Hi Michele,
Thank you for all of the information. I'm glad that the guardian bonds helped you.
How lucky you were that your information was on page 1!
I have not tried the regular court records. Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately,
Salt Lake City has not microfilmed them, but
MyGenealogyIndiana.com indicates that the
Orange County clerk of the circuit court has the records starting in 1816. I think that a
phone call to the clerk to determine if the records might contain guardian bonds is in
order. Then I'll have to figure out how they can be reviewed (I live on the West
Coast).
Unfortunately, there are no pensions involved. The men were too young to be in the
revolution and as far as I can tell, they did not serve in the War of 1812. Thomas Lock
purchased property in Orange County in the Spring of1821. Thomas' sons sold his land
many, many years later, but we have been unable to find the transfer of Thomas'
property to his sons. Somewhere I read that the transfer of property due to a death is
not always recorded. In addition, we have found no will. The three men were young and
probably did not expect to die so soon which is probably why there were no wills.
A distant cousin of mine has been in contact with the person who is the source of the
information on the two family trees you provided. Unfortunately that person cannot
provide a source for her information about Thomas' date of death (14 Sept 1821).
Again, thanks for your help. It is much appreciated. Judi
----- Original Message -----
From: JCBrooks(a)aol.com
To: jrill1(a)earthlink.net
Cc: INORANGE(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: [INORANGE] Guardian Bonds & Orange County Epdemics/Disasters (1821 -
1830)
I have used those Guardian films in SL and you are right they begin in 1847 and my
family is one page 1 !!!!
Since you are talking about widows in the 1820's I wonder if there was any record of
this in the regular court records instead of specific Guardian bonds? Have you tried
that?
Usually those cases drug on until the children were of adult age. If there were any
pension monies involved, you get lots of help. Did these men die intestate? No court or
land records?
As far as epidemics, I have this
1820-23 USA "fever" Starts on the Schuylkill River in PA and spreads
across the nation
1831-32 USA Asiatic Cholera Brought by English immigrants
There was also an epidemic about that time in Martin County (next west) that I know of.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inmartin/hindostan.htm
1820 - Thomas M. CLARKE of Martin County, Indiana recalled about 1859: "I did not
know Col. Frederick SHOLTS till the spring of 1820, but I have heard him often spoke of
for there he was one of our few big men. He with the PRINTISSES were making a City of
Hindostan and to give it more prominence they must have a new County and their city a
county seat all of which Col. SHOLTS effected in the Legislature of 1819 & 20. Being
State Senator he had Martin County struck off, commissioners appointed to locate the
county seat, and (had) an act passed authorizing the election of County officers all of
which was done in March. Col. SHOLTS had put up a large hotel, and the land company
erected a grist and saw mill. Houses went up as by magic. The highest wages were given to
all who wanted to work, and every article of produce, game, or marketing was in demand.
There was a large emigration from the East and among them men and women of the highest
attainments and most polished manners. In the summer of 1820 times were prosperous and
Hindostan continued to grow. But in the fall there came a fever or pestilence that was
more universal in its attacks and more virulent, when seated, than any scourge I ever
knew, or, I think, ever occurred in Indiana. Many died, all were sick, debts accumulated,
property went down, the company broke and that ended Col. SHOULTS's public career. He
(Col. SHOLTS) was a pleasant genial man, cheerful disposition and enjoyed a joke equal to
any man. He was not a candidate for any office after his legislative service, and he left
here (Martin county) in 1828 or 1829." From the letters of Thomas M. CLARKE, WILLIAM
H. ENGLISH COLLECTION, Indiana Historical Society.
1821 - About 1821 a severe illness (probably Smallpox) hit the town of Hindostan.
"The sickness caught the settlers in their log cabins and shanties, and the forest
unbroken around them. They were unacclimated. All were sick but Rufus BROWN and many died.
The pioneers had built grist mills, an saw mills, but many became disheartened and found
ways to leave, so by the year 1824 they were reduced in numbers, until only one-half
remained. Much of their energy and means were gone, and they had failed to erect the
county building."
1828 - James D. SHOLTS was postmaster at Hindostan on 18 August 1828. The Hindostan
postoffice was discontinued 29 December 1830. By that time the town had become mostly
deserted following a severe epidemic (of smallpox?) that had hit in the early 1820's.
The once prosperous town died and eventually became nothing but farm land. "The land
around Hindostan was entered under the old credit policy of the United States; that is, to
be paid for on the installment plan. Much of the land was forfeited to the
government."
This could be the Cholera or smallpox epidemic mentioned above. Sounds possible that
your folks were victims of that as well.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ks5&id=...
This person may be researching the same family...
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=sims4&i...
Also this person.
Hope this helps.
Michele Brooks
In a message dated 12/6/2009 9:33:29 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, jrill1(a)earthlink.net
writes:
I am researching Thomas, Samuel, and Jonas Lock. I believe the 3 men were brothers or
first cousins. They appear to have removed from KY to Orange County between 1810 and 1820
and were in the 1820 Orange County census, but not in the 1830 census. However, the wives
of Samuel and Jonas remarried in 1825 and the wife of Thomas was in the 1830, 1840, 1850,
and 1860 censuses. She never remarried. All three men had minor children in 1820. I
suspect that they died as the result of an epidemic or some type of disaster or accident
that occurred before 1825 when the wives of Jonas and Samuel remarried. Unfortunately, we
have been unable to find probate records for the men. I have three questions:
1.. Since the men had minor children, I am wondering if anyone knows whether
guardian bonds for this time period still exist, and if so, where they can be found. Salt
Lake City has not microfilmed guardian bonds for the county. A book has been published
regarding guardian bonds, but the earliest year is 1848, too late for this researcher.
:-)
2.. Is anyone on the list aware of an epidemic or disaster that occurred in the area
during this timeframe?
3.. Does anyone know whether the county had newspapers during this time period? (Or
whether Washington Co. had newspapers? Thomas' family lived near Washington Co. and
his wife and mother-in-law were members of the Lost River Baptist Church in Washington
Co.)
Any help or other suggestions would be most appreciated. Judi
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