Remember that in any court case, the court is only interested in details that are necessary to render a fair and just verdict in the case being heard. There might be details that a genealogist would like to know, but the court is not concerned with leaving behind detailed genealogical information.
That said, court cases where genealogical information is typically included are important, those involving inheritances and property rights of heirs, are of paramount use to the family history researcher
2 Responses
Just having a lawsuit proved he still lived in that location
John Steely 1806 – 1886 John Steely managed to avoid being counted on the 1850 census… but he continued to live in Cole County, Missouri because: Daughters got married; he was the executor for his brother James’ estate in 1854. He was taken to court for “Failure to Post a Sign”, he had a witness and the case was dismissed. Whereas, the man on the next page was fined $5.00 for the same offense.
Usually, but there might be exceptions. Technically the executor would not have to live in the county where the estate was being probated–although it certainly made things easier and probably was where he resided. The bulk of the estate would have to be in the county where the estate was probated–that requirement was usually spelled out in state statute.