VIRGINIA. IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG

James G.Kidd,Lula Kidd Lambert, Annie May Kidd P o y t h r e s s , P a t t i e

Norman Kidd Shaw, S a l l i e Kidd King, and Andrew Jackson Kidd P l a i n t i f f s

V.) BILL IN CHANCERY

T.E.Kidd, B e t t i e Tudor Kidd Johnson, Wallace Kidd, Roland Kidd, and Algi e

! Kidd, the l a s t three of whom are i n ­fa n t s . Defendants

To the Honorable N. S« Turnbull, Judge of s a i d Court:

Your complainants, James G,Kidd, L u l a Kidd Lambert, Annie

May Kidd Poythress, P a t t i e Norman Kidd Shaw, S a l l i e Kidd King, and

Aiidrew Jackson Kidd, humbly complaining, r e s p e c t f u l l y r epresent

the f o l l o w i n g case;

That t h e i r f a t h e r , J , J , Kidd, died t e s t a t e about eighteen

y e a r s ago, survived by h i s wife, the mother of your complainants,

Nannie E. Kidd, and the fo l l o w i n g c h i l d r e n : A, J . Kidd, S a l l i e Kidd

King, P a t t i e Kidd Shaw, B. B, Kidd, Annie May Kidd Poythress, L u l a

j; Kid Lambert, James G. Kidd, and T, E. Kidd. That about s i x y e a r s

|i ago the s a i d B. B, Kidd died l e a v i n g him s u r v i v i n g B e t t i e Tudor Kidd

Ij h i s widow, and three i n f a n t c h i l d r e n , namely: Wallace Kidd, who i s il

I now about s i x t e e n years of age, Roland Kidd, who i s about fourteen

y e a r s of age, and Algie Kidd, who i s about eleven years of age; that!

the s a i d B e t t i e Tudor Kidd has s i n c e i n t e r m a r r i e d v/ith a man named

Johnson, and she and the s a i d c h i l d r e n r e s i d e i n Brunswick County,

V i r g i n i a , That Nannie E. Kidd, widov/ of the s a i d J , J . Kidd, died

I some mohths ago*

That the l a s t w i l l and testament of the s a i d J , J . Kidd

II was admitted to probate i n the C l e r k ' s o f f i c e of Mecklenburg

I County on March 8, 1911, and was recorded i n W i l l Book 28, page 187^

|| and a c e r t i f i e d copy thereof i s herewith f i l e d , marked E x h i b i t A^

and prajed to be taken and read as a part of t h i s b i l l . The w i l l i s

a very short one and, omitting the formal pafcts thereof, i t i s as

f o l l o w s :

" I give and bequeath, i n fee simple, to my dear wife

Nannie E, Kidd my e n t i r e e s t a t e both r e a l and personal a l s o a l l

moneys that I may have—'for her during her n a t u r a l l i f e and a t her

death to be equally d i v i d e d between my l i v i n g children,""

That, a t the time of the death of the s a i d J , J , Kidd,

he was s e i s e d and possessed of the f o l l o w i n g described property:

(a) A l l t h a t c e r t a i n t r a c t or p a r c e l of land s i t u a t e d

i n L a c r o s s e M a g i s t e r i a l D i s t r i c t , Mecklenburg County, V i r g i n i a , con­

t a i n i n g 147 3/4 a c r e s , more or l e s s , l y i n g on what i s commonly

known as the N e l l i e Jones Road, near S t , Tammany, and being about

three miles east of Bracy, This i s the t r a c t of land on which the

s a i d J , J , Kidd r e s i d e d and was conveyed to him by deed from Charles

J , Faulkner, Commissioner, dated January 6, 1881, and recorded i n

Deed Book 43, page 518, i'

(b) A l l that c e r t a i n t r a c t or p a r c e l of land s i t u a t e d

f i n L a c r o s s e M a g i s t e r i a l D i s t r i c t , Mecklenburg County, V i r g i n i a , con-

Umil Al/tle.""^ "^^^^^"S V 2 a c r e s , more or l e s s , l y i n g about f i v e miles east of |

t-Wildreh 1: Bracy, on the road from Rehaboth Church to LaCrosse, and being the

-fo Timjny/r/^l: ^^^.^^ t r a c t of land conveyed to the s a i d J , J , Kidd by deed from

R, C. Taylor and others, dated December 12, 1895, and recorded i n

Deed Book 56, page 526,

Your complainants aver that the s a i d t r a c t s of land

are not susceptable of convenient p a r t i t i o n i n kind among the

p a r t i e s e n t i t l e d thereto, and that the r i g h t s of the p a r t i e s w i l l

be promoted by a s a l e of the same and a d i v i s i o n of the proceeds ,

Your complainants are advised that, i n order to a s c e r ­

t a i n the r i g h t s of the p a r t i e s to t h i s s u i t , the w i l l of the s a i d :

J , J , Kidd w i l l have to be construed by t h i s c o u r t .

I n c o n s i d e r a t i o n whereof, and inasmuch as your complainants

i l are without remedy save i n a court of equity, where alone are such

|| matters properly cognizable, they pray that T« Kidd, B e t t i e

I Tudor Kidd Johnson, Wallace,Kidd, Roland Kidd and Al g i e Kidd, the

|| l a s t three of whom are i n f a n t s , may be made p a r t i e s defendant to

t h i s b i l l , and r e q u i r e d to answer the same, the a d u l t s i n t h e i r

\n proper person, and the i n f a n t s by t h e i r duly appointed guardian

j| ad l i t e m , but not on oath, the same being waived; that a proper t • J! guardian ad l i t e m be appointed i n t h i s cause f o r s a i d i n f a n t s ; t h a t i i j ;| proper process i s s u e ; that a l l proper orders and decrees may be

entered, accounts taken and i n q u i r i e s d i r e c t e d ; t h a t the r e a l e s­

t a t e of which the s a i d J , J« Kidd died s e i s e d and possessed be

• e q u a l l y d i v i d e d among the p a r t i e s e n t i t l e d thereto, or e l s e , i f

that cannot be conveniently done, t h a t the same may be sold and the

proceeds d i v i d e d among s a i d p a r t i e s , the share of the i n f a n t s to

be disposed of as d i r e c t e d by s t a t u t e i n such cases; that the l a s t

w i l l and testament of the s a i d J . J , Kidd be construed by the court

and the r i g h t s of the p a r t i e s thereunder be s e t t l e d and determined;

t h a t a reasoiiable compensation be allowed to the attorney f o r the

complainants f o r s e r v i c e s i n t h i s cause; and t h a t your complainants

may have a l l such f u r t h e r and other and more general r e l i e f i n the

premises as the nature of the case may r e q u i r e or to equity may

I seem meet, pjid they w i l l ever pray e t c .

James G.Kidd, L u l a Kidd Lambert, Annie May Kidd Poythress, P a t t i e Norman Kidd Shav/, S a l l i e Kidd King^ and Andrew Jackson Kidd,

Complainants•

VIRGINIA. IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUHTY OF MECKLENBURG.

James G. Kidd et a l V.) PETITION OF WALLACE KIDD

ET AL

I . E . Kidd et a l

P l a i n t i f f !

Defendants

To the Honorable N. S. T u r n b u l l , Judge of s a i d Court;.

Your p e t i t i o n e r s , Wallace K i d d , Roland P'idd, and A l g i e

K i d d , r e s p e c t f u l l y r e p r e s e n t t h a t t h e r e i s pending i n t h i s honor­

ab l e c o u r t a s u i t under the s h o r t s t y l o of James G. K i d d e t a l v.

T, E, Kidd e t a l , the purpose of w h i c h was to c o n s t r u e the w i l l

of the l a t e J . J . Kidd and to i : ) a r t i t i o n i n one of the modes pre­

s c r i b e d by law the l a n d s of w l i i c h the s a i d J . J . Kidd d i e d s e i s e d

and possessed; t h a t the l a n d of the s a i d J , J , Kidd was s o l d

under the o r d e r s of the c o u r t i n s a i d s u i t , and t h a t the n e t pro­

ceeds were d i s t r i b u t e d to the p a r t i e s e n t i t l e d , except t h a t the

c h i l d r e n of B. 13. K i d d , a deceased son of the s a i d J . J , K i d d ,

were not twenty one y e a r s o l d , and t h e i r s h a r e s "were d e p o s i t e d

i n the Bank of L a C r o s s e , LaGroase, V i r g i n i a , and c e r t i f i c a t e s of

d e p o s i t t a k e n t h e r e f o r , payable to the o r d e r of the c o u r t i n t h i s

s u i t .

That your c o m p l a i n a n t s are the only c h i l d r e x i of the s a i d

B. B. K i d d , deceased, and t h a t they are now of the f o l l o w i n g

ages: V/allace K i d d , twenty one y e a r s o l d ; Roland K i d d ,

years- o l d , and A l g i e K i d d , _/7 . y e a r s o l d ; t h a t the

s a i d W a l l a c e Kidd i s now e n t i t l e d to h i s share of the money, be­

cause of h i s age, and t h a t your j D o t i t i o n e r s , Roland Kidd and

A l g i e K i d d , are of s u f f i c i e n t age and d i s c r e t i o n to use t h e i r

s h a r e s of the s a i d fund j u d i c i o u s l y .

Your p e t i t i o n e r s a l l e g e t h a t t h e r e a r e seven c e r t i f i ­

c a t e s of d e p o s i t on f i l e i n the C l e r k - a o f f i c e of t h i s c o u r t ,

- 2 -

which were taken from the Bank of LaCrosse to cover t h e i r s h a r e s

under v a r i o u s d i s t r i b u t i o n s ordered by the c o u r t ; t h a t the t o t a l

amouiit of s a i d c e r t i f i c a t e s of d e p o s i t i s $[^05»5^-«

T h e r e f o r e , your p e t i t i o n e r s pray t h a t t h e i r a t t o r n e y

be a u t h o r i z e d to withdraw from the C l e r k ' s o f f i c e the s a i d

c e r t i f i c a t e s of d e p o s i t ; t h a t he pay a l l unpaid t a x e s due on

s a i d f u n d s , and t h a t he pay to the C l e r k of t h i s c o u r t any un­

p a i d c o s t s of t h i s s u i t , and t h a t he account to p e t i t i o n e r s f o r

the r e s i d u e .

R e s p e c t f u l l y s u bmitted,

P e t i t i o n e r s .

_p, q.

S t a t e of V i r g i n i a ,

County of Drunsvi/ick, to wit::

a Notary P u b l i c f o r the

County a f o r e s a i d , i n the State of V i r g i n i a , do hereby c e r t i f y

t h a t B e t t i e Kidd Johnson t h i s day p e r s o n a l l y appeared b e f o r e rne

i n my s a i d county, and a f t e r b e i n g f i r s t d u l y sworn, deposed as

f o l l o w s :

That she i s the widow of B. B, K i d d , deceased, and the

mother of V'/allace. K i d d , Roland K i d d , and A l g i e K i d d , the p a r t i e s

whose names a r e signed to the above p e t i t i o n ; t h a t the ages of

the s a i d t h r e e c h i l d r e n are c o r r e c t l y s t a t e d i n the s a i d p e t i t i o n ,

ai:id t h a t she i s of the o p i n i o n t h a t the i n f a n t p e t i t i o n e r s ,

Roland Kidd and A l g i e K i d d , a r e of s u f f i c i e n t age and d i s c r e t i o n

- 3 -

to use t h e i r p a r t of the funds r e f e r r e d to i n the p e t i t i o n

j u d i c i o u s l y .

^ 1

B e t t i e Kidd Johnson

S u b s c r i b e d cind sworn to before me t h i s the day of

, 1 9 3 5 .

Notary P u b l i c ,

VIRGINIA. IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTt OF MECKLENBURG.

James G. K i d d e t a l

V.) DEPOSITIONS

T. E. K i d d e t a l

P l a i n t i f f s

Defendants

The f o l l o w i n g d e p o s i t i o n s of F, A. P o y t h r e s s and o t h e r s were t a k e n before V. C. D a n i e l s , Commissioner i n Chancery, a t t h e o f f i c e s of I r b y T T i r n b u l l , A t t o r n e y , Boydton, V i r g i n i a , between t h e hours of 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., on A p r i l 10, 1930, pu.rsuant to the a t t a c h e d n o t i c e s , to be r e a d as evidence i n b e h a l f of the p l a i n ­t i f f s i n the above s t y l e d c hancery s u i t .

P r e s e n t : I r b y T u r n b u l l , A t t o r n e y f o r the p l a i n t i f f s J.W.Wall, g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m f o r i n f a n t de,fendant T.E.Kidd and M r s , B e t t i e Tudor K i d d Johnson i n

pe r s o n .

Q,. 1 Ans,

Q. 2 Ans,

Q. 3

Ans,

Q. 4

Ans,

Ans,

Q. 6

F. A, P o y t h r e s s , b e i n g f i r s t duly sworn, t e s t i f i e d as follovi/b

Where do you l i v e and what i s your o c c u p a t i o n ?

L a C r o s s e , F a r m i n g ,

You l i v e i n Mecklenbin-'g County?

Y e s . Are you connected w i t h the f a m i l y of the l a t e J . J . Kidd?

Y e s , s o n - i n - l a w , I m a r r i e d Annie May K i d d ,

T h i s i s a s u i t brought to wind up the e s t a t e of J , J , K i d d , which c o n s i s t s of two t r a c t s of l a n d s i t u a t e d i n L a C r o s s e D i s t r i c t , i n Mecklenburg County, One of t h e s e t r a c t s i ^ d e s c r i b e d as c o n t a i n i n g 147 3/4 a c r e s , l y i n g n ear S t , Tam­many, about t h r e e m i l e s e a s t of B r a c y , and another t r a c t s i t t i a t e d i n s a i d d i s t r i c t , c o n t a i n i n g 82 1/2 a c r e s , more or l e s s , l y i n g about f i v e m i l e s e a s t of B r a c y , Are you f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e s e s a i d t r a c t s of l a n d ?

Yes s i r , I am, I t i s s t a t e d i n the b i l l t h a t the s a i d r e a l e s t a t e may not be c o n v e n i e n t l y d i v i d e d i n k i n d among the p a r t i e s e n t i t l e d t h e r e t o and t h a t the r i g h t s of the p a r t i e s w i l l be promoted by a s a l e of the l a n d and a d i v i s i o n of the proceeds. I t appears from the b i l l t h a t t h e r e a r e e i g h t i n t e r e s t s i n t h i s p r o p e r t y , i n c l u d i n g the c h i l d r e n of B, B. K i d d , de­ceased. P l e a s e s t a t e whether or not, i n your o p i n i o n , t h e s e two t r a c t s of l a n d may be c o n v e n i e n t l y cut up i n t o e i g h t d i f f e r e n t p a r t s .

No s i r , I do not t h i n k t h e y c o u l d be c o n v e n i e n t l y done.

S t a t e whether or not you t h i n k i t would be to the i n t e r e s t of a l l p a r t i e s concerned f o r t h i s l a n d to be s o l d and t h e proceeds d i v i d e d .

Ans, Y es, I do t h i n k i t wou.ld be to t h e i r i n t e r e s t ' .

Page 2

Wiy do you t h i n k i t c o u l d not be out up i n t o e i g h t s u i t ­a b l e farms?

W e l l the fcU'ms Y/ould be r e a l l y out of shape. They a r e too s m a l l a ones b e s i d e s . They \TOuld be almost v / o r t h l e s s to c u t up i n t h a t shape, I t h i n k .

A c c o r d i n g to th.e b i l l , the f o l l o w i n g a r e the onl,y l i v i n g c h i l d r e n of J , J , K i d d and h i s w i f e , Mrs, Ncinnie E, K i d d : James G, K i d d , Lu.la K i d d Lambert, Annie Hay Kidd. P o y t h r e s s P a t t i e Norman K i d d Shaw, S a l l i e K i d d K i n g , Andrew J a c k ­son K i d d and T. E. Kidd?

Yes s i r , t.hat i s a l l the l i v i n g ones.

A c c o r d i n g to the b i l l , one of the c h i l d r e n of J . J , Ki d d and Na.nnie E, K i d d has d i e d , and t h a t was B. B, K i d d , and i t i s s t a t e d t h a t he l e f t a w i f e said t h r e e c h i l d r e n : W a l l a c e K i d d , Roland K i d d and A l g i e K i d d , I s t h a t c o r r e c t

Y e s , s i r .

