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.
before which they had no knowledge thereof, and that their said purchases were made in good faith and for a valuable consideration paid at the several terms thereof by these respondants and without the knowledge of any fraud or trusts than shewn by said deed and this paragraph mentioned,
These respondants does not know but requires proof that said at the time of his death was insolvent that said , and were insolvent as is in said bill alledged, nor either of them, nor has he any knowledge nor can he state from his belief or otherwise as to their residence.
And these respondants further answering, as to Interrogatory No. 3 say.
That they do not know and cannot state from his belief or otherwise whether the said Joseph Smith died seized of all or any of the premises in the complainants’ bill described except the premises herein before described as the North 1/2 of lot 1 Block 117 in said , why the deny that he had any interest in at the time of his death,
And for answer to interrogatory No 4 say
That they have no personal knowledge of the appointment of said administratrix of the estate of said Joseph Smith decd., nor of the appointment of said , nor of the revocation of the said letters of administration, nor of the appointment of John M. Ferris administrator D. B. N. but is informed of the same and therefore admits the same to be true as is in said bill alledged, they also admit that inventories and sale bills were filed in the matter of the administratrix of said Estate.
But denies that they amounted to the sum in said bill stated and set forth.
And states that by said inventories filed in the proper Court of Probate Jurisdiction of said County of to a large sum, to wit, to the sum of upwards of ten thousand dollars as by the records thereof does appear.
Answer to interrogatory in said bill No. 5,
These respondants say that they have no knowledge or belief of any of the matters in the said interrogatory referred to, nor of any sale or pretended sale by said in said bill mentioned.
These respondants further answering as to Interrogatory No. 6 in said bill say:—
That they are informed and believe it to be true that divers persons in possession claiming title to some of the premises in complainants’ bill mentioned have permitted the same to go to sale and required tax titles thereon but to what particular lots and premises or for what purpose he has no knowledge or belief.
But from their information, belief deny that the same were permitted to go to sale and tax titles permitted accrue thereon for the purposes in said bill alledged. [p. 586]