John Dugan born abt 1800 married Mary Harrison in Nelson Co Ky in 1824 and moved to Daviess Co Ky soon after. He died in Daviess Co in 1863. Barbara Harrell married Thomas Chadwick (Shadwick) in Nelson Co Ky 12-29-1803 (both being above the age of 21 years) Barbara was the daughter of James Harrell. His estate was settled in Daviess Co Ky abt 1837. Thomas Shadwick died abt 1842 in Daviess Co. Barbara died intestate in 1852. Heirs named in the estate settlement were John Dugan; Jose G Douthitt & Catherine(Shadwick) his wife; Benjamin Shadwick; Sarah Shadwick; Elizabeth Shadwick; James Shadwick; Leaner Crabtree formerly Shadwick; Joseph Crabtree and Louisa his wife formerly Shadwick James Bivens,(James was the widower of Margaret Shadwick) Out of this list of people, John Dugan is the only one not known to be a child of Barbara. The only known connection is that John's son married Catherine Douthitt's daughter so they were at least acquainted. So the questions are: Under what circumstances would someone not a child inherit? If a woman has illegitimate children do they in herit with the legitimate ones? If John was her child born out of wedlock could he use another surname besides her maiden name? What exactly are "hers-at-law"? There are Dugans in Nelson County but I haven't been able to fit John in with any of them so far. I do know of one instance in the same family where someone pledged their inheritance right to pay a debt, but that was at a later time. Was this a common practice? Carol Arrington