LENOIR COUNTY, NC - Will - Thomas Dawson, 1816.

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Copy of original Will found at Heritage Place, Lenoir County Community 
College, Kinston, North Carolina - Vertical File # 04272-4

We thank the staff at LCC for their permission to copy selected 
documents from their files to place on the internet. It is requested 
that researchers give appropriate credit when using these documents. 
Permission to combine said documents together in printed form is not 
given

(written by hand at top:)
The original certified copy has under an appropriate order of court been 
recorded in Records of Wills (7?) at page 59, etc. in the Office of the 
Clerk of the Superior Court of Lenoir County, NC. JGD (typed above will) 
(Mrs. Fannie Pugh Laughinghouse, who was a lineal descendant of Rachel 
Dawson died in Kinston, NC in 1935 at the age of eighty seven years. Her 
niece Annie B. Loftin of Beaufort, NC found among Mrs. Laughinghouse's 
papers this certified copy of the Will of Thomas Dawson, and from that, 
this copy was made on May 17, 1937. John G. Dawson)

In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Dawson of State of NC and County of 
Lenoir, being weak of body but perfect mind.... Do this third day of 
December 1816 make and ordain this my LW&T.

And as touching the worldy estate it hath pleaseth God to bless me with 
in this life, I give devise and dispose of same in manner as followeth. 
My Will is that my just debts together with funeral expenses be duly and 
punctually paid.

I lend to my loving wife Elizabeth during her continuing widow all the 
plantation and woodland lying between Falling Creek and a small branch 
that makes out of said Creek and runs up by my gate and so on to James 
Westbrooks line and privilege of all my lands adjoining for firewood and 
rail lumber to support plantation. Also Negros George, Randal, Sam and 
Spence also Idy and Else, also three head of horses Viz" Sam Pope and 
Ball and Filly, also her choice of ten head of cattle and a yoke of oxen 
and twenty head of sheep. All my stock of hogs, geese, and all my 
household and kitchen furniture and plantation utensils.

I give my son Thomas Dawson one half of my land that I purchased from 
Nathan Creel to be equally divided by a line running from the creek with 
the lane and then across to back line so as to give my son Thomas one 
half of it being the upper part of said land whereon the said Thomas now 
lives, also one Negro boy named Joe, also all property I have heretofore 
put into his possession to him and his heirs forever.

I give to my son John Dawson the other half of the land I purchased from 
Nathan Creel, one Negro boy named Britian and all the other property I 
have heretofore put into his possession.

I give to my son James Dawson all my lands lying on the west side of 
Falling Creek whereon the said James now lives containing about 600 
acres, also all the property that I have heretofore put into his 
possession to him and his heirs forever.

I give to son Benjamin Dawson all my lands lying on the west side of 
Falling Creek including my Gatlin land and home plantation after the 
expiration of my wifes times in said land, also one Negro boy named Tom, 
2 cows and calves and five ewes and lambs to him and his heirs forever.

I lend to my daughter Susannah Walters three Negros Viz: Lucy and her 
child Marga and one boy named Ned, that she now has in her possession 
and their increase during the term of her natural life then to be 
equally divided between her lawfully begotten by her body also I give 
her all the other property I have heretofore put into her possession.

I lend to my daughter Nancy Herring during her natural life two Negros: 
Cate and her child and their increase also one boy named Francis then to 
be equally divided between her heirs lawfully begotten by her body. I 
also give her all the other property I have heretofore put into her 
possession.

I lend unto my daughter Elizabeth Byrd during her natural life two 
Negros: Grace and Nero, then to be equally divided among her heirs 
lawfully begotten by her body. I also give her all the property that I 
have heretofore put into her possession.

I lend to my daughter Lydia Hodges during her natural life then to be 
divided among the heirs lawfully begotten by her body two Negros: Clary 
and Daniel. I also give her all the property I have heretofore put into 
her possession.

I lend to my daughter Rachel Dawson during her natural life then to be 
divided between the heirs lawfully begotten of her body one Negro girl 
named Indy and her increase also one Negro boy named George also $100 
dollars cash to be paid by Executors hereafter named.
(Rachel Dawson married Simon Bright written in longhand--rp)

I lend to daughter Eliza Dawson during her natural life then to be 
divided equally between the heirs lawfully begotten of her body two 
Negro girls and their increase namely Dolly and Chloe, also one Negro 
boy named Spencer after my wife's time also $100.00 to be paid by my 
executors hereinafter mentioned. (I think Eliza Dawson married a 
Lassiter written in longhand--rp)

I leave all the residue of my property that I have not heretofore 
mentioned also all I have lent my wife after the expiration of her time 
in said property after making younger children's legacys that I have 
left then should there be any lacking to be divided between all my 
daughters Viz: Susanna Walters, Nancy Herring, Elizabeth Byrd, Lydia 
Hodges, Rachel Dawson and Eliza Dawson to them and their heirs forever.

I lend to my daughter Rachel Dawson in addition to that I have 
heretofore given her one Negro woman named Else after my wife's time and 
to her heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto my two sons John and Thomas Dawson one Negro 
boy named Robin to be equally shared between my two sons and to their 
heirs forever.

I constitute nominate and appoint my four sons, Thomas, John , James and 
Benjamin Dawson Executors to this my LW&T and revolk any other wills 
made by me. Set my hand and seal this 3 rd day December 1816.

Witnesss: signed and sealed

Tho. Dawson
Jos Elliott
John Dawson
Sally X Dawson

State of NC, Lenoir County
April term 1820 LW&T of Thomas Dawson exhibited in court by Joseph 
Elliott and John Dawson subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded 
and at the same time James Dawson and Thomas Dawson the executors 
appeared and qualified. C.Westbrook C.C.C.
Recorded in Clerks Book A page 24 August 5th 1823 for C. Westbrook CC

Lewis C. Desmond

I W.C. Loftin, Clerk of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of County of 
Lenoir do hearby certify the foregoing to be and contain a true copy of 
the LW&T of Thomas Dawson Dec'd together with the probate and enrollment 
of the same taken from the records in office.
Given under my hand at office in Kinston 8 February 1842 W.C. Loftin 
C.C.C.