Estate of John R. Hamil
of Sumter County
submitted by Alan Anderson
Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of John R. Hamil of Sum- ter County decd. 1/2 Undivided interest in dwelling House and lot on Hill Street Americus, Ga. 1,000 Dwelling House & lot on Forsyth Street Americus 700 7/12 Undivided interest in Store House and lot on Forsyth Street now occupied by Griffin Bros. 1,166 1/2 Undivided interest in Store House and lot on Cotton Avenue formerly occupied by Light Bros. 1,000 7/12 Interest in Lime House near Cotton Ave. store 175 1/2 Undivided interest in lot of land No. 250 in 16th Dist. Sumter County 400 4,441 Personalty 1/2 Undivided interest in 9 shares of Planters Ware House stock Americus, Ga. 450 140 pr Shoes 100 9 Over Coats 30 4 pr Pants 4 4 Shirts 1.50 8 pr Suspenders 2 1 Lot Tin Ware 1 1 Vest 3.50 4 Counters 30 6 Shoe Boxes 6 2 Trunks 1 6 Molasses Jugs .60 $5,069.60 Georgia Sumter County Personally appeared before me D.B. Hill, R.T. Byrd and J.J. Williford commissioners appointed to appraise the Estate of John R. Hamil late of Sumter County deceased, and on oath say they have justly and fairly appraised all the property of said Estate so far as comes to their knowledge and as was shown to them by Wm. C. Gray the Admr. of said Estate and that the above page and a piece contains said appraisement and that the value assessed thereto are fair values to the best of their knowledge and belief. D.B. Hill J.J. Williford R.T. Byrd Sworn to and subscribed before me this May 4th 1885 Georgia Sumter County To A.C. Speer Ordinary of said county. The petition of Mrs. Martha E. Hamil shows that the minor child of John R. Hamil decd. late of said county, to wit: John R. Hamil, the minor child of said Hamil decd. has property both real and personal in his own right and that said Minor has no Guardian. That said Minor is her Nephew, and she respectfully asks that she may be appointed Guardian of the person and proper- ty of said Minor John Hamil and citation issued as required by Law. And petitioner will ever pray etc. Americus Ga. June 1st 1885 Martha E. Hamil Caveated Open Court July Term 1885 Mrs. Martha E. Hamil application for Guardianship of John R. Hamil Minor in Court of Ordinary Sumter County Georgia Sumter County To the Hon. Court of Ordinary of said County. And now comes William C. Gray and his wife Mrs. Jennie Gray and caveats said above application for guardianship and objects to the appointment of Mrs. Hamil as Guardian of said Minor. And for Caveat says first That Mrs. M.E. Hamil being a married woman is not sui juris and not therefore entitled under the law to become a guardian, that the Ordinary would not be authorized under the Law to appoint a married woman Guardian of the person and property of a Minor as in this case asked by Mrs. Hamil. And per further objection, that Mrs. Hamil is not related at all by blood to said minor; but on the contrary is only related through her husband being the uncle of said minor. Objectors William C. Gray, and his wife Mrs. Jennie Gray say that they are the nearest of Kin to said Minor and are therefore entitled under the Law, to the guardianship of said Minor or to the selection of a Guardian under the approval of the Ordinary, provided they select a suitable person, one qualified and suita- ble to look after the interest of the person and property of said Minor. Objectors say further that Mrs. Gray is the sister of said Minor and that William C. Gray is her husband and that said Minor has no other brother or sister and that his father and mother are both deceased, and that said Minor has been living at their House ever since they were married, and prior to the marriage of Mrs. Gray after the death of their father, the brother and sister both lived together and are much attached to each other and that it would be cruel to part them, they both being orphans and without other brother and sister. Objectors both join in the request to your Honor to appoint William C. Gray as Guardian of said Minor being nearest of Kin and thereby not separate brother and sister. Objectors say that the said W.C. Gray, as they will be able to show is a fit and proper person to take charge of said Minor and properly raise him, and educate him and preserve his proper- ty. Objectors pray you honor to grant their request and