In a message dated 11/28/01 10:07:26 AM Central Standard Time, babz4@juno.com writes: > The question is: if there is an estate sale, does that mean there > was no will? Thanks and Peace. Barb in FL > Usually. If there is a will, you will find letters of administration, (sometimes not) and the will and probate papers. Sometimes, they will have an estate sale per the will, but most of time the estate sale is to distribute the property and pay bills. However, don't write it off, since most of the people there will be related. And you can find out exactly how your ancestor lived and how wealthy he was. Plus, you know if they are selling his estate, he is dead. :) And probably has been for a while. You might also look for a widows pension, because it will name her as the wife of John Coleman, and may tell who Jordan Coleman was. And even if no new information is forthcoming, you will have something interesting to share with the grandkids. :) P. S. If you have an administrator, you should be able to find letters of administration since he had to be appointed by the court. He resembles an executor, but is appointed by the court, not the deceased. He also had to give security by entering into a bound, and you should be able to find that document as well. Happy hunting. Teresa Ghee Elliott TNRUTHER-L@rootsweb.com List Owner