Amanuensis Monday - Will of George Eaton (Easton) 1797

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.


This week I am posting a transcription and image of the 1797 will of George Eaton (Easton?) of Rowan County, North Carolina.  I believe that George may be a brother to my 6th great-grandfather John Eaton.

In the name of God Amen! I George Eaton of the County

of Rowan & State of N^o. Carolina, being of perfect health

of body & perfect mind & memory thanks be to God for it, &

calling to mind the mortality of my body, & knowing that it

is appointed for all men once to die, do make & ordain

this my last will & test: that is to say principally & first

of all I give & recomend my soul to God who gave it & my

body I recommend to the earth, to be buried in a christian

burial, at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but

at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again by

the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly

estate wherewith it had pleased God to bless me in this life

I give devise & dispose of the same in the following form

[?]I desire that my Land & plantation, whereon I now live

should be sold & the money equally divided between my four

children viz. John, Sarah, David & Elizabeth Eaton. I give

all the rest of my moveable property to my three youngest

Children Sarah, David & Elizabeth.

I likewise, constitute make & ordain my beloved brother Daniel

Easton & neighbour Laz^s Whitehead executors of this my

last will & test: all & singular the above mentioned legacey

to my heirs to be freely enjoyed & possessed by them for ever

This I desire should be considered as my last will & test:

whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 18^th

day of February 1797.

Signed sealed, published, in presence

of:

E. Jones                                  George Easton {seal}

               his

Abraham X Hall [?}

              mark

[Source: "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970."  images,  FamilySearch  (www.familysearch.org : accessd 9 Aug 2011);  George Eaton, will dated 18 Sep 1897; citing Probate Records, Rown, Wills, 1780-1803, Vol. C, image 229.]

© 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

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Thomas Cook 1819

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

This week I am presenting the 1819 will of Thomas Cook of Wilkes County, North Carolina, one of my maternal 4^th great-grandfathers. Thomas identified 17 children by name in his will! Only the five youngest children, those of his second (perhaps third) wife Charlotte, were to benefit from his estate; he said the others had already received their shares. It is probably the longest will I have encountered in my research to date.

 Will of Thomas Cook

 

May Term       )           In the Name of God Amen._I Thomas Cook of

1819           )           the County of Wilkes in the State of North Carolina.

being old and afflicted in body, but being of sound and dispo-

sing mind and Memory, do here think proper to make my last

Will and Testament in manner and form following.. In the

first place I Recommend my Soul to God who gave to be disposed

of at his pleasure, and my Body after Death to be Buried in the

[?] form of entering the Remains of Deceased :Persons in this

Country._ First I give and Bequeath unto Joshua Martin Cook

whom I claim and consider to be my own Son begotten upon the

Body of Charloote Cook whom I consider to be my Wife. and with

whom I have lived as such for a Number of Years; the said Char-
loote Cook have been Married or commonly Reputed to have
bedn Married to one George Anderson previous to my Intermar-
riage with the said Charloote. (to wit.) One Negroe Man Named
Charles, & one Negroe girl Child named Kisiah._Secondly
I give and bequeath unto Calvin Jones Cook whom I claim
and consider to be my own Son begotten upon the Body of Char-
loote Cook whom I consider to be my Wife and with whom I
have lived as such for a Number of Years, the said Charloote hav-
ing been Maried or commonly Reputed to have been Married to
One George Anderson, previous to my Intermarriage with the
said Charloote, (to wit.) one Negroe Woman named Virgin &
one Negro Woman Named Hulda._Thirdly it is my Will
and desire that all my Lands that I now own in Wilkes Coun
-ty & ceded to my and to which I have title in fee or otherwise
Being about four Hundred and foorty acres; shall be equally div
ed between my two Sons Joshua Martin Cook and Calvin Jon [unreadable]
Cook Heretofore named as above, when the Youngest of my sa [unreadable]
Sons shall arrive at the full age of twenty one Years, which sai [unreadable]
Division shall be made by my Executors herein after Named [unreadable]
which said Division it is my Will shall be so made that the
Lands shall be Equal or as nearly equal in value as it  is po[unreadable]
ble to be made: It is my Will that Charloote Cook whom I clai[unreadable]
to be my Wife heretofore Married to George Anderson, shall ha[unreadable]
hold said Negroes and hold, occupy and enjoy my said Lands bef[unreadable]
mentioned and Described during the Minority of my said Sons Jos[unreadable]
-a Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook; and should my Wife Ch[unreadable]
loote Cook die before my said Sons Joshua Martin Cook & Calvi[unreadable]
Jones Cook arrive at the age of twenty one Years, then the sai[unreadable]
Lands before described to be Rented by my Executors for the ben[unreadable]
-fit of my said Sons, and should either of my said Sons Joshua
Martin Cook or Calvin Jones Cook decease before they arrive [unreadable]
the age of twenty one years; it is my Will that the Survivin[unreadable]
Brother have all the said Lands mentioned heretofore in this Will
Fourthly, I give and Bequeath unto Charloote Cook, Sin[unreadable]
Cook and Henna Ritte Cook whom I claim and consider to b[unreadable]
my own Daughters begotten upon the Body of Charloote Coo[unreadable]
whom I claim and consider to be my wife and with whom I ha[unreadable]
lived as such for a Number of Years. the said Charloote havin[unreadable]
been Married or commonly Refuted to have been Married to on[unreadable]
George Anderson previous to my Intermarriage with th[unreadable]
said Charloote. (to wit.) One feather Bed and furniture each; it
is my Will that my three Daughters above named, Charloote
Cook, Sina Cook and Henna Ritte Cook each of them Receive
their Bed and furniture when the said Daughters above menti[unreadable]
oned arrive at the full age of eighteen Years.
Fifthly, It is my Will and desire that my said Wife Charloote
Cook before mentioned have all my Houshold and Kitchen fur
niture to hold and enjoy said furniture during the Minority of
my said Daughters and Sons before Mentioned and it is my Wi[unreadable]
and desire that when my Youngest Son Calvin Jones Cook
arrives at the age of twenty one Years that all of the above
mentioned Household and Kitchen furniture be equally divided
amongst Charloote Cook. Sina Cook. Henna Ritte Cook. Joshua
Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook; it is my Will and desire
that Charloote Cook whom I claim to be my Wife heretofore
Married to George Anderson shall have hold and enjoy all
my Stock consisting of Horses cattle, Hogs and Sheep and
also to have all my Plantation Utensils and tools and it is
my Will and desire that she the said Charloote Cook before
named keep in possession all the above Mentioned living Stock
and Plantation Utensils to have, hold and enjoy and to make
use of, for her the said Charlootes Support and for the support
and Schooling or Educating of my three Daughters and two
sons Namely Charloote Cook. Sina Cook. Henna Ritte Cook
Joshua Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook. . and when my
youngest Son Calvin Jones Cook arrives at the full age of
twenty one Yeras that all my living Stock be equally divi-
ded between my three Daughters and two Sons. (to wit.) Char-
loote Cook. Sina Cook. Henna Ritte Cook. Joshua Martin
Cook and Calvin Jones Cook._it is my Will and desire
that my Negroe Man Names Benjamin be sold and the Mo-
ney be Equally divided amongst my said three Daughters and
two Sons above Names as they the said Daughters and said Sons
arrive to the age of twenty one years. my wish is that the
Money that Negro Man Benjamin sells for be disposed of as
follows. (to wit.) when Charloote Cook arrives at the age of twenty
one Years to have her equal part of said Money and when Sina
Cook arrives at the age of twenty one Years to have her Equal part
of said Money. when Henna Ritte Cook arrives at the age
of twenty one Years to have an equal part of said Money. when
Joshua Martin Cook arrives at the age of twenty one years to
have an equal part of said money and when Calvin Jones Cook
arrives at the age of twenty one Years to have an equal part of
said Money: it is my Will and desire that all my Just Debts
be paid, and all the moneys that are owing to me to be collected and
to be disposed of as my Executors hereafter named thinks proper.
Sixthly, it is my Will and desire that all my Elder Children have
no part of my Estate Mentioned in this my last Will and Testame[unreadable]
the Elder Children alluded to, I now proceed to mention their nam[unreadable]
to wit., Elizabeth Jolley. Mary Marlow John Cook. Henry Cook. An[unreadable]
Martin. Martha Ellis. Lucey Milsaps. Thomas Cook. William
Cook. Allen Cook. Richard Coook and Amelia Burton._Be it Re_
membered that I have heretofore given unto two twelve Elder
Children last Mentioned what I conceive to be a Just and ful[unreadable]
Portion of my Estate._it is my Will and desire that if my Wife
Charloote Cook should Marry before my said Sons Joshua Mar[unreadable]
Cook and Calvin Jones Cook arrive at the age of twenty one yea[unreadable]
that the said Charloote is not to hold or have any part of my Esta[unreadable]
mentioned in this my last Will and Testament._And I do hereby
Authorise, Constitute and Appoint Randolph Mabery and Rober[unreadable]
Martin my Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
and that I do hereby Revoke, Disannull and make Void all forms
Wills and Bequeaths whether Written or Nuncupative in the mo[unreadable]
positive and absolute Terms. and do declare and publish this an[unreadable]
this only to be my last Will and Testament by me made here
on Earth. In Testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand
Affixed my Seal the twenty fifth day of March.A.D.1819.
Sign’d, Sealed in                                                                  his
the presents of                                                        Thomas X Cook (seal)
W.W. Martin                                                                         mark
         his                      )
Hicks X Combs           )           North Carolina)
         mark                   )           Wilkes County.)         May Term 1819.
James Marlow.           )           The Execution the foregoing Will
                                                     was duly proven in open court by the oath
                                                     of William W. Martin, Hicks, Combs and
                                                     James Marlow, and Randolph Mabery
                                                     Robert Martin were duly qualified as Ex
                                                     ecutors to said Will.
                                                        Test
                                                               R. Martin. Clk.

[Source: Wilkes County, North Carolina, Wills, 3: 195, Thomas Cook; FHL microfilm 393,950.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock