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.
And these respondants further answering as to Interrogatories, No 3 say
That they do not know and cannot state from their belief or otherwise whether the said Joseph Smith died seized of all or any of the premises in the complainants’ bill described except so far as herein before stated.
And for answer to Interrogatory No. 4 says
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 their said letters of administration nor of the appointment of the said John M. Ferris administrator D. B. N. but are informed of the same and therefore admits the same to be true as in said bill is alledged they also admits;—
That Inventories and Sale Bills were filed in the matter of the administratrix of said estate.
But deny that they amounted to the sum in said bill stated and set forth.
And state that by said Inventories filed in the Proper Court of Probate Jurisdiction of said County of amount to a large sum to wit:—
To more than the sum of ten thousand dollars as by the record 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 Interrogatories referred to, nor of any sale or pretended sale by said in said bill mentioned,
These Respondants further answering as to Interrogatories No. 6 in said bill say
That they are informed and believe it to be true, that divers persons in possession claiming title to same of the premises in Complainant’s bill mentioned, have permitted the same to go to sale and acquired tax titles thereon,
But to what particular lots and premises and for what purposes they have no knowledge,
But deny from their belief that the same were permitted to go to sale and titles to accrue thereon for the purposes in said bill alledged.