Friday, December 2, 2011

A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1743 Will of JOHN FRAZIER of Carteret Co NC

Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway

JOHN FRAZIER may be the father of my ancestor THOMAS FRAZIER (sometimes referred to as GEORGE THOMAS FRAZIER), whose children all married Quakers and were adherents of that faith in Guilford Co NC and after about 1820 in Indiana. Some of the FRAZIERs  were fervent abolitionists and involved in the Underground Railway in Indiana.


WILL OF JOHN FRAZIER written 1743, probated 1744 Carteret Co NC
In the name of God Amen. I, JOHN FRAZIER of Carteret County in the Province of North Carolina, planter, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, thanks to God for the same, do make my last will and testament in manner and form following ( viz.)

--Imprimis. I will and desire that my beloved wife MARY shall have the use of my plantation during her natural life except she should mary (stet) and then in such case only the use of the third part thereof.

--I give unto my son JOHN and to his heirs and assignes forever, my plantation and land whereon I now dwell after the decease of his mother as aforesaid, I also give to my said son JOHN his heirs and assignes one Negro girl named SARAH.

--I give and bequeath unto my son JAMES his heirs etc. one Negro boy called TOMBY.
--I give and bequeath unto my son THOMAS his heirs etc. one Negro girl called JUDY.
--I give and bequeath unto my son DANIEL to him his heirs etc. one Negro boy called COLE.
--I give and bequeath unto my daughter MARY and her heirs etc. one Negro girl called ROSE.
--My desire is that my wife shall have the labour of my three Negroes (Viz.) CATO, PHILLIS and old ROSE during her natural life and after her decease to be equally divided between all my children, and if the Negro woman ROSE should be safely delivered of the child she now goes with, I give that child unto my daughter MARY, her heirs, etc.
--I give and bequeath unto each of my sons one young horse and to my daughter MARY one young mair to be marked or branded in their own mark as soon as can be after my decease.
--I give unto my wife one third part of my other stock; and the old horses and mairs for the use of the plantation, and the remaining two thirds to be equally divided between all my children and to be marked in their own marks.
-My will and desire is that all my household goods be kept together for the use and support of my wife and children during my said wives natural life excepting she should marry and then to be equally divided among all which aforesaid legacys mentioned for the use of my wife to be in lieu of her dower, and if any of my children should die before they are of age, his or her part (so dying) of the personal estate to be equally divided among the survivours of them.
--I will and desire that the sum of one thousand pounds which is in the hands of CARY GODBE be applyed for the schooling of my children.
--My will is that my trustees hereafter named may kill so much out of the male kind of cattle belonging unto my children as may be thought necessary for said children?s provisions.
--I do hereby appoint my beloved wife MARY executrix and my trusty friends ___ THOMAS LOVICK, Mr. DAVID SHEPARD and GEORGE READ trustees of this my last will and testament, making null and void all other will and wills heretofore made by me. In witness wh ereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 17th day of February 1743.
--Signed, sealed and delivered JOHN FRAZIER (mark) in presence of Sarah Johnson (mark) William W. Dennis (mark) Thomas Mann
--Carteret County North Carolina June Court 1744 These are to certifie that William Dennis one of the subscribing evidences made oath that he saw JOHN FRAZIER the testator of the within will sign and seal the same and that he also saw Thomas Mann and S arah Johnson the other evidences, evidence the same, and by that court admitted to be recorded Test. Geo. Read, (title, perhaps County Clerk?)


Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2011