Will, 1781
Craven Co, NC
Submitted by: Rick Giirtman rickman@worldpath.net
Date: March 14, 2001
Source: Original Will at North Carolina State Archives
In the Name of God Amen. I Edward Gatlin of The State of North Carolina.
Being Mortally wounded And knowing that All men must Die. Do Make
This my
Last will & Testament in Manner & Form Following.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son Levy Gatlin one Hundred Acres
of Land,
One Negrow Boy Named Donas. To him & his Heirs or assigns for
Ever.
Item. I do give bequeath unto my Son Shadrack Gatlin Salter(?), one
negro
fellow Named named Sam. To him & his heirs or assigns
for Ever.
Item. I do give & bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Chapman one negro
Girl named
Lew. To her and her heirs for Ever.
Item. I do give and bequeath unto my Sons Stephen Gatlin and Edward
Gatlin
the Plantation where on I now live Containing Two Hundred &
Fifty Acres to
be equally divided Between them after the Widowhood or Death of
Their
Mother. To them and their heirs or assigns for Ever.
Item. I do give and bequeath unto my Son John Gatlin, one hundred
& Fifty
Acres of Land Called the Piney(?) Island(?). To him & his heirs
for Ever.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my four sons, five Hundred Acres
of Piney(?)
Land to be equally divided Among them.
Item. I give and bequeath the Use of the plantation where on I now
Live to
my Wife Elizabeth Gatlin During her life or widowhood.
Item. I give and bequeath the Remainder of my Estate to be Equally
divided
Between my Wife Elizabeth Gatlin, my Four daughters, Esther Gatlin
and
Elizabeth, Mary, Lewisery(?), and Edward, Stephen & John. To
be drawn as
they Marry or come with Age.
I do hereby apointe my Brother James Gatlin, Esq'r. Executor, with
my son
Stephen And Wife. And do hereby Acknowledge This To be my last will
&
Testament. Disanuling all other Wills or Writing.
In Witness where of I have hereunto Set My hand & Seale This
19th of May
1781.
E. G. -Seal
In Presents of Us.
Test.
John Allen
William Wenner(?) or Warren?
Jacob Johnson, Junr.
June Craven County Court 1781
The last Will and Testament of Captain Edward Gatlin Deceased was
duly
Proved in open Court by the Oath of William (Wenner or Warren),
one of the
Subscribing Witnesses thereto, who Swore that he was present and
did see the
Testator Sign, Seal, Publish and Declare the same to be and contain
his last
Will and Testament. That at the time thereof he the testator was
of sound
Disposing mind and memory. James Gatlin, Esquire, Executor therein
named
Qualified as such. Ordered that Letters Testamentory issue accordingly.
Attest. Chris'r. N e a l e -C. C.