Washington County Court Probate Record Book
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Scope and Contents
Probate record book of the Washington County Court, including wills, appointments of estate executors, and other probate records from 1829-1839. Individuals with records contained in the book include Martha Wilson, Rial Potter, Robert Hamilton, Thomas Garvin, John L. Taylor, Benjamin Hayles, James Lawrence, Ralph Davis, John Wilson, Thomas Wagnor, Alexander Williams, William Wolf, Evan Harrah, Isham Wood, James Simpson, William A. Wilson, David Dunkin, John Jordan, Ransom Lane, Alexander W. Sweeney, Hugh Crozier, Sarah Carter, Elijah Barns, John Ake, Abel Oxford, James Clark, Stephen Strickland, Samuel O. Harris, Benjamin Reed, William M. Vaughn, William Ritter, Nathan W. Tuttle, Jeremiah Wilson, Elijah Flannery, William Rainey, and Burton Billingsley.
At least three records reference enslaved persons. On page 54, John L. Taylor's will indicates his intent to emancipate "Vigy[?], Thos. [likely Thomas], Milkey, Amanda, David, Joseph, William, Augustine, Judy Ann, Milton, Henry, Lewis, and Lilyann[?], & Milkey's youngest children whose names are not known" upon his death; Taylor also lists bequests to some of those he enslaved. On page 91, John Wilson's will indicates his intent to emancipate three persons he enslaved, Simon, Silvy[?], and Matilda, as well as made a bequest to Simon. On page 108, Thomas Wagnor's will bequeaths a nine-year-old boy, Peter, to Wagnor's son Thomas, and a two-year-old boy, George, to Wagnor's son Marshall.
Dates
- 1829-1839
Creator
- Arkansas Territory. County Court (Washington County) (Organization)
Language of Materials
Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.
Conditions Governing Use
No Use Restrictions Apply.
No Interlibrary Loan.
Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Biographical / Historical
The Washington County Court was first convened in March 1829 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at the home of John McGarrath. In July 1829, it began operations at the first purpose-built Washington County Courthouse. Larkin Newton served as the first Washington County Clerk, maintaining the records of the court, in addition to serving as Fayetteville's postmaster; he was succeeded as county clerk by B. H. Smithson.
Extent
0.96 Linear Feet (1 box)
Arrangement
The collection consists of a single item; entries are chronological.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Washington County Court Probate Record Book was donated to Special Collections by David Zimmerman of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on August 18, 2014. Zimmerman purchased the book at an auction in Springdale, Arkansas.
Processing Information
Processed by Katrina Windon; completed August 2022.
Source
- Zimmermann, David, 1946- (Donor, Person)
Creator
- Arkansas Territory. County Court (Washington County) (Organization)
- Title
- Washington County Court Probate Record Book
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Katrina Windon
- Date
- August 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Department Repository
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444
specoll@uark.edu