Will of James Conner 1835
Transcribed By: Wm. David Guiel (4th great-grandson)
The State of Ohio Meigs County on the 16th day of February 1858 before me personally
appeared James Trainer, Thomas Sharp and John Rutherford. Within named and made to _____
oath that they Would upon actual ______ Honestly and impartially appraise the Real Estate
of James Conner Deceased , in pursuance of the order of the Probate Court of Meigs County
in the case of Joshua Wood Administrator _____ , John Conner and others,.
John McKinstry, Justice of the Peace said County.
Joshua Wood Administrator
of James Conner Deceased
___ Probate Court Meigs County
James Conner and others. Petition to Sell Land
In obedience to the order of the Court in this Case after being duly sworn and after actual
____ of the premises do Estimate the Real Estate described in said petition at Twenty two
hundred Dollars.
February 16, 1858
John H. Rutherford
James Trainer
Thomas Sharp
Amounts written here are unreadable. (WD Guiel 8/17/2004)
"A"
Copy of Will of James Conner died In the name of God Amen. I James Conner of the County of
Meigs and State of Ohio considering the uncertainty of Mortal life and being of sound Mind
and Memory blessed the Almighty God for the same do Make and publish this my last will and
testament in manner and form following (that is today). First I give and bequeath unto my
beloved wife Nancy Conner all the property that I now posses boath real and personal to have
and to hold the same during her natural life to have the control of it at her will not to
commit ___ or suffer it to the ____ while the said property is in her hands but to secure
to herself a comfortable living during her life. It is also my will she shall collect all
notes and accounts owed and owing to me and to pay all just debts if any there be that any
come against my estate, and at her decease the lands and tenements goods and chattels to be
sold and the money distributed as follows. 1st to my son John Conner the sum of Fifty dollars.
2nd to my son James Conner the sum of Fifty dollars. 3rd to my son David Conner the sum of
Fifty dollars. 4th to my son Isaac Conner the sum of Fifty dollars. And the balance to be
equally divided between my surviving children with the exception of twenty five dollars to
be reducted out of the legacy of my son David Conner, it being the amount of a note he received
of me against Chancy Nolton also the sum of twenty five dollars to be reducted out of the
legacy of my Daughter Nelly Swet (W.D. Guiel: Nelly = Eleanor?) it being for one horse beast
that she received previous to making this will. 5th It is my will that my Grand Daughter Eliza
McCully shall have of my property one cow, or the price thereof when she shall arrive at the
age of Eighteen Years old. In _____ whereof I have hereunto set My hand and Seal this the
Twenty Eighth day of June One thousand and Eight Hundred and thirty five. (WDG:1835)
His
James X Conner
Mark
Signed Sealed and delivered by the above named James Conner to be his last will and testament
in the presence of us who have hereunto ______ our names as witness in the presence of the
testators.
Joshua Wood
His
John X Wood
Mark
The State of Ohio
Meigs County
I hereby certify that the forgoing is a true copy of the last will and testament of James Conner
deceased from the Record of Wills in the office of the Probate Court of Meigs County Ohio.
Arthur Merrite (?)
Probate Judge
To the Probate Court of Meigs County Ohio
Your Petitioner Joshua Wood, of said County respectfully represents, that he has been appointed
and qualified , as Administrator with the Will _____, of James Conner late of said County
deceased.
Your petitioner further represents that the decedent died _____ of the following real estate.
Situated in the said county and described as follows, ____ the Southeast quarter of
Section No. 30 in Township No. 9 of Range No. 15 in the Ohio Company Purchase.
And your petitioner further represents that by the said Will it is provided that at the decease
of Nancy Conner, wife of deceased (which has lately occurred) "The lands and tenement goods and
chattels to be sold, and the money distributed as follows.
(W.D Guiel, 8/18/04: The probate document provides review of James Conner will at this point.
John, James, David, Isaac, Nelly, and Eliza are named in the review as is recorded in the will.
In addition the following is provided.)
Grand Daughter Eliza McCullough (WDG: spelling is different).
Your petition further represents that said Will being silent as to the mode of selling said
estate, he is in doubt as to his authority to sell the same without the order and directions of
the Court.
Your petitioner further represents that, at the decease of said Nancy Conner, there were living,
the then surviving Children of the decedent, John Conner of the State of Indiana, Isaac Conner
of the Sate of Iowa, Eleanor Swet, wife of Benjamine Swet of Meigs County Ohio, Nancy McCulley,
wife of Jacob McCulley of Athens County Ohio.
Your petiotioner further represents that after the making and Probate of said Will and before
the decease of Nancy Conner the said David Conner died, leaving John Conner, Milton Conner,
Hepsebe Conner and Elisabeth Conner, of Meigs County, and Tabitha Wilson, wife of Baggel Willison
of Athens Co. his children and hers at law.
That after the making and probate of said Will, and before the decease of said Nancy Conner,
the signed James Conner died, residing in the State of Indiana, leaving children as his heirs,
whose names and residences are unknown to your petition.
That Loiza Huntley, wife of John Huntly, a daughter of decedent, after the making of said Will
and its Probate, died in the State of Illinois leaving children whose names and residence are
unknown to your petitioner.
That Mary Arbaugh, wife of Joseph Arbaugh, and daughter of the decedent died before the making
of said Will, leaving John Arbaugh and Leonard Arbaugh, her children and heirs at Law, now
living in the County of Vinton Ohio. (W.D. Guiel, 8/18/04. Spelling on this shows latter as
Arebaugh, Arebough and Arbough on census over the course of a few generations. This is more
than likely due spelling error.)
That the said Eliza McCulley (WDG: spelling change) died before arriving at the age of eighteen
years, without issue.
Your petitioner therefore prays that he may be authorized by the Court to sell said real, and
that the proceeds may be marshaled by the Court according to the true intent of said Will.
T.H. ______
Atty for Petition
I Joshua Wood Admnr make oath and sg. That the names and residences of the heirs of Loiza Huntly
and James Conner, as above named, are unknown to me.
Joshua Wood
Summoned to and subscribed to me this 23 day of January A.D. 1858 Arthur Merrice(?)
Prob. Judge
Saturday 23 Jan
NOTES:
James Conner was a resident of Meigs County for may years and may have arrived
(Washington Co.) abt. 1800. James Conner and wife Nancy Unknown were from Ireland
and had several children born Meigs County.�
Dave Guiel