Another possibility as to why Catherine Womble petitioned for a dower nearly 15 years after the death of her husband is that her son, Warren, who was planning to leave the area for Tennessee, was possibly supporting her financially. If this were the case, her husband, John Womble’s estate would have to be settled before the land could be sold. Since the estate hadn’t been settled, the family didn’t have the legal right to sell the property.
I’ve created a simple timeline of the events. This doesn’t include the whole chain of events, but I think it’s a start. More research is definitely needed on this event to completely grasp what actually happened.
19 Dec 1833, Jacob Womble sells his interest in his portion of John Womble’s land for 8 dollars to Weeks Parker.
27 Dec. 1833, Benjamin F. Womble sells ten and ¾ acres of John Womble’s 75 acres of land for ten dollars to Weeks Parker.
29 March 1835, Nathaniel G. Womble sells his 8 acres more of less of his part of John Womble’s land to Weeks Parker for 15 dollars.
2 June 1835, Enos Womble sells his ten acres more or less of his portion of John Womble’s land to Weeks Parker for 12 dollars.
1835 November, Catharine petitions for dower in Edgecombe County, NC court. In the petition, Catharine states that her husband, John died sometime around 1821 and that when he died he possessed about 75 acres of land.
This event may have occurred on 23 November 1835. A summons sent to the Sheriff to appear in court on the fourth Monday in November 1835. According to a perpetual calendar the 4th Monday in November 1835 falls on the 4th Monday of the month.
Catharine may have written and submitted the dower petition in August 1835 because papers from the petition state that it was filed while on vacation, which might mean that the court wasn’t in session when she filed the petition.
25 March 1836, D. W. Womble sells to Weeks Parker for 15 dollars his ten acres more or less of John Womble’s land.
23 May 1836, Catharine Womble sells 25 acres more or less of land via Sheriff’s sale to Weeks Parker for $8.95. The sold land was Catharine’s dower that was laid off on 21 November 1835.
Total amount of acreage sold: 63 ¾ acres sold to Weeks Parker. Land should contain about 75 acres. A little over 11 acres unaccounted for. Perhaps, the 11 acres of unaccounted land is Jacob’s share of his dad’s property. Research is necessary to find out if the husbands of Mary Ann, Finnetta, and Celia sold their wives shares of the land to Weeks Parker.
Another question to answer is why the number of acres varies from child to child. The oldest son, Warren (D.W.) has 10 acres, Nathaniel has 8, Jacob's number of acres is unknown, Benjamin has 10 3/4, and Enos has 10. Perhaps each of them has 10 acres and the wording of the deeds makes it seem that they have unequal amounts. There's also the possibility that their father, gave Nathaniel some of his inheritance before his death and that's why he only had 8 acres.
