Document A.163 · orphans court minute · transcription: verbatim
Sussex Orphans' Court, 18 November 1921 — decree of distribution in the estate of Effie M. Cooper of Green Twp., administrator Amos Cooper. Names her only next of kin: her husband and one son. Minutes Book R, pp. 424–425.
- repository
- Sussex County Surrogate's Office, Newton, N.J.
- collection
- Sussex Co. Orphans' Court Minutes Book R
- identifier
- pp. 424-425; estate file 1671
- date
- 1921-11-18
What is transcribed: The complete decree, running from p. 424 onto p. 425.
People named
| As written | Role | Identified as | What this document says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effie M. Cooper | deceased | ||
| Clark [?]. Cooper | spouse | Clark Caleb Cooper 1888–1943 probable | |
| Robert A. Cooper | child | ||
| Amos Cooper | administrator | ||
| Allen R. Shay | official | ||
| Emmet H. Bell | official |
What this document records
It states the family outright
THIS IS THE ONE DOCUMENT IN THE ORDER THAT SAYS “only next of kin” IN SO MANY WORDS. "it having been proved to the satisfaction of the court that the said Effie M. Cooper, left her surviving as her only next of kin and heirs-at-law, her husband, Clark [?]. Cooper and one son Robert A. Cooper." A negative, judicially found — not merely a list, but a finding that there were no others.
The split is one third two thirds
Of a residue of $1,156.99: one third to Clark, $395.65, and two thirds to the guardian of Robert, a minor, $771.34. ⇒ the NJ intestacy split of the day, and it confirms Robert was under twenty-one in 1921.
The middle initials do not agree
THE SAME TWO MEN CARRY THREE AND TWO DIFFERENT MIDDLE INITIALS WITHIN THREE PAGES. Clark is "Clark [W/M?]. Cooper" on p. 424, "Clark M. Cooper" on p. 425, and "Clark C. Cooper" in the guardianship petition immediately following. Robert is "Robert A. Cooper" on p. 424 and in the petition heading, "Robert M. Cooper" on p. 425. Recorded as read, not reconciled. [A.166], the 1943 administration, gives Clark C. Cooper, and the catalog holds [p.193 Clark Caleb Cooper] — which favours C — but a typist who produced three initials for one man in three pages is not a witness to any of them.
A guardianship follows immediately
The next entry on p. 425 is Clark C. Cooper's petition for guardianship of his own son Robert A. Cooper, "a minor, now under the age of fourteen years", of Green Twp. "Under fourteen" in 1921 puts Robert's birth after about 1907.
Transcription and notes
Provenance, the judicial finding of “only next of kin”, the one-third/two-thirds split, and
the three different middle initials for one man are all in the source: and coverage: headers
and are not repeated here.
The decree [verbatim]
EFFIE M. COOPER · SUSSEX COUNTY ORPHANS' COURT · In the Matter of the Estate of EFFIE M. COOPER, Deceased — On Accounting. Decree of Distribution.
The account of Amos Cooper, administrator of the estate of Effie M. Cooper, deceased, having been duly admitted and stated by the Surrogate and confirmed by the court whereby it appears that there was in the hands of said administrator on the 16th day of April, 1920 the sum of $1256.8[1?] after payment of debts, funeral charges and just expenses, and it appearing to the court that the sum of $[8/9]0.8[3?] interest on said sum has accrued since the day aforesaid, making the total sum of $1347.6[9] in the hands of the administrator, Amos Cooper, for distribution, and it having been proved to the satisfaction of the court that the said Effie M. Cooper, left her surviving as her only next of kin and heirs-at-law, her husband, Clark [?]. Cooper and one son Robert A. Cooper.
It is thereupon on this 18th day of November, 1921 ordered, adjudged and decreed that the aforesaid residue of the estate of the said Effie M. Cooper, deceased, be paid out and distributed as follows: — (costs and counsel fees to the estate of Robert T. Johnson, to George R. Vaughan, to Emmet H. Bell, and to the New Jersey Herald for advertising) … and the accountant prays that he be allowed commission amounting to $[8]0.67 and the balance thereof amounting to the sum of 1156.99 be distributed among her next of kin and heirs-at-law as follows, to wit, one third part thereof to Clark M. Cooper amounting to $395.65 and two thirds part thereof to the guardian of Robert M. Cooper, minor, amounting to $771.34.
ALLEN R. SHAY · Filing November 18, 1921, and Recorded by EMMET H. BELL, Surrogate.
The guardianship petition immediately following [verbatim]
ROBERT A. COOPER — To the SURROGATE of the County of Sussex:
The petition of Clark C. Cooper, of the Town of Newton, in the County of Sussex and State of New Jersey, respectfully shows: That Effie M. Cooper, late of the township of Green, in the County of Sussex and State of New Jersey, died leaving her child Robert A. Cooper, a minor, now under the age of fourteen years, and without having disposed of the guardianship of said child; That said minor is possessed of and entitled to property requiring the care and attention of a guardian …