Guilford County NcArchives Wills.....Gowdy Or Goudy, William November 19, 1792 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com May 22, 2006, 4:18 am Source: From North Carolina State Archives, Cr.046.801.77 Written: November 19, 1792 Recorded: August 15, 1792 The Will of William Gowdy, 1792: “In the name of God, amen. November 19th, 1786. I, William Gowdy, being of perfect health of body, yet calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this, my last will and testament, viz.: “Principally and first of all, I give and recommend my body into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian funeral at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but of the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and ?dispose of the same in the following manner and form: “Item 1st: I give and bequeath to my two sons, James and William Gowdy ___ land, one being a deed of 460 acres and one of 90 acres to be divided between them agreeable to quantity and quality __________.” “Item 2nd: I give and bequeath to my two other sons, Robert and John Gowdy, the land of the Russell Branch to be divided between them agreeable to quantity and quality; and that each of my four sons pay to my daughter, Sarah, twenty pounds within the term of three years after they came to the full possession of the land as above or any or any of their cash sale as mentioned below, and if any of my sons die and leave no heirs of their own, that part to be divided equally among my children, male and female; but if my two sons William and John incline to learning or either of them and the reverend David Caldwell, William Scott and Henry Ross shall think that part of land allotted them sufficient to pay the expense, let it be done, only with proviso that William shall take Robert’s part and Robert have his, to prevent James from being encumbered with a bad neighbor.” “That my moveable estate be divided as follows: James to have the ?horse ____, William to have the ?horse Jack, Robert to have the ___ sorrel, John the two youngest colts; that my daughter Elizabeth Bellsley? Have the black mare, and a cow and calf; and my daughter Sarah have the mare Phoenix and her saddle and the bed I sleep on; and the rest of my personal estate to be divided among my four sons and that my children live together so long as they keep the estate as good as they get it. But if otherwise that one shall disturb the rest, to have their part laid off to them and let them separate from them that one peaceable ____ ____ that part of personal estate that belong to my sons, the _____ John to be sold to the best advantage and the money reserved for their use, and I hereby _____ do make and ordain my son James Gowdy, William Scott and Henry Ross executors of this my last will; confirming this and no other to be my will and testament. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this day and year above written. No witness being present, upon James Henderson, esq., Henry Ross, Hezekiah Rhodes or any other to prove the handwriting agreeable to a law passed at Newbern the 22nd of October, 1787. ______ ___. William Gowdy November 10th, 1787 “A codicil to my last will and testament now in the possession of Captain Henry Ross: “Whereas about a year past when I made the said will and testament, I was then a single man, and being since married, must leave a way of living for my well-beloved wife after my decease; so therefore leave to JEAN GOWDY, my well-beloved wife one-third part of all my real estate in manner as the law directs, during her natural; and also a child’s part of all my personal estate, and I also empower the executors of my last will and testament to call on the clerk of Guilford Court for a copy of JOHN WHITE’s last will and testament and the inventory returned of the same, in order to know the value of my personal estate; and that my last will and testament be fulfilled as is consistent with this which is my desire; and that this codicil be held as a part of my last will and testament, and proved in the same manner. I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 10th day of November, 1787.” William Gowdy, seal From North Carolina State Archives, CR.046.508.96, Estate Records of William Gowdy, 1792: “January 18th, 1792: Then received from Captain Henry Ross the sum of six shillings for the copy of JOHN WHITE’s will. John Hamilton.” “Received from James Gowdy, Executor of William Gowdy, deceased for the probate and record of the will 14 shillings, for the copy 6 shillings, and for the copy of the inventory of the estate of JOHN WHITE, deceased, at 6 shillings, in all one pound, six shillings. Guilford Center, John Hamilton, Clerk, 2 August 1792.” From North Carolina State Archives, CR.046.508.96, Estate Records of William Gowdy, 1792: Diagrams of plot maps of 4 tracts of land divided off for JANE PAISLEY WHITE GOWDY as her widow’s dower share [even though her marriage to William Gowdy brought him 1,420 acres, she lost 2-thirds of this land at his death, receiving only 472 acres.] One plot contains 216 acres, the next contains 166 and ¾, the next 23 and 1/3rd, and the remainder was 66 and ¾. No descriptions are given of the tracts they had been divided from. “We the jurors summoned for that purpose, certify that we have laid off WIDOW GOWDY’s dowry of lands agreeable to the above plans and agreeable to the order of the court. Witness our hands and seals, this 15th day of August 1792. Hubbard Peoples Richard Borton H. Hamilton Geddy Finley Walter McCuiston Moses McCuiston William Covey Josiah Finley “Received of the executors of William Gowdy, deceased, the sum of 8 pounds hard money, this 16th of January, 1793, JANE GOUDY.” [Her real signature] “Received of the heirs of William Gowdy, property to the value of 16 pounds, 19 shillings, being a part of twenty pounds which I agreed to take to make my part equal to a child’s part. Received this 15th day of January, 1793. JANE GOWDY. [Witnessed] By me, Robert Peasley [her brother.] “February 19th, 1793. Received of the executors of the estate of William Gowdy, the sum of 17 shillings hard money, I say received by me. JANE GOUDY.” “February 19th, 1793. Received of executors of William Gowdy, deceased, the sum of 1 pound, 10 shillings. I say, received by me. JANE GOWDY.” “September 23rd, 1793: Then received of the executors of the estate of William Goudy, deceased, 3 pounds paper money by me. JANE GOWDY.” “April the 22nd, 1794. Received of the executors of the estate of William Gowdy, deceased, the sum of 1 pound, 12 shillings, six pence. I say, received by me, JANE GOUDY.” “10th June, 1794. Received of the executors of William Gowdy, deceased, the sum of 10 pounds, 7 shillings and 6 pence. Received by me. JANE GOWDY.” “21st September 1795. Received of William Scott, James Gowdy and Henry Ross, executors of the estate of William Gowdy, deceased, the sum of 8 pounds. Received by me, JANE GOUDY.” “2nd January, 1796. Received of the executors of William Gowdy, deceased, the sum of 2 pounds in part of the 20 pounds stipulated to me in place of a horse. Received by me. JANE GOWDY.” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/wills/gowdyorg78gwl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb