Wilson Affidavit of Heirship

This Affidavit of Heirship was found in papers belonging to Charles B Wilson.  The affidavit appears to have been created to prove the heirs of William Wilson, the father of Charles B Wilson. There is no record of it being filed with a court in Oklahoma or Colorado.  It was working copy, because there were still dates and places that needed to be filled out and it was never signed by a Notary Public.

Affidavit of Heirship pg1

Affidavit of Heirship pg 2

Affidavit of Heirship pg 3

Transcription of Affidavit:

OK-5724

AFFIDAVIT OF HEIRSHIP

THE STATE OF COLORADO

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA

CHARLES B. WILSON, of lawful age, being first duly sworn upon his oath deposes and says:

That he is 73 years of age, and that his post office address is Cortez, Colorado.

That he was personally and well acquainted with William Wilson, commonly known as Bill Wilson, during his lifetime, having known him for more than 40 years; that the said William Wilson is dead, having departed this life at Orr, Love County, Oklahoma, on or about the ___ day of July, 1918, being of the age of 83 years, or thereabouts, at the date of his death, and at which time he was a resident of Love County, State of Oklahoma.

Affiant further states that he is a son of said decedent, and that he was personally and well acquainted with the family and near relatives of said decedent, and those who under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, may be his heirs; that the statements herein made are based upon the personal knowledge of this affiant, and are true and correct.

Affiant states that said decedent died intestate, and that no administration proceedings were ever had on the estate of said decedent, and that all debts, including doctor bill, expenses of last sickness and funeral expenses have long since been paid.

Affiant further states that the said William Wilson, commonly known as Bill Wilson, was married but one time, and one time only, and then to Mary Huff, which marriage was solemnized on or about the ____ day of ____ , 1859, unto which union

[Page2]

the following children were born, to-wit:

Doris Fanning, nee Wilson, a daughter, born ______ 18__, who married John Fanning; moved to Montana many years ago; affiant has not heard from them, or either of them in more than 45 years and believes both are deceased.

William (Billy) Wilson, a son, born _____ 18__, who after attaining the age of majority, or thereabouts, being about 50 years of age, became engaged in a quarrel with one of his brothers, which quarrel terminated in a fight and William (Billy) leaving the country, taking with him his personal belongings, including his saddle, saddle horse and pack horse, and this affiant nor any member of his family have heard from or of him since, and believe that he died many years ago, and that he was single and unmarried.

Laura Means, nee Wilson, a daughter, born May 10, 1868, who married John M. Means.  John M. Means died January 1, 1936, and Laura Means, nee Wilson, died May 19^th, 1938.

Rosa V. Baugh, nee Wilson, a daughter, born ______ 18__, married Daniel Baugh, who is now living at La Junta, Colorado.  Rose V. Baught, nee Wilson, Died on or about  ____ 1901.

Lillian Marrs, nee Wilson, a daughter, born ______, 1882, married John Marrs, who is now living at Ellscott, Alberta, Canada.  Lillian Marrs, nee Wilson, died November 21, 1915.

James E. Wilson, a son, born March, 1865, married Melissa King, who died July 8^th, 1938; James E. Wilson died November 20^th, 1941.

Charles B. Wilson, a son, this affiant, born April 6^th, 1876, now living at Cortez, Colorado.

Affiant states that the said William Wilson, commonly known as Bill Wilson, died leaving surviving him the following named persons as his heirs:

Laura Means, nee Wilson, a daughter, now deceased,

James E. Wilson, a son, now deceased,

Charles B. Wilson, a son, now living at Cortez, Colorado,

and the following named grand-children:

William L. Baugh, a grandson, being the only child of Rosa V. Wilson Baugh, a deceased daughter of said William Wilson, deceased, now living at Dallas, Texas.

and

[Page 3]

Charles L. Marrs, a grandson

Nellie M. Burrus, a granddaughter, and

Irene Marrs, now Chaney, a granddaughter,

Being the only children of Lillian Marrs, nee Wilson, a deceased daughter of William Wilson, commonly know as Bill Wilson, deceased.

Affiant further states that the said Mary Huff Wilson wife of said William Wilson, commonly known as Bill Wilson, predeceased her said husband by many years, having died about the year 1898 at Quinlan, in the Cherokee Strip, now Woodward County, Oklahoma.

Affiant further states that the said decedent, William Wilson, commonly known as Bill Wilson, left no other child or children, nor any child or children of a deceased child or children, other than these above named; nor was there an adopted child of said deceased.

Further affiant sayeth not: 

Charles B. Wilson, Affiant

Subscribed and sworn to before me this __ day of April, A.D., 1949.

Notary Public, ________ County, State of Colorado, My commission expires: ________. 19__.



Related Posts:
William and Mary Huff Wilson
Mystery Photo Identified
William B. Wilson Confederate Veteran

Cotter-Morris Pedigree Chart

This chart was given to me about 25 years ago by my aunt.  She had received it from Grandma.  Not sure who gave the chart to my grandma.  Several people have asked me if I had ever seen the chart or knew of it's whereabouts, so I though I would post it.
Someone went to a lot of work to make it.  I think it was originally made to show the relationships of the John and Lizzie (Morris) Cotter Family.  On the chart, John and Lizzie are the two branches that merge together at the top

The surnames contained in the chart are: Copelin, Moser, Gray, Morris, Cotter, Whizenant, Box, Leffel.

