Monday, July 5, 2010

Amanuensis Monday – John F Dry Estate File

Transylvanian Dutch blog author John Newmark started the Monday blog theme called Amanuensis Monday. According to John, “amanuensis” means:
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
This week I am posting a transcript of 2 documents that were included in the estate files of John F Dry of Perry County, Illinois.

John F Dry was born about 1780 and died 25 August 1847 in Perry County, Illinois. John F and Elizabeth Dry’s son, John Moses Dry married Sarah GODWIN, March 30th, 1837, in Perry County, Illinois.

I believe Sarah GODWIN was the sister of my ancestor Elijah GODWIN of Lawrence County, Arkansas.

I have done a lot of research on the DRY family because they were instrumental in reconstructing my GODWIN family once they left Randolph County, North Carolina, moved to Putnam County, Indiana, and finally settled in Perry County, Illinois in the early 1830s.


John F Dry’s sister Ellen married Cornelius GODWIN, and his sister Sarah married (2nd) Nathan GODWIN both of whom were probably both brothers of my ancestor Elijah GODWIN.


Below are two documents. The first is the Administrators Oath of Jeffery Thornsberry. Jeffrey  THORNBERRY  was the 2nd husband of Sarah DRY (the daughter of John F Dry and sister of John Moses Dry). Sarah DRY married 1st to Nathan GODWIN  in 1835. Nathan must have died because in 1840, Sarah married Jeffrey THORNBERRY. 


Jeffrey THORNBERRY testified that his Father-in-Law, John F Dry, died on or about the 25th of August, 1847 without a will. Here is the transcript: 


Administrators Oath, filed 6 Sept 1847


“State of Illinois
Perry County

Act. Jefferson Thornberry duly sworn deposes and says that John F Dry late of said county departed this life on or about the 25th day of Aug 1847 and that so far as he knows or believes, he died without making any last will and testament.
Jefferson Thornberry”


The second document is the “Affidavit of Heirs of John F Dry filed 4 Oct 1849 in which John F Dry lists all the heirs of his deceased Father, John Moses Dry, and his wife’s name – Elizabeth – who has since died and not produced any more heirs.


"Affadavit of heirs of John F Dry” 
filed 4 Oct 1849


“State of Illinois
Perry County

Act.John M Dry being duly sworn deposes and says that John F. Dry, late of said county deceased left at the time of his death a widow Elizabeth Dry, who is since deceased without other heirs than those herein aforementioned as the heirs of the said John F Dry that the said John F Dry left at the time of his decease:


1.  Daniel M Dry
2.  Leah Jinks, wife of Weston Jinks
3.  Lydia Bridges, wife of John Bridges
4.  John M Dry
5.  Ellen Godwn, wife of Cornelius Godwin
6.  Sally Thornsberry, wife of Jeffrey Thornsberry
7.  Daniel Dry
8.  John Dry
9.  Edmond Dry
10.  Paul Dry
11.  Jackson Dry



His children and heirs of law him surviving who are all now living as far as I know or believe.

John M Dry (his mark)”
--------------------------------

Notes:
The John F Dry Estate file was probate file no. 158 retrieved from the Perry County courthouse by a volunteer for me. This packet also included an admistrator’s oath and a Sale Bill.
Images:




Thornberry’s affidavit of date of death of John F Dry

John M Dry’s affidavit of heirs of John F Dry

2 comments:

  1. GINGER, DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW IF LYDIA BRIDGES, THE WIFE OF JOHN BRIDGES WAS THE SAME JOHN THAT CAME TO ILLINOIS FROM NORTH CAROLINA WITH HIS BROTHERS TYRE CIDEN AND HENRY??
    BOB BRIDGES
    BOB@SBAINS.COM

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Bob, I do not know anything about the Bridges family. Have you checked the census records for Lydia and John to see if it says where John is from? I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

    ReplyDelete