- Notices -

LETTERS OF ADMINSTRATION

These 19th century Notices were posted in the Paoli papers to legally inform the public of the death of an individual and the commencement of probate of the deceased estate. These notices contain some very basic information; the name of the deceased, the date the letters of administration were granted, the administrator, and the standing of the estate, solvent or insolvent. While these notices will not pinpoint a date of death, they will provide another date that all of our databases share, the illusive - died before.

These notices were the initial step in settling an estate, so they were published within a short time of the death of the person named. This was a notice for those that owed the deceased to pay their debts, and those with claims to come forward and present those claims for payment. If the estate was insolvent, then the goods and property of the deceased were sold to pay the debts.