John Lathrop

Narrative:

     John Lathrop was born on 10 Oct 1794 in Vermont.^3,4 He was probably the male under age 10 listed in the household of his father, Thomas Lathrop, in the 1800 Federal Census of Shelburne, Chittenden Co., Vermont.⁷ He was probably the male age 10 to 16 listed in the household of his father in the 1810 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont.⁸ He was probably the male age 16 to 26 listed in the household of his father in the 1820 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont.⁹
     John married Margaret Fuller on 15 Mar 1821.¹
     John appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont, with a household consisting of one male under age 5 (son James), two age 5 to 10 (Luman and Thomas), one age 15 to 20 (unknown), one age 30 to 40 (himself), one female under age 5 (daughter Jane), one age 5 to 10 (Julia), and one age 30 to 40 (wife Margaret Fuller.)¹⁰ He died in early 1837, probably in Burlington, Vermont.^5,6
     John died intestate (without a will). Henry Mayo, his cousin's husband, was appointed administrator of his estate. On 30 Mar 1837 Henry posted an administrator's bond for $1,000.¹¹ When he died, John owned two parcels of land. One, purchased 14 Sep 1835, contained 16 acres, and an adjoining parcel, purchased 2 Jan 1837, just before his death, contained one acre and 130 rods. Both were on the west side of the road that led northerly from the glass factory. He had purchased both from Truman Powell, who held a mortgage on them for some $70.¹²
     An inventory of John's estate was filed on 30 May 1837, in which the land was valued at $196. Together with farm implements and household goods, the total value was listed as $383.11. The farm equipment included a cast iron plow ($4), a hoe (34¢), two sythes (34¢), a double waggon ($26), and double harness ($11). The household goods included a brass kettle ($2), frying pan (75¢), cookery ($1.50), silver spoons ($7.50), two brass candlesticks (75¢), a bureau ($9), bed and bedding ($46.82), and clothing ($20.50.)¹³
     The administrator declared the estate insolvent, so on 23 Jun 1837 the court appointed commissioners to receive claims against it. After posting public notices in Burlington, Shelburne, Colchester, and Williston, and in the newspaper, they received claims from nine men totaling $71.90, they reported to the court 17 Jan 1838. They included a note due Henry Mayo, the administrator, for $16.36, and $19.51 due on account to John's brother Gideon.¹⁴
     On 28 Mar 1838 the court authorized the administrator to deliver to the widow her apparel and items of her choice totaling $164 from her late husband's personal estate, and to sell the rest at action. He reported 6 Jun that he had sold the wagon and harness (now described as "old") for $17, or $20.50 less than their appraised value. In the meantime, the widow requested on 14 Apr that her share of the real estate be set off for her. A committee was appointed to do that on 20 Apr, and it reported on 3 Dec 1838 that it had set off for her four and one quarter acres of the total of just over 17 acres. This represented one third of the value, $94.06 of a total of $282.18, so it was apparently more valuable than the rest, perhaps because it included a dwelling.¹⁵
     The administrator's accounting filed 19 Oct 1839 showed the assets of the estate, including the inventory of personal and real estate, $62.50 received from the town of Burlington for John's services and $14 for rental of his wagon and land, totaled $459.61. Debts, personal and real estate given to the widow, and expenses, totaled $413.86, requiring sale of the land to pay the debts and charges. It was concluded that the parcel could not be split without damage to the value of the remainder, so the administrator was authorized to sell the entire parcel, including the widow's third, but subject to a life estate for her to that part. He did so on 21 Oct 1839, selling it to Henry B. Stacy for $267.18. No accounting for the distribution of the proceeds has been found.¹⁶