Sandi's Puzzles

Sandi is taking a vacation from the puzzles for a while. She will announce when they are to continue. Thanks for your participation.

You are at the County Clerk's office and look at the will index book. You find the will you are looking for and then go to the appropriate will book to read the will. What is different about the signatures of the will maker and his witnesses?

Answer: These signatures were actually written by the clerk who recorded the will in the will book; not the actual signatures of the will maker and witnesses.

During the Revolutionary War, many people did not serve in active battle but provided assistance as wagoners, furnishing weapons & ammunition or supplies etc. This service was referred to as ___ service.

Answer: Patriot

One of the early occupations seen on the census records is that of a framer. What did a framer do?

Answer: A framer built the "skeleton" of the house with others completing the house.

When a grist mill was to be built, the owner had to appear before the County Court and ask for an ad quod damnum. A jury had to be sent out to see if the mill or mill dam would damage the lands of neighbors and two other specific other things. What two things other than the land itself might be damaged? (late 1700s through mid 1930s primarily).

Answer: Two main items always mentioned in the ad quod danumns of water grist mills was a report as to any damages incurred on the mansion house and orchards of the neighbors.

In Kentucky, when children were indentured or "bound out" to another individual to learn a trade, what age for both the boys and the girls ended the indentureship? (need age for both).

Answer: In Kentucky, boys were indentured until age 21; girls until age 18.

When a written will was presented to the court, what was required before the will could be recorded as the true will of the deceased?

Answer: When a will was produced in court, the first requirement was the testimony of two subscribing witnesses attesting the signature of the deceased and that they have seen him sign the will. If only one witness appeared, the will was not "proven" and put on the next month's docket for further proof. If the other witness had died or moved from the state, someone had to come into court and attest that the handwriting of the second witness was legitimate.

Administrators were appointed as commissioners to appraise the estate of an individual who died without leaving a will. They had to take an oath to administer the estate and enter into bond with one or more securities. What clue can you find in the two sample appointments: First appointment: John Smith entered into bond of $500.on the estate of Abraham Smith. Second appointment: Peter Jones entered into bond for $5,000 on the estate of Joshua Jones. (I am not looking for relationship of the administrator to the deceased).

Answer: Larger bonds were required for larger estates.