The chart is quite large -- 24x36.  I scanned the chart full-sized and have a PDF which can be found on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org.  It can be found attached to the main people on the tree -- John and Lizzie (Morris) Cotter and their close family.  You can download it from those sites or email me so I can send it to you.
I'll add the pdf to this post when I figure out how to.:)

John Edgar Cotter was my mother's cousin.  John, the son of John Cotter and Susan Leffel, was born in 1904 in Chichasha, Oklahoma.  He married Lizzie Ellen Morris on 20 November 1927 in Chickasha.  Lizzie was the daughter of Joseph L Morris and Sarah E Copelin and was born in 1909 in Oklahoma.  They were the parents of eight children.  John and Lizzie are both buried in the Gruver Cemetery in Gruver, Texas.

Lillie Hatfield Smith

Lillie

Lillian Victoria Hatfield Smith was the older sister to my great-grandmother, Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson.  During the last few years of her life, Lillie lived with her sister, Pearl, in Pearl's small house in Cortez, Colorado.   I would often walk with my Grandma Maymie from her house across town to visit with her mother Pearl and her Aunt Lillie. I remember that Lillie was taller than my great-grandmother.  Lillie was always nice,  and she must have worn a floral perfume because she smelled like flowers. 

Ray and Lillie Smith

Lillian Victoria Hatfield was born 9 April 1884 in Jewell County, Kansas.  She was the third child and first daughter born to Martin and Nancy (McNeil) Hatfield.  When Lillie was about 14 years old the family moved to Oklahoma.  Her father, Martin Monroe Hatfield, homesteaded land in Woods County, Oklahoma. 

Wedding Photo for Lillie and Ray

Lillie married Ray Ruggles Smith on 7 Jun 1905 in Alva, Woods, Oklahoma.  Lilly was 21 years old and Ray was 26 years old.  Their wedding photo is shown above and Lillie's record of their marriage from her family bible is shown below.  The only witness is Myrtle Hatfield, wife of her brother John.

Lillie's Baby

By 1910, the Smith's had moved to Sidney, Nebraska.  Three years later, their son Ray Douglas Smith was born in Sidney on Thursday, 4 Sep 1913, at 6 o’clock pm.   The only record that I have been able to find for Lillie's son is a bible record and a notation inside a photo album. 

Ray Douglas Smith - 4 months

It is not known how long little Ray lived, but there are no photos of him except for the two baby pictures shown here.  I have been unsuccessful in finding a record of his death or where he was buried.  But, I do remember Lillie showing me these pictures of her son.  At the time it made me sad to think she lost her little baby boy - maybe because she was sad when she told me about him.  I'm not sure why Lillie did not make a record his death.  Perhaps, she could not bring herself to think about it.  

Lillie and little Ray

In 1918,  when Ray registered for the WWI draft, he and Lillie were living in Malta, Phillips County, Montana.  Ray stated that his occupation was in Real Estate and that his next of kin was his wife, Mrs. Lillie V. Smith.  Ray was 39 years old and his physical description was tall, stout build, blue eyes, and dark hair.

Move to Florida

The Smith family cannot not be found in the 1920 census, so it is not known where Ray and Lillie were living at that time.  By 1929, Ray and Lillie were listed in the city directory of Miami, Florida.  In the 1930 census, Ray and Lillie were living in Hialeah, Dade County, Florida.  Lillie gave her occupation as a dress maker in dress factory.  In the photo below, Lillie is seated at the sewing machine in the back (3rd from left).  Not sure if this is part of the dress factory or not? 

Lillie Smith working as a dress maker.

In the 1932 city directory for Miami, Ray’s occupation is listed as a clerk for the law firm Jarrell, Brooks, and Rogers.  But, in the 1940 census, Ray’s occupation is real estate.  Below is a photo of Ray working at his desk in his real estate office. 

Ray Smith sitting at his desk in his real estate office.

Ray and Lillie Smith

 Ray died in March 1956 in Dade County, Florida.  After the death of her husband, Lillie moved to Cortez, Colorado and lived with her sister, Pearl.  Lillie made a notation in her bible that stated she "arrived in Cortez, Colorado from Miami on June 27, 1956."

The photo below is of Lillie, her mother Nancy, and her sister Pearl.  Since Nancy died in 1946, Lillie must have made the trip out to see her mother prior to that time.

Pearl, Nancy, Lillie

Lillie died on 20 July 1959 in Cortez.  She is buried next to her brother, Charles, in the Dove Creek Cemetery in Dove Creek, Colorado. 

To view Lillie's Find-A-Grave memorial page: click here.


Since Lillie had no living descendants, Maymie ended up with the few photos that told Lillie's story.  Eventually, I ended up with the photos and some memories, and knew they needed to be shared.