Genealogy information from a case in Common Pleas Court of Dearborn County, Indiana originally filed 17 Aug 1856 & heard during the Dec 1856 term Defendants were children and other heirs of Mary Baldwin.

Mary Baldwin, widow of Hiram (of Warren Co OH) removed to Dearborn Co IN between about 1836 and 1841. The records there indicate that she obtained a loan on her property, Lot 223 in Aurora Twp, Dearborn Co IN in 1848 Mary died in 1849, month and day unknown. Her sons sold the property to Sarah Criswell, but the original loan was still outstanding.

On August 17, 1856, the loan was turned over to the Board of Commissioners for collection and they filed suit.

The Attorney for the State asked a series of questions that were responded to by Mary's son, Hiram Baldwin, defendant:

2. Were you acquainted with Mary Baldwin in her lifetime? If yes, please state whether she was a married woman or a widow during the years 1841, 1842, and 1843. State whether she is now living , and if nay, state the time of her death and the names of the children she left surviving her, if any.

3. State whither that previous to the death of the said Mary Baldwin if any of her children had died leaving children. If yes, state the names of the children living at such time and the names of the children they left and who are minors.

4. State the names of the husbands of the daughters of said Mary Baldwin.

5. State whither any of the children of said Mary Baldwin have died since her death, the names of the children and who are minors.

6. State your relationship to said Mary Baldwin.

That he was acquainted with Mary Baldwin in her life time, that is the years 1841, 1842, & 1843. That she was a widow and unmarried and that she died sometime in the year 1849 intestate That she left surviving her the following children: Francis, Lewis W, Hiram, Stephen D, David, Rebecca married to George Whitacre, Lurinda married to Thomas Platt, Nancy married to Jonas Whitacre, Susannah (now a widow, who was married to Charles Resor), Alida married to John Mulloy, Mary Jane married to Charles Folbre, and Rhoda married to Joshua J [later corrected to "T"] Smith, who are all living at this time and all of age. Fielding Baldwin, son of said Mary died in the year 1846, before the death of said Mary, leaving three children to wit: Carolina married to John Earton, Hiram and John, the two latter being minors. The above are all the heirs of said Mary Baldwin and some of them are residents of the State of Indiana. I reside in the town of Warsaw, State of Kentucky. I am a son of said Mary Baldwin.

Hiram Baldwin

On this 10th day of October 1856, personally came before me, the undersigned clerk of Circuit Court of said County Hiram Baldwin, of lawfull age who being duly sworn on his oath says that the written answers to the [??] interrogations is a full, true and correct answer thereto and further saith not.

Hiram Baldwin

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Circuit court at my office in Warsaw in said County . . .

[Josephus Clark was appointed guardian ad infinum to Hiram (aka Hiram, Jr) and John Baldwin, the two minor sons of Fielding Baldwin (deceased). His statement to the court:]

Hiram Baldwin Jr and John Baldwin, infants, defendants herein for answer to said complaint say that they know nothing about the matters and things therein contained and require each and every thing that will in any way affect their interest to be strictly proven.

[The records in Dearborn County indicate that Lewis Baldwin was living in Hamilton Co OH.
David Baldwin was residing in Dearborn Co IN.]