My name is Ethan. I have 2 ancestral families that
lived in Shelby County, Texas. The Middleton's and the
Bonner's.
I also wanted to ask if you or anyone you know would
be willing to go to the courthouse/clerks office and
copy/scan/take pictures of some original records for
me. I live in Canada and I am a student so I cannot
travel right now. I am also under the impression that
the clerk only sends records of things that have
already been digitized based on my conversations with
the office. There is one deed that I am particularly
interested in that I found on the Shelby County
website, but the scanning quality is poor and certain
names are illegible. This document is important to me
as it is the only form of evidence/proof I have which
lists all of my 6th great grandparents legal heirs.
There are also 2 full probate records that I would
like copies of. In 1939, as part of the Texas State
wide Records Project, the probate records in the
Shelby County courthouse were indexed. There is one
case that is listed in the index that the clerk says
is not in the minutes. There is another case that I
bought the minutes for, but I would also like a copy
of the full probate court case. The deed has the
instrument number 073000233452, book 32, page 534
listed on their website. It deals with the transfer of
property from Martha Middleton's estate. The deed was
created in 1861, filed in 1865, then refiled in 1901.
The 2 probate cases I would like to have copies of are
Lorena Middleton Case No. 171 and Sallie Middleton
Case No. 027. In this index it states that "The
publication herewith presented, an index to the
probate cases filed in Shelby County, Texas, is No.
210 of the Texas series of counties. The publication
is intended to meet the requirements of day-to-day
usage by the officials of the county, attorneys,
businessmen, and other citizens who have occasion to
consult probate case records for the proper conduct of
their affairs. The publication may be used by
historians and genealogists to obtain references to
unpublished source material ... In Shelby County the
probate case papers (in file jackets) are filed in
steel file boxes in the county clerk's office. The
cases are arranged alphabetically by first letter of
surname of principal party, and chronologically
thereunder." I want to make it clear again, I do not
want the probate minutes for these cases. I would like
copies of the original records.
I would be willing to pay for any transportation
costs, the cost of copying the material, and I can
also compensate you for your time or make a donation
to a local genealogical organization or something
similar. Whatever you would prefer.
The other thing I have a question about is a lost
cemetery. In a family record that I received a copy
of, there is a cemetery mentioned that is not listed
on any website I can find. Is there anyone in Shelby
County who tries to find lost cemeteries? I believe I
know the general location of the cemetery.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Ethan
For the Middletons:
A copy of the bible record can be found on my
google drive here:
A copy of a family record can be found here:
A copy of the marriage record:
