"State of New-York--Tompkins County Surrogate Court, March 5, 1866
To the County Judge of the County of Tompkins
The petition of George McChain General Guardian of Ellen E Thomas + other children of Thomas H. Thomas deceased
Respectfully Represents, That the said Thomas H. Thomas deceased, died a natural death, on or about the _______ day of October in the year 1865 in the City of New York, without having left a last will and testament, as far as your petitioner had been able to discover, or has heard, known or believes[.] That at, or immediately previous to his death, the said deceased was an inhabitant of the County of Tompkin[s]; by means of which your petitioner has been informed and believes the County Judge of said County of Tompkins, has sole and exclusive power to grant letters of administration of the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased.
That the said deceased has left Ellen E Thomas Anna R Thomas Mary G Thomas Walter P Thomas and Albert Thomas of Ithaca Tompkins County his children all under the age of twenty one years."
"Estate of Thomas H. Thomas, Petition for Adm." Thomas H Thomas, New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999, Ancestry.com