MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Samuel Knox Will - 1794 ************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. 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 non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Louise Pettus lpettus@cetlink.net *************************************************************** WILL OF SAMUEL KNOX, 1730-1800 Buried in Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mecklenburg County, NC -IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN - I SAMUEL KNOX of the County of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina being through the abundant Mercy and goodness of God though weak in body yet sound and perfect understanding and Memory do constitute this my Last Will and Testament...As to my burial I desire it may be decent without pomp or state at the descretion of my wife and Executors herein after named who I doubt not will manage it with all prudence. And as to my world estate I will it and order that my just debts be paid. Item. To my well beloved wife Mary I bequeath one bed and furniture which she commonly called her own and also two horses named Roan and Fox. Also two Negroes named January and Nan also six cows of her own choosing out of my flock and hogs at the discretion of my Executors for her maintenance, also four sheep with a new saddle and bridle plough and tackling, one matock two hoes one walnut chest one mahogany table with all the pots, pans & dresser furniture except the silver handled knives and forks which are to be equally divided between my widow and three daughters and for her my widow to remain and enjoy this my mansion house and farm during her widowhood also young black mare name Cate all which is to have and possess during her widowhood except the Negroes and them to be equally divided among my three daughters Jane, Sarah and Mary except the household furniture which she is to dispose of at her own discretion. Item. To my well beloved daughters Jane I bequeath one roan horse named Flint with three cows and four hogs. Item. To my daughter Sarah I bequeath one soral mare named dawson with six head of neat cattle of two or three years old and five head of hogs and two sheep and in case she does not come for said Legacy in the span of five years after my decease then said Legacy to be divided between my daughters Jane and Mary. Item. To my daughter Mary I bequeath a soral horse named Dawson (?) 6 head of neat cattle of two or three years old with six young hogs and four sheep also one negro named Ive. Item. To my grandson John Pettus I bequeath negro man named jack & one gold watch. Item. To my grandson Stephen Pettus I bequeath one negro woman called Bet. Item. To my granddaughter Agness Pettus I bequeath one negro man called Frank and four head of neat cattle of one or two years old. Item to my granddaughter Mary Pettus daughter of George Pettus I bequeath one mulatto boy named Duff and one yearling filly a colt of Dosons. Item. To my granddaughter Mary Candlish I bequeath three negroes named Tom, Will and Phib. Also one plantation whereupon Alexander Candlish lived in York County South Carolina on waters of Steel Creek joining George Pettus, William Pettus, Joseph Jackson, and Jesse Horn, and one plantation in Mecklenburg Co No. Carolina joining John Neely, Charles Calhoun, Walter Davis & Robert Barnett on the waters of Steel Creek containing about three hundred acres and one plantation near Bigger’s Ferry on the Catawba joining the lands of David McMason, Samuel Neely, Martin West containing three hundred acres, also one plantation joining the Indian line and the lands that was formerly Jackson Neelys and another tract of my own and David Knox’s all that the patent contains also a lease of land in South Carolina joining the last mentioned tract of land a small tract joining Martin West & Standard’s lines and if Alexander Candlish returns to these parts to live he is to have hold occupy and possess any tract willed to Mary Candlish & two of said negroes for twenty five years after my decease and not sell, barter, or trade said land or negroes to any person or persons whatsoever and in case Mary Candlish dies before she arrives to the age of eighteen years then sd lands and negroes to descend to her brothers or sisters in case sd Candlish has no issue by her mother then sd lands and negroes to descend to my daughters Jane and Mary equally also one negroe girl named Sall till she sd negroe is twenty four years of age. Item. To my granddaughter Rebecca Pettus I bequeath a negro girl named Poll and five head of neat cattle about one or two years old. Item. To my grandson Samuel Knox Pettus son of William Pettus I bequeath the plantation whereon I now live and as much in the south state joining this tract as will make this tract eight hundred acres with all the improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging forever also one negro woman named Dinah one negro boy called Moses and his father to have the use of said negroes till sd heir is twenty one years of age. Item. to Wm. Pettus I bequeath all the remainder of land in South Carolina except the tract my brother Robert Knox lives on which he is to hold during his life and then to descend to William Pettus except a tract joining Richard Springs on the Millstone Branch and Clem’s Branch and that tract I bequeath to my grandson Stephen Pettus one half of said tract is John Knox’s and the lease in his name and mine and John Pettus son of George Pettus I bequeath one tract of land joining the lines of Richard Robison, John Price, Wm. McRae, James Blackwood, Wm. Ferguson, Robt McCormack, about one hundred and twenty eight acres, and one piece of land that Gordon leased out a small tract joining widow Neels, Jas Porter and Capt Harts and two warrants in the hands of county surveyor and these last named lands I bequeath to my Exors herein after named to be sold and the money arising from the sale to be equally divided among my grandchildren above named my two stills, my stallion, my two waggons, my guns, my sword, and all horses and neat cattle, hogs, and sheep not mentioned and all the farming utensils o be sold and the money arising from the sale, the brick house that is now begun to be completed and done off according to what Thompson, Hartgrove and Charles Wright has agreed to do it for sd house to be twenty feet high above the stone work and cheimneys and all the money arising from the sale and all notes, bonds and book debts after said building is completed and the money in the hands of my exors to be equally divided among my grandchildren and put to usury for them, and to my brother Johns son Samuel Knox I bequeath one young bay horse two years old, and to Samuel Knox Pettus my grandson I bequeath one tract of land joining Samuel Calhoun and my own and Samuel Neely’s lines about thirty acres. The grain in the ground after a sufficient quantity laid off for the maintenance of my widow to be sold at the discretion of my Exors, my smith tools, harness leather and saddle furniture and all others hides and leather and what whiskey can be spared and loom and tackling to be sold and the money to be divided as above directed, and I leave all my wearing apparel to be equally divided between my brothers Matthew Knox and David Knox and the plantation that is between David Knox and me I bequeath him my half of it. And I bequeath James Tagart my best Hatt and I do hereby forever ratify and confirm all gifts, bequests and legacies by me formerly granted and I appoint and constitute my beloved wife Mary Knox my executrix, William Pettus and James Tagart my Executors to this my last will and testaments. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 5th day of May 1794 signed, sealed and pronounced in the presence of James F. Gordon his Samuel Knox {LS} Joseph X Knox mark George Pettus Estate administration: April Session 1804 Mecklenburg County Court Minutes, Book 4. #463: George Pettus vs. Samuel Knoxes Exrs. Charged, Verdict-find for the Plaintiff 120.11.9 and they also find a Set Off in the following words to Wit: Twelve months after date we or either of us acknowledge ourselves bound to pay or cause to be paid unto William Pettus or James Tagerts, Executors or the Estate of Samuel Knox, deceased, the Sum of $285, Value received, Witness our hands and Seals this 15th day of May 1800 {Sic}. George Pettus (Seal) Test: Robert Bigham Alexr. Candlish (Seal) And that the $241.21 of Said Bond is a compleat Set off against the plaintiffs Demands. South Carolina I Benjamin Chambers Ordinary of the District York District aforesaid do hereby certify that the within is a true copy of the last will and testament of Samuel Knox Deceased as in the Records of this Office Given under my hand & seal July 9, 1823 Benjamin Chambers O. Y. D.