There Were 27 Books About Witchcraft

In December 2013, I shared some parts of my 2nd great-grandfather's will in my post, Finally, What Was the Good Stuff in The Probate? I couldn't share his entire will and probate because it was 44 pages long. Three other posts were written about his will. Post #1, Post #2, Post #3.

The 4th post was written because I wanted to know what happened to the 2,600 books that were going to be sold. Specifically, I wondered if they went to a library.

A BILL OF APPRAISEMENT

of the Estate of William F. Poole, late of the County of Cook and State of Illinois, deceased.

                   One lot of Books (2,600 in number) at $1.00 per volume.

                                                                                      Total-         $2,600

Portrait of W.F. Poole
Newberry Library
Photo by Diane Boumenot

Being that William Frederick Poole was a well-known librarian, I thought his books would sell quickly. Thanks to a reader who contacted me in September, I now know how they were sold, and the titles of his 1,087 books, part of his 2,600 collection.

Ivy wrote, "I am a fellow at the Newberry library currently doing some research on Poole's Index, which is how I happened to come across your blog. I happened upon some biographical information in the Newberry Library archives regarding the sale of William Frederick Poole's books after his death. Yes, they were his personal collection, and it was quite extensive. The family tried to sell them privately, but it seems as if that didn't work out and so a public sale was held in 1900; there is a copy of the catalog of the sale in the Newberry's collection (Catalogue of the valuable private library of the late William F. Poole, LL.D., Librarian of the Newberry Library, Chicago, Ill.)" I was given the link and additional bits of information. 

She wrote again saying, "If you ever find yourself in the Chicago area, I would definitely suggest looking into those files, as his notes have information about family trees and other information (they're not super organized, though!). Williamson's (wrote biography of my ancestor) records do show that he tried to get in contact with family/descendants in the 1950s to see if they had letters or other records, but he did not turn up much." 

Then, I read: "I did happen to find that the sales catalog from Poole's book collection is also digitized on HathiTrust here, so you can see for yourself what books he had." http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015020833938.

There were 76 pages of cataloged books! What were the topics? Well, the most surprising thing was seeing 27 books about witchcraft in his collection. If you would like to see the entire list, use the link above and scroll down to page 73. I'm sharing the description of two books on witchcraft, papers by Mr. Poole and his listing of the NEHGS Register (he was an early member to that society). The majority of his other books are about history.

Finally, What Was the Good Stuff in The Probate?

Etching of W. F. Poole
New York Times Obituary

A Bill of Appraisement of the Estate of William F. Poole, late of the County of Cook and State of Illinois, deceased was finally signed on 25 March 1895, a year after his death. The Will and Probate as well as the "The Longest Obituary I've Ever Seen" were discussed in previous posts, but I just have to share this with all the librarians who may have learned about him. Yes, he had assets, quite a lot in my opinion, but that isn't what interested me. I wanted to know if the Librarian of the Newberry Library in Chicago, Illinois had any books.

He sure did, 2,600 books, all valued at $1. That portion of his estate was worth $2,600. Why did he have so many books, did they belong to the library or were they actually his? And if they were his, was he going to give them away or donate to the Library. If they were his own, I wonder why didn't he just use the ones at the library and save his money.

Below are copies of the Bill of Appraisement, Agreement with Houghton, Mifflin and Co., and Appraisers' Estimate of the Value of Property Allowed to the Widow.

A BILL OF APPRAISEMENT

of the Estate of William F. Poole, late of the County of Cook and State of Illinois, deceased.

                   One lot of Books (2600 in number) at $1.00 per volume.

                                                                                      Total-         $2,600

             "Agreement between W. F. Poole and Houghton, Mifflin and Co. of Boston, Mass., dated September 30th, 1890, whereby Houghton/, Mifflin and Co. agree to pay royalty on all sales of 'Poole's Index to Periodical Literature.' The value of said contract is impossible to determine, but Houghten [sic], Mifflin and Company have paid to W. F. Poole from the time of the date of said contract, an average of $350.00 a year thereon."

Doctor, Medicine, Undertaker and Marshall Field Dress Bill, 1894

The below bills were submitted to probate after the death of my 2nd great-grandfather. There were a few other submissions, but I thought these were the most interesting.

The first one (figure 1) shows his doctor's visit cost $20, this was five days before his death. The medications he was given, and probably for his widow are shown in figure 2. The third bill is from the undertaker and embalmer. It gives you an idea of what the costs were in March 1894. I am not sure why 16 pr. of black gloves were needed (figure 3). Mr. Poole's body was then moved from Chicago to Salem, MA for burial. Figure 4 is a bill from Marshall Field and Co., a clothing store in Chicago. It shows a few items and costs for January and February, 1894 purchases, including a five dollar dress.

The death of William Frederick Poole was written about in my post, The Longest Obituary I've Ever Seen.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4 (above and below)

Partners in the firm of Marshall Field and Company
Marshall Field
Joseph N. Field
Harlow N. Higinbotham
John G. McWilliams
Robert M. Fair
Thomas Templeton
Lafayette McWilliams
Harry G. Selfridge
John G. Shedd

Probate for William Frederick Poole -- Part 1

After ten years, I've finally decided to read everything in the Probate packet I received so long ago. The probate is quite long, and might be of interest to those who are familiar with my 2nd great-grandfather, William Frederick Poole. Even though the below document states he signed his will, I didn't receive a copy with the 44 other pages.

State of Illinois,     )

                          )  ss.

County of Cook       )

                                                In the Probate Court of Cook County.

In the Matter of 

the Estate of 

William F. Poole,

deceased.

Testimony taken on the 15^th day of March, A. D. 1894 as to proof of will and heirship in the above-entitled estate.

William Eliot Furness,

being duly sworn, was examined by Mr. Kinnare and testified as follows:

Q  Give your full name, Mr. Furness? A  William Eliot Furness.

Q  Where do you reside?  A  Chicago.

Q  Give the street and number, please?  A  417 Orchard Street, Chicago.

Q  How old are you?  A  Fifty-four.

Q  Occupation?  A  Attorney at law.

Q  Look at the instrument now shown you purporting to be the last will and testament of William F. Poole, and say whether or not your name and signature is written on it?  A  Yes sir.

Q  Who asked you to sign your name to this instrument?  A  William F. Poole.

Q  For what purpose did you sign your name?  A  As a witness to his will.

Q  Did you see William F. Poole sign his name to this instrument?  A  Yes sir.

Q  Did William F. Poole see you sign your name to it?  A  Yes sir.

Q  Who were present when William F. Poole signed his name?  A  Daniel L. Shorey, John J. Herrick and William F. Poole, when I signed, and when he signed it, Daniel L. Shorey, John J. Herrick, William Eliot Furness and William F. Poole.

Q  What date was it that William F. Poole and the witnesses signed their names to this instrument?  A  On the 18^th day of January, 1888.

Q  How old was William F. Poole at that time?  A  I should think he was about sixty.

Q  What condition of the mind and memory of William F. Poole when he signed his name to this instrument?  A  Good and sound.

Q  Do you believe that when William F. Poole signed his name to this instrument that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory?  A  I do.

Q  Did William F. Poole marry after he signed his name to this instrument?  A  No sir.

Mrs. Fanny N. Poole,

being duly sworn, was examined by Mr. Kinnare, and testified as follows:

Q  What is your name?  A  Fanny M. Poole.

Q  Where do you reside?  A  Evanston.

Q  Evanston, Cook County, Illinois?  A  Yes sir.

Q  How old are you?  A  Sixty.

Q  Are you the widow of William F. Poole deceased?  A  I am.

Q How old was William F. Poole when he died?  A  Seventy-two.

Q  How old was he when you first became acquainted with him?  A Thirty-one.

Q  Did you know him from that time up to the time of his death?  A  Yes sir.

Q  How many times was William F. Poole married?  A  Once.

Q  And then to yourself?  A  Yes sir.

Q  Did you live with him as his wife up to the time of his death?  A  Yes sir.

Q  How many children were ever born to William F. Poole and yourself?  A  Seven.

