, b. 1802

The within named James Brock is supposed to be dead but left a number of heirs residing in this county whose names are as follows
Wm. Brock, James Brock, John Brock, Valentine Brock, Sarah Touchstone, Mary Garrett Felix Brock and some others whose names are unknown the above named John I suppose resides in Hinds county.
May 20 1861                                                                                              G. Martin Shff

William Brock, the Father of the within named James Brock died sometime around January 1844. The earliest dated document in his Estate File is dated 22 January 1844. Many researchers have this date listed as William Brock’s death date. This is not his death date; he died sometime before this date.

I have yet to find a WILL for William so it’s believed that no Will was left; there is no mention of a WILL in the 84 pages of his estate's folder. William did leave a very young son – Richard Johnson Brock, b, 2 July 1843.

This young son and his sick Mother are why William’s Estate was probated and why we have the documents therein. Ironically, William’s young wife, Katherine Delilah Jordan Brock, died on 27 June 1846; just 2 years after losing her husband. Richard Johnson Brock was a mere 2 1/2 years old.

William’s son Moses Brock, Sr. was assigned administrator of the estate at the request of Katherine Brock, his step-mother. Moses Brock and his wife Margaret Six cared for Richard until her death.

The estate stayed active for the next sixteen years and six months (16 1/2) and on 10 June 1861, Moses Brock petitioned the court to close the estate. To do this, the Court required the concurrence of all partied to the estate. Thus we have the Court document issued to the Sheriff of Simpson County.



William and his first wife Charlotte had 9 children. One of these children – Emily were deceased prior to William’s death. Now in June 1861 this court has issued the above order for the Sheriff to notify the remaining seven (7) children of the closure of their Father estate. Here another puzzle exists; They had a son named Francis M. Brock. Is this Felix Brock?  There was no known daughter named Mary; so who is Mary Garrett and lastly why is daughter Nancy Brock Glasscock Hinson missing from the summons?

Those named in the Court Order are:
William Brock
James Brock
John Brock
Valentine Brock
Sarah Touchstone
Mary Garrett
Felix Brock

Then we have the above report from B. Martin, Sheriff -- “The within named James Brock is supposed to be dead…

Long before I found this document I knew that James Brock was dead. I had traced him up until the 1850 Census in Simpson County, Mississippi and in 1860 his wife Piety Leggett Brock was alone with three (3) of her sons and a daughter ranging in age from 10 to 23.

No tombstone has been found for James Brock and an exact date has not yet been found.






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[1] Hinds County, MS, Probate Court Estates, Old Series, Raymond, MS, MDAH Microfilm #10402, Family History Library Film #1479977, Estate #744, William Brock, Jan 1844.
[2] 1850, Simpson County, Mississippi, population schedule, Simpson County, Mississippi, Page: 317A; Line 1, Dwelling 421, Family 421, Household of James BROCK; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : viewed 15 March 2013); citing NARA publication Roll: M432_381.
[3] 1860, Westville, Simpson County, Mississippi, population schedule, Harrisville Twsp, Simpson County, Mississippi, Page: 138, Line 27, Dwelling 9, Family 9, Household of Pyety BROCK; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : viewed 16 March 2013); citiing NARA publication M653, Roll: 591.