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Descendants of John Rice Serratt

Generation No. 1

1. JOHN RICE¹ SERRATT¹ was born Abt. 1815 in Bedford Co., TN, and died August 1879 in Wills Point, Tx., Van Zandt Co., TX. He married (1) M Bef. 1847 in Bedford Co., Tn.. She was born Abt. 1812 in Tennessee, and died Abt. 1867 in Texas. He married (2) CYNTHIA WYATT Abt. 1868 in Parker Co., TX. She was born Abt. 1840 in Alabama, and died Abt. 1874. He married (3) MARGARET JANE CLARK¹ February 20, 1875 in Hunt Co., Tx., daughter of J. R. CLARK. She was born Abt. 1846.

Notes for JOHN RICE SERRATT:
John Rice Serratt may have also died in Somervell Co., TX., I went to Van Zandt Co., TX. in July of 1998 and could find no record of his death there. The records only went back to 1903.

I couldn't find where his will was probated either. (SEE BELOW)

When John Rice married for the third time he was in Hunt Co., TX., I do not know where his second wife died or was buried.

I found an article in "Our Heritage" (this is a publication that the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society puts out 4 times a year, There was a will submitted by Ruth Embree of Longview that is supposed to be the will of John Rice Surratt, the publication came out in 1980. The will says John B. Surratt, which I find confusing.

I wrote to Ruth Embree in a letter and sent it with her Christmas card asking about the name John B. Surratt, because I thought his name was John Rice Surratt, she sent back a reply to me and is as follows:

December 20th, 1998

Dear Linda,
Thank you for the Christmas card. The reason I sent John Surratt's name in as John "B" was my mistake as that was what I thought the letter was. It was later that I learned from Aunt Claudia's grand-daughter that his name was "Rice", I can read some of the old writing pretty good and some of it I can't.

I've been intending to send you a copy of the Will and the other records I send to you but haven't felt like getting them photo copied.

I haven't been feeling good at all lately. Hope after Christmas I can get everything together to send you and also "stuff" I need to send others.

Hope you and your family have a good Holiday Season.

Love,
Ruth

Will of John B. Surratt
Submitted by Ruth Embree

The State of Texas, Van Zandt County

In the name of God Amen, I John B. Surratt of the State and County above mentioned being in good health and of sound mind and memory calling to mind the frailty and uncertainty of human life and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs directing how the Estate with which it has pleased God to bless me shall be disposed of after my death while I have strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null and void all other last wills and testaments by me here before made. And first I command my immortal being to him who gave it and my body to this earth to be buried without embalming by my Executors and Executor here in after named. And as to my worldly estate and all the property Real and Personal and mixed of which I shall die seized and possessed and to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease. I devise and bequeath and dispose thereof in the following manner to last imprimis. My will is that all just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my Executors and Executor out of my Estate as soon after my decease as shall by them found convenience.

Item..I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Margaret Jane Surratt all my entire estate personal real or mixed of which I shall die possessed to have and to hold and enjoy the same with all the profits rents incomes and advantages that may result therefrom (J.B. Surratt) during her natural life or widowhood with reminder thereof at her decease or marriage to my children by said wife and those of my former wife deceased to equally divide between them share and share alike and should it occur that my said wife should marry before the youngest arrives at the age of majority or from having married. But if any of my said children should die either before of after a division thereof between my said children and shall have no issue of his or her body then his or her portion shall be divided by the remainder of my said children in equal portions but should said decease child leave such issue it shall be substituted for the deceased portion of parent.

Item..It is my will that the income of all my estate after the death or marriage of my said wife be apportioned to the maintenance and education of my said children.

Item..I nominate and appoint my friend J. R. Clark of Somervill Co Texas and my beloved wife Margaret Jane Surratt my Executor and Executrix after my last will and testament and direct that no security shall be required of them as such. (Sgd. J. B. Surratt)

Item..It is my will that no other action shall be had in the District Court in the administration of my estate than to prove and record this will and to return an inventory and appraisement of my estate after which time as is my desire that my Executor be discharged and that my said wife be the sole Executrix of my will.

The foregoing instrument I make and publish as my last will hereto subscribing my name this the 15th day of April AD 1879 in the presence of A.B. Riddle and J.R. Mathews who attest the same at my request. (Sgd. J. B. Surratt)

The above instrument was subscribed in our presence by John B. Surratt and we at his request and in his presence sign our name as attesting witnesses.

