HALIFAX COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA    WILL BOOK  3   PAGE 57-59

26 August 1781          JOHN WHITAKER   WILL

 

                In the name of God-Amen.  Halifax County, North Carolina.  Being in health and perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, but calling to mind the mortality of man that he is once to die, do make and ordain this, my Will and Testament in the manner of form following.

                First- My will and desire is that all my just debts of Funeral charges be first paid and satisfyed.(sic)

                ITEM: My will and desire is that all the gifts and deliverance heretofore made by me to my children may be good and valid. (Viz)  To EDWARD WHITAKER, PEGGY JOSEY, HUDSON WHITAKER and OLIVE CHAMBERS WILLIAMS, to them their heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath to my loving Wife, AARON WHITAKER, Two feather beds of furniture, Two mares both called pleasants, Five Pewter Plates, Two dishes, One iron pot, and Third part of my stock of cattle, sheep and hogs, to her, her heirs and assigns. I, also lend to my said Wife, Two Negroes (Viz) DOGERS and JUDAH; my desk and large Bible during her natural life.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath to my Son, HUDSON WHITAKER, the land and Plantation whereon I now live, also One Hundred Acres of land lying on the Myrth, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath to my Grandson, JORDAN JOHN WHITAKER, Son of HUDSON WHITAKER, One Negro Boy, JACOB, to him and his heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter, OLIVE TAYLOR JOSEY, daughter of  PEGGY JOSEY, One Negro Girl, LUCY, to her and her heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my Grandson JOSEPH Jr WILLIAMS, Son of my Daughter OLIVE CHAMBERS WILLIAMS, One Negro Boy DAMIES ?, to him, his heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: I give unto my Two Son's SAMUEL WHITAKER and THOMAS WHITAKER, the land and Plantation known by the name of  Symses, to be equally divided, share and share alike between them and their heirs and assigns forever.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my Son SAMUEL WHITAKER, three Negroes (Viz) GANNEY, SELAH and FIGURES, they and their increase, to him, his heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my Son THOMAS WHITAKER, Three Negroes (Viz) LITTLE, ROGER, and BETT SCOTLAND, to him, his heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter, MARTHA WHITAKER, Three Negroes (Viz) MADGE, PETER and JINNEY, and after my Wife's deceased, I also give her One Negro Girl JUDAH, they and their increase, to her and her heirs and assigns.

                My will and desire is that should my Daughter MARTHA WHITAKER die without Issue, I then give the said Negroes MADGE, ZONY, PETER and JUDAH, to my other Two Daughters, LIZZEY JOSEY and OLIVE CHAMBERS WILLIAMS, to be equally divided, share and share alike between them, their heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: My will and desire is that my Negro Wench BESS, should be at liberty for the space of Thirty Years, being under the direction of my Executor hereafter mentioned.

                ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my Two Sons SAMUEL and THOMAS WHITAKER, after my wife's deceased. One Negro fellow ROGER, One desk and large Bible and also all the rest of my Estate, both real and personal, that I have not heretofore given, to be equally divided, share and share alike between them, their heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: My will and desire is that my Son HUDSON WHITAKER, have the care and tuition of my Daughter, MARTHA WHITAKER, and her Estate til she marries or comes of age.

                ITEM: My will and desire is, should my Son SAMUEL WHITAKER, die without issue, then and in that case I give that part of Estate that is given to be divided between him and my Son THOMAS WHITAKER, to be equally divided, share and share alike, between my Sons HUDSON and THOMAS WHITAKER, between them, their heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: I give unto my Son EDWARD WHITAKER, Two Shillings and Six Pence Sterling, to him, his heirs and assigns.

                ITEM: My will and desire is that my Executor hereafter mentioned, sell as much of my personal Estate as will pay my just debts. Lastly I do nominate constitute and appoint my Two Sons SAMUEL WHITAKER and THOMAS WHITAKER, whole and sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, in testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 26th of August 1781.  The words they and their increased in Ninth and Tenth section interlind before assigned.

 

Signed, Sealed, Published & Declared

in presence of  us.                                                           JOHN WHITAKER

JOHN WHITAKER Jr.

HOWELL POWELL

RICHARD WHITAKER

 

                Halifax County,  February Court 1784. Then this was duly proved in open Court by the oath of JOHN WHITAKER, who on his oath did say that he saw the testator, Sign, Seal Publish and Declare this to be his Last Will and Testament and that at the time of signing the same, he was of sound mind and memory, to the best of his belief, thereto whereupon THOMAS WHITAKER qualified as Executor and on motion ordered to be recorded.