These p a r t i e s , a s I understand you,are a l l of the h e i r s of J , J . Ki d d and Nannie E« Kidd?

Y e s , s i r ,

(By J , W, W a l l , g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m , ) The l a n d i s d i v i d e d i n t o two t r a c t s ?

Y e s , s i r .

Are a l l the bvT.ildings on one t r a c t ?

Y e s .

How many b u i l d i n g s.re on one t r a c t ?

Two d w e l l i n g h o u s e s ,

(B y I r b y T u r n b u l l ) How old' i s the o l d e s t of these c h i l d r e n of Mr, and Mrs, Kidd? The o l d e s t one i s about f o r t y - n i n e .

Aboiit how o l d i s the youngest?

Tv/entjr-nine,

And f u r t h e r t h i s deponent s a i t h n o t .

S i g n a t u r e w a i v e d .

E. L . Lambert, being f i r s t d u l y sworn, t e s t i f i e d a s f o l -

Y/here do yov. l i v e and what i s jrour o c c upation?

I l i v e a t B r a c y , V i r g i n i a , Merchant and f a r m e r .

You have heard the Questions and ansv/Hrp, c i v p n i w irr.

page 3

Ans ,

Q. 5

Ans,

Q. 4

Ans,

Q. 5

Ans,

Q. 6

Ans,

Q;. 7

Ans,

f o l l o v / s :

que, 1

Ans,

Q, 2

Ans,

Q, 3

Ans,

Q. 4

d e t a i l . P l e a s e s t a t e i f you a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t he two t r a c t s of 147 3/4 aci-es and 82: 1/2 a c r e s ?

Y e s , T have been over them.

Do you t h i n k t h a t the s a i d t r a c t s of l a n d t a k e n together or t a k e n s e p a r a t e l y c o u l d be conveniently^ d i v i d e d i n k i n d among the e i g h t d i f f e r e n t i n t e r e s t s ?

W e l l i t probably c o u l d be d i v i d e d but i t would be a whole l o t of k i c k . Would be whole l o t s of i t h a r d l y anyone wants, I suggest t h a t the b e t t e r way woiild be to s e l l i t and d i v i d e the money.

You do not, t h e n as I u n d e r s t a n d 3''ou, t h i n k i t wotild be to t he b e s t i n t e r e s t of the pa.rties t o undertake to d i v j the l a n d i n k i n d ?

No, s i r , because some of them would have t o get the b e t ­t e r end of i t you s e e .

Do you t h i n k t h a t the i n t e r e s t s of the p a r t i e s would be promoted by a s a l e of the l a n d and a d i v i s i o n of the proceeds?

Y e s , I t h i n k t h a t rrould be the proper way to get an equal s h a r e out of i t .

I f you owned one-eighth or a one-seventh i n t e r e s t i n t h i s l a n d y o u r s e l f which way would you want i t to be d i v i d e d , by a s a l e of i t or by an e f f o r t to d i v i d e i t ? I f I had to drav/ f o r ray sha r e I would r a t h e r have i t s o l d .

I n o t h e r words, you t h i n k t h a t the f a i r e s t wajr f o r a l l p a r t i e s concerned would be to s e l l i t ?

Y e s , I do,

And f u r t h e r t h i s deponent s a i t h n o t .

S i g n a t u r e w a i v e d .

Mr, J , R, Tudor, being f i r s t d u l y sworn, t e s t i f i e d a s

i^ i e r e do you l i v e and what i s your o c c u p a t i o n ?

I l i v e n e a r B r a c y i n Mecklenburg County, Farmer,

Are you f a m i l i a r w i t h t he two t r a c t s of l a n d of which the l a t e J , J , K i d d d i e d s e i s e d and p o s s e s s e d .

Y e s , s i r . How f a r do you l i v e from them Mr. TudorS

I l i v e i n a q i i a r t e r of a m i l e I should guess from the n e a r e s t p a r t of the home t r a c t . There i s a s m a l l farm bctv/een t h e i r farm and my f a r m .

