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_
(
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...
(
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&...
(
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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