No Will? No Problem...if you can find a deed

While researching at the Madison County, Indiana Recorder's office, I came across this deed book record that took place shortly after my maternal 3rd great-grandfather, Joseph WRIGHT died in 1919.

I had previously attempted to obtain a copy of his will in Madison County and was told that he did not leave a will. Knowing when he died, I began searching the deed books for the time period shortly after his death and bingo! There was a deed from his widow listing all of his heirs, transferring land to one heir.



Madison County, Indiana Deed Book 21, page 378

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH That Dorothy Wright, an unmarried woman, she being the widow of Joseph Wright, deceased; John W. Wright, an unmarried man, he being a widower; Charles R. Wright and Bertha Wright, his wife; Daisy Fox and Thomas A. Fox, her husband; Edward E. Wright and Martha J. Wright, his wife; Ethel L. Kirk, an unmarried woman; Earl J. Kirk, an unmarried man; Harry H. Kirk and Lucille M. Kirk, his wife; Myrtle M. Day and Virgil S. Day, her husband, each of said grantors being over the age of 21 years, all being of Madison County, State of Indiana, other than said Edward E. Wright and Martha J. Wright, they being of Whitley County, State of Indiana, these grantors together with the grantee herein including all the heirs at law of said Joseph Wright, deceased, late of Madison County, State of Indiana, CONVEY AND WARRANT TO James Wright, of Madison County, State of Indiana, for and in consideration of one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars, the following described real estate in Madison County, State of Indiana, to-wit: The undivided one-fourth (1/4) of the north west quarter of the south west quarter of section 25, township 21 north, range 7 east.

This conveyance is made and accepted subject to the 1919 (payable 1920) taxes assessed on and against said real estate.

IN WITNESS Whereof the said Dorothy Wright, widow of said Joseph Wright, deceased; John W. Wright, widower and unmarried man; Charles R. Wright and Bertha Wright his wife; Daisy Fox and Thomas A. Fox, her husband; Edward E. Wright and Martha J. Wright, his wife; Ethel L. Kirk, an unmarried woman; Earl J. Kirk, an unmarried man; Harry H. Kirk and Lucille M. Kirk, his wife; Myrtle M. Day and Virgil S. Day her husband, they being the grantors in the annexed deed, have hereunto set their hands and seals this 4th day of October 1919.

Dorothy Wright Seal
John W. Wright Seal
Charles R. Wright Seal
Bertha Wright Seal
Daisy Fox Seal
Thomas A. Fox Seal
Edward E. Wright Seal
Martha J. Wright Seal
Ethel L. Kirk Seal
Earl J. Kirk Seal
Harry H. Kirk Seal
Lucille H. Kirk Seal
Myrtle M. Day Seal
Virgil S. Day Seal

All by Virgil S. Day, Attorney-in-fact

STATE OF INDIANA, COUNTY OF MADISON, SS:

Before me, the undersigned, Notary Public in and for said County and State, personally appeared the grantors in the annexed deed, said Dorothy Wright, an unmarried woman, she being the widow of Joseph Wright, deceased; John W. Wright, widower and unmarried man; Charles R. Wright and Bertha Wright, his wife; Daisy Fox and Thomas A. Fox, her husband; Edward E. Wright and Martha J. Wright, his wife; Ethel L. Kirk, an unmarried woman; Earl J. Kirk an unmarried man; Harry H. Kirk and Lucille M. Kirk, his wife; Myrtle M. Day and Virgil S. Day, her husband, each being over the age of 21 years they and the grantee being the sole and only heirs at law of said Joseph Wright, deceased, by Virgil S. Day their Attorney in Fact, and acknowledged the execution of the annexed Deed.

Witness my hand and Notarial seal this 4th day of October 1919. James A. May, Notary Public

My commission expires November 26, 1921.


