Sheila, If your ancestor died without a will, he would have died "intestate". If he owned land, then there would still be a probate on his estate. If he died without land, then he was by definition a "pauper" (even if he had lots of $$). Even then I have been told there should be pauper records, but I have yet to see anything. I have a Zachariah Rice who died in 1850 and his son later that month shows up with a note claiming his father sold the land to him... and as a result there was no probate (which is very irritating). Now, if you are only going by the index of the deeds, then I would suggest you check that 1865 land sale. If it was sold as part of an estate settlement, he might still have been listed as the grantor. A careful reading of the deed record should tell you if this is the case. Also, is it possible that the seller was Joseph Phillips, Jr? Another place to check is cemetery listings for a record of his and his wife's grave. (I do not know what is available for Fairfield Co, so someone else will have to help you on this). As for other sources, I can suggest 2 that come to mind. One is the 1860 Mortality schedule (it might mention him or his wife if you are lucky enough to have had them die during this time). Also, if you know all of his children, he might be living with one of them in 1860 (if he was still alive). Another long-shot is to go into the county records and check all of the indexes for names of the kids. Sometimes people will feel they didn't get their "fair share" and will sue... even a decade later sometimes. That is about all I can think of for now. Perhaps others have some suggestions. Good luck, - Mike > >Dear Friends: > >I would like the advice of any of the more experienced rooters on the matter >of finding some sort of record of the death of my ggg grandfather, Joseph >Phillips, Sr. He emigrated to the US in 1828 >and purchased land in Berne Twp in 1929 and in subsequent years. He appears >in the 1830, 40 & 50 censuses, but not in the 1860 so far as I have >searched. Land record indexes indicate that he and his wife sold some land >in 1853, 58 & 59, and he alone in 1865, which would suggest that he was >still living in 1860. The Wills & Estates index was recently checked and he >does not appear in it. > >My questions: If he owned land when he died, should there have been some >sort of estate record even if he didn't leave a will? If he was selling off >his land every few years, does that suggest to anyone that he might have >been ridding >himself of land he was too old to farm and perhaps owned none when he died? >What other source might I check if he died before 1867 and I can't get >access to the St.. Mary parish records for that period? > >Any thoughts on how to proceed with this would be appreciated. > >Sheila Rider >