Witness A.B. Riddle of Van Zandt County Texas
Witness J.R. Mathews of Van Zandt County Texas

Filed and recorded August 23 A D 1879 T. J. Foster, Clerk County Court Van Zandt County

The State of Texas in County Court County of Van Zandt August ____ A D 1879

Now comes J. R. Mathews One after subscribing witness as to the last will and testament of John B. Surratt being duly sworn deposed and says that the same John B. Surratt the Testator sign declare and publish the instrument to ________ now being shown bearing date 15th day of April 1879 as this last will and testament freely voluntarily and of his own accord and without compulsion or influence whatever that at the time of executing said will the said Testator who of sound disposing mind and memory that deceased signed said will as witness thereto in his presence of said Testator at this special summons and request and in the presence of A. R. Riddle a Subscribing witness.
(Sgd) J. R. Mathews

Sworn to and Subscribed in open court before us this August 23 AD 1879
Filed and recorded August the 23 AD 1879 T.J. Foster, Clerk, County Court Van Zandt County

The State of Texas Van Zandt County

I W.D. Thomas, Clerk Clerk of the County Court ______ Said County do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument of writing is a true and correct _________ and instrument purporting to be the last will and testament of J.B. Surratt together with the testimony of J. R. Mathews one of the subscribing witnesses as the same appears of record in my office in the Record of Wills on pages 6, 7, and 8. The testimony whereof I hereto sign my name and affix the Seal of my office in Canton this 29th day of November AD 1888.

(Sgd.) W. D. Thompson, County Clerk, Van Zandt County, Texas

More About JOHN RICE SERRATT:
Will: August 23, 1879, Van Zandt County, TX - Recorded

Notes for M:
In the 1860 Census for Parker Co., TX., Post Office at Copper Hill Beat 8, August 23rd, 1860, they were in house 659/665, J. Serrat (John Rice) 45, farmer, personal prop. $800.00, Birth Place, Tennessee, M. Serrat 48, Domestic, birth place Tennessee, S. Serrat 12, Birth place, Tennessee (Samuel Rankin), J. Serrat 4, Birth Place, Texas (James Lemuel), this name was often misspelled.

I do not know what the "M" stands for. I have been told by Ruth Embree that it she was called Millie, That may stand for Millecent, Margaret.

Will leave as is until I have further proof and I think Ruth does have the proof.

Notes for CYNTHIA WYATT:
Cynthia died Late 1874 or early 1875, I do not know what TX. Co. she died in.

Notes for MARGARET JANE CLARK:
When John Rice died, Margaret Jane moved to Somerville Co., TX. to be near her parents and raise the five youngest children of John Rice Serratt.

Children of JOHN SERRATT and M are:

2.	i.		SAMUEL RANKIN² SERRATT, b. March 1847, Tennessee; d. February 1922, Lometa, Lampassas Co., tx..
3.	ii.		JAMES LEMUEL SURRATT, b. October 1856, Texas; d. Abt. 1925, Porterville, CA.

Children of JOHN SERRATT and CYNTHIA WYATT are:

4.	iii.	ALABAMA² SERRATT, b. August 1869, Van Zandt Co., Tx.; d. August 1946, Tuscola, Taylor Co., Tx..
5.	iv.	JOHN RILEY SERRATT, b. February 18, 1872, Texas; d. May 27, 1959, Whittier, CA.
	v.	LAVIDA JANE SERRATT, b. September 16, 1873, Van ZandtCo., Tx.; d. January 14, 1941, Corpus Christi, Neuces Co., TX; m. JESS C. PARVIN; b. January 08, 1866; d. April 22, 1962, Corpus Christi, Neuces Co., TX.

Notes for LAVIDA JANE SERRATT:
In the early birth register for VanZandt Co., TX. 1872 - 1900, this child of John Rice Surratt and Cynthia Surratt was spelled Lavita Jane Surratt, the last name was spelled Surratt, not Serratt. In another copy of the Van Zandt Co., Tx Birth Records it says her name was Lavita Jessie Surratt, white female born 16 September 1873, father: J. R. Surratt Mother: Cynthia,

More About LAVIDA JANE SERRATT:
Burial: White Church Cemetery, Glenrose, TX.

Children of JOHN SERRATT and MARGARET CLARK are:

6.	vi.		ORLENE ELIZABETH² SERRATT, b. August 22, 1876, Hunt Co., Tx..
7.	vii.		WILLIAM CLAUDIA SERRATT, b. August 06, 1878, Hunt Co., Tx.; d. November 05, 1953, Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., TX.

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