I've been doing some more research on the Miller branch of my family and discovered some estate documents I had not seen before. This prompted me to put together some information to share.
My third great-grandfather, Nelson Miller, was born
in Connecticut in the year 1824. His wife, Sarah Cook, was also born in
Connecticut in the year 1826. (These are estimated years based on 1850 &
1860 US Census records.)
Nelson and Sarah were married on May 26, 1842, in Middletown, Connecticut. He was approximately eighteen years old, and she was approximately sixteen.
Just under a year later, on May 15, 1843, Sarah gave
birth to Walter C. Miller, my second great-grandfather. They had three other
children: Emma (1846 - 1930), Delina (1855 - 1945), and Edson Albertson
(1862-1864).
According to 1850 and 1860 US Census records, they resided in Middletown, Connecticut. (My assumption is that they lived there prior as well – I have not yet found previous census records, but Nelson’s father Joshua was born in Middletown.)
A notice in the February 10, 1866, edition of The Daily Courant, Hartford, CT, shows that Nelson and Sarah were granted a divorce for the cause of cruelty.
Nelson died several months later, on September 2, 1866, in Middlefield, CT. Middlefield was formerly part of Middletown.
When Nelson died, Walter was twenty-three, Emma was twenty and Delina was a minor, at the age of eleven.
I located a probate packet on FamilySearch.org, which is several pages long, so I won’t share the whole document, but there is a provision for the "comfortable support" of Mrs. Rhoda Miller (Nelson's widowed mother), inventory of his real and personal property, what was sold and how proceeds and remaining property was split between the heirs (his 3 living children). There was quite a bit of real and personal property held by Nelson at the time of his passing.
(For a better view of the documents, click on the link. You will need to create a free account for familysearch.org, if you do not already have one.)
The 1870 US Census shows Sarah and Delina living in Middlefield, CT. The 1880 US Census has Sarah living back in Middletown, CT, with Delina and husband Gilbert Peckham, along with their 3-year-old daughter Myrtle. No census for 1890 has been located – there are very few available from that year due to a fire.
Sarah passed away on Christmas Day, 1899, in Manhattan, NY. My assumption is that she was still living with her daughter, Delina. Per the 1905 & 1915 New York State Censuses, Delina was living in Manhattan, NY.
At the time of Sarah’s passing, Walter was fifty-six,
Emma was fifty-three, and Delina was forty-four.
Probate records found on FamilySearch.org show the distribution of her estate as $142.09 each to Walter and Emma, and $34.55 to Delina. I wonder why the assets were not distributed evenly between the three children.
I would love to know more – what was the “cruelty” that led to divorce? What did Nelson die of so soon after the divorce? Divorce was still not very common in 1866, even considered taboo. Sarah lived for 33 more years after the divorce. She never remarried.
Since Nelson and Sarah were divorced at the time of his death in 1866, she received nothing from the estate. The 1850 & 1860 censuses do not show an occupation for Sarah. I guess that she was supported by Nelson and was a homemaker. She would presumably have to begin working outside the home to support herself and Delina.
The 1870 census indicates that Sarah is a housekeeper. The 1880 census says, “no occupation.” She is living with Delina and her husband at this point.
Comparing the two estate records shows such a discrepancy
in assets. He had land and personal property. It appears that she only had a
small amount of money to be left to the children.
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