The right side of the following pdf document, Elvira’s Executor Documentation, addresses Pietro’s will recorded in Cook County, Chicago. It is digitized at Ancestry.com.  There are three parts to the document: Executor’s Bond, Executor’s Oath, and Letters Testamentary.  Click on this link to read more about the three parts. The pdf source information is from Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999.  The source citation is from Executor’s Bonds and Letters, 1879-1923; Author: Illinois. Probate Court (Cook County).

The bond amount was $500.00. Elvira may have been required to pay 10% of the bond and once she had executed Pietro’s will she should have been refunded her money.  

This task must have seemed completely overwhelming to Elvira as Auntie Phyllis told me that Elvira spoke and understood very little English.  I’m sure she relied heavily on her sons to maneuver her way through the daunting legal process of executing Pietro’s will.

Note that the Executor’s Bond is dated 21 Aug 1922 and is stamped with the name Henry Horner Probate Judge of Cook County, Illinois.  Henry went on to become Illinois’ thirtieth governor in 1933.

The other day I was passing through the living room and my sister Lori said oh so casually, “Have you seen these hints from Ancestry.com”?  I looked down at her laptop and she was pointing to hints for our great grandfather Pietro Del Prinicipe.  One hint caught my eye. It was titled “Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999”.  I knew that Ancestry had been indexing these documents but it didn’t occur to me that Pietro might have recorded his will.  I calmly (not really) asked Lori to click on the hint and it truly was Pietro’s will!  

Below is page 1 of the will which was created by Pietro on 06 Apr 1922. Pietro passed away on 11 Jun 1922.  Click here to see the Death Certificate of Pietro.  It’s hard to read the cause of death but it had something to do with a liver problem. Pietro must have had health issues prompting his trip to an attorney (and perhaps to a doctor) to register a last will and testament.

Click on the jpg files to enlarge and read them. Page 1 of Pietro’s will is on the right side of the book in the first image and on the left side of the book in the second image.

I have no heirlooms from my great grandparents. It is truly good luck to come across a document that has been scanned and archived for us and for future generations to view. I am very appreciative to all the genealogists who volunteer their time to Family Search and to Ancestry who scan these important documents for us to stumble across.