Granville County, NC - Will of Daniel Gooch, 1837

Background:  
  
Daniel Gooch was born on August 26, 1756 in Caroline County, Virginia; 
the son of Joseph Gooch (1732-1810) and his wife Rachel.  The family 
moved to Amelia County, Virginia around 1760 and then to Granville 
County, North Carolina around 1778.  His mother Rachel died about 1781 
and his father remarried twice, first to Anne Marshall the widow of 
Abner Lockett of Mecklenburg, VA and thirdly to Sarah Harris the widow 
of John Hawkins of Granville.  Though the Gooch family gave provision 
to the Continental troops, there is no record of Daniel’s active 
service in the American Revolution, but he qualified as Lieutenant of 
the Militia in 1788.  Daniel Gooch married in 1789 to Nancey Sneed, 
daughter of Capt. Samuel Sneed and his wife Jane Dudley of Granville 
and Person Counties.  Daniel settled on a farm located below present 
day Enon Church on the Tar River in Granville County.  Daniel 
established a mill and acquired a plantation of around 867 acres, which 
he farmed with between 16 and 32 slaves.  Before his death in 1835 he 
dispersed thirteen young enslaved people to his various children.  A 
few years before he had sold three slaves to John Kerr.  Daniel and 
Nancey raised a large family and based on transcripts of a family 
Bible, all lived to adulthood.  These children are:  Samuel Gooch 
(1790-1837) married Martha Parker and removed to Tallahatchie County, 
MS; Joseph Gooch (1791-1876) married Susan W. Bennett; Rachael P. Gooch 
(1793-1858) married Thomas Howard; James Gooch (1794-1879) married 
Sallie Willis Harris and lived near Henderson, NC; Thomas Gooch (1796-
1869) never married and moved to Tallahatchie Co., MS; Jane Dudley 
Gooch (1797-1882) married William Clement; William Gooch (1799-1877) 
married Lucy Ann Mitchell; Hannah Anne Gooch (1800-1890) never married; 
Amos Gooch (1802-1885) never married; Dudley Snead Gooch (1804-1863) 
married 1st Mary Jane Bennett and 2ndly Mary Indianna Jones he moved to 
Nash Co., NC; Daniel Terry Gooch (1807-1895) married Nancy Hester.  
Nancy Sneed Gooch preceded her husband in death and died on June 23, 
1822.  Daniel, Nancy, and many of their children are buried at the 
Gooch graveyard in Granville County.  Daniel Gooch “marks” his will, 
but this is probably due to infirmity, as he served as County Entry 
Taker (Tax Collector) for Granville County, which required literacy. 


Transcript of text:

In the name of God Amen.  I Daniel Gooch of the County of Granville and 
State of North Carolina, Being weak in Body, but in perfect mind and 
memory, thanks be to God do make and ordain this my last will and 
testament, in manner an form following viz.

First of all, I recommend my soul to god, who first gave it and my body 
to the Earth to be buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my 
Executor hereinafter named

As to my Worldly goods which god has blessed me with, I give and devise 
in the following manner.

1st I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid

2nd I will to my daughter Hannah Gooch and to my Daughter Nancy Gooch, 
one hundred acres of land out of the  tract whereon I now reside 
including my Dwelling house Kitchen and other Houses.  Beginning at the 
place on the River called the Cat Hole, thence to the Gate near the 
apple orchard thence to run beyond the using Spring so as to take in 
thence to corner in the Field opposite to the fence below the North 
Gate from the house thence e along said fence through the woods so as 
to mark the compliment to Lemuel Goodwin line, thence along Goodwin’s 
line to the River and thence down the River to he Beginning.  Also I 
will to them one yoke of oxen and one cart. But in case the should 
marry or die the land to be equally divided amongst my children namely 
my son Samuel Gooch, Joseph Gooch, James Gooch, Thomas Gooch, Jane 
Clements, William Gooch Hannah Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S. Gooch, 
Daniel T. Gooch, Nancy Gooch to them their heirs administrators &c 

and to my daughter Rachel Howard wife of Thomas Howard, the part or lot 
of said land which may fall to her, the same to be the sole right of 
the said Rachael Howard, during her Natural life and at her death the 
said lot which may fall to her to be equally divided amongst the 
children of the said Rachel Howard then living and the legal 
representative of such as may have died each child of said Rachel to 
have one share, but the lot of land or her part, in no wise to be 
subject to the debts or incumberances of said Thomas Howard but to be 
and remain the sole and undivided property of the said Rachel and her 
children as aforesaid.  Also at their death or marriage the yoke of 
oxen and cart to be sold and the money arising from such sale to be 
equally divided among my children in the same way and to the same as 
herein expressed.

3rd   I will that the balance of my lands and all my negroes o be 
valued and lotted into twelve lots each, equally divided amongst my 
children namely my son Samuel Gooch, Joseph Gooch, James Gooch, Thomas 
Gooch, Jane Clements, William Gooch Hannah Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S. 
Gooch, Daniel T. Gooch, Nancy Gooch to them their heirs administrators &c

4th I will that all my household and kitchen furniture and stock of all 
kind, farming utensils and property of all kind to be sold on twelve 
month credit and the money arising from such sale to be equally divide 
amongst my children as above named and below expressed

5th I will to my daughter Rachael Howard wife of Thomas Howard one 
twelfth part of the balance of my lands and negroes the Lots which she 
may draw or fall to her also one twelfth part of the money arising from 
the sale of my stock and other property.  The lot of land and the lot 
of negroes and the increase of said lot of negroes if any and the 
twelfth part of the money arising from such sale of property the same 
to be the sole  right of the said Rachael Howard during her natural 
life and at her death the said lot of land and lot of negroes and the 
increase of said negroes if any and the money as above mentioned to be 
equally divided amongst the children of the said Rachel Howard then 
living and the legal representatives of such as may have died each 
child of said Rachael to have one share but the lot of land and he lot 
of negros their increase if any and money in no wise to be subject to 
the debts or incumbrances of said Thomas Howard but to be and remain 
the sole and individual property of the said Rachel and her children as 
aforesaid.

6th I will to by daughter Hannah Gooch one hundred dollars in cash to 
be paid out of my estate by my executors and one horse her choice out 
of my stock of horses.

7th I will to my daughter Nancy Gooch one hundred dollars in cash to be 
paid out of my estate by my executors and one horse her choice of my 
stock of horses

Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my sons Joseph Gooch, James 
Gooch, William Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S. Gooch and Daniel T. Gooch 
executors to this my last will and testament. . In witness whereof I 
have hereunto set my hand and seal the 23rd day of September AD 1837

Daniel Gooch (his mark) (seal)

Signed in presence of 
Jas. A. Russell
Joseph House
Samuel Rogers

State of North Carolina
Granville county
November Court AD 1837
The execution of the last will and testament of Daniel Gooch decd. Was 
duly proven an oath in open court by Joseph House and Samuel Rodgers 
two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded at 
eh same time came forward James Gooch and Amos Gooch named as Executors 
in said will and duly qualified as such Witness James M. Wiggins clk.

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
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