The Republic of Texas } In the Probate Court
County of Lamar } June Term A D 1841

The petition of John Roberts showeth to your honor that heretofore
to wit 1837, James Russell of above said County died intestate as far as
your petitioner knows and believes - leaving, effects and claims in the
said County, and subject to the jurisdiction of this Court, of the value of
1280 dollars or thereabouts that the succession of the said decedent has not
as yet been opined, that the wife of your petitioner is an heir to said
decedents estate, and that your petitioner has been requested by the widow
of said decedent to administer upon said estate, and that your petitioner
has regularly filed his notice of this application which has been regularly
advertised - for all of which your petitioner prays that letters of
administration be granted to him upon the estate of said decedent and as in
duty bound pray. &e~

John Roberts
M. Williams Atty.

Sworn to in open Court }
by applicant ~
J. A. Rutherford
Chief Justice Lamar Cty.

The Republic of Texas } In Probate Court
County of Lamar } October Term A. D. 1842

To The Sheriff of said County Greeting ~~

Whereas at the June Term of this Court 1841 John Roberts obtained letters
of administration upon the estate of James Russell, deceased and has not
accounted to this Court in full or in part up to the present time for his
transactions of the business of said estate ~~~ Therefore you are hereby
commanded to summon the said John Roberts, administrator aforesaid, to be
and appear at the next Term of the Hon. Probate Court to be held in at the
Court House in the Town of Lafayette on the last Monday of this Inst. and
account for his proceedings in relation to said estate as he is required so
to do by law. ~~~~ Herein fail not and have you then and there this writ
certifying thereon how you have executed the same ~~~
Given under my hand & Seal of office this 15th day of Nov. A. D. 1842.

John R. Craddock, Clerk
Probate Court
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Republic of Texas } In Probate Court.
County of Lamar } November Term A D 1842 ~

Sworn to before me }
this 25th Nov 1842 }
John A. Billingham, {J P}}

John Roberts, Administrator
of James Russell, Deceased

Republic of Texas } In Probate Court
County of Lamar } December Term A D 1843

John Roberts, Administrator of James Russell, Deceased comes before the Court
and for report saith that since his last report he has engaged an agent to
locate the headright certificate of 1280 acres which has been done on the
following terms Viz That is to say your reporter agrees to give to said
Agent (M. Wright) one fourth part or 320 acres of said land for Locating,
surveying, patenting, and all expenses, which your reporter believes the best
arrangement which he could make for the benefit of the Heirs to the estate ~

And further your reporter saith that a patent to said land has not been
procured for which it will be necessary to continue upon this succession,
until said patent can be procured ~

And your reporter further saith that he has heretofore been unable to effect
a sale under the terms of this court for want of bidders ~

And your reporter further saith that rather than sell the land at this
sacrifice which must be made at present, as an heir to this estate he will
advance the costs of this administration out of his own funds.
And further this reporter saith not.

Sworn to before me ~
this 22. Dec 1843.
J. A. Rutherford
Judge of Probate
Lamar Cty.

John Roberts ~ Administrator
of James Russell, deced

Republic of Texas } In Probate Court
County of Lamar } May Term A D 1845

John Roberts Administrator of James Russell Decd. Comes before the Court
and for report saith, that he not as yet been able to obtain a patent for the
Land belonging to this estate that there are no debts against this estate
that will require the sale of any portion of the Land and he further saith
that it will require an extension of time to obtain a patent from the
Republic of Texas to said Land that thereafter he will be ready to settle
his administration &e~ and further he saith not.

John Roberts

Sworn to before me
May 26th 1845
Wm M. Crisp
Judge Probate

State of Texas } In Probate Court ~
County of Lamar } May Term 1846

To the Hon. W. M. Crisp Judge of Probate Your Reporter would most
respectfully Represent & Show unto your hon, that he has not done anything
further of the Administration of the estate Jas. Russell, Decd. since his
last Report, for the reason that there is nothing that he can do as the land
is already located and there being no other effects to administer upon,
therefore your Reporter prays your Hon. to accept this as My annual Report ~~
and as in duty bound will ever pray &e~~~~~

Your Reporter would further show to your Hon that he employed M. H. Wright
to Locate & Survey the land to obtain patents for the Same for which he
agreed to give to him the one fourth of land for his services ~~ &e.

All of which your Hon will receive as part of this Report ~ &e.

Test J. N. Craddock Sworn to before Me }
25th May 1846. ~~~ }
J. N. Craddock Clk }
P. Court }

John Roberts, Administrator
J. Russell, Deced ~

State of Texas }} In County Court
Lamar County }} August Term 1848 ~

To the Hon. Henry R. Latimer Chief Justice for said County of Lamar
John Roberts, Administrator of Jas Russell, Decd comes before the Court,
and for report ~ saith, that there has nothing come to his hand since his
last report as administrator of James Russell, Deced, and he asks for the
time of Six Months to make final settlement of said succession for the
Reason that he has not yet been able to get the Patent for said decedent’s
land but thinks he will get a patent by that time All of which is Most
Respectfully Submitted.

Subscribed & Sworn to }}
before me this the }}
28th day of August }}
A D 1848 }}
J. R. Craddock, Clk }}
C. C. L. C. }}

John Roberts

The State of Texas }}
Lamar County }}

To the Honorable John H. Crook Chief Justice in and for the County aforesaid
~~~~~~~~~~~

John Roberts, Administrator of the estate of James Russell, deceased comes
before the court, and for Report showeth that this estate is now in a
condition to be finally settled ~ Therefore he prays that his accounts as
such Administrator be finally settled and allowance made to him &~ others
next term of the Court ~ and that the Land before mentioned between the
following Heirs to wit: Ruth Lenox, who was Ruth Russell widow of descendent,
Nancy Roberts who was Nancy Russell, Elizabeth Russell and Sarah Jane Maxwell
who was Sarah Jane Russell ~~ and as in duty bound will ever pray.

Sworn to & Subscribed }}
23rd Oct A D 1857 }}
J. R. Craddock Clk }}
C. C. L. C. }}

John Roberts, Administrator
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Order

John Roberts, Administrator & In}
Petition for settlement & partition James Russell estate:

In this case it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that notice of
this settlement has been given ~ and that there are no demands against the
same and the Administrator claiming nothing for his service and willing to
pay costs in this Court out of his own money and it further appearing to the
satisfaction of the Court, that Ruth Lenox late widow of the deceased,
Nancy Roberts and Sarah Jane Maxwell and Betsy Russell are the only children
of deceased, and all of lawful age ~ and have as heirs be agreed to give to
M. Wright of the County of Hunt one fourth part of said land for locating and
surveying the same ~

It is therefore order & adjudged by the Court that this estate be settled
and the 1280 acres of Land belonging to the same partitioned as follows ~
Viz Rutha Lenox to receive 490 acres, Nancy Roberts, Sarah Jane Maxwell,
and Betsy Russell each 163 1/3 acres and M. Wright 320 acres. And that the
Administrator make deeds &e according to the divisions made by and between
the aforesaid Heirs ~ and that the Administrator pay cost in this succession
expended.

Filed 23 Oct 1857.