In the Champaign County Circuit Court case of Brownfield et al. v. Brownfield et al., Lincoln completes a form directing the county sheriff to notify the defendants to appear in court "on the second Monday in...May next." Lincoln represents the plaintiffs, including Mary Brownfield, the widow of James Brownfield, who died without a will. The family is in court to settle the estate. Summons, 12 October 1841, Brownfield et al. v. Brownfield et al.; Commissioner's Report, 17 February 1842, Brownfield et al. v. Brownfield et al., both in Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL.