Friend of Friends Friday - Will of John Caskey 1785

Following is an image and transcription of the 1785 will of John Caskey of Craven County, South Carolina. It has been transcribed exactly as written.

In the Name of God Amen, I John Caskey of Craven Countey

otherwise Chaster in Camden District and State of South Carolina planter

Being Mindfull of the unsertintey of this trasitery Woreld & Knowing that

that it is Appointed for all Men once to Die do Make Constitute and Appoi

int this to be my Last Will and testament Being of perfect Mind Memory

and understanding first and principally I Recommend my Soul to the

Almightey God Who Give it Nothing Doubting but at the Resurection I

Shall stand in my flesh and see God and as to my Bodey I Recomend to the

Dust there to be Buried in A Christian and Desant like manner at the

Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named, and as toucing Such Worldy

Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I Devide and Dispose of in Maner

and form following that is to Say first and prinsabelly, I allow all my

Lawfull Debtes and Demands to be paid by my Executors, and my Nego fellowe

Named [blank] my Waggin and still and two horses I allow to be disposed of at

the Discretion of my Executors, I bequeth to my well beloved Wife Ester Caskey

one hundred acres of this plantation Whereon I now live with all the

Improvements During her Widowhood and at the End of that to fall in to

My Dearly beloved Daughter Izebell and I do leave and bequeth all the

Remainder of my Land Contaning three hundred and fiftey Acres Equally

to be Diveded Amongest my four Sones, I bequeth to my well beloved

Daughter Marey Caskey my Negro Wench Named Keat and I allow all my

plantation tools to be Continued on the plantaton During my well beloved

Wifes Widowhood and as for the Remainder of all my Estate not before-

mentioned I leave it Equally to be Diveded Amongest my Six Children

and my Beloved Wife Each one an Equall proportion, and I do Constitute

and Ordain and Appoint A^rchibald Coulton and Andrew Graham and my

well beloved Wife Ester Caskey to my Lawfull Executors of  this my Last

Will and Testement, Signed Sealed Published and prounenced and

Declared to be my last Will and Testement in presantes of us ^{^this th}19 day

of September Anodomni 1785.

David Graham   }                                                         John Caskey {LS}

Andrew Graham}

John Graham      }

 

[Source: Camden, Kershaw County, South Carolina, will of John Caskey, dated 19 September 1785; “South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977,” digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 17 July 2011); the Caskey document is imaged as p. 342 of documents within the section “Camden, Kershaw, Estate record books, 1782-1823, Vol. A1).]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Friend of Friends Friday - Will of Richard Cook - 1800

This week I have continued to transcribe probate records of the Cook family of Iredell County, North Carolina. This week I am posting the will of Richard Cook, written in 1800.

In the Name of God Amen.
I Richard Cook of the County of Iredill
and State of North Carolina mindful of that
mortality common to all men and being of
sound mind and memory do on this the
fifth day of April in the year eighteen hundred
make, ordain and publish this my last will
and Testament in manner and Form following
In the first place, To my beloved wife Lucey
I give for her use during her natural life
or widowhood the sole use and benefit of my
plantation on Rockey Creek on which I now
live, and all my Negroes, Mill, Farming utensils
waggon Orchards &c, and to my said wife I
give and bequeath absolutely and to be at her
disposal at her death the Negroes following
Delilah and her children Nancy & Mary
Sal and her children Tab, Hannah, little Jack
Ned, Wyat, Violet and the children they or any
of them may hereafter have.
My Stock of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, & Hogs I allow
to the use of my said wife Lucey so far as she
may choose to keep on the plantation giving
to her and my other Executors the power to sell
or dispose of any animal she may not choose
to keep and the money arising therefrom to be
reserved til the death of my wife and then
by her divided as hereafter directed.
My money, debts and every thing of the kind
I allow to be kept by my Executors untill
the death of my wife then to be by her disposed
of as hereafter directed.
The Increase of my stock after my death and
whatever may be the profits of my wifes Industry
with my hands on my plantation after my
Decease, I allow to her absolutely and entirely.
My household of Kitchen Furniture of every kind
and discription I give to my said wife for her
sole use and disposal.
At the death or marriage of my said wife I
allow my plantation on which I now live
of six hundred and forty Acres, with the Tract
adjoining I purchased of William Hughes
to Richard Jones Cook the son of my nephew
John Cook and I do hereby give and bequeath
the said Tracts of Land on Rockey Creek being
all the Land I own to the said Richard Jones
Cook, to him his Heirs or Assigns forever, at the
death of my said Wife.
My money before mentioned with the following
Negroes, Dick, Jack, Bob, Primor[?] Simon and
Ben, not willed absolutely to my wife, I allow
to be disposed by my wife Lucey among our relations
of both sides as she may judge proper and
right, by will or otherwise, hereby declaring
firm and effectual all such disposals of my
said wife Lucey.
My Sister Lucy Clanton now living on the
small Tract I purchased of William Hughes
I allow the privilege of living on the said Tract
and cultivating the same during her life if
she chooses to continue there.
Farther, I do hereby constitute and appoint my
beloved wife Lucy Cook, my brother Thomas
Cook my Nephew John Cook and Richard
King Executors of this my will, hereby revoking
all former wills and declaring this to be my
last will & Testament.
Signed, sealed, published and declared this day
and date first above written
                                        his name
                            Richard RC Cook   {seal}
                                or mark by himself
In presence of
Ja^s. King
Howell Barker Jurat
Elihu King

