Transcript of Proceedings, , Sangamon Co., IL, ca. 17 July 1852, U.S. v. Joseph Smith III et al. (United States Circuit Court for the District of IL 1852); U.S. District Court for the District of Illinois, Complete Records, 1837–1856, vol. 4, pp. 486–697; handwriting of ; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21, National Archives at Chicago, Chicago.
M. Ferris appointed administrator of the estate of said deceased, and whether they respectively filed Inventories and Sale bills of said Estate and whether they amounted to the sums stated in manner and form above stated.
5th. Whether said attempted to sell or did sell any part of said deceased real estate and whether it was sold for the purposes, under the authority and in the manner herein before stated, <&> whether said made conveyance of any of the real estate of said deceased, <without making sale thereof in manner herein before stated>
6th. Whether persons in possession claiming title to any of said premises have let the same go to sale for taxes for the purposes herein before stated.
7th. Whether said Joseph Smith deceased purchased or proqured [procured] to be purchased and conveyed the lands herein described in , also the South East qr of section No. 2 in Township No. 6. North of Range No. 9 West and the North East qr of section No. 8, in Township No. six North of Range No. 8 West in manner and form and for the purposes herein stated, or any part thereof.
8th. Whether the said Joseph Smith deceased a short time before his death was seized of certain lands and town lots in this bill so stated, and conveyed the same in manner and form therein stated and for the purposes in this bill stated to his said children or to his said and children.
9th. Whether said is entitled to dower of said premises or any part thereof and what particular part if any.
The oath of such defendants as may choose to answer this bill without oath is hereby expressly waived.
Your Orators further pray that the amount due to your Orators from the said Joseph Smith deceased together with interest be taken, ascertained and stated,
And that the same when so ascertained be decreed to them to be paid out of the estate of the said deceased, and out of property in which the said deceased had an interest at the time of his death.
That an account be taken of the real and personal estate of the said deceased.
That the aforesaid conveyances and pretended conveyances of land from Joseph and to said Joseph Smith as trustee as aforesaid, from said Joseph and to said (by the name of Smith) , , and and from said Joseph Smith as such trustee to said , , and , upon the final hearing of this cause be adjudged, decreed and declared void and of no effect [p. 504]