Q Give their names, commencing with the first one?  Abstract for their four children is below:

Alice P. Holbrook, still living, and husband’s full name is Zephaniah S.  Alice is 38 and her husband is still living.

Annie is still living and husband’s full name is Charles Clarence Poole. Annie is 36 and her husband is still living.

Mary, is still living, is not married and is 33.

William Fred is still living and is 26.

Q  Give the names of the children now dead?  A  Fannie, Helen and Eliza.

Q And did Fannie, Helen and Eliza all die before the death of William F. Poole, their     father?  A  Yes sir.

Q  Which lived to be the oldest?  A  Eliza.

Q  How old did she live to be?  A  Five years.

Q  So that when William F. Poole died he left him surviving Fannie M. Poole, yourself, his wife, Alice P. Holbrook, wife of Zephaniah S. Holbrook, his daughter, Annie Poole, wife of Charles Clarence Poole, his daughter, Mary Poole, his daughter and William Fred Poole, his son, his only hairs at law and next of Kin? A  Yes sir.

Q. Do you acknowledge that to your name and signature (indicating)?  A  I do.

State of Illinois,     )

                           )  ss.       

County of Cook       )

                   Murray J. Brady, being duly sworn, says that he is a shorthand reporter, that he took the testimony in the matter of the proof of will and heirship of William F. Poole, deceased, of William Eliot Furness and Mrs. Fannie N. [sic] Poole, in the Probate Court of Cook County on the 15^th day of March, 1894, and that the foregoing is the correct report of such testimony.

                                                                   Murray J. Brady

Subscribed and sworn to before me

This 20^th day of March, A. D. 1894.

          J. B. Bennett

           Notary Public, Cook County.
___________
Additional information: I located a separate document, deposition given by Daniel Louis Shorey of 5520 Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. He was 70 year old lawyer. He testified that he saw William F. Poole sign his will.

Found after 7 Years and 100 Years (Continued)

The experienced genealogists know from my previous post, Found after 7 Years and 100 Years that there was much more research to be done regarding finding information on John Scramlin, the adopted boy. Since that post, I spent much of one afternoon trying to track down where I could get help explaining the legal notice which appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper Feb. 9, 1978. I was led on a wild goose chase, 4 helpful people tried to connect me with the right person at the First Judicial District Court. At last, I had Jill, since she was the one who could help me. Within minutes, she found the record, his probate. Yes, the probate! After giving her the information and asking a few meek questions as I held my breath, were, can I get a copy? Yes. How much are the pages? Each page was .25. The next day I called, and I was told she had printed the 32 pages and it came to $11.55 (she was certain I wanted them). I had to get a money order, and send a self-addressed stamped envelope. All easy, the worst part was the waiting for the record. I love doing business in New Mexico.

I called my cousin and shared this with her. My imagination went wild. Why would a state ward have a 32 pg. probate. Jill, the employee told me she thought if John, the adopted son, was in her family she would want the papers. So naturally, I thought he must have murdered his father, not his natural, nor his adoptive, but his step-father. Of course, that is why he was in the hospital. Finally, when my envelope arrived, I couldn't even open it, it was so tight, picture 32 pages in a #10 envelope, taped on 3 sides, and with a large stamp saying postage due, I owed $1.66.

After going through the nicely typed pages, I discovered a few interesting things. The state of New Mexico wanted to be reimbursed for John's care for 40 years, because he had an estate of $12,981. He was hospitalized from 1934 to 1974...40 years, and it took three years to get to probate. There were no known heirs. (He had a living sister and quite a few nephews and nieces.) John died August 11, 1974, there was no will, personal property valued at $1,751 and real property valued at $6,000. I learned where John's property (2 lots) on Candelario Street was, and looked up the site on Google Earth. The month following his death, his home was rented for two years at $25 per month. John's two lots were sold for $12,100 to Albert Gonzales and John Tena of Santa Fe.

