General Notes

Martha Ann first married Martin Gardner 1844--daughter Will
iam Ann Gardner.  Second Marriage: Gray Lemon (Lamon)  Harg
rove 1853.
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF GEORGE GARDNER WRITTEN ON 30 DEC
EMBER 1786 EDGECOMBE CO., NC. MAY COURT 1789 EDGECOMBE CO.
, NC. (ABRIDGED VERSION) In the name of God, Amen, I, Georg
e Gardner, of Edgecombe County in the State of North Caroli
na, being in good health of body and of sound mind and memo
ry, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in m
anner and form following (to wit): My soul, I recommend unt
o the hands of God that gave it me and as touching my body
, I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian an
d decent manner at the discretion of my Executors. An, as t
ouching my worldly estate, I give and bequeath in manner an
d form following: In time (remainder of word is not legible
), I will that my just debts and funeral charges be paid. I
tem: I give and bequeath to my beloved son, Martin Gardner)
, ten shillings lawful money of this state to him and his h
eirs Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Seebery
, five shillings lawful money of this state to her and he
r heirs. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Ann Pitm
an, five shillings, lawful money of this state to her and h
er heirs. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Zilph
y Williford, five shillings lawful money of this sate to he
r and her heirs. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter
, Phereby Pitman, five shillings lawful money of this stat
e to her and her heirs. Item: I give and bequeath to my dau
ghter, Phobe Proctor, five shillings lawful money of this s
tate to her and her heirs. Item: I lend to my beloved wife
, Mary, the (next word is not legible) and profits of all m
y land and personal estate during of her natural life, or w
idowhood after my debts, charges, and legacies before give
n are paid of. Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved son
, William Gardner, the plantation that I now live on and al
l the land I hold on the east side of the Great Mill Branc
h that lieth (sic) below the mouth of the Little Mill Branc
h and so up the water courses(?) .... of the Little Mill Br
anch to the track line and so running the Liner Round to th
e Great Mill Branch and so up the water courses(?) of the G
reat Mill Branch to the first station, to him and his heir
s forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved son, Geo
rge Gardner, all the lands I hold on the west side of the G
reat Mill Branch and Little Mill Branch beginning at the lo
wer line on the west side of the Great Mill Branch runnin
g up the water courses(?) of the Great Mill Branch to the L
ittle Mill Branch and up the Little Branch to the back lin
e so running the courses(?) of the Liner Round to Martin Ga
rdner line and from thence to the first station it being pa
rt of two surveys, to him and his heirs forever. Item: My w
ill and desire is that after the death or manage(?) of my b
eloved wife, Mary, all my personal estate be equally divide
d between my four youngest children, vis: William, George
, Julian, and Lucrese Gardner and their heirs. And if eithe
r of them should die, vis: William or George, or Julian, o
r Lucrese, the surviving ones of them shall enjoy the decea
sed one's estate. Item: I constitute and appoint my friend
, Britton Brigers and Thomas Mercer, Executors of this my L
ast Will and Testament and revoking and disannuling (sic) a
ll former wills and testaments by me heretofore made and pu
blished, and pronounce this and no other to be my Last Wil
l and Testament, signed, sealed, published, and pronounce
d this Thirtieth day of December Anno Domino 1786. In the P
resent of } his George X Gardner mark Richard Strother Mart
ha Mercer his James X Drauhan mark Gardner Will - May Cour
t 1789 - Recorded Edgecombe County by May Court 1789. The w
ritten will was duly proved in open court by the oaths of R
ichard Strother and James Drauhan. The Executors