Arlene,

Thanks ....... Hopefully the Will can be located in "hardcopy", but I'll gladly take a microfilmed copy.

The copy of the estate settlement papers (1864) for William Adams father, Lewis Adams, who also died intestate (without a Will) shown in my original post for this thread was found in a Minute Book in the Champaign County, Ohio Recorder's Office. So I'm hoping for a similar piece of luck.

As to "how" William Adams got to California, Trains (locomotives) did not get into California until after 1869. See Certificate http://tinyurl.com/cvfx7b2

Family oral history states he and his brother, David Adams, went to California by wagon train about 1858. William stayed in California and we have documentation of David returning by ship from San Francisco to Boston, then to Ohio by train (locomotive).

Thanks again, congratulations on your "find" and wishing you much success in your future genealogical endeavors.

Art

Arlene wrote:
"Wow Art. I am excited for you. The likelihood is that the Will is going to be a document you will have to copy from microfilm. I was hoping to find a Will left by my great great grandfather in Princeton, Indiana, who died in 1877. I learned from viewing the Probate records on microfilm that he died intestate (without a Will) but my great great grandmother sued the Executor of his estate and those entire probate proceedings were on microfilm.

I am wondering if your ancestor could have traveled by rail to California at that time? I wish you the greatest success in your search."