Copyright 2003, Esther Doyle Read
New 29 March 2003
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
GUARDIANSHIP PAPERS OF ALVIN RICHARD READ3
The guardianship papers of Alvin Richard Read are housed in the office of the Surrogate Court of Warren County, New Jersey, which is located in the county court house in Belvidere New Jersey. These records consist of a petition by Alvin's Uncle Samuel H. Read to serve as guardian of Alvin's property interests in Warren County. The petition was filed in 1875, around the time that Alivn's father and step-mother migrated with Alvin to Ohio. By the will of his grandfather, Samuel Cooke Read, Alvin received a share of his grandfather's estate. As Alvin's mother, Margaret Eliza Read was deceased (she died in 1864), Alvin received her share of her father's estate. Because Alvin and his family no longer resided in New Jersey, Alvin's father, Jonah H. Read, felt that someone needed to look out for Alvin's interest in the property. He asked his brother, Samuel H. Read, to act as Alvin's guardian in matters pertaining to the property. Samuel was not the guardian of Alvin's physical person, only of his property in Warren County. As such, he made sure that any sale of the land was in Alvin's best interest and that monies arising from usage or sale of the property were cared for. Samuel was the only brother of Jonah who had remained in Warren County. Jonah's other brothers had settled in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (Isaac Read, IV and Ira K. Read) and in Lapeer County, Michigan (Richard H. Read and Levi H. Read). When Jonah moved to Vinton County, Ohio he was no longer in a position to oversee Alvin's property. Samuel was the logical choice to look-out for Alvin's interests. When Samuel posted bond for the guardianship he asked his brother-on-law, William C. Hibler, to join as his security. William Hibler was also Alvin's uncle, he was the husband of Jonah and Samuel's sister, Lavina Jane Read.
Although Alvin was known in his later life as Alvin Richard Read, it is obivious from the petition that he was known as Richard A. Read early in his life. His mother's name has been recorded as Margaret Eliza Read, but in the petition it is given as Eliza M. Read. Which form was the legal or baptismial name is unknown. The records are filed under "Richard Alvin Read" in the Surrogate's office. Spellings and punctuation in the transcript are as originally written.
The records transcribed in this section are publically available. Copies of the documents may be ordered for a modest fee. For more information contact:
Links to Documents and Family Pages
Petition of Samuel H. Read 30 January 1875 |
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Petition of Samuel H. Read Book 1, page 134
Richard A. Read} To the Judges of the Orphans Court of the County of Warren
The petition of Samuel H. Read of the township of Frelinghuysen county of Warren and State of New Jersey respectfully showeth that Eliza M. Read late of said county lately died leaving Richard A. Read her child a minor now under the age of fourteen years and without disposal of the Guardianship of said child that the said minor is possesed of and entitled to property requiring the attention of a guardian which property as near as your petitioner can judge is worth some three thousand five hundred dollars your petitioner who is the uncle and at the request in writing of Jonah H. Read father of the said minor therefore preys that the guardianship of said minor may be granted to him untill [sic] he shall attain the age of fourteen years and shall choose another person and your petitioner offers William C. Hibler as securities in a bond to be given according to law[.]
Dated this 30 day of January 1875}
Samuel H ReadWarren County S S
Samuel H. Read the aforesaid Petitioner on his oath saith that the facts set forth in the foregoing petition are true.
This web site was produced by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
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