We need to remember that Page Mann was an attorney who was related to decedent, Francis MANN, Jr. If Mary Mann who died 1785 was actually Lewis' mother from a previous marriage or encounter, then Page Mann more than likely withheld her death from Lewis so that her property would stay in the Mann family and not go to the AKINS side. We see this philosphy carried out in probate courts even today as attorneys advise not to allow this. Apparently, the 3 years inbetween gave Lewis time to learn of her death and what Page Mann was doing in settled her estate [dividing up Mary's life estate interest in Francis Mann's Estate]. I agree with Patrick, that all this takes time, and that was also probably necessary to file such a document because Lewis was now in SC and the probate court was back in VA. Court's want formal documents from folks not living in the same county much less a different state. Also, Lewis was too old to travel, so this document may have been what was necessary since Lewis couldn't get there in person. Apparently, Mary Mann died without a Will or intestate. Thus her share would have been divided first to her children, then to her siblings. If Mary had no children, then could Lewis not have been a brother?? CAT PATRICK GUDAITIS wrote: > By now, you have had time to view the Will I transcribed. Now I > would like to concentrate on some specifics about it. > Notice there is no daughter mentioned in the will. I don't believe > he had a daughter who lived to that date, 1768. > The son whose name would have appeared in the obliterated portion > at the bottom of page 13 is likely Samuel Mann. I have found a couple of > references to him and Jessie Mann in the Order Books. > I wish to make a possible correction to my transcription. I think I > may have been wrong on the lines pertaining to Mary when she was made > executrix. That line may have read that she relinquished her portion of > the will in favor of her "thirds." This may have given her a far greater > advantage in under the law. > You must notice that the portion of the estate allowed Mary would, > at her death or widowhood, be divided up among the heirs. That is > important! And, would require another inventory made at her death. Thus > the 1785 inventory (recorded 1786). > That poses a question. If it was Lewis' wife that held an interest > in the estate of Francis Mann, why in heavens name did Lewis wait until > 1789 to demand it? I differ. I believe that Lewis' interest in the > estate of Francis Mann rested in Mary Mann. Those "certain promices" > made by Page Mann to Lewis were in the event of the death of Mary. That > occured in 1785. Promices broken by Page made Lewis take the steps he > did in ensuring his rights as a son of Mary. I suppose there was the > usual correspondence between two parties of the day which took several > months to arrive. Letters unanswered may have led Lewis to take the > steps he did. > Please post your thoughts. > Godspeed.....Patrick -- Carol Ann "Cat" Tindell Jacksonville Beach, FL C.A.T.'s Southern Genealogy: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~catinjax/ Reasearching: AKINS, BERRY, BOWERS, BROOKS, DANIEL, JOHNSON, ROBERTS & WOOD{S}