The mystery around "Nanna" Nancy Handsford Williams has to do with the census and probate records in 1860. I started reading the entries on the original records (thank heaven they are microfilmed) and found Nancy's name is entered in Census in August 1860, after her death in April 1860 and probate records in May 1860.
Nancy Hansford Williams is listed as 65 years of age, with her daughter Cassie at 40 years. Nancy has a value of $1000 of real estate, and $1000 of personal estate. That is quite a lot for that time.
She and her daughter are living with a farmer named Christopher Milling (25) and wife Rose A Milling (26). I thought at first, maybe this is Roseanna Williams, Nancy's daughter. But Roseanna had married George Washington Herd in 1852, and they were living in Arkansas in 1860 when the census was taken. So we don't know the relationship to the Millings yet. There is no mention of a Richard Williams, and various Ancestry trees say he died in 1860, but I haven't found any records of that.
Nancy and daughter Cassie lived with the Millings, who also have children, Richard (4) and Euphamia (2). This census was taken on Aug 8, 1860 in MiddleTown, Prarie Township, Montgomery county, Missouri.
Then we find the bond posted for probate of Nancy William's estate. On the left page, 2 men named Williams give $2000 surety that they will be executors of her estate. They are Jas. W. Williams and Jno. C. Williams, as primary administrators, with H. B. McFarland and Thos. G. Buchannan as secondary. This document is dated May 14, 1860 and entered into court documents in Lincoln County, Missouri.
It is also given that Nancy died April 26, 1860, according to Ancestry's record known as US Federal Census Mortality Schedues Index, 1850-1880, which says she died at 70 years of age in 1860 of "Old Age" and the list is numbered "41_717" in Macon County, MO. (note, recorded in different county.)
Well, how did she get recorded as obviously already dead, then get listed on a census 3 months later? Perhaps the farmer family had been housing her and daughter Cassie. And then sons James and John show up to do the accounting in May. Wait, let's make sure James and John are sons.
No they aren't sons. Her son John Williams had died in 1855, and she didn't have a son James. So maybe they are grandsons? Or brothers of her late husband? At this time I have no records of Richard F. Williams death or even his siblings.
And a bonus to make another mystery...
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