Elizabeth Masters Goslin last Will & Testament

Date: 1802 [unknown]
Location: Stokes County, NC
Surnames/tags: Masters Goslin Simmons

Elizabeth Masters Goslin’s Will – 1802

(1717-1802)

It is comforting to know that "Widow Goslin", as Elisabeth Masters Goslin was known in Moravian achieves, was surrounded by her spiritual family at her death.

Of her ten children only two were still living at her demise, daughter, Catherine Goslin Smith who married Daniel Smith and son, John Goslin.

With her spiritual family she had long and solid relationships. First mentioned in this Will is John Jacob Peddycord, nephew of one Juror William Barton Peddycord. John was married to Ann (Slater) Peddycoard. Ann was the daughter of Nancy (Smith) Slater who is the sister of Elisabeth's son in law Daniel Smith.

Nancy (Smith) Slater is the second person mentioned, she was the wife of Henry Slater. The Slaters (sometimes referred to as Slator) had taken Elisabeth and her daughter, Elisabeth into their home in 1783. So Anny would have been like a daughter to the "Widow Goslin"

Her son John Goslin and nephews, Hilleary Masters and his brother Notley Masters, had abandoned the Hope commune by 1780. Most likely due to the pacifistic nature of the Moravian Brethren during the American Revolution.

She mentions "my grand Children of my deceased Daughter Mary Young, my Daughter Catherine wife of Daniel Smith, my Grandson of my deceased daughter Tabinas Eades and my son John

Presently, the only known descendant of "Widow Goslin" is Jane Goslin Simmons (1785-1851)

Her "beloved & trusty friend" Hornito Hamilton was the great grandson of her fathers friend, Ninian Beal. He and Adam Elrod were her Executors.

Her Pastor and friend, Samuel Kramsh and his wife Susanna, were witnesses. Kramsh was a noted Botanist. One wonders if the "Widow Goslin" shared his interest.

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Stokes County, State of North Carolina

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In the name of God amen!

I Elizabeth Goslin of the county & state aforesaid Widow being in good health and of sound Memory thanks be given to the goodness of Almighty god, calling into mind, the mortality of men and knowing it to be destined for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will & testament viz

Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty god who gave it and my body to be bound(?) in death buried at the discretion of my Executors and as touching such Worldly Estate where with it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise & dispose of the same in manner & form following viz

Firstly I give and bequeath to my trusty friend John Peddycord Sen. My negro Samuel in Trust & for the use and benefits of my beloved friend Nancy Slater wife of Henry Slater during her natural life and at her decease I bequeath the said negro Samuel to anny Peddycord wife of said John forever.

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Secondly and whereas I have heretofore sold one of my negroes named Peter to Fre. Wlm. Marshall Esq. for the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds hard money to be paid in yearly payments of Ten pounds every year and whereof the last payment was made on the Michaelmas day in the year of one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine of which sum I have given six payments in all sixty pounds unto my beloved friend Henry Slater for part of my Daughter Elizabeth’s maintenance and whereas Henry Slator has since the year 1783 Maintained me & my daughter Elizabeth until her decease the 2nd of December 1790 to my satisfaction as promised and agreed to do the same unto me until my decease therefore in consideration of the above negro Samuel I hereby declare that Henry Slater aforesaid his heirs or apigns(?) shall not be charged by my heirs or Executors for said negro Samuel nor for said sixty pounds as I have received full satisfaction by the Maintenance of me and my daughter as aforesaid.

Thirdly As for the remainder of my personal estate as much as I shall leave of the same undisposed at my decease and the sum of five pounds according to a note of hand from Daniel Smith for Cattle & my Will is that it shall be divided in four equal shares of which I give and bequeath one entire

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share to my grand Children of my deceased Daughter Mary Young , one entire share to my Daughter Catherine wife of Daniel Smith, one entire share to my Grandson of my deceased daughter Tabinas Eades and one entire share to my son John & should any of them to whom the above shares are hereby given and bequeathed be dead before my departure and leave Children then such Children shall take the share of the deceased parent in equal shares but in case one has left no Children the Creditors are to receive that share.

Fourthly And I do hereby ordain constitute and appoint my beloved & trusty friends Horatio Hamilton and Adam Elrod Executors of this my last Will & testament & do hereby utterly disannul and make void all my former Wills or (?) done by me either in writing or by word of mouth ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will & testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred & two.

Signed, sealed, published by the said Elisab. Goslin as her last will & testament in the presence of us who are in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereto Subscribed our names-

Elisae Goslen (Seal )

Samuel Kramsh

William Barton Peddycord (Jurat)

Susanna Kramsh

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Stokes County (?) term_1802

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The execution of the last will and testament of Elizabeth Goslin of which the foregoing is a true copy was duly proven in open Court by the oath of William Barton Paddycoart & ordered to be recorded which is accordingly done by

Rob Williams C.C.

& Tho. T. Armstrong