Subseries IV: Legal Contracts, 1741-1953
Sub-Series
Dates
- Created: 1741-1953
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
From the Collection: 17 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Subseries IV: Legal Contracts, 1741-1953
Subseries IV: Legal Contracts, 1741-1953, is categorized by county, and arranged by townships alphabetically. If there are more than one item per township, those items are arranged chronologically. In this subseries, the items include estate citations, foreclosures and sheriff sale contracts, administrator’s bonds, power of attorney forms, and a last will and testament. These contracts focus on the transfer and closing of estates after the deceased party, lands repossessed after a failure to pay taxes, or a legal precedent to avoid taxation or charge on accounts.
This subseries is split between the contracts and other manuscripts compiled for land deed research. In the second section, the research compiled in photostats and typescripts, includes a historical survey of land transfers between a family property, the meeting minutes of a resolve to build up the public commons of Wilkes Barre metropolitan areas, and others containing lists of lands occupied in the Wyoming Valley region. These items seem to focus on how land is retained and how it is lost to various legal movements or purchases.
Of the contracts present in this subseries, the following descriptions offer:
An administrator’s bond is a three party court ordered surety bond meant to protect the beneficiaries and creditors of the estate in case of possible mismanagement, negligence, or fraud. These contacts make sure that the administrators will faithfully execute the duties of settling the estate, and allowing that if they should fail, the defaulted parties can bring forth a suit to recover any losses.
A power of attorney form grants another party the authority to act on behalf of the signee in specific or broad matters. These affairs can include financial, property handling, and healthcare decisions should the party become incapacitated.
An estate citation is a legal document requiring a person to appear in probate court in order to respond to the proceeding or action against or for an estate. The contract is used to progress the administration of an estate if the executor has been delayed, disputed, or non-acting.
A last will and testament is a legal document that explains how an individual’s assets would be distributed upon their death, as well as the handling of their affairs. The contact allows the deceased party to name what property is inherited and by whom, as well as in what manner.
A sheriff sale deed is a legal document transferring ownership of property to a buying party after selling it in a court-ordered public auction. These lands are usually on sale after being repossessed following their previous owners falling under debts or taxes due, leading to the property being sold to make up the losses. The contract proves the sale and new ownership and right to the lands.
This subseries is split between the contracts and other manuscripts compiled for land deed research. In the second section, the research compiled in photostats and typescripts, includes a historical survey of land transfers between a family property, the meeting minutes of a resolve to build up the public commons of Wilkes Barre metropolitan areas, and others containing lists of lands occupied in the Wyoming Valley region. These items seem to focus on how land is retained and how it is lost to various legal movements or purchases.
Of the contracts present in this subseries, the following descriptions offer:
An administrator’s bond is a three party court ordered surety bond meant to protect the beneficiaries and creditors of the estate in case of possible mismanagement, negligence, or fraud. These contacts make sure that the administrators will faithfully execute the duties of settling the estate, and allowing that if they should fail, the defaulted parties can bring forth a suit to recover any losses.
A power of attorney form grants another party the authority to act on behalf of the signee in specific or broad matters. These affairs can include financial, property handling, and healthcare decisions should the party become incapacitated.
An estate citation is a legal document requiring a person to appear in probate court in order to respond to the proceeding or action against or for an estate. The contract is used to progress the administration of an estate if the executor has been delayed, disputed, or non-acting.
A last will and testament is a legal document that explains how an individual’s assets would be distributed upon their death, as well as the handling of their affairs. The contact allows the deceased party to name what property is inherited and by whom, as well as in what manner.
A sheriff sale deed is a legal document transferring ownership of property to a buying party after selling it in a court-ordered public auction. These lands are usually on sale after being repossessed following their previous owners falling under debts or taxes due, leading to the property being sold to make up the losses. The contract proves the sale and new ownership and right to the lands.
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu