Daniel Gooch's Will

I always find it somewhat entertaining whenever "Negroes" are part of an ancestral will. It's such a stark sign of the times, when a human being was considered the property of another. I've seen this on many a will while researching Brad's Person county (NC) side as well as researching my own. This is one of Brad's ancestor's, via the Buchanan line. After the will, look for the ancestral diagram (it's my own unique, simplistic design.)

In the name of God Amen.  I Daniel Gooch of the County of Granville and
State of North Carolina, Being weak in Body, but in perfect mind and
memory, thanks be to God do make and ordain this my last will and
testament, in manner an form following viz.

First of all, I recommend my soul to god, who first gave it and my body
to the Earth to be buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my
Executor hereinafter named

As to my Worldly goods which god has blessed me with, I give and devise
in the following manner.

1st I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid

2nd I will to my daughter Hannah Gooch and to my Daughter Nancy Gooch,
one hundred acres of land out of the  tract whereon I now reside
including my Dwelling house Kitchen and other Houses.  Beginning at the
place on the River called the Cat Hole, thence to the Gate near the
apple orchard thence to run beyond the using Spring so as to take in
thence to corner in the Field opposite to the fence below the North
Gate from the house thence e along said fence through the woods so as
to mark the compliment to Lemuel Goodwin line, thence along Goodwin’s
line to the River and thence down the River to he Beginning.  Also I
will to them one yoke of oxen and one cart. But in case the should
marry or die the land to be equally divided amongst my children namely
my son Samuel Gooch, Joseph Gooch, James Gooch, Thomas Gooch, Jane
Clements, William Gooch Hannah Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S. Gooch,
Daniel T. Gooch, Nancy Gooch to them their heirs administrators &c

and to my daughter Rachel Howard wife of Thomas Howard, the part or lot
of said land which may fall to her, the same to be the sole right of
the said Rachael Howard, during her Natural life and at her death the
said lot which may fall to her to be equally divided amongst the
children of the said Rachel Howard then living and the legal
representative of such as may have died each child of said Rachel to
have one share, but the lot of land or her part, in no wise to be
subject to the debts or incumberances of said Thomas Howard but to be
and remain the sole and undivided property of the said Rachel and her
children as aforesaid.  Also at their death or marriage the yoke of
oxen and cart to be sold and the money arising from such sale to be
equally divided among my children in the same way and to the same as
herein expressed.

3rd   I will that the balance of my lands and all my negroes o be
valued and lotted into twelve lots each, equally divided amongst my
children namely my son Samuel Gooch, Joseph Gooch, James Gooch, Thomas
Gooch, Jane Clements, William Gooch Hannah Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S.
Gooch, Daniel T. Gooch, Nancy Gooch to them their heirs administrators &c

4th I will that all my household and kitchen furniture and stock of all
kind, farming utensils and property of all kind to be sold on twelve
month credit and the money arising from such sale to be equally divide
amongst my children as above named and below expressed

5th I will to my daughter Rachael Howard wife of Thomas Howard one
twelfth part of the balance of my lands and negroes the Lots which she
may draw or fall to her also one twelfth part of the money arising from
the sale of my stock and other property.  The lot of land and the lot
of negroes and the increase of said lot of negroes if any and the
twelfth part of the money arising from such sale of property the same
to be the sole  right of the said Rachael Howard during her natural
life and at her death the said lot of land and lot of negroes and the
increase of said negroes if any and the money as above mentioned to be
equally divided amongst the children of the said Rachel Howard then
living and the legal representatives of such as may have died each
child of said Rachael to have one share but the lot of land and he lot
of negros their increase if any and money in no wise to be subject to
the debts or incumbrances of said Thomas Howard but to be and remain
the sole and individual property of the said Rachel and her children as
aforesaid.

6th I will to by daughter Hannah Gooch one hundred dollars in cash to
be paid out of my estate by my executors and one horse her choice out
of my stock of horses.

7th I will to my daughter Nancy Gooch one hundred dollars in cash to be
paid out of my estate by my executors and one horse her choice of my
stock of horses

Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my sons Joseph Gooch, James
Gooch, William Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S. Gooch and Daniel T. Gooch
executors to this my last will and testament. . In witness whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and seal the 23rd day of September AD 1837

Daniel Gooch (his mark) (seal)

Signed in presence of
Jas. A. Russell
Joseph House
Samuel Rogers

State of North Carolina
Granville county
November Court AD 1837
The execution of the last will and testament of Daniel Gooch decd. Was
duly proven an oath in open court by Joseph House and Samuel Rodgers
two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded at
eh same time came forward James Gooch and Amos Gooch named as Executors
in said will and duly qualified as such Witness James M. Wiggins clk.

Ancestral Diagram (patriarchs on left, matriarchs on right, direct descendant in bold)

Halle S. Dickerson
David Bradford Dickerson / Rachel Alton
David Dickerson / Karen Faser
Charles Dewey Dickerson / Ruth Chandler
Dewey Dickerson / Bessie Ola Buchanan
Grover Cleveland Buchanan / Gertie Mae Young
John Buchanan / Fluvanah Rachel Slaughter
Jacob Glover Slaughter / Elizabeth Parham Howard
Thomas Howard / Rachael Gooch
Daniel Gooch / Nancy Sneed