1823 Will of Micajah Pickett.
Transcribed from a photocopy of the original by Robert Wolfe
Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy website
Go To Genealogy page for Micajah Pickett
Go To List of Surnames at this Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy website
Go To Home Page for Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy website
State of North Carolina, Buncombe County.
In the name of God Amen, I Micajah Pickett of the state and county aforesaid being in perfect mind and memory, but weak in body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disanulling all former will or wills by me made heretofore desiring this and this only to be put in execution by my executors to be hereafter made as such.
First recemmending my soul to God that gave it & my body to be decently buried in Christian like manner. As touching the worldly estate that God has blessed me with - Item the first, my just debts to be paid out of monies arising from the sale of lands and new building lying in the state and county aforesaid; said land I purchased from James Key?kendall, also all the grain and livestock that may prosper to sell and moneys due the estate, the collection of the moneys and payment of the said debts to be made by my executors.
Item second, I establish my deed of gift to stand as it is recorded in the Clerk’s office in Fairfield district South Carolina, to my six sons namely William, Micajah, James, John, Reuben, and Charles Pickett, considering the provision made in said deed of gift for each and every one of them the said Picketts, as their as full and legal share and shares of my whole estate and property.
Item third, I give and bequeath to my son Jeptha Pickett, all the lands I purchased from James Walker Sen it being the upper part of my land in Greenville District, to a conditional line made by said Walker and William Corneleus and titles made to me by said Cornelius. Also four negroes namely Dick, Biner, and her two children Isaac and Willis, also my chair and Horse I work in it and my watch, together with all I have gave him heretofore, with the increase to him and his heirs for ever.
Item fourth, I give and bequeath to my son Isaiah Pickett, all the lands I purchased of Andrew Walker, and fifty acres I purchased of William Lynch also fifty acres I purchased of Alexander Cooke, also a tract of land in Fairfield district that my son Jeptha Pickett has or is to purchase for me, one thousand dollars placed in said Jeptha’s hands for that purpose, if said purchase is not made or the said Jeptha should decline or delay purchasing it in such case my executors are authorized to require him to make the purchase or the thousand dollars for the use of my son Isaiah, also four negroes namely Ned, Daphne, and Lucy and her child Bill, together with what I have gave him heretofore also a negro woman named Violet and her increase at the death of said Isaiah’s mother, all with the increase to him and his heirs forever.
Item fifth, I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Mobly a negro man Bobb, of whom she has taken possession, since he was a boy in lieu of giving her any more, I gave and bequeath to her orphan son Hiram Whitted, and his heirs forever a negro boy named Ricky.
Item sixth, I gave and bequeath to my daughter Matilda Pickett; else Johns one negro girl named Rosa.
Item seventh, I gave and bequeath to my son Malachiah Pickett; else Johns one negro boy named Washington.
Item eighth, I gave and bequeath to my son Joseph Pickett; else Johns one negro boy named Bobb.
Item nineth, I gave and bequeath to my son Benjamin Pickett; else Johns, one Mulatto girl named Sarah which is now in the hands of my sister Sarah Aldridge, at the death of said Sarah Aldridge.
Item tenth, I gave and bequeath to my little daughter Eliza Pickett; else Johns one negro woman named Luck and her young child named Peter with command of said Luck from this time forward.
Item eleventh, I lend to my friend Susannah Johns a negro woman named Philis and all said Philis’s children namely Caty, Tom, Peggy, & Ransom also two horse beasts fit to ride or work also the third part of the household and kitchen furniture also the third part of my hogs and cattle, all during her natural life; at her decease all the property mentioned in this item to be divided equally amongst her seven children six by me and one before, to them and their heirs forever.
Item twelfth, I gave and bequeath to my six children that I had by said Susannah Johns all my property that is not before mentioned both real and personal the names of the children is Susannah McKinne, Malachiah, Joseph, Matilda, Benjamin, and Eliza Pickett else Johns this property to be equally divided between the above named six children to them and their heirs forever.
Item thirteenth, I allow my friend Susannah Johns to occupy a field called Biley [Betsy?] Smiths field on my plantation in Greenville as long as she chooses to live on it and to occupy the upper room? in the south end of my house in Greenville district.
Lastly I constitute my trusty? friend Alexander McKinney and his son James McKinney and my son Jeptha Pickett, and Hiram Whitted to be executors of this my last will and testament.
As witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and twenty two.
The negros and property mentioned the eleventh item to my friend Susannah Johns is conformable to our last bargain and agreement as recorded at record at Rutherford and in Lieu & place of our first bargain.
Signed and sealed in the presence of Rich’d Allen, Wheaton Merritt, Seaborn J Spaine
Michajah Pickett.
Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy website
Go To Genealogy page for Isaac Hicks
Go To List of Surnames at this Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy website
Go To Home Page for Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy website