Rowan County, NC – Will of Richard Graham, 1792 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thyatira: 'Here lies the body fo Richard Graham who decease'd ye 13th of February 1779 aged 63 years. April 11, 1749, Richard Graham petitioned for a tract of land in Anson County nine years later he received 567 acres "on each side of Second Creek, commonly called Withrow's Creek". March 25, 1752 The 2nd Grant on record for Richard & Agnes Graham of Anson County (prior to Rowan formation) paid 10 shilling sterling the 100 acres. 640 acres on 3rd. Creek. Last Will & Testament of Richard Graham, Sr. Nov 7, 1778 In the name of God Amen Seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight I Richard Graham, Sen. of Rowan County in the State of North Carolina being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and thanks to given unto God and calling to mind my mortality and that it is appointed for men once to die do make this my Last Will and Testament first of all I recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent christian burial at the discretion of my executors here after named nothing doubting but to exert the same again at the general resurrecion by the mighty power of God hoping through the merits and intercession of my lord and Savior Jesus Christ to recieve a full and free pardon of my sins and to inherit everlasting life and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life. I give devise bequeath and dispose of the same following manner and form. First of all I will that all those debts and duties as I do owe any person or persons whatsoever either in right or conscience be first paid and satisfied or contrived to be paid in convenient time by my executors herein after named. Item I give and bequeath to my loving wife Agnes her bed and the furniture there unto belonging and the dresser and what therein is or what there unto belongs including pots and all vessels cookery during her life and to her heirs and assigns and and for my said loving wife to give my daughter Eleanor such part or parcel thereof as she thinks proper also I give and devise to my said loving wife Agnes a mair (mare) named Tug and a roan'd horse named Rock and all the sheep except Eleanors two, three milk cows of her own choosing and a two year old steer beast and two negros named Samson and Dinah and a plow and hacklings and what part the land she sees cause to labour, my bible and forty pounds in gold and forty pounds paper money a new sadle and bridle, the one half of the hogs the corn and as much flower (flour) as she sees cause to keep her till harvest and a sufficiency of all kinds of forage of every sort I have for her beasts, all to her and her heirs and assigns forever except the negro Samson, which at said Agnes death I will and bequeath the said negro Samson to my son Joseph and to his heirs and assigns forever.............. Item I give and bequeath to my son James a negro wench named Sall and to his heirs and assigns forever.............. Item I give and bequeath to my son William a negro wench which is now in his possession and also a negro man named Tom to him and his heirs and assigns forever also I give and devise to my son William my South Patents and my right of the land by them mentioned and to his heirs and assigns forever............... Item I give and bequeath and devise to my son Richard one hundred and seventy five acres of land of the place where I live to be land of off the East end of said place joining John Lock by a direct line from the South side of Withrows Creek and a negro boy named Harry also the negro wench that he have in his possession and to his heirs and assigns forever.............. Item I give and bequeath and devise to my son Joseph the remainder of the plantation where I now live and two negro children the one named Flora and the other named Peter and one cow and to his heirs and assigns forever............ Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane my negro wench called Bet and to her heirs and assigns forever................ Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Eleanor the bed and furniture which is called by her name and her this. Also a negro wench named Hannah two cows and her choice of the remainder of the horses that is not herein bequeathed her sadle and bridle to her and heirs and assigns forever............... Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary a negro child named Tom. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Agnes one hundred and fifty pounds current money and to her heirs and assigns.............. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Else one hundred and fifty pounds current money and to her heirs and assigns.............. Item I give and bequeath to my grandson John, my son James son ten pounds current money and to his heirs and assigns.............. Item I give and bequeath to my grandson Richard, James Gillespeys son ten pounds current money and to his heirs and assigns............. Item I give and bequeath to my grandson Richard, my son Williams son ten pounds to his heirs and assigns............... Item my will and pleasure is that my wagon that is now a making be properly tited and completed out of the sesidue of my estate and to be used possessed and enjoyed in common by my loving wife Agnes and my sons Richard and Joseph............... Item my will and pleasure is that the residue and remainder of my personal estate be equally divided amongst my four sons James, Willia, Richard and Joseph and also my daughter Elinor to have an equal divide same along with my four sons.............. Item I name nominate constitute and appoint my two sons James Graham and William Graham executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disanuling all former and other Wills bequeaths devises and executors by me named in any way named bequeathed or devised hereso fore ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament signed and sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Richard Graham as his last Will and Testament in the presents of us. his Henry X Berkly mark Sam'l Young Rich'd Graham {seal} Elizabeth E. Brandon 11th day of January 1779 Richard Graham added a codicil to his Will bequeated another bed and furniture to his loving wife Agnes to be a part and parcel of his last Will and Testament. Will of Agnes GRAHAM, Rowan County, North Carolina Will Book C pg 46 Will probated in 1792 (written before the death of Joseph) In the name of God amen the thirteenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty six I Agnes Graham of Rowan County in the state of North Carolina being old & sick and weak but of perfect mind & memory thanks be to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for men & women to die do make this my last Will & Testament & principally & first of all I give & recomend my soul in the hand of God that gave it hoping through the death merits & intercession of my Lord and Savior Jesus Crist to have a full & free pardon & forgivness of all my sins & to inherit eternal life and my body I commit to the earth to be buried in decent christian burial at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as to such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give, bequeath and dispose in the following manner & form. First my will and pleasure is that all those debts & duties as I do owe to any person or persons whatsoever in right or conscience be first of all paid & discharged by my executors in some convenient time after my decease out of my personal estate. Item I give & bequeath to my loving daughter Agnes Steel my negro wench Dinah and a pewter bason Ninian Steel killed "in service to his country" about 1780 leaving Agnes with 6 orphaned children. Richard Graham, Jr. guardian of Anna Gillespie Feb 7, 1787 " " " " Ellenor Graham (Orphan) James Graham guardian for Jonathan Feb 4, 1799 Elizabeth guardian for Else & children not named May 5, 1791, Widow of William Graham Elizabeth died so the children chose another guardian. ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. 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