Derritt & Mary Fitzgerald's Estate

Mary Fitzgerald died April 26, 1873.  Derritt died two days later on April 28th.  Their property went into probate immediately with the bulk of the estate sold and divided among Derritt's heirs.  He and Mary had 7 children.  Derritt also had 3 children with his first wife Susannah Ferguson.  The probate record names the heirs, shows relationships and how the proceeds of the estate sale were divided.  

Children of Derritt & Susannah:

• John S.
• James Madison
• Johnson Jackson

Children of Derritt & Mary:

• Cynthia E.
• Permelia
• Eliza Ann
• John Madison
• William Henry Harrison 
• America Caroline
• Thomas Jefferson

Spelling and grammar have not been edited.

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Probate record from Clay County, Illinois:

No. 2F
Clay County, Illinois
Estate of Derritt S. Fitzgerald, deceased
Calvin Moore, Administrator
Wm. R. Etchison, security
Bond $1500.00
Letters granted May 1st, 1873

To the Hon. Luther S. Hopkins, judge of the county court of Clay County, in the State of Illinois.

The petition of the undersigned Calvin Moore respectfully represents that Derritt S. Fitzgerald late of the County of Clay aforesaid, departed this life at his residence in said County, on or about the 28th day of April AD 1873, leaving no last will and testament as far as your petitioner knows or believes.

And this petition further shows that the said Derritt S. Fitzgerrald died, seized and possessed of Real and Personal Estate, consisting chiefly of horses & wagon and  house hold furniture all of said personal estate being estimated to be worth about seven hundred & fifty dollars.  That said deceased left surviving him Eliza Erwin, John M. Fitzgerrald, Wm. H.H. Fitgerrald & America Sparlin & minors children of Jas. M. Fitzgerrald & Jackson Fitzgerrald his children as heirs.  That your petitioner (being a friend of the deceased) and believing that the said estate should be immediately administered, as well for the proper management of said estate as for the prompt  collection of the assets, by virture of his right under the Statute therefore pray that your Honor will grant letters of administration to (him) Calvin Moore in the premises, upon his taking the oath prescribed by the Statute and entering into bond in such sum and with securities, as may be approved by your Honor.

Calvin Moore [signature]

Report of the Account of Calvin Moore Administrator of the Estate of Derritt Fitzgerrald
Filed the 20 day of March AD 1878 and recorded in Report Record B page 287 R.J. Burns County Clerk.
Approved by me this 20th day of March AD 1878, G.A. Hoff, county judge

The undersigned, Administrator of the estate of Derritt S. Fitzgerrald deceased, would respectfully submit to the Court the following report of his acts and doing as such Administrator from December 23rd 1875 to march 20 AD 1878.  He charge himself with the following to-wit:

March 20, ’78 Amount on hands at last report, $244.86.

He ask to be credited with the following payments to creditors of the deceased as per vouchers herewith submitted:

11/8/1875 – Eliza A. Erwin, daughter of deceased, $34.85
8/21/1875 – Cynthia E. Keller, daughter of deceased, $34.85
4/4/1877 – America C. Sparlin daughter of deceased, $34.85
5/23/1877 – W.H.H. Fitzgerrald, son of deceased, $34.85
5/8/1876 – John Fitzgerrald, son of deceased, $34.85
12/24/1875 – Mary S. Fitzgerrald, granddaughter $6.97
5/8/1876 – James J. Fitzgerrald, grandson, $6.97
12/25/1875 – John G. Fitzgerrald, grandson, $6.97
12/25/1875 – Stewart E. Fitzgerrald, grandson, $6.97
3/20/1878 – Administrator allowance for services, $3.50
3/20/1878 – Rotan & Cockrell, $1.50
Total - $207.13

Total amount Received $244.86
Total amount Paid Out $207.13
Balance due $37.73

Received of Calvin Moore, administrator of the estate of Derritt Fitzgerrald deceased the sum of thirty-seven dollars and seventy three cents being the amount coming to the heirs of said deceased in the following manner towit to George W. Fitzgerald son of Madison Fitzgerrald the sum of $5.97, to Jane Drake, Mariah Crowder, Mary McCougin and James B. Ftizgerrald children of Jackson Fitzgerrald the sum of seven dollars and seventy-one and one-fourth cents each all of said children and heirs being grandchildren and heirs of said Derritt Fitzgerrald deceased.

Louisville, Illinois, March 20th, 1878.

All of which is respectfully submitted,
Calvin Moore administrator of the estate of Derritt Fitzgerrald, deceased

Calvin Moore Administrator of the estate of Derritt Fitzgerrald deceased submits this his final report in said estate showing the amount of money on hands and the names of the following heirs who are entitled to the same on distribution towit, George W. Fitzgerrald to $5.97 James Drake $7.71 ¼, Mariah Cowdes $7.71 ¼, Mary McCoggin $7.71 ¼, James B. Fitzgerrald $7.71 ¼

Calvin Moore Admin.

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Administrator's Sale of Derritt's property

Generally an inventory and appraisal is created prior to the estate auction.  I think it was skipped in this instance b/c Mary was already dead.  Part of the inventory / appraisal process is to identify the goods that go to the upkeep of the widow.  The other consideration is that there wasn't that much to sell.  In addition to common household / farm implements are a couple books and violin.  The children and grandchildren bought items at the sale as well as members of allied families.

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Sale Bill, Clay County Court, estate of Derritt Fitzgerrald deceased, filed this 25th day of July 1873, S.L. Rea, clerk.  Approved July 25, 1873 L.S. Hopkins county judge.  Recorded in Sale Record M, p. 24, S.L. Rea, clerk.

