NCALLEGH-L Archives

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Subject: probate files & NC Archives
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 16:49:49 EDT

All,
I just wanted to share with everyone a new system the NC Archives is
trying. Now when you submit a request for archive copies, they email you back
a form to print and mail with your check. The old way, was to wait weeks
until you got a yellow form from them, then mail it back with a check, and
wait a week or two for the copies....

I've been working on the Levi Willey (1812-1896) probate file and when I get
it transcribed, I'll share it.. This file is fantastic ! When Levi died he
owed some people money and people owed him money, and all these people had to
go before a JP, usually Henry M. Crouse and all the original signatures of
these folks are here in the file, along with the little "notes" they kept up
with who owed who how much.... Paper was said to be a luxury back then, so
they made little "IOU's" on any kind of paper, and these little papers are
what is in the probate file....

I have learned that Levi broke his leg on Dec.9 of 1895 and Dr. Thompson
charged him five dollars to set his leg. Dr.Thompson, had stationary of his
own ! Levi also got into a bit of a spot with the IRS, or some sort of
Revenue Service that summoned him to Sparta, because he used the back side of
the paper to write a "note" on....
Also learned that when he died, he had 800 feet of logs at Gentry's store,
which someone in the neighborhood " borrowed" and the Administrator of the
estate, John Choate, had to take legal action against the person who
"borrowed" the logs and built a barn with them !!!

These probate files give us a realistic glimpse of ancestor's day to day
life, so get them, if your ancestor has one. The signatures alone are worth
the price.

Cuz Carolyn

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