On 5 August 1878, the County Court of Warren County Tennessee found
William Smoot to be “. . . of unsound Mind for about 8 or so Months.”
Apparently William was soon thereafter committed to
Tennessee Hospital for the
Insane† in Nashville, Davidson County,
Tennessee, and there he died.
The Tennessee Mortality Schedule of 1880 shows that William Smoot, age
59,
‡ died at the hospital
during December 1879 of chronic phthisis (tuberculosis). His death is also confirmed by the Estate
Administration (below). It is probable that
William was buried at the hospital in Nashville, his body not being returned to Warren
County for burial. Most
if not all old time gravemarkers at the hospital are now lost. William Smoot’s wife,
Matilda Anderson Smoot is buried at the Old Philadelphia Cemetery in Vervilla,
Warren County Tennessee. At her graveside is an unused plot, apparently still waiting for William.
Administration of the Estate of William Smoot Deceased ~ 1880
(Warren County Wills & Settlements, Book 6, p. 579)
Transcribed by Fred Smoot
Wm Smoots Deceased Estate
To the Worshipful County Court of
Warren County Tennessee.
W H Smoot, Administrator of Wm Smoot decd. who was appointed and
qualified at the May term 1880 of this Court, respectfully States
to the Court that no property or assets of any kind belonging to
his intestate has come to his hands, and he knows of no property or
assets of said estate that can or will come into his hands, except
what may be in the hands of J. L. Garnett Guardian of intestate at
his death, and said Guardian who had taken charge of and had in his
hands all of the personal property and assets of said intestate
Except such as was and is now exempt by law, having not made a
settlement of his Guardianship, he cannot now [say] whether or
not there will be any assets to come to his hands, but should
anything come to his hands, an Inventory of the Same will be
made and returned to your Worshipful Court without delay. Respectfully
Submitted