Upon further investigation, I found discovered his step-father, William G. Hockman, was the father of three sons, Marvin Hockman, Edward Hockman and Albert Hockman. His adopted son, John Scramlin was the same age as Edward. There are things I don't know, like where did John receive his money to buy the lots, did his step-father die and leave him some money? But one thing I do know, is, he didn't kill his step-father.

Probate of Amos H. Adams of Batavia, Genesee Co., NY

Amos H. Adams           Testator

State of New York,

Genesee County Surrogate’s Court,

To the Surrogate’s Court of the County of Genesee :

The petition of Charles R. Gould of the town of Batavia in the said County Genesee respectfully represents: That Amos H. Adams late of the town of Batavia in the said County, departed this life in Batavia, N.Y. on the 22^nd day of August, 1907, at the age of 84 years, having previously, as the petitioner is informed and believed duly made, executed and published his LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT bearing date the 29^th day of June 1901, which is now produced : That the petitioner Charles R. Gould is named in said Will as executor.

That the said deceased was at the time of making and publishing said LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of sufficient age to enable him to make such will and at his decease, an inhabitant of the County of Genesee.

That said LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT relates to real and personal estate, and the deceased died possessed of real and personal estate in the said County of Genesee.

The petitioner further shows that according to the best of his knowledge and judgment, the estate and effects for and in respect to which probate is herein applied for, will not exceed the value of ninety eight hundred Dollars. And the personal property of testator will not exceed the value of fifty eight hundred Dollars.

The petitioner further shows that the names of the heirs and next of kin of the said deceased, and their respective places of residence so far as your petitioner upon diligent inquiry he has been able to ascertain the same, are as follows, viz :

Name.	Relationship.	Age, if under 21.	Residence.
Emily A. Radican	Sister		Niles, Mich.
Horace J. Adams	½ Brother		Niles, Mich.
George Adams	½ Brother		Niles, Mich.
J. Q. Adams	½ Brother		Niles, Mich.
Mary Blair	½ Sister		Wyoming, Mich.
Ada DeWolf Sherwin daughter of a deceased Sister Betsey Adams DeWolf                                     Batavia, NY
Charles DeWolf son of said deceased Sister                 Batavia, NY
Frank DeWolf son of said deceased Sister                   Stafford, NY
Oliver J. Hopkins son of a deceased sister
Nancy Adams Hopkins			Kent, Kent Co., Mich
Harriet M. J. Bann, daughter of said deceased                                                              256 First St., Detroit, Mich.
Sister Fanny

Your petitioner therefore prays that said will may be proved, and that a citation be issued out of and under the seal of this Court, to be directed to the proper persons, pursuant to The Statute in such case made and provided, requiring them and each of them, at such time and Place as shall be in the said citation mentioned, to appear and attend the probate of the said Last Will and Testament, and that such further or other proceedings in the premises shall be duly had as may be requisite to be the proving and recording of the said Last Will and Testament and the granting probate and Letters Testamentary thereof. And your petitioner will ever pray.

Dated this 3^rd day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven

                                                                                    Charles R. Gould

The probate Proof of Service was filed at the Genesee County Surrogates Office on September 13, 1909, was obtained by my 5th cousin Claire who lives near Niagara Falls, NY. There were 8 legal documents in the packet, no copy of the original will found. Photo of cemetery stone also taken by cousin Claire.
---------
Amos was my first cousin 4x removed.

Additional names mentioned in the documents: Ella Sherwin, Mrs. Albert Francher and Fanchier, Lorena Cooper, Arden Smith, Nellie and Marie Fox, Lulu Fox, Hobert B. Cone, Franklin I. Judd, First Baptist Church of Batavia, N.Y., Elmwood Cemetery Association, and the Baptist Educational Society of the State of New York.

The Sad End of Liberty Adams

Twenty-five years after Liberty Adams was born, he married, and twenty-one years later, he died, leaving a widow and three children. A letter from his son in 1906 says Liberty died of peritonitis after an illness of five days.  He was reported to be an alcoholic.  The coffin and box cost $30, and his burial lot was $6.

Liberty's Probate packet consisted of 30 pages for the estate of Liberty Adams, who died intestate on March 14, 1867, at the age of 45. He left behind his widow, Martha Anderson Adams, and three children, John A. Adams, Yates A. Adams, and Aletta B. Adams (the last two under age 14). My cousin Claire obtained the probate papers and sent them to me.  Important documents were either typed or scanned and are displayed below. These were obtained from the Batavia Court House, I believe, maybe 20 years ago. As of January 15, 2023, they are not online. 

Genesee County,

Surrogate's Court.

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE

OF 

Liberty Adams

Deceased.

TO THE SURROGATE OF THE COUNTY OF GENESEE ;

I, Martha Adams,

Administratrix of the goods, chattels, and credits of Liberty Adams late of the town of Stafford, in the County of Genesee, do render the following account of my proceedings as such Administratrix for the final settlement, allowance, and distribution, viz :

On the 29th day of March 1867, Letters of Administration of the estate of said deceased were issued to me.

On the 10th day of April 1867, I caused an Inventory of the personal estate of said deceased to be filed in the Surrogate's Office of said County, which personal estate therein set forth amounts by appraisement of Appraisers to the sum of $979.99.

On or about the first day of October 1867, caused a notice to creditors to present their claims, to be published as required by law, pursuant to the order of the Surrogate. (Below are Schedules A-F.)

"All moneys paid for funeral and other necessary expenses for said estate."

Receipt indicating the Burial Lot number for Liberty.

"Contains the names, places of residence of all persons entitled as a widow or next of kin, of the said deceased, and if any of them are minors, the ages of such minors, and the names and places of residence of their guardians, if they have guardians.

Administrator's Account on Financial Settlement -- For JOHN ADAMS 1792 - 1860

Sabra Adams, the widow of John Adams, my 3rd great-grandfather, is a mystery to me because I knew absolutely nothing about her. Not her last name, her age, where born, or where she went after John died. They married between 11 February 1858 and 31 May 1860 (John's death). I don't even know if it is she who is listed on the 1860 census of Stafford, Genesee Co., New York, living with the Ruben Ensign family. After her husband's death, there was a financial settlement of her husbands' estate.


The Administrator's Account on Financial Settlement of John Adams.


"Know all men by these presents that I Sabra Adams widow of John Adams late of the town of Stafford in the County of Genesee deceased for a valuable consideration received by me of Carlisle Adams, Liberty Adams, Mary Adams, Delight Benham and Grace Wilcox children and heirs at law and next of him of said John Adams deceased and of Isaac Gillett Administrator of the estate of said John Adams deceased hereby acknowledge receipt in full of my share of the personal estate of said John Adams deceased as well my distribution share of said estate as the estate provided by law to be set apart to the widow and children of deceased or to the widow. And I hereby release all my right title and interest in and to said personal estate and in and to such distributive share to the said Carlisle, Adams, Liberty Adams, Mary Adams, Delight Benham and Grace Wilcox and their assigns.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of June 1860.

Sabra Adams  (Seal)

Genesee County  __ On this 18th day of June 1860 before me Moses Jaggart County Judge of the County of Genesee personally appeared Sabra Adams to me known to be the ___."


(Note: The Settlement and Heirs of John Adams was posted on October,  2010.)

Schedule "A"

Schedule "A" "Contains a statement of all property in inventory, sold at a public or private sale with prices, also loss, and gain on each article, also statement of all debts due said estate collected and uncollectible, and the manner of disposition of all property inventoried."

Some interesting items are listed:

George Adams note (no idea who he is)

Balance on Henry Campbell's note (no idea who he is)

Thomas Downing's Note (no idea who he is)

Two mortgages against son Liberty Adams

The usual household items: bureau, table, jar of lard, about 30 lbs. and jar, bed, library, wearing apparel, 4 pictures and frames, and a Military suit.

I would love to learn more about the pictures and Military suit, which was inventoried at $1 and sold for .75. According to my information, he was not in the service, but his father was.

Schedules "E"  and "F"

Widow, Sabra Adams was paid $595.25. She was one of the six next-of-kin listed.

*

Settlement and Heirs of  JOHN ADAMS  1792 - 1860 posted October 4, 2011