Joseph WRIGHT had no children with his second wife, Dorothy PALMER, whom he married on April 11, 1891 in Madison County, Indiana. By his first wife, Rebecca HEATON, whom he married November 1, 1857 in Schuyler County, Missouri, he had the following children:

i. Mary WRIGHT (1858-1910) married Frank KIRK; children Ethel, Earl and Harry are listed as heirs
ii. John WRIGHT (1860-1945) married Ellen KING; widower whose wife had died in 1913, listed as heir
ii. Elizabeth WRIGHT (1863-1882) married Wiliiam Alpha JONES; their daughter Myrtle listed as heir
iii. Anna WRIGHT (1864-1914) married Albert VINSON; left no surviving heirs
iv. James WRIGHT (1868-1936) married Clara HICKS; was the grantee in the deed
v. Charles WRIGHT (1870-1967) married Bertha LEONARD; listed as heir
vi. Daisy WRIGHT (1873-aft1930) married Thomas FOX; listed as heir
vii. Edward WRIGHT (1875-1960) married Martha STARR; listed as heir
viii. Jesse WRIGHT (1878-1919) married Hazel O'BRYANT; left no surviving heirs

Though I knew the names of Joseph's children, it was interesting to find his grandchildren listed as heirs and to know that they were still living in Madison County, at least in 1919. Joseph's son Edward had moved to Whitley County, a fact I knew and which was confirmed by the 1920 census.

Although it was several years since I had originally written to the courthouse asking for a copy of the will, I'm glad that I was finally able to find some records that recorded the settlement of Joseph's estate.

Photograph of Luman Walker LeMasters Jr. (1842-1931)

At our recent family reunion my aunt and uncle were going through a box of old photos trying to identify them and they came across this interesting photo. It shows my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, Luman Walker LeMasters Jr. (1842-1931) sitting on the porch with whom we believe may be two of his sons.


Luman was a Civil War veteran, born October 19, 1842 in Shelby County, Ohio, the son of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS. Luman died November 18, 1931 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana, so that dates this photograph sometime before 1931.

Here is another version of the same photograph, slightly enlarged for better viewing. Note the old car in the background to the left. Can anyone identify what type of car?

According to his Civil War records, grandpa Luman was not a very tall man. He stood only 5' 3" tall. From the photograph you can tell his frame is smaller than the others.

We believe that the son on the right side is Arthur Raymond LeMasters (1888-1955) but are not sure who is on the left.

Luman married Mary Keziah Chew, daughter of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW on October 2, 1864 in Versailles, Darke County, Ohio. After the war, they lived out their lives on a farm in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.

Other posts regarding Luman include his tombstone and family information.

Andrew Caldwell (c1720-1758) Frederick/Berkeley Cos. VA

In sorting through my scans of my old genealogy files, I have discovered information on an ancestor, Andrew CALDWELL (c1720-1758) of old Frederick/Berkeley Cos., VA (now WV) that I had neglected to update into my database. The information comes from a series of emails from 1999 between Jim Brown of Venice, FL and myself. Jim provided a lot of clues and information, and I hope I responded in kind.

Andrew CALDWELL is estimated to be born around 1720 because he shows up on the 1744 taxlist of Frederick County, Virginia. Andrew was named as the executor of the estate of William CALDWELL on 6 August 1746 in Frederick County along with Grace CALDWELL. It is possible that Andrew was the son of William and Grace CALDWELL. The source cited for this information was given as J.E. King, "Frederick Co. VA Wills, Adm. 1961 (1973)".

Andrew was apparently involved in several land transactions in Frederick County, Virginia between 1748 and 1755. Citing Frederick County deed books, Andrew sold lots in the city of Winchester on October 2 & 3, 1750 to Robert LEMON, and later sells him three more lots on June 2 & 3, 1755.

Andrew was listed as a lieutenant in the Frederick County militia on August 20, 1751. Citing the George WASHINGTON papers in the Library of Congress, Andrew was listed on a December 11, 1755 list of voters - where he voted against Colonel Washington.

One of the last transactions in Frederick County shows Andrew purchasing lots 28 & 29 in the City of Winchester from James LEMON on March 4, 1757. Might he be a relative of Robert LEMON, above?

Andrew's will was dated July 17, 1757 in Frederick County and names son Andrew, daughters Mary and Elizabeth and wife Jane. Andrew died July 4, 1758 and was buried in Morgan's Chapel, Norborne Parish, now Bunker Hill.

Known children of Andrew and Jane (________) CALDWELL:
i. Andrew CALDWELL b. bef 1750, d. January 1791 Berkeley County, Virginia; m. Sarah ______
ii. Mary CALDWELL m. James CHEW
iii. Elizabeth CALDWELL

My line is from Mary (CALDWELL) CHEW through their son, Andrew, likely named for his grandfather.

I've added this information to my database and marked it for follow up for future research. Surprised to find that I had so much information on this line hidden in my correspondence files.