Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Tatom, Absalom December 17, 1802 ************************************************ 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 94-100, (no page 96) Written: December 17, 1802 Recorded: Feb 1803 Testator: Absalom Tatom I Absalom Tatom of the Town of Hillsborough but now in the City of Raleigh do make, and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following ------ Imprimis -- I desire that my Executors herein after mentioned do pay and discharge all my just debts --- I give and bequeath to my friends John Hogg Catlett Campbell, David Ray, William Kirkland and Duncan Cameron my negroes George, Cate, Sally and her child with their future Increase, young George and Jack to them their Heirs, Executors and Administrators in trust & in Confidence that they will use their best endeavors to pro cure them to be emancipated and set free, for meritorious services rendered to me ----- I give and bequeath to my said friends my Tract of land and plantation lying on the Chatham road on the South side of Eno with all the stock of every kind crop, provisions and plantation Utensils thereto belonging to them their Heirs Executors, and Administrators in trust Nevertheless for the use and Benefit of the Slaves named in the foregoing clause and the future Increase of the female part of them; but at all times to be subject to the disposal and controul of said Trus tees to be disposed of in the most advantageous manner for said Slaves ----- I give and bequeath to Mary Willett wife of William Willett of Williamson County in the State of Tennessee, and to the child which She now has; and which she may hereafter have five Hundred Acres of Land to be taken off the North - West corner of my tract lying on Harpeth River in the County and State aforesaid, to them their Heir[s] and assigns forever ---- I give and bequeath to my friend Catlett Campbell that piece or parcel of a Lott in the town of Hillsboro' lying west on the street between his own House and the House of Mrs Mary Doherty to him, his Heirs and Assigns forever --------- [page 2] I give and bequeath to my nephew Samuel Goodwin of the Town of Fayetteville and his Heirs and assigns forever my Houses and Lotts in the town of Hills borough with all the appurtenances thereto belonging ------ I devise all the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal of whatsoever kind or na ture wheresoever the same may be to my Executors here in after named, to be sold at such time and in such manner as in their discretion will be most advantage ous for those for whom the proceeds are intended ---------- I give and bequeath to my eldest Bro ther Barnet Tatom the Sum of Two thousand dollars to my nephew Samuel Goodwin the Sum of Two Thou sand dollars and to my Sister Elizabeth Hicks of Granville County the Sum of One Thousand dollars to be paid out of the proceeds of the Sales above directed to be made ---- Item I give and bequeath to my Brothers Abner Tatom, John Tatom, and William Tatom each the sum of One Thousand dollars to be paid out of the pro ceeds of the sale above directed to be made but if either of my said Brothers should be dead at the time of making this Will, then the Sum hereby given and bequeathed him shall ensue to his legal Heirs --- Item I give and bequeath to the Children or Heirs of my deceased Brother Abel Tatom the Sum of One Thousand dollars; - to the children of my deceased Sister Henrietta Fulbylove[?], or their legal representatives the sum of One thousand dollars -- to the Children of my de ceased Sister Kesiah Goodwin alias Newby, Samuel Good win excepted who is otherwise provided for[?] the sum of One thousand dollars ------ to be paid out of the proceeds of the sale before directed to be made -- and in all the devises it is my will and desire that if any of the children of my deceased Brothers and Sister shall have died [x-out] bearing Children, then that such children stand in the place of and represent their deceas ed Parent; and it is further my will and desire, that in all there cases the Sum of Money given to the children of a deceased Brother or Sister, be divided among them equally share & share alike Item I give and bequeath to my said Nephew Samuel Goodwin, all the furniture and other things belonging to my Houses in Hillsboro' except such as are specifi [page 3] cally given away to the other persons, and it is ??? true meaning and Intent, that what is hereby given to the said Samuel Goodwin be held and considered to be over and above what I may have here to fore advanced to him or for his Use -------------- I give and bequeath to my friend John Hogg my gold watch key and Seal ---- I give and bequeath to my friend Duncan Cameron my law-Books I desire my Executors to pay to Sarah a nagro woman Slave the property of James Hogg Esquire, the Sum of twelve pounds as a reward for his Attention to me in my Illness Whereas two tracts of land entered in the office of John Armstrong both in my name, one of which containing four Thousand five Hundred and thirty Acres or thereabout, was purchased, and is apparently my property but in reality is held to the use of sundry persons as will appear by Papers in my possession It is my Will and desire that my Executors do convey to the persons so intevested their respective Grants, warranting only five Persons claiming by, from, or under me, but no further, or other wise --- The other Tract of Three thousand Acres granted to me for my Services as Commissioner a second time for laying out Army lands - of this I have sold five Hundred Acres to old Mr. _____ Martin of Davidson County in the State of Tennessee if not already conveyed to him by John Nichols and Genl ???? Robertson by virtue of a power of Attorney heretofore granted them for that purpose. -- it is my Will and desire that my Executors do convey to Mr Macklin said lands out of such part to the Tract as he may choose -- one half of the remainder belongs to Genl Ro bertson as a Compensation for his Service in locating and surveying said lands which I desire my Executors to convey to him or his Heirs And for the purpose of ascertaining the true Interests which William Moore and myself have in certain lands lying in The County of Randolph, I think it right and just to declare that a tract of land containing two Hundred and fifty Acres being a part of a tract known by the name of Lowes, and a tract of two Hundred Acres afterwards entered adjoining thereto on the South and for which a Grant was obtained in my name alone; are the joint property of said William Moore & myself & held by us as Tenants in Common -- adjoining to these two tracts on the North as one con- taining Eighty Acres, bought of one Rush[?] this is my sole property -after the War the said William Moore and myself entered jointly a tract of land in said County containing Six hundred and forty Acres including the cross Roads leading from Salisbury [page 4] to Fayetteville, and from Randolph old Court House to Firkins Camp on Yadkin River, a Grant was obtained in my name alone, but Mr Moore is equally concerned as tenant in common It is further my Will and desire, that after the death of old George & Kate his Wife, the plantation demised[?] in trust for the use of my Negroes shall be equally divided between Jack & Sally or their Heirs respectively; but if young George should reform to the satisfaction of my Trustees, they may at their pleasure give him an equal share with Jack & Sally or their Heirs in said tract of land, but the same During the life time of old George & Kate is not to be divided ----------- In the management and disposal of my land in the State of Tennessee I recommend to my Execu tors to request the apertance[?] of my friends Major Abraham Manny and Genl. Daniel Smith, and desire that just Com pensation may be made to them for whatever services they may render in relation thereto -- All the residue of my Estate which shall remain after the payment of my debts and the legacies herein specifically devised, I desire may be divided among and between my Brother Barnett Tatom, Alma Tatom, John Tatom, William Tatom, my Sister Elizabeth Hicks my Nephew Samuel Tatom, and the children of my deceased Brother Abel Tatom, and the children of my deceased Sisters Henrie etta Fulbylove[?], and Kesiah Goodwin alias Newby, Samuel Goodwin excepted who is provided for as abovesaid, share and share alike; and where any of [?] my Brothers are dead it is my Will that his children should represent him, and when any of the children of a deceased Brother or Sister have died leaving children it is my Will that the Children of such deceased child should stand in his or her place and take accordingly ---- Lastly I constitute and appoint Sa muel Goodwin, John Hogg, Catlett Campbell and Dun can Cameron Executors of this last Will and Testa ment, hereby revoking all former Wills --- In Testimony of all which I have hereto set my Hand & Seal this 17th decem ber 1802 "the words "Crop and provision" "interlined before signing &c" Signed, sealed published & declared A Tatom (seal) to be his last Will & Testament before us Wm Norwood Jurat Gavin Alves Ed Jones W L Strudwick [page 5] I further make this a Codicil to my last Will and Testament I give and bequeath to Thomas Hogg the son of James Hogg of the Town of Hillsboro' the Sum of Two Hundred dollars this Sum I desire my Executors as soon as convenient to place at Interest upon good Security to be paid to him when he shall arrive at the Age of twenty one years ------ Signed, sealed Published & declared to be a codicil to A Tatom (seal) his last Will & Testament on this 17th Decr. 1802 Wm Norwood Ed Jones Gavin Alves W L Strudwick [Will Book Volume D, page 94] I Absalom Tatam of the town of Hillsborough but now in the City of Raleigh do make & ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner & form following ------ Imprimis I desire that my Executors herein after ["named" x-out] mentioned do pay and discharge all my Just debts I give & bequeath to my friends John Hogg, Catlett Campbell, David Ray, William Kirkland & Duncan Cameron my negroes George Cate Sally & her child with their future Increase, young George and Jack to them & their heirs ["forever" x-out] Executors Administrators in trust in Confidence that they will use their best endeavors to procure them to be imancipated & set free for meritorious services rendered to me------ I give and bequeath to my Said friends my tract of Land and plantation lying on the Chatham Road on the South side of Eno with all the Stock of every Kind, Crop, provisions & plantation Utensils thereto belonging to them their Heirs Executors & Administrators in trust nevertheless for the use & benefit of the Slaves named in the foregoing clause & the future [Will Book Volume D, page 95] Increase of the female part of them but at all times to be subject to the disposal and continued[control] of Said Trustees to be disposed of in the most advan tageous manner for said Slaves ----- I give and bequeath to Mary Willott wife of William Willott & William in [of Williamson] County in the State of Tennisee and to the Child [which] She now has & which she may hereafter Have five Hundred Acres of Land to be taken off the North West Corner of my tract lying on Harpeth River in the County & State aforesaid to them their Heirs & assigns forever ---- I give & bequeath to my friend Catlett Campbell that piece or parcel of a Lott in the town of Hillsborough lying West on the Street between his own House & the House of Mrs Mary Doherty to him his heirs & assigns forever --------- I give and bequeath to my nephew Samuel Goodwin of the town of Fayetteville & his heirs & assigns forever -- my Houses & lotts in the town of Hillsborough with all the appurtenances thereto belonging ------ I devise all the rest & residue of my estate both real and personal of what soever kind or nature wheresoever the same may be to my Executors hereinafter named to be sold at such time and in such manner as in their discretion will be most advantageous for those for Whom the proceeds are intended ---------- I give & bequeath to my Eldest Brother Barnet Tatam the Sum of two thousand dollars to my Nephew Samuel Goodwin the Sum [of] two thousand Dollars, And to my Sister Elizabeth Hicks of Granville County the Sum of one thousand Dollars to be paid out of the pro ceeds of the sales above directed to be made ---- Item I give & bequeath to my Brothers Abner Tatam, John Tatam, & William Tatam each the sum of one thousand Dollars to be paid out of the proceeds of the Sale above directed to be made --- but if ["as thereof" x-out] either of my said Brothers Should be dead at the time of Making this Will then the Sum hereby given & bequeathed him shall ensue to his legal heirs Item I give & bequeath to the Children & heirs of my deceased Brother [Will Book Volume D, page 97 (no page 96)] Abel Tatam the Sum of one thousand Dollars --- To the Children of my deceased Sister Harrietta[sic] Fulbylove or their Legal representatives the Sum of one thousand Dollars -- To the Children of my deceased Sister Meriah[Kesiah] Goodwin alias Newby, Samuel Goodwin excepted who is otherwise provided for the Sum of one thousand Dollars to be paid out of the proceeds of the sale before directed to be made & in all the devises it is my Will & desire that if any after [of] the Children of my deceased Brothers & Sisters shall have died bearing Children then that Such Children Stand in the place of & represent their deceased Parent, and it is further my Will and desire that in all there Cases the Sum of Money given to the Children of a deceased Brother & [or] Sister be divided among them equally Share and Share alike Item I give & bequeath to my said Nephew Samuel Goodwin all the furniture & other things belonging to my House[s] in Hillsborough except Such as are specified cally[sic] given away to the other persons and it is ???? true meaning & Intent that what is hereby given to the said Samuel Goodwin so held and considered to be over & above what I may have heretofore advanced to him or for his Use ----------- I give & bequeath to my friend John Hogg my gold watch key and Seal ---- I give & bequeath unto my friend Duncan Cameron my Law books --- I desire my Executors to pay to Sarah a negroe Woman Slave the property of James Hogg Esqr, the Sum of twelve pounds as a reward for his attention to me in my illness ---- Whereas two tracts of land entered in the office of John Armstrong both in my name, one of Which Containing four thousand five Hundred and thirty Acres or there abouts was purchas'd, and is apparently my property but in Reality is held to the use of Sundry persons as will appear by pa- pers in my possession It is my Will & desire that my Executors do convey to the persons so intended[invested] their respective Grants, warranting only five Persons claiming by from or under me but no further, or otherwise-- [Will Book Volume D, page 98] the other tract of three thousand acres Granted to me for my Services as Commissioner a second time for laying out any[Army] lands - of this I have sold five Hundred Acres to old Mr. Martin of Davidson County in the State of Tennessee if not al- ready conveyed to him by John Nichols & Genl. Robertson by virtue of a Power of attorney heretofore Granted them for that purpose. -- It is my Will and desire that my Executors do convey to Mr. Macklin said lands out of such part to the tract as he may choose -- one half of the remainder belongs to Genl Robertson as a Compensation for his Service in locating & surveying Said Lands which I desire my Executors to convey to him or his Heirs ---- And for the purpose of ascertaining the true Interests which William Moore & myself have in Certain lands lying in The County of Randolph I think it Right and Just to declare that a tract of land Containing two Hundred & fifty Acres being a part of a tract known by the name of Lowes and a Tract of two Hundred Acres afterwards entered adjoining thereto on the South & for which a Grant was obtained in my Name alone are the Joint Property of Said William Moore and myself & held by us as tenants in common adjoin ing to these two tracts on the North as one containing Eighty Acres bought of one Rush[?] this is my Sole property after the War the said William Moore & myself entered Jointly a tract of land in said County containing Six hundred and forty acres including the Cross Roads leading from Salis bury to Fayetteville and from Randolph old Court House to Firkins[Fishers?] Camp on Yad kin River a Grant was obtained in my name alone but Mr. Moore is equally con- cerned as tenant in common ---- It is further my Will & desire that after the death of old George & Kate his Wife the plantation desired[demised?] in trust for the use of my Negroes shall be equally divided between Jack & Sally or their heirs respectively but if young George should reform to the satisfaction of my trustees, they may at their pleasure give him an equal share with Jack & Sally or their Heirs in said tract of land, but the same during the life time of old George & Kate is not to be divided --- In the management & Disposal of my lands in the State of Tennessee I Recommend to my Executors to request the [Will Book Volume D, page 99] apertance[?] of my friends Major Abraham Manny and Genl. Daniel Smith & desire that Just Compensation may be made to them for whatever services they may render in relation thereto -- All the residue of my estate which Shall remain after the payment of my debts and the legacies herein specifically devised I desire may be divided among and between my Brother Barnett Tatam Alma Tatam John Tatam William Tatam my Sister Elizabeth Hicks my Nephew Samuel Tatam & the Children of my deceased Brother Abel Tatom & the Children of my deceased Sister Henri atta Fulbylove[?] and Kesiah Goodwin alias Newby Samuel Goodwin Excepted who also is provided for as above said Share & Share alike & where any of my Brothers are dead it is my Will that his Children should repre sent him and when any of the Children of a deceased Brother or Sister have died leaving children it is my Will that the Children of such deceased Child Should Stand in his or her place and take accordingly Lastly I Constitute and appoint Samuel Goodwin John Hogg ["and" x-out] Catlett Campbell & Duncan Cameron Executors of this last Will & Testament hereby Revoking all former Wills In Testimony of all which I have hereto set my Hand & Seal this 17th December 1802 Signed Sealed published & Declared to be his last Will & Testament before us Wm. Norwood A Tatam (seal) Ed Jones Gavin Alves W L Strudwick I further make this a codicil to my Last Will & Testament I give and bequeath to Thomas Hogg the son of James Hogg of the Town of Hillsborough the Sum of two Hundred Dollars this Sum I desire my Executors as soon as Convenient to place at Interest upon good Security