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.
bill alledged nor <either> of them, nor have they any knowledge nor can they state from their 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 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 say:—
That they have no personal knowledge of the appointment of said adminixtratrix 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 John M. Ferris administrator D. B. N. but are informed of the same, and therefore admit the same to be true as in said bill is alledged.
They also admit that the Inventories and sale bills now 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 states that by said inventories filed proper court of Probate Jurisdiction of said County of amount to a large sum, to wit, the sum of upwards of ten thousand dollars as by the records thereof does appear.
For 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 believes 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 acquired tax titles thereon but to what particular lots and premises or for what purpose they have no knowledge,
But deny from their believe, the same were permitted to go to sale, and titles permitted to accrue thereon for the purposes in said bill alledged.
And these respondants further answering as to Interrogatory No. 7 in said bill propounded say.
That they do not know whether said Joseph Smith purchased and conveyed the lands in said bill described in Illinois or the North East quarter of section 8, 6 North 8 West in manner and for the purposes said bill alledged and concerning [p. 571]