I have been transcribing the estate documents of Michael and Eliza Howell Guin who both died in Fayette Co. The case was in the Probate Courts from 1876 to 1880. There were quite a few Fayette Co. residents mentioned and I thought some of you might like to see what your family were buying and how much they were spending, or if they served in some sort of legal or other service capacity. The documents are long and number over 50 pages, so only excerpts are included here to save you reading time. On Feb. 5, 1876, prior to the death of Eliza, David S. Harris was appointed Administrator of the Estate of Michael Guin because the heirs declined that responsibility and because Michael had died intestate several years earlier. A $2,400 bond was set with Joel Sizemore and Jonathan Taylor as the sureties. The estimated value of the land was placed at $1,200. T. B. Wood, B. A. Ham and R. A. J. Dodson were appointed as appraisers of the entire inventory of the estate. (Court Book M 2 pp. 685-686) The heirs were Rhoda Taylor, wife of Virgil Taylor of Fayette Co., Sarah Kuykendall, wife of J. Lewallen Kuykendall of Fayette, and Adaline Webb, wife of Vincent Webb of Marion Co. Eli, Zeremiah and Angeline Guin were listed as minors over the age of 14 and residents of Fayette Co., AL. (Court Book R 2, pp. 340-341) Eliza was still living, but for some reason was not listed as an heir. Although all of the documents in the court index by the Newells were obtained and a few extra pages were found sandwiched between other cases by the court clerk, apparently the bulk of Michael's independent estate documents are missing from the court ledgers. When Eliza died her estate picked up with individuals paying for items that are not available anymore for review. By the amounts being paid it would be assumed that at least some of it was land. Eliza died intestate in Fayette Co., AL on Jan. 3, 1877. Just two days later, David S. Harris, the acting Administrator for the Estate of Michael Guin, petitioned the Court to liquidate the assets of Eliza's estate for the purpose of division among the heirs, "on the grounds that said property is of a perishable nature and liable to waste to the injury of said estate." (Court Book M 2, p. 687) On Jan. 15, 1877 Jeremiah M. Guin, brother of Michael, was appointed the Legal Guardian of the three minor children, Eli, Zimri and Angeline Guin by Probate Judge John D. Terrell. A $3,000 bond was set and the sureties were A. N. Jones, Meredith T. Acres, John W. Hughes and Elisha Vickery. (Court Book R 3, p. 76) The settlement process of Eliza's estate on January 29, 1877, and David S. Harris remained as Administrator at the request of the heirs. A $6,000 bond was set. The sureties were David S. Harris, Principal, with A. N. Musgrove, R.A.J. Dodson, Joel Sizemore and B. A. Ham. B. H. Williams was the Judge of Probate for the Co. of Fayette in AL. The auction of the personal property was held on March 8, 1877 . (Court Book R 2, p. 345) The majority of the items went to immediate family members and those persons and items are available upon request. Listed here are non-family members making purchases. 11 head of hogs to A. N. Jones for $17.25 One cow with a bell to D. S. Harris for $15.00 5 head yearlings to D. S. Harris for $18.75 1 barrel to W. R. Robertson for .35 1 side saddle to E. Robertson for $2.30. 1 bell to W. R. Robertson for .35. 8 head of sheep to D. S. Harris for $10.00. One sorrel colt to D. S. Harris for $20.00. 3 stands bees to W. H. Long for $3.70. 20 gallons of malopes to Elias Chaffin for $10.00. 15 gallons of malopes to G. W. Young for $5.15. 15 gallons of malopes to W. J. Shaw for $7.35. 17 gallons of malopes to C. M. Weeks for $7.99 One mill and euaperator for $131.00 to A. Y. Pratt 6 chairs to G. W. Robertson for $3.35. (Does anyone know what malopes and a euaperator are?) On Jan. 24, 1878 the Fayette Co. Sheriff notified the 6 heirs that the sale of the family land in the amount of 800 once belonging to Michael and 120 acres once belonging to Eliza, in Sections 27, 28, 33 and 34 of T13 R 13, was eminent. The petition to sell the land was filed the same day with Probate Judge B. H. Williams presiding. Also on the same day the Probate Court received a petition to make Thomas A. Morrow the Legal Guardian of the 3 minor heirs. (Court Book R 2, pp. 508-509) All of these entries were dated between Feb. 21, 1877 and March 22, 1878. Specific dates are available upon request. Those making payments were: A. Y. Pratt - $40.- $17.50 - $75.6?; W. Y. Chiles - $21.42; D. S. Harris - $94.50; W. O. Moore - $46.71; L. H. Reese - $47.96; David Shelnut - $28.16; Gustavus Legg - $137.03; W. J. Halcombe - $105.95; J. W. Kirk - $27.; Thomas E. Cooper - $168. and $93.84; A. Y Pratt - $55.73 (interest payment only); George Robertson - $6.15; Following this entry was a record of estate expenses. Only those that were accompanied by named individuals will be listed: (Court Book R 2, p. 517) "Credit by cash paid out as follows." All payments were in March of 1877 and were to: Judge Terrell - $10.25; T. M. Reese, Justice of Peace - $3.; G. W. Dodson, Bailiff - $2.; Lemuel Dodson and J. W. Kirk, Chain bearers for two days - $3.each; R. A. Dodson, T. B. Wood and B. A. Hamm (service not legible) - $1.50 each; T. M. Reese, Commipioner fee - $3. T. M. Reese, Esquire, was appointed by the Court on Feb. 11, 1878, to "examine" the work of the three appointed appraisers, R. A. J. Dodson, B. A. Ham and T. B. Wood. Mr. Reese was paid a $300.00 commipioner fee and the three appraisers each received $50.00 (Court Book R2, pages 511-514) The public auction of the real estate property of Michael and Eliza Guin was held on March 21, 1878 and was reported to the Probate Court on March 22, 1878. (Court Book M 3, p. 89) There were 3 purchasers, all family members. The largest purchase was by Michael's brother Jeremiah Guin, and the next two purchases were by son-in-laws, Virgil A. Taylor, husband of Rhoda and John Lewellen Kuykendall, husband of Sarah. (Double listings Court Book M 3, p. 337 and R 2 p. 514) Lot #1 Sec. 28 T13 R13, 200 acres to J. M. Guin for $200. Lot #2 Sec. 28 T13 R13, 160 acres to V. A. Taylor for $300.00. Lot #3 Sections 33 & 34 T13 R 13, 140 acres to J. M. Guin, Sr. for $450.00. Lot #4 Section missing T 13 R 13, 170 acres to J. M. Guin for $450.00. Lot # 5 Sec. 27 T 13 R13, 160 acres to J. L. Kuykendall for $300.00. There were several listings of these 3 buyers making payments that I will leave out for now unless someone specifically wants them. Also, Jeremiah was a legal guardian for the heirs and there are several entries of payments to him. Brothers Hugh A., Wm. J. and Jason Hugh Shaw, sons of Margaret (Peggy) Guin and Jeremiah F. Shaw, Sr.: Hugh paid $53.9? on Feb. 2, 1878 and $18.30 on Feb. 27, 1878. Wm. paid $7.35 on Jan. 19, 1878 and Jason paid $18.30 on Feb. 27, 1878. Only Wm. was listed as making a purchase at the personal property auction and it was for $7.35 for 15 gallons of malopes. These payments were listed a "partial." J. F. Shaw was paid $1.50 for one day of surveying of the estate. It is not clear if this was J. F. Shaw, Jr. or Sr. Wm. Benjamin Taylor paid $8.56 on Feb. 27, 1878. On Wm.'s behalf, his grandfather, Jonathan Taylor, made a payment of $49.00 on Dec. 1, 1877. Elijah Howell, brother of Eliza Howell Guin, made a payment of $86.20 on Feb. 16, 1878. James Marcus Trim paid $9.45 on Dec. 18, 1877. H. M. (Henry Marcus) Guin payment of $126.30 that included interest, on Feb. 27, 1878. A listing of the individuals involved in making payments on their purchases were itemized in Court Book R 3, pp. 74-75 and dated March 21, 1878, but some of the payments were dated 1879. None of the individuals listed on these pages as making payments were listed elsewhere as buying anything. They were: Levi Lindsey - $200. on June 29, 1878; Augustus Bishop - $15. on Jan. 18, 1879; Wm. Reese $20.60 on Jan. 5, 1878; J. W. Kirk - $30. on March 8, 1879; Daniel McConnell $15. on March 6, 1879; W. Y. Chiles "pe" J. O. Moseley $72.27 on March 1, 1879; L. (possibly Lenington) Bobo $95.30 on March 20, (year not given). (I could use some help here. Does anyone know the correct name of Lenington, possibly Livingston Bobo? The handwriting in the text was very hard to decipher) Court Book R3, p. 358 was not dated and showed the final payments of some of persons owing money to the estate. They were: Levi Lindsey - $135. on June 30, 1879; D. W. Trentham - $30. on April 27, 1879; Levingston (sp?) Bobo -$119.75 on Feb. 29, 1880; S. Caudle - $65. on Feb. 20, 1880; D. S. Harris note sold on P. Bishop Et Al - $35.; C. P. Guin (Perry Calvin) note sold on D. W. Trentham - $65.; D. S. Harris debt on D. W. Trentham - $5.; Levi Lindsey on note $79.73; and W. B.Owens - $2.20. It was obvious there were at least 5 pages missing here. The last page began in the middle of a sentence and was dated March 29, 1880. It stated that those who purchased land had full titles after completion of payments. Also, on March 29, 1880, the Probate Court appointed John B. Stanford as the guardian for the three minor children. (Court Book M 3 p. 334) I hope several of you were able to find your family listed here. If you have questions, I will be happy to try to help you. Janie Spencer