"Early North Carolina Settlers, 1700s-1900s"
Page 319, Marriage & Death Notices, 1826-1845
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette - 1830
Cotton, Godwin, Je. 5, Hertford county. R. R. Jly. 8, 1830
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Will of Godwin Cotten Hertford County NC
In the name of God Amen I Godwin Cotten calling to mind the mortality of my body & knowing it is appointed for man to die and being of a sound mind and desposing memory have ordained and Constituted this my last will & Testament. I give my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor & my soul to God who gave it believing in the Resurrection Son Jesus Christ will raise my body again at the Last day Item. I lend unto my beloved wife Sally Cotten during her life the following negroes Willis Tom & Peter also two work horses one yoke of Oxen one cart & wheels three Cows & calves four sows & pigs five Ewes & Lambs three feather Beds & furniture one dozen Setting chairs my same plantation whereon I now live during her life Item I give my wife Sally Cotten one half of my farming utensils such as ploughs & axes also one half of my crop of corn fodder & wheat also half of my kitchen furniture such as pots tubs pans &c Item I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Moore one Negro woman named Charlott with her three children widow Mary dau of Mary and all the issue of Charlott from the date of this will to her and her heirs forever. Item I lend unto my daughter Elizabeth Moore one Negro boy named Robbin also one Negro girl named Sylvia during her life Item I lend unto my Daughter Elizabeth Moore two Negro named Abbe & Lidia also one Negro man named Isaac during her life Item I give unto Sally Ann Johnston after her Mother's death the two Negro women Sylvia & Malvina to her & her heirs forever. Item I give unto Samuel I Johnston after his Mother's death the Negro man named Isaac to him and his heirs forever also one boy named Robbin Item I give unto my Daughter Esther Jones one Negro woman ----- to her & her heirs forever also one tract of Land Called C. . . . . . .. Item I give unto my Grandson Godwin C Moore after his Grandmother's death the land upon where on I now live with the Negro Sam also one desk & book case standing in the front room also two looking glasses in Mid Room to him and his heirs forever it is my will & desire that Godwin C Moore live with his Grandmother work the Land & support her while she lives Item I give unto my Granddaughter Emeline Fletcher one Negro man Dempar to her & her heirs forever Item I give unto my Granddaughter Sally Matilda Moore after her Grandmother's death the Negro named Willis to her & her heirs forever Item I give unto my grandchildren the Moores & the Johnstons all the money that appears to be owing to me for schooling & except a note in books given by Godwin C Moore to James Atkinson two hundred dollars Item it is my will & desire that all the remainder of my Estate that I have not given away or lent be sold that my negroes Ben Ally Cate and after my just debts is paid if there should be any remainder that the money be equally divided between my wife & my two daughters Elizabeth Moore & Esther Jones Item I nominate and appoint my two Grandsons Godwin C Moore & Samuel I Johnson my Executors to this my last will & Testament given under my hand & seal this 18th day of Febr 1829. Godwin Cotten (seal)
witness: Benj A Parker, Godwin Cotten Junr, John Brown
Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions State of North Carolina November Term 1830 Hertford County. This last will & Testament of Godwin Cotten decd was in open Court proved by the oath of Benj A Parker & John Brown two of the subscribing Witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded At the same time Godwin C Moore & Samuel I Johnson the Executors appointed were duly qualified as such and . . .. . .