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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

 

WILLIAM GRAY (1823 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

WILLIAM GRAY

May 14, 1821

In the name of God Amen! I WILLIAM GRAY of the State of North Carolina and County of Camden being of sound mind & memory this 14th day of May 1821 do make this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following Viz.

Imprimis. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter LENA CHAPLIN one dollar to her & her heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son PETER GRAY one dollar to him & his heirs forever.

Item. I give unto my Son EDMUND GRAY one dollar to him & his heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son NATHAN GRAY one dollar to him & his heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son NATHANIEL GRAY one dollar to him & his heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter SALLY GREAVES one dollar to her & her heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter SOPHIA GRAY one dollar to her & her heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter ELIZABETH GRAY one feather bed & furniture not to be delivered to her till she marries or comes of age to her & her heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son WILLIAM GRAY one gun to him & his heirs forever.

Item. I lend all the remainder of my estate after paying all my just debts & funeral expences to my Wife POLLY GRAY during her life or widowhood & if she marries I give her one third of the said remainder to her & her heirs forever (with this Promise) that she shall take care of & support the small children (viz) CHLOE GRAY, JANE GRAY, WILLIAM GRAY, & CYNTHIA GRAY till she or they come of age.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my four following children viz CHLOE GRAY, JANE GRAY, WILLIAM GRAY, & CYNTHIA GRAY at the marriage or death of my wife the two thirds or the whole of the said remainder of my estate as the case may be, to be equally divided between them.

Lastly. I nominate & appoint my two friends CALEB PERKINS & MY Wife POLLY GRAY my Executors to this my Last Will & Testament REVOKING ALL FORMER Wills by me made heretofore, In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & date above written

WILLIAM GRAY seal

Signed & sealed in presence of

LUKE G. LAMB

JON H. ROBERTS

State of North Carolina

Camden County

November Term 1823

This Last Will & Testament of WILLIAM GRAY dec’d was exhibited & proved in open Court by the oath of LUKE G. LAMB one of the subscribing witnesses thereto CALEB PERKINS one of the Executors therein named appeared & qualified agreeable to Law. Ordered that the Will be Recorded & Letters Testamentary Issue.

Test.

M.S. LEWIS CLK.

Will Book C

Pages 24, 25

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse

 

ELIZABETH GREGORY (1823 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

ELIZABETH GREGORY

March 3, 1823

In the name of God Amen! I ELIZABETH GREGORY being in sound mind & memory but weak in body hath this day March 3, 1823. make this my Last Will & Testament in the following manner.

First of all I recommend my Soul to God who gave it me and my Body to the earth from whence it come. And as Touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give in the following manner to wit.

Item. I gave and bequeath unto my four Sons ISAAC GREGORY, DORRIS GREGORY, NELSIN B.GREGORY, and CASIN M. GREGORY all that land and plantation where in I now live to be equally divided between them, share and share alike to them & their heirs.

Item. I give my Son ISAAC GREGORY one Roan horse Callia(?) his to him & his heirs forever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son DORRAS GREGORY his choice in the spring the old mare or the colt which she is now with fold with—and I give my Son NILSON B. GREGORY the other after his Brother takes his choice and the colt to stay with the mare until weaned at the expence of my estate.

Item. I give my Daughter POLLY GILBERT one linnen wheel that is to say the use of it.

Item. Give unto my Grand Son FRANKLIN GILBERT 1 feather bed & furniture one cow & calf, but her mother to have the use of both.

Item. I give my Son FRANCIS MITCHEL one looking glass to him and his heirs.

Item. I give my Son JOHN MITCHEL four bushels of wheat to him & his heirs.

Item. I give my Daughter ANN GREGORY four bushels wheat to her & her heirs.

Item. I leave all the balance of my estate to be sold by my Exec. At private sale, and after paying all my just & lawful debts the balance to be applied as follows

First for my three children to have a quarters schooling each, and I want my Son ISAAC GREGORY to purchase one & half acres of land for the use of my Grand Son FRANKLIN GILBERT but his Mother to have the use of it her life and the balance to be equally divided between my four Sons ISAAC GREGORY, CASIN M. GREGORY, DORRAS GREGORY, and NELSON B. GREGORY share & share alike.

Lastly I nominate my Son ISAAC GREGORY & my friend CALEB PERKINS my whole & sole exec. To this my Last Will & Testament.

ELIZABETH GREGORY seal

Her x mark

Signed & sealed in

Presence of us

SALLY WHITE

HANNAH GODFREY

Camden County Court

May Term 1823

This was exhibited in open Court & proved to be the Last Will and Testament of ELIZABETH GREGORY dec’d by the oath of HANNAH GODFREY a subscribing witness thereto and ISAAC GREGORY one of the Executors therein named appeared & qualified as Executor thereto. Ordered to be Recorded.

Test.

M.S. LEWIS CLK.

Will Book C

Pages 18, 19

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse

 

JUDITH GREGORY (1754 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

JUDITH GREGORY

October 21, 1753

In the name of God Amen I JUDITH GREGORY being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to almight God for it do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testement in maner and form as followeth that is to say furst I recommend my soul to God that gave it and my body to the earth to be buried at the discracion of my Exc…hereafter menthened——–

Iom. I give and bequeath to my well belove Son ISAAC GREGORY my new Desk

Iom. I give and bequeath to my beloved friend MARY LOYED one cow and cluf and one three year old hefer and two head of sheep and all my gees and one new coten gown and three head of yong cattel of two years old apeas.

Iom. I give and bequath all the rest of my estat that shall beleft after my lawfull debts be paid to be equally devided betwose my four children ISAAC, DEMSEY, MARY and LOVEY except my waring cloath to be equally devid between my two Daughters MARY and LOVEY.

And likewise I ordain and constute and apint my well beloved Brother JOSEPH MORGEN to be my whole and sole Executer of this my Last Will and Testement as witness my hand and seal this 21th day of October 1753.

JUDITH GREGORY seal

Sined sealed and published

In presencce of us

WM. BURGESS

JOHN EVERIGIN

SAM. SCOTT

As it happened to be forgoten in the body of my will to order the desposhal of my childern of mak this adishon my will and desir is that my exec.t take these of my children ISAAC, DEMSEY and MARY and keep them and there estates tel thay arafe to full age or marry and likwise my desir is that my beloved Daughter issies WILL Son have my Daughters LOVEY and my will is that my children may not be removed nor suppeted to Chase Gardens as witness my hand and seal

North Carolina

Pasquotank County

January Court Anno Dom 1754

Present His Majesties Justices 

???? that WILLIAM BURGES Esq. Appeared in open Court and made & oath on the Holy Evangelist that he was present and saw JUDITH GREGORY sign seal publish and declare the within to be her Last Will and Testament, and that she was then of sound and disposing memory and that he also saw JOHN EVERIGIN and SAMUEL SCOTT, the other Evidoneois(?) sign their names thereto at the same time then appeared JOSEPH MORGAN Exer. And Relinquished his right to MARK GREGORY thereupon it was ordered that MARK GREGORY have the Admin. with Will annexed ??? security in one hundred pounds proclamation money declared that the Honorable JIMPS(?) MURRAY Esq. Secretary have ???? that Letters issue dated at the Clerkes Office the 12th day of January 1754

Test: Tho. Taylor.

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse

 

MARGARET GREGORY (1753 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

MARGARET GREGORY

February the 3:d Day 1746

In the name of God Amen. I MAGARET GREGORY Widow of Pasquotank County in the Province of North Carolina being in perfect health & memory thanks be given unto God. Therefore calling unto Mind the Mortallity of my Body do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in the manner and form following.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Son RICHARD GREGORY one negro man named Charles to him and the children he had by his first Wife and their heirs for ever.

Item. I give to my well beloved Son JAMES GREGORY one negro girl named Hannah and her increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give unto my well beloved Son JOHN GREGORY one negro boy named Joshua to him and the children he has by his first Wife to him and their heirs for ever.

Item. I give unto my beloved Son CALEB GREGORY one negro woman named Priscilla she and her future increase to him and his heirs for ever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter MARY UMPHERIS one shilling sterling to her and her heirs for ever.

Item. I give unto my well beloved Daughter MARGARET BARL??Y one negro woman named Sue and her increase to her & her heirs for ever.

Item. I give unto my well beloved Daughter SARAH GRANDY one negro woman Wroth and her future increase to her & the heirs of her body for ever.

Item. I give unto my Grandaughter SARAH UMPHERIS one negro boy named Isaac to her and the heirs of her body for ever.

And I do hereby uttorly disallow revoke and disanul all and every other formor Testaments or Wills by me in any ways before named ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament and my Son JAMES GREGORY afore named I constitute and ordain my sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Day and Year above written.

MARGAROT GREGORY

Her Mark

Signed, sealed and Delivered

In the Presence of

JAMES FORBES

ELIZABETH FORBES

REBECCA HARDING

Her X mark

MARGT GREGORY

WILL

Letters Issued

16th of July 1753

5 Coppy Sheets

Recorded in the _ _ _ 

Office in Book K

Pg. 15 —-

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse

 

SUSAN GREGORY (1824 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

SUSAN GREGORY

March 5, 1817

In the name of God Amen ! I SUSAN GREGORY of the County of Camden in the State of N. Carolina do this 5th day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Seventeen make publish, pronounce and declare this instrument of writing to be my Last Will and Testament in manner as follows.

Item. I give & bequeath to my Daughters SALLY WALKER, JANE GOFREY, and LYDIA FOREHANDS children & CHLOE JARVIS, and CELEY MITCHEL & Son JAMES M. GREGORY all my property and estate which I have gained & accumulated since the death of my Husband NATHAN GREGORY to be equally divided between them to them & their heirs forever.

I nominate & appoint my Son JAMES M. GREGORY my executor to this my Last Will & Testament in witness whereof I the said SUSAN GREGORY have hereunto set my hand and seal the day & year above written etc.

SUSAN GREGORY seal

Her “O” mark

Signed, Sealed & acknowledged

In presents of us

M. SIMMONS

HILLORY SIMMONS

State of N. Carolina

Camden County

February T. 1824

This Last Will & Testament of SUSAN GREGORY dec’d was exhibited & proved in open Court by oath of HILLERY SIMMONS, one of the subscribing witnesses. The Executor not appearing to qualify. Ordered to be Recorded

Test.

M.S. LEWIS CLK

Will Book C

Pages 30, 31

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse

 

THOMAS GREGORY (1740 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

THOMAS GREGORY

April 10, 1736

In the name of God Amen. I THOMAS GREGORY of Pasquotank Preseink for North Carolina Planter. Being ??? perfect mind & memory Thanks be given unto God almighty. Calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that its appointed for all men once to die do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to say ??????? first of all I give & recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave to & for my Body I recommend to ???? to be buried in a Christian like desent manner ????? descretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. & as touching such worldly estate whorwith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner following.

Imprimis. I give & bequeath unto my Son NATHAN GREGORY his heirs & assigns for ever all my manner plantations where I now dwell & half of a certain tract of land containing two hundred & sixty seven acres lying on ye head of the Eataron(?)(Edenton?) Branch of Arronuse Croock on ye NE side of Pasquotank River ??? ye’s County aforsd. As more fully appoint(?) by ye pattent afore?? To be equally divided between my Sons NATHAN & SAMPSON without hurting one another after my dis??? & ??????? Son NATHAN should die without issue ye aforsaid manner plantation with it go two hundred & sixty seven acres should fall to my Son SAMPSON & his heirs forever. ???? Son SAMPSON should die without issue the aforsaid tract of land shall fall to my Son JACOB & his heirs for ever.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son JACOB aka JOB after my diseas my negro man Tonsy.

Item. I also give & bequeath —— my Son RICHARD GREGORY five shillings current money to RICHARD by my Executors (can’t make out rest ink has bled through)

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son WILLIAM GREGORY five shillings current money to be paid by my executors herein after mentioned—

Item. I also give & bequeath ???? my Grandson FREDZICK GREGORY five shillings current money to be paid by my executors herein after mentioned.

Item. I give & bequeath after my deseas unto my Son JACOB GREGORY, ELISABETH GODFRE, JOB GREGORY, SAMPSON GREGORY, NATHAN GREGORY, PRISILLARY GRAY all my moveable estate to be equally divided after my desseas to the above mentioned—–

Item. I do also constiute & ordain my well beloved Son JACOB GREGORY with my Son JOB GREGORY to be my only and sole Executors of this my Last Will & Testament Disallowing & disannuling all other former wills ratifying & confirming only this to be my Last Will & Testament In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred & thirty Six

THOMAS GREGORY

His “T” Mark

Signed sealed published

Pronounced & declard in

Presence of us

The day & year above written

JOHN BELL

JO. ROBERTS

JOHNN BEERCOCK

June 23d 1740

Came befor me JOHN BELL & made oath that he saw THOMAS GREGORY sign seal & publish the above as his Last Will & Testament that he was of sound mind & memory at that time & that JOHN ROBERTS & JOHN BEERCOCK signd as witnesses thereto at the same time. JACOB GREGORY took the oath appointed by Court to be taken by Executors.

Will Probated June 30, 1740

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse

 

SAWYER, JOSEPH – SEVERE THUNDERSTORM – 1 July 1868

Petersburg Daily Newspaper
Petersburg, VA
July 1, 1868

During the severe thunderstorm  on last Friday, a young man named Joseph Sawyer, living near South Mills, Camden County, North Carolina,  while putting his horse into the stable, was struck by lightening and instantly killed. The horse was also struck and instantly killed by the same bolt.

Chowan Baptist Female College – 11 July 1870

Monday July 11, 1870

The North Carolina Standard Newspaper

Raleigh, N.C.

The Daily Index

North Carolina Items:

Chowan Baptist Female College;

The commencement exercises of the above institution, located at
Murfreesboro, N.C., took place last week.  Rev. A. McDowell is the
principle. Quite a number of distinguished Baptist ministers were present,
among them Rev. Drs. Wingate,  Toy, T.G. Jones, J.H. Mills and others.  The
annual sermon was preached by Rev. T.G. Jones, of Norfolk, and the annual
address was delivered by Rev. T.G. Toy, of Greenville, SC.  The following
young ladies graduated, viz,:  Miss M.O. Spright, of Gates county; Miss
Annie Newsome, of Hertford county; Miss Susie A. Spencer, of Camden county;
Miss Arvo H. Moore, of Murfreesboro; Miss Sallie E. McDowell, Murfreesboro;
and Miss Rosa O. Beale, of Hertford county.

Contributed by: Marianne Nichols Ordway