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[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you, Roger! I find this (such in general) very interesting to learn! (I meanwhile checked the German law. Depending on the marriage settlement, the spouse may claim to inherit 1/2, and the children share the other half, but basically it's 1/4.)

However, law was obviously indeed different in those days. An announcement in the "Springfield Journal" and the "NY Times" in fall 1867 stated:
"Hon. David Davis, administrator of the estate of the late President Lincoln, made a final settlement of the estate with Hon. William Prescott, Judge of the County Court of Sangamon County, on Wednesday last. After paying all debts and expenses, there remains to be divided amongst the heirs the sum of $110,295.90. Of this amount Mrs. Lincoln receives $36,765.30, Robert T. Lincoln and Thomas Lincoln each the same amount. It is a remarkable fact that the total amount of Mr. Lincoln's ineptness, at the time of his death, as per schedule filed in the County Clerk's office, was only $10.81.
Since the death of the President, Mrs. Lincoln has received of the estate $4,085.51, Robert Lincoln $7,300.15, and Thomas Lincoln $1,096.54.
We learn that Judge Davos, who was a warm personal friend of the lamented President, made no charges for hos services in the settlement of the estate."

[Note: Mary learned of the settlement only from these newspapers, also of the fact that Robert had received more in advance to finance his bachelor apartment, while Mary, who, too, had asked Davis for more for accomodation but had been denied this.]

Re: "It is a remarkable fact that the total amount of Mr. Lincoln's ineptness...was only $10.81" - my humble question - why was he expected to be in debts??? (Mary's debts?)

What I don't understand is how the Springfield house was handled in this settlement.

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(01-20-2015 09:42 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  [Note: Mary learned of the settlement only from these newspapers, also of the fact that Robert had received more in advance to finance his bachelor apartment, while Mary, who, too, had asked Davis for more for accomodation but had been denied this.]

(Considering this and the trial, do you understand my resentments against Robert being a thoroughly faithful, noble son?
I again don't know about Illinois law in those days, but here and now it's almost impossible to disinherit children by will of their statutory share, you have to prove and try them for unfaithfulness. As an insane person by verdict, after the insanity trial's verdict it was I assume unlikely Mary would have ever been legally able to try Robert, the sole heir at this time, and desinherit him, plus she was unable to waste her inherited money. Thus the trial secured the main portion and Robert would have gotten it sooner or later. I can't help it but to guess the thought she might have "wasted" all for her pleasures and shopping sprees had caused Robert some headaches prior to the trial and these had some share in his decision try her and to ensure he would win. This all just smelled. I consider it possible though that Robert felt preventing Mary from spending his father's money on "flub dubs" were in the latter's sense. I know I bore y'all...sorry.)