Robert Duke, Deceased Before 1860, Perry County, AL
Final Estate Settlement
This document is copyright (c) 2003 by Joseph Duke. All rights reserved. The copyright must appear on all copies
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[This is a transcribed copy of a document, transcribed by Joseph Franklin Duke, a descendant of Lovick Sherrod Duke, his father, Jeremiah K[insler] Duke, and Lovick's grandfather, Robert Duke, son of Thomas Duke of Fairfield District, SC; as more fully described in the work of Tony Cox, who is a well-informed student of this family line. The thrust of this transcribed document appears to reveal a kinship between Robert, Jeremiah K. and Lovick Sherrod Duke. The actual document text begins at the line which identifies the case number, as shown below. For any who would ask, a photocopy is available of these actual pages from the book of record, as found in Perry County, Alabama. --JFD]


Record of administrator's settlement of residual assets of the estate of Robert Duke, [son of Thomas Duke of Fairfield District, DC. Found in the early records of] Perry County, AL: Volume I, pages 338 and 339.


Probate Court [of Perry County, AL] Regular Term July 28, 1860.

Honorable ________________ Judge, presiding.

Estate Proceedings #16022

Burrell Johnston, Administrator.


This day [comes] Burrell Johnston, administrator of the Estate of Robert Duke, Dec'd, who at a prior term of this court filed his accounts and vouchers for final settlement of said estate, and


It appearing to the satisfaction of the court that three weeks' publication has been made in the Marion [Alabama] American, a news paper published in said county as required by law, and a prior order of this court notifying all persons interested in said matter of the time and place of hearing the same, and


It further appearing to the satisfaction of the court that J[ohn] F. Shaffer was [then] appointed guardian ad litum of the minor heirs of said estate at the hearing of the same [date] and appear[ed] in open court and accept[ed] said appointment, and having examined said accounts consent[s] to the allowance of the same, the court [now] proceeds to audit [said] estate and allow the same.


Whereby it appears to the satifaction of the court that said administrator is chargeable with the sum of thirteen hundred and forty [and] 45/100 dollars, and is entitled to credits to the amount of eleven hundred and eighty eight [and] 33/100 dollars leaving a balance against administrator of one hundred and fifty-two [and] 12/100 dollars to be distributed as follows, to wit:


to Mary A. [Duke] Shaffer is decreed the sum of fifty [and] 70/100 dollars [the] amount of her distributive share of said estate, and


it appearing to the satisfaction of this court that the same is satisfied by acknowledgement of the satisfaction of John F. Shaffer, [now] the administrator is therefore discharged as to said decree, and


to Nancy Duke is decreed the sum of twenty five [and] 35/100 dollars her distributive share of said estate and for which execution may issue, and


to Allen Morrison in trust for his wife Catherine [Duke] Morrison is decreed the sum of twenty five [and] 35/100 dollars her distributive share of said estate and for which execution may issue, and


to J[ames] C. Perkins in trust for [his wife] R[achel Ann Shunsey Duke] Perkins is decreed the sum of twenty five [and] 35/100 dollars her distributive share of the said estate and for which execution may issue, and


to Lovick S[herrod] Duke by his guardian James C. Perkins is decreed the sum of twenty five [and] 35/100 dollars his distributive share of said estate and for which execution may issue.


It is therefore ordered and adjudged by this court that said accounts be allowed as stated, recorded and filed.


ss by probate judge

[Name not provided in this specific document, but at the end of the record of this session of the court's proceedings.]


[The above is the complete document, and all the wording is as it originally shows, the only exception being that all words and partial words shown in brackets above are inserted by the transcriber, for modern clarity.

Notes concerning the persons included and shown as heirs above:

  1. It is the present opinion of the transcriber that Mary A. Duke Shaffer is the daughter of Robert Duke, deceased, and his deceased wife, Ann Kinsler Duke.

  2. It is also the present opinion of the same that Nancy Duke is the daughter of James Duke and his wife, Elizabeth Judith Wilson Duke and grand-daughter of Robert and Ann Kinsler Duke.

  3. It is also the present opinion of the same that Catherine Duke Morrison is a sister of Nancy Duke.

  4. It is further the present opinion of the same that both Rachel Ann Shunsey Duke Perkins and Lovick Sherrod Duke are minor grandchildren of Robert and Ann Kinsler Duke. They are known to be the only children of Jeremiah Kinsler? Duke and his wife, Caroline Woolley Duke.

  5. All these present opinions are based by the transcriber on this estate settlement proceeding transcribed above, which appears to reveal the relationship of Robert Duke to be father of Jeremiah K. Duke who is known to be father of Lovick Sherrod Duke. If any proof to the contrary can be found, this transcriber is most interested to learn of it

Joseph Franklin Duke]