Help me decipher this?
My relative Caroline M. Craig was a young widow. Her husband John Craig died in 1839. Her name appears in several probate documents from DeKalb County Alabama in the early 1840's. In this passage (attached) I am imagining that it says "Report of Thomas A. Ball (?) Craig's estate [next line] Thomas Ball in the sight? (right?) of his wife [next line] FORMERLY?? Caroline M. Craig (?) of the estate [next line] of John Craig Dced (deceased). Of course I am wondering if she remarried, and I have searched and searched, to no avail.
Can anyone help? Thanks in advance!
Anita Tally,
Answers
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@Anita Tally
It's preferable to supply the URL/link of the record, which will be much easier for us to read.
This would appear to be the document https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91W-53CT-Z from DGS 7737030, Image 156 of 281.2 -
Hello @Anita Tally,
Here is what I read on each line:
Report of Thomas A. Ball on? Craig's estate
Thomas Ball in the right of his wife
formerly Caroline M. Craig Exr? [possibly abbreviation for "Executor/Executrix"] of the estate
of John Craig, Decd. [Deceased.]
My comment: The difficult word is in the first line after the surname "Ball". I would expect it to be "re" = "regarding" but I don't see it. The second letter in this short word could be an "n" so the word "on" works here but I am not convinced the first letter is an "o".
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"in the right of his wife" is standard language I've often seen in such documents. It seems clear to me that is what is written in this one.
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Agreed. What do you think the short word or abbreviation is after the surname "Ball" in the first line?
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I think it's most likely a poorly formed on.
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That's what I thought. Thanks, @Áine.ní.Donnghaile.
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