These t r a c t s of l a n d w i l l have to be d i v i d e d i n t o seve: or e i g h t p a r t s . Do you t h i n k t h a t the l a n d s c o u l d be

Page 4

conveniently divided into t h a t many farms?

No, s i r I do not, -

Do you think i t would be to the i n t e r e s t of the p a r t i e s to s e l l the land and divide the proceeds?

Yes, s i r , I c e r t a i n l y do. I f you owned an i n t e r e s t i n t h i s land how would you want to proceed? 1 I would want i t sold and the money d i v i d e d ,

And f u r t h e r t h i s deponent s a i t h not,

j j , f Signature waived,

W, I , Cole, being f i r s t duly sv/orn, t e s t i f i e d as f o l -

?/liat i s your occupation and where do you l i v e ?

Near Bracy, Farmer,

Are you f a m i l i a r with the two t r a c t s of 147 3/4 a c r e s of land and 82. 1/2 acres of land of which the l a t e J , J , Kidd died s e i s e d ?

Yes, s i r , -How f a r do you l i v e from what i s knoTO as the home t r a c t s

About h a l f a m i l e .

Do you think these t r a c t s taken together or separately'' could be conveniently d i v i d e d i n t o seven or eight p a r t s '

No, I do not think so.

Sta t e whether or not you think that the i n t e r e s t of the p a r t i e s would be promoted by a s a l e of the land and a d i v i s i o n of the proceeds?

Yes, I think so.

I f you owned an i n t e r e s t i n t h i s land Mr, Cole hov/ would you want to proceed?

I think i t would be more s a t i s f a c t o r y to s e l l i t .

And f u r t h e r t h i s deponent s a i t h not,

I Signature v;aived,

T. E. Kidd, being f i r s t duly sworn, t e s t i f i e d as f o l -

You are the son of the l a t e J . J . Kidd and Nannie E. Kidd, are you xiot?

Yes, s i r .

Page 5

Are you f a m i l i a r with the two t r a c t s of land of v^hich Mr, kidd died s e i s e d and possessed?

Yes, s i r .

Do you think that these t r a c t s of land could he advan­tageously and conveniently divided among the p a r t i e s e n t i t l e d ? I don't think so. Do you think that the i n t e r e s t s of a l l p a r t i e s would be promoted by a s a l e of the land and a d i v i s i o n of the proceeds?

Yes, s i r .

Do you r e s i d e on e i t h e r of these t r a c t s of land?

Yes, s i r .

On which t r a c t are the bu i l d i n g s ?

I t i s on the one of 147 acre t r a c t .

Are any bi;ildings a t a l l on the other t r a c t ?

No,

Are any tenants engaged i n making crops on e i t h e r one of these t r a c t s of land f o r t h i s year? Tee, I am tending part of one on the home place and a darky, B i l l y Hargrove i s tending part of the same p l a c e , I do not know about the other place, whether he i s tending i t or not.

Nothing has been done on the other p l a c e .

No, s i r , not to my knowing, I do not know that he has done anything.

How much of the land of the 147 acre t r a c t are you c u l t i v a t i n g f o r t h i s year?

About fourteen or s i x t e e n a c r e s .

Had your mother rented part of the land you occupy and the 82 acre t r a c t to t h i s man Hargrove before her deatt

She didn't rent the part I occupy Tomt she rented a part of the same farm and t h i s other p l a c e .

Do you know whether or not Hargrove intends to c u l t i ­vate the open land on the 82 acre t r a c t ?

No, s i r , I do not.

And f u r t h e r t h i s deponent s a i t h not.

Signature waived.

, , • page 6,

S t a t e of V i r g i n i a , county of Mecklenburg, to w i t :

I hereby c e r t i f y t h a t the f o r e g o i n g d e p o s i t i o n s were d u l y t a k e n b e f o r e me p u r s u a n t to the annexed n o t i c e s .

Given under my hand t h i s the 10th day of A p r i l , 1930,

Commissioner i n Chancery,

Fee of Stenog, - $3,00 Fee of Comr, - 2,50 P a i d by I r b y T u r n b u l l , A t t y ,

T}\oms Emm