Hancock Co., IN Probate Records
Know all men by these presents that we Bazel Meek, Jr., Joseph Chapman and Nathan Crawford --- All Freeholders and Householders of the County of Hancock and State of Indiana are held and firmly bound unto the State of Indiana in the sum of One Thousand __ dollars lawful money of the United States, and for the payment of which we bind our selves, our heirs, executors and administrators firmly and jointly by these presents, sealed with our seals, and dated this 19th day of October A.D. 1830.
The Condition of the above obligation is such that the above-bound Bazel Meek, Jr. has on this day took upon himself the Administration of the Estate of Bazil Meek, deceased, late of said County of Hancock, and As Such has taken out Letters of Administration. Therefore, if the said above-bound Bazel Meek, Jr. should well, truly (?) and faithfully perform the duties and trust committed to his charge as said Administrator according to Law, then and in that case the above obligation shall be null and void, otherwise it is and remains in full force and written in Law & Equity.
Signed and delivered in the presence of Lewis Leper, Clerk.
Bazel Meek, Jr. (Seal)
Joseph Chapman (Seal)
Nathan Crawford (Seal)
This _____ is to show that Bazell Meek administrator of the estate of Bazel Meek deceased & Daniel ______ & George _______ all of Hancock County Indiana have this day agreed on the following bargin to wit said Meek has ______ to said ______ the farm of said basel Meek deceased in said county for the term of one year from this date . Said _____ agree to pay two dollars per acres for ___ The _____ _____ to be paid in improvements on said farm within the year _____ our _____ _____. April 14, 1831
Bazel Meek Seal
Daniel _____ Seal
George ______ Seal
RACHAL MEEK’S
ACCOUNTING OF SERVICES RENDERED
September, the 29th, 1831. Rachal Meek, against the Estate of Bazel Meek deceased –- for boarding three men five weeks and keeping two horses five weeks, Twenty Dollars – also, for helping move out the old man and family, two trips, eight days, one time, seventy five cents a day, Six Dollars the other time, seven days at seventy-five cents five days - $5.25.
Also, for keeping three sick children and nursing them through their sickness and boarding Barlow Meek and John Young the same time, Ten Dollars – also for half price of the cross cut saw Three Dollars.
The amount of the above amount is Forty-Four Dollars and Twenty-Five Cents ($44.25).
State of Indiana } The State of Indiana
Hancock County } to the Sheriff of said county
Greetings This probate court orders you that you notify Bazil Meek that he appears before the said court at the court house in Greenfield at 1a o’clock on the 14th August to answer as administrator of the estate of Bazel Meek desceased and that he may not ______ the authority of Law.
In Testimony thereof I have ______ my name and seal of said court at my office in ____ _____ Nov 13th 1832
Joseph Chapman Clerk
??????????
Distribution of Estate of Bazel Meek, Deceased
By Bazel Meek, Administrator
I Bazel Meek Administrator of the Estate of Bazel Meek, deceased, do hereby certify that I have received of Johnathon Meek of Henry County, KY the sum of Three Hudred Forty-Five dollars Principal & Eight Dollars Interest making in all $353 which after paying a certain claim of ten dollars to Johnathon Meek and deducting ten dollars for part of my services, the balance I distributed equal to the Eleven (emphasis added) heirs of the said estate knowing them legally qualified as the law provides in such cases taking into consideration w hat the older heirs received in the lifetime of their father which on a calculation of this whole made a share of Fifty-Nine Dollars to each. Placed(?) in my hands the shares of the minor heirs they being four in number and one of them it appears from said settlement has previously received Twenty-Five dollars which leaves in the hands of the administrator Two Hundred and Eleven Dollars. The above is a t rue account of said money and distribution.
December 31, 1833 Bazel Meek
Administrator of Bazel Meek, Deceased.
Henry Co., KY court
From Henry Co. Deed Abstracts, Deed Book 17, pp. 57-59: July the 23rd day 1831 this day I George Chadwill stated with the ??? of Bassil Meek decsd for the ??? of Jerrimaih Meek descd I certify that Jerrimiah Meek done work for Bassal Meek Vis
To making shingles ???? and weatherboarding 6.50
To putting ruf gabel ??? long boards 15.00
To ?????? and wash boards 7.00
To 2 doors and putting in Slepens (?) 7.00
To chimney and chinking and pinting said house 10.00
To Balance due for a ????? 1.00
To cash but to move out Indianna on 10.00
-------- $56.50
State of Kentucky Henry County ??
??????? ???? before ???? by George
Chadwill this 21st day of July 1831
?????? ??????
