“Delay” in Settling the Estate?

Your relative died in 1850, but records indicate that his estate was not settled up and the farm sold or transferred to someone else until 1869.

Don’t conclude that there had to be “drama” or some court action that you cannot find.

It could be as simple as the family waiting until the widow had died or the youngest child reached the age of majority. Mother may have put her foot down and issued an edict that she was living on the farm until she died. The children could have decided to let mother have control and the money from the farm until she died. The heirs could have decided it was easier (and cheaper) to wait to “settle up” until all the heirs were of age and a guardian would not need to be appointed.