Will, 1832
Submitted by Rick Giirtman
March 28, 2001
Source:Original Will at the NC State Archives
In the name of God Amen. I Shadrick Gatlin of Craven County being of sound mind and memory, blessed be God, do this 12 day of Dec'r. in the year of our Lord A. D. 1832 make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in the manner following. That is to say.
1st. I lend unto my wife Margret Gatlin the plantation on neuse river where I now live during her life time or widowhood. With the privilidge of cutting and clearing for the use of the plantation. And after her death or widowhood to be equally divided between my three Sons Stephen, Gardner and Shadrick.
2nd. I lend unto my wife Margret Two cows & calves, Ten head of hogs, my colt, all my House Hold and Kitchen furniture, one cart, one plow, & Harness and my negro woman Silvey and her child Ben and their increase. During her life time or widowhood. And after her death or widowhood all or any part of them or there increase, either negros or Stock to be sold by my executor and equally divided between my four sons William, Stephen, Gardner & Shadrick.
3rd. I give unto my wife Margret all my crop and provisions now on hand and pork which which is not yet killed for the use of the family.
4th. I give my Horse called Statesman to my wife Margret & son William to be equally owned and used by them.
5th. I give unto my Son William a certain Tract or parcel of Land called the Caton Land or place, which Land I Sold to and afterwards purchased back from Benagey Caton.
6th. I want my executor to Sell in any way that he may think best for the interest of my Estate, either at public or private Sale my old negro man Bill, my woman Darks, my horse Called Buck, chain & Harness, my Horse mill with the fixture thereto (the mill House excepted) and all the residue of my personal estate which is not mentioned or Loaned to my wife of any kind and Collect Such debts as may be due me that he may be able to collect. And pay all my lawfull debts and creditors. Then my executor will Sell as before directed a ceartain Tract or parcel of Land which I purchased from Thos. Whitford partly, and partly I heired from my father's estate. My part of said Land being fifty acres in the pine thickets, and a certaine Track which I purchased from Shadrack Rowe called the Polly Gatlin old place; said to be Eighty acres of Land more or less in said track. And if that should fail to be a Sufficiency to pay my debts then he will Sell the peas that is now on hand, a part of the Corn and any other articles of House Hold & Kitchen furniture or stock which is given or Loaned to my wife that she may be best able to live with out.
7th. And should a Surplus of money be Left my desire is that it be laid out in Schooling my three Sons Stephen, Gardner & Shadrick, but the most to be laid out for the Schooling of Shadrick. And my desire is that my wife have our son Gardner bound to a good Trade at a proper age, the Seas except.
I want my executor to pattent a certaine piece or parcel of land called the Jeremiah Rowe place, which I have entered one hundred and ninety Two acres. And this pattent and a small tract which I purchased from Peter Richards of Ten acres both to be considered as my belonging to my plantation where I now live and to be considered Land to my wife and after her death to be devided as before directed as the (walkings??) will all join.
And I want my executor to continue to sell as before directed a sufficiency to pattent the above named tract of Land and to pay other necessary expences settling my estate. On reflections I wish my executor to Sell my colt and to leave my horse Buck for my wife in sted thereof and my son William to have my Horse called Statesman, considering that he thereby has rec'd. the sum of Twenty five dollars which he shall allow my other three sons in the settlement of my estate after the death of my wife or widowhood. The words (ibn the pine thickets), wife and allow was interlined before signed.
And I hereby make and ordain my friend Hardy Whitford my executor
of this my Last will and Testament. In witness, I the said Shadrick Gatlin
have here unto Set my hand & seal the day and year first above written.
Signed sealed and declared by the said Shadrick Gatlin the Testator as
his last Will & Testament in presence of us who were present at the
time of Signing and Sealing thereof.
Sh Gatlin (Seal)
Daniel Gaskins
Amos Gaskins
Craven County Court
February Term A. D. 1833
The foregoing last Will of Shadrack Gatlin wasproved in open court
and in due form of law by the oaths of Daniel Gaskins & Amos Gaskins,
subscribing Witnesses thereto. Hardy Whitford qualifies as Executor. Ordered
that said Will be Registered.
Attest J. G. S t a n l y
Registered in Book C Folio 352 April 9th 1833.