Probate of John Blanton
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS ) Probate Court
RED RIVER COUNTY ) Nov Term 1840
To the Honourable A. J. Fowler,
Judge of the Probate Court:
Your petitioner Benjamin Blanton would respectfully make known to your honor that JOHN BLANTON late a citizen of Red River County sometime in Nov. Ultimo died intestate. The probale amount of money which the estate of the said JOHN BLANTON Dec’d is worth would be $2,500.00 according to the belief of your petitioner. And, your petitioner would further make known to your honour that he is the son of the aforesaid JOHN BLANTON dec'd and prays your honour to grant him letters of administration to administer upon the estate of the said JOHN BLANTON dec'd and he will ever pray as in duty bound & c.
Signed Benjamin Blanton
Sworn to and subscribed in
open court by Benj. Blanton
1 December 1840
Test. E. G. Wright, Clerk
Book A, Probate Minutes of Red River County has the following:
Page 213 – Benjamin Blanton applies for letters of administration upon estate of John
Blanton.
Page 222 – Letters of Administration issued Benjamin Blanton on estate of John Blanton, made bond, $5,000 and gave as security Elijah Blanton and Isaac Guest. Bond dated 29 March 1841.
Page 232 – Benjamin Blanton presented inventory.
Page 248 - Benjamin Blanton ordered to make a more full inventory.
Page 250 - (Could not find)
Page 253 - Another inventory presented and adopted by Court.
Page 294 - Benjamin Blanton ordered to appear and make settlement.
Page 302 - Continued till next term.
Page 341 & 374 - Could not find.
The appraisal was recorded in Book E, pages 133 and 134. This book could not be located, however, the original documents were located and xeroxed except for the inventory of personal property $596.00 which was in such bad condition it would not copy.
From Box 3 - Clarksville, Texas Court House
We, B. Gooch and Isaac Kirkendall, having been appointed by the Probate Court of Red River County and the Republic of Texas, appraisors of the estate of JOHN BLANTON dec’d have this day met at the late residence of said deceased, it being the 23 day of April A.D. 1841, and have appraised the following described property belonging to said estate as shown to us by Administrator, to wit:
Articles
2 yoke oxen - $115.00
7 cows and 7 calves - $98.00
1
1
2 heifers - $12.00
4 heifer yearlings - $20.00
1 bull yearling - $6.00
2 steer yearlings - $10.00
1 – 2 yr old horse colt - $40.00
1 – 2 yr old horse - $15.00
1 mare heavy with fold - $60.00
1 horse (?) - $45.00
? Furniture - $15.00
1 small ? - $5.00
2 hundred pounds pork - $48.00
1 kittle lid & ? - $3.00
1 bakn oven - $1.50
1 spinning wheel - $5.00
1 pair stiddards - $.50
1 turning plow & ? - $5.00
1 waggon - $30.00
14 shoats - $21.00
3 sows & pigs (4) - $15.00
1 stock hog & boar - $3.00
TOTAL - $596.00
We the undersigned Isaac H. Johnson, Benj. Gooch and Isaac Kirkendall appraisors of the Estate of JOHN BLANTON dec’d do certify that the following is a true and correct inventory and appraisement of the property as shown to us by the Administrator, to wit:
One Certificate 2nd Class No. H302 for one league and labour of land surveyed on said certificate in the limits of Red River County.
Twelve labours 77198 varras worth $2,264.00
One survey by virtue of said certificate
Located in Paschal County
Ten labours 830000 varras worth $1,919.00
TOTAL $4,183.00
This was sworn and subscribed to on 11 October 1841.
(Note: Paschal County, Texas was established 28 January 1841 for Judicial and other purposes, County Seat Daingerfield, Texas. It was abolished 1842. It included all of present Franklin, Hopkins, Titus, Morris, Cass & most of present Marion – per Genealogy Dept., Dallas Public Library.)
On 27 September 1842, Benjamin Blanton made a report as administrator:
. . . the amount of real estate belonging to said estate appearing from inventory and appraisal $4,183.00 and the personal property $596.00. And, your reporter would represent to your honor that the personal property belonging to said estate at the time of the death of said decedant was resting under execution which prohibited your reporter from making sail (as spelled) of the same. And, most of said property was sold under execution to satisfy a judgment and execution of Lenard W. Perry admin. of the estate of Josiah Perry against John Blanton amounting to two hundred and sixteen dollars and sixteen cents par funds and seventy six dollars and eighty four cents in Texas Treasury notes. . . . And, your reporter would further represent to your honor that the debts against the estate has been paid and as follows:
One note payable to Craig & Norris dated the 29 Sept. 1840
due three months after date for $15.00
One note payable to Isaac Gest dated 30 Oct. 1840
due one day after date 15.00
One note payable to John B. Craig dated 29 Sept. 1840
due one day after date 40.00
One note payable to James Lattemore dated 2 Sept. 1839
due one day after date 15.00
One note payable to J. J. Ward & F. Rodgers 12.50
One account in favor of Benjamin Blanton 190.00
One note payable to Lincecum dated the 2 Oct. 1841
due one day after 40.50
which amounts in all to five hundred forty nine dollars and ninty six cents allowing the Texas Treasury notes to be worth four for one without the intrust (as spelled) paid on the notes. . . . which amounts to $15.60 added to the amount of $549.60 makes $563.20.
And, a further account in favor of Elijah Blanton against said estate for one hundred & eighty three dollars on which there is a credit of one hundred & nine dollars paid by your reporter. Added to five hundred & sixty three dollars and 20 cents makes six hundred and seventy two dollars and twenty cents from which take five hundred ninety six dollars and seventy six dollars twenty cents remains as a balance in favour of your reporter. And there remains on the above account of Elijah Blanton a balance of Seventy four dollars due him and yet unpaid and your reporter prays that his accounts may be ---------- and allowed and his administrations continued.
This report was sworn to before J. C. Hart, clerk. The photostat was fairly easy to read -- either it was copied wrong from the legal instrument into the book or there were a great many errors made in the calculations.
Benjamin Blanton died prior to 28 December 1842 and another son, Elijah was granted letters of Administrations upon the estate of John Blanton - 24 April 1843. Jacob Blanton and Francis L. Blanton (both making their mark) went on Elijah’s Administrative bond. Elijah signed before J. C. Hart, clerk. He was still administrator of this estate on 3 January 1845 when the estate was charged with $7.10 costs for March and April 1843. In 1848 he gave David Blanton power of attorney to handle the estate of John Blanton as he had moved to Gonzales County, Texas. He died there in March 1850 (1850 Mortality schedule covering period June 1, 1849-1850).
This the 28th day of Nov 1848
State of Texas County of Gonzales
Know all men by these presents that I, Elijah Blanton, have this day given unto David
Blanton a full and complete Power of Attorney to attend to Manage, fix, severally and all
my land matters and transact all business for me on all my land matters the same as if I
was present in person. I certify that the said David Blanton is fully empowered by this
instrument to sell any portion or all my lands either in estate of John Blanton deceased,
our father, one tract lies in Cass County and the other tract lies in Red River and one
three hundred & 20 acres somewhere on Red River and all of my land matters of
purchase or otherwise given under my hand and seal this day and date above named.
Red River County, Texas Probate Minutes, Book A