Administrators Sale

Notice is hereby given, that on Saturday the 24th day of May next, between the hours of ten o’clock in the forenoon and five o’clock in the afternoon at the residence of Wm. H.H. Fitzjerrrald son of Derritt S. Fitzjeral deceased, personal property of the said decedent, consisting of two horses, one wagon and harness, one rifle gun, two beds and bed clothing, meat some cupboard ware and other articles will be sold at Public Sale in accordance with an order of the County Clerk of Clay County.

Terms of Sale:  Purchase of less then five dollars to be paid in hand; for that amount and over, a credit of twelve months the purchaser giving note and approved security.  Calvin Moore, administrator this May the 2nd AD 1873.

Articles Sold – Name of Purchaser – Am’t of Sale

Frow

1 cow bell, Alfred Ogborn, $1.25
1 box & trinkets, Henry L. Toliver, .15
2 clevises & 2 rings, Calvin Moore, .50
1 muzle & haulter chain, Jabin B. Erwin, .25
1 curry comb & brush, Eliza A. Erwin, .30
1 frow & iron wedge, same, .40
1 claw hammer, Jabin B. Erwin, .60

Scythe w/ cradle

1 box and sundries, William P. Lewis, .10
1 washing tub & board, James Smith, .50
1 meal sieve, Jabin B. Erwin, .20
2 pair of scissors, same, .30
1 lot of horse shoes, Calvin Moore, .50
1 box and keg, James Smith, .25
1 sythe & cradle, Alfred Ogborn, 2.25
1 singletree, James R. Maxwell, .25
2 chopping axes & backboard, William H.H. Fitzgerald, .10
1 spinning wheel, James Sparlin, .10
1 Fatstand & grind stone, Jabin B. Erwin, .25
2 wooden buckets, same, .35
1 coal oil can, same, .30

Singletree

1 brass lamp, same, .30
1 box & bottle, Wm. P. Lewis, .10
1 bottle, James Sparlin, .05
1 pair steelyards, Calvin Moore, .30
1 fire shovel tongs & hooks, Eliza A. Erwin, .75
1 smoothing iron, Wm. H.H. Fitzjearld, .10
1 set andirons & tea kettle, George M. Toliver, .15
1 man’s saddle, James Smith, 1.90

Steelyard

1 pair saddle pockets, Eliza A. Erwin, .30
1 valise, Henry L. Toliver, 25
2 meal sacks, Jabin B. Erwin, .25
1 meal sack & meal, Wm. H.H. Fitzjearld, .75
1 brass kettle, Eliza A. Erwin, 1.30
1 tin bucket & coffee pot, James Sparlin, .50
2 butcher knives, Wm. L. Armstrong, .20
1 coffee mill, Jabin B. Erwin, .10
1 set shaving apparatus, Eliza A. Erwin, .20
1 atlas & U.S. History, Jabin B. Erwin, .15
1 pad lock & 3 skeins thread, Wm. R. Etchison, .45
1 dinner horn, John Isom, .45
1 log chain, Edward Williams, 1.40
1 feed basket, Wm. P. Lewis, .45
1 rifle gun & Apparatus, Wm. H.H. Fitzjearld, 8.00
1 chamber pot, Wm. L. Armstrong, .30
1 strainer & was pan, Jabin B. Erwin, .35
1 set plates, Eliza A. Erwin, .15
1 molasses stand, same, .40
1 bowl & dish, James Sparlin, .25
1 set cups & saucers, Wm. P. Lewis, .45
2 ten cups & pepper box, Jabin B. Ewin, .10
1 set knives & forks, Henry L. Toliver, .50
1 dining table, Eliza A. Erwin, .30

Plow

1 turning plow & sod, John H. Toliver, Sen. .05
1 table cloth & hand towel, Eliza A. Erwin, .30
1 set breaching, Alfred Ogborn, 2.35
1 bed & stead No. 1, William Blevin, 13.50
1 bed stead No. 2, James Smith, 13. 50
2 pillow slips, same, .10
1 bed quilt & Blanket lot No. 1, Eliza A. Erwin, 1.75
1 bed quilt & blanket lot No. 2, William Bevin, 2.00
2 bed quilts lot No. 1, Eliza A. Erwin, 3.35
2 bed quilts lots No. 2, William H. H. Fitzjearled, 1.00
2 bed quilts lots No. 3, Eliza A. Erwin, 1.50
2 bed quilts lots No. 4, Wm. H.H. Fitzjearld, 2.00

Brush Scythe

2 bed quilts lot No. 5, same, 3.25
3 sheets, William Blevin, 1.40
1 brush sythe, Jabin B. Erwin, .05
1 jar & lard, Eliza A. Erwin, 1.00
2 sides of bacon lot of No. 1, William H.H. Fitzjearld, 3.05
2 sides of bacon lot No. 2, same, 3.25
2 sides of bacon lot No. 3, same, 3.00
2 sides of bacon lot No. 4, same, 3.20
2 hames of bacon, same, 2.80
1 violin, Jabin B. Erwin, 7.00
1 set plow gears lot No. 1, Elbert Moore, 2.00
1 set plow gears lot No. 2, same, 1.25
1 riding bridle lot No. 1, William H.H. Fitzjearld, .70
1 riding bridle lot No. 2, James Smith, .35
1 dun mare, James Sparlin, 95.25
1 sorrell mare, G.G. Hill, 68.00 
1 two horse wagon, Eliza A. Erwin, 82.50
1 pair breast chains, same, .60
1 chest, William H.H. Fitzjearld, .25
1 goos[e] box, same, .05

Total Amount of Sales, $350.45

We do hereby certify that the above Sale Bill in the Estate of Derritt S. Fitzjearld deceased, is true and correct.  Given under our hands, this 28 day of May 1873.  Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 19th day of July 1873.  William L. Armstrong, clerk, Caleb Odell crier, ____, Duncanson, JP (seal)