Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Douglass, John February 19, 1816 ************************************************ 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: Ben Franklin ben.franklin.ffru@gmail.com May 2024 Source: Loose Will, NC Archives CR 073.801, Will Book Volume D, pages 481-482 Written: February 19, 1816 Recorded: May 1816 Testator: John Douglass In the name of God Amen I John Douglass of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being sick and weak in body but of good and perfect Mind and Memory Thanks to Almighty God and Calling to mind the uncertain state of this Mortal life - and that all flesh much yield unto death When it shall please God to call, do make Constitute ordain and declare this my last will and Testament in Manner and form follow ing first of all I Recommend My soul into the hands of God who gave it and My body I Recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Manner at the discretion of my executors and as for such Worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I dispose of in the following Manner & form - - - - - - - - - - - - - Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Margaret for the love and good will I Bear to her and for services done by her to me all that Tract and parcel of land and plantation whereon I now live with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging Containing one hundred & ten acres of land More or less Bounded by the lands of William Cannon James Grahams David Bradford & Jacob Garrison to her the said Margaret for ever together with all and every other article or articles of property Both real and personal of every sort and discription That I am possessed of after my Just debts and legacies are paid to be hers during her natural lifetime, and to be at her disposal at her death Item I give and bequeath to my Brother William Douglas the sum of two dollars Item I give and bequeath to my Brother David Douglas the sum of two dollars [page break] Item I give and bequeath to my Brother Henderson Douglas the sum of two dollars Item I give and bequeath to the ["living" x out] heirs of My Brother James Douglas deceased The sum of two dollars to each of them to be paid by my executors one year after my decease - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - and I do hereby revoke and disanul by these presents all and every Testament & Testaments will and Wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and this only to be Taken for my last Will and Testament and none other ~~~ and I hereby appoint my Trusty Friends James Graham & George Garron son of Jacob Garrison executors of this my last Will and Testament this 19th day of February AD 1816 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Signed sealed and declared by the said John Douglas as his last Will and Testament in the presents of us David Bradford senr Jurat his Thomas (X) Bradford Geo Garrison qualified John Douglass (seal) mark George Grahams James Graham qualified [Will Book Volume D, page 481] In the name of God. Amen. I John Douglass of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina, being Sick and weak in body; but of good & perfect Mind and Memory, Thanks to Almig[h] -ty God, and calling to mind the uncertain State of this Mor -tal life, and that all flesh much yield unto death when it shall please God to call, do make constitute ordain and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, First of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Manner at the dis -cretion of my Executors, And as for such Worldly Estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I dispose of in the following Manner & form Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Margaret for the love and good will I bear to her and for services done by her to me, all that Tract or parcel of Land and Plantation whereon I now live with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging containing one hundred & ten Acres of Land more or less, bounded by the lands of William Cannon James Grahams, David Bradford & Jacob Garrison, to her the said Margaret forever together with all and every other article or Articles of property both real and personal of every sort & description that I am possessed of after my Just debts and legacies are paid to be hers during her natural lifetime and to be at her disposal at her death Item I give and bequeath to my brother William Douglass the Sum of two dollars ~~~ Item I give and bequeath to my brother David Doug -lass the Sum of two dollars ~~~~ Item, I give and bequeath to my brother Henderson Douglass the Sum of two dollars ~~~ Item I give and bequeath to the heirs of my brother James Douglass [deceased] the Sum of two dollars to each of them to be paid by my Executors one year after my decease ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And I do hereby revoke and disannul by these presents all and every Testament and Testaments Will and Wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and this Only to be taken for my last Will and Testament and none other ~~~ And I hereby appoint my trusty friends James Grahams and George Garrison son of Jacob Garrison Executors [Will Book Volume D, page 482] of this my last Will and Testament this 19th day of February AD 1816 Signed Sealed and declared by the said John Douglass as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us David Bradford Senr his Thomas (X) Bradford John Douglass (seal) mark George Grahams Orange County County May Term 1816 The Execution of the foregoing last Will & Testament of John Douglass decd. was duly proved in Open Court by the oath of David Bradford Senr. a subscribing Witness thereof & ordered to be recorded. At the same time the Executors therein named qualified accordingly Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume D, pages 481-482 Recorded May 1816 Notes: First instance of testator's name is clearly "John Douglass" second instance "John Douglas", signature "John Douglass". His brothers' names both written "Douglas". First instance of James Garrison's name clearly written "Garron", other instances of this surname all clearly written "Garrison". The "page break" noted is where the original document was folded and eventually became two separate pieces. This document has been preserved with conservator's tape. Estate Papers comprise 11 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Douglas, John (1816)". [Estate Papers - Slave Inventory 1 Jun 1816] The following Statement exhibits an account of that part of the estate of John Douglass decd. which pass'd into the hand of his Executor; Viz 1st property Sold on the 23rd day of Septemr. 1816 at the late residence of said dec'd. [omitted] 2nd Notes [omitted] 3rd Book Accompts [omitted] 4th Slaves Viz George a fellow of about 35 or 36 years of age Minie a Woman of about 40 or upwards 41 Cate a Girl of about 17 or 18 Dave a boy of about 11 or 12 Pat a Girl of about 9 or 10 Pegy a small Girl of about 7 or 8 John a Small boy of about 4 or 6 __________ 7 in no. The above described Negro's ware delivered over to Margeret Douglass widow and legatee of sd. John Douglass decd. for her use and benefit agreeable to the directions of the will of said decd. 1 June 1816