to be paid to him When he shall ar[r]ive at the age of twenty one years [Will Book Volume D, page 100] Signed, sealed published & declared to be a codicil to his last Will & Testam ent on this 17th decr. 1802 ---- Wm Norwood A Tatam (seal) Ed Jones Gavin Alves W L Strudwick Orange County Febry. Term 1803 The Execution of the foregoing last Will and Testament of Absolam Tatam Decd. was duly proved by the oath of Wm Norwood a Subscribing witness thereto also the codicil was proven by the said Wm Norwood and ordered to be recorded ---- Additional Comments: Will Book Volume D, pages 94-100, (no page 96) Recorded Feb 1803 Estate Papers comprise 490 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Tatom, Absalom (1829)" Testator is referred to as Major Absolom Tatom. Testator died in the same month that the will was written. Many pages refer to other places: Wilkes County, Georgia; Lincoln County, Georgia; Monroe County, Georgia; Elbert County, Georgia; Wilson County, Georgia; Williamson County, Georgia; Oglethorpe County, Georgia; Cumberland County, North Carolina; Wake County, North Carolina; Granville County, North Carolina; Greenwich, Connecticut; Abbeville District, South Carolina. There is a copy of the will of Samuel Ashe of New Hanover County, NC, dated 11 May 1812. There is quite of bit of history in these papers that could be extracted by researchers focused on these lineages. The surname "Fulbylove" as interpreted in the will, is written a number of ways in the Estate Papers. Fullilove, Fullerlove George Boyd married Margaret Porter Henrietta Newby, daughter of Keziah Newby, sister of the testator, married Robert Raiford Abner Tatom lived in Madison County Mississippi Territory. John Tatom lived in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Keziah Newby (sister of testator) is the mother of Keziah Newby. Henrietta Tatom, sister of testator, married John Fullerlove and they had children: John Fullerlove Susannah Fullerlove married Benjamin Taylor Kesiah Fullerlove married William Ford and lived in Oglethorpe County, Georgia Tempe Fullerlove married John Taylor Ludwell / Ludwick Fullerlove Elizabeth Tatom, sister of the testator, married William Hicks and lived in Granville County, North Carolina. Legatees Barnet Tatom Abner Tatom John Tatom Wm Tatom Hicks Keziah Newby Keziah Newby Larkin Newby John N. Newby Robert Raiford & wife Henrietta Newby Henrietta Tatom married John Fullylove Sally Fullylove Nancy Fullylove married Absolam Davis Thomas Fullylove Ludwick Fullylove Susannah Fullylove married Benjamin Taylor Kesiah Fullylove married William Ford John Fullylove Jemima Fullylove married Benjamin Pulliam Temperance Fullylove married John Taylor Able Tatom Silas Tatom Erme & wife Thomas Tatom Isaac Tatom Mary Pool Goodwin [Estate Papers - Decree to Free Slaves May 1803] To be entered in the record of May term 1803 ["Orange County" x-out] } Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions May term 1803 -- In the matter, of George, Cate, Sally & her child young George, and Jack, slaves, of the late Major Absolom Tatum - Duncan Cameron, John Hogg, Catlett Campbell & Samuel Goodwin The Executors, of Major Absolom Tatum, deceased, appear in open Court produce before the Court, the last Will, and testament, of the said Absolom Tatum, whereby he direct his slaves to be ["emancipated" x-out] liberated, and apply to the said Court to liberate the slaves George, Cate, Sally & her child Young George & Jack, late the property of the said Absolom Tatum, is directed in said last Will and testament, but reason of their meritorious services to their late master, the said Absolom Tatum: and it being shown, to the ["said" x-out] Court here, that the said slaves have rendered meritorious services to their said master, entitling them to be liberated. It is therefore ordered, adjudged & decreed that the said slaves George, Cate, Sally & her children, Young George, and Jack be liberated & set free and that henceforth, they & each of them, be invested with all the rights & privileges of free born negroes. [Estate Papers - Complaint 16 Feb 1817] Orange County In Equity To the Honorable the Judge of the Court of Equity of the County of Orange. Humbly Complaining shew unto your Honor your Orators and Oratrixes Barnet Tatom of the County of Wilson in Tennessee Abner Tatom of Madison County in the Mississippi Territory, John Tatom of Lincoln County ion Georgia who are the brothers of Absalom Tatom late of Hillsborough in North Carolina; Williamson Norwood and his wife Elizabeth, John Hughes and Donald Frazier of Abbeville District in South Carolina, who are the Executors and Executrix of the last Will and Testament of William Tatom deceased who was a brother