Tag: Boushall

CALEB GRAY (1823 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

CALEB GRAY

August 28, 1823

In the name of God Amen! I CALEB GRAY of the State of North Carolina, Camden County being of sound & perfect mind & memory blessed be God do this 28th day of August 1823. make & publish this my Last Will & Testament in manner following that is to say.

I leave the use of my maner plantation to my Loving Wife MEKEL GRAY during her natural life it being land whereon I now live containing forty three acres be the same more or less, binding on DEMSEY GREGORY’S, PETER FORBES heirs land and Deep Branch.

I also leave the use of all the remainder of my land to my loving Wife MEKEL GRAY during her widowhood or life for the supporting of my children. My will that the above land only half to be attended in a year in each tract & to be shifted every year.

I also leave the use of as much of my perishable estate as my Wife MEKEL GRAY needs for the supporting of my children during her widowhood or life & no longer.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son JOSHUA GRAY one tract of land I bought of THOMAS STAPLES formerly called the SIKES Tract containing twenty four & half acres be the same more or less binding JOHN FERRELL, WILLIAM ETHERIDGE, and JOHN BAMARY(?) (BARRARY?) and the heirs of JAMES GREGORY to him & his heirs forever and the said JOSHUA GRAY is to have posesion at the death or marriage of his Mother and the said JOSHUA GRAY is bound to pay unto my two Daughters POLLY & JEAN GRAY fifty dollars apiece for their interest in said land.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son BAILEY GRAY & my Daughter SUCKY GRAY one tract of land I bought of WILLIS UPTON to be equally divided between them beginning at the main road thence runing across the plantation so as to make an equal division of clear a land also beginning at main road thence across the plantation so as to make an equal division of cleared land, also beginning at main road thence running across the wood so as to make each hare an equal share to them & their heirs forever. The said BAILEY GRAY & SUCKY GRAY is gave posession of the said land when the said BAILEY GRAY comes to the age of twenty one years. Also the said BAILEY BRAY & SUCKY GRAY is bound to pay unto POLLY GRAY fifty dollars & JEAN GRAY fifty dollars for their interest in said land.

If my Wife MEKEL GRAY should die or marry before the said BAILEY GRAY should arrive at lawful age the rent of said land shall go to my two Daughters POLLY & JEAN GRAY.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my two Daughters POLLY & JEAN GRAY after the death or marriage of my Wife all the perishable part of my estate which my Wife held at that time. Also I give to my two Daughters POLLY & JEAN GRAY all the perishable part of my estate which my Wife MEKEL do not need at this time to them & their heirs forever. Also I give all my crop to POLLY & JEAN GRAY after taking out my Wife’s & family’s one year provisions, also my debts either due by notes or accts to them & their heirs forever. The above property to be sold on a credit of six months. If POLLY or JEAN should die under twenty one the survivor shall their legacies.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter SALLY GRAY one tract of land which I now live on that I bought of MALACHI W. BOUSHALL, binding DEMSEY GREGORY, PETER FORBES heirs & Deep Branch, containing forty three acres be the same more or less to her & her heirs forever.

And I hereby make & ordain my worth friend BAILEY BARCO Executor of this my Last Will & Testament in witness whereof I the said CALEB GRAY to this my Last Will & Testament set my hand & seal the day & year above written.

CALEB GRAY seal

Witness

JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT

THOMAS WALSTEN

His x mark

N. B. Also make & appoint my friend BAILEY BARCO Guardian to my children. August 28, 1823.

CALEB GRAY seal

JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT

THOMAS WALSTEN

His x mark

State of North Carolina

Camden County

November Term 1823

This Last Will & Testament of CALEB GRAY was exhibited and proved in open Court by the oath of JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT one of the subscribing witnesses, thereto at the same time BAILEY BARCO the executor therein named appeared & qualified according to law. Ordered to be Recorded.

Tests.

M. S. LEWIS CLK.

Will Book C

Pages 25-27

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse