Theophilus Tatom - 1863 - Bladen Co., NC - Wills Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Project Archives by Roger Tatum rogert@ttwinc.com ***************************************** I Theophilus Tatum of the County of Bladen and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following - that is to say - First that my executor shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relatives and friends and pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts howsoever and to whomever owing out of the monies that may first come into his hands as a part or parcel of my estate. Item 1st. I give and devise to my beloved wife the plantation where I now live on and fifty acres tract that the mill is now upon. And the Jones Swamp tract. And Swain(illegible) and his wife Judy and a boy by the name of Bill and a young mare three cows and calves. Such as she chooses the best sow and pigs and five head of other hogs such as she wishes and corn and fodder enough to keep up her own stock for the year and two bushels of shelled peas and twenty-five bushels of potatoes and five bushels of slips. Enough of corn for her bread and her family and meal enough to support her and her family for this year and five stock of Bees. Her choice of five head of sheep and leather enough to shoe her and her family for the year and all the poultry. Item 2nd. I give and devise to my son Daniel two tracts of land, called the Culbreath tract and seventy-five acres called the Ellis land. Item 3rd. I give and devise to my youngest son Lennon one hundred acres of land patented by myself lying on the South West side of Turnbull Creek below the mouth of Panther Branch, and also the two tracts of land on the North east side of Turnbull Creek, the land I bought of Jim Smith. Item My will and desire is that all the residue of my estate, of real estate and personal property, be sold and divided among all my children share and share alike with the exception of my daughter Mary Jane Downing. I give and bequeath to the said Mary Jane Downing her equal share to her and to the lawful issue of her boys. And what I have bequeathed to my beloved wife after her decease to be equally divided among my children. And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son John Henry Tatum my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof, I the said Theophilus Tatum do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 24th day of Jan one thousand eight hundred and sixty three. Theophilus Tatom (seal) Signed sealed and published and declared by the said Theophilus Tatom to be his last will and testament in the presence of us what at his request and in his presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto. Witnesses: M. Monroe, H.R. Francis North Carolina, Bladen County, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, May Term 1863 A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Theophilus Tatom deceased is exhibited for probate in open court by John H. Tatom the executor therein named and the due execution thereof by the said Theophilus Tatum, is proved by the oath and examination of Malcom Monroe, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto. It is therefore considered by the Court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of the said Theophilus Tatum deceased and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed. And thereinafter the said John H. Tatum Executor as aforesaid duly qualified as such by taking the oath required by law. D Blue, Clerk F.F. Cumming, D Clerk ************* Roger Tatum rogert@ttwinc.com ============================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogy information on the Internet, data may be freely 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 presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must contact the submitter or the listed USGenWeb archivist.