ASHE COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Eli Graybeal, 25 Feb 1885 ============================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the North Carolina USGenWeb Archives by: Kyle R. Graybeal krgrebiel@verizon.net ============================================================================ Eli Graybeal, b. 18 July 1818, d. 12 Mar 1885, was the eldest son of David Graybeal and Barbara Burket. Transcribed by Kyle R. Graybeal from a photocopy of the document on file in Will Book E, page 111 at the Ashe County Court House, Jefferson, North Carolina. I have made every attempt to preserve the original spellings and have inserted a "?" following words which were difficult to decipher and [-?-] for words which were undeciperable. Surnames appearing in the document: BOWER, CALAWAY, CAMPBELL, BURKET, FINLEY, GARVY, GRAHAM, GRAYBEAL, HAMILTON, HOUCK, ORTSMAN, POWERS, PUGH, RAY, RIDDLE, SPENCER Will of Eli Graybeal Know all men by these presents That I Eli Graybeal of Ashe County and State of North Carolina being feble [sic] in body but of sound mind and memory do declare and publish this my last will and testament 1st I will and devise to my beloved Grandson Eli Mitchell Pugh the land covered by the deed of Emilia Graybeal and his father Mitchell Pugh, it being about one half of the tract of land wherein I formerly lived known as the Geo. Bower tract adjoining the lands of Catherine BurkettSen and Richard Burkett and others for boundaries of the same reference is made to the said deed 2nd I will and devise to my beloved son David Henry Graybeal the other half of said tract of land adjoining the lands of Catherine Burkett Sen and Christian Burkett & others of the value of one thousand Also I will and devise to the said David H. Graybeal the tract of land known as the Garvy land adjoining the lands of Catherine Burkett Sen and Catherine Burkett Jun, Shade Calaway & others of the value of four hundred dollars Also I will and devise to the said David Graybeal the tract of land known as the Houck tract adjoining the lands of Jacob B. Houck John Ortsman & others one half of the mineral I except and devise the same to my son Calvin M. Graybeal The said tract is of the value of five hundred dollars to have and to hold the three several tracts of land herein before devised except one half the mineral on the Houck land to the said David H. Graybeal and his heirs forever upon this condition that if the said David Graybeal should die without leaving heirs or heirs of his body as lawful then and in that event it is my will and desire that the said lands shall go over to my son Calvin M. Graybeal and Celia E. Graham & their heirs 3rd I will and devise to my beloved daughter Celia E. Graham wife of Patterson Graham and heirs the two several tracts of land on Big Horse Creek in said County adjoining the lands [of] Joseph Powers Washington Finley & others for the exact boundary of the same reference is made to the deeds heretofore made by me to her for said tracts of land and the same is of the value of twelve hundred dollars. And I also will and devise to my beloved daughter Celia E Graham and her heirs the tract of land on the waters of Buffalo Creek in said County known as the James John?? tract of land containing 250 acres adjoining the lands of Melvin Campbell Hilton Ray John Riddle & others of the value of one thousand dollars. I will and devise to my beloved son Calvin M. Graybeal and his heirs subject to the Widows [sic] dower the tract of land on whitch [sic] I now live adjoining the lands of Geo. H Hamilton William Spencer the old Col. John Ray tract & others of the value of Eighteen hundred dollars I will and devise to my grandson Eli Mitchel Pugh one bed and bedding to be selected by his grandmother Emila Graybeal It is my will that whereas David H Graybeal has been advanced in personal property in the sum of one hundred and Eighty seven dollars and Celia E. Graham in the sum of two hundred and forty dollars And Calvin M. Graybeal in the sum of four hundred and Eighty seven dollars and it is my exprefs [sic] will that each of my three children be made equal. That is David H. Graybeal Celia Graham & Calvin M Graybeal and that each of them take the several tracts of land hereinbefore devised to them at the valuation herein named and that they account to each other for the several sums herein mentioned as advancements to them. And it is my will that my Executor after giving me a decent burial and paying all my just debts shall pay over the remainder to my beloved wife Emily Graybeal & my three children and that if the personal property is insufficient to make them Equal in land and personal property those having more than their equal share is to refund to those who have not so that all may be equal. And I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Calvin M. Graybeal my lawful Executor to this my last will and testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Feby 25 1885 Attest Wiley W. Caloway Eli Graybeal {Seal} W. B. Burkett