____________________________________________________________________________ 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 503. In Vacation. June 26th 1860. Jeff Cottingham states and represents that he has taken letters of Administration on the estate of W.G.O. Melson who lately departed this life in Hempstead county, Arkansas intestate. That there is a considerable amount of personal estate &c. and prays for an order to sell said personal estate, facts verified by affidavit. The Court grants the petitioner's prayer. Probate Book 1 page 506. Administrator presents bond for $7000 and the same is approved. July Term 1860. Probate Book 2 page 83. January 30th 1861. Mary Jane Melson widow of Washington G.O. Melson deceased petitions by her attorney for Dower and Jeff Cottingham administrator of decedent and Rosannah C. and Sarah J. Melson minors and only heirs of deceased by Wm. J. Kelley their guardian ad litem are defendants. Petitioner states &c. that the said Washington G.O. (Melson) died seized and possessed of the following lands in Pike County, Arkansas, to wit: Lot 2 in (the) Southwest 1/4 (of the) Northwest 1/4 and a fraction on the Northwest side of the Little Missouri River in (the) Northwest 1/4 (of the) Southwest 1/4 containing 54 acres 51 poles; Lot 3 in (the) Northeast 1/4 (of the) Northwest 1/4 containing 40 acres 1 rod (and) 39 poles; Lot 4 in (the) Southeast 1/4 (of the) Northwest quarter: a fraction in the North side of the River and a fraction in the Northeast 1/4 (of the) Southwest 1/4 in the Northeast side of the River containing 55 acres 3 rods (and) 3 poles; Lot 5 in (the) Northwest 1/4 (of the) Northeast 1/4 (containing) 40 acres; Lot 6 in (the) Southwest 1/4 (of the) Northeast 1/4 and the Northwest fraction 1/4 (of the) Southeast 1/4 on the North side of the River containing 71 acres 6 poles; also Lot 7 a fraction of the Northwest 1/2 of (the) East 1/2 of (the) Northeast 1/4 it being the portion lying in Pike County, Arkansas containing 36 acres 1 rod 14 poles; containing in all 297 acres 3 rods 33 poles all being in Section 16, Township 9, Range 23; also the West 1/2 (of) Section 10, Township 9, Range 23 containing 320 acres; also Lot No. 1 of (the) Northwest 1/4 (of the) Northwest 1/4, Section 16, Township, Range 23 containing 40 acres 1 rod 39 poles, containing in the aggregate 658 acres 1 rod 32 poles; (and) praying that commissioners may be appointed to set aside to her, her reasonable dower, and that said assignment shall include the mansion house of said decedent and where this complainant now resides and also a sufficient amount of cleared and improved land &c. to enable her to support herself and family and also that she may be permitted to select the same &c. The Court grants the petitioner's prayer and appoints Elijah Kelley Senior, Nathaniel Gray Senior, and Samuel H. Wingfield as commissioners to mark, lay off &c. complainant's dower 1/3 interest in said lands &c. and to report at the next term of this Court. Probate Book B page 4. April 23, 1861. Commissioners file their report &c. and that they did lay off and set aside the following described tracts or lots of land as her dower interest: 1/3 in Lot 7 containing 36 acres 1 rod 14 poles; in Lot 6 containing 76 acres 36 poles; in Lot 5 containing 40 acres; in Lot 4 containing 35 acres 3 rods 3 poles; in Lot 3 sixteen acres off the East side making in all 219 acres 1 rod 13 poles containing the dwelling of said Washington Melson deceased, being 1/3 of all the land the said deceased died in possession of "said land is in Section 16, Township 9, Range 23 West." Probate Book B page 144. Thomas Ferrill administrator of Jeff Cottingham deceased who was administrator of W.G.O. Melson deceased, comes and makes settlement with the said estate of the said Melson as administrator of the Estate of the said Cottingham. He exhibits assets of said estate &c. and asks to be discharged as well as his intestate Cottingham. The Court grants petitioner's prayer and he to deliver &c. when called upon by this Court &c. all the said assets, the notes and papers belonging to said estate. Probate Book B page 179. July Term 1863. Now this day it having been represented to this Court that Jefferson Cottingham administrator of the Estate of W.G.O. Melson deceased had departed this life. Whereupon the Court appoints John M. Davis public administrator de bonis non of Estate of said Melson deceased. Probate Book B page 420. January Term 1868. Bond of J.J. Wingfield administrator of the estate of W.G.O. Melson deceased in the sum of $2200 presented and the Court approves the same. Probate Book B page 557. July 26th 1870. J.J. Wingfield administrator de bonis non makes his final account and settlement and asks to be discharged. The same is in all things approved by the Court and orders that said administrator be discharged from any further responsibility in said administration. ____________________________________________________________________________ Abstract of Title Book Prior to 1890, page 303. ____________________________________________________________________________ HTML file and design by David Kelley, 1997. All rights reserved.