Have you ever encountered a record referencing someone with the same name as a person you are researching, but question whether it is the same person? That was my situation when I searched the Bureau of Land Management records for Henry Duggins. I found a Henry Duggins with 2 parcels of land in Indiana.
If this land had been in Warren County, Indiana where his brother and his step-brother filed for land, I would have prioritized finding additional records to verify the land was patented by Henry Duggins, step-son of James Crawford. Since the land was not in Warren county, seeking such records was low on my priority list. However, these two patents contain clues indicating that it is the same person.
The 1837 patent indicates that Henry Duggins was from Preble County, Ohio.
The 1852 patent indicates that Henry Duggins was a private in Captain Hendricks Company which matches other information about Henry Duggins, step-son of James Crawford.
Fortunately, the will of Henry Duggins ties this all together by indicating how these two parcels of land are to handled.
Will of Henry Duggins
Preble County, Ohio
Record of wills 1808-1901Wills v. D 1855-1870
Film 564861 DGs 5868428Page 307
Henry Duggins Will
The State of Ohio Preble County
Be it remembered that heretofore to wit before the Probate
Court within and for the County of Preble and State of Ohio
held at the Court House in Eaton on the fifteenth day of
June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and fifty two, by John V Campbell Judge of said court
The last will and testament of Henry Duggins late of Washington
Township Preble County Ohio, deceased was this day brought
before the Court, and was proved by the oaths of Isaac Stephens
John P Acton and John Halderman the witnesses thereto whose
satisfaction of the Court that the said Henry Duggins at the time
of executing said will was of full age, and of sound mind,
and memory and not under any restraint. it is ordered that said
will and the proof so reduced to writing be recorded. And
thereupon Jane Duggins the executrix named in said will
appeared in open court and relinquished said trust as executrix
of the said estate with the will annexed and thereof upon
on motion of said John Halderman. It is ordered that
Letters of Administration with the will annexed be granted
to the said John Holderman who appeared in open court
and accepted said appointment and gave bond with
Isaac Stephens and John P. Acton County to the acceptance
of the Court in the penalty of three thousand dollars conditioned
according to law, whereupon the court appoint Joseph L Campbell
Harding Bruce and John P. Acton to appraise the personal
property of said estate, The said Jane Duggins widow of
said Henry Duggins deceased, this day came into open court
and elected to take under the provision of her said husbands
will, in lieu of Dower, said examination of witnesses was
reduced to wording as follows the State of Ohio Preble County Ss
Preble County, Probate Court Personally appeared in open
Court, Isaac Stephens, John P. Acton and John Holderman
of lawful age who being duly sworn depose and say that
the paper writing now exhibited in court is the last will and
testament of Henry Duggins late of Preble County deceased
that they saw him sign and heard him acknowledge the same
that they signed the same as witnesses in his presence and
at his request and that at the time of executing the same
he was of full age of sound mind and memory and not
under any restraint. I Stephens, John P. Acton, John Halderman
Sworn affirmed and subscribed in open Court the 15 day of
June AD 1852. John V. Campbell, Probate Judge. Said will
is in the words and figures following to wit. I Henry Duggins
of Preble County Ohio make and declare this to be my last
will and testament as herein after stated. It is first my will
and desire that all my just debs and funeral charges and
expenses be fully paid out of my estate, I give anpage 308
Ohio, Preble. Record of wills, 1808-1901. Film #564861 DGS 58868428. Henry Duggins, 3 Apr 1852 volume D: page 307-308; FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 25 August 2022.
Henry Duggins Will
devise to my wife Jane Duggins my homestead farm whereon we
now live being in Preble County, Ohio to be held by her for her use and
benefit during her natural life for the purpose of making her a comfortable
home and a full and competant support and maintenance during her
natural life and in relation to my personal estate I wish my said wife
to claim and take under the provisions of the Statutes I wish my chattel
as personal property to be sold by my executor according to the law
regulating the sale of such property by Administrators and Executors
It is my will and I do order and direct my executrix to sell my
80 acre lot or 1/2 quarter section of land lying in Randolph County
and State of Indiana at such time and in such way and manner
and on such terms as she may think most to be advantage of my estate
and as such sale to make to the purchaser a good and sufficient title
ordered of conveyance, if necessary to contain covenants of general
warranty, I give and devise to my grandson Henry Duggins
the son of my son Washington P. Duggins my half quarter section
of land containing 80 acres more or less and lying and being
in the State of Indiana and being the East half of the North
west quarter of section No 21 in Township No 33 and Range one
west on the Meramac Land District, I give and bequeath to my
daughter Caroline Dooley two thousand dollars which I wish
paid to her as soon as funds can be raised out of my estate without
putting my homes and farm to sale before the death of my said wife, I give
and bequeath to my five grand children who are the children of my son
Cornelius V. Duggins deceased, the sum of two thousand dollars which is to be equally
divided amongst and between them share and share alike or the survivor of them which
said bequest of 42000 is not to be paid to them until the death of my said wife
Jane Duggins and the sale of my said homestead farm and then to be paid out
of the process of my said farm I give and bequeath to my son Washington P. Duggins
One thousand Dollars which said $1000 is to be paid to him after the death of my said wife
and about of the proceeds of the sale of my said homestead farm. It is my will and I do
so order and direct that my Executrix herein named proved and furnish within
some reasonable time after my decease suitable substantial marble or Italian marble
grave stone for my own grave, and also grave stones of the same kine & quality
for the graves of my sons William, John and Nathan which said grave stones
are to be paid for out of my estate, and all the balance, residue and remainder
of my estate not herein before disposed of I give and bequeath to my grand
children to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike
at the death of my said wife I wish my said homestead farm to be sold.
I hereby appoint my wife Jane Duggins to be Executrix of this my last
will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 3rd day of April AD 1852
Henry Duggins his mark
Witness present and who have
subscribed their names at the request of the testator
I. Stephens John P. Acton John Halderman