Will of Austin Beasley ~ 1822

Transcribed by Joan S Dunn


  In the name of God amen, I Austin Beasley of the state of North Carolina and county of Duplin being of perfect mind and memory (thanks be to God) do this 30th Day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows, this is to say. First, I recommend my soul to God and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors and dispose of my worldly estate. I dispose of that is manner following, to wit: First I give and bequeath to my wife Mary Beasley (1780-1857) during her natural life that part of land beginning on the east of alligator pond on the line which I, the testator, bought from Jacob Mathis to run thence a straight line to the old field pond thence a straight line to the run of Millers Creek, ten poles below my mill, thence down the run of Millers Creek to the lower line of my land, thence the various corners of my land to a lightwood stump on the south side of the wild cat pond, thence to that line to the beginning and after her decease to my son Austin Beasley, also one bed and furniture four cows and calves, the gray horse and riding chair, one Negro boy Jim & during her life, one Negro boy named Willie to her use for the term of ten years. 2nd, I give to my son Bass Beasley (1804-1881) that part of my land bounded as follows; Beginning at a light wood on the south side of Alligator Pond and running thence as the line laid off to my wife to the run of Millers Creek thence a line due north to the north line of a survey of two hundred acres crossing the mill pond and until it comes to the line of a survey of one hundred acres thence as that line to the line that divides between my land and Henry Porter’s thence so that line to a corner tree to the south side of alligator pond thence to the beginning. 3rd, I give to my son Austin Beasley (1807-1850AL-1880TX) all the rest of my land lying on the north side of Millers Creek. Also a survey of fifty-acres, that I bought from Dennis Cannon adjoining the lands of Peter Carlton. 4th, I give to my daughter Ally Gavin one hundred acres of land lying on the head of Clear Run which she now has in possession and I leave all that part of land which I bought of James Kenan heirs to be sold on a credit of twelve months and the monies thence arising to be divided as follows: to my son John Beasley the sum of ten dollars, and to my son Lemuel Beasley (1809-1850AL) the sum of ten dollars. To my son Hillery Beasley the sum of ten dollars and to my son Bryant Beasley (1803-1850GA) the sum of ten dollars. 5th, I give to my daughter Elizabeth Beasley one Negro girl named Hannah at the time of her marriage. 6th, I give to my daughter Nancy Beasley one Negro girl named Dinah to be delivered at the time of her marriage. 7th, I give to my daughter Sarah Gore one Negro fellow named Sambo to be delivered to her at the expiration of ten years after my decease. 8th, I give to my daughter Mary Beasley one Negro boy named Ernie at the time of her marriage. 9th, Edwinna Beasley one Negro woman named Mary at the time of her marriage. 10th, I also give eighty acres on land lying on Grassy Branch whereon Eda Carroll now lives to be sold on a credit of twelve months and the monies thence arising to be disposed of at the discretion of my executors for the support of my children. The remaining to the said Eda Carroll. Her life time right on the above named eighty acres if she pleases to live on it and all the rest of my worldly estate to be sold at the discretion of my executors and the monies after paying my just debts to be disposed of by my executors to the use of my children. The remaining such as my plantation tools as my executors may judge necessary to the use of my family. I also make an apportion of so much money out of the money arising from the sale of my estate so shall be sufficient to repair my mill in such a manner so may be judged necessary. And I do make and ordain my good friends Gibson Sloan and Lewis Carlton together with my wife Mary Beasley executors of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this day above written. Signed, sealed, and published by the said Austin Beasley, the testator, as his last will and testament in the presence of us who were present at the signing and sealing. In the same- John Lenton, Henry Porter, and Nicholas Rogers. Austin Beasley Proven in open court Jan. 1823. James Pearsall clerk of court. Austin Beasley m: Mary Guy 12 January 1783 and (2) Polly Carroll 15 December 1803. Austin Beasley born about 1755. Polly/Mary Beasley 1780-1857. 1. Sarah Beasley 1784 m: John Gore on 18 October 1803. 2. Hillery Beasley 1786 2s1d New Hanover in 1820. Sarah B. 2 sons 1830 NH 3. John Beasley 1788- 4. Mary Beasley 1790 m: Taylor Jones* 19 May 1809. 5. Ally Beasley 1795 m: Lewis Gavin 1792 in 1817. Baby boy born 1813. Sampson 1820-3 0. Duplin 1840. 6. Bass Beasley 1803 m: 1832 Mary Carlton 1815-1877. Bass died 1881 Duplin. 7. Elizabeth Beasley 1805 m: 1828 Edmond Mathais 1787, Duplin 1850. 8. Austin Beasley Jr. 1807 moved to Butler Co. AL and m: Celia 1819 of GA, d Brown, TX 25 Jan 1890. 9. Bryant Beasley 1808 1d Sampson in 1830, Catherine: Early Co. GA 1850 10. Lemuel Beasley 1809 moved to Conecuh Co. AL and m: Martha 1807 of GA 11. Nancy Beasley 1811 m: 3-20-1827 Thomas Sheffield. 12. Edwinna Beasley 1815 m:1-17-1837 Joseph K. Groves Jr. 1812-Duplin 1850+ 1785 One son and one daughter 1790 Two sons & one daughter + Mary Guy 1800c Two sons < 10, one 10-16: 1 dau. <10 and 1 10-16 Mary Guy Austin 40 1810 Two sons <10, one 10-16: two dau. <10 and one 10-16 Polly Carroll 1820c Three sons < 10, One son 10-16, Two sons 16 to 26. Austin age 58-60 Two daughters <10, and one 10-16. Polly/Mary Carroll 1780-1857. * not verified BEASLEY, Abraham, Private, NC Militia. Soldier is on one pay voucher. Soldier was born about 1750 to Solomon Beasley Sr. in Craven Co. NC. He lived in Duplin from about 1775 to 1788. Soldier married Mary and had: 1-James Beasley, 2-Rachel Beasley, 3-Elizabeth Beasley, 4-John Beasley, 5-Soloman Beasley 1778-1850+Rutherford Co. TN, and 6-Abraham Beasley Jr. b Dec. 26, 1770 in Duplin and died Oct. 11, 1864 near Wrens, Jefferson Co. GA. Abraham Jr. was married twice, 1) Mary Armstrong 2) Rebecca 1798-1850+. Soldier wrote his will in New Hanover Co. NC in 1803. BEASLEY, Solomon, Private, NC Militia Soldier is on one pay voucher. Soldier was born c1747 to Solomon Beasley Sr. of Craven Co. NC. Soldier married Keziah about 1769 in Duplin and had issue: 1- Thomas Beasley 1770, 2-John Beasley, 3-Rebecca Beasley, 4-Sarah Beasley, 5- Anne Beasley, 6-Solomon Beasley III 1770-1850+ Covington, AL, and 7-James Beasley 1790-1850+ Emanuel GA. Soldier wrote his will in New Hanover Co. in 1801. Thomas died c1825 and had issue: Keziah Penberlon, Cullen, Alfred, Mary Beasley. Years ago someone gave me this family chart--but no source--so you might consider it a hint: Abraham Beasley Sr. born about 1744 in Beasley Island Craven Co NC and married about 1769 in Core Creek NC to Mary who was born about 1748 and died after 1803. Abraham died about 1803 in New Hanover NC. he was the son of Soloman Beasley born 1707 and died 1791. He married in 1742 to Rachael Taylor who died before 1789. Their children: Abrahm beasley Jr. born 1770 in core Creek, Craven Co NC and died 1864 in Jefferson Co. GA. Soloman Beasley born June 10, 1772 in Core creek, Craven Co NC and married before 1800 in New Hanover NC to Nancy Henderson who was born about 1775. A daughter born in Duplin County NC and married James Henderson Other children born in Duplin County NC to the couple where John Beasley, James Beasley, Rachael Beasley, and Elizabeth Beasley. Now as to Soloman Beasley. He was born about 1707 in Beasley Island, Craven Co NC and married in 1742 to Rachael Taylor. Her father was Abrahm Taylor and her mother Ede. Rachael died before 1789. Soloman died in 1791 in NC. He was the son of John Beasley born 1685 and died 1755 and his mother died about 1705 in NC. Their children all born in NC included Abraham born in 1744, Benjamin, Samuel, James, Elizabeth, John, William, Soloman Jr.(who died in 1803), Velair who married a Dyas, Ann who married a Heath, Martha who married a Cotton, and Mary who married a Miller. (Again no source was given)


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