My recent trip to NGS in Cincinnati was also a fruitful trip for my personal genealogical research. I made side trips both before and after the conference, and discovered some wonderful documents and gravestones.  One of the gems I ran across (and chased between two county courthouses), was the land partition of my 4th great grandfather, Nathaniel Piles[1].  Not only did this court record list the heirs of Nathaniel, it also provided a link between three generations of my family—Nathaniel, his son James (who predeceased his father), and James’ daughter Maria Piles.  (Just so my family members can follow along, Maria was the wife of James A. Taylor, who were grandpa Taylor’s grandparents).  The following petition included in this case is an excellent example of the genealogical gems that can be uncovered with just a little bit of digging.  Enjoy!

“To the Court of Common Pleas within and for the county of Noble and the State of Ohio.

Your petitioners William B. Alexander and Susan Alexander his wife of Munroe County Ohio, respectfully represents that Nathaniel Piles deceased late of said Noble county, was at the time of his decease seized and possessed in fee simple of certain real estate with the appurtenances thereunto belonging and that part of said real estate is situated in the county of Noble aforesaid and also that part of said real estate is situate in the county of Guernsey and state of Ohio aforesaid, That the portion of said real estate situated in said Noble county is described as follows to wit:  Lot number twenty-three (23) in the town of Williamsburgh in said Noble county, and that the portion of said real estate situated in said Guernsey county is described as follows to wit:  Lots number thirteen (13) and fourteen (14) in the town of Millwood in said Guernsey county Ohio.

Your petitioners further represent that said Nathaniel Piles deceased left as his heirs and legal representatives and who are now legally seized in fee simple of said real estate by decent [sic] from said Nathaniel Piles deceased in the following proportions to wit, Your petitioners in right of said Susan Alexander the one undivided fifth part, John Piles of Athens county Ohio, Sarah Hurd who is intermarried with Joshua Hurd of Athens county Ohio, and Elizabeth Cline who is intermarried with George Cline of the state of Iowa, are each seized in fee simple as aforesaid of the one undivided fifth part of said real estate and Mary Ann Flanigan who is intermarried with John Flanigan of Iowa, Sarah Jane Ball who is intermarried with Thomas Ball of California, William Piles of Iowa, Richard Piles of Iowa, Nathan Piles of California, Mariah Piles (a minor) of Iowa, John Piles (a minor) of Iowa, Susan A. Piles (a minor) of Iowa, James P Piles (a minor) of Iowa and Isaac Piles (a minor) of Iowa are each seized in fee simple as aforesaid of the one undivided fiftieth part of said real estate,

And your petitioners further represent that the said John Piles (first mentioned in this petition), Sarah Hurd, Elizabeth Cline and your petitioner Susan Alexander are the children of said Nathaniel Piles deceased and that the said Mary Ann Flanigan, Sarah Jane Ball, William Piles, Richard Piles, Nathan Piles, Mariah Piles, John Piles, Susan A. Piles, James P. Piles and Isaac Piles are the children of James Piles deceased who was a son of said Nathaniel Piles deceased, and that the aforesaid children and Grandchildren of said Nathaniel Piles deceased are coparceners in the manner before stated with your petitioners in the said real estate and also that Margaret Piles widow of said Nathaniel Piles is entitled to dower in said real estate.

Your petitioners therefore desiring to hold their interest in severalty prays that the said John Piles, Elizabeth Cline, George Cline, Sarah Hurd, Joshua Hurd, Mary Ann Flanigan, John Flanigan, Sarah Jane Ball, Thomas Ball, William Piles, Richard Piles, Nathan Piles, Mariah Piles, John Piles, Susan A. Piles, James P. Piles and Isaac Piles, and Margaret Piles widow of said Nathaniel Piles deceased may each be made defendants to this petition and that partition of said real estate may be made and that the dower of said Margaret Piles may be assigned in said real estate, or if it appear that partition of said real estate cannot be made without maifash injury that the same may be sold or other proper order taken in that behalf pursuant to the Statutes in such case made and provided.

                                                                                                                      Ferguson & Preistley,

Attys for Petitioners”[2]

 

[1] Noble County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas Partition Record Box 13, W.B. Alexander et al. vs. John Piles et al., 1857, Clerk of the Court’s Office, Caldwell

[2] Noble County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas Partition Record Box 13, W.B. Alexander et al. vs. John Piles et al., “Petition of William B. Alexander and Susan, his wife”, 9 Feb 1857, Clerk of the Court’s Office, Caldwell.