Some of my Wright collateral kin lived in Monroe County, Indiana in the early 19th century, but I haven’t yet figured out how all of them tie to my own direct line. A case in point is the William Wright whose estate was settled in the early 1850s, administered by Pleasant Fossett.
I worked a bit on this problem late this past summer (Aug/Sep 2018) but had to put it aside as I was taking the online BU Certificate for Genealogical Research course. There is a Philbert/Filbart Wright living in Monroe County in 1820, who would have been born ca 1751. It is possible — but pure speculation at this point! — he is the father of William and William’s siblings named in William’s estate. It is also possible — but again, there is nothing definitive — that the Filbart/Philbert born ca. 1751 was a son of Peter Wright (1717 – bef. 1767) and uncle of Richard Wright (c 1726 – c 1784).
Philbert is not a name used everyday, even in this era (1720 – 1820) and it was used a lot in this particular Wright family. Hence, the idea that these folks are related collaterally to my line (descending through Richard Wright 1726-1784).
Here is the document of the final settlement, retrieved from FamilySearch.
Here is my transcription, and all my own comments and notes to it are in red. Names of the deceased’s kin are in blue:
February Term M Probate Court 1852 6th day p 473-474
William Wrights Est.
Pleasant Fossett, Admn.
Of William Wrights Est.
Vs. Petition to sell real estate to pay debts
William Wrights heirs
To the hour F. L. Butter Judge of the Probate Court of Monroe County in the State of Indiana
The Memorial of Pleasant Fossett Administrator of the Estate of William Wright deceased who died intestate, Respectfully showeth that the personal estate of the said intestate which has come into his hands accounts to the sum of $2.10 that the whole thereof is now remaining in the hands of your petitioner, and that the same is insufficient for the payment of the expenses of Administration and taxes, that have been accrued on the real estate of said intestate as appears by the account herewith produced & that the said intestate at the time of his death was the owner of Certain real estate, situate in the County of Monroe in the State of Indiana and known as the North East quarter of the South East quarter of Section Twenty Nine, in Township Seven North of Range Two West, containing forty acres be the same more or less, which land of the said intestate held by certificate from the land office held at Vincennes & in the state of Indiana. The probable amount of said real estate is ($125) dollars.
[This land of William’s is in the same section as land purchased in 1827 by Peter Wright (b 1795) who is in the 1860 census living with Pleasant Fossett’s family. Sec 29 of T7N R2W is also where Pleasant and his father John Smith Fossett bought land. Not only is Mary Ann (Crum) Fossett Peter’s niece, but their property is adjacent.]
There was no debts due or owing by the decedent at the time of his death as far as your petitioner can ascertain but the costs of Administration and Taxes on said real estate as far as your petitioner can ascertain at this time are as follows to wit.
1st clerks fees including all of them up to this time $3.00
2nd printers fees for advertising, taking out letters for administration & sale of
Personal property $2.00
3rd Administrator’s fees including taxes on said real estate &
Other expenses necessarily incurred $8.00
Making together 13.00
Amount of personal estate as per sale bill now on file is 2.10
Leaving a deficit to be paid out of the real estate of 10.90
That the said William Wright deceased left as his heirs and legal representatives,
Rachel Right and Peter Wright his sister or brother adult persons and both of the County of Monroe and State of Indiana [this Peter Wright is born ca 1795 in NC and is at Indian Creek, Monroe in 1850/1860/1870. Rachel, born ca 1777 in NC, is in Peter’s household in 1850. He bought land in Sec 29, above.]
And also Elijah Wright, Jacob Crum, John H Crum, Mary Ann Fossett and David Crum adult persons, and all of whom are brothers and sisters children of the said deceased, all of the before named heirs are of Monroe County and State of Indiana. [probably children of Sally Wright and John Crum. Mary Ann Fossett is married to Pleasant Fossett, the Administrator. Elijah may be a brother of William, b 1800 NC, living in Monroe Co.]
Also Anna Rawley a sister of the said deceased an adult person who has a legal guardian to wit John Rawley
[Anna Wright married Evans Rawley. She was living with son John Rawley in Lafayette Twp, Owen County, IN in 1850.]
& probably Andrew Fry, and Rawley Wright William Crum Mary Greenwood, Nancy Fry, Elizabeth Christ or Christy [Criss], and Sarah Clark Adult persons all of whom are brothers and sisters children, and all of them probably living in the County of Owen and State of Indiana.
[These are mostly siblings – William Crum may be a cousin – of a brother of William, name unknown.]
Also Philbert Wright and Peter Wright adult persons who are brothers children of the deceased and are living in the county of Green and State of Indiana
[These 2 men are in Greene County in 1850. Philbert born ca 1802, Peter born ca 1811. The document reads as though they are the children of one of the decedent’s brothers. Peter married Elizabeth Fossett in 1832 in Monroe County (?)]
Eliza Cooper [nee Crum, apparently daughter of John and Sally (Wright) Crum] an adult persons whom are a sisters child of the deceased and are probaby living in the County of Wayne.
And Sarah Sinks Christena Sares, Mary Inyard, Nicy Fine, Lavina Flood, Rachel Starr, and Matilda her husband’s name not known, all adult persons who are sisters children of the deceased whom are probably living in the State of Illinois the county not known.
[all siblings, likely children of unknown Sears and wife Mary Wright]
The foregoing named persons as your petitioner believes are all the heirs and legal representatives of said decedent. Your memorialist therefore prays your honor to grant him an order of the aforesaid real estate, or so much thereof as will be sufficient to discharge the said taxes that have accrued on said real estate and the expense of Administration, and other legal demands that may be made against said real estate, and such expenses as may hereafter accrue, Also your memorialist prays your honor to appoint suitable men to appraise the foregoing real estate.
June the 2nd day 1851. Pleasant Fossett, Admnr.
Order of Appraisement
State of Indiana February Term 1852
Monroe County, SS
On the application of Pleasant Fossett administrator of the estate of William Wright deceased late of the county aforesaid. It is ordered that Joseph Pennington & William Ragain be appointed appraisers to appraise the N.E. qr of the S.E. qr of Section 29 T7 R2 West with its improvements lying in the County aforesaid, it being the real estate of said decedent, and make report of such appraisement to this court at this term.
And said appraisers being duly sworn returned into Court the following appraisement to wit.
We the undersigned appointed by the within order to appraise the premises therein described having been sworn according to law, do report that on our Consideration of the premises we are of opinion that the said land with its improvements is worth One hundred and twenty five dollars, and do appraise the same accordingly.
Joseph Pennington William Ragain
Allowed one dollar each $200 for both
Transcribed by Cathy Dempsey on 9/22/18; all comments in red are mine. – cd
Monroe County, Indiana, Circuit Court, Probate Order Book Volume F:473-474, William Wright estate settlement; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007663444?cat=213753 : accessed 17 September 2018), image 646.
Genes and Roots 