Guardianship of Samuel Pancake

Ross Co. OH Probate Court, Case No. 6040: Guardianship (papers in packet)

Martha Pancake, widow of Abner Pancake, relinquishes guardianship rights to her children John and Samuel Pancake to James Latta on 11 Jul 1837.

James Latta appointed guardian of Samuel Pancake, age 11, dated 13 Jul 1837; Bondsmen James Latta, Simon Clouser.

Robert Stewart appointed guardian of Samuel Pancake, age 13, dated 26 Mar 1840; Bondsmen Robert Stewart, John H. Mouser, Abraham S. Latta.

Guardianship of John Pancake

Ross Co. OH Probate Court, Case No. 6041: Guardianship (papers in packet)

Referes to John and Samuel Pancake as "heirs of Abner Pancake"; gives widow's name as Martha.

James Latta appointed guardian of John Pancake, age 13, dated 13 Jul 1837; Bondsmen James Latta, Simon Clouser.

Includes receipts for money paid by James Latta for Expenses:

a. Paid $6.17 taxes as Guardian of Abner Pancake heirs and as Agent of Milton Pancake heirs.

b. Paid $7.678 in taxes on "an undivided tract of land in Twin Twp., Ross Co., to wit: i. 222 acres "No. 578"; taxes charged to Isaac & William Pancake ii. 40 acres "No. 7228"; taxes charged to Isaac & William Pancake Tax receipt dated 27 Dec 1838.

c. Paid for publication of Petition for Partition of land, "Pancake vs. Pancake et al. in "Scioto Gazette", Chillicothe newspaper; receipt dated 15 Oct 1838.

d. Paid 1/4 of costs in court case "John Storm vs. Jane Pancake et al.", a petition for partition; receipt dated 3 Jun 1839.

e. Paid expenses for partition as ordered in judgement of Storm vs. Pancake; receipt dated 29 Feb 1840.

Includes account of money paid to Martha Pancake for upkeep of John and Samuel Pancake, dated 17 Mar 1840.

James Latta "removed to Ioway"; Robert Stewart appointed guardian of John Pancake, "age 16 years as of 17 Mar 1839", dated 26 Mar 1840.

John Storm vs. Isaac, John, Samuel and Jane Pancake

Chancery Records, Ross Co. OH, Vol. 6, p. 160 (LDS Microfilm #0976403) "Papers in Box #103"; April Term 1839: John Storm vs Isaac Pancake, John Pancake, Samuel Pancake, and Jane Pancake; dated 5 Sep 1838.

John Storm petitioned for partition of two tracts of land in which he claimed to have one-half interest:

1. A tract of land that had been conveyed by Levi Wells and wife to Isaac and William Pancake by deed dated 9 Oct 1828.

2. A tract previously owned by John Pancake Sr., which had been bequeathed in his will to the children of his sons Milton and Abner Pancake.

Abner Pancake had two sons, John and Samuel; Milton Pancake had one surviving daughter, Jane Pancake, "now residing in Indiana". John, Samuel, and Jane were all minors, represented by James Latta. Defendants conceded that Storm had purchased one-half interest in the land in question, and partition was ordered by the court. The land was partitioned into 3 lots, approximately 74, 135, and 50 acres respectively; the largest lot was awarded to Storm, and the other two were awarded jointly to the defendants.

Bankruptcy of John Pancake and Samuel Pancake

Ross Co. OH Probate Court, Case No. 6245 (44 pages):

1. Deed of Assignment to W.A. Jones, dated 01 May 1879. Lists land jointly owned by

John and Samuel as follows:

i. 66+ acres; bought from Felix G. Seymour, 25 Jun 1856; Deed Book Vol. 61, pp. 344-345.

ii. 87+ acres; bought from Henry Stipp, 21 Jun 1854; Deed Book Vol. 56, pp. 570-571.

iii. 87+ acres; bought from A.S. McMicken, 25 May 1854; Deed Book Vol. 57, pp. 352-353.

iv. 74+ acres; half inherited from John Pancake Sr., half conveyed by Jane & William Martin on 15 Jun 1857; Deed Book Vol. 60, pp. 157-158.

All of the land above was located in Twin Twp., Ross Co. The first two parcels were mortgaged to Jane Pancake, and purchased by her in the bankruptcy sale.

[NB: The "Jane Pancake" referred to here was the widow of John Pancake Jr., who died in 1871. Jane Martin was probably the daughter of John Pancake Jr.-- she was an age match for the younger Jane Pancake living in his household in the 1850 census.]

2. Schedule of liabilities: Creditiors were Jane Pancake ($10356), Smiley Caldwell ($11182), Louisa McCord ($125), Robert Dill, Wm Edmerston, Joseph Wilcox, John P. Holter, Stuart Emerston, Joseph Browning, Millie Wroten, Bank of Ross Co. OH, 1st Nat. Bank of Chillicothe, and Rockhold Cook & Co. Total Debt was $28696.

John and Samuel Pancake had incurred liability to Millie Wroten by acting as surety for George O'Bryant, against whom Wroten had subsequently obtained a judgement.

[NB: It appears that O'Bryant's failure to pay his debt to Wroten, and the subsequent obligation of John and Samuel Pancake as surety was the precipitant cause of the bankruptcy -- the straw that broke the camel's back.]

3. Settlement completed 22 Apr 1882; Proceeds from sale of assets was about $26000, of which nothing remained after the debts were payed.

Abstracted by David L. Boucher on 10 May 1999

DLB613@charter.net