Thursday, August 14, 2008

Churchwell Curtis of Mecklenburg County, will dated 1810

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Will Book #7, p. 264:
"In the name of God amen I Churchwell Curtis of Mecklenburg County and state of Virginia being weak in body but sound of mind and memory and knowing that it is appointed for me and all men once to die do dispose of my worldly property in the following manner and form acknowledging this and only this to be my only true and genuine last will and testament. First. Its my will and desire that all my just debts should be paid. Secondly. I give unto my son Claiborn Curtis one Bedford colt on this condition, viz., that is to say he the said Claiborn must pay fifteen dollars unto my son Churchwell Curtis and I give also unto the said Claibourn my son one feather bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever. Thirdly. I lend to my beloved wife Lucy Curtis all the rest of my property during her life or widowhood. But after her decease or marriage it is my will and desire that my land and all my other property not already disposed of should be sold on credit of twelve months to the highest bidder without any appraisement and the money arising from this sale equally divided among my living children and lastly I do appoint Zachariah Curtis and John Curtis executors to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand & seal this second day of June eighteen hundred and ten. Churchwell Curtis. In presence of James Jones, William Eubanks, James Whittemore, John Creedle.

At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 20th day of July 1812. This will was proved by the oaths of James Jones and William Eubank witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Zachariah Curtis and John Curtis the executors therein named who made oath thereto and together with Churchwell Curtis, Claiborne Curtis, Jesse Curtis & Henry Baly their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of one thousand dollars condition as the law directs. Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form. Teste. William Baskervill, Ct. Cut."

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Will Book #8, page 397:
On October 20, 1813 an inventory was taken for the property of Churchwell Curtis, Sr., deceased by Richard C. Edmundson and Drury Creedle. It included many items such as a looking glass, a gun, four books, a slate, a man and a woman's saddle, a spinning wheel, a parcel of cooping tools, twelve geese, four horses, ten hogs, six cows, a sheep, an old Negro man named Bob and numerous other kitchen, household and plantation utensils. On October 24, 1813 Zachariah and John Curtis, Churchwell's executors, returned every article of his estate to wife Lucy except for items sold on October 23, 1813. Individuals making purchases at this time were John Curtis, Churchwell Curtis, Jr., Zachariah Curtis, Woodson C. Johnson, Warner Moore, Drury Creedle and John Day. The sale totaled £24-5-4 1/2 which included mostly livestock and foodstuffs. Warner Moore purchased a shot gun for £1-0-0. The inventory and sale was returned into Court on January 19, 1818.

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Will Book #9, page 184:
On November 27, 1818 an account of sales was recorded for the estate of Churchwell Curtis, deceased. Those who made purchases included Francis Jackson, Churchwell Curtis, Zachariah Curtis, John Curtis, James Simmons, Edward Holmes, George Holmes, John Hutchinson, John Ryland, John Cole, John Fivackerly, Thomas Luggett, Jessee Parrish, James Jones, William Thompson, Crawford McDaniel, Daniel W. McDaniel, William Hightower, Claiborne Curtis, Samuel Simmons, Daniel Tucker, Alexander Tucker, Jerimiah Russell, Richard Edmondson and Daniel Fruson. Some purchases of interest were that Zachariah Curtis bought three guns, Daniel W. McDaniel bought candle moulds, James Jones bought books, Francis Jackson bought an old woman's saddle and Daniel Fruson bought an old Negro man named Bob for $316 (£94-16-0). In all the sale brought £358-17-0 and was entered into Court on May 21, 1821.

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Will Book #9, page 186:
On October 14, 1820 an account of sales for the reside of the estate of Lucy Curtis, deceased was recorded. Those making purchases were Churchwell Curtis, Richard Edmondson, Joseph Simmons, Francis Jackson, Zachariah Curtis, Claiborne Curtis and John Bass. Churchwell Curtis purchased a hymn book for $0.30. The estate sale brought a total of $41.42 and was entered into Court on May 21, 1821.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is awesome! I am directly related 7 generations back. How interesting!