NJHUNTER-L Archives

Archiver > NJHUNTER > 2003-01 > 1042909223


From:
Subject: [NJHUNTER] Question about a legal document
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2003 12:00:23 EST


Hi Everyone,
I am hoping there might be a lawyer on the list or at least someone
who has done enough genealogy that they might have run across something
similar. I am sending this message to several other lists to see if I can
come up with an answer. Otherwise I suppose I shall have to pay to consult a
lawyer.
This involves an Application for Letters of Testamentary for my
great-grandfather's estate in CT., but perhaps this is standard legalese
that might be used anywhere.
I am trying to pin down the date and location of the marriage of my
great-grandparents. I have reason to believe that they were married in
Washington Co, NY and that they then moved to CT.
My grandfather (their first born) was born in June of 1877.
My great-grandfather died in 1922.
The pertinent part of the application reads as follows(I am leaving
out the names and exact town):
Estate of ---------- ----------, late of------- Connecticut, in said
district, deceased.
The subscriber represents that -------- -------- last dwelt in the town of
-----------, Conn., in said District, and died on the 20th day of February,
1922, posessed of goods and estate remaining to be administered, leaving a
widow, whose name is --------- ------------ to whom he was married before
April 20th, 1877, and as his only.......................
Now my question is this. Why would a marriage date be stated this
way. Why not give an exact date? Was this an attempt to not embarass the
widow because it appears as though she may have been pregnant before the
marriage? Was this so that my grandfather could inherit as a legitimate
heir----or is this just some form of legalese that has nothing at all to do
with the actual marriage date?
I will be making a trip to NY as soon as the weather moderates, but
would definitely like to narrow down the time frame for the marriage.
If this means what I assume it means, it will definitely narrow it
down to a six or seven month period of time.
Any help always appreciated.
Kay



This thread: