Back to Patience Coleman Madden
Back to Emanuel Madden
Back to Elizabeth Holloway

Petitions of Patience Madden re: Guardianship and Estate Inventory of John Coleman


[From Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Book A, pp 56-9, Greenwood MS, 1953, v. 2]

Natchez District
Oct 28, 1781

Petition of Widow Coleman, now wife of Emanuel Madden, begs leave to present a statement of the property of her late husband, dec'd. They were married 12 May 1762. When they married they began the world poor. Her husband was killed by Indians on 15 May 1781. and at his death left the following property:
5 negroes (names, two natives of S. C., the rest of Africa), horses, cattle, hogs and 100 arpents on Second Cr., 4 miles from Fort Panmur, near lands of Jacob Winfree and William Case. An agreement respecting the land made with the owner, Robert Robertson was that, if the Country should remain in possession of Spain, they were to give a horse and two half Johannes [old Portuguese coins]; but if the country should revert to the English, they should pay $300. The debts of the estate at the time of the death of Mr. Coleman:
$100 to Mr. Farquhar; $39 to Richard Ellis, Sr.; $20 to William Case; $10 to Abraham Horton; $2 to Ebenezer Pipes, $4 to John Bisland; and $2 to Daniel Mygett.
The Children are: John 15, William 12, Judah 10 [Judith], Mary 5, James 2.
She declares that the above is a true inventory of the estate of John Coleman, her late husband, dec'd. Natchez 28 Oct. 1781.

Signed Patience Coleman, now Patience Madden.

Wit: Francois Farrell, Atty. for the Dist. of Natchez.

Appraisers: William Ferguson and Stephen Mayes.


Natchez, 28 Oct. 1781.

Petition of Patience Madden that since the death of her husband she has married Emanuel Madden and has a certificate of same from the minister. As she married before giving an inv. of estate of first husband, she is forbidden by law to be guardian of her children and asks that her present husband be apptd guardian of the minors.

Wit: Francis Farrell, Silas Crane.

Back to Patience Coleman Madden
Back to Emanuel Madden
Back to Elizabeth Holloway