From Henry Co. Deed Abstracts, Deed Book 17, pp. 57-59:
THIS INDENTURE made this 13th day of July 1836 between Joshua Meek, James Meek, Barlow Meek, Jacob Meek, Joseph Young & Patience Young (late Patience Meek), heirs and representatives of Basil Meek, and Eliza Ann Meek, John Meek, Levi Meek and Stephen Meek (infant heirs of Jeremiah Meek, dec’d, son of Basil)(parentheses added), Jesse Meek, Joseph Meek (emphasis added) & Sally Meek, infant heirs of Bazil Meek, Jr. (emphasis added) & Rachael Meek by Samuel Wholines, her guardian of the First Part and George Shortridge of the Second Part _________, Court held for the County of Henry in the month of October 1835, w(hich?) decree was ordered on behalf of the said George Shortridge against the above-named heirs of ______ for the land ___ will ____ and containing by survey100 acres and it was further decreed that upon the failure of the party of the first part to make conveyance of said lands before the succeeding term that Richard White, Master in Chancery, be appointed to make conveyance of the same according to t he Bond filed in said Surety, s(how?) this Indenture there witnesseth that Party of the First Part, for and as consideration of the ____ and the further consideration of Seven Hundred and Forty-Five Dollars, the purchase money filed in the Bond herein made, granted, bargained and conveyed and by these presents do grant, bargain and convey to the Party of the Second Part, his heirs and assigns all that tract and parcel of land _____ being in the County of Henry on the waters of Drennon Lick Creek, containing by Survey One hundred acres be the same more or less and bounded as follows: Beginning at a ____ in the original, (incomplete transcription. See abstract below for signiture page.)
Henry Co., KY deed abstracts Page #4
Deed Book 17, Page 57, 58, and 59, 13 Jul 1836
Joshua Meek, Jas Meek, Barlow Meek, Jacob Meek, Joseph Young & Patience Young, late Patience Meek, heirs and representatives of Bazil Meek and Eliza Ann Meek, John Meek, Levi Meek, Stephen Meek, Infants heirs of Jeremiah Meek, deceased, Jess Meek, Joseph Meek & Sally Meek, infants of Bazil Meek & Rachel Meek, by Jas Wholines, her guardian of the first part and George Shortndge of the second part a tract of land on the waters of Drennon Creek containing 100 acres, Bounded by Jeremiah Meek & Jess Meek. Meek heirs sell due to Court order and for $745.00.
Joshua Meek James Meek Barlow Meek Heirs of Bazil Meek Jacob Meek Joseph Young Patience Meek late Patience Young Eliza Ann Meek John Meek Levi Meek Infants of Jeremiah Meek Stephen Meek son of Bazil Jesse Meek Joseph Meek Sally Meek Samuel Wholines, Infants of Bazil Meek Jr. guardian for Rachel Meek
Hancock Co., IN Probate Order Book 1828-1843
Page 12, Bazell Meek Jr. appointed administrator of the estate of Bazell Meek Sr. Dec., Oct
19, 1830 while the court was in vacation and the court approves. Joseph Chapman and Nathan
Crawford as his securities. Nov 1830.
Page 147. In an application for partition of real estate of Jeremiah Meek dec. are listed: Jonathan, Joseph and Joshua Meek and Joseph and Patience Young-his wife and Barlow, Jacob, Jasper, Jarah (Sarah?) and James Meek. The rights of Samuel Wollum an heir of Rachel Wollum dec. who was the wife of James Wollum, and also the interest of Eliza Ann Meek who is the wife of Moses Meek and John P., Levi and Stephen Meek heirs of Jeremiah Meek dec. are mentioned. May 15, 1838.
In my earlier examination the records the probate record above was thought to concern another Jeremiah who was related to our Jeremiah's family. The deed record was seen as important but unclear. A recent examination of these records caused me to recognize that the probate record and the deed record were connected to the same probate issue. I would point out that these records are not without some degree of ambiguity.
A review of the census suggests that Basil had eight sons and three daughters. Jeremiah and Jonathan are the only ones who have been positively identified by language in the deed records naming them sons of Basil. Following is a discussion of the records and a list of Basil's children.
The deed record from Henry County KY appears to address the same issue and people as the probate record from Hancock County, IN, despite the different dates. The deed record provides some order to the names given in the probate record. Additionally, it clarifies that the probate record is actually about Basil rather than Jeremiah. Additionally, the probate record clarifies Rachel's status as the wife of James Wollum/Wholines.
Therefore, the probate record and deed record provide a list of children for Basil and the children of his deceased children Jeremiah and Rachel. Census and deed records support the presence of some of these children in Henry County.
Deed record Probate record Heirs of Basil Joshua Joshua James James Barlow Barlow Jacob Jacob Patience Patience Rachel (her heirs) Rachel (her heirs) Jonathan Sally Jarah (Sarah) (Sally a nickname for Sarah.) Joseph Joseph Jasper (There is no evidence of this person in Jesse Other records. He may be Jesse.)
The manner in which the deed abstract is written leaves the impression that there might be a son named Basil Jr. as the list includes heirs of Basil and infants of Basil Jr. The various records supported that contention. However, another researcher has identified that person as a member of an other family. In addition, Basil was referred to as Basil Jr. in many records. Therefore, it has been determined that the names in the deed record are the children of Basil, with the exception of Jeremiah's children whose identity is known.
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