[Source: Iredell County, North Carolina, Will Book 1, page 89, will 59, Margaret Cooke 1800, FHL microfilm 1571950, Original wills Beaver, Moses - Kilpatrick, Andrew; Family History Library, Salt Lake City.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Friend of Friends Friday - Will of Margaret Cooke 1802

Last week I posted the transcription and images of the 1791 will of Thomas Cooke of Iredell County, North Carolina. This week I am posting the transcription and images of the will of his wife, Margaret, written in 1802.

In the Name of God Amen I Margret Cooke
of Iredell County State of North Carolina_ being
of sound and perfect mind and Memory (Blessed be God
for all his mercies both special and common).
Do this 6th day of October in the Year of our Lord 1802
make and publish this my last Will and Testament
in the manerer following 1st I commit my soul
to God who made and I trust who has redeemed the
same, and then I will that my Body be interred
in a decent and becoming manner at the discretion
of the persons appointed to execute this my last Will
and Testament and I also declare that it is my
will that all my Just and lawful debts be honor-
ably and honestly discharged out of my Estate
And as for the remaining part of that property
wherewith God in his providence has endowed me
I dispose of in the following manner, and do by
this my last will order it to be so disposed of_
I bequeath unto my Daughter Jean McConnel my
Nigroe Woman Cate_
2d and to my Daughter Elizabeth Nelson one [?]
3rd and to my Daughter Mary Huey my Bed and side saddle
and my wearing Cloathes to be equally divided between
these my three Daughters_ _ _
And with respect to the residue of my property it is my
will that an equal division of the same be made among
my children, Hugh McKnight, James Cooke, Alexander
Cooke, Thomas Cooke, Joseph Cooke, John McConnel_
Henry Huey, Joshua Nelson, each to have an equal dividend
of the same _ _ _
And I hereby make and ordain my worthy friends
Hugh McKnight ^Senr  and Henry Huey Executors of this my
last Will and Testament, In witness whereof I the
said Margaret Cooke ^Senr  have to this my last will and Testa-
ment set my hand and seal the day and year above-
mentioned _ _ _       Margaret ^her  Cooke
                                           ^mark

Test.

Wm. McKnight [?]
James McKnight

[Source: Iredell County, North Carolina, Will Book 1, page 86, will 56, Margaret Cooke 1802, FHL microfilm 1571950, Original wills Beaver, Moses - Kilpatrick, Andrew; Family History Library, Salt Lake City.]


© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Friend of Friends Friday - Will of Thomas Cook 1791

This week I have transcribed the 1791 will of Thomas Cook of Iredell County, North Carolina. I believe this is the father of the Thomas Cook whose will was presented in an earlier post found here.

In the name of God Amen.

