General Notes

(Research):LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF GEORGE GARDNER WRITTE
N ON 30 DECEMBER 1786 EDGECOMBE CO., NC. MAY COURT 1789 EDG
ECOMBE CO., NC. (ABRIDGED VERSION) In the name of God, Amen
, I, George Gardner, of Edgecombe County in the State of No
rth Carolina, being in good health of body and of sound min
d and memory, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Test
ament in manner and form following (to wit): My soul, I rec
ommend unto the hands of God that gave it me and as touchin
g my body, I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Chris
tian and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors. A
n, as touching my worldly estate, I give and bequeath in ma
nner and form following: In time (remainder of word is no
t legible), I will that my just debts and funeral charges b
e paid. Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved son, Marti
n Gardner), ten shillings lawful money of this state to hi
m and his heirs Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, M
ary Seebery, five shillings lawful money of this state to h
er and her heirs. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter
, Ann Pitman, five shillings, lawful money of this state t
o her and her heirs. Item: I give and bequeath to my daught
er, Zilphy Williford, five shillings lawful money of this s
ate to her and her heirs. Item: I give and bequeath to my d
aughter, Phereby Pitman, five shillings lawful money of thi
s state to her and her heirs. Item: I give and bequeath t
o my daughter, Phobe Proctor, five shillings lawful money o
f this state to her and her heirs. Item: I lend to my belov
ed wife, Mary, the (next word is not legible) and profits o
f all my land and personal estate during of her natural lif
e, or widowhood after my debts, charges, and legacies befor
e given are paid of. Item: I give and bequeath to my belove
d son, William Gardner, the plantation that I now live on a
nd all the land I hold on the east side of the Great Mill B
ranch that lieth (sic) below the mouth of the Little Mill B
ranch and so up the water courses(?) .... of the Little Mil
l Branch to the track line and so running the Liner Round t
o the Great Mill Branch and so up the water courses(?) of t
he Great Mill Branch to the first station, to him and his h
eirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved son
, George Gardner, all the lands I hold on the west side o
f the Great Mill Branch and Little Mill Branch beginning a
t the lower line on the west side of the Great Mill Branc
h running up the water courses(?) of the Great Mill Branc
h to the Little Mill Branch and up the Little Branch to th
e back line so running the courses(?) of the Liner Round t
o Martin Gardner line and from thence to the first statio
n it being part of two surveys, to him and his heirs foreve
r. Item: My will and desire is that after the death or mana
ge(?) of my beloved wife, Mary, all my personal estate be e
qually divided between my four youngest children, vis: Will
iam, George, Julian, and Lucrese Gardner and their heirs. A
nd if either of them should die, vis: William or George, o
r Julian, or Lucrese, the surviving ones of them shall enjo
y the deceased one's estate. Item: I constitute and appoin
t my friend, Britton Brigers and Thomas Mercer, Executors o
f this my Last Will and Testament and revoking and disannul
ing (sic) all former wills and testaments by me heretofor
e made and published, and pronounce this and no other to b
e my Last Will and Testament, signed, sealed, published, an
d pronounced this Thirtieth day of December Anno Domino 178
6. In the Present of } his George X Gardner mark Richard St
rother Martha Mercer his James X Drauhan mark Gardner Wil
l - May Court 1789 - Recorded Edgecombe County by May Cour
t 1789. The written will was duly proved in open court by t
he oaths of Richard Strother and James Drauhan. The Executo
rs qualified and the will ordered to be recorded. Edward Ha
le cc
The will is dated 1786 and it makes provisions for Georg