Searching for the will of James Hooper Jr.

I have now requested searches for the will of James Hooper Jr. (1804 - 1898) from the Maryland State Archives twice. The first time was almost a year ago. Since he died at his home at 121 North Front Street in Baltimore, I first requested a search of the city records and was told they couldn't find anything. I just recently requested a search of the county records. I just received a letter from the Archives. After she had listed all of the county sources that she checked and found nothing, the archivist wrote the following:

"A check of Baltimore City Register of Wills (Estate docket) 1898 through 1902 did show that letters of administration were granted to a Thomas J. Hooper on the estate of a James Hooper on November 28, 1899 (estate docket 39, page 123). Thomas J. Hooper died before he could administer this estate and letters de bonis non were granted to an Ann E. Hooper (securities were Adele B. Mahool and Emma R. Hooper) on October 3, 1911. Again there were no inventories or accounts filed for this estate. Also the 1911 docket entry gives this James Hooper's date as 1896, so he may not be the James Hooper in question."

Thomas Jackson Hooper did not die until November 10, 1910, over 11 years after the death of his father. What was with the delay in settling this estate? It is hard to imagine that the estate couldn't be settled from early 1898 until 1910.

As to the letters de bonis, I am assuming that these were granted to the daughter of Thomas, who had a daughter named Ann E. Hooper. Adele B. Mahool would have been the daughter of Julia Hooper Boyle, daughter of James Hooper Jr. Emma Rosalia would have been his daughter.

What to do next? I can't imagine that the estate was not finally settled somehow. I don't understand the delay and lack of resolution. Any suggestions out there?