For quite some time, I've puzzled over a notice in the Missouri Intelligencer 28 Jan. 1823 regarding the estate of my 4th great-grandfather, John Sanford. When he died ca. Dec. 1820, the administrators of his estate were his widow, Nancy D. Sanford, and one Edward Farr (probably related, but relationship unknown). Apparently there was a dispute over the estate, or over how it was being handled. This 1823 newspaper notice was signed by Alfred M. Johnson (my 3rd great-grandfather, husband of Huldah [Sanford] Johnson, one of the daughters of John and Nancy D. Sanford) and Townsend Wright (known to be married to another of the Sanford daughters. It was directed to Edward Farr, Patsey Farr, John D. Sanford, Elijah Getez, and Amos Richardson "as well as all others interested." John D. Sanford was a son of John and Nancy, and Amos Richardson was married to another of their daughters. It seems likely that Edward Farr, Patsey Farr, and Elijah Getez are also all heirs--presumably Patsey a daughter and Edward and Elijah sons-in-law. But they have not previously been identified.
I discovered an 1808 marriage record in Madison co. KY (where the Sanfords had lived prior to moving to Missouri) between Martha Sanaford [sic] and John Farr. The bondsman was "John Sanaford." Since "Patsey" was a common nickname for Martha, this seems likely to be the "Patsey Farr" in the notice, another daughter of John and Nancy Sanford.
Presumably Edward Farr was another son-in-law, married to a daughter of John and Nancy whose name is uncertain. I have found no marriage record that would substantiate this. When Nancy D. Sanford joined the Salt Creek Church in Howard co. MO in 1818, there was one Sarah Sanford who joined at the same time. Possibly this is a daughter who subsequently (fairly soon!) married Edward Farr, but that is just speculation.
The real puzzle has been "Elijah Getez." I've never seen that surname elsewhere, and no one by that name appears in any of the official records of Howard and surrounding counties; there is no other occurrence of it the Missouri Intelligencer or other newspapers that I can find, and no reference to that name in Madison co. KY. I have looked also for some similar spelling--especially for something like "Getz," with no success.
BUT ... I recently found a marriage record in Jessamine co. KY, which is adjacent to Madison co., for a Susanna Sanford who married one Elijah JETER. Consent to this marriage is given by John Sanford, and the witnesses include John Barry and Susanna Barry (the stepfather and mother of Nancy D. Sanford). The Jeter name appears several times in records of this part of Kentucky. It appears that Susanna (Sanford) Jeter died about 1821 in Kentucky, but she left two children who would be heirs of John Sanford, which would explain why her widower might be included in what appears to be a listing of the Sanford heirs. One can understand the misspelling in the newspaper--a "G" and a "J" often have the same sound, and a handwritten "r" could be misread as a "z" (or be a simple typographical error). It seems to me a pretty good bet that this Susanna who married Elijah Jeter is another daughter of John and Nancy. That gives us a Sanford family that looks something like this:
John and Nancy D. (Roberts) Sanford, married ca 1786, with the following children:
(1) Martha, b ca 1788, married John Farr
(2) Unknown daughter, b. ca. 1790, married Edward Farr
(3) Susanna, b. ca. 1792, married Elijah Jeter
(4) John Dozier, b. ca 1794, married Hannah Barnes
(5) Nancy, b. ca 1798, married Amos Richardson
(6) America, b. ca 1801, married Townsend Wright
(7) Huldah, b. 1804, married Alfred M. Johnson
Now if I can just find some indication of the name of a daughter who married Edward Farr, I will count this mystery solved!
