Will of John MONTGOMERY, Sr - Mecklenburg Co, NC

In the name of God, Amen. I John MONTGOMERY, of the County of Mecklenburg, State of North Carolina, being in perfect health, mind and memory. First of all I recommend my soul into the hands of my most merciful creator who gave it me, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive it by the mighty power of God; and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent manner; and first of all it is my will to dispose of the worldy estate whith which it hath pleased God to bless me with here on this earth in manner and from as following. First of all I order it and it is my will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid. Secondly, it is my will that my well beloved wife, MARTHA, have her living on the plantation that I now live on during her natural life or her widowhood, and in case she should choose to live by herself tis my will that my son JOHN shall build her a decent house and employ her in all the necessary comforts of life during her natural life or widowhood; I also will and bequeath the plantation that I live on unto my well beloved son JOHN. I also leave and bequeath to him my wagon and tackling, a plow and tackling; and I bequeat to my well beloved son JOSEPH the piece of land that I have entered as State land joining the land that I live on and a plow and tackling, and my bay mare and saddle, and in case that land cannot be had by virtue of my entry it is my will that my son JOHN pay unto my son JOSEPH the sum of £50, Item, I leave and bequeath unto my well beloved son ROBERT part of my body clothes and two sheep. Item, I leave and bequeath unto my well beloved son JAMES my blue cape. Item, I leave and bequeath unto my well beloved son DAVID £30. Item, I leave and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter ELIZABETH her saddle, her bed and bed clothes, __ wheel and £50. Item: I leave and bequeath unto my grandson JOHN, son to my son JAMES, £10. Item: I leave and bequeath unto my grandson JOHN, son to my son-in-law, £10; leave and bequeath unto my granddaughter MARTHA, daughter of WILL ORR, £10. Item: I leave and bequeath unto my granddaughter MARTHA, daughter to ROBERT ROBINSON, £ 10; and of the rest of my estate I leave in the lands of my Executors, and £50 of that money to be at the direction of my wife at her death in case she lives a widow her natural life, and if she should happen to change her life that (__) that £50 with the rest of that money that is left in the hands of my Executors to be disposed amongst the rest of my legatees as the Executors shall think proper, and I authorize and appoint my well beloved wife MARTHA and my son JAMES to be whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and do hereby disannul all other Wills made by me heretofore either by word or writing and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in witness where of I have here unto set my hand the day and year above written March the 10th 1778 pronounced and declared to be the last Will and Testament of JOHN MONTGOMERY in the presence of witness. JOHN BREDEN JOHN MONTGOMERY [seal] JANE BREDEN GEORGE HOUSTON

1778. Will of JOHN MONTGOMERY,SR. 10 March 1778 (?1817) Mecklenburg Co, NC, Will Book B, pp 112-113, CR 065.801.22.

The David mentioned as the son of John and Martha MONTGOMERY in John Sr.'s will is believed to be the David MONTGOMERY whose service to our nation is outlined in NARA's Revolutionary War pension file W4039. Part of the strong circumstantial evidence for placing that David with this family comes from sworn testimony in the application about his birth and migration to Mecklenburg Co, NC in the application, which does not, however, name his parents.

Entry updated 03.05.2007.