Rev. Henry Tatum
Last Will and Testament
The
Last Will and Testament of Rev. Henry Tatum
(May 10, 1781 -
Aug. 23, 1858) Written November 25, 1856. Codicil on March 25, 1857 and
proved in court during the November term of 1858.
The
following is a transcription of Henry Tatum's will as exactly as its handwritten
legibility will permit. This document was filed with the Court in Guilford
County and is now in the Archives of the State of North Carolina in Raleigh,
from where a copy of the documents were obtained May 10, 2000.
In the name of God Amen
I
Henry Tatum of the County of Guilford in the State of North Carolina being in
Sound mind and desposing mind and memory, but noing that it is appointed for man
to die and being far advance in life, I do make this Instrument my last will,
and Testament in the following manner revo-=king all other Instruments of
writing.
First,
I committ my spirit to God who first gave it
Item
I wish my body to be buried in a decent and Christian manner
Item
my will and disire is that my beloved wife Sarah Tatum have all and every
article of property she has brought here since our marrage and what she may have
bought with her money, and I give her for her susport, 200# bacon 50# lard or
400# pork as the case may be most suitable, (bacon and lard or pork) 15 barrel
corn 25 bushels wheate, 20# coffee
20# sugar, I also lind unto my wife Sarah during her life or widowhood my
buggy horse Sam, my buggy and harnes my clock and cubbord.
Item
I give to my daughter Thurza B. Peeples ten dollars
Item
I give to son Edward W. Tatum ten dollars.
Item
I give to my son Benton Tatum my watch and twenty five dollars.
Item
I give to my daughter Emma F. Weatherly 1 large stone gar and ten
dollars
Item
I give to my daughter Martha W. Reed twenty five dollars
Item
I give my daughter Julia H. Conrad one large stone gar and twenty five
dollars
Item
I give to my Granson James H. Weatherly my shot gun
Item
I give to my Granson William V. Tatum my saddle & bridle
Item
I give to each of my daughter Susan W. Brittains children that may be
living five dollars
Item
my wish and desire is to leave ten dollars to be applyd by my
Executors to keep the graveyard decent
Item
my wish and desire is that my executors hereinafter named take and
what little (if any) of my property there may be not herein given,
crop, stock, household and kitchen furniture and sell it and apply
the proceeds to the discharge of the legasees above named, and at
the death or marrage of my wife, my executors take the property
loned to her sell, and the proceeds if any after paying funeral
and burial expenses to be eaquelly divided between my son Benton
and my daughters Emma Martha & Julia
Lastly
I constitute and appoint my Son Benton Tatum and and
my
soninlaw William Weatherly my executors to this my last will and
Testement, in testimoney whereof and to every Item herein named,
written with my own hand and seald this 24th November A.D. 1856.
(signed)Henry Tatum
{SEAL}
State of North Carolina
25 March
Guilford County
1857
I
Henry Tatum of the County & State aforesaid do make this as a codesel to my
last will and testament as a guide for my executors to be governd by,
first
my wish is to be buried in a
christain manner on the south side of my wife Betsey, and tomb stones the Size
of them that,s at her grave, and ingrave,d with the same or Similar words
ingrave,d with black letter to be sett at my grave (in memory of me)(Elijah
Welch if living will obtain them)
Item
I wish I. A. Gilmer if yet at the bear to to be counsel for my executors.
(signed)Henry Tatum
These
documents, the will and the codicil, were proved in open court in the Guilford
County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions during the November term of 1858. The
executor was Benton Tatum, William Weatherly having renounced his executorship
in open court.
JSK
( Jim Kenerson )
7/20/2000
A special thanks to Jim Kenerson for this transcript.
