george c cowing probate

I wrote a post about George Clinton Cowing and his wife Lydia Helen French a little over a year ago.  The Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967 database on familysearch was not available then, so now I want to update that post with the probate I found for him.  Lydia also has a probate docket, but her records are not available online yet.

The first probate documents are dated June - November, 1900; requesting that George's son, George F. Cowing, be administrator of the estate.  The document lists the following heirs,

• Lydia H Cowing, Norwell, widow
• Mary E Gardner, Malden, daughter
• Helen J Stoddard, Norwell, daughter
• George F Cowing, Weymouth, son
• Percy W Cowing, Hingham, son

 granted Nov. 1900
(Plymouth Probate vol.162, p.413)

The next document is widow Lydia requesting part of George C. Cowing's personal estate  - granted $75.00 (Plymouth Probate vol. 177, p. 172) Feb 1901

Another document from the same month, February 1901, is from administrator and son, George F. Cowing, requesting to mortgage the following lot of land...

"a certain lot of land with the buildings thereon situated on the southerly side of Barrows street in said Middleboro, bounded on the east by land now or formerly of Mary A. Lovell, on the South by land now or formerly of one Barrows; westerly by land of person unknown; northerly by Barrows street; for the purpose therein set forth; it appearing that no person objects, and all the heirs of the intestate or their guardians having assented thereto, and that it is necessary and expedient to mortgage said real estate to raise the sum of two hundred thirty-two dollars, for the purpose set forth in said petition:..."

granted for a term of not longer than 2 years.
(Plymouth Probate vol. 199, p. 138)

I looked at the historical land ownership map database on ancestry.com to see if I could find this land, but I did not see any of the names appearing on the probate document above.  I did find the street though, which is still in Middleborough today.  Below is the historical map of Middleborough 1879 and the present day google map.  I am interested to find out why George had land in Middleborough, as he seemed to reside in Weymouth and South Scituate.  I also do not see a connection with his family or his wife Lydia's family to Middleborough. 

1879 land ownership map of Middleborough, MA showing Barrows Street

present day map of Barrows Street, Middleboro, MA

View Larger Map

George's final probate document describes land the administrator needs to sell to pay off debts from George C. Cowing's estate; amounting to $600.00. The document states an offer of $75.00 was received to sell...

"a lot of woodland lying in the southerly part of Hingham in said County and bounded southerly by land now or formerly of Lewis Gardner, Israel Sprague? and heirs of Reuben Garnder, northwesterly by lands now or formerly of Lewis and Josiah Gardner; north easterly by land now or formerly of Howard Gardner and ? Wilder - containing about seven acres.  Being the same land devised to Freeman French by the will of Henry Chubbuck."

granted April 1901
(Plymouth Probate vol. 210, p. 324)

I looked briefly at Henry's will that I have saved to my computer to see if a better description of the land was included.  Henry's will calls this land as six acres in Hingham, situated near Queen Ann's Turnpike.  The historical map for Hingham labels Queen Ann's Corner and has many Garnder's living in this area.  There is also a Mrs. N. French listed, which Henry Chubbuck also granted land to in his will.  Mrs. N. French is most likely Sarah Chubbuck French, wife of Nathaniel French, and mother to Freeman French.  Freeman French is George C. Cowing's father-in-law; which may explain why he possessed this land in 1900.  I am not sure of Henry's relationship to Sarah Chubbuck French and therefore Freeman French; but I am guessing he is Sarah's brother and Freeman's Uncle.  (note 1)

1879 land ownership map, Hingham, MA showing Queen Ann's Corner

present day map of Hingham, MA near Queen Ann's Corner

View Larger Map
The maps show where the general location of the land that George's estate is selling.  As mentioned above, this land was originally Henry Chubbuck's, then Freeman French's.  $75.00 does not seem to be a lot of money for almost seven acres; maybe the land was not very useable.  The probate documents do not show who the land was sold to.  I do know from census records though that this is not where George resided when he was living.  The last census for him shows that he did live close to this area, in the town of South Scituate, south of Hingham; just down the street from this area.

George did not leave a will, but I still found all these probate documents very useful and interesting to look through.  The land in Middleborough is a mystery to me and perhaps it will lead to new connections when I find more information about how George obtained it.  I also have no reference to a Henry Chubbuck in my family tree, so this is another new person to discover.    


notes:
1.  Nathaniel French's father, George Lane French, did end up in the alms house.  Maybe this is why Henry included them in his will, as Nathaniel, and therefore Sarah, would not have inherited anything from his father.  Nathaniel died before Henry, and Henry left land for Sarah and her children.   


to do:
1. obtain Lydia French Cowing's probate records
2. find Plymouth County deeds that correspond to these land transactions
3. find how George Cowing received land from in Middleborough, on Barrows Street - did he buy it, inherited it?
4. find connection of Henry Chubbuck to Sarah Chubbuck French and Freeman French - is he Sarah's brother?