                        Novr the 9th 1791
I. Thomas Cook in the County of Ardill and State of North Carol-
ina, yeo man, being wake in Body, but of perfect mind & memory, tha-
nks be to God for it, caling to mind, the mortality of my body, that
it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and order this
my last will and testament that is to say, principly, and first of
all, I give and recommend, my soul into the hands of God that give it
and for my Body I recommend to the Earth, to be buired in a Christian
like menor, at the Discretion of my Ex^rs.  nothing doubting, but at the
general reserection I shall receive the same again by the mighty
power of God, _ _ _ _ _ And as touching such worldly State
as it hath pleased God to bliss me with in this Life, I Give, Devise, and
Dispose of in the following mennor and form.
Imprimise._ It is my will, and I do order it, that all my Just debts and fun
eral charges be payed, and sattesfied.
Itim. I do Leave and bequeath to my oldest son James Cook five Shillings
and to my four Daughters viz Margrit McNight, Jean M^cConnel,
Mary Huey, and Elisabeth Neelson, each of them five shillings
it is my will and I do order it, that my son Alex^r. Cook have my crosscute
saw. It is my will and I ^do order it, that my son William Cook, keep and hold
the Negor Boy that he have received from me, called Peet, and all other
things he has received from me beside. I do further order that my said son
William Cook, have a fifth part of the household furneture, or the value
thereof, [several words crossed out], and also the fifth part of the hog's and sheep
and Likewise two cows and calves.
It is my will and I order it that my son Thomas Cook get ten pounds or
the value thereof.
Itim. It is my will and I do order it, that my well beloved wife, Margrit Cook,
get a negor wench called Keat, and a negor boy called Bob. and the half
of all moveables, exclusive of what is left to my son William thereof,
and also to have the fifth part of what grain is raised on the plantation
and her choice or [?] of any rooms in the house for her use during
her Life, or widowhood, and to be at her desposal at her Death.
itim. It is my will and I order it, that my youngest son Joseph Cook, do have
and Enjoy the plantation I now Live upon, and to have a Negor man
called Jack, and another Negor Boy called Ceasor, and the other half of
the remaining movables, and household furneture.
And I do nominate constitute and appoint my two sons viz William
and Joseph Cook, sole Ex^rs of this my Last will and testament, in
witness heare of I have set my hand and seal the Day and year above
written, signed sealed published and Decleared by the said
Thomas Cook as his Last Will and Testment, in the presence
of us. the Subscribers.
                                                Tho^s. Cooke (seal)
 
Thos. Bocitey Jurat
Alexander Hughes
Wm. Terrence Jur.

Source: Iredell County, North Carolina, Wills, 1, 85, Thomas Cook, 1791,

FHL microfilm 1571950, Original wills Beaver, Moses - Kilpatrick, Andrew;

Family History Library, Salt Lake City.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Friend of Friends Friday - Charlotte Cook, Widow of Thomas Cook - 1825

I have previously posted images and transcriptions of Thomas Cook's 1819 will, the inventory of his estate, and an accounting presented to the court in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Several Negros were identified by name in those documents. In this post, I am presenting the image and transcription of the deed documenting the sale of several Negros and other property by Thomas Cook's widow, Charlotte (Anderson) Cook, to Robert Martin.

Charlotte Cook To Robert Martin Deed Etc[?]

State of North Carolina }

Wilkes County_           }

In consideration of the
two hundred and two Dollars
in hand paid by Robert Martin, (the receipt whereof
hereby acknowledged) I do by these presents Grant,
sell, and convey unto the said Robert Martin, all
right, Title and Interest in and to the following
to wit: Negroes, Charles, Hulda, Kisiah, Bry [unreadable]
lis and Richmond, one Sorrel Horse, one bay Mare, [unreadable]
feather Beds, Bedsteads and their furniture, three [unreadable]
Calves all the houshold and Kitchen furniture, Hogs, [unreadable]
tion and farming, and the lands and Plantation Tho
mas Cook died Possessed of, To have and to hold said
Lands and other property above Mentioned to him,
said Robert Martin his heirs Executors, Administr[unreadable]
and assigns during the term they were devised
by my late husband Thomas Cook's Will. Witness
hand & seal this 31^st. day of May 1825

Witness                                                  her

            Ja^s. Hayes                     Charlotte X Cook
                                                             mark
            Eli. Tilley Ju^t.

(Wrote on the back)

North Carolina }          August Term 18[unreadable]
Wilkes County  }

The within Deed [unreadable]

duly proven in open Court by the
oath of Eli Tilley Recorded and
[?} to be registered.
                        Test
                           R. Martin

Registered 4^th[?] August 1825

[Source: Wilkes County, North Carolina, Deeds, L: 140, Charlotte Cook to Robert Martin, August 1825; Family History Library microfilm 20136.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock