Probate Records
of Shelby County, Indiana
Probate books and estate papers are kept in the Shelby County Courthouse vault. The probated records have been filed by settlement date**. To date, I have inventoried the 1822-1874 estates in the file boxes of the Clerk's vault. The information online reflects this inventory of estate papers. If you would like copies of estate bundles, please contact the Shelby Co IN Clerk, 415 S Harrison St, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Copies are $1/page; the Clerk will NOT ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS.
Estate, Trust
and Guardianship Papers
Indexed by surname
Settlements through 1874
** There is one exception to this. It seems that when Hiram Alldredge, first Clerk of the Court, died in office,
the estates settled during his term were "stuffed away" in the confusion and not filed. Sometime
in the mid 1860's, these papers were discovered and filed. Since the index books and numbering system had
already been started, these very earliest estate papers were filed in fileboxes 72-75; many are entered in the
index book with no settlement date noted. This is not an "official" explanation, just my best guess.
PMF
Insanity Inquests
Estates,
Trusts, Guardianships & Indentures, transcribed
Alldredge, Hiram, partition of land, 23 years after his death.
Allen, Isaac Leslie, minor heir. Final report of guardian, Squire L. Vanpelt.
Allen, Joseph, Inventory, Sale Bill & Final Report transcribed by Kathryn
Jennings.
Allen, William, dec'd. Letters of guardianship for minor heir Charles Allen.
Arnold, John M, final settlement, administered by his widow, Sena Arnold.
Arnold, Larkin. Inventory and Sale Bill transcribed by Jill
Knitl.
Arnold, Ruby. In the matter of the minority
of, 1914.
Baker, legatees of John Sr, deceased, as listed in the final exhibit of his estate papers.
Baker, William, dec'd. Images of administrator's papers.
Ball, William T., minor. Benjamin F. Nugent, guardian. Re: apprenticeship
to Robert T. Ball.
Barlow, Lewis, inventory and an account of articles taken by the widow.
Barnard, David Elmore, deceased, of Rush Co. Sale bill for real estate in Shelby Co, IN.
Benjamin, Isaac, deceased. One of the earliest Shelby Co probate records.
Bernhamer, Charles. Petition to distribute monies.
Berry, William D., dec'd. Inventory, Sale Bill, Final Report and
Receipts. Mount Auburn / Blackhawk, 1840.
Bishop, Ora E., Albert McEdward and Gilbert,
minor heirs of John Ensminger, 1874; Piatt County, Illinois.
Bloomer, Florence, Adeline and May, minor heirs of Henrietta
Bloomer, dec'd, settled in 1889.
Bonner, Samuel, dec'd. Court transcript
of probate hearing; estate settled in 1836.
Bowers, David, dec'd. Full record, including inventory, sale
bill, receipts, interim report and final settlement, 1871.
Boyd, Samuel, dec'd. Inventory and
Sale Bill.
Bright, Donald Jarvis. Adoption by
grandparents, Joseph B. and Luvinia C. Plymate.
Brown, David, dec'd. Inventory, Sale Bill, Final Report, Receipts & Distribution.
Brown, Jessie Clarence, Myrtie May, Ida May and Carrie Brown, minor
heirs of Hannah Brown, dec'd, 1893.
Brown, Miranda, minor heir of Henley Brown.
Partition of real estate, 1878.
Butler, Preston, dec'd. Petition to vest personal property in the widow,
1863.
Campbell, Robert. Summary of the paperwork in the estate bundle.
Canull, John and James, minor heirs of Lucinda
Canull, dec'd. Application for Letters of Guardianship.
Carson, Alice, dec'd. Distributive share for minor heir, Betty Alice Mattoon.
Carter, John H., unsound mind.
Carter, George, Ruth and Mariah, minor heirs of Landon Carter, dec'd. Note on
sale of real estate.
Carter, Landon, dec'd. Full estate:
Inventory, Sale Bill and Receipts, 1873.
Carter, Thomas, dec'd. Misc notes on the guardianship of his minor heirs.
Carter, Wilford, dec'd. Includes will and inventories
of real and personal property, 1858.
Cartwright, Elijah, dec'd. Sale Bill,
1849.
Caughey, Thomas Storey, dec'd. Erection of monument
by Harry Whitcomb, 1910.
Christian, Sarah, dec'd. Letters of
Administration, Abraham Christian of Jasper County, Illinois, 1867.
Clark, John. Inventory and Sale Bill, included with his will in Probate Order Book 1822-1833.
Cochran, minor heirs (three) of Mattie E. Cochran, dec'd, 1883.
Coffman, Henry. Application for Letters Testamentary,
1918.
Coffman, Jackson. Deposition of the widow,
Mary Alby, regarding heirs.
Colclazier, David, heirs vs Henry & Rachel Rapp.
Coleman, Ellen, dec'd. Letters of guardianship for Joseph V. Worland.
Collins, Anna, dec'd. Husband's permission for Mary Killorin to act as executrix,
1917.
Collins, Christina, dec'd. This estate was divided into 320 parts to accomodate all the heirs.
Collins, David, dec'd. Probate Order Book 8, 1868-1869.
Collins, Resin D., dec'd. Scans of documents in bundle,
1866.
Conner,
William,
dec'd.
Sale
Bill,
1837.
Conover, John B., dec'd. Petition of Garrett F. Conover for his inheritance.
Cookson, Ira, minor heir. Richard Buckler,
guardian, 1877.
Cory, Alexander, dec'd. List of heirs
Cory, Arthur O., dec'd. Guardianship of
minor heirs.
Cosler,
Abraham,
dec'd.
Widow's
dower
and
distribution
among
heirs.
Coyle, Frank, Amos & Arthur, minor heirs of James Coyle, dec'd. Petition to sell real estate.
Coyle, Nancy, dec'd. Sale Bill, 1880.
Coyle, Nannie, minor heir of William Coyle, dec'd. Petition to sell real estate.
Cotton, John. Petition for Sale of Real Estate to pay debts.
Criss, Joshua, Harriett, Richard, William, Ann, Ellen, minor heirs of Catharine
Criss, dec'd.
Cross, Ebenezer, Inventory, reports
& receipts and partition of
real estate.
Crowe, Mary A., dec'd. Final Report including a full
list of heirs, including residences, 1912.
Crowell, Victor. Appointment of guardian for minor heirs Raymond L. & Russell E. Crowell.
Cummins, Joseph. Arguments re the probate of Joseph's will.
[Joseph the undertaker].
Cummins, Joseph, dec'd. Petition to sell real
estate, 1881. [Joseph of Waldron].
Cummins, Richard S., dec'd. Excellent
source of early Shelbyville names, 1830-1840.
Davis, David. Inventory,
sale, vouchers and final settlement.
Davis, Eden H. In Memoriam.
Davis, Ethel. Petition for adoption by John L.
Kennedy and Dortha J. Kennedy.
Davis, Greenberry, Introduction, inventory,
widow's share, sale bill, settlement,
minor heirs.
Davis, James, dec'd. Full estate record & settlement
for minor heirs.
Davis Smithers, Mary Azoline. Minor heir.
Davis, Richard, minor heir. Sale of wards real
estate by Greenberry Davis, guardian.
Davis, Varner Sr, Overview, inventory,
sale bill & receipt/voucher list
including descriptions.
Derrickson, guardianship of William, Albert T. and Carey J.
Drake, Mary C., dec'd. Petition of distributees,
1905.
Drake, William, Sr, dec'd. Probate proceedings 1842-1844.
Ensminger, Andrew, of Decatur and
Shelby Co.
Ensminger, Andrew T, Lucy E and Martha [Ensminger] Arnold, minor
heirs of Andrew Ensminger.
Ensminger, Flora Bell, Harriett E., George & Charlie, minor heirs of John
Ensminger. Louisa Ensminger, guardian,
1880.
Ensminger, John, dec'd. Adminstratrix's petition
for discharge, 1881.
Ensminger, Joshua, dec'd. Inventory, Final Report, Receipts
of Heirs and Vouchers, 1851.
Ensminger, Joshua, declaration/pension proceedings for Revolutionary War service.
Ensminger, Julian, dec'd. Final
settlement, 1881.
Ensminger, Julian, minor heirs of. Application
for guardianship of minor heirs and one report.
Ensminger, Phillip, final settlement as
reported in the probate record book.
Ensminger, William R., dec'd. Inventory, sale
bill and final settlement. Thomas Cotton, adm'r, 1843.
Esler, Addie Josephine and Toll, Edward Rader. Adopted
by Henry H. Jackson, 1879.
Fleming, Barbara, dec'd. Tippecanoe Co, IN, probate record involving half-siblings of a Shelbyville resident.
Fleming, Jane, a person of unsound mind. Petition to sell
real estate.
Ford, William, dec'd. Partition of real
estate, 1862, Sugar Creek Township..
Forsythe, Enoch, guardianship of his minor
heirs
Gardner, Isaac, vestment of widow, Dinah [Folger].
Girton, Allen C., minor heir. Guardianship
paperwork, including sale of real estate, 1914.
Goar [Gore], John, dec'd, as copied from the Probate Order Book
Goodrich, Nathan, Sr., dec'd. Receipts.
Goodwin, Amanda, dec'd: Public Sale announcement.
Goodwin, Myra H., infant. Adopted by Thomas and
Nannie Keaton, 1891.
Graham, Lettie Jane Mitchell Brown, dec'd: Final Settlement
Green. Papers available at the courthouse for this surname for the years 1862-1875.
Grimes, Noble. Dispute over real estate.
Hacker,
John.
Miscellaneous
receipt,
1834.
Hardy, Sarah, Guardianship of minor heirs Elizabeth E and Joseph W Hardy
Hargrove, Benjamin F., dec'd. Renunciation of widow
to serve as administrator, 1861.
Hargrove, Caleb, dec'd. Full
administration by George Hargrove, 1859-1865.
Harrell, Ellena. Minor heir of
Henderson H. Harrell, 1879. Guardian, Thomas J. Craycraft.
Harrell, James E. Notice of public sale, James H. Harrell, administrator.
Headlee, Joshua. Partition of dower, all heirs
listed.
Hendrickson, James. Inventory, sale bill, final report, receipts and 'distributive
shares.'
Hensley, Andrew, dec'd. Summary of
probate records from Marion County, Indiana.
Hicks, Lila, dec'd. Proof of guardianship of minor heirs Ruth and George H. Hicks.
Higgins, Eber. Letters of guardianship for minor heir; deceased not named.
Hill, Isaac, dec'd. Assignment of dower of
widow, Julianne, 1847.
Hill, Samuel F. R., dec'd. Sale Bill and
Final Report, 1851-1853.
Hinds, Henry F. petition of administrator and guardians of his minor heirs, 1862.
Holbrook, William Franklin, administrated by Wm Franklin Holbrook (son). Receipts.
House,
Frederick,
dec'd.
Inventory,
Sale
Bill
and
Final
Settlement.
Howery, Charles, admin by George B. Huffman
(GBH administered more estates than any other Shelber!)
Howery, George O., James L., Jacob, Clara,
Ida, Columbus and Cornelius, minor heirs
of Loyal Howery, dec'd. 1886.
Howrey, Samuel, dec'd. Inventory, Sale Bill, Receipts and Final
Report. Marion Twp, 1836.
Howry, William and James, minor of heirs of Jacob Howry. Guardian's report.
Hoy, guardianship of the minor heirs of
Martin Hoy, deceased.
Hughlett, Ephraim W. Answer to petition for distribution among heirs.
Huffman, Fountain G. Transcribed from the Probate
Order Book.
Huffman, Minnie and Dessie, minor heirs of
Robert Phares.
Huffman, Ora R., minor heir. Gideon H. Huffman,
guardian. Final report, 1912.
Jackson, Henry. Adoption of Addie Esler and
Edward Toll, 1879.
John, William, dec'd. Ratification and Final
Settlement as reported in the Probate Order Books.
Johnson, William M. Inventory and Final
Settlement, 1845-1848.
Keith, James N.
Appraisement and inventory, 1863.
Keith, John. Common pleas cause for sale of real estate.
Keith, Nancy.
Inventory, sale bill, administrator's reports and receipts, 1867.
Keith, William. Inventory through final settlement.
Kelley, Eliza. Trust under the will of
Nancy Elizabeth Harlan Rothrock; Thos S Caughey, trustee.
Kelly, John, Cornelius, Kesiah and Jeremiah, minor
heirs of Ambrose D. Kelley of Preble County, Ohio.
Kelsey, Abner, dec'd. Items purchased from Isaac Odell.
Kinney, Nathaniel, dec'd. Inventory, receipts
and final settlement, 1865.
Kinsley, Augustus, dec'd. Inv/widow's rec't, sale bill, final settlement.
Kinsley, Loretta, dec'd. Minor heir of Barbara Kinsley, heir of Henry Bass.
Kuhn, Conrad, dec'd. Sale Bill, 1889.
Lamb, Isaac, dec'd. Full estate bundle.
Lemaster, Isaac, dec'd, Sale Bill.
Lee, Hiram, dec'd. Distribution of assets among
the heirs, 1892.
Leonard, Joseph, sale of real estate.
Leonard, Robert E. From widow's waiver to final settlement.
Lewis, Flora and Lucius, minor heirs. Petition to sell real
estate in Liberty Township, 1880.
Lewis, Mary A., dec'd. Inventory, sale bill,
reports and receipts, 1876.
Little, William O. Miscellaneous receipts
Louden, Mary M., dec'd. Letters of guardianship for Glendora & Charles A.
Louden.
Love, Samuel. 1849.
Macy, Rebecca. Inventory, receipts, final report and will,
1862.
Major, William S. Inheritance tax on distribution among heirs
and legatees.
Mann, Lucy J, dec'd. Proof of guardianship of minor heir, Rutherford Mann.
Matthews, James, dec'd. Sale Bill, 1837.
McGaughey, David S. An estate "without administration".
McNeely, excerpts from the estate of Burwell McNeely, deceased.
McNeely, Robert. Court recorder's transcription only; estate bundle is missing.
Means, G.W., Inventory, Sale, Final exhibit, and receipts/vouchers.
Means, Mordecai, William & Nancy, minor heirs. Guardianship
vouchers from 1859-1871.
Means, Robert. Final report listing thirteen
heirs, 1886.
Meiks, Jacob (Jr), dec'd, Inventory, Sale Bill, 1875.
Miller, Frederick W., dec'd. Power of attorney for grandson,
George Leuchtenburg, 1914.
Miller, Jesse. Inventory, final report and will. 1832-1834.
Missing pieces. Names found on these stray pieces are listed at the top of
the page.
Montgomery, James, guardian of nine minor heirs (all Montgomery's).
Montgomery, William, dec'd. A portion of the final report with distribution
among heirs, 1870
Moore, John W., Petition to sell real estate belonging to minor heirs.
Moore, William G., dec'd. Letters of
Administration, 1864.
Morgan, Samuel. Inventory through final
settlement.
Morris, Louisa, Nancy E., Polly A., Harriett, Eliza J., James W., minor
heirs of Archibald Gordon, 1858.
Morris, Robert and Mabel, dec'd. Letters of guardianship for Lester Morris, minor heir.
Mow, Catharine. 1842. Sale Bill
gives a wonderful account of the neighbors.
Mow, Daniel. Early estate bundle with
several badly tattered pages, 1836-1843.
Mullendore, George, dec'd. Guardianship ltrs for George A. & Robert M. Porter, minor heirs.
Munson, Thelma G. & R. J. Appointment of their guardian; deceased's name not given.
Murphy, Nellie, minor heir. Partition of
real estate among all heirs of Samuel Murphy, dec'd.
Murphy, Samuel, dec'd. Petition to sell wheat
at private sale.
Murphy, Sophia E., dec'd. Application, Final Settlement and Receipts,
1892.
Nail, Henry, dec'd. Will, inventory, sale bill
and receipts, 1827.
Newton, Clara, dec'd.
Inventory
and
final
settlement.
Mary
Newton,
guardian.
Newton, John C., George, Eliza A., William, minor heirs of Philinda Newton
Noe, Eddie. Adoption of infant by William J Noe,
1875.
O'dell, Jeremiah. Final Report, 1897.
Oldham, George, dec'd. Bond, inventory, sale
bill and receipts, 1837
O'Toole, John, dec'd. Margaret O'Toole Tracey, "one of the heirs." 1913.
Parkerson (Parkinson/Parkison), Jonathan, selected papers.
Pherigo, minor heirs (six) of John and
Esther Pherigo, 1885.
Pierson/Pearson, Adam; Rebecca Pierson requesting distributive share from Elijah Hand.
Pollard, Margaret J., minor heir. Guardian's report.
Pope, Harvey.
Complete
estate
bundle,
1852-1863.
Porter, Allen, dec'd. Claim against the
estate of Mary A Porter, dec'd.
Powell, Murphy, dec'd. Letters of Administration,
Jesse Talbert, 1847.
Rathburn, Henry & John, orphaned sons of Thomas Rathburn, Jr. Indenture.
Reed, Jacob, dec'd. Petition to sell real estate and the final
report of Thomas J. Jones, administrator, 1877.
Reed, John R, James, Mary F & Mildred, minor heirs of James Reed, dec'd.
Settled 1880.
Reeves, Alvin L., minor heir. Guardians request for discharge
Rhoads
/
Rhodes,
John
B.
Probated
1855-1861:
inventory,
sale
bill
and
settlement.
Rice, David, dec'd. Petition to vest property
in the widow, Eliza McKinney.
Rice, John, dec'd. Amended Petition for Final
Settlement, 1837.
Robertson, Alexander, dec'd. Inventory through final settlement.
Robertson, David, dec'd. 1864-1866. Inventory, sale bill, vouchers & final report.
Roarty/Rorety minor heirs. Attorney's
log of trips made to collect information for a military pension, 1885.
Robinson/Robison, Neal C., dec'd. Includes complaint of widow in LaPorte
County. Joseph Robison, adm, 1838.
Seaman, Joseph, dec'd. Appraisement for division of property among heirs, 1853.
Sexton, Carrie, minor heir. Guardian - Oliver Sexton.
Shaw, Sidney, dec'd. Application for Letter of Administration, including a
list of heirs, 1918.
Shourt, Lucinda and Sarah, minor heirs of
Maria Shourt, dec'd. Interim report by guardian, James Chambers, 1863.
Sleeth, David, dec'd. Will and receipts for
settlement, 1868.
Smith, William, abstract of will, 1858.
Spurlin, Jesse, decd, heirs listed by Harvey Spurlin.
Stanley, Nathan, decd. Administrator's bond.
Stansifer, John, ward. Sale of land by
Abraham Stansifer, guardian.
Stewart, Adrian Gilbert. Petition for adoption
by John and Jennie Tanner.
Stone, David, miscellaneous receipts.
Stone, Rachel. Guardianship, including date
of 21st birthday.
Storm, Margaret Maholm. Declaration of pension
for soldier, Coleman F. Storm, 1907.
Streng, Joseph H and William H, minor heirs. Guardianship papers; decd's name not
mentioned.
Stickford, Frederick, dec'd. Proof of guardianship, Margie & Howard Dale Stickford, minor.
Stone, Rachel P, minor heir. Final report
following Rachel's 21st birthday.
Swain, Alonzo, decd. Administrator vs heirs; petition for order to sell lands to pay debts.
Swinford, Nancy A. Final Report of Administrator, Lewis Swinford,
1906.
Talbert, Paris C., decd. Names from sale bill and receipts of heirs.
Thurston, Josephine, et al, Ex Parte Partition of Real Estate
Trees, Ida S. Petition for adoption by Jacob H and Susan M Trees.
Trees, Isaac, dec'd. Sale of real estate. David L. Wilson, administrator, 1894.
Tucker, Henry Line, dec'd. Filebox 378
Updegraff, Samuel. Martin Updegraff's sale of his ward's real estate.
Vanarsdoll, James. Partition of land near Freeport in Hanover
Township, 1849.
Vanpelt, Harvey, the heir's assent to the sale of real estate to pay bills of the estate.
Vanskoik, George, dec'd. Settlement of an
estate less than $500.
Vaughn, Samuel, final settlement of a trust.
Walton, George and Lourilla. Adoption of Oriena
Rose, 1919.
Warner, Martin, dec'd. Appointment of
guardian and trustee, 1872.
Weaver, Catharine. Lovina Smucker, executrix, 1879.
Weaver, George P. Estate bundle missing; entry from the probate order book.
Weaver, Ruby Hester Yarbrough. Adoption by
Sarah Jane Weaver, 1908.
Weaver, Samuel. Inventory and vestment of widow. Letter of guardianship of minor heirs.
Weir, Catharine, dec'd. Petition to sell personal property and final
settlement including distribution among heirs.
Wier, Douglas, minor heir of Amanda Wier, dec'd. Henry Wier, guardian,
1881.
Wherritt, Hiram W., dec'd. Letters of Administration and balance for distribution among heirs.
White, Harriet J. Minor heir of
Jeremiah White and Andrew Ensminger, 1870.
Wicker, Albert E, Benjamin W, Laura A & Jeremiah, minor heirs. Final settlement.
Wier, Douglas. Minor heir of Amanda Wier, dec'd.
Henry Wier Guardian, 1881.
Williams, Daniel. Letters, Sale Bill and Final Report.
Williams, Eli. Sale Bill and Final Report.
Williams, Emma Belle & James A, guardianship.
Williams, George W. and Carrie Mary. Adoption
of Ethel Effie Murphy, 1919.
Williams, Matthew. Sale of Personal Property.
Wood, Isaac, dec'd. Grant of Letters of Administration, 1863.
Woolley, William Henry, sale bill.
Worland, John M., dec'd. Interim report, 1862.
Worland, minor heirs of Sebastian Worland, Letters of Administration and Sale
of Real Estate, 1863.
Worland, Robert A., dec'd. Grant of Letters
Testimentary, 1864.
Worland, Sebastian, dec'd. Administrative accounts for various Probate
Order Books, 1864.
Worland, Worland & Eck, Commissioners' Report of Ex Parte Partition
Wright, Nancy H.: Contestment of settlement.
Young, Anna, dec'd. Statement from heirs of
the decedent, 1913.
Young, James, Sr. Some of the names on the Sale Bill, (following the will entry).
Young, Levi. Report of final settlement recorded in the probate order book.
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