Daily AncestorAdministrator
An administrator is the person appointed by a court to settle the estate of someone who died without a will, or whose will named no able executor.
When there was no will, or no executor able to serve, the court appointed an administrator. Usually this was the widow, a grown son or another close relative.
The administrator gathered the property, paid debts and divided the rest according to state law. Their authority came from letters of administration. Abbreviated Admr.
As seen in a recordCounty probate court record, 1800s
Ordered that Saml. Grey be appointed administrator of the estate of Hiram Grey decd.
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Daily Ancestor. "Administrator." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/administrator. Last checked 2026-10-01.