Hocker vs. Hocker, 1848 (Virginia Court of Appeals)
Johan Adam Hocker, son of Johan George and Anna Margaretha (Weidman) Hacker, died suddenly on 4 Feb 1847 at Slate River Mills, Buckingam County, Virginia.
How do I know this? Apparently, after his death there was a disagreement in the family over which will was the correct will to be entered into probate. The result was Hocker vs. Hocker & als, a court case brought before the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. You can read about it in volume 4 of the Reports of Cases in the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia.1
Court cases can provide valuable genealogical information. From this case, I got the names of the following heirs:
- son Robert K. Hocker
- son George Hocker
- son John Hocker
- daughter Margaret Patterson
- E. Glover [daughter Elizabeth]
- son William Hocker
Robert Hocker wanted a will from 26 Feb 1836 entered into probate. George, John and Margaret’s husband Robert Patterson opposed Robert’s submission. Instead, they wanted a later document, dated 18 Jan 1847, entered into probate. The County court apparently admitted the 1836 will, while the Circuit Court overruled this decision, admitting the later document as a codicil to the 1836 will. The Appeals court apparently disagreed with the Circuit Court, ruling that Adam Hocker’s document, dated 18 Jan 1847, was to be rejected.
What family information have you found in court records?