of said Absalom Tatom deceased, William Hicks of the County of Orange in North Carolina and Elizabeth his Wife who is a sister of said Absalom deceased; Silas Tatom, Thomas Tatom, Meshack Turner & his wife Frances all of Lincoln County, in Georgia who are the Children now living of Abel Tatom deceased who was also a brother of said Absolom deceased and said William Hicks Administrator of the goods and chattels, right and credits of Isaac Tatom deceased and of Mary Pool deceased who were also children of said Abel deceased; Ludwell Fullylove of Wilkes County in George, John Fullylove of Oglethorpe County in Georgia Thomas Fullylove of Orangeburg District in South Carolina, William Ford and his wife Keziah of Oglethorpe County in Georgia, Benjamin Pulliam and his wife Jemima of Franklin County in Georgia, John Taylor and his wife Temperance of Clark County in Georgia, Benjamin Taylor and his Wife Susannah of said County of Oglethorpe and Absalom Davis and his wife Nancy of Elbert County in Georgia, who are the chl= ren of Henrietta Fullylove deceased who was a sister of said Absalom Tatom deceased And John N. Newby of Abbeville district in South Carolina, Larkin Newby and Robert Raiford his wife Henrietta at Fayetteville North Carolina [????????????] John N. Newby Larkin Newby and Henrietta Newby (now Henrietta Raiford) and Keziah Newby the younger and the said Samuel Goodwyn who were her children and were entitled (except the said Samuel Goodwyn) to have the legacies bequeath in said Will to the Children of the said Testator's said deceased sister Keziah Good= wyn alias Newby excepting the said Samuel Goodwyn, to be divided among them equally share and share alike.- also that the said Keziah the younger Raiford & your orator Larkin Newby hath obtained And they further shew unto your Honor that your Orator and Oratrix Robert Raiford of Hamilton Raiford have before this time intermarried with each other whereby your said Orator Robert Raiford hath become entitled in right of his said wife to demand and receive the share of such legacies to which his said wife was and is entitled And you Orators and Oratrixes further shew unto your Honor that the aforesaid Samuel Goodwyn, John Hogg Catlett Campbell and Duncan Cameron having taken upon themselves the burden of the Execution of the said Will of Absalom Tatom decd. and procured letters Testimentary thereon as here= in before set forth possessed themselves of the personal Estate of their said Teta= tor to the value of $25000 or upwards or other large sum and also took possession and received the rents and profits of all the lands and other real estate of htier said Testator devised to them by the said will for the purposes and upon the trusts therein declared as above set forth all which your Orators and Orat= rixes shew was demised to them the said Executors expressly upon trust to be sold for the use and benefit of your Orators and Oratrixes legatees of the said Testator respectively -- And you Orators and Oratrixes further shew that which became due after his said death, secured by Mortgages bonds and other specialties as well as by note and open account and the said Executors have collected and received large sum of money therefrom and there are still large sums remaining due [Note: This is a 9-page petition. There is perhaps additional family history in this folder.] [Will Book Volume B, page 11] Know all men by these presents that I Absalom Tatom of Hillsborough in the State of North Carolina hath Constituted and Appointed and by these presents do constitute & Appoint my friend Charles Taylor of Caswell County and State Aforesaid to be my true & Lawful attorney for me and in my Name, to Apply for, demand recover and receive or apprehend a certain Negro Man Named Jack which Negroe was purchased by Colo. William Moore & myself of Mr. Samuel [Will Book Volume B, page 12] Achison of North Ampton County Virginia in the month of August 1777 which said Slave some time in the year 1778 made his elopement and returned back the the County of North Ampton Aforesaid and is supposed to be now on the Eastern shore of Virginia on Maryland with some Person to my unknown on passing as a freeman And attornies under him for the purpose ~~ aforesaid to Appoint and at his pleasure to revoke such Appointment and Appoint others in their stead giving & hereby Granting unto the said Charles Taylor as fully power and autho= =rity in the premises, to all intents and purposes as I if present and exercise hereby Ratifying &Confirming whatsoever he shall Lawfully do or cause to be done therein in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal the 2nd day of April 1785 Sealed & Delivered in A Tatom (seal) presence of Saml. Ashe