____________________________________________________________________________ Abstract made by an unknown abstractor about 1890 from original records of Pike County, Arkansas and recorded in Abstract of Title Book Prior to 1890 ____________________________________________________________________________ Probate Book 1 page 9. In Vacation. April 23rd 1855. John D. Hancock is appointed Administrator of the Estate of Elizabeth Hancock late of Pike County, Arkansas who died on or about January 12, 1854 testate. Value of said Estate about $1500. The heirs of (the) deceased are John D. Hancock, Thomas J. Conway (and) Rebecca Hancock. Bond for $3000 given and approved. All of Pike County, Arkansas and Robert W. Hancock infant of Abner Hancock deceased of Hempstead County, Arkansas. Bond approved by the Court. Probate Book 1 page 14. J.D. Hancock is appointed guardian of Rebecca Hancock. Probate Book 1 page 129. July 24, 1855. Sale bill presented and filed. Probate Book 1 page 136. Probate Book 1 page 123. January Term 1857. John D. Hancock administrator (of the) Estate (of) Elizabeth Hancock deceased in the matter of the sale of Real Estate. John D. Hancock as administrator of all and singular the Estate of Elizabeth Hancock deceased, this day exhibited and filed his petition and affidavit in Court alleging that the said Elizabeth Hancock deceased was seized and possessed in her own right at the time of her death of certain real estate or tracts or parcels of lands lying and being in the County of Pike and State of Arkansas therein and designated as the South 1/2 (of the) Northwest quarter and Northeast 1/4 (of the) Southwest quarter and 80 acres of Swamp Land, to wit: Northwest 1/4 (of the) Northwest quarter and Northwest 1/4 (of the) Southwest quarter all in Section 20 (of) Township 8, Range 25 (West); and that said real estate cannot under present circumstance be available to the Estate; and that said estate will be benefitted by a sale thereof because the price of public lands are so low &c. as to prevent the renting of lands upon advantageous terms; that the money for which the land can be sold put at 10 percent interest will yield to said estate and the persons therein interested more than the increased value of said lands. The affidavit of Asa T. Davis a citizen of Pike County, Arkansas and a disinterested person presented verifying the same facts set forth in said petition presented. The prayer of the petitioner for the order and authority of the Court to authorized and empower said Administrator to sell said real estate &c. granted. Sale to be at the Court House door in Murfreesboro, Pike County, Arkansas on March 2nd 1857 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. of said day; 20 days notice of sale (and) terms &c. to be given. Sale to be on a credit of twelve months, bond with approved security for the payment of the purchased money (and) to be taken 10% interest from maturity. Administrator to report proceedings herein at the next term of this Court. Probate Book 1 page 136. April Term 1857. Court orders sale of Land Warrant No. 31204 of William Hancock for the benefit of his ward. Probate Book 1 page 137. April Term 1857. Administrator files his account current and settlement continued for confirmation. Probate Book 1 page 143. July Term 1857. Administrator reports sale of said real estate pursuant to the order of this Court to John D. Brewer for $655. Book 1 page 167. April Term 1858. Court appoints John D. Hancock guardian of Robert J. Hancock a minor heir of Abner Hancock deceased. Probate Book 2 page 30. October 24, 1860. Administrator make(s) final settlement and askes to be discharged. Said settlement is in all things confirmed and approved by the Court and the said Administrator is discharged without delay. ____________________________________________________________________________ Abstract of Title Book Prior to 1890, page 302. ____________________________________________________________________________ State of Arkansas, County of Pike, In Pike Court of Probate April Term 1855. Rebecca Hancock in the matter of her Guardianship Petition / Exparte Now on this day the clerk of this court presented the petition of Rebecca Hancock, a minor (of) the age of fourteen years, praying that John D. Hancock be appointed her Guardian; and representing that she has an interest in property which requires the care and attention of some discreet person who will carefully protect the interest of the petitioner. It is therefore ordered that said John D. Hancock be appointed her, the said Rebecca Hancock, Guardian upon his entering into bond. Now on this day the clerk of this court presented the bond of the said John D. Hancock as Guardian of Rebecca Hancock a minor, in the sum of One thousand Dollars with Thomas J. Conway as his Security, conditioned according to law, which was examined by the court and approved. ____________________________________________________________________________ State of Arkansas, Sct. County of Pike, I, William R. McFarlin, Clerk of the Circuit Court and ex-officio Clerk of the Court of Probate in and for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and perfect copy of the appointment and qualification of John D. Hancock as Guardian of Rebecca Hancock, a minor, remaining of Record in my office. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at my office, this 16 day of June A.D. 1855. (Seal) Wm. R. McFarlin, Clerk. ____________________________________________________________________________ State of Arkansas, County of Pike, On this 1st day of September 1855, personally appeared before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, John D. Hancock, Guardian of Rebecca Hancock (who is the minor heir of William Hancock late of the County and State aforesaid), who being duly sworn according to law declares: That the said Rebecca is the only minor heir of William Hancock deceased, and that the said William is the identical man who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Rogers in the 2nd Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers commanded by Col. Haines in the War against the Seminole Indians. That he volunteered at Jackson County, Tennessee on or about the 1st of February 1818 for the term of six months and was honorably discharged at Columbia, Tennessee on or about the 1st of August 1818, by reason of the expiration of his term of service. He further states that Elizabeth Hancock who was the widow of the said William Hancock as aforesaid and the mother of the said Rebecca, has received for the services of the said William Hancock, Bounty Land Warrant No. (not recollected) for 80 acres which was legally disposed of previous to the death of the said Elizabeth, which death took place on the 12 day of January 1854. And that the said William Hancock died on the 24 day of December 1849. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which the said Rebecca Hancock, minor heir of the said William Hancock, is entitled under the act of March 3d 1855, Bounty Land never having been received for said service except as above stated. And he hereby constitutes and appoints Charles C. Tucker of Washington, D.C. his true and lawful attorney to prosecute this claim and procure the Warrant for said service, hereby countermanding and revoking any and all authority hitherto given for the above specified purpose. John D. Hancock Sworn to, subscribed, and acknowledged before me the day and year first above written, and on the same day personally came and appeared before me, John D. Brewer and William H. Preston, residents of the County and State, aforesaid, to me known as credible witnesses, who being duly sworn, declare: That they, were personally acquainted with William Hancock in his life time and with Elizabeth Hancock his wife and widow in her life time, and that they both died at the dates specified in the foregoing declaration, and that the said William Hancock was the identical person herein as presented, and that they believe rendered the services aforementioned, and that the said Elizabeth Hancock received (a) Bounty Land Warrant in her life time as above set forth; and that the said Rebecca Hancock is the only surviving minor heir of the said William and Elizabeth Hancock, that they are personally acquainted with the said John D. Hancock who has made and subscribed the foregoing declaration, that they were present and saw him sign his name to said declaration; that from their knowledge and acquaintance with the said John D. Hancock, they are satisfied that he is the duly authorized guardian by law of the aforesaid Rebecca Hancock. They further swear that they are disinterested in said claim and reside at the place above named. John D. Brewer W.H. Preston Sworn to & subscribed before me, and I certify that I am not interested in the claim or concerned in its prosecution, and I believe that the facts stated are as they represent them to be. A.B. Williams, J.P. ____________________________________________________________________________ Bounty Land Warrant File 31204, Record Group 15, National Archives, Washington, D.C. ____________________________________________________________________________ HTML file and design by David Kelley, 1997. All rights reserved.