petition will ever pray etc. J.A. Ansley Atty. for petitioner Open Court July 6th 1885 Application of Mrs. M.E. Hamil for the Guardianship of John R. Hamil Jr. Minor and caveated by W.C. Gray, also together with his wife Mrs. Jennie Gray, applies for letters to be issued to William C. Gray. After a hearing in the above stated case it is ordered and adjudged by the Court that William C. Gray be and he is hereby appointed Guardian of the person and property of John R. Hamil Jr. Minor and that letters of Guardianship be issued to him upon his making a satisfactory Bond. Given under my hand and A.C. Speer Official Signature July 6th 1885 Ordinary Georgia Sumter County I William C. Gray do Swear that I will well and truly perform the duties required of me as the Guardian of John R. Hamil and will faithfully account with said John R. Hamil for his estate. So help me God. W.C. Gray Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day August 1885 A.C. Speer Ordinary Georgia Court Ordinary of said County Sumter County October Term 1885 After hearing the application of William C. Gray Administra- tor of John R. Hamil deceased of Sumter County; who asks for leave to sell the real estate of said Estate of said John R. Ha- mil; ordered and adjudged by the Court that leave be granted to said William C. Gray Administrator aforesaid to sell the undivi- ded half interest in lot of land number two hundred and fifty in the Old Sixteenth district of Sumter County Ga., and the entire interest in the dwelling House & lot on Forrest Street in the City of Americus; south of T.M. Eden's lot; it being the resi- dence lot where the said John R. Hamil lived prior to his removal to his new House in which he died - to wit: House and lot on Forrest Street in Americus; bounded on the north by Church Alley; on the east by D.K. Brinson & Mrs. Sallie Green. On the South by the lands of Harrold, Johnson & Co. & on the West by Forrest Street - containing one acre more or less. And the said land & city property be sold after advertising according to law. It is further ordered that said application as to the other real es- tate of said Estate mentioned in said petition be continued until the further Order of this Court. It is further Ordered by the Court that said William C. Gray Administrator aforesaid be and he is hereby authorized to sell after posting written Notice in three public places for ten days according to law. All the per- sonal property of said Estate consisting of a remnant of a stock of goods; to wit: Boots; Shoes; Clothing etc. etc. - the same being of a personal & perishable nature & other articles of like nature belonging to said Estate. Given under my hand and official signature this the 5th day of October 1885. A.C. Speer Ordinary (Two more paragraphs on the same page were "Recorded again by mistake.") Sumter Co. Deed Bk. U, pg. 142: State of Georgia Sumter County Know all men by these presents That I Samuel H. Hawkins of the County of Sumter and State of Georgia for and in consideration of the sum of Three Hundred & Twenty Dollars to him in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged has bargained sold and conveyed unto Martha W. Hamil of the County of Sumter and State of Georgia the following described premises to wit - City Lot number twenty (20) in that division of the City of Americus known as Furlow Lawn the said lot fronting East on Barlow Street one hundred and fifteen feet & running back on Hill Street two hun- dred and seventy eight feet (278) to an alley & thence North on said alley one hundred & twenty (120) feet & thence to a stake on Barlow Street one hundred and fifteen feet North of the South East corner of the lot hereby conveyed as per plat following con- taining 3/4 an acre more or less. Plat of Lot Conveyed To have and to hold the said bargained property with all the rights thereto appertaining unto the said Martha W. Hamil her heirs and assigns in fee simple the title to which I bind myself my heirs and executors and assigns to forever warrant and defend from the claims of all other persons. In witness whereby I here- to set my hand and affix my seal this the 28th day of April 1884. S.H. Hawkins Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of E.L. Guerry T.N. Hawkes, Notary Public Sumter County Recorded the above deed May 21st 1884 J.H. Allen Clk Ct